Amani Abraham is the morning web editor and also tracks morning drive traffic for 1590 WAKR, 97.5 WONE and 94.9 WQMX during weekday mornings and is a reporter/anchor. She's no stranger to AkronNewsNow.com, having worked as an intern with Rubber City Radio Group as a producer for the Daily Vodcast and other video projects.. Amani is a 2011 graduate with a Communications degree from the University of Akron, where she excelled in her work on the student radio station WZIP-FM and Z-TV, the University's television program. You can reach Amani through the newsroom 330-864-6397 or by email aabraham@rcrg.net
You don't have to know everything about NCAA basketball to join in the fun of March Madness.
One of our co-workers that identifies himself as Al "the bookie" says he makes it easy for everyone in the work place to get involved in the tournament.
"A lot of people haven't seen one basketball game, let alone a dribble. It's just fun comradery ," Al 'The Bookie' said.
Al says anyone can play in the tournament because teams are randomly chosen before the basketball tournament begins. He has even noticed an increase in women joining in the fun.
"The ladies participate. They love to cash in and they love to let us know."
He said workers are given teams based on a random drawing. Participants follow their teams throughout the tournament and the winners are based on the final four teams left in the NCAA championship.
A hotel was evacuated Monday night after police found a meth lab inside one of the rooms run by an undocumented worker.
Police found the suspect at the Econo Lodge in Brimfield on State Route 43 around 9 p.m after they recieved reports that the third floor was filling up with smoke.
Several construction workers told officers about the suspect's identity. The suspect was working with a crew from Mexico and Central America.
Border patrol is helping officers handle an additional 23 undocumented workers.
The suspect was arrested and charged with manufacturing meth, assembly of the chemicals and tampering with evidence
Brimfield police posted a picture of the items found on their Facebook page after they recovered and dismantled the lab.
A decision made by Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise to hire the daughter of a county employee has sparked some controversy.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports Sarah Skapin Hegnauer was hired after her job as as a community outreach organizer at the Summit County Board of Elections was eliminated on March 5 in order to cut costs.
Both of her parents, Jill and Jeffrey Skapin, work for the county. Jill Skapin is one of the highest paid county employees working as the communications director for County Executive Russ Pry. Her annual salary is nearly $110,000.
Hegnauer was the only person interviewed for the public relations opening. The job was not advertised.
Scalise says she never talked to Jill Skapin about hiring her daughter.
Jill Skapin and her daughter are active in democratic politics and have donated money to Scalise's election campaign.
On the Web: www.ohio.com
Two men were arrested over the weekend after an Akron couple received harrasing phone calls about their missing dog.
Police say the owner noticed his dog missing Tuesday night from his backyard in the 300 block of Upland Avenue.
On Friday night, a caller told the owner he would return the dog for $500. The owner offered $40 but the suspect refused.
A team of undercover officers offered the suspect the money and made arrangements to meet with the suspect at Emerling Park.
Officers arrested 18-year-old Pierre L. Cabell and Gilbert Dickson, 56, both of Akron.
Cabell was charged with receiving stolen property, theft and telephone harassment.
Dickinson was charged with receiving stolen property, obstructing official business and disorderly conduct.
They were booked into the Summit County Jail.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help in finding a convicted sex offender wanted in Summit County.
Timothy Jackson is wanted for for failing to register his address.
The Summit County Sheriff's Office released a warrant for Jackson's arrest in January. His last known residence was located in Akron.
Jackson was convicted in 2001 of gross sexual imposition with a victim under 13-years-old.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Timothy Jackson should contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6446).
Selling cars has been known as a job dominated mostly by men, but women are working to help break the gender stereotypes in the auto industry.
With years of experience in sales, Chris Soloman of Jeff Motorcars in Canton decided to test her skills in the auto industry. She now holds the title as car salesperson of the year for three years.
“I think the main this is being honest and following up with people,” said Soloman.
Soloman attributes her success to building lasting relationship with clients.
Patty Pamboukis of Vandevere Buick in Akron, says some customers treat her differently because she is a woman. She has had a few customers who would rather talk to men about specific car questions including warranties.
"Maybe I don't verbalize it correctly to them or maybe they think because I'm a woman, I'm not sure what we offer and what we don't offer," said Pamboukis.
Trust is a major quality customers look for when searching for the perfect car salesperson.
“I'm trusted more because I am a woman. They feel that I'm not out to decieve them or try and pull anything over on them,” said Pamboukis.
Soloman says being a woman sets her apart from the rest in a good way.
“Their not dealing with the typical car salesman who wants to treat them like they don’t know anything about cars,” said Soloman. “With the internet, nowadays, their researching it before they even walk into the door.”
Soloman said it's important to break the stereotypes before you sit down with a client.
“You just start talking to them and you let them know, ‘I’m not the receptionist. I have been doing this for three years,” said Soloman.
Both Soloman and Pamboukis say women can succeed in the auto industry using good communication and building solid relationships with customers.
The Canton Post of the State Highway Patrol is investigating a drunk driving crash in Perry Township.
Authorities said two cars collided early Monday morning around 2 a.m. near 12th Street and Genoa Avenue.
At least one driver was charged with OVI.
No further information has been released.
Four people were injured in a house fire Sunday night in Canton.
News Channel 5 reports the fire started on the front porch and quickly spread throughout the entire home on 4th Street NW.
Two victims, a man and woman, were flown to the Akron Children's Hospital burn unit with serious injuries and two others were taken to a Aultman Hospital with injuries.
Fire officials told News Channel 5 that one man was rescued from the roof of the garage and a woman was given CPR after she was found unresponsive in a bedroom.
Several animals died in the fire, but crews rescued about 25 rabbits. They appeared to be taken care of and kept in separate cages.
The Stark County Humane Society took possession of the animals.
Two firefighters suffered injuries, but the Canton Repository reports the extent of their injuries were not described.
Click here to see photos of the damage from the CantonRep.com.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
On the Web: www.wews.com
An Akron father is upset over a school cell phone policy after his daughter's cell phone was confiscated and held until the next day.
Dave Calhoun tells News Channel 5 that he understands his daughter broke the rules, but for safety reasons, he believes her cell phone should have been returned at the end of the school day.
Calhoun's daughter was caught using her cell phone on Wednesday at Firestone High School.
Sarah Hollander, spokesperson for the Akron Public Schools District, says the cell phone policy is used a deterrent.
The policy states that only a parent or guardian will be able to retrieve the phone "no sooner than the next school day after it is confiscated."
Calhoun works as a director for News Channel 5.
On the Web: www.wews.com
The city of Medina has issued a citywide boil alert following a water main break earlier Firday morning.
Police dispatchers said the water main break occurred on Forest Meadows Drive near North Court Street around 5:30 a.m.
Medina schools closed today because many of the school buildings were without water.
Residents should boil their water before using. The alert remains in effect until officials release an update.
Visit AkronNewsNow.com for more information as it becomes available.
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