Lydia McFarlane | WVIA News
Multimedia Healthcare ReporterLydia McFarlane joined the news team in 2024 as an intern after graduating from Villanova University with a dual Bachelor's degree in communication and political science. She became the team’s dedicated healthcare reporter. Her beat covers hospitals, mental health, policy and most importantly, people.
Lydia brings a diversity of experience from previous internships at Resolve Philadelphia, Education Week, The Hill, Open Secrets and Teen Vogue and from her role as a news editor at her college’s publication, The Villanovan.
At WVIA, Lydia was part of the winning team that contributed to the second-place award for Excellence in Reporting on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the Keystone Professional Media Awards organized by the Pennsylvania Newsmedia Association. Her story ‘A South Wilkes-Barre spin on Dominican Republic breakfast’ was part of the winning package.
Wilkes-Barre born and raised, Lydia's grateful for the opportunity to come home and learn more about her community as a reporter within it. She's honored to start her career in NEPA-- the place that taught her everything she knows. You can reach Lydia at lydiamcfarlane@wvia.org or 570-602-1187.
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United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania recently secured a $400,000 grant with the help of State Rep. Jonathan Fritz for Timber Mill Commons, a new affordable housing development in downtown Honesdale. -
Pennsylvania received $193 million this year from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which will inject $50 billion over five years to the states. But the state’s rural health leaders worry that the money won’t be enough to fill the financial gaps rural health systems already face and the ones to come with Medicaid changes slated to start in 2027. -
The Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by state Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill County), convened a public hearing at Benco Dental in Luzerne County to discuss dental workforce shortages and their impact on the state's health. -
Police cars have blocked off part of Old River Road in Wilkes-Barre as police surround an apartment building at 111 Old River Road. -
April is Autism Acceptance Month. This month's Keystone Edition episode highlights the ways that the community supports and uplifts those who have autism. -
During a lecture Thursday at the University of Scranton, former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey outlined "grave concerns" about the nation's future. They include President Trump's attacks on judges and press freedom. -
Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, opened Lehigh Valley Hospital- Pocono Creek in January. The hospital is located in Bartonsville, Monroe County. -
The Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center opened its walk-in service in December. Now, its crisis residential program is open and ready to serve the community with eight beds where people can stay for up to 10 days. -
Según el Centro para las comunidades de parto de Pensilvania, 23 de los 67 condados de Pensilvania no cuentan con un hospital que ofrezca servicios de parto y alumbramiento y los 23 condados están clasificados por el Centro como comunidades rurales. -
According to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, nearly half of the state’s rural counties do not have hospitals with labor and delivery units. This reflects a nationwide trend of hospitals closing specialized service lines such as obstetrics.
