METRO DIGEST || Sharon native killed

Sharon native killed

SHARON, PA.

A 24-year-old Sharon native was found dead as a result of an apparent homicide in Columbia, S.C.

Rachel Goodnight, who was reported missing by her mother last Tuesday, was found in a wooded area near a homeless camp, according to the Associated Press.

Goodnight was last seen March 28 near the location where her body was found; a county coroner said Goodnight’s body was badly decomposed and needed dental X-rays to identify the remains.

The coroner said Goodnight died from a blow to the head.

It was the second body found in the area in the past two weeks. A man considered a suspect in the case is in a South Carolina jail relating to that previous death.

Blood drives set this week

Youngstown

These blood drives are scheduled in the Red Cross’ Northern Ohio Region this week:

Tuesday: First United Methodist Church, 244 S. Broadway, Salem, 1 to 6 p.m. and Austintown Donor Center, 57 Westchester Drive, Austintown, noon to 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Kent State University Trumbull Branch, 4314 Mahoning Ave., Champion, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday: Old North Church, 7105 Herbert Drive, Canfield, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Valley spared in Best Buy closings

YOUNGSTOWN

Two Mahoning Valley Best Buy locations staved off closings — for now, at least. The Boardman and Niles retail stores did not appear on a list of 42 closings released by Minnesota-based Best Buy on Saturday.

The closings are part of a Best Buy restructuring plan, which includes closing many retail stores in favor of smaller, specialty stores like the ones inside Southern Park and Eastwood malls.

The Best Buy locations at Steelyard Commons in Cleveland and Salem Mall in Dayton, along with 40 other locations nationwide, will close by May 12, the company said. No Pennsylvania stores are currently slated for closure. Three additional stores that have not been named will close permanently later this summer.

Kent State suicide

KENT (AP)

University officials say the body of a Kent State University student who committed suicide was discovered inside her campus dormitory room. Authorities say the body of the 19-year-old female student from Cambridge, Ohio, was discovered shortly before noon on Friday. The Akron Beacon Journal reports that a university spokesman says family members had asked that the student be checked on after they weren’t able to contact her. It was not immediately clear when she died.