Good morning, Youngstown.

The Belated America 250 celebration begins in Youngstown today with a First Friday kickoff and Ignite the Night planned for tomorrow.

Local officials say the festivities will honor the city's heritage and bring the community together.

On Thursday, Aug. 6, the Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County donated over 900 books to Safehouse Residential Services to help expand educational programs for children and teens in the community.

Pink Out Mahoning Valley holds its fourth annual concert on Sunday, Oct.

4 at Austintown Township Park bandshell at noon. Local bands will perform with food trucks and vendors on site; guests should bring lawn chairs and blankets (vendor inquiries via email) and wear pink to support Breast Cancer awareness.

Giant Eagle will give myPerks customers five times the perks when they spend $100 at Giant Eagle or Market District during Ohio’s sales tax weekend (Saturday, Aug.

8 to Sunday, Aug. 9), earning 50 cents off per gallon at GetGo with one redemption per household; the offer excludes select items.

Monthly data by the Public Utilities Commission shows that Youngstown residents’ utility bills jumped 10.6% since last year, with July averages reaching about $351 as electric bills rose nearly 15%, natural gas increased 4.1%, and telephone bills went up 9.4%.

PLYMC has raised spending as salaries jumped 40% over the past five years (from about $6.95M in 2021 to $11.57M today) due to union wage negotiations and new high-paying positions.

The library hired an outside firm for its new strategic plan and paused major building projects amid changing state funding.

Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board announced a partnership with the county’s Sheriff's Office to create the Justice Navigator role and support inmate mental health.

The new position was introduced Aug. 6 — it is expected to improve services for inmates.

City of Struthers launched a business facade grant program using $25,000 from its budget to help local businesses improve exterior appearances (grants cover 50% of approved projects up to $5,000).

Applications are open Monday, Aug. 10 to Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m.

Southwoods Health has completed a 40,000-sqft expansion and renovation at its surgical hospital on Southern Boulevard in Boardman, upgrading pre- and post-operative areas, patient bays with enhanced privacy, an expanded waiting room, and adding a state-of-the-art endoscopy unit.

PLYMC will partner with the American Red Cross to hold six August blood drives at local libraries to help address a blood shortage.

Drives will occur on Aug. 8 at Austintown and Boardman, Aug. 11 at Poland, Aug. 15 at Canfield, Aug. 18 at Austintown and Aug. 24 at Boardman.

Gault Heating and Cooling H.S. wrote a preview on Aug.

6 of the Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles football team ahead of their game. Sports reporter Cameron Niemi shows the team lineup and plan as they get ready to play.

Gault Heating & Cooling H.S. offers a preview of the Hickory Hornets football team, detailing their outlook and key plays for local fans ahead of the upcoming season.

Local high school teams are gearing up as reporter Cameron Niemi previews the Wilmington Greyhounds by outlining key players and strategies in anticipation of their upcoming football matchup.

The preview gives local fans a clear look at what to expect at the game.