Metro Digest

Traficant says he’ll run

YOUNGSTOWN — Ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. told CNN he would run for Congress as an independent.

Traficant wouldn’t say Tuesday in what district he would run. Traficant’s advisers have said the ex-congressman was considering the 6th or the 17th district.

Traficant served seven years in a federal prison for bribery, racketeering, tax evasion and obstruction of justice. He was released in September 2009.

Shortly after his release, Traficant started talking about a run for Congress. The deadline to run as a Democrat or any other political-party candidate was last week.

I-80 lane restrictions

Ohio Department of Transportation said Interstate 80 eastbound between the Mahoning County line and U.S. Route 422 will have various lane restrictions for pothole patching. Lane restrictions will occur from about 9 a.m. until 12 noon today.

Fire at priest’s home

YOUNGSTOWN — A fire at the home of a Ukrainian Orthodox church priest caused $13,000 in damage.

The fire at the 1920 Cherry Hill Ave. home of the Rev. Gregory Becker of Sts. Peter & Paul Church was reported shortly before 3 p.m. Monday and under control by firefighters in eight minutes.

The pastor wasn’t home when the fire started, having left two hours beforehand. A dog in the house died. The fire started and was confined to the first-floor dining room. The cause of the fire was unintentional, but hasn’t been determined.

News conference at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — Cynthia Anderson, Youngstown State University president-elect, has her first news conference at 1:30 p.m. today in the Presidential Suites of the university’s Kilcawley Center. YSU trustees last week unanimously approved Anderson’s appointment as the seventh president of the university to succeed David C. Sweet, who is retiring effective June 30. Anderson was out of town at a professional conference when the vote was taken.

Victim still critical

LISBON — Columbiana County Sheriff Ray Stone said Josh Rudder, 19, of Lisbon, who was shot in the chest Monday, was still in critical condition Tuesday at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The sheriff said, however, that Rudder “was improving at this time.”

Because of a clerical error, authorities earlier had said the victim was a juvenile and did not release his name.

The shooting occurred early Monday at the home of David J.C. Duffy, at Lot 3, 11501 Steubenville Pike Road. Duffy is charged with felonious assault. He will have a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Monday in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

MCCTC salon hours

CANFIELD — Cosmetology students at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, now have afternoon hours at their salon for the public. The shop is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and noon to 2:10 p.m. by appointment only through May. Services, which include haircuts and perms, are performed by students under the supervision of their instructor, and prices start at $6. To make an appointment, call Linda Tomko at (330) 729-1309.