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BACK FROM BROADWAY NEPA native Jessie Hooker-Bailey returns to region for Sem performance. INSIDE

FIRST LOOK: Proposed WVC football schedule. B1

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

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Levee meetings not open to public

MR. PEANUT 1916-2020

NUTS!

FEMA reps will discuss levees with W-B, Hanover Twp., Plymouth officials.

Iconic Planters mascot, a W-B native, dead at 104 BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

Mr. Peanut, the iconic mascot of the Planters Peanut Co. that was founded in WilkesBarre in 1906, has died. Planters released a preSuper Bowl ad Wednesday in which Mr. Peanut was killed following a crash of his NUTmobile. “It is with heavy hearts that we confirm that Mr. Peanut has died at 104,” a message on Mr. Peanut’s Twitter page said. The page is now named “The Estate of Mr. Peanut.” A meme tweeted by the page — which featured a teardrop falling from Mr. Peanut’s famous monocle — noted the lovable character’s lifespan, 1916 - 2020. Planters says the full ad, which will include Mr. Peanut’s funeral, will air during the third quarter of the Super Bowl on Feb. 2. Wilkes-Barre businessman Thom Greco, an avid collector of Planters and Mr. Peanut memorabilia, said he couldn’t believe the company would kill off the face of the franchise. “I guess there is some whiz kid marketing person

BOB KALINOWSKI / STAFF PHOTO

Genetti’s Best Western in Wilkes-Barre remembered Mr. Peanut on Wednesday.

‘It is with heavy hearts that we confirm that Mr. Peanut has died at 104.’ THE ESTATE OF MR. PEANUT Via Twitter

that says Generation X and Generation Y can’t relate to Mr. Peanut,” Greco said. “The purists will always

BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITER

Federal and local officials will meet Friday to discuss two stretches of levee in Luzerne County that no longer meet criteria to qualify for lower flood insurance rates for nearly 6,000 properties, and a former WilkesBarre mayor wants the meetings open to the public. A spokesperson at the Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed on Wednesday that FEMA representatives will have two meetings — one with officials from Plymouth and the other with officials from Wilkes-Barre and Hanover Twp. Chris Belleman, executive director of the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, which owns the levee systems, said he, too, will attend the meetings, which will take place at the authority offices. F E M A s p o ke s p e r s o n Corey DeMuro said in an email that the agency has been engaging with several communities in Luzerne County about levee systems to ensure that “communities and residents understand the

remember Mr. Peanut.” Italian immigrant Amedeo Obici, along with his friend and business partner, Mario Peruzzi, founded Planters Peanut Co. in Wilkes-Barre in 1906. In those early days, Obici announced that his company was in need of a trademark to represent the growing brand. In 1916, he announced a contest seeking designs. A Virginia schoolboy won the contest with his drawing of ninefoot tall peanut with arms and legs. Later an unnamed Wilkes-Barre artist added a top hat, monocle, spats and a cane, giving birth to Mr. Peanut. Mr. Peanut became a local icon who would go on to become a national and international symbol of the peanut company, helping it become a global brand. The business began at 632 S. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre. Please see PEANUT, Page A9

Please see LEVEE, Page A9

THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

Dems appeal for GOP help to convict ‘corrupt’ Trump House Democrats outline what they say is Trump’s abuse of presidential power. BY LISA MASCARO, ERIC TUCKER AND ZEKE MILLER ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — House Democrats launched into marathon arguments in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial Wednesday, appealing to skeptical Republican senators to join them in voting to oust Trump from office to “protect our JOSE LUIS MAGANA / ASSOCIATED PRESS democracy.” Trump’s lawyers sat by, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks to reporters Wednesday on Capitol Hill waiting their turn, as the president blasted the proin Washington.

ceedings from afar, threatening jokingly to face off with the Democrats by coming to “sit right in the front row and stare at their corrupt faces.” The challenge before the House managers is clear. Democrats have 24 hours over three days to prosecute the charges against Trump, trying to win over not just fidgety senators sitting silently in the chamber but an American public, deeply divided over the president and his impeachment in an election year.

Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, outlined what the Democrats contend was the president’s “corrupt scheme” to abuse his presidential power and then obstruct Congress’ investigation. He then called on senators not to be “cynical” about politics, but to draw on the intent of the nation’s Founding Fathers who provided the remedy of impeachment. “Over the coming days, we will present to you — and to the American people — the extensive evidence collected during the House’s impeachment inquiry into the presi-

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WORLD

dent’s abuse of power,” said Schiff standing before the Senate. “You will hear their testimony at the same time as the American people. That is, if you will allow it.” After a dinner break, Schiff returned to the well of the Senate to detail the administration’s hold on military aid to Ukraine. He played several clips of testimony from Ambassador William Taylor, who said the assistance was held back as Trump pushed the country to announce investigations of Democrats.

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HEART HEALTH

ELECTION WARNING Intel agencies warned House that Russia was interfering in 2020 campaign for Trump. PAGE A11

Study shows many doctors’ perception of age may be affecting surgery rates in heart care. Page B7

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Police: Mother housed her kids in filth

CLEAN SWEEP

Charlene Riera was charged less than two months after accidental death of her infant daughter. BY JAMES HALPIN STAFF WRITER

City officials start with Public Square fountain in effort to spruce up ahead of 2020 election BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITER

WILKES-BARRE — Contractors worked to make the Public Square fountain safer and more attractive Thursday as officials anticipate the city will soon be entering the national limelight. The workers pulled up the 36 brass grates from the fountain and will be filling the reservoir around the fountain with “compactable, drainage-type material,” according to city Administrator Charlie McCormick. It’s one of the steps city officials are taking to make the city more presentable, as they expect national media to focus on the Luzerne County seat during this year’s election, McCormick said. Larry Newman, executive director of the downtown management organization Dia-

mond City Partnership, agreed. “Given the role the county played in the last presidential election, I guarantee the media will be here,” Newman said. Pundits and analysts have said voters in Luzerne County significantly helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election. McCormick said the grates and other parts of the fountain posed a tripping hazard and had become unsightly, with a green patina forming on the surfaces from oxidation. They will be stored at the city’s public works garage. One tubular metal part at the center of the fountain will remain accessible for use as a Christmas tree stand during the holiday season. Please see CLEANUP, Page A5

MARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Workers began dismantling and filling the fountain on Public Square with concrete Thursday. Above: The fountain through the years.

WILKES-BARRE — The mother of a baby who died last month was charged T hursday with child endang erment alleging her five RIERA children lived in a squalid home with no food or main heat source. Charlene June Riera, 39, of Glen Lyon, is accused of housing her children, ages 6 months to 11 years old, in a home with feces smeared on the floors and filled garbage bags festering in the basement. Riera declined to comment after being arraigned on five felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child at central court. According to a complaint filed by Pennsylvania State Police, authorities began their investigation when Riera’s daughter, 6-monthold Nora Riera, died in the family home at 48 Arch St. in the Glen Lyon section of Newport Twp. the morning of Jan. 4. Please see FILTH, Page A11

Pace of new NEPA flu cases slows Department of Health cautions that it’s too soon to say flu season has peaked. BY DAVID SINGLETON STAFF WRITER

The flu season continues to spread misery across Northeast Pennsylvania, though there are signs it could be losing some of its punch. JAKE DANNA STEVENS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Updated figures released Physician assistant Michelle DeCicco demonstrates Tuesday by the state Departthe use of a testing solution that is used with ment of Health show 12,194 Cepheid’s GeneXpert rapid flu tester at Geisinger confirmed new cases of influCareWorks Clinic in Scranton on Tuesday. enza statewide last week,

bringing the number since the season began to 86,654. The new cases include 1,064 reported in the seven counties of Northeast Pennsylvania, led by 382 in Luzerne County and 300 in Lackawanna County. While the state still categorizes flu activity as widespread throughout the state, the latest Department of

World

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Health data suggests the pace of new cases is slowing and shows a clear dropoff in emergency room visits for flu-like illnesses both statewide and in the region. “That’s very typical,” said Dr. Richard Martin, a Geisinger family medicine physician who is also medical director for the Geisinger Careworks system. “Flu season usually peaks in mid to late February and then kind of tapers off, and that is what

