It already has and will continue to filter through the skies across the #Midwest, #GreatLakes and #OhioValley region. The skies today are very hazy and kinda a grayish color. https://t.co/GdpIJccIRl

— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) September 9, 2020

Here is a look across the #USA and how far reaching the #WestCoastFires #smoke is moving across #NorthAmerica. Please note much of the smoke is much higher up in the atmosphere at the Jet Stream level causing hazy skies across the #OhioValley.#OHwx #PAwx #NWS #Cleveland pic.twitter.com/1W90AcMMaz

— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) September 9, 2020

The pandemic has hit individuals from all walks of life, from the virus itself to the social and economic fallout from the lockdowns. Families are at home more than ever due to remote work and education to unemployment, and that closeness can have its positives and negatives.

A big negative has been the rise in divorce rates, from couples who had shaky marriages leading up to the pandemic to fairly happy marriages that fell apart. Dr. Toni Bisconti is a psychology professor at the University of Akron, and she shared some tips on how to handle stress inside the home. According to Dr. Bisconti, couples have not had this much togetherness in proximity before, and it is imperative for folks to have some alone time.

(Akron Police) Members of the Akron Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, along with the DEA, FBI, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Portage, Stark, Medina, and Mahoning Sheriff’s Offices, US Marshals, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and US Attorney’s Office, Justin Herdman, served search warrants and arrest warrants reference 19N023, Operation Vapor Trail.

In February of 2019, the Narcotics Unit initiated an investigation into Christopher Mitchell, 40, and his Vape Store, Dubba Bubbas, located at 1252 E Tallmadge in Akron. The investigation was launched after receiving a citizen complaint that Mitchell was selling marijuana, THC vapes, and THC edibles from the shop.

The investigation revealed Demarco Jones, 24, as one of Mitchell’s primary sources of supply. Jones, a former Akron resident, had taken up residence in Stark County. Jones’ illegal activities were found to stretch across Summit, Portage, Medina and Stark Counties.

In December of 2019, the investigation was adopted as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case, sponsored by the DEA. The case was actively worked by the Narcotics Unit on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

On Thursday, September 4, 2020, the Task Force served three federal arrest warrants and eight search warrants in Summit and Stark Counties. Arrested on federal complaints were George May, 22, of Tallmadge, Tyrone Keith, 44, of Canton, and Demarco Jones, 24, of Canal Fulton. Also arrested on a state charge was DaShawn Jones, 45, of Kenmore.

“24-hours a day and 7 days a week law enforcement is hard at work to keep this community safe. This lengthy investigation is a great representation of that diligence. It also illustrates the power of collective effort and the meaningfulness of the shared work between the Akron Police Department and our federal partners. The suspects arrested in this operation are a threat to our community, as are the 18 guns, which were illegally possessed, and thousands of pounds of drugs. Thank you to the dedicated men and women that were responsible for these results” said Chief Kenneth Ball II.

“The defendants in this case allegedly went to great lengths to market, sell and transport marijuana and THC products, often designed to look like candies and cereals, to their customers in the Northern District and across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “However, thanks to the hard work and partnership of numerous local, state and federal agencies, law enforcement agents were able to disrupt this drug trafficking operation and get significant quantities of marijuana product, illicit cash, and highpowered firearms off of our streets.

In all, 18 firearms, 774 lbs. of marijuana, 422 lbs. of edibles, 1143 lbs. of THC vapes, 203 lbs. of shatter/wax/dabs, and over $250,000 in U.S. currency was seized. Some of the edibles seized included children’s cereal that had been infused with liquid THC, repackaged, and sold, creating a substantial risk to unsuspecting children.

“This was a sophisticated operation operating in northern Ohio,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “There is a misconception going around that marijuana is a harmless drug and that is simply not true. Many of the edibles were packaged in a way that would be very appealing to children, bearing a striking and frightening resemblance to popular breakfast cereals, candy and snack foods.”

The American Red Cross is encouraging members of the community of all races and ethnic backgrounds to give blood to help ensure a diverse blood supply. 

For a small percentage of the population, finding someone else with the same type of blood can be difficult. The vast majority of people are either A, B, O, or AB blood types, but there are some blood types that are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups. 

That is why the Red Cross is calling on those with various backgrounds to donate blood. To find out when and where you can donate, click here, or to host of Red Cross Blood drive, click here.  

Below is more information on why diverse blood types are important: