News: Page 280
Slew of church abuse lawsuits hinges on Pa. court decision
August 15, 2020
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic dioceses have been hit with about 150 lawsuits from people who say they were sexually abused as children by priests and hope a state court decision last year has shown a way around time limits for legal claims.
Statistics detail restraint chair use in Luzerne County prison
August 14, 2020
An inmate restraint chair was used 29 times at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in 2019, state statistics show.
DA on Mackey probe: We stand by 2018 investigation, will cooperate with outside agencies if asked
August 13, 2020
WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis this afternoon released a statement saying she stands by her office’s decision not to pursue criminal charges in the death of former county inmate Shaheen Mackey.
Trump expected to visit Scranton area next Thursday
August 13, 2020
President Donald Trump is expected to visit Scranton next week on the same day challenger Joe Biden — a native of the Electric City — is scheduled to accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination during a virtual convention.
Sordoni named United Way of Wyoming Valley chair
August 12, 2020
WILKES-BARRE — Jennifer Sordoni has been named the new chair of the United Way of Wyoming Valley — the first female in 40 years and only the second in the organization’s 99-year history to serve in that capacity.
Council split over reprimands for Griffith, Pedri
August 12, 2020
Luzerne County Councilman Walter Griffith was reprimanded by a majority of his colleagues Tuesday over his Facebook activity, but a motion to declare a “lack of confidence” in county Manager C. David Pedri’s leadership did not pass.
Chesapeake Bay nitrogen, sediment pollution down; phosphorous up
August 11, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Program announced on Monday that levels of nitrogen and sediment pollution entering into the Chesapeake Bay have continued to decrease, while phosphorous pollution has seen a slight increase from the previous assessment period.
Auditor General talks with advocate about community colleges and COVID-19
August 11, 2020
While Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges have lost an estimated $100 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they remain among the most flexible places for those seeking more education or training as the pandemic shifts the job landscape, an advocate said during a Monday live chat with State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.
Council members propose reprimand against Griffith
August 8, 2020
Walter Griffith’s recent sharing of a critical Facebook post about Luzerne County Council colleagues Kendra Radle and LeeAnn McDermott has prompted a proposed resolution of reprimand, according to a council work session agenda released Friday.
Lawsuit challenges signature verification of mail-in ballots
August 8, 2020
A federal lawsuit filed Friday seeks to force Pennsylvania election officials to change the way that voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots are verified, asserting that tens of thousands of voters are at risk of being disenfranchised in the fall presidential election.