Two political newcomers, Republican Barbara Jass and Democrat Gary Koutnik, are running to represent District 11 on the Otsego County Board of Representatives.

The winner will succeed Rep. Marti Stayton, D-Oneonta, who is not seeking re-election.

Jass, 43, who lives at 401 Main St., is an associate broker with Prudential Fox Properties.

"I work full time, but I have enough time to get involved and try to make a difference at the county level," she said. "If you want to make changes, you've got to get into the ring." Read more »

Oil climbed above $102 per barrel Thursday June 9, 2011 as investors focused on how the world would meet energy demand in coming months.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery rose $1.48 to $102.25 per barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Read more »

Shell Oil Co. said today Monday June 6, 2011 it plans to build an ethylene "cracker" plant somewhere in the Appalachian region, to process natural gas from the Marcellus shale region into a substance that is used to make petrochemicals.

The cracker would turn ethane from the natural gas into ethylene. The Houston-based company said it's evaluating options for ethylene derivatives to make at the plant, and the leading one is Polyethylene, or PE" used in packaging, adhesives, automotive components and other products. Read more »

Police on Saturday June 3, 2011 arrested 18 Greenpeace activists who climbed aboard an oil rig off Greenland's coast to protest deepwater drilling in the Arctic.

The rig is operated by the Scottish oil group Cairn Energy and drilling has temporarily been suspended due to the protest. Cairn last month won permission to drill up to seven oil exploration wells off the Arctic island's west coast. Read more »