While millions of people all over the world have eagerly embraced buying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for years now, it has always been a bit of a hassle and pretty risky.

Now, that has changed—at least to some degree— thanks to recent action from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), especially when it comes to institutional investors, like banks, or even individuals who want to make very large purchases.

Find out why their recent decision to allow Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) matters, and what that could mean for you, from Kent State University Finance Professor, David Pelleg.

David Pelleg, Kent State University

On word that Summa Health is in the process of being acquired by General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Corporation (HATco), Akron Mayor Shammis Malik released this statement today:

“The City of Akron’s partnership with Summa will remain strong. My family, like much of our community, has depended on Summa for healthcare in difficult moments. My hope and belief is today’s announcement will ensure Akron families can continue to rely on Summa for excellent care for decades to come.

Change has been a constant in healthcare across the country and here at home. 35 years ago, Akron City Hospital and St. Thomas Hospital merged to form Summa, and now the system is looking to transform again. As a community, we will face these new changes head on, prioritizing patient health, community wellbeing, and support for Summa’s amazing employees.

I want to thank Dr. Cliff Deveny, his leadership team, and every Summa employee for their service to the community, as well as the Summa Board. We look forward to working with the Health Assurance Transformation Corporation (HATCo) on the future of healthcare in Akron.”

Summa Health, meanwhile, explained the changes ahead, in the following way on their website:

"Akron, Ohio-based Summa Health and General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Corporation (HATCo) announced today that the two organizations have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent outlining HATCo’s planned acquisition of Summa Health. This strategic alignment marks the beginning of a long-term, transformational journey to create a new, more proactive, affordable and equitable system of community-based, lifelong healthcare.

HATCo is eager to work with Summa Health to advance healthcare innovation based on the strength of Summa’s large, integrated healthcare delivery system and its proven track record in leading meaningful changes to care delivery. As part of HATCo, Summa Health will build upon its existing strengths and capabilities and create new opportunities to leverage innovative technology that will improve the health of communities across the Greater Akron region.

“This new structure will better serve our communities clinically, economically and socially. With HATCo, Summa Health will be able to increase local investment and introduce new resources that allow us to expand access to affordable, quality, coordinated care,” said Cliff Deveny, M.D., Summa Health President and CEO. “We’re excited about new opportunities to enhance the patient and provider experience, strengthen our recruitment pipeline, build upon our commitment to medical education and training, and expand the growth of SummaCare to advance health equity and population health across the communities we serve.”

Summa Health’s leadership team will work closely with HATCo, including Dr. Marc Harrison, HATCo CEO and Hemant Taneja, General Catalyst CEO, to leverage their collaborative, complementary expertise in healthcare and health systems to plan the transformation journey. HATCo’s investment into Summa Health will drive not only near-term benefit to the organization and the patients it serves but also sustainable, long-term transformation through a true shift to value-based care.

“HATCo is grounded in the belief that by making health systems more profitable, vibrant and innovative, they will be better equipped to serve everyone in their communities with greater impact. We are thrilled to partner with Summa Health to bring this vision to life,” said Marc Harrison, M.D., co-founder and CEO of HATCo. “The current national healthcare system is fragmented and creates barriers to care and wellness. In partnership with Summa, we intend to prove that a model that’s better for patients can also be good for business and create a blueprint for other systems and communities.”

Within the new structure, Summa Health will become a for-profit organization and HATCo and Summa Health will maintain the health system’s commitment to charity care. In addition, as a result of the transaction, a community foundation will be created that advances Summa’s mission through increased, focused investment into social determinants of health that benefits the entire Greater Akron area. The health system delivered $210.1 million in community benefit to area residents in 2022 and is deeply committed to continuing this long-standing work to improve the health of its region.

“Our shared vision is to create a replicable healthcare model that marks a true and meaningful shift from a ‘sick care’ system to a resilient, proactive model of health assurance,” said Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst, and founder and chairman of HATCo. “By doing so, we will help people stay well, bend the cost curve through innovation and make quality care more affordable and accessible. I couldn’t be more excited to collaborate and execute on that vision with Summa Health and HATCo. We aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the greater Akron community, create a standard for the health system of the future, and inspire communities across America to adopt this vision.”

“This alliance provides Summa Health with comprehensive opportunities to grow our organization in ways we can’t achieve alone. Many other health systems are navigating the very same challenges we must transcend,” said George Strickler, Chair of Summa Health’s Board of Directors. “We are excited about this opportunity to work hand-in-hand with HATCo to increase investment in Summa Health and our communities and drive meaningful, transformative change that will benefit the entire healthcare industry.”

