Year in Review - May: Realty Building explosion kills one; Eastern Gateway dissolves; Girard school treasurer paid nearly $500K resigns
2024 has been a busy news year around the Mahoning and Shenago valleys.
From December 20 through New Year's Eve, 21 News will share a recap of one month per day of some of the interesting news events that happened in 2024. Here are some of the top stories from May.
May 7
Steward Health Care puts all 31 hospitals up for sale, including Valley locations
CNN reports that Steward Health Care puts all of its hospitals in the U.S. up for sale after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. See the full story here.
May 10
City of Youngstown closes its case against failed Chill Can plant owners
Youngstown officially closes its case against the MJ Joseph Development Company, the owners of the land that was supposed to house the Chill Can plant. See the full story here.
May 15
Eastern Gateway Community College to dissolve on October 31
EGCC approves a plan to dissolve on October 31 while continuing education throughout the summer with a planned graduation in March. See the full story here.
May 17
Tim McGraw announced as headliner for Y Live concert
JAC Management announced Tim McGraw as the headliner for the annual Y Live concert that draws thousands to downtown Youngstown. The concert would be delayed on July 3 and has been rescheduled for September 27, 2025. See the full story here.
May 22
Youngstown’s Casa Ramirez ends dine-in service
After 30 years, Casa Ramirez on Youngstown’s Westside announces the end of dine-in service. The restaurant continues hosting parties and off-site catering. See the full story here.
May 23
U.S. EPA, DOJ announce settlement with Norfolk Southern, includes additional rail safety changes
Norfolk Southern reaches an agreement with the U.S. EPA and DOJ in the amount of $310M for damage done on February 3, 2023, in East Palestine. See the full story here.
May 25
Austintown Fitch product Billy Price retires from NFL after medical issue
Austintown Fitch and Ohio State alumni Billy Price announces his retirement from the NFL after an emergency pulmonary embolism surgery. Price played 69 career games and was a first round draft pick. See the full story here.
May 28
Explosion of Downtown Youngstown’s Realty Building kills bank employee
Downtown Youngstown is shaken as the Realty Building, which housed Chase Bank and apartments, explodes. The blast claimed the life of Akil Drake, an employee at the bank and displaced tenants at International Towers. See the full story here.
May 29
Watchdog Report: Girard Schools Treasurer paid almost half a million in one fiscal year
According to the Ohio audit, Girard Schools’ Treasurer Mark Bello got a pay-bump of almost $326,000 for the fiscal year 2023, part of a retire/rehire agreement. Bello would resign on June 7. See the full story here.
May 31
Displaced Realty Tower tenants not allowed in building to gather belongings
Residents of the Realty Building are told they can’t safely enter the building leading to concerns about pets living there and important belongings. See the full story here.
