Lauren Cohen, Author at Signal Akron

Levi Buxman, 12, prepares to zoom down a slide into a pool outside his home in Green Township, near Wooster, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. After being diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in November 2023, Levi's treatment has included rounds of chemotherapy and surgeries at Akron Children’s Hospital. Now, he and his family are relearning life without all the appointments.

Former Akron Children’s leukemia patient and his family relearn what ‘normal’ life looks like

by Lauren Cohen July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

Since he completed treatment for leukemia in March, 12-year-old Levi Buxman is learning how to be a kid again — and advocating on Capitol Hill while he’s at it. After being diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in November of 2023, Levi endured countless pokes, rounds of chemotherapy, scans and surgeries at Akron Children’s Hospital. Now, he and his family are relearning life without all the appointments.

Justin Bell and his wife, Leah, pose after cutting the ribbon at Bell's Barber College in Coventry Township, which opened June 3.

New barber college in Greater Akron to help train next generation

by Lauren Cohen July 14, 2026July 13, 2026

Brooke Williams, a new Kent State graduate in environmental studies, switched from an iPhone to a Sunbeam Aspen flip phone, at the Kent State University library on March 17, 2026.

From smartphones to flip phones, why some Gen Zers are going lo-tech

by Lauren Cohen June 25, 2026June 24, 2026

Brooke Williams, a new Kent State environmental studies graduate, recently switched from an iPhone to a Sunbeam Aspen flip phone, at the Kent State University Library on March 17.

Disconnecting from social media is more than deleting apps

by Lauren Cohen June 25, 2026June 24, 2026

Kelly Inglett, Eileen Brown and Marisa Fatica, (left to right) each diagnosed with breast cancer a year apart, banded together to start a free cancer retreat in Akron called The Healing Sanctuary, which gives cancer survivors space to step away from their daily responsibilities and make room for deep healing.

The Healing Sanctuary focuses on life after cancer for Akron-area women

by Lauren Cohen June 18, 2026June 18, 2026

Kemp Boyd, executive director of Love Akron, speaks during the May 29 Akron Children’s Goes Orange: Strategies to Address Pediatric Firearm Injuries and Their Prevention conference at Akron Children’s hospital. Doctors, advocates, educators and others gathered to talk about what Akron kids experience when it comes to gun violence. “Not only are young people suffering, but our community is suffering,” said Boyd, who is the executive director of Love Akron. “We can’t continue to default and be reactionary."

‘Our community is suffering.’ Akron conference examines kids’ experiences with gun violence

by Lauren Cohen June 5, 2026June 4, 2026

Dr. Jeff Hord, now the former director of Akron Children’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, smiles while chatting with staff at Akron Children's on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Hord recently retired after 27 years in the medical field.

Dr. Jeff Hord spent his career watching childhood leukemia survival improve dramatically

by Lauren Cohen May 29, 2026May 28, 2026

Valor Home, Axess Family Services' transitional housing facility for veterans, located at 1121 Exeter Road. Akron City Council is set to vote Monday to approve construction of what would be named the Thompson Family Veterans Village, proposed by Axess. The neighborhood would be for veterans who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness and would be built on vacant land next to Valor Home.

Akron project aims to house veterans facing homelessness

by Lauren Cohen May 27, 2026May 27, 2026

Daryl Tol, president and CEO of HATCo and acting president and CEO of Summa Health, delivers a speech during the Akron Roundtable on May 21, 2026.

Transforming healthcare in Akron is a priority for new Summa Health leader

by Lauren Cohen May 22, 2026May 26, 2026

United Way of Summit & Medina have partnered with CareSource to create a Housing Stability Fund, which helps members of CareSource who need an extra boost and help paying rent. DeAngelo Guest received help from the fund because he has end-stage renal disease and could not keep his full-time job while receiving treatment. He now does dialysis three times per week and has a new full-time job, plus an apartment in Akron's West Hill neighborhood that CareSource helped him pay a couple of months of rent for.

Housing fund helps lower medical costs, provides stable housing for Akron-area residents

by Lauren Cohen April 24, 2026April 23, 2026