News

War veteran recounts time at Okinawa

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
Earl Watson has up-close photos of the fighting in the last major battle of World War II, which began on Easter Sunday in 1945 in Okinawa, Japan. Watson, 88, was a public information officer for the Army during the Korean War, stationed at Okinawa, where

Drowning dairy industry skeptical on government fixes

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
Counselors needed The Center for Dairy Excellence is building a network of support workers with counseling and pastoral training who have a background in or understanding of agriculture. To learn about serving, or to request a visit from one of these coun

Business Briefcase

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
April 11: Association of Fundraising Professionals NEPA Chapter workshop, “Basics of Planned Giving Every Fundraising Professional Should Know,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Café in Plains Twp., presenter Carol Maculloch, director of planned giving at the Unive

Baker bill would benefit permanently disabled voters

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
Permanently disabled voters could have an easier time casting their ballot if a bill introduced by state Sen. Lisa Baker becomes law. Currently, with physician certification, disabled and bedridden voters are added to a permanently disabled absentee ballo

First phase of Solomon Creek wall project set to begin

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
The first phase of Solomon Creek retaining wall relocation project will begin Monday. Utility relocation work will start on Brook Street between the intersections with Franklin and Waller streets and is anticipated to last approximately four to five weeks

Local students to compete in Odyssey of the Mind state finals

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
A prowess for problem-solving propelled a handful of local Odyssey of the Mind teams through the regional tournament and into this Saturday’s state finals. Odyssey of the Mind is an international, K-12 creative problem-solving program that helps students

State residents warned of Treasury scam

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella warned state residents about a scam in which callers are posing as Treasury employees and threatening arrest if unpaid taxes are not paid immediately. The fraudulent calls are coming from telephone numbers that appear t

Business Buzz

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
Two area hotels win awards Hampton by Hilton locations in Sayre and Tunkhannock were among six winners of 2017 Connie Awards. The award, named for Hilton founder Conrad Hilton, is presented to top hotels in each of 14 brands within the Hilton portfolio. W

Consignment shop rabbit a hit with young customers

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
LUZERNE — Kayla Rhiel has a lucky and lovable mascot at her children’s consignment shop in Luzerne. His name is Mr. Chunkers. He’s a lionhead rabbit, a breed named for its fluffy mane, and he spends most workdays with Rhiel delighting and surprising custo

Drowning dairy industry skeptical on government fixes

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
Will Keating hit the end of his rope. The first-generation dairy farmer weathered years of shrinking milk prices and swelling costs at his small operation in Jefferson Twp., and now, like dairy farmers around the country, he’s nearly had enough. “It’s get

POLICE BLOTTER

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE Police reported the following incidents: n Two men and a woman got into a confrontation with police at 3:18 a.m. Saturday after they were ejected from an unnamed “local establishment” on South Main Street, according to a police report. Dwayne

Choosing a credit card

Local News WB - Sat, 03/31/2018 - 21:00
Like dandelions in a spring lawn, credit card offers pop up everywhere — stuffing your mailbox, flashing on the internet, even falling from the magazines in your doctor’s waiting room. And they all sound so attractive: “0 percent APR until next year,” “No

Former HR director’s lawsuit against county dismissed

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Luzerne County that was filed by a former human resources director who was fired. U.S. Judge Robert Mariani on Thursday granted the county’s request for summary judgement, ending the case filed in December 2

Public won’t immediately see W-B police report

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — City officials could have a report on the city police department’s operations and management in-hand as early as today, but the public will have to wait a while to learn what it says. City Administrator Ted Wampole said city officials were

Nonprofits pitch their plans for Luzerne Foundation funds

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
PLAINS TWP. — WVIA Public Media has embarked on a project to address one of the most serious public health challenges: the opioid epidemic. The project began with airing the documentary, “Broken: Women, Families & Opioids” on Thursday night. It will be fo

Luzerne County, union agree on new contracts

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
Unionized workers in three Luzerne County human services departments will receive raises but pay more for health care, based on collective bargaining agreements county council approved this week. The four-year agreements cover 2018 through 2021 for employ

Murder trial delayed until October

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — The trial for murder suspect Daniel Holtslander, set to begin next month, has been delayed to allow the defense more time to prepare. Holtslander, 40, is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Kurt Swan, a homeless man whose body wa

Corrections & clarifications 3/30/18

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
Teachers in the Hazleton Area School District pay health insurance premiums of $600 a year. An article in Sunday’s edition incorrectly said they paid no premium.

Hazleton man pleads guilty to charges in fatal wreck

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
WILKES-BARRE — A Hazleton man who killed another motorist when he swerved into oncoming traffic pleaded guilty Thursday to felony charges. Estiven Rodriguez Fernandez, 21, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of fleeing the scene of an accident, as well

Police reviewing surveillance video in school threat probe

Local News WB - Thu, 03/29/2018 - 21:00
RICE TWP. — Investigators say they are still reviewing surveillance video from Rice Twp. Elementary to narrow down which students entered a bathroom where a threatening message was discovered on Wednesday, forcing a lockdown. “Whoever we pick out of the f
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