Deal on Fed removes obstacle to agreement on virus aid bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top congressional lawmakers struck a late-night agreement on the last major obstacle to a COVID-19 economic relief package costing nearly $1 trillion,…
Tri-county adds 79 virus cases
From staff reports The state Department of Health on Friday announced 79 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from the tri-county area, and Venango and…
Lighted Christmas trees adorn hospital grounds
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer UPMC Northwest is a little brighter this holiday season because of the generosity of a local couple. A quartet…
Congress averts shutdown; fight continues over pandemic aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress passed a two-day stopgap spending bill Friday night, averting a partial government shutdown and buying yet more time for frustratingly slow…
New York Times: ‘Caliphate’ podcast didn’t meet standards
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times admitted Friday that it could not verify the claims of a Canadian man whose account of committing…
Recent Deaths 12/19/20
Jane B. LaKari, 92, of Oil City, died Dec. 18, 2020. June L. Vincent Schwabenbauer, 91, of Olean, New York, died Dec. 15, 2020. Joan…
Challenging Times Call for Creativity
In this time of all-things-virtual, it can feel…challenging, to say the least… to find ways to get involved in the community. Many of our local…
Pet of the Day 12/18/20
Ferris is such a sweet little guy. He is the last of his siblings that is looking for a home, and he has so much…
Apple Cake
(Culinary.net) It’s almost impossible to beat the combination of sweet fruit and decadent desserts. This delicious recipe for Apple Cake highlights the crisp fruit but…
Tri-county reports more virus cases, additional death
From staff reports The state Department of Health on Thursday announced 70 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from the tri-county area and Venango County…
Hack against US is ‘grave’ threat, cybersecurity agency says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities expressed increased alarm Thursday about a long-undetected intrusion into U.S. and other computer systems around the globe that officials suspect…
Steelers motivated for Monday night matchup with Bengals
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After the Pittsburgh Steelers lost two in a row and looked bad doing it, their Monday night matchup with the last-place…
Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett in first ‘Star Wars’ trilogy, dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jeremy Bulloch, the English actor who first donned a helmet, cape and jetpack to play Boba Fett in the original “Star…
Recent Deaths 12/18/20
Mary Jane Goble, 90, of Shippenville, died Dec. 17, 2020. Richard B. Gulnac, 81, of Franklin, died Dec.16, 2020. John Winston Gunning, 68, of Fisher,…
Pet of the Day 12/17/20
So how I came about this name. It’s honestly very embarrassing so don’t tell anyone! Somehow I was found with a stick in my tail,…
Holiday Watermelon Cutouts
(Family Features) Making the holiday season special is an important tradition for many families, and it’s likely to take on heightened importance this year with…
Tri-county area adds 83 virus cases
From staff reports The state Department of Health on Wednesday announced 83 new cases of COVID-19 from the tri-county area, and Venango and Clarion counties…
Police identify man fatally hurt in UTV crash
From staff reports Franklin state police have released more details of a UTV crash in Canal Township that fatally injured one man and seriously injured…
Close but not yet: Deal near on COVID-19 economic aid bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional negotiators are closing in on a $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package that would deliver additional help to businesses, $300-per-week jobless…
Soft Steelers? Pittsburgh looks to regain swagger
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger’s not deaf. He’s not blind, either. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback hears the criticism — from his coach, from fans, from…
In ‘Ma Rainey,’ channeling the blues of August Wilson
NEW YORK (AP) — Like many of those involved in the making of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” it’s not easy for Viola Davis to summarize…
Recent Deaths 12/17/20
Richard B. Gulnac, 81, of Franklin, died Dec. 16, 2020. R. James Smathers, of Clarion, died Dec. 16, 2020. Troy Edward Perry, 35, of Cochranton,…
Pet of the Day 12/16/20
Athena is an extra fun, high-energy girl. She came to us because she wasn’t getting along with cats. She can be a little picky about…
Reindeer Pecan Brownies
(Family Features) The holidays are filled with delicious food – from indulgent breakfasts to decadent desserts – but snacks can get overlooked. Spice up this…
Fatal UTV crash
Titusville Hospital receives vaccine
