Patrick Williams
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Articles by Patrick Williams
Goodyear closing chemical plants in Niagara Falls and Houston area
Goodyear Headquarters in Akron on Oct. 10, 2025. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's decision to close chemical plants and lay off workers in New York and Texas comes as it works to improve its balance sheet, the company's top executive said during a Nov. 5 financial presentation.
Reinforcements on the way
Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer We’re only two weeks into the season, but help is already on the way for some AHL teams who need it. Start with the Hartford Wolf Pack, where the New York Rangers’ goaltending picture has been hammered by injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo.
New framework developed for moving endangered species to safer locations
A new framework designed to guide one of the hardest decisions in conservation—whether to move a species outside its historical range to save it from extinction—has been published in Conservation Science and Practice, capping a multiyear, Pacific–wide effort in which the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa played a central supporting role.
Invasive little fire ants prefer cooked beef, seeds over tuna
If you are trying to detect or bait little fire ants in your backyard, scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa suggest swapping tuna for cooked beef and sunflower seeds. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Entomology by researchers at the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), revealed that the little fire ant's (Wasmannia auropunctata) preferred diet is not what scientists and homeowners previously thought.
These are the most popular new, used vehicles in Greater Akron
Serra Auto Park recently expanded its campus with a new location for Serra Subaru, located on the former Regal Interstate Park, located at 1089 Interstate Parkway in Green, Ohio. Despite Akron-area car dealers cruising along with expansions, new and used car sales are down in Summit County, year to date, compared to 2025.
47 years, 1 employer. A laborer reflects on his odyssey at retirement
With a final shift and retirement celebration with colleagues Sept. 4, Kirk Armbruster concluded 47 years of working at Merryweather Foam in Barberton. It's where he's worked the entirety of his career. Armbruster, who is from Barberton, started at Merryweather Foam right out of high school in 1979. It was in a role that he referred to as "housekeeping," known today as material handling.
Goodyear CFO stepping down, duties to be filled on interim basis
Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal Mon, June 29, 2026 at 7:20 PM UTC The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's chief financial officer, Christina Zamarro, is leaving the company July 10 and will be replaced on an interim basis by Scott Deakin. Deakin, a former public company CFO and operating executive in multiple industries, most recently served as CFO at Atlanta-based Gypsum Management & Supply, according to a news release from Goodyear. He will begin as interim CFO July 1.
'Give me an A': Ellet resident cheerleads effort to fix up Akron sign
A group of community members who love the concrete "Akron" sign on an Ellet embankment are involved in a literal grassroots effort. After edging the grass around the letters that spell the city name on a hillside at the Akron-Fulton Airport, Ellet residents, friends and other contacts of theirs are working to clean up the letters to make them more vibrant. A plane approaches Akron Fulton Airport next to the letter "A" that makes up the "Akron" sign.
PUCO rejects FirstEnergy ask to have more time to respond to outages
PUCO rejects FirstEnergy ask to have more time to respond to outages Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal Sat, June 27, 2026 at 6:53 PM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. PUCO rejects FirstEnergy ask to have more time to respond to outages The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio denied Akron-based FirstEnergy's request that the agency grant it more time to respond to electric outages and permit more outages per year.
Telecom company shares initial findings after Twinsburg gas explosion
Telecom company shares initial findings after Twinsburg gas explosion Uniti Group, a telecommunications company based in Little Rock, Arkansas, has shared what its team believes led to a gas explosion in Twinsburg Township that destroyed three houses and damaged 23 others. "We can confirm our subcontractor was working in the area on June 25 when a gas line was struck," a company spokesperson said via email.
Hudson petitioners didn't meet signature requirement. What now?
A group of Hudson residents that gathered signatures for a referendum petition over a roughly two-week period did not end up turning those signatures into the city. But they have been in talks with the City Council president about their push to alter the city's ordinance establishing a new District 11 or place it before voters.
Family working to build community at café in Akron's Firestone Park
After establishing strong connections in and around Summit County, a local family with Filipino and Portuguese roots is inviting members of Firestone Park neighborhood to come by their new café – and stay awhile. Stay Awhile Café, at 1762 Brown St. in Akron, opened June 6 with family, friends, colleagues and other community members present, said owner Ana Borges. "It's needed in the community," Ana said, citing limited coffee and healthy food options.
