Free Republic

Pecksville, Lackawanna County — State Senator and Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano was holding his 'Restore Freedom Tour' in Monroe, Luzerne and Lackawanna counties today. Mastriano is asking Pennsylvanians to volunteer for his campaign in the hopes that he can beat his Democratic challenger Attorney General Josh Shapiro next month. Former attorney general Ernie Preate was a guest speaker and predicts Republicans will be victorious November 8th including in Harrisburg. “Mark my words, there is a red wave coming,” said Preate. Preate was one of several speakers at Mastriano's campaign event at the Fiorelli Banquet and Conference Center in Peckville...

State Sen. Doug Mastriano will bring his Republican campaign for governor to the Midvalley on Saturday.

Former Lackawanna County commissioners Robert C. Cordaro and A.J. Munchak were sentenced this afternoon to prison for accepting bribes and kickbacks while running the county. Mr. Cordaro will serve 11 years in prison while Mr. Munchak will serve seven. Mr. Munchak must report to U.S. Marshals by 2 p.m. on April 3 to begin serving his sentence. The sentencing drew more than 120 people, including former colleagues, family, friends - and others just interested in the proceeding's outcome. Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo has ruled that the sentencing guidelines for Mr. Cordaro is 188 to 235 months. Earlier,...

A curve ball thrown by Luzerne County on Monday could jeopardize a baseball stadium renovation plan put forward by Gov. Ed Rendell last month. Luzerne County commissioners filed a lawsuit against Lackawanna County and the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority to enforce their belief that Luzerne is entitled to half of the "gross proceeds" of any sale of the triple-A baseball franchise. While Lackawanna County does not comment on litigation, it has previously indicated an October 1986 agreement entitles Luzerne County to "net proceeds," or rather, the profits after Lackawanna County deducts almost $14 million it has put into the...

Gov. Ed Rendell pledged Thursday to provide up to $20 million in state funds to finance up to half the cost of repairs at Lackawanna County Stadium. Lackawanna County commissioners declined to comment on Rendell’s statement or how they would foot the rest of the bill, estimates of which have ranged from $13 million to $30 million, but Luzerne County commissioners made it clear Friday, Lackawanna will need to look elsewhere for help. Luzerne will not fund the project. Lackawanna County Commissioner Mike Washo said Friday that he was aware of the governor’s statements, but that the commissioners have decided...

New rules on guns in Lackawanna County parks adopted by county commissioners last month are being challenged by local law enforcement as too lenient, and by gun-law experts as possibly unconstitutional. Commissioners approved rules and regulations prohibiting smoking, skateboarding and other activities in county parks, including new restrictions on guns. The rule says, "No unlicensed firearms or weapons are allowed in a park." Discharging a firearm is also prohibited. Olyphant resident Keith MacDonald challenged the language at a commissioners meeting Wednesday, saying there is no license for guns in Pennsylvania and arguing the county cannot prohibit people from openly carrying...

A federal grand jury in Scranton indicted Lackawanna County Commissioner A.J. Munchak and former Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro this morning on public corruption charges. Both are indicted on charges of racketeering and tax evasion. Mr. Cordaro faces a maximum of 364 years and a $7.7 million fine if convicted. Mr. Munchak faces 193 years and a $3.25 million fine. (Click here to read the indictment) Mr. Munchak said he would not resign. “The charges filed against me today are without merit and are based on untrue allegations. I plan to vigorously defend myself against these allegations and I am confident...

Lackawanna County improperly reduced the paid lunch break for about 200 employees from an hour to 30 minutes, according to an arbitration ruling in favor of Service Employees International Union Local 668. The Monday ruling restored the six-hour workday for union employees and returned the full hour break. The employees are paid for a seven-hour workday. The ruling mentions no back pay for the 30-minute break the county mandated in March. The county reduced the lunch hour after signing a new contract with Local 668 in February. County spokeswoman Lynne Shedlock said the administration sought to enforce language in the...

House by house, Edna Burgette knocked on doors last fall in her Scranton neighborhood, asking whomever answered whether the 17-year-old Colombian boy at her side could stay with them for the school year. "Take him. He is a good boy. He speaks English," Mrs. Burgette said. People closed their doors in his face. The boy then spent several months in a home with an 80-year-old man, where he was not allowed to eat food in the refrigerator, and where he lost too much weight. The scenario, written in a complaint to the U.S. Department of State by his mother, Nemesia...

The U.S. Department of State has launched a review of the alleged neglect and financial exploitation of 12 foreign exchange students in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. As the agency responsible for the oversight of foreign-exchange student programs, the department is working with officials from the Lackawanna County office of Children and Youth Services. Pending the outcome of the investigation, the State Department will adopt new procedures if necessary, officials said Friday. On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to investigate the department's oversight of U.S. youth exchange programs. "We share...

As a foreign exchange student in Scranton, a girl from Nigeria was forced to live with ex-convicts, given only sardines to eat and was hospitalized for malnutrition and dehydration, according to her new host mother. A Lackawanna County grand jury is considering whether charges are warranted in the alleged neglect of nine foreign exchange students who lived with area host families. Meanwhile, the scope of the investigation has reached into Luzerne County, where the treatment of three exchange students is being questioned, said Teresa Osborne, Lackawanna County director of human services. The county office of Children and Youth Services is...

A convicted murderer drives a prison official's car. A prison guard has inmates maintain his vintage Ford Thunderbird. An inmate repairs the roof of a city official's garage. As the Times-Tribune newspapers' investigation of abuses and possible criminal activity at the Lackawanna County Prison continues, the scope of the scandal is expanding. Official explanations about questionable activity at the prison have been proven false while several prison guards -- and at least one city official -- have joined the growing list of those found to have benefited from free inmate labor. The investigation to date has found two guards at...