Signal Akron

2 days ago | signalakron.org | Reegan Davis Saunders

As three Goodyear blimps circled over downtown Akron Tuesday afternoon, residents gathered on the lawn at Lock 3 for Mayor Shammas Malik’s second State of the City address. “Look at that, wow,” Malik said. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this. This is too exciting.”Malik shared updates on some of his administration’s biggest initiatives with the crowd, many of whom kept gazing upward to admire the blimps or to take cell phone pictures.

2 days ago | signalakron.org | Reegan Davis Saunders |Susan Zake

Ohio’s tax-free holiday is changing again this year, with additional days bringing it to two full weeks in duration. Originally enacted to help Ohioans with back-to-school purchases, it now includes an expanded tax break period to aid with other substantial purchases. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday that this year’s Ohio sales tax holiday will run from midnight on Friday, Aug. 1 through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14. Need more information?

4 days ago | signalakron.org | Reegan Davis Saunders

The Akron community raised nearly $315,000 for the victims of last year’s June 2 mass shooting in East Akron, said Akron Community Foundation Vice President John Garofalo. The Gun Violence Response Fund, launched days after 28 people were injured and LaTeris Cook, 27, was killed at a birthday party on Kelly Avenue, was created to provide immediate support to victims and their families.

4 days ago | signalakron.org | Reegan Davis Saunders

Mayor Shammas Malik acknowledged that there is not a ton of common ground on the issue of policing in Akron. Ahead of Malik’s State of the City address Tuesday, June 3, at 5 p.m. at Lock 3, Signal Akron asked our readers to give a “progress report” on the mayor’s first year in office, rating his administration’s success in some of his focus areas — from public safety to economic development. We used some of the survey responses as we asked Malik to review his own performance.

5 days ago | signalakron.org | Brittany Moseley

Vinnie Cimino may run one of Cleveland’s most popular restaurants, but make no mistake: He’s a die-hard Akronite. “I scream about Akron as much as I can, even though I work in Cleveland,” said Cimino, head chef at Cordelia. “Akron will always have my heart. And as a kid from Akron [and] somebody who still lives in Akron, Swensons has always been a big part of my life and my culture.”Now, Cimino is making his own mark on the beloved local hamburger chain.