Local News

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It's with heavy hearts that 28/22 News shares the passing of the 2025 Remarkable Woman, Lisa Urbanski.

Lisa was a champion for children with special needs and their families. She was a wife, mother, and friend to so many in our community.

Now, 28/22 looks back at the incredible difference she made over the years.

Lisa had no idea she was about to be honored as our 2025 Remarkable Woman.

"No clue, honest to God, I had no clue whatsoever," Lisa said.

Her dedication, however, had been clear for years.

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — This week, 28/22 News highlights a previous Here's To You Kid who earned recognition earlier this year. The Scranton teen was chosen to participate in a program to learn about national security. She shared her experience with 28/22 News.

"It was kind of shocking," said Cailyn Manley.

Shocking is one way Cailyn describes her experience this summer in Washington, D.C.

She attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security at Georgetown University.

WHITEHALL, LEHIGH COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Office of the District Attorney in Lehigh County says a Carbon County woman pled guilty in a Whitehall homicide investigation.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced on Monday 52-year-old Brenda Rodriguez from Palmerton pled guilty in a hearing before Judge Robert L. Steinberg to a felony charge of Conspiracy Aggravated Assault.

Authorities say the remaining charges against Rodriguez would be dropped as part of the plea deal.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It's listed in the top 20 mass murders in the history of the United States of America, and it happened right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

George Banks went on a shooting rampage in the Wilkes-Barre area in September of 1982, and despite the passage of more than 40 years, the crime is still talked about by people in the area and beyond.

Northeastern Pennsylvania was the focus of the national and world media, and keep in mind, at that point in time, 1982, the words "mass shootings" were rarely used.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Newkirk is not in custody.

EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police have charged a man they say was part of a shoot-out after an argument went wrong in Edwardsville.

According to the Ewardsville Police Department, officers were called after multiple gunshots were heard in the 80 block of Church Street. Police say they questioned the homeowner of one of the houses, and he admitted to being part of a shoot-out in self-defense.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A 79-year-old woman lost $25,000 after being swindled into converting her cash into Bitcoin.

Police say the woman, who resides in Wilkes-Barre, came to their headquarters to report that she had fallen victim to a scam.

The woman told police that she received a notification on her computer that her bank account had been compromised and called the phone number that was provided.

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W. SCRANTON, LACKWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say a man trying to gain entry into West Scranton High School, resulting in the school being placed on "secure status," is now facing charges.

According to the Scranton Police Department, on September 19, around 10:00 a.m., officers were called for a welfare check on 29-year-old Michael Villa, who was denied access to West Scranton High School.

Police say they spoke with West Scranton High School, who said Villa came in and asked if he could come inside to tour the school, then was advised to leave.

NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Recovery is more than leaving addiction behind; it’s rediscovering strength, hope, and the chance of a brighter future.

The hustle and bustle of being a college student can lead to many obstacles and stress.

But for students inside the Arei building at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, many of them are already battling challenges of their own.

PECKVILLE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A woman has been arrested after a deadly hit-and-run crash involving a bicyclist.

A detective from the Blakely Police Department informed 28/22 News that a crash occurred around 10:00 a.m. on September 20 in Peckville at the intersection of Main and Bridge Streets.

The driver, 74-year-old Diane Fontana of Archbald, hit a man riding a bike, then fled the scene and was later arrested, detectives stated.

One dead, two injured after crash

BLOOMSBURG -- An electrical fire shut down a stand for a day at the Bloomsburg Fair on Saturday.
According to...