Local News WB

Geisinger events team wins gold Stevie Award

Sat, 05/12/2018 - 21:00
The events team at Geisinger Health System won a Gold Stevie Award in the Live Events category for its work putting on a symposium called “From Crisis to Cure: Revitalizing Americans’ Healthcare System.” The symposium, held Nov. 8-10 in Danville, featured

‘Wicked’ author tells Keystone grads to be patient

Sat, 05/12/2018 - 21:00
Best-selling author Gregory Maguire — the writer who gave the characters from “The Wizard of Oz” a back story — asked the 298 graduates of Keystone College to be patient with themselves because they are smarter than they know. “You can’t really learn that

A walk in the park benefits local rescue

Sat, 05/12/2018 - 21:00
Junior Leadership Wilkes-Barre held a dog walk in Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. All proceeds from the event went to Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge in Franklin Twp.

Helping mom succeed: Misericordia program supports single mothers

Sat, 05/12/2018 - 21:00
DALLAS TWP. — After Stephanie Santana got pregnant at age 16, she was on her own. While she lived in Paterson, New Jersey, she had a job but she struggled to pay for rent and car insurance. Still, she managed to graduate high school and attend community c

Mother's Day busiest day for restaurants

Sat, 05/12/2018 - 21:00
Mother’s Day reigns supreme as the most popular holiday for dining out, and restaurants throughout Northeast Pennsylvania have been busy getting ready to make today special for moms. Since taking moms out to lunch, brunch or dinner is a popular tradition

Chrin, Peters ramp up attack ads

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
One candidate tells the ballad of Joe and Josh, the other targets John from Jersey. John Chrin and Joe Peters, two of the Republican 8th Congressional District candidates, have attacked each other in advertising during the past two weeks. Chrin fired firs

Plains Twp. company faces possible fines after inspection

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
PLAINS TWP. — A Plains Twp. company could be fined more than $200,000 after an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found health and safety violations during an October 2017 inspection

District, union reach tentative deal to avoid Crestwood furloughs

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
The Crestwood School District and the teachers union have reached an agreement with union concessions that will save around $500,000 in the upcoming school year and prevent four teacher furloughs, board President Bill Jones said Thursday. Officials didn’t

Police: Hazleton parents beat, burned children

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
Accused of handing down painful punishments that left scars and bruises on four children, two Hazleton parents were arrested Thursday morning. Jamal Antonio Williams, 35, and Jennifer Marie Collins, 30, face multiple counts of child endangerment. Hazleton

Northeast Fair won’t be held this year

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
PITTSTON TWP. — A symbol of summer in Northeast Pennsylvania won’t be around this year. The Northeast Fair will not take place in 2018, said Allan Capozucca, deputy chief with the Pittston Twp. Volunteer Fire Department. The event benefits the fire depart

Scranton Boscov’s holding fundraiser

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
Boscov’s at the Marketplace in Steamtown will host a Gino J. Merli Veterans Center Day fundraiser on May 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to the center’s resident welfare fund. Scranton Prep’s Veterans Outreach Club is participati

Suspect in murder case now also facing drug charges

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — A city man awaiting trial on murder charges was arraigned Thursday on charges alleging he had been dealing heroin, crack-cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms prior to his arrest. Daniel Elias Holtslander, 40, is facing three felony counts of d

Murder case suspect faces drug charges

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
A Pittston man charged with conspiring to kill a confidential informant will stand trial on the drug charges that police say the informant helped set up, a district judge ruled Thursday. Cornelius Mapson, 32, of 25 Mitchell St., rocked back and forth at t

W-B approves moving parking enforcement in-house

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — City council on Thursday gave the OK to move parking enforcement management and collection of delinquent parking ticket fines in-house and hire a company to manage the process. Council authorized Mayor Tony George’s administration to enter

Genettis honored by Luzerne Foundation

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
The Luzerne Foundation held its annual meeting Thursday at F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre. The foundation announced its grants for this year and Val and Gus Genetti will received the Mary Bevevino Community Service Award.

County could tell city: No land for you

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County council might soon declare that county-owned parcels needed for the proposed extension of Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre are not for sale. The potential development would add a new twist to an ongoing dispute between the city an

Driver in hit-run faces upgraded charges after pedestrian dies

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
HANOVER TWP. — The driver accused of striking a man during a hit-and-run crash last month saw charges upgraded Thursday after the victim died. Emiliano Hernandez, 46, of Hanover Twp., was previously charged with accidents involving death or personal injur

Report: County seeing a rise in food stamp recipients

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
PLAINS TWP. — Luzerne and Lackawanna counties have been seeing an increase in cash assistance and food stamps recipients and the region outpaces the statewide percentage, said Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic D

Wilkes-Barre fire department dealing with depleted ranks

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — The promotion of a city firefighter on Thursday served as a shining moment for a department struggling with severely depleted ranks. Firefighter William Court was promoted to the rank of captain at a ceremony in council chambers attended by

Preliminary budget for Nanticoke Area includes tax hike

Thu, 05/10/2018 - 21:00
NANTICOKE — The tax rate on properties in the Greater Nanticoke Area School District would increase 3.6 percent, according to a preliminary budget proposed Thursday. The proposed budget would allocate nearly $30 million. The school board voted 6-3 to prop