Vogel Emphasizes Trust, Increased Resources in 100-Day Update
Erie County Executive Christina Vogel used her 100‑day update to stress rebuilding trust and expanding resources across government, businesses and the community. She announced a $63.5 million appropriations request, redirected a $5 million gaming fund to earn about 4% interest, and hired a community‑engagement officer. Vogel highlighted short‑term actions such as reviving the Courthouse Café, reassessing the halted $2 million Tiny Homes shelter project, and awarding a potato‑farm contract that could yield five million pounds. Looking ahead, she outlined medium‑term fiscal reforms, EMS system redesign, and long‑term support for education and economic development initiatives.
Who Wrote Shakespeare?
Andrew Roth’s essay revisits the centuries‑old Shakespeare authorship controversy, spotlighting Susan Dwyer Amussen’s new book *What’s in a Name* as a definitive rebuttal to alternative‑author theories. The piece traces the movement’s 19th‑century origins with Delia Bacon and later fringe claims, including...
One Year After Arson Attack, Shapiro Reflects on Fire, Faith, Democracy
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro marked the one‑year anniversary of the arson attack on the governor’s residence by discussing his new memoir, "Where We Keep the Light," at the Jefferson Educational Society. He described how the fire deepened his faith, highlighted...
More than Research: Magee-Womens Research Institute Brings Opportunity to Erie
Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) expanded to Erie, Pennsylvania, establishing a research hub that supports 44 active clinical studies and over 2,700 patient visits. The institute now employs more than 380 scientists nationwide, running 319 studies covering 292 conditions and enrolling...
An Unexpected Laboratory: How Pennsylvania Is Testing the Future of Journalism
Pennsylvania’s local news ecosystem is in turmoil as legacy papers like the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette and The Derrick face shutdowns, prompting a wave of experimental models. Community groups, nonprofits, and membership programs have stepped in to keep coverage alive, while universities...
Iran: Relearning the Importance of Waging a War, Not Just Fighting One
Lt. Gen. James Michael Dubik argues that the United States excels at tactical fighting but repeatedly fails to translate battlefield victories into strategic success, a flaw now evident in the emerging Iran conflict. He identifies three war‑waging skills—strategic coherence, organizational...
JES Publications Announces Partnership with Gannon University’s Community News Program
The Jefferson Educational Society’s Publications division has teamed up with Gannon University’s Community News Program to embed student journalists into its reporting workflow. Within weeks the collaboration produced three locally focused stories covering Erie County’s environmental, economic, and civic topics....
‘A New Birth of Freedom’
Andrew Roth’s essay argues that Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address re‑oriented America’s self‑definition from the Constitution’s compromises to the Declaration’s universal creed of equality. By framing the Civil War as a moral test, Lincoln turned the nation’s founding ideals into a living...
From Intern to Regional Director: How Cultivating Local Talent Is Reshaping the Region’s Future
Colleen Dougherty, a former Jefferson Educational Society intern, has been appointed Director of Regional Collaboration and Economic Development for the Erie Regional Chamber and Infinite Erie. Her new role bridges the Chamber, Infinite Erie, and other redevelopment agencies to execute...