Finalists in open forums

Finalists in open forums

YOUNGSTOWN

The three finalists for the police chief position at Youngstown State University will be on campus next week in open forums.

Stephen VanWinkle, a captain at the Miami of Ohio University Police Department will be here Tuesday; Jeffrey Scott, police chief at Notre Dame College, on Wednesday; and Shawn Varson, interim police chief at YSU, on Thursday.

All forums are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the board of trustees meeting room in Tod Hall, first floor.

2 robberies reported

YOUNGSTOWN

Police reported two robberies early Wednesday within a half-hour of each other.

About 12:25 a.m., police were called to a home in the 200 block of Gaither Avenue on the South Side, where a 19-year-old from Poland told them he was there to buy Xanax when someone hit him in the neck with a pipe and took cash and his iPhone, then left in the same vehicle the victim came to the home in.

The victim declined to be treated, but he did have a bruise, reports said.

About 12:50 a.m., police were called to a home in the first block of Rhoda Avenue on the West Side, where a 21-year-old man told them he was helping his grandmother take something out of her car when a man dressed in black walked up to him, pointed a gun and demanded his money.

Reports said the robber stole the man’s wallet and cellphone and ran away. Police searched the area but found no suspects.

Searched for marijuana

BOARDMAN

Township police are investigating a home reported to be the site of growing marijuana plants.

Officers entered 864 Indianola Road on Tuesday morning with a search warrant from Judge Joseph Houser, according to a police report.

Officers detained the female resident while they searched the residence. No charges were filed Wednesday.

The search revealed 25 marijuana seeds in the house, multiple marijuana paraphernalia in the bedroom as well as several grow lights and an unspecified number of marijuana plants located in a shed on the property.

Cemetery cleanup

BROOKFIELD

Spring cleanup at the Brookfield Cemetery will take place Monday. Cemetery officials are asking the public to remove all flowers and decorations before this date.

Budget sent to Kasich

COLUMBUS

State lawmakers have sent Gov. John Kasich a $7.8 billion, two-year transportation budget, including funding for road and bridge projects and mass transit.

The House approved House Bill 26 on Wednesday on a vote of 81-16, and the Senate followed suit shortly thereafter, 28-5. Backers said the bill will translate into tens of thousands of jobs.

Kasich has line-item veto authority on the legislation, meaning he can strike portions he doesn’t support before adding his signature.

The bill included a Senate amendment requiring at least $33 million in federal flexible funding in each fiscal year to be directed to public transportation projects.

Lawmakers also approved a pilot project for Mahoning, Stark and four other counties to charge $15 per registration instead of $30 for commercial vehicles – a move proponents hope will lead to an increase in big-rig registrations in the state.

Among other provisions, lawmakers included language that would allow county commissioners to increase vehicle registration fees by $5, with the proceeds to be used for street and bridge projects.