Seeking to better a Canton neighborhood, starting with its children

A former church in Canton is set to be transformed into an early childhood center with the goal of increasing kindergarten readiness in a neighborhood that experiences a disproportionate amount of crime and poverty.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media / Photo credit: Canton For All People

Robotic cockroaches help Northeast Ohio kids get excited about STEM

The 19,000 Girl Scouts across Northeast Ohio now have more opportunity to learn about STEM with the addition of the new STEM Center of Excellence, which is just outside of Akron.

Publication: Signal Akron

Farmers markets, nutrition assistance programs serve as oasis in Cleveland’s food deserts

Kevin Scheuring, the manager at Coit Road Farmers Market in East Cleveland, stands in front of the 100-year-old market where residents buy fresh produce from urban farmers. About half of the sales coming into the market are from incentive programs, which are offered to people in need.

Publication: The Land

Reviving Cleveland’s Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood takes volunteers willing to lead

Joe Pollard is one of a handful of street club presidents in a five-block stretch of Buckeye-Woodhill. He lives on Grandview Avenue and serves as its street club president. He's also the interim president of the club on the next street over, Crestwood Avenue.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media / Photo credit: J. Nungesser

One block and dozens of suppliers: East Fourth Street businesses feel the effects of higher prices

At Pickwick and Hilarities, owner Nick Kostis said he feels the effects of higher prices. Dante Boccuzzi, who opened Goma in July of 2021, said the same. So did the chef at Gabriel's Southern Table and Whiskey, formerly known as Indie Music Bar. The owner of Society Lounge concurred.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media

Electric vehicle manufacturing, a new industry for Ohio, employs hundreds of workers in Tuscawaras County

What was formerly Crane Carrier Company, Battle Motors has created 434 new jobs in its expansion to produce electric heavy-duty trucks since it was purchased by California business owner Michael Patterson in 2021. It’s expected to generate $18 million in new annual payroll and retain $13.7 million in existing payroll.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media

Another small-town Ohio newspaper closes, making information scarce

Many weekly newspapers cover smaller towns with fewer subscribers than daily newspapers in larger cities. Residents in small towns rely on these brick-and-mortar media outlets for critical information: government notices, road closures, sporting highlights, birth announcements, wedding celebrations and local obituaries.

Publication: Ideastream Public Media

Educational inequality: Portage County schools got help from the state, but it might not last

Crestwood Local School District, which serves Mantua, Shalersville and part of Hiram, is small, said Superintendent David Toth, and that is a big reason for staff to double up on daily tasks. But about 10 district jobs, such as a curriculum director, have been eliminated over the last nine years because of funding problems.

Publication: The Portager