Good morning, Youngstown.

OCCHA helps hundreds of families at its food pantry on Shirley Road, open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., during the Feed Our Valley Campaign.

The non-profit is planning a toy drive for kids on Three Kings Day (Jan. 6) as part of its community support.

The Rescue Mission provided nearly 58,000 shelter nights and 130,600 meals to over 1,000 people in the Mahoning Valley over the past year.

The organization plans to expand its facility by adding extra family rooms and transitional housing on its 9.5 acres to meet growing demand.

Local rail-safety expert Jess Conard has launched Disaster Averted: Rail Watch Service to help local leaders spot hazards by offering a 60-minute strategy session on rail risks and emergency planning - the program began in wake of the East Palestine train derailment and welcomes community applicants.

School board officials and transportation staff met Wednesday at Choffin Career and Technical Center to discuss challenges with reconfiguring bus routes ahead of merging Chaney and East schools in 2026-27.

The session highlighted driver shortages and inconsistent service that have strained the district’s current model.

Trumbull County commissioners in Warren will begin interviewing candidates for a new dog warden next week after Michele Goss resigned; more than a dozen resumes have been received, including one from Florida and one candidate requesting (via ZOOM) interview, with plans to fill the role by mid-January.

Girard officials plan to restore the historic Wellman Theater on West Liberty Street by removing a small roof above the alleyway and repairing the building's main roof — with funds including American Rescue Plan money.

They also will improve traffic signals and update zoning texts along U.S. Route 422 next year.

Students and staff at Academy for Urban Scholars urged council on Wednesday to keep the traffic light and create a school zone at the busy intersection to avoid dangerous close calls.

Deputy Director (Chuck Shasho) said the city will review options as the school submits a request form.

On Tuesday night, the YSU women's basketball team beat Wright State 65-46 in their Horizon League home opener at Zidian Family Arena.

Redshirt freshman Danielle Cameron scored a career-high 18 points following a nine-day practice break, and the Penguins now head to Miami for the FIU Holiday Classic starting Friday.

Mineral Ridge suffered its first loss in a 44-39 contest at Campbell Memorial D’Amato Fieldhouse on Tuesday when Campbell held off a late comeback.

Ridge is now 5-1 overall while Campbell drops to 2-3 (MVAC) as both teams prepare for upcoming games.

Green Thumb: Paint, Plant & Sip

6-9 p.m. — Smash-On Party Center — Cost not specified — Unwind with a creative evening of painting pots and enjoying smooth vibes with friends.

Des Moines Buccaneers vs Youngstown Phantoms

7:05-8:35 p.m. — Covelli Centre — Watch live on FloHockey — Catch the thrilling ice hockey match as the Buccaneers take on the Phantoms.

Tropidelic Concert

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Westside Bowl — Tickets starting at $76 — Experience the vibrant energy of Tropidelic's live reggae and electronic fusion.