Hearings on bill to eliminate judgeship

Hearings on bill to eliminate judgeship

COLUMBUS

A legislative committee began hearings Tuesday on legislation that would eliminate a vacant judgeship on the Youngstown Municipal Court.

Democratic Reps. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, and Ronald Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, offered sponsor testimony before the House’s Judiciary and Ethics Committee on House Bill 606. The legislation could move through the House and Senate before the end of the year.

The bill seeks to reduce the bench in the municipal court from three to two judges, eliminating the seat that was vacated when Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. retired in the summer.

The Mahoning County Bar Association and others support the move.

Fraud forum set

Youngstown

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the next regional community fraud forum will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Newport Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 3730 Market St.

The forum is free and features special workshops for law enforcement, social workers and other caretakers. Discussions will focus on consumer and charitable scams affecting Ohioans, along with patient and Medicaid abuse.

Continuing-education credit is available for social workers and crime- prevention officers. For additional information or to register to attend, go to www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/CommunityForum. Consumers who believe they may have been a victim of fraud should file a complaint with the attorney general’s office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.

ACTION meeting

warren

The education task force of ACTION will host a meeting on “Failure is Not an Option“ from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Park Ave., where the Rev. Rick Oaks is lead pastor.

Topics will be curriculum, policy and safety by Warren Schools Superintendent Michael Notar; third-grade reading by Melissa Watson; and A-plus through I grading by Dontae Capers.

The Rev. Dwayne Heard of Youngstown is president of Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing our Neighborhoods, and Rose Carter is executive director.

Seeking books

hubbard

The Friends of the Library is asking residents to donate any unused books as part of a book-sharing project for the holidays.

Along with children’s and young-adult books, the group also is accepting jigsaw puzzles, VHS tapes and DVDs. The Hubbard Friends of the Library is hoping to redistribute all the items throughout the community. Donations can be dropped off during regular library hours at Hubbard Public Library, 436 W. Liberty St.