Abigail Bottar
Reporter/ProducerExpertise: Audio reporting, Akron politics, rail safety
Education: Kent State University - Bachelor of Arts, political science
Favorite spot in Northeast Ohio: Downtown Kent
Experience:
Abigail Bottar covers Akron, Canton, Kent and the surrounding areas for 精东影业. She started in public radio as a news intern at WKSU. Her reporting on the train derailment in East Palestine has appeared nationally and internationally on the BBC, NPR, 鈥淢orning Edition,鈥� 鈥淯p First,鈥� 鈥淗ere and Now,鈥� MSNBC, 鈥淟iving on Earth鈥� and Vox鈥檚 鈥淭oday, Explained.鈥�
Highlights:
- 2022, Best Spot News Coverage, Ohio Associated Press Media Editors
- Guest on the 鈥淪ound of Ideas鈥� and panelist on the 鈥淪ound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable鈥�
Why trust 精东影业?
The mission of 精东影业 is to be a trustworthy and dynamic multimedia source for illuminating the world around us. Our highest priority is providing news and information that is reliable and accurate, that is gathered with integrity and professional care and that is presented with precision and respect for the intelligence of our audiences. We are transparent about how we discover and verify the facts we present and strive to make our decision-making process clear to the public. We disclose relationships, such as with partners or funders, that might appear, but will never, influence our coverage.
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At a Twinsburg City Council meeting Tuesday night, residents shared concerns about alleged police misconduct and the lack of records requests being filled by the city. -
Next Step Up launched in February 2025 as an emergency housing shelter with 27 beds, two cribs and room for dogs and cats. -
Former Chief City Prosecutor Craig Morgan took over as chief of public safety in January. In his role as prosecutor, he worked closely with the police department, a relationship he's eager to strengthen in his new role, he said. -
Akron's Citizens' Police Oversight Board released its 2025 annual report Thursday, detailing structural challenges the board is still facing nearly three years after its first meeting. -
Officers Daniel Fidoe, Olivia Bartulovic and Matthew Pfeifer filed the lawsuit against Twinsburg and the city's police chief two years ago over allegations of sexual harassment and records tampering. -
Medina County officials have commissioned their own study to get in-depth projections of the county's population in the next 25 years. -
The bill would ensure people detained by immigration enforcement would have adequate meals, medical care and weather appropriate clothing, according to one of the bill's sponsors. -
The Railroad Safety and Accountability Act would codify the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee. -
New symptom tracker, trial aim to document residents' symptoms after East Palestine train derailmentEast Palestine residents have complained of symptoms they say stem from the Norfolk Southern train derailment three years ago. -
Changes to both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid passed in July 2025 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