“From a nursing perspective, I‘m very excited about the potential to shape the future of nursing care through this relationship,” added Penelope Gorsuch, DNP, RN, NEA-BC-FACHE, Summa Health Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. “As we look to continue to extend our work on evidenced-based practices across Summa and beyond, our shared vision with HATCo provides us with unique opportunities to enhance and grow our focus on innovative nursing models.”

HATCo and Summa Health are now entering a due diligence period during which they will work together to further evaluate and define details of the proposed relationship, while carefully reviewing information from both organizations before finalizing a definitive agreement. Summa Health will continue to provide the same essential services, current and planned commitments will proceed uninterrupted, and the organization will continue to invest in Ohio employees and initiatives.

The two organizations anticipate finalizing a definitive agreement in the next several months. Following receipt of required regulatory approvals and transaction closing, Summa Health will become a wholly owned subsidiary of HATCo and continue its focus on growth and enhanced access to care.

To learn more about this strategic partnership, please visit SummaHealth.org/Future."

Brutally low temperatures with sub-zero wind chills, have prompted Akron City officials to continue extending the regular operating hours of the Summit Lake Community Center at 380 West Crosier Street, as a warming center for people who need someplace to stay out of the cold. It will be open from 8AM to 7PM, now through Friday.

In addition, the City's Emergency Overnight Shelter operated in partnership with several area non-profits, at 111 East Voris Street, is available for anyone who needs someplace safe and warm to stay between 7PM and 8AM.

More information: click here.

The violence started on the West side, at around 3:00 on Friday afternoon, in the 1700 block of Liberty Drive, which is near the Northwest Branch of the Akron Public Library.

Police say that's when a 34 year old man who was waiting for an acquaintance, got carjacked by a man he didn't know who pulled a gun and demanded his car. He wasn't hurt, though, and police say they found his Jeep Wagoneer on Saturday in Bolivar, Ohio, in Tuscarawas County.

Then, early Sunday morning, a little after 3:00AM, police responded to a call about shots fired in the 1100 block of South Bellows Street in South Akron, near Marcy Park. Residents of a house there, told police they were awakened by the sound of gunfire, and that they found two bullet holes in their walls. Nobody was hurt there, either.

That was not the case, though, in East Akron at 12:03AM, today (Monday), when police found a 52 year old man in the 700 block of Hudson Street, who had been shot in the legs. They say they applied tourniquets to stop the bleeding until EMS arrived, and the man was taken to the hospital with what are described as non life-threatening injuries.

No arrests have been announced in any of the incidents, and police are asking for tips to help them track down the suspects.

Today we're exploring the effects of social media on kids and teens, and what is being done to address them.

In our latest edition of  "This Week in Tech with Jeanne Destro", we're talking with two experts on the topic; a professor from the University of Akron, and a nationally known tech journalist.

This has been an interesting week, with the state of Ohio's new law that requires parents to consent to children under the age of 16 now on hold, because of a lawsuit filed by an organization representing the tech industry.

That group, NetChoice, got a federal judge to issue a temporary injunction to stay the law, that was supposed to go into effect on Monday, January 15th.

In addition, Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram, announced some voluntary controls on what kids and teens can see in their feeds, and access through searches.These new restrictions are related to topics which have been shown to harm mental health, including body image, suicide, and more.

Listen now to my conversation with Professor of Practice, Julie Cajigas, who teaches classes on social media at the University of Akron:

Prof. Julie Cajigas, University of Akron

 Next, a deeper dive into this topic, with Ian Sherr, who recently left CNET after 15 years as their Editor at Large, and who is now a frequent CBS News contributor.

Ian Sherr, CBS News Tech Contributor

As the City of Akron continues to gear up for its big Bicentennial celebration in 2025; the the organization actually handling the event has changed.

Now, instead of being run by the Akron Bicentennial Commission; a new not-for-profit corporation called "Akron 200 Inc.", has been formed to run what will be a year-long celebration in 2025. In addition, Mark Geer, who has been on the Commission since 2022, has been named the new organization's Executive Director.

Mayor Shammas Malik talked about it with WAKR Morning Show Host, Ray Horner, this morning:

According to a Press Release from the Downtown Akron Partnership, Greer has served on the Commission since its formation in June 2022 along with 27 other community representatives.

