This Week In Tech with Jeanne Destro-3-30-18 Featured
Written by Jeanne DestroThis week, we’ll take a look at how people all over the country—and right here in Akron— are coming together in shared community spaces to create, tinker, build, and invent.
We’ll also hear about research into a revolutionary material that could allow much of the outer surface of your home to generate power, new technology that can reveal hidden objects, follow up on cybersecurity efforts to safeguard elections, and find out more about how Facebook has been playing fast and loose with your data.
1590 WAKR Student Athlete of the Week: Ericka Johnson
Written by Tony Mazur1590 WAKR Student Athlete of the Week: Hayden Murphy
Written by Tony MazurThe City of Akron has released details, including maps and the budget breakdown, for this year's multi-million-dollar road resurfacing project.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Kenmore Construction secured the contract for the work, at nearly $6.4 Million; they'll begin work in mid-May.
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Written by Tony MazurMetro RTA is looking to reoganize their services and the lines that run through Summit County by 2019...
But before a plan is in place, Metro says they want your input on how their routes should look.
That is why they're hosting a series of open houses with the idea that residents from Summit County will come and offer their ideas on where bus lines should run, how often, and more.
Valerie Shea, Director of Planning and Development at Metro RTA, tells us the last time they've looked at the system as a whole was in the mid-90's and that development patterns, job locations, and where people live and work have changed since then, so it's time to take a look at different options.
Below is a list of when and where the open house events will be held:
• Tuesday: 6 p.m. at the Barberton Active Adult Center/YMCA, 500 W. Hopocan Ave., Barberton. There will be a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center, 631 S. Broadway, Akron.
• Wednesday: 6 p.m. at the Northwest Akron Public Library, 1720 Shatto Ave., Akron. There will be a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday: 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center, 631 S. Broadway, Akron.
• Thursday: 6 p.m. at the Green Public Library, 4046 Massillon Road, Green. There will be a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• April 3: 7 p.m. at Wilcox Elementary School, 9198 Darrow Road, Twinsburg. There will be a formal presentation at 7:15 p.m.
• April 4: noon to 10 p.m. at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center, 631 S. Broadway, Akron.
• April 5: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rolling Acres Transit Center, 2340 Romig Road, Akron.
• April 5: 6 p.m. at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium, 2345 Fourth St., Cuyahoga Falls. There will be a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• April 14: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center, 631 S. Broadway, Akron.
This Week in Tech with Jeanne Destro-3-23-18 Featured
Written by Jeanne Destro1590 WAKR Student Athlete of the Week: Garrett Mellon
Written by Tony MazurIn a letter to the University of Akron community, President Matthew Wilson announced that he will step down from his role as President, effective July 31, 2018, saying he will rejoin the school of law as a full-time faculty member.
Read the letter President Wilson wrote below:
Over the past few weeks, there have been many conversations about what my inclusion as a finalist in the University of Central Florida presidential search might mean. My sincerest apologies for any concern that this may have caused. With the search now complete, I want to address these conversations and talk about the future.
As I previously mentioned, the invitation to apply for the UCF presidency caught my interest due to our roots in the Orlando area and the opportunities associated with this once-in-a lifetime chance at the largest university in the country. Please know how much I sincerely appreciate those who reached out with words of gratitude, understanding, and support during the search process. I strongly believe that my inclusion as a finalist in the UCF presidential search is a testament to The University of Akron (UA), its strengths, and its recent progress. In fact, many eyes across the country focused on UA’s achievements, academic programs, research, and innovative initiatives and they were impressed with our University.
As I look back over my past four years at UA, it truly has been an honor to dedicate my heart, strength, soul, and mind to serving the institution in an effort to assist students, stabilize matters, overcome challenges, generate new opportunities, and lead UA to even greater heights. I first served as Dean of Akron Law until the Board of Trustees approached me nearly two years ago about serving as interim president. From the start, my family and I have tirelessly committed ourselves to UA and its success. Of course, the road has been very demanding, especially as we concurrently helped our youngest son successfully fight through a battle with an aggressive pediatric cancer. It has been a privilege to join so many extraordinary people within the UA family to collectively make a difference for our students and community.
Through the efforts of many in the University community, we have made remarkable progress amid challenging circumstances. We have continued to help students succeed and strengthened vital relationships. We have reminded the community, state, and world about the University’s value, benefits, and advantages. We have made progress on the budgetary front, including a $42 million one-year budgetary turnaround last year and increased donations. We have enhanced affordability (Akron Guarantee Scholarship) and international opportunities (International Center) as well as added innovative approaches (esports program and Five Star Fridays), new degrees (Cybersecurity), and flexible learning options. UA has returned to a state of positivity and optimism. Going forward, I am confident that bright times are ahead for UA, particularly if everyone maintains an innovative and creative mindset.
