AKRON
Robbers mug seven
AKRON: A group of armed men roaming the city robbed seven people in about two hours late Monday night.
Two people suffered minor injuries during the robberies, which began about 10:30 p.m. Monday and ended about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The robbery spree started on Johnston Street and ventured to Firestone Park and Ellet before it ended around Grant Street and East Emerling Avenue, police Lt. Rick Edwards said.
The same four men, some of whom were armed with handguns, are suspected of taking part in the robbery spree, Edwards said. The men targeted pedestrians.
Victims were approached at gunpoint and forced to surrender their belongings, including wallets, cash, cell phones and other electronic devices. Edwards said the robbers probably stole less than $200 collectively from the seven victims.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Candidate invited
AKRON: The third Democratic candidate for Akron mayor has been invited to a candidates night after previously being snubbed.
Janice Davis said Tuesday she’s not sure whether she will attend.
Ernie Tarle, chief of staff for state Rep. Zack Milkovich, said Monday he wasn’t inviting Davis because he didn’t consider her a “legitimate candidate.” He and Milkovich reconsidered after receiving negative feedback for that decision.
Davis said she’ll “think about” attending.
The candidates night will be at 6 p.m. today at Firestone Park Community Center, 1480 Girard St.
The event raised eyebrows Monday when Tarle sent an email to media that called it a debate. Tarle previously had billed it as a candidates night to the campaigns of Mayor Don Plusquellic and Councilman Mike Williams. Tarle later sent an email that said it would be a candidates night.
Williams plans to attend. Plusquellic, who is going to a school dedication, initially planned to send another representative. His campaign manager, Gert Wilms, said Tuesday the campaign won’t participate. She pointed to concerns about how the event was being handled.

Tom Jones benefit
NORTON: A dogs and suds fundraiser will be held Sept. 15 for Tom Jones, a candidate for mayor of Norton.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. at the Barberton Moose Hall #759, 250 31st St. NW.
Suggested donation is $10 per person.
For more information, call 330-825-6988.

FAIRLAWN
Wine event Sept. 9
FAIRLAWN: The Akron Black Action Committee will host the 2011 Wine Sip with the Candidates at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church, 555 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road.
Cost of the event, which includes dinner and dancing, is $35.
For tickets or more information, call Judi Hill at 330-805-5550 or Daron L. Wright at 330-294-1004.

NORTHEAST OHIO
Land fraud alleged
CLEVELAND: A 35-year-old Fairlawn man faces federal charges in connection with alleged mortgage- and bank-fraud schemes that led to a total loss of more than $20 million.
Federal prosecutors said Jason A. Herceg ran a land-flip scheme on two elderly people. He is accused of falsifying loan documents to banks to buy a piece of Florida property from its original owner. He, along with a partner, inflated the value of the lot and resold it for $7 million, prosecutors say.
The estimated profit on that deal was nearly $3 million.
Herceg is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and false statements to influence a bank to make a loan and one count of filing a false tax return.
The maximum penalty for each of the two conspiracy counts is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The tax charge carries a maximum of three years in prison.

ATV rider dies
A Mahoning County man who crashed an all-terrain vehicle Sunday has died.
Jeramy Keane, 18, of Smith Township, died Monday afternoon at Summa Akron City Hospital, one day after crashing the ATV on his family’s property east of Alliance.
A spokesman for the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said Keane was involved in a crash, causing the ATV to roll over his body.
Smith Township police and the medical examiner’s office are investigating the incident. No other information was released.

Trial over sewer fee
CLEVELAND: A lawsuit over a proposed stormwater management fee is going to trial after settlement talks broke off between a sewer district and about two dozen communities.
The Plain Dealer reported that the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the communities in Cuyahoga and Summit counties couldn’t agree on the fee. The district’s proposal would amount to about $57 a year for the average homeowner, on top of double-digit rate increases for water and sewer services.
The trial is scheduled for Oct. 31 in Cleveland.
The newspaper reports that the trial will focus on whether the district can charge the fee. Some mayors argue it is an unvoted tax.
Sewer officials say it would produce about $38 million annually for projects.

PORTAGE COUNTY
Fires ruled arson
COLUMBUS: State fire officials are offering a $5,000 reward for information about two fires in Windham early Tuesday morning that were intentionally set.
The fires occurred between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. at a home on Blanton Drive and an apartment on Green Meadow Drive.
No injuries were reported.
Fire officials have declared the buildings total losses.
According to the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fires were intentionally set, but the office did not release any additional information.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information on either fire.
Tips may be called to authorities at 800-589-2728.

STATE NEWS
State aid proposal
COLUMBUS: A state lawmaker says he plans to introduce a bill that would require all Ohioans on public aid pass drug testing — and foot the bill.
Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, says taxpayers shouldn’t have to finance the illegal habits of people receiving public dollars.
His proposed legislation would require people to pay for their own testing. They would be reimbursed if they pass. If they fail, they could keep their aid by attending state-approved treatment services.
An advocacy group for the poor says the state first should prove there is a drug problem among those who receive public aid before starting testing.
— Associated Press