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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WVIA will partner with Wyoming County's Opioid Settlement Committee this Sunday for 'Wyoming County Voices: Battling the Opioid Crisis Together.' Admission to the town hall is free, and the event will be hosted at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock. -
Domestic Violence Service Center, Inc. provides emergency shelter and resources for survivors of domestic violence from Luzerne and Carbon Counties. -
October 27, 2025- Tenor and CHS signed a purchase agreement for three NEPA hospitals. The United Nations Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania celebrates the United Nations’ founding anniversary. Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace leader sounds the alarm on the potential expiration of health care subsidies. And, readers recommend horror books ahead of Halloween. -
Volunteers at Allied Services sew stuffed bears and pillows using clothes belonging to people who died in hospice to give to the deceased’s family members and friends in Northeast Pennsylvania. -
Commonwealth Health System and Tenor Health Foundation on Friday signed a purchase agreement for the sale of Commonwealth's three NEPA hospitals. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to funding and regulatory review. -
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Wilkes-Barre Area’s cheer and football teams came together to fight for a cure, raising $1,795 for the Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA. -
This week, WVIA's Lydia McFarlane and Sarah Hofius Hall discuss cell phone bans in area schools and what school leaders say are positive effects. -
Candidates for Scranton mayor debated Thursday night at the University of Scranton ahead of November’s election. -
October 16, 2025 - The state’s overdue budget is impacting area schools. Property taxes stay the same in a new budget proposal from Lackawanna County’s commissioners. And, schools see results from cell phone bans. -
This week on News Voices, WVIA's Lydia McFarlane and Sarah Scinto discuss the SPCA of Luzerne County's recent acquisition of the Dundee Gardens property in Hanover Twp.
