Ignazio Messina
The Toledo Blade
Toledo, OH, United States
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Toledo's top stories 2017
It was a tumultuous year in northwest Ohio. Top leadership positions are poised to receive fresh blood after voters flocked to ballot boxes in November, while members of the old guard either lost elections or were cast aside amid controversy. Tragic crimes left communities reeling, but some victims saw their cases creep closer to justice, if not at least to a sense of closure. Public agencies… → Read More
Toledo's top stories 2017
It was a tumultuous year in northwest Ohio. Top leadership positions are poised to receive fresh blood after voters flocked to ballot boxes in November, while members of the old guard either lost elections or were cast aside amid controversy. Tragic crimes left communities reeling, but some victims saw their cases creep closer to justice, if not at least to a sense of closure. Public agencies… → Read More
St. Anthony sign of changes in old Polish neighborhoods
The planned razing next year of St. Anthony Catholic Church at Nebraska and Junction avenues is more than just the removal of another vacant building to people like Jack Sparagowski. For Mr. Sparagowski, 71, president of the Polish American Community of Toledo, it's another sad reminder that a once thriving Polish community in Toledo is largely dead. “It is hard to put it into words because… → Read More
Santa accepting mail from Toledo kids
Five-year-old Burkely Kunce was chowing down on lunch at Ye Old Durty Bird in downtown Toledo when his mom had a great idea to get a jump on his letter to Santa. Luckily for the boy who moved to the Toledo area with his family from New Orleans, the restaurant is one of nine spots in the city with dedicated mailboxes just for the jolly big guy in red. The letters to Santa box at The Durty Bird.… → Read More
City budget cuts community relations staff position
Linda Alvarado Arce, executive director City of Toledo Board of Community Relations. at a Center of Hope Community Baptist Church special worship service entitled "One Year after Ferguson", at its location in Toledo, Ohio on August 9, 2015. Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson's proposed 2018 spending plan, which she released Wednesday, slashes the city's board of community relations executive director… → Read More
Toledo Mayor Hicks-Hudson releases 2018 budgets
The lame duck Hicks-Hudson administration Wednesday released its proposed general fund and capital improvements spending plans for 2018 — budget documents that are expected to be altered by Mayor-elect Wade Kapszukiewicz when he takes office in January. Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson's proposed $258.21 million 2018 general fund budget — which is down slightly from $258.87 million this year — predicts… → Read More
Toledo showcases new streets department simulator
Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson Tuesday showcased the city's newest $155,000 high-tech gadget — a simulator to train heavy equipment operators. Toledo City Council voted 12-0 on Sept. 6 to spend $155,000 for the excavator wheel loader, backhoe, and crane modules simulator. The mayor, speaking at her first public event since her loss for reelection last week to Lucas County Treasurer Wade… → Read More
Promises to keep: The road ahead for Toledo's mayor-elect
Wade Kapszukiewicz’s campaign promises were easier to offer than they will be to deliver — which is a fact that he, his supporters, and his detractors all agree upon. Yet, Mr. Kapszukiewicz — fresh off his decisive win last week against incumbent Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, the endorsed Democrat — said he’s confident Toledo will be better in four years and that his goals are attainable. What does… → Read More
Toledo Council reviews $216,000 for new downtown cameras, system upgrades
Toledo City Council Wednesday reviewed spending more than $216,000 for camera system upgrades and 17 new police cameras downtown that are required by a 2015 development agreement between the city and ProMedica. The agreement spells out incentives for the company to relocate its corporate headquarters downtown. “[Council's] ordinance combines both a hardware and software upgrade to the existing… → Read More
Kapszukiewicz promises dynamic transition team
Wade Kapszukiewicz makes his victory speech during his election night event. The Blade/Kurt Steiss Enlarge | Buy This Image Toledo Mayor Elect Wade Kapszukiewicz promised to assemble a dynamic transition team to “hit the ground running” on Jan. 2 when he takes office leading the city. "That transition team is going to be very busy," Mr Kapszukiewicz said shortly after defeating Paula… → Read More