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Domestic terrorist calling for genocide kills 9 in Germany. Page A8

we are starting to see.” However, Department of Health spokeswoman Brittany Lauffer said it is too soon to say the flu season has peaked. “Over the last few weeks, we have seen the most flu cases of the season,” she said in an email. “That shows that at this time the flu is not letting up, and we still have a long season ahead.” Please see FLU, Page A5

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A01] | 02/27/20

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22:47 | DONLINKEVI

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Dietitian answers 10 of the most frequently asked questions about good nutrition. Page B7

EX-LCTA DIRECTOR SUES TO GET JOB BACK. A11

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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FUN ON DEK

CORONAVIRUS IN AMERICA

Health $330K dek hockey rink project announced in W-B workers lacked training Whistleblower: U.S. health workers responding to virus didn’t have protective gear.

BY EMILY COCHRANE, NOAH WEILAND AND MARGOT SANGER-KATZ ThE NEW York TimES CompANY

mArk morAN / STAff phoTogrAphEr

Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins CEO Jeff Barrett, at the podium, discusses the $330,000 dek hockey rink project planned at Toyota SportsPlex in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. He was joined by, from left, Wilkes-Barre/Penguins mascot Tux; state Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville; Wilkes-Barre Councilmen Mike Belusko and John Marconi; and Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown. BY DENISE ALLABAUGH STAff WriTEr

WILKES-BARRE — A new multi-functional dek hockey rink and community event space is coming to the Toyota SportsPlex complex at Coal Street Park. State Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville, announced at a news conference Thursday that he secured a $250,000 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development tourism grant for the $330,000 project. The rink development is part of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation’s Project Power Play that has built more than a dozen dek hockey rinks throughout western Pennsylvania and Ohio over the last decade. Dek hockey is played outdoors and is a variation of ice hockey. Project Power Play was created to help grow hockey, boost community health and promote regional tourism partnerships. Please see PROJECT, Page A7

What is dek hockey? Dek hockey is the official title of organized street hockey. This is a running game with lightweight equipment, played similarly to ice hockey. identical to its icy counterpart, a regulation game consists of three periods with officiating and score keeping. Stick handling, passing and shooting are the basic skills which provide an exciting and fast paced game. however, unlike ice hockey, body checking is not allowed. — U.S. Dekhockey FeDeration

mArk morAN / STAff phoTogrAphEr

An artist’s rendering of the new outdoor dek hockey rink was on display during Thursday’s announcement at Toyota SportsPlex in Wilkes-Barre.

WASHINGTON — Federal health employees interacted with Americans quarantined for possible exposure to the coronavirus without proper medical training or protective gear, then scattered into the general population, according to a government whistleblower who lawmakers say faced retaliation for reporting concerns. The team was “improperly deployed” to two military bases in California to assist MORE the processINSIDE ing of Dow Jones Americans plunges who had nearly been evacu1,200 ated from points on coronavirus anxiety hot zones in over virus. China and Page C1 elsewhere, according to a portion of a narrative account shared with Congress and obtained by The New York Times ahead of a formal complaint to the Office of the Special Counsel, an independent government agency that handles federal whistleblower complaints. Staff members from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families were sent to Travis Air Force Base and March Air Reserve Base in late January and early February and were ordered to enter quarantined areas, including a hangar where coronavirus evacuees were being received, the complaint said. Please see VIRUS, Page A11

Cops: Man stabbed girlfriend as kids watched

Witnesses said they heard children asking, ‘Why did daddy stab mommy?’ BY JAMES HALPIN STAff WriTEr

An Edwardsville man who was drunk and angry repeatedly stabbed his girlfriend in front of their two children during an assault along the Cross Valley Expressway on Wednesday eve n i n g , a c c o rd i n g t o police. Witnesses reported hearing Allen Jarrelle Spencer, 36, of 2 Bertram Court, threatening to kill his girlfriend and the children asking, “Why did daddy stab mommy?” police said. According to the complaint, the victim, Tyanna

