PFAS

Gail Boudman said she and her three children were unknowingly drinking unsafe water for the past 20 years. She was among about 40 Columbia County residents seeking answers on PFAS, or 'forever chemicals,' during a meeting hosted by Penn State Extension.

Janine Hall never thought she’d have to keep her children from drinking tap water. Columbia County residents like her will look to Penn State Extension on Thursday for answers on PFAS contamination.

August 12, 2025 - The WVIA News team will report live from the Little League World Series’ Grand Slam Parade this afternoon. Democrats in the state house look to meet the deadline set by SEPTA amidst stalled budget negotiations. And, a look at legislation that would ban PFAS in firefighting foam currently in the state legislature.

There’s controversy brewing after Luzerne County cut a band from a popular summer concert series - the band’s lead singer says it was a political move because of the band’s lyrics and statements. And Penn State finds 18 percent of private Pennsylvania wells are contaminated by PFAS chemicals.

The Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department encouraged members to get screened for cancer during a three day clinic. And a Scranton roller derby skater is in Innsbruck, Austria this week, competing in the Roller Derby World Cup.

Gardening season is in full swing, and some of the Back Mountain’s best gardens will be on display this weekend. And Lackawanna County's wastewater treatment plant is taking a proactive approach to 'forever chemicals.'

The Lackawanna River Basin Authority says mandates are not in place yet but they're preparing to have to monitor the amount of 'forever chemicals' in the wastewater that they treat.

For nine years, Janine Hall and her three children have not had safe water to drink. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) found their water had dangerously high levels of PFAS from sewage sludge put on nearby farms from the 1980s.

A mobile home park in Columbia County and surrounding water has been unsafe to drink for at least a year, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Lakeland School District reported high levels of PFAS to students and families in May. The school administration says a long-term fix depends water treatment permits. Other schools in Luzerne County exceeded federal "forever chemical" standards.