LORAIN — There are two kinds of crimes Domestic Relations Judge David Berta said have always bothered him — sex offenses and burglaries. On Friday, the judge and former criminal defense attorney became the victim of burglary —someone stole a gun, three iPods, digital cameras, memory cards and 80 cigars. “It’s unnerving,” Judge Berta said. [...]

AVON LAKE — An Avon Lake bartender died Sunday after spending more than a month in Fairview Hospital fighting injuries sustained in a July motorcycle crash. Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller said 40-year-old Gil F. Palacios died because of complications from blunt force trauma to the torso. The coroner also found evidence of pneumonia. Palacios [...]

ELYRIA — Kids can have fun and get free school supplies at the Elyria Summer Blast this weekend. Elyria students ages 14 to 18 should arrive between 3 and 7 p.m. Friday at South Rec, located at 16th Street and East Avenue. The older kids will have a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, basketball hot shot, volleyball [...]

CLEVELAND — Officials in Ohio’s most populous county are pushing early childhood education by helping preschool programs hire more teachers and purchase new computers. Cuyahoga County commissioners on Thursday are to consider spending $9.4 million for 24 preschool programs, including the Oakfield Child Enrichment Center in Cleveland. Money for the pilot program is coming from [...]

LIMA — Schools are removing some swings and merry-go-rounds from playgrounds to comply with a new law aimed at protecting students from safety hazards. The changes are forcing schools to spend more money, but few are complaining. “At first, you look at it and kind of shrug your shoulders, but it has made us a [...]

AMHERST — The Amherst Historical Society invites the public to the Sandstone Village Fair 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 26 on the grounds of the Sandstone Museum Center, 763 Milan Ave. Mark and Luke Costilow will show their award-winning, hand-carved decoys in St. George Chapel. The Elyria High Fiddlers, directed by Tom Flowers, will provide [...]

ELYRIA — Norm Heldt, longtime spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1079 in Elyria, will be among those on an all-expenses-paid Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., today to see the major monuments, including the World War II Memorial. This is the fourth trip for the World War II veterans, sponsored by Honor Flight Cleveland, [...]

CLEVELAND — A Brecksville man was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison by a Cuyahoga County judge for causing a fatal car crash while trying to run the mother of his child off Interstate 77. Sean Kay, 20, was convicted last month of aggravated vehicular assault and felonious assault charges in the death of [...]