Nicole Crudup picked up Spencer from work at the Quality Inn & Suites ConSPENCER ference Center at 880 Kidder St. around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. When Crudup noticed Spencer smelled of alcohol, she told him to get out of the car, police said. “I’m not going nowhere,” the complaint quotes Spencer as saying. After Crudup got onto the Cross Valley Expressway, the couple got into an

argument that prompted Spencer to get ang rier, police said. Crudup then pulled over the car, police said. With the children, ages 3 and 6, yelling “daddy please stop, you’re scaring me,” Spencer pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed Crudup in her arm and leg, according to the complaint. Spencer then threw the car keys and Crudup’s cellphone to the side of the road and began walking off, police said. “The only way this is going to end is me going to jail and you in a body bag,” the complaint quotes Spencer as saying. Spencer then picked up

the keys and cellphone and the family proceeded home, where Edwardsville police arrested him. Crudup was taken to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital to be treated for her injuries, police said. The complaint says that while police were transporting Spencer to the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Wyoming, he urinated in the back seat of the car. Witnesses confir med hearing Spencer threaten to kill Crudup and said he had been posting threatening messages on Facebook, the complaint says. Please see ASSAULT, Page A6

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CORONAVIRUS BRIEFING ■ Congress approves nearly $500 billion in virus aid ■ Antibody survey shows wide exposure to virus in NY ■ Jobless rate now approaching Great Depression levels ■ Union calls for action at nation’s meatpacking plants ■ 2020 Triple-A All-Star Game at PNC Field canceled

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

WE’RE NOT READY YET

SUSQUEHANNA Cases: 56 Pop: 40,328

WAYNE

Rate:

Cases: 38 Pop: 51,361

139

Based on new metrics, region not close to having restrictions lifted

Rate:

WYOMING Cases: 11 Pop: 26,794

LACKAWANNA

BY BORYS KRAWCZENIUK AND JOSEPH KOHUT STAFF WRITERS

Cases: 395 Pop: 209,674

Rate:

ackawanna, Luzerne and eight surrounding counties remain a long way from meeting the state’s first step toward getting back to normal, coronavirus case data shows. The first step requires no more than 50 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period in state-designated regions. Dropping to that rate or lower will earn a region an evaluation to remove stay-at-home orders and loosen other restrictions Gov. Tom Wolf imposed last month as COVID-19 cases spread. The state defines Northeast Pennsylvania as a 10-county region that includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. To meet the state’s first-step threshold, the local region cannot have more than 805 cases over the next 14 days, which is an average of about 58 new cases a day. Over the last two weeks, the region averaged 239 new cases a day.

PIKE

Rate:

188

Cases: 164 55,809 Rate:

294

LUZERNE Cases: 639 Pop: 317,417

MONROE

Rate:

201

Cases: 308 Pop: 170,271 Rate:

181

CARBON Cases: 72 Pop: 64,182

Please see REOPEN, Page A5

Rate:

PHASED PLAN Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled a color-coded system for the state’s phased reopening. Currently, the 10-county region of Northeast Pennsylvania is entirely red and under stay-at-home orders.

112

NORTHAMPTON Cases: 707 Pop: 305,285 Rate:

232

LEHIGH

Stay-at-home order

Cases: 952 Pop: 369,318

Some restrictions lifted

Rate:

As Wolf looks to reopen regions of Pennsylvania, his administration unveiled a metric that will help determine if that area is ready. The measure will look at the number of new cases in a region over a two-week period and calculate the rate it saw new infections by 100,000 people. The goal is to get the number down to 50 cases or fewer per 100,000 people. Between April 9 and Thursday, only Wyoming County in our 10-county Community Health District is there. Most are not close.