From staff reports Titusville Area Hospital announced it has received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and plans to provide it to their employees, as well as…
OC organizations sponsor house decorating contest
From staff reports In what has been a less than cheerful year, a trio of Oil City organizations want to bring some of that merriment…
Hack may have exposed deep US secrets; damage yet unknown
BOSTON (AP) — Some of America’s most deeply held secrets may have been stolen in a disciplined, monthslong operation being blamed on elite Russian government…
Searching for healthy lineman, Steelers sign Isidora
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The suddenly struggling Pittsburgh Steelers gave their battered offensive line a fresh face by signing Danny Isidora off Kansas City’s practice squad…
Review: Wonder Woman combats a huckster’s rise in ‘1984’
The Associated Press If you’re going to make a movie about wish fulfillment, 1980s America is about as good as you can do for a…
Recent Deaths 12/16/20
Dorian Elaine Burchfield Goheen, 93, of Strattanville, died Dec. 14, 2020. Timothy Norman Deeter, Sr., 66, of Franklin, died Dec. 14, 2020. William Charles Corbett…
Pet of the Day 12/15/20
Zeva was brought to us because her owner passed away. She is a big girl and her sweetness is just as big. Zeva will need…
Steak Au Poivre
(Family Features) Celebrate the season and create long-lasting memories this year by serving tasteful main courses centered around tender cuts of beef. With hand-cut choices…
Franklin chamber offering free local delivery from downtown businesses
From staff reports The Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce is urging people to shop small this holiday season by offering free local delivery. “We came…
OC residents reminded of snow removal responsibility
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer There is what some weather forecasters describe as a blockbuster winter storm tracking along the Atlantic Coast and due…
US vaccinations ramp up as 2nd COVID-19 shot nears
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds more U.S. hospitals are set to begin vaccinating their workers Tuesday as federal regulators issued a positive review of a second…
Lack of balance leaves Steelers, Roethlisberger reeling
PITTSBURGH (AP) — It’s not the first time Ben Roethlisberger has openly — if knowingly — questioned his own skillset. At the end of the…
A night at the ballet, in time for ‘Nutcracker’ season
The Associated Press Of all the artists whose livelihoods have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, dancers have been among those hit hardest. They depend…
Recent Deaths 12/15/20
Kaye A. Heeter, 81, of Callensburg, died Dec. 14, 2020. Judith C. Hovis, 78, of Clintonville, died Dec. 11, 2020. Catherine L. “Kay” James Lee,…
Pet of the Day 12/14/20
Hope’s selfie game is strong. She ensures there isn’t a double chin and is svelte as possible. She knows her angles. But really for Christmas,…
Grape Frangipane Tart
(Family Features) All kinds of holiday celebrations, whether with immediate family or joining loved ones virtually, can be made better with sweet treats that add…
VFW Testifies Before House Subcommittee
On Tuesday, VFW National Legislative Service Director Patrick Murray testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. The hearing was held to discuss…
Area weekend virus cases hit 246
From staff reports The state Department of Health over the weekend announced the tri-county area reported an increase of 246 cases of COVID-19. Clarion County,…
Electors meeting to formally choose Biden as next president
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential electors are meeting across the United States on Monday to formally choose Joe Biden as the nation’s next president. Monday is…
Gmail, YouTube down briefly as Google suffers brief outage
LONDON (AP) — Google users in the U.S., Europe, India and other parts of the world were briefly unable to access their Gmail accounts, watch…
Bills improve to 10-3 with 26-15 win over sloppy Steelers
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Don’t think safety Jordan Poyer and other members of Buffalo’s secondary didn’t notice Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster dancing on the…
Charley Pride, a country music Black superstar, dies at 86
NEW YORK (AP) — Charley Pride, one of country music’s first Black superstar whose rich baritone on such hits as “Kiss an Angel Good Morning”…
Recent Deaths 12/14/20
Catherine Anderton Weiser Francisco, formally of Oil City, died Nov. 25, 2020. Franklin Leroy “Frank” Thomas, 79, of Venus, died Dec. 11, 2020. Phyllis L….
Vatican rejects appeal of Catholic church merger
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer The Congregation for Clergy at the Vatican has denied an appeal made by a number of parishioners who opposed the…
Hospital keeping up with surge
By JUDITH O. ETZEL Contributing writer The surge of patients being admitted to the UPMC Northwest hospital in Seneca because of COVID-19 infections is relentless….