Thirteen more provisional ballots were approved for tallying in the tight Republican race for state representative in the 117th District. During a packed hearing Friday, the Luzerne County Election Board voted to count the lion’s share, rejecting challenge arguments. In other instances, the challenges were withdrawn following testimony and board discussion. However, the county cannot unseal and tally these results until the two-day appeal period has lapsed by the end of business Monday, said county Assistant Solicitor Gene Molino. That means the earliest the results could be known is Tuesday ..read more

The U.S. Justice Department announced it has filed a “statement of interest” in a federal lawsuit challenging the at-large method of electing the nine Hazleton Area School Board members, according to a release. A statement of interest supports the right of private plaintiffs to legally seek enforcement of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group, it said. Most of the cases arising under Section 2 have involved challenges to “at-large election schemes,” the departme ..read more

The U.S. Justice Department announced it has filed a “statement of interest” in a federal lawsuit challenging the at-large method of electing the nine Hazleton Area School Board members, according to a release. A statement of interest supports the right of private plaintiffs to legally seek enforcement of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group, it said. Most of the cases arising under Section 2 have involved challenges to “at-large election schemes,” the departme ..read more

DALLAS TWP. — Hazleton Area demonstrated Wednesday why it has won the last four Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 baseball titles. Down to their final two outs, the Cougars got consecutive singles from Logan Hearity and Chris Florentino in the top of the seventh. An out and a walk later, both scored on an error as Hazleton Area edged Dallas 4-3 in a key divisional game. Hazleton Area (10-1 Div. 1, 12-4 overall) vaulted over Pittston Area (9-1 Div. 1, 13-2) and into first place. Pittston Area was upset 5-3 by Wilkes-Barre Area. Dallas (6-2 Div. 1, 9-3) stayed in the hunt as well. “Just proud ..read more

Luzerne County will need a new veteran affairs overseer because James Spagnola is retiring from the position he’s held since 2009. A six-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, the 59-year-old Wilkes-Barre resident got emotional Wednesday as he thought of the residents he has assisted as county veteran affairs director. “I got a chance to work with and meet people who took part in some of the biggest battles in U.S. history — World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War,” Spagnola said. “That has really been an honor for me — and a privilege. That’s been the best part of the job.” He recalled being trans ..read more

Luzerne County will need a new veteran affairs overseer because James Spagnola is retiring from the position he’s held since 2009. A six-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, the 59-year-old Wilkes-Barre resident got emotional Wednesday as he thought of the residents he has assisted as county veteran affairs director. “I got a chance to work with and meet people who took part in some of the biggest battles in U.S. history — World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War,” Spagnola said. “That has really been an honor for me — and a privilege. That’s been the best part of the job.” He recalled being trans ..read more

As promised in March, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has scheduled a meeting to update the public on replacement plans for two bridges linking Pittston and West Pittston. The meeting will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (May 8) at the Wyoming Area Secondary Center Auditorium, 252 Memorial St. in Exeter to present details and seek public input on plans for the Luzerne County-owned Water Street Bridge (Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge) and nearby state-owned Spc. Dale J. Kridlo Bridge (Fort Jenkins) over the Susquehanna River. PennDOT had indicated a meeting would be held when it prov ..read more

A Luzerne County Council committee publicly interviewed residents interested in volunteering to serve on county boards Tuesday, including five applicants for a citizen seat on the new Commission on Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement. The five applicants: Katrina Favata, Mary Butera, Ann Marie Kochuba-Mantione, Neil Oberto and Attorney Sheila Saidman. The opioid advisory commission must identify and recommend the best uses for $25 million the county is expected to receive over 18 years from the state’s settlement against opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Council has the final ..read more

A Luzerne County Council committee publicly interviewed residents interested in volunteering to serve on county boards Tuesday, including five applicants for a citizen seat on the new Commission on Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement. The five applicants: Katrina Favata, Mary Butera, Ann Marie Kochuba-Mantione, Neil Oberto and Attorney Sheila Saidman. The opioid advisory commission must identify and recommend the best uses for $25 million the county is expected to receive over 18 years from the state’s settlement against opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Council has the final ..read more

With an eye to the future, Luzerne County government is increasingly embracing technology and shared databases to improve services, said county Manager Romilda Crocamo. A prime example: multiple departments have teamed up to create an infrastructure management platform that will serve as a central repository on all county-owned roads and bridges, she said. “This platform will aim to achieve the goal of becoming the go-to source of information to allow more efficient and productive application of many departments involved in managing this county inventory,” the administration’s project descript ..read more