Tickets available for FLEX Bike ‘n Brew event
From staff reports Future Leaders and Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX), the young professionals group of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, is hosting this year’s Oil…
Facing pressure, Biden to sign order on abortion access
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will take executive action Friday to protect access to abortion, the White House said, as he faces mounting pressure…
Budget would leave billions unspent, boost education funding
HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers, nearly a week into the state’s new fiscal year, began passing budget legislation Thursday to add billions into surplus accounts,…
India, Drury key rally, Reds beat Pirates 5-1 to split DH
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jonathan India hit a go-ahead single, Brandon Drury added a two-run triple and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on…
James Caan, Oscar nominee for ‘The Godfather,’ dies at 82
The Associated Press James Caan, the curly-haired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of “The Godfather” and to television audiences…
Recent Deaths 7/8/22
Helen Corinne Heckler, 97, of Franklin, died July 3, 2022. Judie Flinchbaugh, 79, of Seneca, died June 30, 2022. Jacqueline Jean (Joyner) Troup, 87, of…
Pet of the Day 7/7/22
Harriet is only 9 months old and she came to us with 7 babies of her own. I promised her once she raised this litter…
Muffuletta Caesar Sandwich
(Family Features) Light bites and summer just seem to go hand-in-hand, especially when the temperature outside means turning on the oven is out of the…
Mulch – A Survey of Available Options
A gardener has many choices when it comes to mulch. This article covers the pros and cons of various types of organic, non-organic, and living…
Bridge Builders announces more than $350,000 worth of scholarships
From staff reports Bridge Builders Community Foundations, through its scholarship program, has assisted students in their pursuit of higher education for more than 40 years…
Franklin Rotary to hold blood drive
From staff reports The Franklin Rotary Club will sponsor a blood drive from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce…
States move to protect abortion from prosecutions elsewhere
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Democratic governors in states where abortion will remain legal are looking for ways to protect any patients who travel there for…
China lashes out at US, British intelligence services
BEIJING (AP) — The United States is “the biggest threat to world peace, stability and development,” China said Thursday, continuing its sharp rhetoric in response…
Judge, Hicks hit grand slams as Yankees pound Pirates 16-0
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Judge felt like he was “stuck” on 29 home runs for “a while.” Of course, “a while” is a relative term…
Review: ‘The Sea Beast’ is a charming, animated adventure
The Associated Press For a young imagination, there is something uniquely captivating about a stowaway story on the high seas. The stakes are great, but…
Recent Deaths 7/7/22
Tom Shorts, 72, formerly of Cooperstown, died June 17, 2022. Russell J. “Pal” Texter, 90, of Parker, died July 2, 2022. Ronald E. Black, 89,…
Pet of the Day 7/6/22
Panda is a bit reserved at first, but she is super sweet and cuddly once she is comfortable with you and her new environment. She…
Pina Colada Sweet Potato Ice Pops
(Family Features) Whether you spend your summer afternoons sitting by the pool, splashing in the shallow end or just soaking up the sun’s rays, part…
Workshop will address use, protection of local trails
From staff reports The Allegheny Valley Conservancy, Allegheny Valley Trails Association and Venango Conservation District are offering a workshop on how local trails can be…
Playground planned at rectory site
A playground will be built at the site where the former St. Stephen rectory is being demolished on Reed Street in Oil City near St….