207.5

257

Restrictions lifted

Cases and growth rate over previous two weeks

The rate of cases for the entire 10-county region

Wolf acknowledges state’s lack of COVID-19 testing Governor: Federal government stingy about who gets needed resources. BY JEFF HORVATH STAFF WRITER

Gov. Tom Wolf’s three-phase plan to begin reopening the state largely hinges on testing, but the governor acknowledged Thursday a lack of coronavirus testing capacity in Pennsylvania and nationwide. MARk MoRAN / STAFF PHoToGRAPHER “Right now we have to rely A vehicle stops at the COVID-19 testing site at the on the federal government for Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday afternoon in Wilkes- that,” Wolf said during a Barre Twp. media conference call, refer-

ring to test kits. “They are pretty much allocating as they see fit the scarce resources, and so there’s a lot of pleading and begging that goes on there.” Per Wolf ’s guidelines, a region can make the list for consideration to reopen if it averages 50 or fewer new coronavir us cases per 100,000 residents per day over a 14-day period. Officials will consider other factors too — including the degree to which testing is consistent and widespread and how robust the reporting system is in an area — before relaxing

State revises virus death toll in county Decrease attributed to cases that require more information before official ruling. BY JAMES HALPIN STAFF WRITER

The Pennsylvania De par tment of Health re por ted an additional 32 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Luzerne County on T h u r s d ay, a s c o u n t i e s a c r o s s t h e s t a t e s aw decreases in the overall death toll. The department reported a total of 1,880 COVID-19 cases in the county, up from 1,848 confirmed cases a day earlier. The death toll was at 60

tary of Health Dr. Rachel L ev i n e a t t r i b u t e d t h e decrease to the fact that the state is now including probable COVID-19 deaths along with confir med deaths. “These cases were previously reported as probable, but further review has determined that we needed more information before we could attribute them to a death related to COVID-19,” Levine said. Across the state, the THE CITIzENS’ VoICE FIlE Dr. Rachel Levine, the state’s secretary of health, said health department recordit’s important to keep social distancing practices in ed another 1,369 cases on Thursday, bringing Pennplace as the numbers change across the state. sylvania to a total of 37,053 on Wednesday, but revised ed the number of dead at cases with 1,394 deaths. numbers released by the 58. During a media briefing Please see VIRUS, Page A6 department Thursday list- Thursday afternoon, Secre-

restrictions, Wolf said. The state’s northeast region, as defined by the state, includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. In Northeast Pennsylvania, where the region’s lone mass COVID-19 testing site at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Twp. can accommodate just up to 200 appointments per day, officials said more testing data is necessary to inform decisions on when and how to safely

reopen businesses and relax stay-at-home orders. “The lack of testing and the lack of contact tracing is an enormous problem,” Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said. “I know we’re all wanting to be cautiously optimistic about how we might be able to return to some sort of normalcy more quickly, but … I don’t see how we’re going to do that if we don’t really get those tests up. We’re just not seeing that testing volume increase enough.” Please see TESTING, Page A5

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CLASS OF 2020

Special section honors group of graduates who had a unique senior year. COMING SUNDAY

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2020

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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

County going green next Friday Move to green allows more businesses to reopen, carries fewer restrictions. BY JAMES HALPIN STAff WriTEr

Luzerne County will be among eight counties moving into the green phase of the COVID-19 reopening plan next we e k , G ov. To m Wo l f announced Friday. Dauphin,Franklin,Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry,

Pike and S ch u y l k i l l counties will move next Friday from yellow to green as WOLF Pennsylvania continues to see a steady decline in new cases, he said.

“In Pennsylvania, not only did we flatten the curve, but we are continuing to keep case counts down even as we open our commonwealth,” Wolf said in a statement. “We will continue to take a measured, phased approach to reopening that relies on science and health experts.” Moving to the g reen phase will allow more businesses to open and will car-

ry fewer restrictions. MORE INSIDE Luzerne County Manager David Pedri said he was Reopening: W-B City Hall will reopen to public “thrilled” about the announceJune 22. Page A3 ment, attributing the reduction in cases the county has Our Voice: it’s still not experienced in recent weeks to easy going ‘green.’ community members socially Page A11 distancing and following public health guidelines. “The last three months have around the world,” Pedri said. been unprecedented, here at “We must remain ever ready home in Luzerne County and and maintain our social dis-

Pedri says several steps taken to stem virus’ spread will remain in place. BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAff WriTEr

Green phase gives green light to hair salons and barbers — and they’re eager to get back to work

The Luzerne County Courthouse and other county offices got a dry run this week for when the county shifts to the green reopening phase June 19. For the first time in months, the county was open for business to the public and court hearings we r e h e l d PEDRI using social