West Akron a flurry of activity for parade, Juneteenth celebration
Corvette owners slowly rolled their sports cars down Copley Road in West Akron, followed by dancing cheerleaders. Representatives from Enviroscapes then threw candy out to children as they rode lawnmowers down the street. Big Mike's Towing & Recovery carried people sitting on picnic tables on the back of one of its tow trucks. The Juneteenth Edition of the 50th Annual West Akron Parade brought out thousands of people of all ages June 20.
Facebook, Instagram users report difficulties connecting to sites
Updated June 12, 2026, 10:41 a.m. ET This story has been updated with additional information. Facebook and Instagram users have reported issues connecting to the popular social media sites June 12. At about 9:31 a.m., Internet monitoring site Downdetector noted that there were more than 40,000 reports of users experiencing issues with Facebook. Around 9:44 a.m., Downdetector tallied more than 7,000 reports of users experiencing issues with Instagram.
Facebook, Instagram users report difficulties connecting to sites
Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal Fri, June 12, 2026 at 2:08 PM UTC Facebook and Instagram appear to be experiencing significant issues. As of about 9:31 a.m. June 12, Internet monitoring site Downdetector noted that there were more than 40,000 reports of users experiencing issues with Facebook. Around 9:44 a.m. a.m., Downdetector tallied more than 7,000 reports of users experiencing issues with Instagram. Both Facebook and Instagram are owned by Meta.
Kaulig Companies look ahead after PGA signals final Firestone event
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Matt Kaulig aims to end the four-year run of the Kaulig Companies Championship in Akron with one last hurrah. The PGA Tour-linked event will include a celebration of golfer John Daly as this year's Ambassador of Golf, a concert by multiplatinum country artist Bailey Zimmerman at the Infinity Zone custom-built concert venue at Firestone Country Club and a continuation of the $8 million in charitable giving tied to the championship.
What does PGA Tour Champions decision mean to iconic Ohio golf club?
Wyndham Clark 1 day ago Wyndham Clark's impressive course destruction, Dustin Johnson's cringeworthy moment and the worst $25 million ever spent Golf Digest - By Alex Myers • 1d Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we’re still licking our wounds from playing in a qualifier for the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Public Links Championship. On the bright side, my struggles were great for content, and I’m a content guy at heart.
What does PGA Tour Champions decision mean to iconic Ohio golf club? Original
PGA TOUR Patrick Williams Akron Beacon Journal May 27, 2026, 12:01 p.m. ET The Senior Players Championship will move from Akron's Firestone Country Club in 2027. The PGA Tour event will relocate to Newport Beach Country Club in California. Hoag, a regional health care system, will become the new title sponsor. Firestone Country Club has hosted professional golf events since 1954. It's going to be a little quieter on the greens of one of golf's iconic professional showplaces in 2027.
Firestone Country Club losing its place on pro golf tour in 2027
This story has been updated with additional information. It's going to be a little quieter on the greens of one of golf's iconic professional showplaces in 2027. The PGA Tour announced May 26 that Firestone Country Club will no longer host the Senior Players Championship next year, after the current deal to operate the event in Akron under the Kaulig Companies banner expires. Beginning in 2027, the PGA Tour will host the annual event at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, California.
Eastern Conference Finals Preview
The Calder Cup Playoffs are down to four teams. Those four clubs bear some scars, too. They’ve all been through a scare or two to one degree or another at this point. And it’s a wide-open playoff field as well. The regular-season champion Providence Bruins are out. So are the Grand Rapids Griffins (second overall), Ontario Reign (fourth), and Charlotte Checkers (fifth). None of the regular season’s four division champions remain as the Laval Rocket also went home early.
Here are 9 ways Akron residents want to fix housing in their city
The 65 delegates of Akron's 2026 Civic Assembly on Housing have presented nine community proposals – what they are calling the "Plan of the People" – to city officials.
Former Akron Public Schools headquarters is on the market again
The city of Akron plans to request more development proposals for the former Akron Public Schools headquarters building near the All-America Bridge after a boutique hotel plan from two private developers fell through. City officials are planning to issue a new request for proposals for the 70 N. Broadway site this summer, "hopefully by the end of July," city spokeswoman Stephanie Marsh said via email. The city is not currently eyeing demolition, she said.
