AKRON, Ohio (WJW) -- Cell phones and social media have long been blamed for issues at school and now there's a renewed push to block both from K-12 classrooms under House Bill 485. One of the area's largest districts banned phones this school year and noticed a big change. Data is still being collected at Akron Public Schools, which has reported an apparent decrease in fights. "It's created physical conflicts in terms of staging fights, filming fights, posting fights on social media, bullying, fake threats at the school, gun threats," said Don Zesiger, director of security at Akron Public Scho ..read more

AKRON, Ohio (WJW) - Multiple 911 calls to Akron police early Wednesday morning reported gunfire outside of a local apartment. The calls came in at about 4:15 a.m. Another local Rite Aid set to close According to the Summit County Medical Examiner, when first responders arrived on the scene in the 1900 block of Newton Street they found a 20-year-old man lying on the ground in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:40 a.m., according to officials. According to the SUmmit County Medical Examiner's Office, the victim has been identified as Alexander ..read more

CLEVELAND (WJW) — FOX 8 and Amanda Berry are working together to help find the missing and bring them safely home. Dillon Crutchfield, 14, has been missing since April 13, 2024. Anyone with information is asked to call 330-375-2552 ..read more

[]Editor's Note: You can watch previous FOX 8 coverage of a Star Wars-themed wedding in the video player above.] AKRON, Ohio (WJW) - Dreaming of a May wedding? How about saying 'I do' at "The home of the Galley Boy." After all, does anything say love more than a Swensons double cheeseburger with two special sauces? Or, if a burger joint isn't your idea of romance, how about a Star Wars-themed wedding? Both are real options courtesy of Akron Municipal Court. According to press release, the court is once again offering two local venues as off-site wedding opportunities in May 2024. Fisherman in ..read more

(WJW) — Last month, the parent company of Family Dollar announced plans to close “multiple” locations in Ohio. In an updated notice to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, the company has revealed that 35 locations will be impacted including about a dozen in Northeast Ohio. PHOTOS: Fiery crash lands near fast-food window According to the notice, the closings will occur “on or about” April 20 and will impact about 260 employees. The announcement comes after the company announced plans to close 1,000 stores nationwide. The company cited a $1.7 billion net loss in three ..read more

AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — A driver lost control of their vehicle Saturday morning, rolling their car into an Akron cemetery and causing damage to about 30 graves, according to St. Bernard Catholic Church. Teen injured in Painesville shooting Police were reportedly called to St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery on South Maple Street following the crash. The driver was not majorly injured in the crash, the church reported, but a powerline pole and a fence were also damaged. It was not clear if the driver has been charged following the crash. WJW photo WJW photo WJW photo The church said the Catholic Ceme ..read more

*Attached video: Teen's family speaks out after Akron officer-involved shooting AKRON, Ohio (WJW) – The 15-year-old boy who was shot by an Akron police officer who thought a toy gun he was carrying was real, is now being charged.  According to the Akron Police Department, 15-year-old Tavion Koonce-Williams is being charged with having a facsimile firearm, a first-degree misdemeanor that will be handled through juvenile court.  ‘Adios’: Popular Lakewood Mexican restaurant announces closure The City of Akron and the Akron Police Department released police body camera video of an office ..read more

AKRON, Ohio (WJW) -- Akron police officers on Wednesday night searched a facility along East Market Street, as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal gambling. The raid happened just before 10:30 p.m. in the 200 block of East Market Street, according to a news release ..read more

[Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage in the player above.] AKRON, Ohio (WJW) -- The first finalist candidate for the city's open police chief role is a 28-year veteran of the Akron Police Department. Mayor Shammas Malik on Wednesday announced residents can soon get to meet the finalist, Deputy Chief Brian Harding, who's currently acting as police chief ..read more

*The above video shows the most unusual animals spotted in Ohio* AKRON, Ohio (WJW) -- Three boys found a turtle on a hill, and felt it needed to be by water, but their good deed got them in a bad situation. Akron firefighters said the boys carried the turtle down a 200 foot steep hill to put it on the water's edge of a Cuyahoga River tributary Tuesday evening behind an apartment complex on West Waterford Court. Rare phenomenon! Photos show Canadian shore from NE Ohio But the boys couldn't climb back up the rugged hillside and called their families, said Kevin Gostkowski, President of Akron Fir ..read more