Luzerne County

NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Nanticoke man has been charged in a scheme that the Department of Justice said defrauded over $850,000 of emergency pandemic funding.

According to the Department of Justice, Joseph Kaminski, 55, of Nanticoke, defrauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) of over $850,000 in emergency pandemic funding that was made available to small business owners through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

DUI conviction overturned due to unauthorized blood draw

LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man accused of murdering a woman, then burning her body on the side of the road, is in court Friday.

55-year-old Terence Ray from Hazleton is in Luzerne County Court after being accused of murdering 39-year-old Jessica Lockwood in April.

Prosecutors say Ray killed Lockwood in his Muir Avenue home, then burned her body along Club 40 Road near Hazleton. The coroner says Lockwood died from blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound.

Missing Moosic man found dead in Luzerne County

The library has been closed for three days after the former St. Paul's Church was on fire. The Hazleton Fire Department says the fire was set intentionally.

LEHIGHTON, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A Luzerne County Attorney who prosecutors say caused a deadly DUI crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike just had his conviction overturned.

In October of 2023, Shavertown attorney Joseph Persico was sentenced to three to six years in prison after being found guilty of vehicular homicide that took the life of Paul Gerrity.

Persico was driving the wrong way on the Pennsylvania Turnpike under the influence in 2018.

Persico's sentence has been overturned because of an unauthorized blood draw on the night of the crash.

(WBRE/WYOU) — State police announced DUI checkpoints will be placed across various roadways in Lackawanna County this weekend.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols aim to deter drinking and driving. Police say they are operating with a "zero-tolerance enforcement policy."

Police say checkpoints will be placed on roadways from Friday, August 1, through Sunday, August 3, that are experiencing high rates of DUI-related traffic violations and DUI-related crashes.

The counties participating in the DUI checkpoints are as follows:

W. HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man was arrested after police say a traffic stop led to the discovery of stolen vehicles on a hauler.

On July 31, patrolling officers saw a car hauler, driven by 20-year-old Jhonathan Santos-Rodriguez, traveling with equipment violations.

Driver charged, running red light leads to crash

During the traffic stop, police said they discovered the Santos-Rodriguez had two stolen Lexus sport utility vehicles.

The vehicles were reported stolen by the New York City Police Department.

NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry held a roundtable discussion on Wednesday on legislative priorities and economic development needs in NEPA.

Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) hosted the event.

A number of initiatives that the college is involved in were highlighted.

Business leaders discuss manufacturing, rural growth in Pa

The discussion also focused on worker shortage and infrastructure investments.

A number of local state lawmakers also took part in the round table discussion.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — On Wednesday, Luzerne County is giving us a look at a pilot program that is set to soon bring Artificial Intelligence (AI) into government operations.

County leaders hosted a public presentation at the operations building to show people how generative AI will be used in day-to-day work.

The program to use AI was announced back in April.

The county says they wanted to be transparent and make sure people understand what the technology is, and what it can and cannot do.

Motorists traveling on Interstate 80 are advised the interstate is closed in both directions between Exit 242 (Mainville/Mifflinville) in Columbia County and Exit 256 (Conyngham/Nescopeck) in Luzerne County due to a tractor-trailer crash.

Update: All lanes are now open on I-80 eastbound at mile 249 in Luzerne County.

Update 18:25: The right lane is now open on I-80 eastbound at mile 249 in Luzerne County. The left lane remains closed for cleanup.

Motorists are advised that Interstate 80 eastbound is closed at the Mifflinville exit in Columbia County due to a vehicle crash at mile 249 in Luzerne County.

A detour is in place using Exit 242 (Mifflinville) and Route 93.