Columbus
NewsRadio WILK
Warning regarding car thefts in Lackawanna County
With car thefts on the rise in Scranton, Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell is warning the public to pay close attention to protect your car by keeping it locked with valuables out of sight. He also says a tracking device might not be a bad idea. Powell says these thefts aren’t kids going for joy rides, it’s part of a complex and organized ring. The cars are put on a carrier and taken out of the area as quickly as possible where they are often shipped overseas or taken to chop shops breaking them down for parts.
Sex offender charged with murder in Luzerne County
A registered sex offender was arraigned in Luzerne County this morning and charged with homicide in the death of a Nanticoke woman last year. According to state police, 39 year old Kawan Scarborough was charged for the beating death of his girlfriend, 27 year old Lastarr Williams, who was found dead in her home last May. Bail for Scarborough was denied, and he is locked up in the Luzerne County Prison. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 21.
New law signed that bans the use of hand-held devices cellphones while driving
A 12 year mother's mission has concluded with Governor Josh Shapiro's signature. The governor signed into law the Paul Miller Jr. Bill, banning the use of cell phones by drivers on the roadway. It also makes it a primary offense, meaning you can get pulled over. Eileen Miller has never stopped fighting for the new law after a distracted tractor-trailer driver struck and killed her son Paul in 2010 on Route 33 near East Stroudsburg. State police say they will be educating the public before this law is rolled out, and there will be a year of warning before it officially takes effect.
Update on recent mine subsidence in Luzerne County
An update on the mine subsidence that temporarily drained Toby Creek back in April. According to reports, the DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation is removing the “cofferdam” structure on Toby Creek near the spot of the mine subsidence. It’s a temporary barrier built around the water to create a dry working environment. The work involves removing the material used for the stream diversion to restore the channel to the pre-subsidence configuration. The DEP says there is no evidence of stream loss or additional subsidence as per the last inspection in May. Work began on Monday and it should only take a few days.
Renovations announced for PNC Field in Moosic
Major renovations are coming to PNC field in Moosic. The announcement was made this morning during a press conference at the ballpark. Team and County officials said the 13.5 million dollar renovation plan includes better training facilities, batting tunnels, and places to work out as well as an improved locker room area. Also included in the project will be an improved fan experience, which includes better video boards, seating, and hospitality areas. The work will begin at the end of the baseball season and is expected to be finished for the start of the 2025 season.
Re-opening date set for Scranton grocery store closed by fire
A grocery store in Scranton damaged by a fire 2 weeks ago plans to reopen later this week. The Giant grocery store in the Green Ridge Plaza will reopen on Friday June 7th at 6am. Early in the morning of May 20th, a pressure washer sparked a roof insulation fire in the back of the supermarket. The free COLTS transportation provided by the company to the Giant supermarket in Dickson City will end at 6 p.m. Thursday evening.
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Robert Baron killer
The estate of murder victim Robert Baron filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $1 million from his convicted killer, Justin Schuback. According to reports, Baron's daughter, Brittany Baron, filed the civil complaint against Schuback, who was found guilty May 15 of first-degree murder of Robert Baron Sr. at Ghigiarelli's Restaurant, 511 S. Main St., Old Forge on Jan. 25, 2017. The lawsuit also seeks to have liens placed on two Schuback properties with Old Forge mailing addresses — his house at 3 Foundry St. and 1.09 acres on Miller Street — to prevent their transfers or sales before adjudication on of the suit. Schuback, 38, automatically received a sentence of life in prison on the first-degree murder charge. He is incarcerated in the Lackawanna County Prison.
Local man charged with robbery and assault after police chase in Luzerne County
A heavy police presence in Glen Lyon Monday afternoon ended in an arrest. According to reports, Joshua Goodwin of Wilkes-Barre, was apprehended about 12 p.m. after a several hour search that began on Orchard Street in Newport Township, with Goodwin assaulting a woman, then stealing a Nanticoke police cruiser. Police say a woman who was with Goodwin, Melanie Hunter Miscavage, 52, of Glen Lyon, conspired with him in the burglary. Goodwin was arraigned by District Judge Michael Dotzel of Wilkes-Barre Township on several counts, including aggravated assault and simple assault, two counts of terroristic threats, and one count each of robbery, burglary, criminal trespass, robbery of a motor vehicle, and Miscavage was arraigned on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery and hindering apprehension. Both are locked up at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
Local mall tax assessment is dropped dramatically
The Wyoming Valley Mall’s real estate tax assessment has plunged from $68.7 million to $13.6 million through negotiations with taxing bodies in a court-level appeal, records show. According to reports, Attorneys involved in the case say the new assessment reflects a nationwide value drop in many traditional shopping malls. The dramatic reduction knocked the Wilkes-Barre Township mall from its ranking among the top five highest commercial real estate taxpayers countywide Mall owner Wyoming Valley Realty Holding LLC will pay a total $375,201 in real estate taxes under current rates, which is a reduction of $1.5 million, analysis shows. It's also reported that during settlement negotiations it was discovered that Macy's plans to close it's anchor store.
