The only thing worse than realizing you don't have your files backed up when your computer or external hard drive crashes, is finding out it could cost hundreds, or maybe even thousands of dollars to get them back.

But, if you live in the Akron-Canton area; you're in luck, because students at Stark State College, will help you recover your precious photos, videos, music—or whatever else you lost— for free, this week!

Listen now, for all the details, from Stark State Cybersecurity Professor, Glenn Goe.

Prof. Glenn Goe, Stark State College 

330 is more than just a date, and more than just an area code in Akron today.

it is a day dedicated to showing off your civic pride, and participating in fun events citywide.

And, as you'll hear now from Akron-Summit County Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Greg Mervis; one way to do it, is to wear an Akron themed T-shirt, hoodie, or other type of apparel, snap a selfie, and then post it on social media with the hashtag #330shirtday, for a chance to win $330 in local gift cards.

Find out more about the contest, and fun events going on around town, as he talks about it with Jeanne Destro, who is hosting the Ray Horner Show, this week.

The Pretenders have added another show in Akron, after their first one, set for July 23 at the Goodyear Theater, sold out.

Presales for the second show on July 24, begin Wednesday, March 27 at 10am. All remaining tickets will be released to the general public on Friday, March 29 at 10am. Complete details at thepretenders.com.

When citizens are mislead by lies online, and journalists are hacked, tracked, intimidated, and shut down; democracies worldwide are threatened.

That was the message this week from US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who spoke at this week at the Third Summit For Democracy in Seoul, South Korea.

Blinken talked about efforts the United States is making to support free speech, free press, and free people, by protecting journalists, teaching citizens how to spot misinformation, and regulating the use of commercial spyware.

We'll also hear about how that spyware works, from Cybersecurity expert, Dr. John Nicholas, who is the Director of the Center for Information and Communication Sciences, at Ball State University.

Find out more. Listen now.

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State

Dr. John Nicholas, Ball State University

In the Ohio primary yesterday, no surprises as President Joe Biden, and former President Donald Trump, get the win.

When it comes to the other big race in Ohio yesterday, though; it was Trump-supported Republican Cleveland car dealer, Bernie Moreno, who will challenge long-time Democratic Incumbent, US Senator, Sherrod Brown next fall, after beating out State Senator Matt Dolan, and Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose.

Some races of interest in Summit County, include:

• In the 13th District Congressional Race, Republican Kevin Coughlin will go up against incumbent Democrat, Emilia Sykes in November.
• In the 34th Ohio House District race, Democrat Derrick Hall will face Republican Adam Bozic.
• Meanwhile, the State Rep currently holding that position, Democrat Casey Weinstein, is now running for the 28th District Ohio Senate Seat, and will face off against Republican, Jon Leissler.
• For Summit County Prosecutor—Republican John Greven, will go up against recently appointed Democratic incumbent, Elliot Kolkovich next fall.
• Republican Katie Reed, will face off against former Democratic State Representative, Tavia Galonski, for Summit County Clerk of Courts.

Tax Levies:

• The proposed additional tax levy to pay for police and fire contracts in Northfield Center Township, failed, but the one for a similar purpose in Richfield Township, passed.
• In Springfield Township, the proposed tax levy replacement for road and bridge construction failed, but the one for police operations, passed.
• Twinsburg voters rejected a proposed tax levy to support road and bridge construction.

School Levies:

Four out of seven school levies in Summit County passed.

Voters said "Yes" to Schools in Aurora, Green, Manchester, and Woodridge, but rejected the levies in Nordonia Hills, Mogodore, and Northwest Local Schools.

Who Voted?

The Ohio Secretary of State's office reports that only about 22 percent of Ohio's more than 8 million registered Ohio voters cast their ballot in the primary yesterday.

More votes of course, will show up in the next few days, as absentee ballots are counted.

For a full list of results, click these links to the Ohio Secretary of State website, and to the Summit County Board of Elections.

The Summit County Sheriff's office reports they found and returned a prisoner to jail, who had escaped yesterday by walking away from a work detail

Now, in addition to facing drug possession and stlolen property charges; 55 year old Ransom Moffit, of Akron, is also charged with escape.