BY DENISE ALLABAUGH STAff WriTEr

Please see SALONS, Page A8

Please see GREEN, Page A8

Cautious county ready to reopen

READY TO GO

fter being shut down for nearly three months, hair salons and barbers in Luzerne County can finally reopen June 19 and one local hair salon owner is wasting no time. Bob Licata, owner of The Hair Color Studio in Pittston Twp., said he plans to open at 12:01 a.m. and cut and color customers’ hair all night. He came up with the idea after a customer, Karen Joseph, 67, of Wyoming, asked if she could be the first to get her hair done. Joseph said she hasn’t had her hair done since February and it’s now gray and she needs color, highlights and a haircut. “I cannot even go outside. I don’t want to,” Joseph said. “I wear sunglasses and I cover my head.” Licata said he would put other customers’ names in a hat and then decide who’s next. His customers have been calling and texting him eager to get appointments. “Everybody wants to get in,” Licata said. “I wish I could help everybody at once.” His hair salon shut down March 15 and he wasn’t able to collect unemployment compensation until late May. He received a small loan and the $1,200 stimulus check but he said his rent is $900 a month.

tancing and good hygiene. Nevertheless, let’s take this win. I look forward to seeing everyone enjoying our beautiful parks, restaurants and businesses next week.” State Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville, said he too was pleased Luzerne County will be entering into the green phase.

distancing practices. Top county officials say they don’t expect much to change — at least not immediately — when the county shifts to the green phase. “The county is open for business,” said County Manager David Pedri. “We are going to do a slow, cautious reopenSEAN MCKEAg / STAff pHoTogrApHEr ing.” Anyone entering the courtBob Licata, owner of The Hair Color Studio in Pittston Twp., plans to open house this week had their temhis salon at 12:01 a.m. on June 19 and work all night. perature screened and was asked a series of questions. They were also asked to wear a That will remain the ‘I’m excited but I’m also a little nervous. I’ll probably mask. standardaftershiftingtogreen, be working seven days a week for three weeks.’ but temperature checks might be eliminated, Pedri said. ANITA MOONEY LINDBUCHLER Applause Hair Studio owner

Please see COUNTY, Page A8 ADVE RTISE M E NT

RALLY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Teens organize rally for reform Hundreds attend protest on Public Square. BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAff WriTEr

WILKES-BARRE — Honesty Lopez is looking for change. She wants justice. The 17-year-old and a small group of teenage friends attracted hundreds of people to Public Square on Friday for a protest and march in response to the police killing of an unarmed black man in custody on Memorial Day in MinneapoDAvE SCHErBENCo / STAff pHoTogrApHEr lis. Speaker and co-organizer Melanie Garcia addresses Lopez and friends, admitFriday’s rally on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. tedly nervous, stood before

MORE INSIDE The Wilkes-Barre chapter of the NAACp announces they will not endorse current police review board proposals. Page A5 the large crowd on Public Square and gave speeches about their beliefs that the police and justice systems need refor m, especially when dealing with people of color.

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the citizens’ STOCKS RETREAT AFTER RECORD Investors turn cautious after latest record highs. C1

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

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TRENDING YEAR IN REVIEW: MOST READ STORIES ONLINE

STAFF REPORT

t’s always interesting to see which stories resonate with our readers. In addition to listening to vocal feedback, we do that by tracking a story’s page views. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic dominated our online readership. Here are the 10 most viewed stories at citizensvoice.com in 2020.

These are the most read stories this year at citizensvoice.com

Eatery’s name has vulgar meaning in Spanish Our next story didn’t take place in Luzerne County. It comes from our sister paper, The TimesTribune in Scranton. In November, South Scranton restaurateur Cristian Garcia Torres testified in front of the

Inside today

Business . . . . C1 Horoscope . . C3 Classified C4-10 Lottery . . . . . . A2 Community . . A2 Obits . . A7, 10-11 Crossword. . . C2 Sports . . . . . B1-6 Editorial . . . . . A9 World/Nation A8

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Spending plan includes fee hikes; mayor refuses to endorse changes.

The COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down and even impacted deadlines to renew our driver’s licenses. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders left many wondering what to do as expiration dates approached. The state Department of Transportation stepped in and extended renewal deadlines. The new deadline covered driver’s licenses, photo ID cards, learner’s permits, vehicle registrations, disabled driver placards, and safety and emission inspections that were due to expire between March 16 and April 30.

Unprecedented drop in mortgage rates due to virus One of the early storylines involving the COVID-19 pandemic was mortgage rates plummeting to 3.29% in March based on fears about the virus and economic turmoil. Eric McCabe, branch manager for Benchmark Mortgage, which has locations in Plains Twp., Hamlin and Hazle Twp., said at the time that the rate was the lowest point in 50 years. The low-interest rates led to more refinancing requests and more interest in the real estate market. Real estate offices were deemed non-essential when Gov. Tom Wolf issued shutdown orders.

You’ve got time to renew, apply for drivers license

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

A for-sale sign stands in front of a Courtright Street house in Wilkes-Barre in April.

BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

A 23-minute surveillance video leaked to social media showed the intense struggle that resulted in the death of Shaheen Mackey at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in June 2018 — a fatality that resulted in a $3 million settlement with the county. “Black Lives Matter!!!!!” a Facebook user who identified himself as Nieem Johnson wrote in posting the video. “Stand strong and firm. If you don’t see the brutality and (torture) of a black man in this video, I don’t know what video you’re watching.”

WILKES-BARRE — A divided Wilkes-Barre City Council on Tuesday evening approved a 2021 budget that includes increases in sewer, recycling and rental inspection fees, but smaller increases than initially proposed by Mayor George Brown. Brown refused to endorse council’s changes, saying the numbers are unreali s t i c. H e previously labeled the amended BROWN spending plan “council’s budget,” not his or his administration’s. After the 3-2 vote, Councilman Tony Brooks, who was joined by Beth Gilbert McBride and John Marconi in approving the spending package, said the majority did the best they could to lessen the impact on residents while keeping city finances in perspective. “We have offered a ‘taxpayers budget’ that met the mayor halfway on a compromise,” Brooks said. Brown initially wanted to raise recycling and sewer fees each from $50 annually to $100. The amended budget increases the fees $25 to $75 annually. The adopted $53.2 million budget also increases rental inspections from $75 to $100, slashes budgeted overtime by $200,000,

Please see REVIEW, Page A4

Please see BUDGET, Page A4

Facebook user leaks graphic video of LCCF inmate death

TIMES-SHAMROCK FILE

Cristian Garcia Torres Sr. and Cristian Garcia Torres Jr. stand under their business sign in Scranton. city zoning board that he never intended to offend anyone with the name of his Mexican restaurant, deli and grocery store at 512 Cedar Ave. They chose a Spanishlanguage word understood in Mexico and among people

of Mexican descent living in the Scranton area as a harmless “running joke.” Turns out, the city received complaints that the word has another interpretation as a vulgarity. The restaurant was cited for violating a section of the

city’s sign ordinance that says signs shall not have words or images that are obscene, pornographic or that an average reasonable person would find highly offensive to the public, “and we believe that sign does.” Torres is appealing the

Divided W-B council OKs ’21 budget

Trump’s $2,000 checks stall in Senate; GOP blocks vote Pressure mounts on McConnell. BY LISA MASCARO AND JILL COLVIN ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks stalled out Tuesday in the Senate as JACQUELYN MARTIN / ASSOCIATED PRESS Republicans blocked a swift Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, vote proposed by Democrats leaves the Capitol for the day Tuesday in Washington. and split within their own

ranks over whether to boost spending or defy the White House. The roadblock mounted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may not be sustainable as pressure mounts. Trump wants the Republican-led chamber to follow the House and increase the checks from $600 for millions of Americans. A growing number of Republicans, including two senators

in runoff elections on Jan. 5 in Georgia, have said they will support the larger amount. But most GOP senators oppose more spending, even if they are also wary of bucking Trump. Senators will be back at it Wednesday as McConnell is devising a way out of the political bind, but the outcome is highly uncertain. Please see HELP, Page A4

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