Youngstown State University (YSU) President Bill Johnson provided updates and plans for the university during a discussion on WFMJ Midday.

The updates come after the announcement that YSU will be holding online classes for the remainder of the week, with no classes being held on campus during the January deep freeze.

Johnson stated that a $20 million first responder training and fire sciences center is set for an East Palestine groundbreaking by early summer 2026.

The university received the funds in collaboration with the state of Ohio and the village of East Palestine in November 2025 through a Norfolk Southern grant following the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine.

Johnson also discussed the plans for YSU's new satellite campus in Steubenville,  stating that the red "Y" marquee can be seen at 4000 Sunset Boulevard and that the transformation has begun in the interior of the building as well. 

"We're working very, very closely with the Ohio Department of Higher Education to put all the pieces in place, program approvals and those kinds of things," Johnson said.

The property previously belonged to Eastern Gateway Community College.

"Things continue to look up," Johnson said. "I always tell people, we've got a lot of irons in the fire at Youngstown State, and they're all burning hot. We're heading in the right direction in so many categories.

Johnson says that a community open house will take place in the spring for the Steubenville campus.