Luzerne County

PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Making neighborhoods in Northeastern Pennsylvania more attractive places to live. That's the goal of a nonprofit that works to help residents make exterior improvements to their homes.

Applications are now open for the 2024 cycle of Beautiful Blocks. It's a home improvement program jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and the city of Scranton, the city of Carbondale, and for the first year, the city of Pittston.

SWEET VALLEY, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A mother from Luzerne County says she will never stop searching for her daughter who vanished without a trace 20 years ago this week.

22-year-old Phylicia Thomas went missing from the Sweet Valley Area in 2004, and despite a state police investigation and search efforts by her family, her fate remains a mystery.

BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local bridge is set to be renovated soon, leaving hundreds of drivers with a lengthy detour for several months, and it could affect emergency response times.

28/22 News Reporter Emily Allegrucci joined a meeting Monday to find out if there was a possible solution.

The Laurel Run Road Bridge in Bear Creek Township will be closed at the end of January, setting many up for long detours.

Those at the meeting were not only worried about traffic for themselves but for first responders in case of an emergency.

KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A section of the Pennsylvania courts online website has been targeted in a cyberattack.

Pennsylvania Chief Justice Debra Todd announced the incident over the weekend, and it continues to have an impact. So, what exactly does this mean? 28/22 News spoke to a local computer expert to find out.

Cyber whiz, tech guru, and digital genius are just a few terms that could be used to describe Spencer Rappaport, the owner of Evolutionary Computers in Kingston.

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — An inmate has been convicted by a jury after he allegedly assaulted three correctional officers in a Pennsylvania prison.

According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Thomas Waters, 37, of South Carolina, was convicted following a jury trial of three counts of assaulting a federal officer.

Officials stated Waters, a federal inmate at the United States Penitentiary at Canaan located in Waymart, Pennsylvania, assaulted three federal corrections officers which resulted in bodily injury.

HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say a man was arrested after a traffic stop led to various drugs and stolen guns being seized.

According to the Hazleton City Police Department, on January 15 around 2:30 p.m., officers pulled over a car driven by Frederick Clinkscales, 47, of Philadelphia, for equipment violations.

Police say once they saw the car was occupied by Clinkscales and a "known female drug user" detectives saw several "indicators of criminal activity" leading to a search warrant.

WILKES-BARRE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Two people are wanted by police after being accused of committing multiple retail thefts at a Luzerne County Target.

According to the Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department, on January 5 two suspects pushed out a shopping cart of merchandise worth $645.97, without paying for any of the items.

Arrest made after $1,000 retail theft in Luzerne County

Wilkes-Barre Township Police

Wilkes-Barre Township Police

PLAINS TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — State police report a counterfeit $100 was pulled out of a toilet at the Mohegan Pennsylvania and exchanged for a real bill.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, on February 3 around 11:00 p.m., a 76-year-old woman using the bathroom at Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains Township spotted what appeared to be a real $100 bill soaking in the toilet.

Man cited for drunkenness after allegedly calling police for ride

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — If you see or experience a pothole incident in Wilkes-Barre, Mayor Brown is bringing back a plan to help repair it.

Wilkes-Barre City Mayor George C. Brown announced on Monday the return of the Pothole Reporting Line.

Residents can speak with a representative of the mayor`s office, or leave a voicemail if the representative is not immediately available, to report the location of the pothole.

City of Wilkes-Barre

PLAINS TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say they cited a man after he drunkenly called 9-1-1 multiple times, asking for a ride near Mohegan Pennsylvania on State Route 315.

According to the Plains Township Police Department, on February 3 around 3:40 p.m., a man, later identified as Ryan Cannon, 38, of Taylor, called 9-1-1 saying he was walking out of the casino toward State Route 315 and needed a ride to Pittston.

Fake $100 pulled out of casino toilet in Mohegan Pennsylvania