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New Belmont County Health Department building nears completion

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The new Belmont County Health Department building project is set for completion Dec. 28. As construction continues at the facility, the Belmont County Board of Commissioners passed two motions approving amendments regarding the project. The board approved an amendment to ...

More details released about Fox Run CEO arrest

MARTINS FERRY — Fox Run CEO Randall Mackendrick was arrested over the weekend on multiple charges, including unlawful sexual contact with a minor. Mackendrick was arrested early Saturday by the North Ridgeville Police Department on charges of importuning, defined as soliciting sexual ...

Ohio uncovers more alleged Medicaid fraud payments

A northeast Ohio behavioral health agency received $1.2 million in improper Medicaid payments, Ohio’s auditor said. The state wants $1.4 million in repayment, adding interest, from New Destiny Treatment Center in Summit County, Auditor Keith Faber said. New Destiny was paid $11.5 million from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2023, for substance abuse disorder, mental health and other services, Faber said. “Issues identified in Tuesday’s compliance audit included missing documentation to support reimbursements and instances where treatment plans did not match services that were ...

Neighbors helping neighbors

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — An area business is looking to help other small businesses get seen. Willow Creek Group LLC founder Blake Porterfield created a web application that provides a free online audit showing how businesses perform online and what people see when they search for those ...

Ohio development office under scrutiny from feds

A federal agency issued a scathing report on the use of federal funds by the Ohio Department of Development, questioning $20 million in costs and identifying $5 million that could be “put to better use.” The funds were allocated by The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the Department of Commerce, which oversees the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership MEP centers “provide manufacturers with services and access to resources to enhance growth, improve productivity, and expand capacity,” according to the federal government. The federal audit concluded that ...