Columbia County

John 'Stanky' Stankovic, the Nanticoke-born polka musician whose band performed all over the United States and around the world, died early Christmas Day. He was 89.

Follow along each day at WVIA.org as we publish '2025 Year in Review,' a week-long series recounting the top stories of the past year through New Year's Day. Today, check out the top news stories from some of the rural communities in our region.

In this story, you can find the results of contested countywide races and county judicial retention elections plus links to all county municipal election websites, where you can find the results of races for magisterial district judge, borough council, township supervisor, school director and, in a few cases, mayor.

A 15-year-old boy died and another was seriously wounded in Williamsport on Halloween night. A 16-year-old boy was shot Saturday in Bloomsburg. Police did not report on his condition.

Races for Scranton mayor, Lackawanna County commissioner, Luzerne County Council and judges top the Nov. 4 election ballot in region.

Creepy characters will come to life in the stacks of the Bloomsburg Public Library this weekend when the historic building transforms into a haunted library. And, candidates for Lackawanna County Commissioner meet for a debate.

The Bloomsburg Public Library will transform into the Haunted Library this weekend, with 'night librarians' leading tours through the shelves and halls where the literary characters who come to life at night wait around every corner.

Chants of “No Kings” may return throughout Northeast and Central Pennsylvania during a nationwide day of “peaceful action” on Saturday. No Kings rallies are planned in all 50 states for Saturday, Oct. 18. They’re organized by groups such as the ACLU, 50501, and locally, Action Together NEPA.

State Rep. Robert Leadbeter of Columbia County wants to create Purple Alerts to help find people with cognitive, intellectual and development disabilities when they go missing.

Aiden Ha, 7, went missing from his home in Scott Twp. on Saturday morning. Authorities found him Sunday about 12:30 p.m. He drowned in the Susquehanna River.