Mark Arehart

Akron has a new pop-up bookstore and writing center focused on highlighting diverse authors in all aspects of literature and nonfiction. Author and activist Rachel Cargle started Elizabeth's earlier this year as an independent online bookstore. She’s using the power of her own voice and her nearly 2 million Instagram followers to change the landscape for how we see writers and authorship.

The Knight Foundation announced it has committed $8 million in investments, in the form of grants, to help revamp some of Akron’s public spaces.

Half of that money will go toward rebuilding Summit Lake’s north shore into a community-focused park and recreation area.

Kyle Kutuchief, director of the Knight Foundation's Akron Program, says this is the right time to be making a substantial investment like this.

Public spaces

The Kent State University Board of Trustees came together for a special meeting Wednesday to give a progress report on the university's re-opening for the fall semester.

Akron City Council met over Zoom Monday introducing new working groups to reexamine the relationship between the city and its police department. They were joined by Akron's police chief who wasn't shy about voicing his frustration.

The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival kicked off this week with an online premier. The annual festival is a mix of virtual and drive-in screenings this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s showcasing dozens of films, documentaries and shorts celebrating Black voices in the film industry.

Here are your morning headlines for Tuesday, September 8:

Here are your morning headlines for Wednesday, September 2:

The Cleveland Indians are in the hunt for the playoffs during this pandemic-shortened season.

The team made waves earlier this week when it shipped ace pitcher Mike Clevinger to the San Diego Padres in return for a handful of younger players and promising prospects. 

WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto said the trade may not be splashy, but it makes sense for the Indians. 

Here are your morning headlines for Tuesday, September 1:

The state has given the greenlight for Ohio arts organizations to reopen after months of being shuttered due to the pandemic. But regulations issued by Gov. Mike DeWine cap indoor attendance at 15% capacity – or no more than 300 seats. David Mitchell, General Manager of the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas, recently penned an op-ed on the uphill financial battle many venues now face.

Here are your morning headlines for Monday, August 31st:

Editor's note:  This story has been updated.  The Republican National Convention starts tonight. And for the first time ever, due to the pandemic, it’s virtual.  John Green, director emeritus of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, discusses how Republicans will use this convention to gain momentum heading into November’s elections. 

It's move in week for many Kent State students. But as students and faculty get ready for in-person classes to start next week, some universities across the country are shutting down due to spikes of COVID-19 on campus.

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH 13th District) visited Youngstown and Akron Tuesday to talk with postal workers about mail-in voting. Ryan says Ohioans who choose to vote by mail this November will have their votes counted, but advises mailing ballots in early.

Here are your morning headlines for Friday, August 7:

Here are your morning headlines for Thursday, August 6:

Here are your morning headlines for Wednesday, August 5:

The NFL season starts September 10 when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans.

But because of the pandemic, there are new safety protocols, limited practices and no pre-season games this year.

WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto says this season could be a rough one for teams led by new coaching staffs like the Cleveland Browns.

Here are your morning headlines for Tuesday, August 4:

Here are your morning headlines for Thursday, July 30:

Here are your morning headlines for Wednesday, July 29:

Major League Baseball’s pandemic-shortened season is just getting started, but if television ratings are any indication, sports-starved fans are hungry for major league sports.

According to WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto, without fans in the stands at Progressive Field, TV viewership is key this year for the Cleveland Indians.

Here are your morning headlines for Tuesday, July 28:

Here are your morning headlines for Monday, July 27:

The University of Akron is facing an August 3 deadline for contract negotiations with the professor’s union.  If the vote fails, the deal goes to arbitration for a final ruling.  The two sides are at odds after more than 170 staff were laid off, including nearly 100 union workers.  We spoke with the head of both sides: university president Gary Miller and union president Pam Schulze.