Food lovers, art enthusiasts, and families alike are invited to Hardesty Park (1615 W. Market St.) next week as two of Akron's favorite summer traditions return. Taste of Akron kicks off the festivities on Thursday evening, followed by the 47th Annual Akron Art Expo on Saturday and Sunday. "Taste of Akron and the Akron Art Expo showcase some of the very best our community has to offer," said Mayor Malik. "They also showcase the creativity and entrepreneurship that drive our

The City of Akron is inviting residents to help shape the future of transportation safety by participating in a series of upcoming community engagement opportunities as part of Akron's Safe Streets 4 All (SS4A) Program. There is also a survey available to provide meaningful feedback on roadway safety, multi-mobility, and future improvements. Fill out the survey here. Funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program, Akron's Safe St

Thick smoke from Canadian wildfires is sweeping into Ohio, triggering statewide Air Quality Advisories. In parts of northern Ohio, air pollution has reached "hazardous" and "very unhealthy" levels on the Air Quality Index (AQI). Experts are warning residents to limit their time outdoors The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool that the government uses to tell people how clean or dirty the air is. It uses a color scale (like green for good, orange for unhealthy, red for bad, and

*R. Kelly wants President Donald Trump to shorten his time behind bars. Newly released records from the Office of the Pardon Attorney show the singer has formally asked for a commutation of his 30-year federal sentence. According to the Chicago Tribune, the request remains under review. Kelly is not pursuing a full pardon. A commutation would trim his sentence while his convictions stand. Since 2021, the disgraced R&B star has remained behind bars after a jury convicted him o

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest sporting event in soccer history. Having said that, over 62% of all 48 teams have players of African descent. This is nothing new, yet its being observed on a scale unlike ever before. Good job, FIFA organizers, leaders, and teams. After the FIFA World Cup crowns its champion, perhaps we can resume with why Africa is the only continent that has not hosted any Summer Olympic Games ever! With 48 nations, 104 matches, and 1,248 players repr

As we prepare for another exciting weekend of events in Downtown Akron and at Lock 3, we are introducing a few updated event guidelines for July 4, 2026, to help create a welcoming, and family-friendly environment for everyone. Our goal is to ensure guests can focus on enjoying the music, food, entertainment, and time together while helping our staff and public safety partners provide a positive event experience. The following guidelines will be in effect during July 4, 2026:

Last week, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced the City would extend hours at Summit Lake Community Center (380 W. Crosier St.) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week to provide a cooling center for residents in need. Today, the city has extended the cooling center to include Friday, July 3 as well. Summit Lake Community Center will be open from 9:00am-9:00pm through Friday. All other City of Akron community centers  will be open during their normal business hours tod

This evening, Transport Workers Union Local 1 voted to authorize a strike. The union represents Metro RTA’s bus operators, vehicle service workers and clerical workers. Mayor Malik has issued the following statement: “Since the issuance of the fact-finder’s report, with Metro voting to approve, and the union’s subsequent no vote, I have continued to strongly encourage both Metro RTA and TWU Local 1 to return to the negotiating table immediately and continue in good faith to r

Album of the Year AM I THE DRAMA? — Cardi B DON’T TAP THE GLASS — Tyler, the Creator everything is a lot. — Wale HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY — Mariah the Scientist WINNER: Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse MUTT Deluxe: HEEL — Leon Thomas The Fall-Off — J. Cole The Romantic — Bruno Mars Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Ari Lennox Coco Jones Ella Mai Jill Scott WINNER: Kehlani Mariah the Scientist Olivia Dean SZA Tems Best Male R&B/Pop Artist Brent Faiyaz Bruno Mars Bryson Tiller Chris Brown D

*Industry leaders increasingly believe AI-powered wearables could eventually challenge the smartphone’s dominant role in consumer technology. Several technology executives, including leaders at Apple, have suggested that smartphones may no longer serve as consumers’ primary devices within the next decade, Fortune reports. Their outlook reflects rapid advances in artificial intelligence and growing interest in devices designed to anticipate user needs. Many technology companie