Local News

WATSONTOWN, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A scary moment in NEPA Monday afternoon: Nearly a dozen people were evacuated from their homes after a gas leak was detected.

Union County residents had quite a scare after a gas leak occurred right outside their homes.

It happened just after 4:00 p.m. in Watsontown.

The leak started after a rotting tree fell onto an exposed section of gas line running across a creek just off of Route 405.

Residents report hearing a loud bang, followed by a strong odor of natural gas.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Homeowners in Lackawanna County are receiving a significant piece of mail from Tyler Technologies: A new property assessment notice.

28/22 News explains what's in these assessments and how you can contest them if something doesn't add up.

This is Lackawanna County's first reassessment in nearly 60 years. The new property assessments aim to reflect the current market value of homes, but not without controversy.

According to Lackawanna County's Tax Assessment Office, despite fears of skyrocketing taxes, that isn’t quite the case.

NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — High school seniors are counting down the months until graduation, but for one teenager, that countdown is two-fold.

Not only will he earn a high school diploma, but also will receive an associate's degree.

Nathan Higgins loves to run. The Crestwood High School senior has excelled as a member of his school's cross-country and track teams.

"I've made states all three years I was varsity, and I medaled at districts twice in my most recent two years," Nathan explained.

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say a Scranton School District employee is being charged with having a gun on school property after an alleged argument with another employee.

According to the Scranton Police Department, on March 27, officers were called for a threat/gun report at Memorial Stadium.

Police say they were told by a school employee that 54-year-old Thomas McDonough, of Carbondale, made a threat to shoot another employee, and McDonough had a gun in his vehicle.

28/22 NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — The recent arrests of two men for allegedly posing as police officers have prompted law enforcement agencies to issue a warning to area residents to know what their legal rights are if they encounter a person claiming to be a police officer.

It could be a challenging situation: You are being pulled over and you're not sure why, but complicating matters further, you are not sure if the person pulling you over is indeed a police officer.

28/22 NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Colorectal cancer is increasing at an alarming rate for not just people over the age of 50, but also young adults.

Inside Honesdale High School in Wayne County, you can find 57-year-old Daniel Davidson teaching Latin and English.

Teaching is one of his passions. Another one is being an advocate for colorectal cancer awareness after getting unsettling news last year.

If you get SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania, you’re urged to change PINs immediately

“I received a positive diagnosis for cancer.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) -- The Department of Human Services and Office of State Inspector General warn Pennsylvania residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to change their PINs to protect their benefits from fraudsters.

With the uptick in EBT/SNAP benefit thefts and residents being wiped clean of monies meant to help feed their families, the Shapiro Administration is urging all recipients to change their PINs monthly, ahead of receiving benefits.

LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — PennDOT announced there will be lane restrictions and road closures on Route 315 in Luzerne County all week.

On Tuesday, April 1 the following roads will be impacted:

The right lane on Route 315 northbound will be closed between 84 Lumber and the Oak Street intersection.

The left turn lane from SR 315 North to Oak Street will be closed.

Exit 175 on Interstate 81 northbound will be closed, the detour is

Continue on Interstate 81 northbound to Exit 178.

Take Exit 178.

The detour will end at the roundabout.

LEHIGHTON, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A wanted man was arrested at a gas station and found with various amounts of drugs inside his car, police stated.

On March 27, around 4:00 p.m., the Lehighton Police Department assisted the attorney general’s office in arresting a wanted man. Officers say 41-year-old Kyle Kubin, of Lehighton, had an active warrant for aggravated assault with a weapon, out of Franklin Township.

Man sentenced for stealing SNAP benefits from Pa. residents

WASHINGTON TWP., LEHIGH COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The coroner has released the identity of the motorcycle rider hit and killed in a crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike over the weekend.

The Lehigh County Coroner, Daniel Buglio, stated that 50-year-old John Joseph Sweeney of Bristol died from blunt force injuries due to his motorcycle colliding with an SUV on I-476 in Washington Township on Sunday, March 30.

State police determined that an SUV driven by a 24-year-old woman from Perth Amboy, NJ, was driving southbound in the northbound lanes and struck two motorcycles.