METRO DIGEST || Former CIA officer to speak Tuesday

Ex-CIA officer lecture

YOUNGSTOWN

John Kiriakou, former CIA officer, noted author and commentator, presents “Ethics in Intelligence Operations” at 7 p.m. Tuesday in St. John’s Episcopal Church on Wick Avenue in Youngstown.

Kiriakou disclosed in a TV interview that torture was a sanctioned practice of the government, approved by the president and became known as a whistleblower. Years of investigation followed. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act. He had inadvertently mentioned a fellow officer’s name in recounting a CIA story in another interview. He served two years in a low-security federal prison in Loretto, Pa.

The free lecture is open to the public and sponsored by the James Dales Ethics Center at Youngstown State University, WYSU 88.5 FM and the church. Attendees should park behind church off Walnut Street. Those planning to attend should call 330-743-3175.

Sentenced to 8 years

WARREN

Hargus D. Hall, 34, of Knapp Drive in Cortland, who was convicted at trial in December in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court of burglary, was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday.

Hall was charged after a resident of Mahan Denman Road in Mecca Township came home Dec. 10, 2015, to find a car he did not recognize in his driveway.

He then noticed the front door of his house was open, and a man he would later identify as Hall came out. The resident asked Hall what he was doing, and Hall asked the man if he had a four-wheeler for sale.

The victim let the suspect leave but called 911, and a police officer determined the license plate belonged to Hall.

The resident later reported a tablet computer had been taken from his home.

Ethics Bowl competition

YOUNGSTOWN

For the second consecutive year, Youngstown State University’s Ethics Bowl team placed second in the nation in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition in Dallas.

The YSU team is Lindsay Heldreth of Canfield, a philosophy and religious studies major; Rachael Jenkins of Youngstown, a philosophy and communications studies major; Tyler Miller-Gordon of Hubbard, a philosophy and French major; and Jacob Schriner-Briggs of Youngstown, a philosophy and political science major. The team is coached by Alan Tomhave, associate professor and chairman of philosophy and religious studies.

About 200 teams compete in the regional tournaments.

Basic computer class

YOUNGSTOWN

The main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 305 Wick Ave., will have a basic computer class from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Participants will learn how to operate Windows 10. This year’s theme is “Preparing For The Workforce.” For information and to register, contact 330-565-2118 or A Time For Recovery Outreach on Facebook.

Inmate re-entry grant

AUSTINTOWN

Mahoning County commissioners Wednesday adopted a resolution in support of an application for a $650,000, three-year U.S. Department of Justice grant to help jail and prison inmates with mental health or substance abuse issues make their re-entry into the community after their release.

The commissioners are applying for the Second Chance Re-entry Initiative Grant, which would require no local matching funds, in partnership with the Community Corrections Association.

The commissioners also issued a proclamation recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Month as they marked the 50th anniversary of state legislation creating Ohio’s county DD boards.

YSU-Hungary work

YOUNGSTOWN

Representatives from Youngstown State University and the University of Szeged in Hungary signed a General Academic Cooperation Agreement on Wednesday afternoon. The agreement will formalize the joint academic endeavors that have been occurring in practice between the two academic communities.

SB 7 heads to House

COLUMBUS

Individuals who violate civil-protection orders could face charges if they were made aware of those orders, under legislation moved by the Ohio Senate this week.

SB 7 passed on a vote of 32-0 and heads to the Ohio House for further consideration.

Sen. Kevin Bacon, R-Columbus, primary sponsor of the legislation, said the law changes are needed to protect residents. Under current law and a court decision, individuals can avoid charges for violating protection orders if they have not been formally served related legal notices.

SB 7 would expand current law to enable prosecution of protection-order violations if their targets are simply aware of the orders and recklessly violate their terms.

Arrested for thefts

BOARDMAN

Township police arrested a man wanted for numerous shoplifting incidents reported over the last year.

Brad Ruozzo, 32, of Campbell, turned himself in on four misdemeanor theft warrants Tuesday, according to police reports.

The charges stem from incidents on March 7 and 8 of last year, and on July 10 and 11.

Police said Ruozzo stole a $536 KitchenAid mixer from J.C. Penney, a $580 iRobot Roomba from Kohl’s, a $179 paint sprayer out of someone’s shopping cart at Home Depot, and $98 worth of “My Pillow” products from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

After he was booked by township police, Ruozzo was turned over to the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office on a probation violation warrant, according to the report.

He is scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Area Court here today.