Local News

(WBRE/WYOU) — In the wake of the tragic loss of the seven-year-old non-verbal autistic child last weekend, Lawmakers and advocacy groups are looking for solutions to prevent it from happening again.

28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape spoke with a local non-profit that focuses on children with special needs to find out what measures both parents and the public can take to protect such a vulnerable population.

"In a split second, you know, they could be gone and missing," Brighterjourneys Board Member Cathy Palicki explained.

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Lackawanna County woman is celebrating a big win with a home makeover shopping spree. Boscov's gave Ellen Raino from Newton Township $5,000 to spend in its home departments on Tuesday.

She was randomly chosen from nearly 4,000 entrants across all 50 Boscov's stores in the giveaway that began in August.

Even Jim Boscov, the company's CEO and chairman, stopped by while she shopped.

Scranton daycare center closed amid investigation

DALLAS, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A wind phone recently added to a local hiking trail to help community members connect with lost loved ones has been vandalized. The woman behind the news shared it on social media.

Tara Yamelski from Shavertown shared on Facebook Monday night photos of her damaged wind phone, and the response has been overwhelming shock.

"I was devastated, like many people were," Dallas resident Karen Fry explained.

Fry gave her reaction when she learned the back mountain trail's wind phone was vandalized.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Wilkes-Barre Fire Department held a screening event for its firefighters and those a part of neighboring departments.

Esophageal Cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. 80% of patients have died from it.

Firefighters have a 62% higher chance of getting the cancer, according to Lucid Diagnostics, who administered the screening in Wilkes-Barre.

Wilkes-Barre residents come out for E-Recycling, paper shredding event

SCOTT TOWNSHIP, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A state representative is planning on introducing a bill that will notify communities and law enforcement when a child with autism goes missing.

State Representative Robert Leadbeter released a memo on Monday, announcing his plans to push a purple alert system, which would quickly notify community members and law enforcement when a child with autism or other cognitive disabilities goes missing.

It would send users a photo, description, and last known location of the missing individual statewide.

(WBRE/WYOU) — The ambush of two state troopers in Susquehanna County in August once again raised questions about the communications problems between the state police and local police and other first responders.

28/22 News I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick went looking for answers and has a story you will only see on 28/22 News.

28/22 News confirmed that state troopers were able to communicate with each other, cruiser to cruiser, through the commonwealth's radio system, but they could not communicate directly with the local first responders.

ESPY - Police and search crews are looking for a missing boy in the 2900 block of Old Berwick Road, officials say.The Scott Township Police received a report of a missing child,...

PINE SUMMIT — The death of a 17-year-old boy whose body was found by a family member Thursday morning in his home...

FRANKLIN TWP. – Emergency crews were called to a rolled-over Southern Columbia school bus here shortly after 3 p.m. on Route 487 near Ashton Hollow Road. At the accident scene,...

BEACH HAVEN — A man mowing his lawn accidentally hit a grill’s propane tank, triggering an explosion that burned...