Steubenville officials probe 4th fire in 8 days
STEUBENVILLE — Officials in Steubenville are investigating a string of fires after four vacant houses burned in eight days.
The latest fire in Steubenville in eastern Ohio destroyed a house Sunday morning. Authorities say there were no injuries.
The Steubenville Herald-Star reports three other vacant houses burned last weekend.
Steubenville Fire Chief Carlo Capaldi told the paper an investigation continues but it appears Sunday’s fire was set by someone.
He said homeless people were believed to be sheltering in the house in recent days.
Richland Co. jail adjusts review of inmates
MANSFIELD — An Ohio jail is adjusting how it processes in-coming inmates because of the state’s ongoing addictions epidemic.
The Richland County Jail started operating a body scanner at the 266-bed facility in Mansfield in April.
Jail administrator Capt. Chris Blunk tells the Mansfield News Journal that defendants with a history of drug abuse or who act strangely on the way to jail are scanned right away.
The jail has also begun tracking numbers of inmate overdoses. Officials monitored 26 opioid-related withdrawals in July and 10 in August.
Treatment center Catalyst Life Services added three staff members in July to the two already working at the jail because of the growing demand for services.
The state says a record 4,050 Ohioans died of drug overdoses last year.
Vigil for mentally ill man shot by police
STOW — A candlelight vigil has honored the memory of an Ohio man shot by police by a homeless shelter and drawn attention to the need for mental illness treatment.
About 150 friends and family of shooting victim William Porubsky gathered outside Stow City Hall in northeastern Ohio Sunday night.
Friends have said Porubsky had been sent to a psychiatric ward in the past and diagnosed with schizophrenia
The Akron Beacon Journal reports that Porubsky’s brother, Dan Porubsky, called the incident a failure of the system.
Dan Porubsky says there were many opportunities missed to use resources to prevent the shooting from happening.
Speakers at the vigil included William Porubsky’s friends, his prayer group leader, a pastor and a woman who worked with addicts.
Animals displaced by Irma arrive in Ohio
TOLEDO — The Toledo Area Humane Society says it has received 32 dogs and 28 cats that had to be moved out of Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma.
Officials say the animals came from a shelter in Bradenton, Florida, that had to make room for any animals they might need to take in after the storm. They arrived in Toledo on Sunday, and officials say some of them have already found homes.
The Toledo Blade reports that many of the adult dogs went home with foster families Sunday evening after the group put out a call to volunteers.
More than 160 animals were previously flown into Columbus ahead of the storm, and 12 of those were taken in by the Toledo humane society.
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