141-acre family-owned farm up for auction in Northeast Ohio

A massive farm in Northeast Ohio that has been owned by the same family for nearly a century will head to auction next week.

Cleveland Clinic officially acquires Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates

The Cleveland Clinic, according to a news release, has officially acquired Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates, or YOA. The announcement that the facility would become a part of the Cleveland Clinic was reported in October. The move was completed on November 1, and no service disruptions were planned for patients who wished to remain a part of YOA.

Ohio counties respond to salt mine closure

WARREN, Ohio — It’s been more than a week since the Morton Salt mine in Fairport Harbor discovered enough water in the mine to force its closure and the layoff of workers. Multiple counties around the state have orders of salt from that mine and are watching closely in case they can no longer count on their delivery.

DEP Cites Six Violations Following Warren Oil Spill

WARREN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection documented six violations following Thursday’s crude oil spill near Warren’s Department of Public Works garage, according to a Nov. 5 inspection report. Inspectors also observed an oil sheen as far downstream as Starbrick, according to the report. The...

This Pennsylvania Vintage Shop Has Clothes Dating Back to the 1800s

A vintage clothing shop in Grove City, Pennsylvania, carries pieces dating as far back as the 1800s. Three Rivers Vintage has everything from Edwardian-era clothing and mid-century outfits to bold styles from the 1970s and 1980s. The store originally operated in Pittsburgh before moving to South Broad Street. Owner Scott...

Pack Up For This Ohio Town Where Rent Under $750 Still Buys A Great Small-Town Life

A water-powered mill from the 1840s still grinds corn, wheat, and buckwheat here, and you can buy the flour. That alone made me curious. Then I learned the same city has a free art museum with more than 22,000 pieces. Now add the rent. Studio apartments here often average well...

Closed Erie Family Dollar could reopen by Nov. 13 after cleanup

The Family Dollar at 2226 Broad St. that was closed by the Erie County Department of Health on Nov. 4 is getting a deep cleaning, according to Brittany Layton Mitchell, manager of corporate communications for the store. An inspection filed Nov. 4 reported mice found on glue traps, including one that was decomposed; mouse droppings throughout the store, including on pet food for sale. The store also had 16 bottles of expired milk on the shelves and two noncritical violations regarding ongoing maintenance. "We take the health and safety of our customers and associates seriously and immediately engaged our third-party service provider to thoroughly clean and sanitize the store and remove any affected merchandise," Mitchell said in an email Nov. 9. "We are working closely with local health officials to address the inspection findings and anticipate reopening as early as (Nov. 13), pending a successful reinspection." Jesse Stiles, director of environmental health at the health department, said Nov. 4 that Family Dollar needs to get the "rodent infestation under control," and perform a "deep cleaning and sanitizing" before the store can pass inspection. "We appreciate our customers’ patience and look forward to welcoming them back very soon," Mitchell said. Contact

Update on EDDC Construction

Work continues at Flagship City Commons, part of the Erie Downtown Development Corporation on North Park Row in downtown Erie. The space will include a large atrium, a breezeway from Perry Square to the parking garage and retail and office spaces.

His Erie-based biofuels empire is being sold. His debt keeps growing

Erie entrepreneur Samuel P. "Pat" Black III broke ground in 2006 for the Hero BX plant on East Lake Road, which became the center of his biofuels empire . The phrase "fuel for humanity" was incorporated into the Hero BX logo. Twenty years later, Black is selling his biofuels facilities to fuel a court-approved financial plan to help pay off a personally guaranteed loan of about $13.5 million. But even as Black's Lake Erie Biofuels, which does business as Hero BX, unloads more of the facilities, the debt has continued to grow, according to the latest court filing related to the collapse of the 84-year-old Black's financial holdings. A failure to satisfy the $13.5 million debt would put Black's personal assets at risk. Black has blamed much of his financial decline on his daughter, Sumi James-Black, 51, whom he adopted in 2019, when he was 77 and she was 44 . But Black's $200 million federal lawsuit against her has stalled as he awaits a ruling from a federal appeals court. Black's forced sale of his Hero BX facilities is the result of another federal lawsuit. Connecticut-based Siena Lending Group sued in federal court in Erie in May 2025 after

UPMC committed to serving Shenango Valley after Sharon Regional closure

UPMC says it's committed to providing care across Mercer and Lawrence counties and plans to keep investing in local services, following the closure of Sharon Regional Medical Center.

Allegheny Health Network looking to bring in Sharon Regional employees with hiring events

GROVE CITY, Pa. (WKBN) – A Mercer County hospital hosted a job fair for several different open positions across the facility. It comes after Tenor Health shut down Sharon Regional Medical Center’s operations late last week, laying off its employees. The Allegheny Health Network is working to fill...

Additional Funds Sought for Shotspotter

Howard Industries Is Transitioning Ownership

Howard Industries (Erie, PA) has announced a transition in ownership to Pittsburgh-based Two Step Ventures led by Dan Kelly, who will serve as Howard Industries’ new chief executive officer — according to a press release. Howard Industries will continue operating from its longtime home in Erie, PA, with...

Construction progressing on Flagship City Commons

Construction is moving forward at Flagship City Commons in downtown Erie. Crews have installed a blue waterproof membrane on the building, designed to keep moisture out during the winter months. Temporary plastic covers are also in place where windows will eventually go, allowing workers to heat the interior and continue construction through the colder weather. […]

Natural gas users in Mercer County expecting bigger bills

HARRISBURG - Bigger bills will be on the way for more than 214,000 homes and businesses that heat with natural gas in Mercer County and other parts of northwestern Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has authorized National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation to implement new delivery rates. The $10.4 million...

EMS funding behind Zelienople’s proposed real estate tax hike

ZELIENOPLE — An ordinance that would increase the real estate tax rate will be up for vote in December. Borough council unanimously voted to advertise the proposed change at its Monday, Nov. 9, meeting. The proposed millage change will reflect a request for 2 more mills in addition to...

Butler School District Aims To Incentivize Home Buying For Employees

The Butler Area School District is considering a policy that would incentivize home ownership within the district for employees. Superintendent Dr. Brian White presented the board with a draft of the policy during a meeting of the board’s Committee of the Whole. The Employee Homeownership Assistance Program would operate...

Ellwood Invests in Advanced Forging Technology

ELLWOOD CITY, PA — Ellwood, a leading American- and family-owned manufacturer of specialty metals, forgings, and engineered and finished components, today announced a major strategic investment in its closed-die forging operations. Central to this initiative is the installation of a new 30,000-ton hydraulic closed-die forging press, complemented by significant investments in advanced manufacturing equipment, infrastructure, and supporting technologies.

PA Trout Tank program awards $45K to outdoor recreation businesses

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Business Alliance and Office of Outdoor Recreation awarded $45,000 in PA Trout Tank grants to 21 businesses across 19 counties. Among the recipients is Jefferson County’s Twisted Antler Seed Company, which received funding through the program designed to support Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry. The PA Trout Tank program […]

Over 1,000 Kinds Of Bulk Candy Fill The Bins At This Pennsylvania Sweet Shop

Five pounds of chocolate candy that flunked its beauty test can go home with you for under twenty dollars. The pieces came off a real production line, just a little lumpy, smudged, or lopsided. The star of this show is a marshmallow-filled chocolate cup that has been made in the...