Injunction deadline set over deputy layoffs

Injunction deadline setover deputy layoffs
YOUNGSTOWN -- An Akron federal judge has given lawyers who represent Mahoning County jail inmates until noon today to cite legal authority to back up their request for an injunction that would stop the layoff of 140 deputy sheriffs. U.S. District Judge David D. Dowd Jr. then gave the county's lawyers until 4 p.m. today to respond. The sheriff, reacting to a slashed budget, intends to lay off 50 deputies Sunday and 90 more on April 10. Judge Dowd has ruled that the jail is overcrowded and understaffed.
Police mark 30 years
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Black Knights Police Association is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the theme "Thirty years of maintaining a sense of dignity and respect." The Black Knights, a nonprofit group that gives to many community projects, will host its annual awards banquet Oct. 1 at the Brentford House on Myron Street in Hubbard. The event is the group's major fund-raiser of the year. Anyone interested in buying an ad or tickets to the dinner can contact the association at (330) 743-9100 or any member.
Local lottery playersrake in some winnings
YOUNGSTOWN -- A pair of Mahoning Valley residents won top prizes in a drawing among jackpot prize qualifiers in two Ohio Lottery instant games and a third won the Kicker prize. Paul Salen of Warren won the $500,000 top prize in the $500,000 Payday game, and Deborah Owrey of Poland won $150,000 in the Super Slots game. Players who scratch off a winning combination with a Top Prize Drawing symbol listed as the prize receive a cash pay-out based on the ticket price. They then are entered into the drawing of all such ticket-holders for the game's largest prizes. A Warren woman who found an old Ohio Lottery ticket while cleaning out her car has cashed it in for a $100,000 prize. Theresa L. Kyser collected $71,500 after taxes because she said yes to an online game and got a Kicker number that matched the 2-5-5-3-2-7 drawn Feb. 16. She bought the ticket at the BP station at 1290 E. Market St. The store receives a $1,000 for selling the winning ticket.
Suspect surrenders
WARREN -- A city man charged with murder surrendered to city police Tuesday afternoon and is in the Trumbull County jail, police said Tuesday. Jonathan Owens, 22, also known as C-Dog, came to the police station with an attorney, John Fowler. Owens was sought in Warren's first homicide of 2005. Ladell V. Smith, 20, of 1741 Southwest Blvd., died in a car late March 13, after being shot in a Highland Homes parking lot.
Nunez faces fraud trial
AUSTINTOWN -- Lourdes I. Nunez, 48, of Deer Creek Court will appear in Mahoning County Court on Thursday to face two counts of telecommunications fraud. Police said that a computer with an Internet service provider address registered to Nunez was used to access several sex-related Web sites in January. The sites require payment and the checking account information used to pay for them matched that of another woman, police said.
Overloaded cord blamed
YOUNGSTOWN -- An overloaded extension cord has been identified as the cause of a second-floor bedroom fire Tuesday morning at 438 Sherwood Ave., said fire Lt. Kevin Johnson. He said the resident unplugged a space heater from the extension cord the night before because it had been giving her problems. The fire did about $7,000 damage, he said. No injuries were reported.
Springfield meeting set
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township trustees will be in an emergency meeting at 8 tonight at the township administration building, 3475 E. South Range Road, to finalize the budget.