Luzerne County

PLAINS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A record-breaking year. The Times Leader Media Group received hundreds of thousands of nominations and votes in this year's Best of the Best Competition.

On Monday, they are celebrating at the Woodlands in Plains Township.

This honor recognizes excellence in the workplace, the theater, non-profits, and even community events.

28/22 News spoke to one of the business winners.

Residents rally in Wyoming County for Medicare, Medicaid

LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Lawmakers across the country, especially GOP, have been feeling the wrath of citizens who are concerned that the so-called "safety net programs," such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, could see major cutbacks.

28/22 News -I-team reporter Andy Mehalshick reached out to federal lawmakers who represent northeastern Pennsylvania for comment on these concerns.

We heard from two areas GOP congressmen who insist that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will not be cut, but that waste and fraud in those programs will be slashed.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — This month brings excitement with the NCAA basketball tournaments but it also brings in more sports betting.

March Madness is in full swing and millions of brackets have been filled out for the tournament.

Even Stefanie Wolownik with Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services is taking part in the fun.

“My family and I, we just play for fun, we play for bragging rights we call them.”

K-9 helps discover drugs during traffic stop

But this month is recognized for more than just basketball.

KINGSTON TWP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)—Police say they conducted a traffic stop which led to a K-9 discovering various drugs and two people facing charges.

On March 22, the Kingston Township Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle which resulted in the arrest of a wanted person.

A K-9 unit was called to the scene and alerted to drugs inside the vehicle.

Kingston Township Police

Kingston Township Police

Several packets of meth seized from apartment, woman arrested

LEHMAN TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police stated a former treasurer of the Lake Lehman Elementary Wrestling Club is facing charges for allegedly stealing more than $10,000.

According to the Lehman Township Police Department, in February board members of the Lake Lehman Elementary Wrestling Club began to discuss missing funds from their account, and the treasurer at the time, 34-year-old Ryan Alan Shannon, of Sweet Valley, refused to turn over bank statements for more than a year.

Work expected to wrap up this summer

Alleged thefts came to light in review of bank records

WILKES-BARRE TWP. LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A former Schuylkill County police officer is accused of getting caught impersonating an officer to police.

Wilkes-Barre Township Police say they pulled over 31-year-old Angel Abreu-Nunez after they saw his truck had a fraudulent/counterfeit Pennsylvania Temporary License Plate.

During the stop, police said Abreu-Nunez identified himself as an off-duty officer and provided a Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission identification card for a police department in Schuylkill County.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Performers of all ages got their chance to showcase their talents in an annual competition in Wilkes-Barre. 25 finalists performed on Sunday afternoon at the FM Kirby Center for the Fourth Annual NEPA's Got Talent.

State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, a longtime musician with the band, Eddie Day and TNT, served as event host while the Northeast Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association sponsored it.

Postal workers in Luzerne County rallied against postal system privatization in a nationwide protest on Sunday afternoon.