It's 2016 and the Valley is feeling good

YOUNGSTOWN

Sports championships, a congressman on the preliminary list for vice-presidential candidate, and a major Youngstown connection to a record-breaking film, among other things, leads to one conclusion: the Mahoning Valley and our big-city neighbors – Cleveland and Pittsburgh – are having a pretty awesome year so far.

The roll we’re on could be trumped if the Republican National Convention next month in Cleveland turns ugly. But if the first major sports title in 52 years didn’t cause Cleveland to spontaneously combust like a Spinal Tap drummer, things shouldn’t be too bad when the Donald Trump circus and a not-so-merry band of protesters come to Cleveland.

Still, after decades of being on every top-10-worst list you can imagine, the Valley is feeling good.

Read more about our pretty awesome year in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.