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Republicans slam Democrats and declare devotion to Trump during unusual midterm convention

DALLAS (AP) — Republicans used the opening night of their unusual midterm convention on Wednesday to hammer Democrats as extremists and pledge unwavering devotion to President Donald Trump, proudly placing their party’s undisputed leader at the center of upcoming midterm elections — even if his low approval ratings might ultimately drag them down in November. Many Republicans, including those facing tight races, are skipping the two-day affair in Dallas, while others hope their appearance will put them in the national spotlight as they work to turn out Trump’s supporters in a ...

An appeals court is considering a push to restrict most common abortion method

A panel of federal judges heard arguments Wednesday over whether prescribing rules should be tightened for a key drug used in the most common abortion method in the United States, one of several ongoing efforts to restrict abortion access four years after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to decide the issue. The case before the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is one of three making its way through the courts as abortion opponents try to block providers in states where abortion is legal from sending drugs for medication abortions into states where it is ...

Criminal cases dismissed after Leetonia man found not competent

LISBON — A Leetonia man had the three criminal cases against him in Columbiana County Municipal Court dismissed after he was found not competent and not able to be restored to competency. Jonathan D. Cook, 43, Oak Street, was ordered sent back to Heartland Behavioral Healthcare after the hearing Wednesday. Cook had been examined by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio and based on the report, Judge Danielle Menning found him not competent and noted there was not a substantial probability that he will become competent. She then dismissed all three cases, which included ...

Wellsville man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

LISBON — A Wellsville man accused of possessing multiple images of child pornography entered a guilty plea Tuesday morning to 18 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person. James G. Hunter, 77, Commerce Street, will face sentencing at 10:40 a.m. Nov. 9 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Megan Bickerton. According to the plea agreement, the prosecutor will recommend an 18-year sentence for the fourth-degree felony charge, with the sentence consisting of 12 months in prison for each of the 18 counts, to be served consecutively. Another 32 ...

Kiwanis offering family fun at Fall Festival Saturday

SALEM — Salem Kiwanis will be hosting a day of family fun at its annual Fall Family Festival Saturday. “We’re really excited for this and want it to be a day for the whole family to enjoy together,” Kiwanis Past President Debbie Leggett said. This year’s festival will be held ...

Prosecutor: Man accused of crimes in Acton incident didn’t commit felonies

CANFIELD — Patrick Havas, who is alleged to have lunged at Amy Acton, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, during an incident Sunday afternoon at the Canfield Fair, did not commit any offenses that rise to felonies, Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro said. Havas, 38, of Canfield, was arrested Sunday on two counts of assault and one misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. An additional misdemeanor charge of inciting panic was added Tuesday during his arraignment in Mahoning County Area Court in Canfield in front of Judge Molly Johnson. Havas, who was armed at the time of his ...