July 4 shooting suspect bought guns legally despite threats
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) — The man charged with killing seven people when he unleashed a hail of bullets on an Independence Day parade from…
Judges keeping Capitol riot trials in DC amid bias claims
WASHINGTON (AP) — For some of the Washington, D.C., residents who reported for jury duty last month, a pro-Trump mob’s assault on the U.S. Capitol…
Pirates spoil Taillon’s return to Pittsburgh, top Yanks 5-2
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bill Mazeroski threw out the first pitch. David Bednar froze one of the most feared hitters in baseball with the last. In…
Review: In ‘Fire of Love,’ the mysterious alchemy of romance
The Associated Press Rarely have the conditions for love been less hospitable than in Sara Dosa’s documentary “Fire of Love.” Yet here, amid shifting tectonics…
Recent Deaths 7/6/22
Lana L. Weaver, 82, of York Springs, died June 30, 2022. Raymond Seitz, Jr., 73, of Leeper, died July 3, 2022. Carmelita Ann Denowski (nee…
Access device fraud
Pet of the Day 7/5/22
Boo recently came to us because his owner could no longer care for him. He will be a year old in October. He is skittish…
Sweet Potato Wedge & Purple Cabbage Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing (Video)
(Family Features) The fresh flavor of favorite foods pulled hot off the grill makes summer cookouts a treasured pastime for families across the country. This…
Halt to VA’s Asset and Infrastructure Review Process
The Independent Budget Veterans Service Organizations (IBVSOs) –– the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) ––…
Jan. 6 panel: More turning up with evidence against Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — More witnesses are coming forward with new details on the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot following former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s…
July 4 parade shooting leaves 6 dead, 30 hurt; man detained
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) — A shooter fired on an Independence Day parade from a rooftop in suburban Chicago, spraying the crowd with gunshots initially…
Woodruff strikes out 8, Brewers beat Bucs for series split
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Woodruff struck out eight in six scoreless innings, steering the Milwaukee Brewers to a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on…
Review: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ is pure bonkers filmmaking
The Associated Press The last full Thor movie was the overstuffed 2017 “Thor: Ragnarok,” with the God of Thunder dealing with dueling brother and sister…
Recent Deaths 7/5/22
Michael J. Dutko, 67, of Stoneboro, died July 1, 2022. Rick A. “Ricky” Renninger, 67, of Franklin, died July 2, 2022. Shawn M. Coulter, 27,…
Casey comes to town bearing $400K for 100 Seneca project
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer U.S. Sen. Bob Casey stopped to visit 100 Seneca in Oil City on Monday and announced a $400,000 federal earmark…
Several projects on tap in OC as year goes on
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Sidewalk repairs and improvements to public safety communications in Oil City are in the works for this year. In the…
Ruling could dampen government efforts to rein in Big Tech
The Associated Press The Supreme Court’s latest climate change ruling could dampen efforts by federal agencies to rein in the tech industry, which went largely…
Uvalde schools’ police chief resigns from City Council
The Associated Press The Uvalde school district’s police chief has stepped down from his position in the City Council just weeks after being sworn in…
Cruz gets 12th RBI in 13 games, Bucs top Brewers 7-4
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Oneil Cruz collected his 12th RBI in 13 games this season to help Pittsburgh Pirates bounce back from a blowout loss with…
County receives grant for recycling center expansion
By KARA O’NEIL Staff writer Venango County recently received a grant from the state for more than $300,000 for an expansion at the Venango County…
‘Revolutionary’ high court term on abortion, guns and more
WASHINGTON (AP) — Abortion, guns and religion — a major change in the law in any one of these areas would have made for a…
Holiday-travel chaos: Airlines brace for huge weekend crowds
The Associated Press The July Fourth holiday weekend is off to a booming start with airport crowds crushing the numbers seen in 2019, before the…
State heads into fiscal year without budget in place
HARRISBURG (AP) — Work on a new state budget for Pennsylvania will plow into next week as the state government started the fiscal year Friday…
Tellez hits 5th HR in 5 games as Burnes, Brews rout Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rowdy Tellez homered for the fifth time in five games and drove in five runs, Corbin Burnes took a no-hit bid into…
Recent Deaths 7/2/22
Franklin “Earl” Salser, 81, of Knox, died June 29, 2022. Richard L. Carr, Jr., 69, of Butler, died June 30, 2022. Elizabeth Lee (Hornbeck) Winget,…
Simple Popcorn S’mores
(Family Features) As an important life skill, learning to cook and becoming familiar with kitchen basics can be an exciting adventure for kids from toddlers…
Pet of the Day 7/1/22
Pike is a cute hound mix looking for his forever home! He came to us as a stray so we do not know anything about…
Franklin announces pilot sidewalk replacement program
From staff reports The City of Franklin is unveiling its neighborhood sidewalk pilot program to Franklin residents. Under the program, eligible property owners can complete…
Many works by local artists on display at Historical Society
From staff reports An art exhibit is on display at the Venango County Historical Society in Franklin that showcases a variety of works by local…
Post-Roe, states struggle with conflicting abortion bans
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In Arizona, Republicans are fighting among themselves over whether a 121-year-old anti-abortion law from the pre-statehood Wild West days, when Arizona…