Our short-term strategies have been noteworthy. We also have laid the foundation for longer term plans. Last fall, UA initiated a comprehensive, faculty-led review of our academic programs. That effort is proceeding as scheduled. The Faculty Senate will receive the results soon, prior to determinations by the administration and Board. Additional initiatives (especially our dashboard tools) provide us with the data and analysis needed to engage in a thoughtful, collaborative process to determine our future direction. In keeping with our commitment to shared governance, successful strategic planning requires a university-wide, inclusive process. To that end, I hope that we can appoint a Strategic Planning Council (including representation from across UA and the community-at-large) to help lead these discussions. As we collectively work to prepare for the future, the likelihood of our success increases as the UA community works together, exudes positivity, and embraces these initiatives.
After four years of intense commitment and with the confidence that UA is on the right track, I have decided to shift from my role as President to join the full-time faculty, effective July 31, 2018. This decision came after much thought and consideration and is based on a host of personal and family considerations. Pursuant to my agreement with UA, I intend at this time to return to my faculty position with Akron Law at a substantially reduced salary, in recognition of ongoing financial challenges for the University.
Over the next four months, my efforts to ensure UA’s ongoing success and a smooth transition will continue in full force, especially as we continue to implement new initiatives. As I have said previously, it is an honor to be here at UA, as I thoroughly enjoy the UA community and students. I value the chance to contribute to a world-class university that is again on an upward trajectory.
Finally, I want to personally thank all who have supported me in my role as dean and president over the past four years. We can all be proud of UA and its achievements. Hopefully, everyone can redouble their efforts to unify and move UA forward.
Sincerely,
Matthew J. Wilson
President
The University of Akron
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Written by Tony MazurWatch your speed along Akron City streets in the coming months, as APD is starting to crack down on speeders.
The request is coming from Akron City Council, who will be working with the Police Department's Traffic Commander to decide which areas to target.
Akron Police Chief Ken Ball tells the Akron Beacon Journal that the department is adding three, four-hour patrols each weekday, to rotate between Akron's 10 wards. Typically, shifts will run late afternoon, which is a high-volume time around the city.
The City of Akron is considering raising the age to legally purchase tobacco from 18 to 21.
The following is a press release from the City of Akron:
When Mayor Horrigan appointed Tamiyka Rose as the City of Akron’s first Health Equity Ambassador last Spring, he tasked her with developing and spearheading new strategies to reduce the City’s unacceptable infant mortality rate. “I will never tolerate a scenario where Akron babies are more likely to die before their first birthday than babies born in other communities,” Mayor Horrigan said. “I hired Tamiyka to coordinate our efforts locally, and help turn the tide.”
“In looking at effective strategies to reduce infant mortality, smoking by young, expectant mothers was a key risk factor we needed to target,” Rose said of the initiative. “Looking at the data, it was clear that increasing the tobacco sales age to 21 could meaningfully reduce infant mortality rates and improve lifelong health outcomes for today’s youth.”
More than 290 cities and counties across 19 states have increased the age for tobacco sales to 21, a movement commonly referred to as “Tobacco 21”. Since 2015, 9 other Ohio cities, including Cleveland and Columbus, have passed similar laws.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. Not only is it costly in terms of human life, it has a tremendous financial toll. According to health policy research, increasing the national sales age for tobacco to 21 could save society an estimated $212 billion over a 50-year period.
The Tobacco 21 strategy is proven to not just delay, but prevent, tobacco use in young people across their lifetimes. Military leaders are supportive of raising the tobacco age to 21 due to tobacco’s negative impact on military readiness (more info available here).
“Individuals who have never used tobacco by age 21 are unlikely to ever start smoking. While it is estimated to reduce retail sales by only 2%, increasing the smoking age to 21 can prevent approximately 90% of new smokers from ever starting the habit, by making it difficult to obtain during the years they are most susceptible to the addiction,” said Cory Kendrick
Summit County Public Health’s Director of Population Health.
And the link to infant mortality and premature birth is clear. “According to 2014 data, in Summit County, pregnant women under age 21 smoke at a rate that is 70% higher than their older counterparts,” Kendrick continued. “Nearly one in four pregnant women in Summit County age 18 to 21 smoked while pregnant. And pregnant women who smoke are more likely to experience the devastation of infant loss.”
Akron zip codes 44320, 44307 and 44306 have some of the highest infant mortality rates in the country, nearly double the national average. In 2016, 30 Akron babies died before their first birthday.
“If we are serious about giving Akron babies the best possible start to life, we must be willing to challenge structures and institutions that reinforce poor maternal health,” Tamiyka Rose said. “Tobacco use is a clear risk factor, and one we can do something about.”
Akron’s proposed Tobacco-21 legislation, co-sponsored by Councilwoman-at-large Linda Omobien, will be introduced to Akron City Council this afternoon. Representatives from Summit County Public Health, youth ambassadors, and physicians from Summa Health and Akron General/Cleveland Clinic will testify in support of the legislation.
“If you’re not willing to be part of the solution, you’re part of the problem,” Rose concluded. “We’re hoping Akron will choose a healthier future for its next generation.”
A fact sheet with more information about the local Tobacco 21 initiative is available here.