Good morning, Youngstown.

The Liberty Fire Department welcomed Rufus, a shelter dog from Animal Charity of Ohio, on Wednesday.

The team marked the adoption with a red carpet ceremony at the charity's Boardman facility.

Puerto Rican restaurant Red Rican announced its fourth location at 4500 Mahoning Avenue in Austintown, where The Upstairs Catering once was, though it has not set an opening date yet.

SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC will return two rented boilers used to heat downtown until October to lower monthly expenses from $58,200 to about $28,000 — the company will also pay a $750,000 settlement to Enbridge Gas Co. in $40,000 monthly installments.

Tomorrow at 7 p.m., The Dinner Theatre Rejects will host a 24-hour benefit at Cedars West End on Steel Street in Youngstown to raise $10,000 for a broken AC unit.

The event will feature improv, sketch comedy, karaoke, dancing, live action roleplay, food and drinks with $10 admission.

Downtown roads closed Wednesday at 5 a.m. (for event preparations) are set to ready Youngstown for the Greater Italian Fest—a three-day celebration of Italian heritage starting Friday at Central Square.

The event will feature contests, scholarships, music and local treats, with streets closed until Sunday afternoon.

The Ohio Arts Council Board approved over $390K in grants for 28 Valley organizations to boost local arts.

Funds will support groups in Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties and mark the largest single round of awards in the agency’s history.

Brittany Smith of the Columbiana County Port Authority is negotiating with the East Palestine Community Improvement Corporation for an 85-acre industrial park off Howell Road north of Route 14, which will host 10 to 20 industrial + manufacturing businesses and is expected to begin tenant talks in two years.

Officials reported that Crestview Schools nearly finished its new building—modern classrooms and learning spaces—on Jul.

29, and they expect it will open for classes soon.

Trumbull County earned nearly $750K more in interest this year than during the same period in 2025, Treasurer Agostino Ragozzino said at the advisory committee meeting on Tuesday in Warren.

The county’s careful investments with Meeder Public Funds at U.S. Bank are expected to boost overall income through year-end.

Mahoning Valley Sanitary District announced that on July 15 its water plant missed the required chlorine treatment.

The agency said boiling water is unnecessary for most, but those with health concerns should consult a health care provider.

A sample taken Monday measured 385 CFU/100mL of E. coli at West Branch Lake, which led to a bacteria advisory issued Tuesday.

The advisory was removed at 4 p.m. Wednesday — swimmers are no longer warned against water contact.

The USDA will begin distributing 2.8 million ONRAB oral rabies vaccine baits across Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties starting July 31 to target raccoons, skunks, and other wildlife.

Residents who see the bait should leave it alone and wash any contact area with soap and water (and keep pets away).

Cheeze Louzie Food Truck offers gourmet tater tots, hot dogs and fried cheese to Youngstown residents — the mobile kitchen debuted on Jul 29 and now travels to local spots, delighting food lovers.

Black Men's Wellness Day - Mahoning Valley

7 a.m. - 12 p.m. — Covelli Centre — Free entry — Celebrate health and wellness for Black men with screenings, activities, and entertainment for all ages.

The Bunny The Bear Concert

7-10 p.m. — Westside Bowl — Check venue for tickets — Experience the unique blend of post-hardcore and electronic music with The Bunny The Bear.