Why a Scranton nursing home evacuated residents Friday
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Announced late Friday night it needed to relocate nearly 100 people that lived at Mountain View Care and Rehabilitation Center in South Scranton because of the risk to their health and safety. Scranton’s code enforcement office shut the building down.According to the Department of Health, the facility was on a provisional license. A building safety inspection in October noted the sprinkler system didn't work, but a follow up in January didn’t mention the issue. The facility was also on a list released in 2019 by Sen. Bob Casey and former-Sen. Pat Toomey highlighting the country’s poorly performing nursing homes. 85 residents in all were relocated to other facilities. Vans from other facilities such as Maple Ridge, Birchwood, Lakewood, Mountain Top, and Oak ridge were on site.
I-81 work today to cause issues in Lackawanna & Luzerne counties
A heads-up for drivers in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Road work is back on Interstate 81 on Monday. There will be lane restrictions on parts of I-81 north and south from Dickson City to Clarks Summit (exits 191 to 194) this Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. There will also be a restriction on 81 north from Mountain Top to Moosic (exits 165 to 180) on Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Charges filed in animal hoarding situation in Lackawanna County
One person was taken into custody last night after dozens of animals were found inside a home in Lackawanna County. Animal control responded to reports of animal hoarding along Meylert Avenue in Scranton around 5 p.m. 26 cats and two dogs were removed from the property. Seven puppies were removed from that same house last week. The house in Scranton has been condemned.
Company lays off dozens in Susquehanna County
Dozens of employees from a Susquehanna County energy company have been laid off. According to officials for Coterra Energy, 55 employees out of 170 have been laid off after the business announced it would close its facility in Lenox. Officials say Coterra will remain actively engaged in the production of natural gas and community engagement.
Local attorney sentenced for stealing from clients
A Scranton attorney was sentenced to nearly 2 years in prison for stealing from his clients. Eugene Daniel Lucas pleaded guilty to five counts of theft by deception in February and was sentenced this week to three to 23 months in jail by Lackawanna County Judge James Gibbons. Once he's released, Lucas will be on probation for one year and be required to do 150 hours of community service, and be required to pay restitution to his victims and to pay $10,656 . Prosecutors said Lucas deceived clients promising to pay them back with interest.
Investigating missing money at NEPA YMCA
A search warrant uncovered nearly $85,000 that went missing over the past four years from the Greater YMCA of Carbondale. The missing money has been the focus of a more than month-long investigation by the Lackawanna County District Attorney's office, which included missing checks and disappearing donations. No arrests or criminal charges have been announced yet.
Amazon gets zoning change for huge data center in Salem Township
E-commerce and technology giant Amazon secured a major zoning victory on Tuesday to advance its plans to build a multibillion-dollar data center campus near two power plants off U.S. Route 11 in Salem Twp. Township Supervisors voted 3-0 following a public hearing to grant Amazon’s request to rezone nearly 1,600 acres of land it has acquired in Salem Twp. into a new industrial “Special Data Center Overlay District.” Amazon officials said at the hearing that the company’s Amazon Web Services subsidiary hopes to construct 15 data center buildings over the course of the next decade in Salem Twp. that will create up to 600 good-paying jobs and produce millions in tax revenue each year.
Two NEPA men charged in fatal road rage crash
Two men surrendered to face homicide charges for a crash that killed a well known Scranton businessman. According to reports, John Darko of Clarks Summit, and Paul Viscomi of Scott Township, were both arraigned on criminal complaints charging them with homicide by vehicle causing a crash on North Keyser Ave in March that killed Brian Nardella, the owner of the popular Loyalty Barber Shop. Scranton police said surveillance footage recovered from a nearby business on that road, helped them piece together how the crash happened. Both Darko & Viscomi were barred from driving a car, and released on 250 thousand bail. Both men are due back in court in June for a preliminary hearing.
New court challenge filed in Pennsylvania to prevent some mail-in ballots from getting thrown out
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A new lawsuit filed Tuesday by a constellation of left-leaning groups in Pennsylvania is trying to prevent thousands of mail-in ballots from being thrown out in November's election in a battleground state that is expected to play a critical role in selecting a new president.
Manager accused of stealing from NEPA towing business
A long-term manager at Falzone’s Towing Service in Wilkes-Barre is charged with stealing over $500,000 from the business by changing customers’ invoices. According to reports, 56-year-old Michael Anthony Cicon of Wyoming, was arrested and charged with five counts of theft and two counts of receiving stolen property. According to court records, detectives with Wilkes-Barre City Police and Luzerne County District Attorney’s office say a large amount of cash was taken from the towing business over a 4 year period and found in duffel bags and within a safe at Cicon’s residence when a search warrant was executed last week. Receipts from the towing business were also allegedly found at Cicon’s house.
PSP reports stats on Memorial Day weekend enforcement
The numbers are in from the Pennsylvania State Police following their Memorial Day weekend enforcement period. Troopers report 756 crashes including 5 fatal accidents that resulted in 6 deaths on Pennsylvania roads. They were out in full force from last Friday through Memorial Day. There were 467 DUI arrests over the holiday weekend and 28,000 plus citations for speeding, and lack of seat belts and child safety seats.
NewsRadio WILK
1K+
Posts
10M+
Views
WILK Newsradio covers Northeast PA with news, talk, Penn State Football and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey. Listen to WILK-AM on Audacy.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.