Police, fire called to Zippo for suspicious package
Breaking News, Local News
October 8, 2025
Bradford City Police and Fire departments responded to Zippo's Barbour Street location at approximately 10:20 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a suspici...
Featured Stories

Love, loss and honoring a hero
By SAVANNAH BARR s.barr@bradfordera.com 
October 9, 2025
Honoring veterans is a cause close to Kierstin Taylor’s heart. The Bradford Area High School senior recently donated more than $900 to McKean County’s...
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Flights on; Southern steps up as DOT scrambles
Southern steps up as DOT scrambles 
By SARA FURLONG s.furlong@bradfordera.com 
October 9, 2025
With federal budget talks at an impasse, counties, schools, food assistance programs, local health agencies and transportation links like Bradford Reg...
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Abundant Life aims to share blessings
By SAVANNAH BARR s.barr@bradfordera.com 
October 8, 2025
Abundant Life Assembly of God, at 140 Minard Run Road, will host its first ever Harvest Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 15. The free, family-friendl...
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Zippo cleared after morning security scare
By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER and SARA FURLONG news@bradfordera.com 
October 8, 2025
Two regional bomb squads responded to a suspicious package at Zippo Manufacturing Co.’s Barbour Street offices Wednesday morning, clearing the facilit...
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HS Roundup: NoPo beats Smethport
Local Sports
Jo Wankel 
October 8, 2025
Volleyball NoPo outscores Smethport Northern Potter defeated Smethport 3-1 Wednesday with games of 25-23, 24-26, 25-15, 27-25. Leading Smethport were:...
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Big 30 Week 7 Standouts
Football, Local Sports
Jo Wankel 
October 8, 2025
This list is courtesy of Big 30 Sports and Circle W Sports. For a list of the Top 3 and Player of the Week, check out the weekly Showcase Show at 7 p....
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HS Roundup: Leet Captures Third D9 golf Title
Local Sports
Jo Wankel 
October 7, 2025
GIRLS GOLF Bradford’s Leet Captures Third Straight District 9 Golf Title Bradford’s Payten Leet continued her dominance on the links, capturing her th...
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Local & Social
More Local News
Halloween houses
Local News
Oct 09, 2025
Era photographer Wade Aiken spied today's Halloween house in Eldred.
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Jail employee charged with assault
Crime, Local News
Oct 09, 2025
SMETHPORT — A McKean County Jail corrections officer has been charged in an alleged physical assault against a person in custody. Zane Hodgdon, 28, is...
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Brooklyn man in McKean Co. Jail
Crime, Local News
Oct 09, 2025
A Brooklyn man is in McKean County Jail on charges of public drunkenness and more after an Oct. 1 incident. Bradford City Police responded to a report...
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Warehouse solar explored as fix for rising energy demand
Business, Local News, Nation & World
By LAUREN JESSOP The Center Square 
Oct 09, 2025
HARRISBURG – While warehouses and data centers rise across Pennsylvania, so does the demand for energy, creating a situation that prompts lawmakers to...
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Welfare check lands woman in jail
Crime, Local News
Oct 09, 2025
Stephaney Lyn Buchanan, 44, is in McKean County Jail after an incident Sunday in the city. Bradford City Police officers responded to a welfare check ...
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Day 100 comes and goes without a state budget
Local News, PA State News
By CHRISTEN SMITH The Center Square 
Oct 09, 2025
HARRISBURG – There was a lot of talk at the state Capitol on Wednesday about a frustrating milestone: 100 days without a spending plan and no deal in ...
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Local oil purchasers increase prices
Business, Local News
Oct 09, 2025
Two local oil purchasers have increased the price they will pay for Penn grade crude oil. Effective Wednesday, American Refining Group and Ergon Oil P...
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Judge sends Prescott case to court after graphic testimony
Crime, Local News
By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER marcie@bradfordera.com 
October 8, 2025
SMETHPORT — The McKean County Courtroom was silent, except for the quiet weeping of Oakley Hedlund's family at the back of the room. And the occasiona...
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Murder, rape charges bound to court in child’s death
Crime, Local News
By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER marcie@bradfordera.com 
October 7, 2025
All charges against Tyler Prescott for the rape and murder of his son, 2-year-old Oakley Hedlund, have been bound over to McKean County Court. A preli...
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Brookline disturbance leads to arrest
Crime, Local News
October 6, 2025
Bradford City Police arrested 18-year-old James “Jimmy” Bunce in connection with a Sept. 27 disturbance at Brookline Court. Officers were dispatched t...
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Witchy whimsy, fall flair at Harvest Fest
Gallery, Local News
October 6, 2025
The “Sisters of the North Woods," a group of Kane women who dress as witches and perform dance routines to the delight of children, were just one attr...
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PORT ALLEGANY: Special evening at Gator Field
Gallery, Local News
October 1, 2025
It was Down Syndrome Awareness Night last Friday at Gator Field in Port Allegany. Cameron Ernst is the son of Chris and Abbey Johnson-Ernst and a stud...
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Pumpkin Fest a smashing success
Gallery, Local News
September 29, 2025
Possibly the largest to date, the 15th Annual Pumpkin Fest was held Saturday in downtown Bradford. More than 60 vendors lined Main Street, selling eve...
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Threats against judges have crossed the line
Comment & Opinion, Opinion
By MARY ELLEN KLAS Bloomberg Opinion 
October 9, 2025
NEW YORK (TNS) — The destruction of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein’s home in a fiery inferno over the weekend immediately led to s...
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The red ink tide continues to rise
Comment & Opinion, Opinion
October 9, 2025
As Democrats and Republicans dig in during the latest government shutdown, the Congressional Budget Office released its monthly spending report on Wed...
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Suburban Dems have stopped pretending to be moderates
Comment & Opinion, Opinion
By GUY CIARROCCHI RealClearPennsylvania 
October 9, 2025
Suburban Democrats have ripped off their masks of moderation and thrown them away. They clearly feel not only emboldened, but untouchable — unable to ...
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Other Voices: Saving public media
Comment & Opinion, Opinion
October 9, 2025
After a proposal to keep WPSU TV & FM on the air, the Penn State Board of Trustees made a decision to shutter the stations completely. Actually, it wa...
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