'Plan of the People' for housing in Akron includes repair loans, more
This story has been updated with additional information. Akron City Council and Mayor Shammas Malik's administration are about to have their hands full deciding what to do with suggestions on how to improve Akron's housing landscape. A 65-person cohort, Akron's Civic Assembly, voted to advance nine community proposals for consideration by the city government, a blueprint they're calling their Plan of the People.
Cleveland Clinic to receive more than $9.2M for COVID expenses
Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal Thu, May 21, 2026 at 8:39 PM UTC A total of $31.1 million in federal funding has been awarded to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Aultman Health Foundation for costs the hospital systems incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, announced the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency funding May 21.
Federal funding could help Ohioans avoid some electric bill jumps
Ohio's top utility regulator has committed to requesting millions of dollars in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to improve the electric transmission in the state and limit customer bill increases.
Huntsman Corp. to end some of its polymer production in Akron
Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer based in The Woodlands, Texas, plans to end its nitrile latex production in Akron by the end of the first quarter of 2027 – but still manufacture other polymers locally. The Huntsman Advanced Materials subsidiary will end its nitrile latex production at 240 W. Emerling Ave., said Kammy Reece, director of global communications at Huntsman Advanced Materials.
Calder Cup Playoff Stock Report: Upsets Upending The Postseason
Another round of cuts, and it’s now an eight-team field left in the Calder Cup Playoffs. It has been a spring of upsets. Top-five finishers in the Providence Bruins (first), Ontario Reign (fourth), and Charlotte Checkers (fifth) are all out. Meanwhile, the Springfield Thunderbirds (22nd) knocked out two of those top-five teams and have a chance to do the same to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (third). It has been anything but a predictable postseason.
Goaltenders Dominant As The Calder Cup Playoffs Unfold
Eight teams remain alive for a chance to lift the Calder Cup in June. Goaltending has been a dominant story through early-round play. Through 53 playoff games, teams have averaged 2.62 goals per game, and that number has been bloated by late-game blowouts and empty-net tallies. Twenty-three of the contests have been decided by one goal, and that stingy play does not look to ease up as the playoff field goes through further cuts.
Akron Children's plans to buy former Notre Dame College property
Akron Children's was declared the successful bidder in an auction of the nearly 50-acre Notre Dame College campus in South Euclid. • The $8 million bid surpassed a $7.9 million bid by the city of South Euclid, a city official said. The city is the backup bidder, he said. • Akron Children's portfolio of properties in Greater Cleveland includes sites in Beachwood, Brecksville and Mayfield Heights, as well as a property it purchased in December in Rocky River.
Calder Cup Playoff Stock Report: Toronto Marlies Making Their Own Noise
The AHL’s top contenders find themselves in a full-fledged fight as the Calder Cup Playoffs unfold. The Cleveland Monsters are the first team through to the final eight. The Toronto Marlies could join them Tuesday night. One team at the top of the North Division, the Syracuse Crunch, is out. The Laval Rocket might be soon as well if they can’t clean up their penalty troubles and a wobbly penalty kill.
AHL Morning Skate: May 1, 2026 May 1, 2026
The late season gets warmer as the calendar turns to May Day 11 of the 2026 Calder Cup play-offs. After splitting the first two games in Cleveland, the Crunch and Monsters head to Syracuse to resume their North Division semifinal series tonight (7 ET, ). Game 3 will also stream for free on FloHockey’s social channels and beyond FloHockey 24/7available on Amazon Prime (US), Bell Fibe (Canada), Fubo and the FloHockey app.
Summit County judge candidate calls attack flyer 'racist propaganda'
L. Mialon Morris, a Democratic primary candidate for Summit County Common Pleas judge, says she is focusing on her campaign and "just ready to move past" a critical flyer that circulated on social media. The flyer, paid for by the Truth Coalition PAC, includes claims such as "Morris isn't even a Democrat" and "Morris would risk a safe vote to the GOP." It also lists a "Criminal Rap Sheet" with a driving under the influence charge and various alleged crimes and contains a mug shot.