So much has changed since the pandemic shut down that started four years ago this week, and one of those things is how much more dependent we all are on technology.

Going to work and to school suddenly became doable from home, but only for those with fast and reliable internet connections. Those who could not count on them, were left having to use less reliable connections through mobile phones, or public Wi-Fi at the library, coffee shops, and restaurants like McDonalds.

Even that was hard, though, because those places shut down too, in the early months of the pandemic, leaving many students and families scrambling.

Since then, the government has stepped in to try to bridge the "digital divide", between Americans in more affluent areas, and those in lower income neighborhoods, where high speed broadband is less prevalent, through federal funds for projects like Summit County's $57 million dollar "fiber ring". That project, which just recently got underway, will  connect 31 local communities and government agencies through a fast and secure network that extends Fairlawn Gig municipal broadband service countywide.

But while extremely useful and important for the safety and security of county residents, that fiber ring doesn't solve the high speed broadband connectivity problem for individual consumers in their homes. So, that's where the City of Akron's recently announced partnership with New Jersey-based SiFi Networks, comes in.

The city will grant the national fiber network developer access to right of ways, with a goal of creating a citywide fiber optic network and affordable, high-quality internet access for all residents.

In return, SiFi Networks plans to invest more than $200 million to install, maintain and operate an underground fiber optic network throughout Akron at no cost to the city, enabling citywide digitization while supporting economic growth.

In addition, SiFi has agreed to reimburse the City of Akron for costs associated with expediting review of permits during the project. 

We talked about it with City of Akron Chief Technology Manager Darren Roznek, who tells us that once the new fiber optic network is built; that could not only mean both high speed internet connections for residents who do not have them yet, but also lower internet connection prices for all consumers in Akron.

Find out why. Listen now.

Darren Roznek, Chief Technology Manager, City of Akron

Akron Police allege the man who was getting robbed at gunpoint in Kenmore on March 14, but then pulled out his own gun and shot his assailants–killing one of them–was in the process of selling them marijuana.

That's why 30 year old Jeffery Ratliff is charged with Trafficking in Marijuana, but the man he shot and wounded who was allegedly trying to rob him; Jovante Dowdell, is charged with murder and aggravated robbery.

Dowdell, who suffered a graze wound to his thigh, and was arrested after showing up at the hospital for treatment, is now in jail.

His accomplice, 19 year old Javeone Aamir Suggs, died at the scene of the crime, in the 2100 block of 19th Street SW in Akron.

US Marshals and Akron Police arrested the suspect wanted in connection with the alleged abduction of a teen mother and her baby daughter, Monday in Akron.

They were taken from a foster home in West Chester Township, Ohio, in Butler County, early Monday morning.

After a statewide Amber Alert for 17 year old Maoly Toscano-Herrera, and her one year old daughter, Sara Herrera was issued earlier today; The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force found them, along with the suspect who allegedly abducted them, in a home in the 300 block of Gibbs Drive, in Akron.

Now, 22 year old Bayron Tajeda, will be held in Akron until he can be extradited back to West Chester.

Authorities say the mother and child are from the Akron area, but were moved to the foster home after an incident of "extreme domestic violence" in Akron on March 9th.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Quick work by West Chester Police, the Missing Child Unit in Northern Ohio and the NOVFTF Akron Division along with a far-reaching Amber Alert system led to the safe recovery of these two victims.  The Missing Child Unit of the USMS will continue to support any of our local departments when critically endangered missing children are involved.”

An Amber alert has been issued to help find two missing girls; one, 17 years old, and the other, 1 year old.

Police allege that the suspect 22 year old Bayron Tejeda abducted 17-year-old Maoly Herrera Toscano and 1-year-old Sara Herrera early this morning from a residence in West Chester Township, Ohio, which is in Butler County. 

He is described as a Hispanic male, age 22, 5'11" tall, weighs 170lbs, and has black hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a frayed light blue jean jacket and dark colored jeans.

They are asking for help finding Tejeda, who is believed to be driving a white SUV, make and model unknown at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-877-AMBER-OH (1-877-262-3764), WEST CHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT (513) 777-223, or dial 9-1-1.