[Editor's Note: You can watch previous coverage in the video player above.] (WJW) – If you live in 'The 440' starting today (March 1) a new area code is coming to the region. For years, the 440 area code has served, and will still serve, the northern portion of Ohio, including Ashtabula, Eastlake, Elyria, Lorain, Mentor, North Olmsted, North Ridgeville, North Royalton, Parma, Parma Heights, Rocky River, Solon, Strongsville, Westlake and Willoughby. But, due to a projected "third quarter 2024 exhaust of the 440 area code" -- a new one was needed. Local library no longer charging overdue fines T ..read more

[Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage on the April 8 total solar eclipse in the player above.] NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio (WJW) -- Northern Ohio is the place to be for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Communities like North Ridgeville are right in the middle of the path of totality, and can expect about 4 minutes and 20 seconds of dusk. Lorain County is expecting about 1 million visitors for this once-in-a-lifetime event, who will likely arrive the weekend before and stay through Tuesday, according to a Friday news release from city officials ..read more

**Watch previous coverage of this story in the above video player.** CLEVELAND (WJW) — Three people are on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) radar after three burglaries and and an attempted one in Northeast Ohio. ATF announced a reward of $3,000 for information that would lead to the arrest of the individuals reportedly involved in the incidents that took place on Jan. 31 and Feb. 9. Watch: OSHP troopers get hundreds of guns off local streets See photos of the suspects below: Photo courtesy Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Photo courtesy Burea ..read more

(WJW) – A new area code will be put in place in Northeast Ohio beginning on March 1.  The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved an area code overlay, or the addition of a new area code, on Dec. 14, 2022, in the 440 area code region. Photo captures suspects in Lorain County gun shop break-ins The North American Numbering Plan Administrator announced that an additional area code, 436, was assigned to overlay the existing 440 area code on Jan 6, 2023.  According to Verizon, the new 436 area code overlay will begin on March 1, 2024.  The 440 area code serves the northern port ..read more

LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) - The North Ridgeville Police Department has released a photo of the suspects who broke into a gun shop early Wednesday morning.  Officers were called to the scene of Transform and Renew Firearms located on the 34000 block of Center Ridge Road around 4:30 a.m. U.S. Senate poll in Ohio: Sherrod Brown’s edge over Republican challengers slips At the scene, officers found glass broken out of the front door where the business had been broken in to, according to a Facebook post by police. According to police, no guns appeared to have been stolen.  It appears this ..read more

LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) -- Authorities are investigating an overnight crime spree that targeted at least three gun stores in Lorain County. See it: Prehistoric discovery in Lorain County Front doors at all three locations were smashed sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo According to Amherst police, an alarm at 3:59 a.m. on Wednesday notified first responders of a breaking and entering in progress at Amherst Armory along Cooper Foster Park Road. An employee at the store told FOX 8 News that no guns were taken ..read more

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WJW) -- Police in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, just after 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 13 reported that two men in a Tesla had just stolen iPads from a Best Buy outside Pittsburgh, and were now heading west on the Ohio Turnpike. Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol spotted the car outside Cleveland, but the driver of the Tesla quickly accelerated to speeds approaching 140 mph, and troopers decided to terminate pursuit of the car after 25 seconds, out of concern for the safety of other drivers on the Turnpike ..read more

WEST VIRGINIA, (WOWK) -- Northeast Ohio rocks! Metallica is challenging schools across the nation including Ohio to show off their marching bands' performances of Metallica's music. Could Travis Kelce get a Cleveland Guardians first pitch ‘redemption’? As part of the "For Whom the Band Tolls!" Metallica marching band competition, the public can vote for their favorite performances from nominated marching bands at the high school and collegiate level. Winning bands will receive musical equipment for their school programs. Competitors are divided into five separate categories with different priz ..read more

WESTLAKE, Ohio (WJW) -- Zara can jump a whopping distance of 21 feet, earning the 5-year-old Labrador Retriever from Westlake global attention. "We've been told at national and global dock diving competitions that she's a once-in-a-lifetime dog," said Zara's owner Brittny Heller ..read more

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio (WJW) - The Avon Eagles made their way to North Ridgeville for a battle of the unbeatens in the fifth FOX 8 Game of the Week. Late in the first quarter, after both teams exchanged punts, the fourth ranked team in Division 2 finally fired away. Nolan Good went to Cole Kepner 49 yards for the Avon touchdown. It was 7-0 Eagles. But that Rangers defense came to play strong, with Nate Bober coming through on the blitz to get Good and stall the Eagles drive. Scores: Friday Night Touchdown continues in Week 5 Then on the punt, Xavier Compton blocked it and recovered it in the ..read more