1590 WAKR Student Athlete of the Week: Lexi Shultz
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.
A report from the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday afternoon is that head coach Tyronn Lue will be taking some time off from the team to address undisclosed health issues.
The following is Coach Lue's statement from Cavs.com:
"After many conversations with our doctors and Koby and much thought given to what is best for the team and my health, I need to step back from coaching for the time being and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation from which to coach for the rest of the season.
I have had chest pains and other troubling symptoms, compounded by a loss of sleep, throughout the year. Despite a battery of tests, there have been no conclusions as to what the exact issue is.
While I have tried to work through it, the last thing I want is for it to affect the team. I am going to use this time to focus on a prescribed routine and medication, which has previously been difficult to start in the midst of a season. My goal is to come out of it a stronger and healthier version of myself so I can continue to lead this team to the Championship we are all working towards.
I greatly appreciate Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman, our medical team and the organization's support throughout."
Reports are that Cavs assistant coach Larry Drew will take over the coaching duties while Coach Lue gets healthy.
LeBron James commenting, saying, "I knew he was struggling, but (Lue) was never not himself," adding, "It's probably long overdue, but health is the most important thing."
AUDIO: Akron Mayor on New Fire Station, Hamburger Festival Hiatus
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Akron-Based Signet Jewelers Closing 200 Stores
Written by Jeanne DestroAkron-based Signet Jewelers plans to close 200 mall-based stores, reduce costs, and beef up e-commerce, to improve long-term operational and financial performance. This, as a result of recent sales declines.
Market Watch, and Wall Street Journal report the retailer, which owns Kay Jewelers, Zales, and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, says it hasn't adapted quickly enough, as consumers make fewer trips to stores, and shop more online.
Click here to read a more detailed explanation, from the company's press release.
UA Hosting Gun Violence Town Hall Wednesday Night
Written by Ryan LangWednesday marks the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead.
In conjunction with the anniversary and on National Walkout Day, where students in high schools, and other schools across the country are walking out of class for 17 seconds (one second for each victim), the University of Akron is offering a forum to discuss issues revolving around "Gun Violence in America's Schools."
The LeBron James Family Foundation is sponsoring the event, that runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening in Olin Hall, Room 124, at the University of Akron. You can find out more at UAkron.edu.
Stark State College, for the first time in four years, is increasing the instructional fee.
The $10 increase to the fee brings it to $126.50, and is effective starting this summer semester. According to the press release, the instructional fee will only be applied to the first 16 credit hours a student takes each semester; beyond 16 per semester, a student will not be charged an instructional fee.
Dr. Para M. Jones, President of Stark State College, said in a press release, "This tuition increase will enable the College to continue providing quality educational programs that lead to in-demand careers, which is important to our students and employers.”
Even with the increase, Stark State College remains the lowest in the region, and the college continues to increase scholarship opportunities for students.
Read more information from a press release from Stark State College below:
The tuition increase was recently approved by the Ohio legislature, authorizing the state’s community and technical colleges to increase tuition by up to $10 from the previous year.
The Trustees also took action to authorize a career services fee of $6 per credit hour, increasing the general fee from $37.10 to $43.10 per credit hour. This adjusted fee also will be effective summer semester and also applied only to the first 16 credit hours a student takes each semester.The fee was approved by the legislature last year, and most other Ohio community colleges opted for the increase then. Stark State, however, has been focused on expansion and realignment of its career services offerings, and the new fee now will allow more comprehensive career assistance as well as a higher level of integrated connection to employers.
The fee also will help fund additional tutoring services, student support services, student success coaches, additional disability and military support services and increase licensed counseling services.
While increases in tuition are necessary in order to maintain quality academic programs; hire and retain outstanding, student-centered faculty and staff; keep class sizes low; and provide state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, Stark State College continues to seek ways to help make college more affordable for its students. The College has taken these steps in recent years to lower student costs:
- increased scholarship opportunities for students through both the College and The Stark State College Foundation with a combined $900,000 available for student scholarships annually
- worked with Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) to provide free public transportation to any Stark State student on any SARTA route
- partnered with SARTA to add a direct route from Stark State’s main campus in North Canton to the Akron Metro Transit Station and back to main campus at no cost to students, saving Akron students both time and money
- implemented an emergency fund program for students who have an unexpected, one-time need (car repair, home repair) that may hinder their ability to pay for school; the fund can pay the vendor for the unexpected need, so the student can continue to pay for and attend college
- expanded textbook rental to lower the cost of textbooks and participation in a statewide open educational resource consortium to keep textbook costs low for students.