AHL Morning Skate: April 26, 2026
Day 6 of the 2026 Calder Cup play-offs includes three winner-take-all matches as the first round ends and the playoff field is reduced to 16. With season one’s rout not yet over, the Manitoba Moose turned to the game Domenic DiVincentiis in net Friday evening. And the decision paid off as the Moose turned in a strong defensive effort, getting 19 saves from their second-year goaltender in his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
Iconic Ohio golf club could have new owners soon as part of $3 billion deal Original
COURSES Patrick Williams Akron Beacon Journal April 25, 2026, 12:00 a.m. ET Private equity firm KSL Capital Partners is reportedly in talks to purchase Invited Clubs for about $3 billion. The deal would include over 150 properties, including Akron's renowned Firestone Country Club. Firestone Country Club is a historic golf destination, hosting numerous PGA Tour events and major championships.
Akron police investigating counterfeit $20 bills at Litchfield CLC
Akron Police are investigating how counterfeit money made its way to a public middle school. The mother of an eighth grade Litchfield Community Learning Center student reported to the police April 23 that her son was handed counterfeit bills at his school by another boy, said APD Lt. Michael Murphy. Her son did not know the name of the other boy. The mother posted on Facebook that her son was handed multiple $20 counterfeit bills at the school's running track.
Calder Cup Playoff Stock Report: Charlotte, Henderson Surging
The Calder Cup Playoffs are here. But postseason play in the AHL is a volatile market. First-round play in the Calder Cup Playoffs is a best-of-three format. The ensuing two divisional rounds are best-of-five, allowing only slightly more margin for error. Who is climbing? Who is holding steady? And who is falling quickly? These short series mean minimal time for playoff teams to feel out a series. Losing one game in the first round means having to fend off elimination.
Ohio Edison storm restoration work leads to higher customer bills
Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal Calculations from FirstEnergy show the Akron-based utility's Ohio Edison subsidiary is charging more for the distribution portion of customer bills following a February order by a state regulator. Beginning March 1, Ohio Edison customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month began paying about 87 cents more on their monthly bills, FirstEnergy spokesperson Jennifer Young said via email.
Firestone Country Club ownership could change as part of $3B deal
A private equity firm is seeking to become the new owner of Firestone Country Club in Akron, according to media reports. KSL Capital Partners is in talks to purchase Invited Clubs, a portfolio of more than 150 private golf clubs including Firestone and Silver Lake Country Clubs locally, for about $3 billion including debt, Reuters reported. Invited Clubs is owned by Apollo Global Management.
Pink Petals Florist moving to nearby spot to make way for cannabis shop
Pink Petals Florist in Akron's Wallhaven area has secured a new location within sight of the space that it is vacating to make way for a cannabis dispensary. The full-service florist will move from 1960 W. Market St. to 2003 W. Market St., Suite 100, by April 30, owner Regina Milan said. "We're excited to keep serving our customers in our new location," she said.
Hoppin' Frog turning 20 on lively note for Akron craft brewer, eatery
In two decades, Hoppin' Frog Brewery in Akron has established a strong reputation among beer lovers. • The brewery, at 1680 E. Waterloo Road, is celebrating 20 years with the release of its own vintage beers as it transitions its menu under a new chef. It's also brought back weekly Sunday brunches. • Hoppin' Frog is committed to supporting local causes and businesses, raising money for charity and serving snacks and drinks from Northeast Ohio establishments.
Akron's skyline buildings ride new wave of investor, tenant interest
Gino Faciana, co-CEO of Granger Township-based Pleasant Valley Corp., intends to purchase the 27-story Huntington Tower in downtown Akron. • In 2025, Faciana purchased two other downtown towers – PNC Center and the former FirstEnergy headquarters building. • The nonprofit Trailhead Foundation, meanwhile, is working to secure a lease at the Akron Centre building, directly adjacent to the former FirstEnergy headquarters building.
Electrifying makeover will keep Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad chugging into future
Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal Nearly 180 years after rail service first came to the Cuyahoga Valley, electric battery-powered locomotives will move passengers through the national park for the first time. The nonprofit Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad plans to finish its conversion of two diesel-powered locomotives to battery power and have the new engines up and running for passengers by next spring.
AHL Power Rankings: Providence Bruins Poised For History
Patrick Williams delivers the FloHockey AHL Power Rankings each week throughout the regular season. AHL history is there for the taking when the Providence Bruins begin their weekend. After clinching the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL’s regular-season champion last Sunday on home ice, the P-Bruins can set a new record for the best regular-season in the league’s 90-season history.
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