The University of Akron's Esports program recently celebrated a career milestone.

For the first time Rocket League history; a collegiate team composed of students from the same school qualified for their Championship Series, known as the RLCS.

But, though they beat out over 900 other highly rated teams in the Rocket League Championship Series to become one of 16 teams to qualify for the RLCS North America Regional; they unfortunately didn't get past the first round.

Still, as you'll hear from U-A Esports Director, Nate Meeker; it did help set them up for future success in other tournaments, and potentially for employment after graduation in a wide variety of professional sports-related jobs.

Listen now.

Summit County's new Prosecutor, Elliot Kolkovich, will be sworn in during a ceremony at the Summit County Courthouse at 2:30 this afternoon.

He was chosen by The Summit county Democratic Party's Central Committee to fill out retiring Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh's term through the end of the year.

She retired for health reasons, and Kolkovich will have to run in the November election to hold the seat.

Kolkovich graduated from the University of Illinois with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Print Journalism in 2002 and 2003 respectively. After working as a freelance writer and then interning in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, Kolkovich enrolled at the St. Louis University School of Law in the Fall of 2006 as a part-time student. While attending law school, he interned at the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office for a summer and worked part-time for a small personal injury law firm.

After graduation in 2010, he moved to Ohio after his wife accepted a job with the Ohio State University. While waiting to take the bar, Kolkovich interned with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office in the Criminal Felony Division and for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in the Antitrust Division. Upon passing the bar, Kolkovichaccepted a position in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office Juvenile Division, prosecuting abuse, neglect, and dependency cases.

He moved to the Criminal Felony Division in February 2012. Kolkovich served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio for eight months before returning to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office as the Community Outreach Prosecutor in May 2023.

Akron Police are investigating two incidents of extreme violence that ocurred in different parts of town on Monday, and they're asking for your help to bring those responsible to justice.

26 year old Carlos DeJesus Godineaux, of Akron, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the 900 block of Bellevue Avenue in the city's Sherbondy Hill neighborhood at about 4:00PM Monday afternoon. So far, all police say they have pieced together of the crime, is that several males were seen running away. Who they are, and where they went is still a mystery.

Also a mystery today, is the identity of the masked attacker wearing dark clothing that left a 35 year old woman semi-conscious and severely injured in the 700 block of Chalker Street, on North Hill, Monday morning at about 10:00AM.

At this point, they say it could have been an isolated incident, perhaps domestic-related; but they don't really know for sure, and that is why they are asking for tips on this incident as well.

The woman survived the attack, but they say she's still in the hospital, and in critical condition.

Anyone with information is asked to call he Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip.

• You can also provide anonymous information to any of
  the following
• The Summit County Crimestoppers, call 330-434-COPS
• Text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637
• Download the Akron PD app and submit information by texting Tips411, or by or accessing the link on the Akron Police website: www.AkronCops.org.

*This story was updated to include the name of the homicide victim, Carlos DeJesus Godineaux.

A new era in space exploration is unfolding at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility near Sandusky, Ohio.

That's where they're testing the new autonomous Dream Chaser Space Plane, made by Colorado-based, Sierra Space.

The first of its kind, named "Tenacity", is currently undergoing rigorous testing, with plans for it to travel to the International Space Station for the first time, later this year.

Photo Credit: Sierra Space

To find out why this new, reusable vehicle with retractable wings that can land on any runway, could usher in a whole new era in space exploration and commercial development; listen now to our conversation with Senior NASA Glenn Research Center Project Manager, Lucas Staab, and Jake Ingram, Director of Programs at Sierra Space.

A 47 year old man who had been riding an electric bike last Friday afternoon on South Arlington Street, has died from the injuries he sustained after getting struck by a hit-skip driver.

So far, police do not know who was driving the white sedan they believe left Jimmy Fletcher of Akron bleeding, and critically injured on the pavement near the intersection of South Arlington and Ray Street.

Now, they are asking for your help, while their investigation continues, and the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office prepares to do an autopsy.

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: 330-434-COPS.

Text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637

You can also download the Akron PD app and submit information by texting Tips411, or access the link on their website: www.AkronCops.org.

Amazon's "Neighbors" app got a little less neighborly in the past week, after the company decided it would no longer allow users to share videos from their RING doorbell home security cameras directly with police.

In a bow to pressure from civil rights groups, Amazon has disabled the direct connection between police and RING users, via their Request for Assistance Tool. Now, if police want access to doorbell cam videos, they have to get it from Amazon, and other than in the most exigent circumstances; with a warrant.

This is a big issue in Akron, because starting last summer, citizens pushed for, and got free RING doorbell cameras from the City, because they wanted more police protection. Now, they'll still be able to get it; but it will take more time.

Is this a good tradeoff?

Find out, with Akron Attorney, Civil Rights expert, and University of Akron Professor of Law, Emeritus, Dean Carro.

Listen now.

Dean Carro, Professor of Law, Emeritus, University of Akron

Akron Police are looking for the gunman who shot a 25 year old gas station convenience store employee on Thursday, Jan. 25, sending him to the hospital with gunshot wounds, where he has reportedly been in critical condition.

Now, they're circulating a picture of the supect and hoping for tips from the public to track him down.

Police say the "senseless" incident started at 12:37PM, at the Gas & Save at 863 West Exchange, when a customer stole a tip jar, and then allegedly shot a 25 year old male store employee who chased after him down Delia Avenue.

Police are describing the suspect as a black male with a medium complexion and a slight mustache. He is believed to be approximately 20-25 years old.

Anyone with information that can assist in identifying the subject 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, 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: www.AkronCops.org.

From somebody using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to clone President Biden's voice for a robocall aimed at keeping people from voting in New Hampshire, to top level Microsoft officials' email getting hacked, and even the Director of the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity intfrastructure protection agency being targeted in a dangerous "swatting" attempt; cybercriminals are aiming high, and often; they're hitting their marks.

So, who is going to stop them? Right now, there are more than 700 thousand cybersecurity positions open nationwide, with companies, government agencies, and other organizations in critical need of qualified employees who can secure their networks, and protect critical data, infrastrucure, individuals, and the general public from harm.

That is why the US Department of Defense (DOD) is funding Cybersecurity scholarships for college students nationwide, including at two year colleges, like Stark State, and why Kent State University is now offering a new Major in Cybercriminology.

Listen now as we explore this topic, with Stark State College Cybersecurity Associate Professor, Glenn Goe, as well as Professor of Criminology and Global Security, Profesor, Dr. Hedi Nasheri. We'll also hear from Shelley Marshall, who is Lead Faculty for Kent State''s IT program in their College of Applied and Technical Studies, about how their new program can teach students not only to discover how cyber intrusions happen, but also how to track down who did it, and bring them to justice.

Dr. Hedi Nasheri, Kent State University

D

Prof. Shelley Marshall, Kent State University

Prof. Glenn Goe, Stark State College

A 36 year old woman who allegedly hit a Summit County Sheriff's cruiser from behind while the officer was sitting inside, has been charged with multiple crimes, including Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence.

Authorties allege Lindsey Cope of Green, crashed into the the Deputy Sheriff's vehicle while it was stopped for a red light at the intersection of South Main and Swartz Ave. in Coventry, at about  3:25AM Thursday morning.

The Deputy, who was wearing a seat belt, was slightly injured, and treated at the scene. 

Cope was not injured, and is now also facing charges of Open Container in a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Maintain Assured Clear Distance Ahead, and Distracted Driving.