Kapszukiewicz says source of idle millions was truck sale proceeds
Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, the endorsed Democrat, left, and Democrat Lucas County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz faced off in an hour-long debate Thursday at WGTE studios in Toledo. The Blade/Katie Rausch Enlarge | Buy This Image Toledo mayoral candidate Wade Kapszukiewicz on Friday again accused Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson and her staff of trying to cover up why more than $8 million was… → Read More
One last time: Hicks-Hudson, Kapszukiewicz debate on live TV
Toledo's mayoral candidates faced off before Election Day one last time Thursday in a live televised debate. They tussled on water safety, the city's lead-safe law, roads, party politics, and city finances — including the persisting controversy over how more than $8 million sat idle in a city fund for five years. The two attacked each other several times during the hour-long debate hosted by The… → Read More
Regional water meeting not on tap for Toledo at first
The Hicks-Hudson administration's top lawyer temporarily pulled Toledo out of discussions on creating a regional water authority until after Election Day, but the move was reversed within hours of suburban leaders saying they’d forge ahead without the city, emails obtained by The Blade reveal. Elected officials from Toledo, Maumee, Perrysburg, Sylvania, Fulton County, Lucas County, Monroe… → Read More
Toledo City Council approves spending $3.35 million
Toledo City Council agreed Tuesday to spend more than $3 million – money that was previously tucked into one city fund until it was moved back into the pot of money used for permanent improvements – to improve parks, pools, and streets. Council voted 11-1 to approve an ordinance, one that resembled a spending bill, authorizing the city to spend $3,350,000. The plan includes spending $400,000 on… → Read More
Toledo sues opioid manufacturers, distributors
TOLEDO — The city of Toledo sued 24 opioid manufacturers and distributors Monday, Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson announced. “It is designed to hold them responsible,” the mayor said. “The goal is to recover our costs and to change the ways in which they prescribe and advertise these drugs,” she said. Mayor Hicks-Hudson said city taxpayers have … → Read More
Toledo sues opioid manufacturers, distributors
The city of Toledo sued 24 opioid manufacturers and distributors Monday, Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson announced. "It is designed to hold them responsible," the mayor said. "The goal is to recover our costs and to change the ways in which they prescribe and advertise these drugs.” Mayor Hicks-Hudson said city taxpayers have spent more than $400,000 for Toledo firefighters to respond to opioid-related… → Read More
Kapszukiewicz's financial plans lack realistic detail, mayor contends
Under repeated attack for the city’s handling of $8.2 million in city funds during her tenure, incumbent Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson is now trying to turn the tables on her opponent, Wade Kapszukiewicz, suggesting his proposals lack financial credibility. But time is running out on the election clock. Ms. Hicks-Hudson, who became mayor in 2015 when Mayor D. Michael Collins died, is seeking election… → Read More
Mayoral candidates roll out TV ads
Both of Toledo’s mayoral candidates are trying to reach you through your television sets with new ads out Friday. Lucas County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz’s 30-second spot, accompanied by driving music, attacks the current administration over $8.2 million that was erroneously accounted for in the city budget and touts Mr. Kapszukiewicz’s financial acumen as Lucas County treasurer for balancing… → Read More
Toledo councilmen say lead law here to stay
Toledo councilmen Thursday stressed the city's lead safe law will not be weakened or changed and that "lead-safe certificates" are slowly increasing. “One of our biggest challenges … has been when, particularly owner-investors, think the legislation is going to be changed, and we are here to tell you, it is not,” Councilman Peter Ujvagi said during a news conference scheduled before council's… → Read More
Old South End homes to get $600,000 in work
Dozens of homes in a section of the Old South End will get $600,000 in renovations, including work to make the properties lead-safe, from a state grant and the required matching money obtained by the Historic South Initiative. Toledo City Council Tuesday reviewed accepting a $300,000 Environmental Health and Radiation Protection Program grant from the Ohio Department of Health, which would then… → Read More