Local News WB
County drops interest in buying building after price increases
WILKES-BARRE — The price was too darn high. Luzerne County will not seek to purchase a building on Water Street near Luzerne County Correctional Facility, after the owner raised the asking price, according to county Manager David Pedri. County officials h
West Pittston officials will explore inflatable dam option
WEST PITTSTON — West Pittston residents who want a levee have been disappointed. Next week, the borough council will learn about an alternative. Adam Wagner, CEO of Ronkonkoma, N.Y.-based Flood Control Barriers LLC, will show council the inflatable flood
Police: Stillwater man bit, choked and raped woman
HUNTINGTON TWP. — A Stillwater man bit and choked a woman who was “crying and begging” for him to stop brutally raping her in a camper earlier this month, according to state troopers. Denver Samuel McCourt, 22, of 1360 Old Tioga Turnpike, was charged Thur
Husband and wife teachers charged with sexual assault of girl
SCRANTON — The band director at Lakeland Junior-Senior High School knew about and encouraged an illicit relationship between her husband and a student that ended only after the wife asked the girl to join her in performing a sexual act on her spouse, inve
Swoyersville man facing charges after fight at club
WILKES-BARRE — A Swoyersville man is facing aggravated assault charges after police say he broke a security guard’s jaw with a punch thrown at a downtown nightclub. Edward Kane Jr., 31, of 250 Tripp St., allegedly laughed and said, “I had to drop him like
Kosher foods prepped and ready for Passover Seders
WAVERLY TWP. — From Scranton to Toronto, hundreds of people will spend their Passover Seders feasting on kosher foods prepared in the Abingtons. Staff at the Jewish Discovery Center in Waverly Twp., prepared and sold about 2,000 portions of food over the
Voters back gas drilling, renewable energy
State voters overwhelmingly favor promoting renewable energy sources over natural gas, according to a new poll released Wednesday. More voters favor natural gas development than don’t, but they think neither Gov. Tom Wolf nor the state General Assembly ha
Hillary Clinton secretly visited Scranton this week
Hillary Clinton sneaked into Scranton pretty much unnoticed Tuesday. The former secretary of state, first lady and Democratic presidential candidate visited the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. The Geisinger Health System owns the medical school
Wilkes-Barre trash collection suspended Friday for holiday
WILKES-BARRE — City Hall will be open on today, but the Department of Public Works will be closed for the Good Friday holiday, the Mayor’s Office announced Thursday. Residents in East End, Parsons and Miners Mills neighborhoods with a Friday collection da
Memorial service planned for local pastor
A memorial service has been planned for a local pastor who also served as a longtime youth sports coach and teacher on the West Side. The Rev. Louis Falcone died in January following a lengthy illness. He was 84. Friends and family will gather for a memor
Pedri: Vehicle registration fee will help fix roads, bridges
WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County Manager David Pedri on Tuesday made the case for enacting a $5 vehicle registration fee to raise revenue to repair county-owned roads and bridges. Members of county council, which in 2016 rejected the idea of enacting the $5
Pepperjam lays off 20 percent of its staff
WILKES-BARRE — Internet marketing company Pepperjam is laying off 20 percent of staff at its six offices, including its headquarters in the Innovation Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre, company spokeswoman Tara Siegel said. Siegel could not provide a specif
Police: Man stabbed by pregnant girlfriend during breakup in W-B
WILKES-BARRE — A man is in critical condition after his pregnant girlfriend stabbed him in the gut during an attempt to end the relationship, according to police. Natema Yashey Green, 31, of 177 Rear Nottingham St., Plymouth, is facing aggravated assault
Wood carver provides unique sign for W-B deli
Two-time world champion wood carver Dennis Beach came to High Street Deli in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday to carve the business’ logo in a tree stump out front. Michael Drozdowski, owner of High Street Deli, said the business has been located in Wilkes-Barre f
Frein’s parents seek to have civil lawsuits dismissed
SCRANTON — The parents of Eric Matthew Frein cannot be held responsible for his actions on Sept. 12, 2014, when he killed one state police trooper and wounded another outside the Blooming Grove barracks, their lawyer told a Lackawanna County judge Tuesday
Phone stolen from Northwest Area High School
UNION TWP. — Around 1 p.m. on March 21, someone stole a Samsung Galaxy S7 phone from a locker room in Northwest Area High School. Anyone with information is asked to contact state Trooper Kyle Gruber at 570-542-4117. — STAFF REPORT
Cold, snowy March extends ski season
A cold and snowy March has Pennsylvania ski area operators rethinking year-end plans. “We decided to make some snow last night,” Montage Mountain spokesman Jeff Slivinski said Tuesday. On Monday, Montage sent a tongue-in-cheek email apologizing for lying
Man sentenced for role in drug ring
SCRANTON — A Plymouth man has been sentenced to serve more than two years in federal prison for his role in a Luzerne County drug ring, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Cleveland Linder, 33, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to d
State historical marker going up near Joe Palooka Monument
HANOVER TWP. — A state historical marker will be erected next to the Joe Palooka Monument along state Route 309 in Hanover Twp. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission announced Tuesday it was one of 16 new state historical markers approved. Mem
Wilkes to honor Lawrence Cohen at gala
Wilkes University will honor Lawrence E. Cohen, a 1957 Wilkes graduate and chairman of Benco Dental, with the President’s Medal at the upcoming Founders Gala. The gala will be June 2 at the Westmoreland Club, 59 S. Franklin St. in Wilkes-Barre. The Presid