News
Scranton Boscov’s holding fundraiser
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
County council approves $5 vehicle registration fee
WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County residents will soon pay $5 more per year to register a vehicle with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation — as long as PennDOT kicks in promised matching funds. County council approved a $5 registration fee surcharge
Grant will fund Pittston streetscape improvements
PITTSTON — Pittston is getting nearly $1 million to improve the streetscape along North Main Street. The state grant will help fund sidewalk, curb and drainage improvements in the city. The work will include several blocks in the Junction section of town,
Book sale kicks off in W-B
The Spring Book Sale begins today at The Citizens’ Voice, 75 N. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre. All proceeds benefit area school students through The Citizens’ Voice and Newspaper in Education programs. The sale will be held today and Thursday from 10 a.m.
Thirteen, including 2 current officers, apply for Wilkes-Barre police chief job
WILKES-BARRE — Thirteen people have applied to be the city’s next chief of police, including two current city police officers. City Administrator Ted Wampole provided council members at their work session Tuesday with an update on Mayor Tony George’s sear
Two Avoca polling places to change
AVOCA — Polling places for some Avoca residents will be different for the upcoming primary election. Residents in Ward 2 and Ward 3 will vote at the Queen of Apostles Parish Hall, 742 Spring St. The polling place for Ward 1 resident is unchanged. It remai
Pringle man charged in child sex sting operation
PRINGLE — A borough man was hit with child sex charges this week after state troopers snared him in an online sting operation. Michael A. Laton Jr., 33, of 522 Hoyt St., is accused of setting up a meeting with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy, who in
Police chase suspect faces more charges
WILKES-BARRE — A Glen Lyon man accused of ramming a police car and leading officers on a high-speed chase last month was hit Tuesday with additional charges. Christopher Banks, 36, was already facing 11 charges including aggravated assault, illegal posses
DJ Mo murder trial delayed after gun linked to N.Y. crimes
WILKES-BARRE — The murder trial stemming from a popular disc jockey’s death nearly five years ago was delayed Tuesday after a defense attorney revealed shell casings police recovered at the scene of the crime came from the same gun that was used in two ot
Dallas teachers plan labor walkout for September
Dallas School District teachers will not go on strike this school year and are planning a labor walkout next school year on Sept. 5, union President Michael Cherinka Jr. said Tuesday. The union had announced May 18 as the latest strike date. But teachers
Former coroner to serve up to 20 years for soliciting sex from agent posing as boy
WILKES-BARRE — A former deputy coroner in Carbon and Schuylkill counties is a “sexually violent predator” who will serve up to 20 years in prison for setting up a sexual encounter with what he thought was a teenage boy, a Luzerne County judge ordered Tues
