News
False rape suspect, husband arrested for allegedly conspiring to deal meth
WILKES-BARRE — The woman accused of falsely blaming two state troopers of rape and the husband she says abused her showed up in court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon and left together in handcuffs. State troopers allege Donald Richard Cromer,
Pittston man charged with sex assault of girl, 14
PITTSTON — A city man was arrested Tuesday on charges alleging he plied a 14-year-old girl with booze and had sex with her in an auto garage on several occasions. Phillip Smith, 42, of 351 S. Main St., is accused of furnishing the girl with alcohol and th
Ciavarella gets OK to file appeal
HARRISBURG — A federal judge this week granted disgraced former kids-for-cash judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. the ability to appeal a ruling denying him a new trial on some counts. Ciavarella, 68, was initially convicted of 12 of 39 charges for accepting kic
Agents bust SCI-Dallas drug smuggling ring
JACKSON TWP. — A former State Correctional Institution Dallas inmate was arraigned Tuesday on charges he was involved in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the prison. Angel Roberto Serrano, 34, who is now in prison at Camp Hill, is accused of working wit
Crestwood sets meeting to discuss financial difficulties
Crestwood school officials will tell the public about financial difficulties that caused them to consider laying off teachers and reconfiguring elementary schools during a special meeting Thursday. The 6:30 p.m. meeting in the secondary school auditorium
Pittsburgh, Scranton Komen chapters announce merger
Two leading Pennsylvania charities in the fight against breast cancer have merged to find strength in combined resources. Scranton-based Susan G. Komen Northeastern Pennsylvania and Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh announced Tuesday a merger forming a unified Su
Hanover Area approved to borrow $7.2 million to pay short-term loan
HANOVER TWP. — The Hanover Area School Board approved a resolution Tuesday to borrow $7.2 million to pay a short-term loan of $6.5 million that must be paid by June 30. The school district received approval from a Luzerne County judge to borrow the $7.2 m
Grand jury report on dioceses expected soon
A grand jury that has been hearing testimony about sexual abuse by priests in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Scranton, will soon conclude its work and issue a report this spring, according to two sources. The grand jury, wh
Study will examine West Pittston's flood protection options
WEST PITTSTON — West Pittston is looking again at a way to protect the town from flooding. A $200,000 feasibility study will look at possibilities that could prevent disasters like the 2011 floods that came after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, wh
Groups raising funds for Narcan training
WILKES-BARRE — Local community groups are organizing a basketball tournament to help raise money for Narcan training and drug recovery efforts in Luzerne County. Erik Coolbaugh Foundation and United We Stand, Divided We Fall are planning a tournament from
Inmate pleads guilty to attacking guard
WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County Correctional Facility inmate Kassandra Lee Martin pleaded guilty to attacking corrections officers who searched her for drugs at the jail in December. The attack fractured a vertebra of one of the guards who was searching Mar
Neighbor rescues 2 from burning home
DORRANCE TWP. — A neighbor helped two people escape their burning residence in the Valley Stream mobile home park Tuesday morning. The fire, which broke out just after 10:30 a.m., quickly tore through the mobile home. Firefighters from at least six compan
Franklin board OKs investments
The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s board of directors approved investments in two Luzerne County companies. TierraNOVA LLC, Wilkes-Barre, which produces a safety software application, received $35,000. The company’s app, “
Warrant headlines Rock 107 Birthday Bash
In celebration of 38 years on the air, Rock 107 brings the legendary band Warrant to the stage at Woodlands Inn & Resort, 1073 Highway 315, Plains Twp., tonight for its annual Birthday Bash concert. Since band members Erik Turner and Jerry Dixon founded W
Police probe report of road rage in city
WILKES-BARRE — City police are investigating a report that a man pulled a gun on another motorist in a case of road rage Monday night. Police say the victim, a 37 year-old Wilkes-Barre woman, reported she had been driving on Mundy Street about 7:40 p.m. w
BY JEANINE "J.T." O'DONNELL AND DALE DAUTEN
Dear J.T. & Dale: I work for a company that missed its financial goals. How do you know when a company is getting ready to do layoffs? — DEBORA J.T.: The usual signs are when they start cutting benefits. For example, if they drastically cut employee train
Solar power could be headed to Hazleton industrial park
HAZLETON — Solar power could be running lights after the sun goes down in the Humboldt Industrial Park in the near future. Greg Kurtz, operations director for CAN DO Inc., said the industrial and economic development organization is seeking a grant to cre
Luzerne County to decide on jail health care provider soon
Luzerne County Correctional Facility — where four female inmates have died in the past year, with three of those deaths ruled suicides — might have a new health care provider soon. Or not. The situation should be clarified within the next month or two, ac
Wyoming Valley celebrates Easter
People throughout Northeast Pennsylvania celebrated Easter on Sunday with church services, egg hunts, family dinners and more.
Faith leaders share messages of hope on Easter Sunday
Even when it looks like the end, it just might not be. That’s the message Parker Hill Church Pastor Mark Stuenzi hoped to convey Easter Sunday. Spiritual guides lent wisdom to parishioners of Christian churches around the region Sunday to help guide them
