Luzerne County

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - The Christmas season is a time to spread kindness and give to others. We spoke with a one-man on how he is helping those in the community in this time of need.

It's a Christmas miracle. Generosity is spreading throughout our communities and keeping people warm.

Tina Hughes comes home from work everyday at 6:30, checks in on her kids, and starts her next job, being a single mom.

WILKES-BARRE, WEST PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - In Luzerne County, some minor to moderate flooding was seen along the Susquehanna River as the water moved quickly Saturday.

As the river levels began to crest by early afternoon nearby residents strolled along the levee to see what damage was done by the heavy rainfall on Christmas Eve.

They found Nesbitt Park in Wilkes-barre flooded but some say it's not as bad as they thought it would be.

WEST PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - There is cause for concern in West Pittston because the area right by the river has always been hit hard by flooding.

One local resident gave some insight into some precautions residents are taking.

"The last time that we were exposed, we lived here on Luzerne avenue down about four blocks and we were evacuated. That was in 2011," said Ron Faust

The Susquehanna River has caused property damage more recently than that.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — Because of the pandemic, many people are in need like never before this holiday season. One of the biggest needs we’ve seen across our region is food.

More than 200 families received a hand-up at Hanover Area High School Monday afternoon. They are calling it the Christmas Children’s Food Pantry. And those in line told Eyewitness News it means the world to them.

Hanover Area School District and CEO distributed more than 200 perishable and non-perishable food items to local families of all ages and income.

DORRANCE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A house in Dorrance Township went up in flames, but luckily the homeowner was out of town.

The call came in around 7 p.m. Sunday night.

According to Dorrance Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Duane Seltzer, the fire started on the first floor of a home in the 7900 block of Blue Ridge Trail and traveled through the upstairs.

Flames could be seen coming through the roof when crews arrived on scene.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — The Pfizer vaccine made its way this week to northeastern and central Pennsylvania frontliners, including some who got the shot today.

The COVID-19 vaccine is something we've all been talking about for months now. For some, it may have seemed out of reach, but the day has finally come. Several hospitals in our area administered their first round of COVID-19 vaccines today.

From packaging to delivery, the COVID-19 vaccine is here.

NEWPORT TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — A photo taken by a passerby shows flames shooting out of 322 Old Newport Street Friday morning.

Vern Treat sent this image to Eyewitness News of a fire that took a woman's life Friday in Newport Township, Luzerne County.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The snowstorm created an opportunity to do what many of us have done when we were teenagers, making a little extra spending cash shoveling.

That's what Eyewitness News found two cousins doing Thursday in south Wilkes-Barre. They were clearing sidewalks along Carey Avenue and helping dig out some neighbors whose vehicles were buried in heavy snow.

AVOCA, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — Times are tough during the pandemic. It's even tougher for people who struggle with holiday depression during this very unusual time.

You might not think a rheumatologist would play a role in screening for depression. But given the holidays and COVID, it's a significant role here in this office.

Most of the patients rheumatologist Julio Ramos treats have a chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

"You know, we end up seeing a lot of people that are afraid and isolated and therefore lonely and depressed," said Ramos.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — More than 24 hours after the winter storm started, the cleanup is well underway in large and small communities. It's a pretty tall task in bigger cities.

That cleanup started as soon as the snow began accumulating Wednesday. Today, crews moved into a second day for a job that won't end even when this day is done.

Getting out from under a heavy snowfall in Wilkes-Barre requires heavy equipment. The city used bulldozers to clear some of its more than 600 roads.