Local, Regional and National News

In China, Santa gets pushed out as country’s leaders emphasize tradition

Christmas is still a festive shopping season in China, but the holiday cheer is more subdued as the Communist Party emphasizes traditional culture

Secret Santas: Charity buys and erases past-due medical debt

A pair of retired debt collectors are now using their expertise to buy millions of dollars in past-due medical debt for pennies on the dollar

Area leaders excited to convert former YDC campus into social-services hub

The former developmental center is slated to provide a slew of services to the area’s most vulnerable.

Operation Christmas Carol

A once seventh-grade only service project has grown into a school-wide effort at Canfield Village Middle School

Historic designation

Historic designation Boardman Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Market Street is now listed in the

Area kids warmed by NBA player’s charity

By SEAN BARRON news@vindy.com YOUNGSTOWN Whatever weather this winter brings to the Mahoning

Zion Lutheran Church hosts annual live Nativity ‘A time of joy’

The show, now in its 39th year, has evolved from a solemn pantomime set to music and performed only by adult players to include children as shepherds and angels and even several critters like camels, goats and an ox.

TRUMBULL COUNTY COURTS

COURTS TRUMBULL COUNTY Marriage licenses Vincent E. Baker, 43, and Melissa A. Tedrow, 37, both

christmas | What’s open/closed

A checklist of local, state and federal institutions and local businesses closed today, Christmas

Stocks might rise in 2019, but will be stressful

Associated Press NEW YORK No matter which way the stock market goes in 2019 – and Wall Street

Santa tracker

Despite government shutdown, hundreds of volunteers ready to answer calls from children around the

School bus driver shortage creates headaches for districts

Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. School districts throughout the U.S. are struggling to find

Births

Births St. Elizabeth boardman hospital Angela M. Rohr and Jacob Marshall, Warren, girl, Dec. 22.

After criticism, Trump pushes out Mattis sooner

Associated Press WASHINGTON Irritated with the criticism and fallout from Defense Secretary

White House Official: Trump would take less for wall

Chief of staff warns partial government shutdown could stretch into next year Associated Press

New rules could close some child care businesses in Ohio

New rules could close some child care businesses in Ohio DAYTON A new report shows planned rule

Local veteran remembers witnessing Apollo 8 landing

The year 1968 is remembered for its unprecedented accomplishments: success of the Apollo program and the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

Portman, Brown not pleased with GM’s response

U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, and Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati, said GM executives’ Friday response to their Dec. 11 letter didn’t address their concerns and Lordstown workers “deserve better.”

Ward Beecher dazzles audiences with free holiday show

Youngstown State’s Ward Beecher Planetarium added extra showings to meet demand for its free showing of ‘Let It Snow!’, coordinators said.

East Side group sets out to make others’ holidays brighter

The crime-watch group hosted the two-hour gathering