Local News

SUNBURY — Sunbury resident Andrew Ramos will face incumbent Mayor Josh Brosious on May 20 to decide who will lead the city for the next four years.

LEWISBURG — Citizens’ Electric Company of Lewisburg is proposing an 11 percent average increase in electric distribution rates for residential customers.

MILTON — Four years ago, Tom Aber won the Milton mayoral race by a scant one vote over Joe Moralez. Aber, a Democrat, had 595 votes while Republican Joseph Moralez had 594 votes.

HARRISBURG — A bill proposal for the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program cleared a Senate committee Tuesday on a split vote as Republicans look to finally enact a school-voucher style system where public funding follows students into private education.

WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The weather is the reason crews have called off their search on Tuesday for a 10-year-old girl in Lycoming County who was swept away while playing in the Susquehanna River on Sunday.

Since then, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and other departments have been assisting in the ongoing search to bring her home.

The search was called off around 3:00 p.m. due to the weather.

There is still no sign of the 10-year-old girl.

Severe weather across NEPA

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Wednesday marks the beginning of the conclave process to select the next Pope.

28/22 News spoke with a local priest about what to expect from the process in the coming days.

There is a mass in the morning for the cardinal electors, with the first vote expected to take place Wednesday afternoon.

Eyes from all around the world will be watching the Vatican.

On Wednesday, May 7, 133 cardinals will sequester themselves in the Sistine Chapel to elect the successor of Pope Francis.

RANSOM TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man has been charged with arson in connection to a fire that happened at the former Cascade Tissue Plant in Ransom Township on April 9.

Police say Dale Andrew Bettelli, 24, of Clarks Summit, has been charged with arson and other related charges after an investigation of a fire at the former Cascade Tissue Plant.

Man sentenced for up to 33 years for child pornography

Around 4:00 a.m. on April 9, crews responded to the former Cascade Tissue Plant fully engulfed in flames, according to police.

(WBRE/WYOU) — The National Weather Service (NWS) announced on Tuesday multiple tornado warnings in Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, the NWS issued extreme tornado warnings in the following areas:

Monroe County

Pike County

The warning will be in effect until 5:15 p.m., officials say.

Shortly before 4:00 p.m., the NWS explained that a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was spotted over East Bangor, or 14 miles north of Easton, moving north.

Hail is expected to measure as large as an inch, according to the NWS.

HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — "Justice for Jessica:" That's what family and friends of murder victim 39-year-old Jessica Lockwood from the Hazleton area say they want to see.

A manhunt is underway right now for her alleged killer, 55-year-old Terence Ray.

Lockwood's body was found burning along a Hazleton road last week.

Law enforcement sources tell 28/22 News they are working around the clock to track down Terence Ray to get "Justice for Jessica."

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Schuylkill County man has been sentenced to 16 and a half to 33 years in prison for the possession and distribution of child pornography.

According to the attorney general's office, Joshua Warfel, 36, pleaded guilty in February to dozens of felony counts of charges filed by the Office of Attorney General's Child Predator section.

Man charged with distribution of child pornography