Local News WB

Crestwood expects to lay off 4 teachers, dip into reserves to balance budget

Wed, 04/18/2018 - 17:47
WRIGHT TWP. — Four teachers rather than 13 will be laid off, and the Crestwood School District will spend $1.2 million of its reserves to balance the budget next year, Superintendent Joseph Gorham said Wednesday.

Wilkes-Barre police on scene of shooting

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 22:14
WILKES-BARRE — A flurry of gunshots erupted Monday night at an intersection in the city’s North End near the home of the city police commander, who confronted the gunman. Investigators launched a wide search for the suspected gunman, but he remained at la

W-B police investigate shooting

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 22:12
WILKES-BARRE — A flurry of gunshots erupted Monday night at an intersection in the city’s North End near the home of the city police commander, who confronted the gunman. Investigators launched a wide search for the suspected gunman, but he remained at la

Judge denies motion to dismiss charges against Wyoming County dentist

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
A federal judge denied a Wyoming County dentist’s motion to dismiss charges he illegally prescribed controlled substances to an Olyphant woman who died from an unrelated heroin overdose. Christopher Bereznak, 48, of Clarks Green, is charged with nine coun

Plains Twp. to join in big pharma lawsuits

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
Plains Twp. is joining the legal battle against some of the biggest prescription drug companies in the world, accusing them of enabling the opioid crisis. Following actions by Luzerne County and Wilkes-Barre City, the township is filing a federal lawsuit

W-B officials satisfied home not being used as a ‘sober house’

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — City officials and residents of the Parsons section are satisfied that a controversial “sober house” is not being operated in the neighborhood. But they plan to keep an eye on it. Rick Voelker, who lives near the home at 224 Austin Ave., to

Shavertown mother accused of beating, choking kids

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
KINGSTON TWP. — A Shavertown mother is accused of beating her daughter in the face and choking her son in separate incidents, according to court documents. Bobbie Jean Rodriguez, 31, of 89 E. Center St., is accused of nearly choking her son unconscious be

Man sentenced for aggravated assault

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — A city man who admitted choking an infant and beating the child’s mother before escaping police custody was sentenced Monday to serve up to seven years in prison. Derek V. Reich, 30, was sentenced to serve three to seven years in prison aft

Inmate arraigned on urine-flinging charges

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
KINGSTON TWP. — A State Correctional Institution Dallas inmate was arraigned Monday on aggravated assault charges alleging he threw urine in a correctional officer’s face. Donte Morrison, 23, is accused of throwing urine that hit Sgt. John Konycki in the

163 WVW students register to vote

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
PLYMOUTH — A recent drive to register young voters proved to be a great success at Wyoming Valley West High School, according to Luzerne County officials. Out of 187 eligible students at the school, 163 registered to vote, according to a news release coun

W-B police investigate shooting

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — A flurry of gunshots erupted Monday night at an intersection in the city’s North End near the home of the city police commander, who confronted the gunman. Investigators launched a wide search for the suspected gunman, but he remained at la

Bear Creek bridge work on Route 115 delayed

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
BEAR CREEK TWP. — A construction project to replace the Route 115 bridge spanning Little Shades Creek, originally scheduled to begin this week, has been rescheduled until the week of May 2, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced Monday. M

Storm forces 125 to evacuate Scranton apartment building

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
SCRANTON — Officials evacuated about 120 elderly and disabled residents who live at Lutherwood because strong winds blew off large portions of the apartment building’s flat roof just before dawn Monday. The roof deck remained in place, but with upper laye

Mountain Top pilot accused of molesting girl to stand trial

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — A Mountain Top pilot accused of fondling a girl repeatedly beginning when she was in elementary school waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday, allowing a count of corruption of minors to proceed to county court. Jostein Brakvatne,

Luzerne County Children and Youth gets full license renewal

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
Luzerne County Children and Youth Services will operate under a full license this year. The state Department of Human Services last week issued a certificate of compliance to the agency, which provides services for at-risk children and juveniles throughou

Dallas trying out new technology for buses

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
DALLAS TWP. — The Dallas School District has installed high-tech equipment on three buses that will track where the buses are and when students get on and off the buses. The district will use the equipment from Indianapolis-based Synovia Solutions for the

Luzerne County debuts new online map portal

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — A new online portal will make it easier to find information about properties in Luzerne County, according to county officials. The county Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Mapping Department recently launched the portal, which can be

Exeter woman charged with welfare fraud

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — An Exeter woman was arraigned on a felony fraud charge Monday alleging she collected more than $4,200 in welfare benefits she was not entitled to get. Laura A. Pomichter, 40, of 122 Rear Schooley Ave., is accused of collecting Supplemental

It's not age discrimination, it's 'experience discrimination'

Sun, 04/15/2018 - 21:00
Dear J.T. & Dale: I find myself unemployed at 50 for the first time in my life. I’ve never struggled to get a job, but this time has been impossible. I look good for my age, but I think age discrimination is working against me. What can I do to get these

Tattoo convention draws thousands, record number of artists to Scranton

Sun, 04/15/2018 - 21:00
SCRANTON — Kevin Byers’ first drawings were so bad, his mentor set them on fire. The 45-year-old tattoo artist from Dayton, Ohio, leaned on his arm rest Sunday, the final day at the Electric City Tattoo Convention in the Hilton Scranton & Conference Cente