News

Your Morning Matters: Our 18-month-a-versary!

By Mark Sweetwood and Jeremy Harper

Good morning and welcome to your Morning Matters.

It's Friday, April 16, 2021, and lost amid all of the hard work last week was that Mahoning Matters celebrated our 18-month anniversary on April 9! And it's my fault we didn't pause to mark this milestone. What started just 40 days (and 40 nights) after the final edition of Youngstown's Vindicator rolled off the presses in 2019 has been on an unprecedented trajectory. In March, thanks to you, we saw one of our best trafficked months.

That despite being the new (old?) kids on the block, changes in leadership, pandemic, bankruptcy, etc. Really, it's mind boggling. It's also a testament to our smart, in-touch team: Jeremy, Justin, Jess, Ellen, Thea, Tom and the new guy Eric; correspondents Alyssa, Bob and Bill; and our community columnists including The Earnheardts, David Betras, Liz Dreier and the Rev. Lewis Macklin. And we're ever-evolving to meet your needs. Just in the past month or so:

  • The addition of smart McClatchy stories that focus on major news and deep dives into coronavirus issues;
  • News alerts to keep you focused on breaking local news;
  • This week's focus on the re-emergence of the Valley, starting with the restaurant industry.

However, we firmly believe in the better-late-than-never credo. So, as a thank you to our current and new email newsletter subscribers, Mahoning Matters is teaming up with Rulli Brothers to give $100 grocery gift cards to two lucky subscribers this month.

We will randomly choose two winners from among our email subscribers — one on April 23 and the other April 30. The best news: If you receive any of our free email newsletters, you are already entered to win. If you're not subscribed, simply sign up here. Thanks to the thousands of Valley residents who have made the past 18 months special. And thanks to the awesome Rulli Brothers for sponsoring this giveaway.

Have a great (but cloudy and cool) weekend! Make it count!

Here's what else you need to know about the Mahoning Valley today:

As we have been reporting, the prospect of Ohio's post-pandemic reopening is slipping farther out of reach. Gov. Mike DeWine promised the state could reopen when it reports 50 cases per 100,000 people over two weeks. Well, this week, it actually rose to 200 cases per 100,000 — four times that goal.

Unfortunately, hospitalizations are also trending upward. On March 11, 907 Ohioans were hospitalized with COVID-19. That number rose to 1,305 Thursday. Reporter Jess Hardin has the details today.

Pandemic facts

  • In the U.S.: 31,491,453 confirmed cases; 565,254 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine at 8 p.m. April 15.
  • In Ohio: 1,044,945 confirmed or suspected cases; 18,917 deaths.
  • In Pennsylvania: 1,092,852 confirmed cases; 25,556 deaths.
  • In the Mahoning Valley: 20,822 confirmed or suspected cases in Mahoning County; 15,521 in Trumbull; and 8,527 in Columbiana.
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed at 34,035.99, up 305.10 points, or 0.90 percent.

Other matters

Finance Director Kyle Miasek said there was some improvement in Youngstown's income tax collection for March, but the revenue gap for 2021 caused by February's shortfall remains. Mahoning Matters

This week, attorney David Betras has an answer to "Must I comply if an officer orders me out of my car?" His answer is likely to make no one happy. Mahoning Matters

Looking for something to do this weekend? Professor Jackie Marino will discuss "Car Bombs to Cookie Trays" on Saturday, Tria Corazó;n will perform in the Dana Alumni Recital Series and the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown will have a Treasure Dive. Mahoning Matters

General Motors and partner LG Chem will announce plans to build a second battery cell plant in the U.S. today. Sources familiar with the plans say a $2.3 billion factory will be built in Spring Hill, Tenn. WFMJ

Eight months after the exterior renovation of the Thomas D. Lambros Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse at Market and Front streets began, it is closing in on completion. The Vindicator [May encounter paywall.]

Students at Boardman Glenwood Junior High School spent Wednesday afternoon painting panels outside the school for their Global Youth Service Day project. WKBN

The Youngstown State University football team abruptly ended its spring football season by canceling Saturday's game against North Dakota at Stambaugh Stadium. The Business Journal [May require registration.]

Ultium Cells is hosting a virtual career fair April 28 in partnership with Youngstown State University. Available jobs will primarily be entry-level and managerial positions. The Business Journal [May require registration.]

In case you missed it

From operational adjustments to staffing issues, restaurants in the Mahoning Valley have changed — in many cases, permanently. Reporters Jess Hardin and Justin Dennis took a deep look at the restaurant industry and talked to the folks who've weathered the past 14 months. Some of your favorite eateries are gone; new ones are arriving. And Mahoning Matters launched a new section to document the re-emergence of restaurants in the Valley.

Your comments matter

"Honestly, don't the folks who could afford a fancy chilling can have refrigerators?"

— Beth Buchman Dunn, on attorneys representing developers of the Chill-Can plant on the city of Youngstown's East Side saying the company remains committed to the project, despite nearly four years of delays.

Registered readers can comment on a selection of our stories, and all readers can comment on stories on our Facebook page. Opinions published here do not reflect the views of Mahoning Matters.

Event of the day

The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane, is having a Treasure Dive from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Children will become explorers and search for treasure at the bottom of the pool, and receive a visit from a pirate and mermaid. The event is free for JCC members and $5 for nonmembers. To register, click here.

To see what else is going on around the Mahoning Valley, check out Mahoning Matters' event calendar here, or click the Events tab on the top menu at mahoningmatters.com.

Story tips

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Let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful for you. Send your ideas and thoughts to mark@mahoningmatters.com. If you want to get this in your email inbox, sign up here.

This story was originally published April 16, 2021 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Your Morning Matters: Our 18-month-a-versary!."