City of Akron Archives - Page 4 of 53 - Signal Akron

The City of Akron is proposing changes to its housing rules that could make it easier to build new single-family and multi-family homes in neighborhoods, allow the construction of in-law suites or carriage houses in backyards, and keep grandfathered-in housing types, like apartments on top of stores, that were built before current zoning rules. A new house being constructed by HK. Hovnanian Homes at 501 S. Rhodes Ave. in Sherbondy Hill is an example of infill housing, where a new structure is placed on an empty lot amid existing houses.

Denser housing would be allowed in neighborhoods under new Akron proposals

by Arielle Kass June 16, 2026June 16, 2026

In recent years, older buildings owned by the Akron Public Schools have typically been the ones chosen to be closed. That trend may end soon as the district is faced with large budget deficits and shrinking enrollments, but has newer buildings. Firestone Park Elementary, top left, Pfeiffer Elementary, top right, and the Conrad Ott building are all examples of older buildings that were or will be closed by APS.

Akron’s community learning centers are more than neighborhood schools. What happens if one closes?

by Carissa Woytach June 15, 2026June 15, 2026

“I could work forever — as I tell my Board — but as we all know, life doesn’t always give us forever,” said Stark State College President Para Jones, who will retire in 2027 after 14 years leading the community college. “We have children, grandchildren, we want to spend more time traveling, so this gives me the opportunity to do that after a long, long career.”

She came to Stark State for convenience. Now Para Jones is retiring after shaping its future

by Carissa Woytach June 12, 2026June 11, 2026

Akron Chief of Police Brian Harding (left) and Mayor Shammas Malik (right) listen to a reporter's question during at a news conference on Thursday, June 11, regarding recent gun violence in the city's Highland Square neighborhood.

Highland Square bars to close at midnight this weekend in response to Saturday shooting

by Doug Brown June 12, 2026June 15, 2026

Denico Buckley-Knight, left, Isaiah Young, center, and Ellen McWilliams-Woods speak to members of Akron City Council's Parks and Recreation Committee at a June 1 meeting asking for them to support a $175,000 contract with the Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute to conduct a Project Play study on sports access for the city’s elementary- to high-school students.

‘Sports ecosystem’ and access for kids goal of $175K study in Akron

by Abby Cymerman June 11, 2026June 12, 2026

Students in Akron Public Schools' four elementary schools in the East Cluster have the highest chronic absenteeism rates in the district, which meant they missed at least 10 percent of instructional time for any reason. That’s equal to about two to three days a month or about 18 to 20 days in a typical school year. This includes Seiberling Community Learning Center, shown here, where the rate is 48 percent. The. schools will be the focus of a pilot program between Akron After School. and the Akron Area YMCA.

Fighting absenteeism will be focus of East Cluster pilot program between Akron After School and YMCA

by Abby Cymerman and Akron Documenters June 4, 2026July 27, 2026

Wingfoot One, top right, decked out in the same black and gray color scheme as Pilgrim, Goodyear’s first blimp, is joined by its blimp brethren, the Florida-based Wingfoot Two (left) and the California-based Wingfoot Three. The three blimps were flying over Canal Park during the Akron RubberDucks game downtown on Tuesday. Wingfoots One and Two will be flying over Akron's 24 neighborhoods on June 6 as part of the city's inaugural Blimp Day.

Arts and Culture

Akron’s First Blimp Day is Saturday. Here’s where and when to watch the skies

by Kelsei Scott June 3, 2026June 4, 2026

Akron Police Department Lt. Mark Farrar was banned last year from secondary employment one day before he retired in November 2025. He retired the same day that officials opened a criminal investigation into his activities

‘This is big business.’ How an Akron police lieutenant profited from off-the-books work

by Doug Brown June 1, 2026June 10, 2026

Akron Police Lt. Mark Farrar developed a reputation from 2017 to 2025 as the guy who could book outside work gigs for Akron Police officers and security shifts for area businesses. But as Farrar sought to fill more jobs, he often sent mass emails on an APD listserv, openly advertising jobs at rates higher than regulation and occasionally drawing stern emails and letters from deputy chiefs about the rules. He met with few repercussions beyond a five-day suspension in 2024 for overbilling the hourly rate, overbilling his cut and not filing paperwork connected with six businesses. Investigators only looked into a small portion of his long-term jobs at the time.

Former Akron Police lieutenant profits from booking outside work for officers, himself, at excessive rates

by Doug Brown June 1, 2026June 1, 2026

What should Akron do about housing? Unify Akron has recommendations

by Jack Solon May 22, 2026May 29, 2026

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