From The Newsroom: The Observer-dispatch

Utica Common Councilman Bill Phillips talks about his impression that some people consider themselves more American than others based on race.

Newly elected (or in one case, re-elected) Utica school board members Anthony LaPolla, Joseph Hobika Jr. and Donald Dawes discuss their goals for the district.

Andrew Holzhaur, 11, from Boy Scout Troop 111, talks about the robotic feature of the Boy Scout Council’s annual Spring Camporee, which was held in Rome on Saturday, May 19.

Utica Public Works Commissioner Dave Short describes some of the issues with the pool at Utica's Addison Miller Park.

Rome Mayor Jacqueline Izzo says Fort Stanwix is a big centerpiece of the downtown.

Ron Wargo, chair of Utica's golf commission, discusses what the commission needs to do for the city-owned Valley View Golf Course to be successful.

Kris-Tech Wire in Rome focuses on the community, which the mayor says helps the employees feel invested.

The Democrat from Utica is calling on the FTC and FCC to pay closer attention to mega mergers.

Nicholas A. Passalacqua, attorney at Passalacqua & Associates, discusses the legal imbroglio of Facebook allowing third-party companies to use its users' data.

Assemblyman Brian Miller, R-New Hartford, discusses the need for advertisement transparency as fall elections are approaching.

Ray Jadwick recently redesigned a poster for a fundraiser for County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. The image was posted on the No Hospital Downtown Facebook page earlier this month.

Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri speaks about efforts by Syracuse-based Bowers Development LLC to redevelop buildings in the downtown Utica area.

Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, says it's clear why people are not staying in New York and it will take a significant change for people to stay or move here.

Rakesh Patel, vice president of performance for Visons hotels, LLC, owner of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica, tells a crowd of downtown hospital supporters why he wants to see the hospital built almost next door to his hotel.

Erin Hamlin was the guest speaker Thursday, April 19, 2018, as the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Frank DuRoss, co-chairman of the Utica Comets, tells the crowd at a pro-downtown hospital event at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica how he thinks the hospital would help Utica.

As tickets for the Adirondack Scenic Railroad’s "The Polar Express Train Ride" show went on sale April 1, the cast of the Railroad bought a few for the less fortunate at The House of the Good Shepherd. “(The kids at the house don’t typically) get to do something like this,” said railroad Volunteer Grace DeGeorge, 17. “It’s good to sponsor a trip like this because then we give them something they might not always get.”

Utica School Board member Donald Dawes and President Christopher Salatino discuss the good and bad news contained in the district's proposed 2018-19 budget, which voters must approve on May 15.