Tom Riese | WVIA News

A family who fled the war in Ukraine began attending weekly meetups at Scranton's Albright Memorial Library earlier this year. Led by a group of volunteers, the informal conversation group has helped dozens of refugees from around the world who now call Northeast Pennsylvania their home.

“People cannot be ashamed or embarrassed to reach out to pantries,” said Patti Dudock of the Lawton Mobile Food Pantry. “You’re not getting a handout. You’re paying your heating bill, you’re paying your electric bill, but prices have gone up on everything.”

Some veteran advocates in Northeast Pennsylvania have made it their mission to shine a light on women in service. Organizers of projects in Scranton and Mount Pocono said challenging gender stereotypes, among other factors, motivated them in their work.

Dr. Michael J. Lewis’ personal and professional lives collided when a fire destroyed a former Luzerne County church just over a week ago. WVIA News spoke to former parishioners and a leader from St. Hedwig’s, many sharing memories over the last week.

Demolition and excavation began after a fire destroyed the former St. Hedwig's Church in Edwardsville over the weekend.

The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that a reliable internet connection is no longer a luxury, according to Mike Brown, chief information officer for Lackawanna County. Remote learning and telehealth appointments were among the reasons the county said the more than half million dollar project was needed.

The way Pennsylvania public schools are funded could change after a decision handed down in Commonwealth Court this week. Wilkes-Barre Area, Panther Valley and Shenandoah Valley school districts joined a lawsuit from 2014 that argued less-wealthy districts don't receive their fair share of funding.

“If you want the actual timeline to getting a skatepark in Wyoming Valley? About 45 years,” said Kevin Czekalski, owner of Plains Bike Shop and skatepark committee member. The city of Wilkes-Barre set aside $450,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project last September.

People gathered for a vigil for 29-year-old Tyre Nichols at Courthouse Square in Stroudsburg, three days after officials released video footage of the Memphis police beating that led to his death. Leaders of the Monroe County NAACP were joined by community members, state representatives and a local police chief.

The overdose death rate of Black Pennsylvanians was twice as high as white Pennsylvanians in 2021, according to the state's drug and alcohol department. Grants of up to $400,000 that focus on addiction treatment services for hard-hit communities will be awarded later this year. The funding comes in part from settlements related to the nationwide opioid epidemic.