Greer is from Akron, and is the founder of Ulysses McNeal Consulting Company. He served as Small Business Program Manager and Administrator of the Great Streets Initiative for the City of Akron for four years and oversaw the award of over $3 million in grants.

A graduate of Firestone High School, he earned the B.M. magna cum laude in Music Performance from Bowling Green State University and holds a masters degree from Kent State University. Greer also serves as an assistant pastor at The Family Church, a non-denominational ministry in Akron’s University Park Neighborhood, and previously taught on the faculties of Malone University and the University of Mount Union.

Several projects are currently in-progress for the Bicentennial, including:

• The Akron History Center, an enduring free museum-quality exhibit about the 200-year history of Akron, is being constructed at 172 South Main Street in downtown Akron. $1.8 million has been committed to the project by government, local foundations, corporations and individuals. Design work was completed this summer, and fabrication of exhibits is underway with installation scheduled for January, and the opening targeted for Spring, 2024.
• A new anthology of Akron history is being published by the University of Akron Press. Dr. Jon Miller, Professor of English and Director of the Press is co-editor of the book that will be released in time for the 2025 anniversary.
  An outdoor drama, directed by Katie Beck, Co-Artistic Director of Gum-Dip Theatre and a member of the Commission, is planned for Waters Park on North Hill during the Bicentennial.
• A group of Akron Public School teachers is being assembled to develop digital materials for the teaching of Akron history to students in grades three through eleven.

The Akron Bicentennial Commission includes 28 representatives from neighborhoods, special interest groups and every ward in the city. The Commission has established a process to receive applications from community organizations (schools, houses of worship, neighborhood groups, associations) to create programming that will ensure that the year-long commemoration is inclusive and reflective of Akron, and open and accessible to the public.

Workgroups are being established to create opportunities for hundreds of citizens to participate in Bicentennial activities.

PARTIAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Akron’s 200th year begins December 6, 2024. General Simon Perkins filed the plat of Akron at the courthouse in Ravenna on December 6, 1825. In line with prior commemorations of city anniversaries in 1925, 1975, and 2000 the Akron Bicentennial Celebration will take place in July 2025.

• December 5, 2024 - Akron Roundtable presentation by Dave Lieberth.
• April 22, 2025 - Tuesday Musical Association premiere of an orchestral fanfare for the Bicentennial celebration, to be debuted at a concert at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
• July 3- 6, 2025 - The Akron Bicentennial Celebration, Tuesday through Sunday. Downtown Festival at the Civic Gateway- Lock 3, Lock 4, Main Street
• July 5 Bicentennial Parade
• TBD – The Soul of Philanthropy Exhibit sponsored by Akron Community Foundation’s Black Giving Collective
  Other historical commemorations occurring during the Bicentennial year include the Centennial of the Goodyear Blimp; John Brown’s 225th birthday on May 9; the 90th anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous on May 11; and the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in August.

Andrew Samo, PhD Candidate, BGSU

Paul Speer, Artist, Composer, Producer, Engineer

A 21 year old clerk at Border's Drive Through at 1365 South Arlington Street in Akron was killed late Tuesday night by a customer who wanted a particular kind of cigar, and tried to use a bill that wasn't in acceptable condition to pay for it.

Police say the man, who walked up to the drive through window, started arguing with the clerk, pulled a gun, and demanded a Black& Mild cigar. Then, even though the clerk gave it to him; the suspect still shot him before running away.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's office has identified the clerk as Ahmad Alibrahim, of Akron, and they say he died as the result of a gunshot wound to the neck. 

Now police are looking for the killer, who is described as a black male around 18-25 years old, in what they are calling an "incredibly senseless" tragedy.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip. Citizens may also provide anonymous information to any of the following:

• The Summit County Crimestoppers, which is now reportedly offering a $5,000 reward: call 330-434-COPS.
• Text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637
• Download the Akron PD app and submit information by texting Tips411 or accessing the link on the Akron Police website: www.AkronCops.org.

Imagine lying down in your own house, and getting struck by a bullet coming in from the outside.

That's exactly what happned to a 42 year old man in the 1300 block of Newton Street in Akron's Goodyear Heights neighborhood, Thursday night at about 7:30 PM.

Police say the man, who was shot in the shoulder, is now in stable condition at Summa Health Akron City Hospital, and that even though there were other people in the house at the time; none of them were injured.

Now, police are asking for tips to help them solve the crime, because the only evidence left at the scene was shell casings in a nearby church parking lot.