Breaking News

Opinion

Our opinion: Can candidates deliver on jobs?

Our Opinion

Pennsylvania was third in the nation for job growth in 2025, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While nearly one-third of states saw a year of losses in 2025, from December 2024 to December 2025, Pennsylvania gained more than 76,000 jobs — a 1.2 percent increase year-over-year, compared to a 0.4 percent increase nationally. That’s great news if you live near one of the state’s urban areas, but doesn’t mean much for Warren County. Within the year’s growth, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh ranked as two of the top U.S. metro areas(opens in a new tab) for ...

Anchors Aweigh — and all that jazz

Local Commentaries

When the Fredonia Opera House announced this concert, I closed my laptop and picked up the phone. The U.S. Navy Band’s Sea Chanters were at the Opera House for an evening concert last Friday and I wasn’t going to miss it. It seemed a shame for just Richard and me to enjoy it, so we invited two musician friends to join us. No, we weren’t generous big spenders. All tickets to all military band events are complimentary. Our four tickets arrived in the mail two days later. My friend Ann grew up playing the piano. These days she makes music mostly at church in both the choir and ...

Our opinion: Ribfest may be prime for boost

Our Opinion

Apparently, the return of Warren’s Ribfest could not have come at a better time. Warren’s event returns June 25-27 in downtown Warren with live entertainment and, of course, savory ribs. We have no doubt, after so long away, that Warren County residents will make their way downtown to support the event. They may be joined by some rib lovers from north of the state line with the recent news that Celoron’s longtime rib festival won’t take place this year. A confluence of air quality warnings caused by wildfires in Canada, poor weather during Celoron Ribfest weekends, ...

Maintaining transparency through newspapers, websites

Local Commentaries

Life is hectic. Keeping track of work, home, and family commitments is challenging enough. Now imagine adding another task to your daily routine: checking multiple government websites just to find out what your local and state officials are planning to do. You would have to monitor the websites of your school board, township supervisors, borough council, sewer authority, zoning hearing board, county commissioners, and other government bodies that make decisions affecting your daily life. That could become reality if lawmakers weaken Pennsylvania’s public notice law by allowing public ...

Our opinion: Slain trooper protecting community

Our Opinion

The death of a Pennsylvania state trooper during a traffic stop on March 8 underscores how the lives of law enforcement officers are at risk even while performing some of their most basic duties. Cpl. Tim O’Connor was killed while approaching a car he had stopped after authorities were alerted about what was described as an “erratic driver.” O’Connor was shot to death while he was walking toward the car; it is believed that the driver fired from inside the vehicle. After firing the shot, the shooter, identified as Jesse Nathan Elks, 32, exited the car, walked a short distance ...

Our opinion: State needs a gas tax holiday

Our Opinion

Gas prices were already too high in Warren County before the recent war began with Iran. The situation has only gotten worse in the past two weeks. Gas prices in Warren County are among the highest in the state at $3.790, second only to Mifflin County’s $3.797, according to the AAA. The national average of a gallon of gas is $3.539 as of Tuesday, while the state average is $3.644. Inflation has been a problem long before the bombing began in Iran, but the situation is becoming more acute in the wake of the Iran attacks. Pennsylvania motorists currently pay one of the highest ...