Times News Online · Jim Thorpe, PA
Published November 13. 2026 02:45PM by Jarrad Hedes [email protected] A Jim Thorpe councilman used the public comment period at last Thursday’s workshop to criticize the borough’s own parking enforcement, saying a local beer distributor was ticketed while making a delivery to a downtown restaurant. Councilman Lyle Augustine said Highland Beverage, the distributor at 140 Susquehanna St., was servicing Molly Maguire’s Pub around 2 p.m. last Monday when a parking attendant wrote the truck up. “They parked where they always park and have for decades,” Augustine said. “They were loading and unloading. They weren’t staying. Our parking enforcement issued them a citation for being in a non-parking spot.” Augustine had the ticket with him Thursday. “Our parking attendants issued the beer delivery truck from our town servicing a restaurant from our town,” he said. “I personally don’t think that’s appropriate.
Times Leader · Fogelsville, PA
Nearby: Fogelsville, PAGov. Josh Shapiro this week visited the Lehigh Valley for the groundbreaking of global pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Co.’s new, cutting-edge pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. The event follows the governor’s announcement in January that his administration had secured a $3.5 billion private-sector investment from the company for this project — the largest investment by a life sciences company in Pennsylvania history. The commonwealth supported Lilly’s expansion with a $100 million investment, helping create at least 850 permanent new jobs and approximately 2,000 construction jobs, while continuing to grow Pennsylvania’s robust pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. “Today marks another historic milestone in Pennsylvania’s thriving life sciences sector and reinforces my administration’s commitment to advancing innovation, strengthening the economy, and creating good-paying jobs across the commonwealth,” Shapiro said.
Times Leader · Luzerne, PA
Nearby: Luzerne, PALuzerne County’s proposed data center zoning ordinance has been updated to clarify when these facilities can operate emergency backup generators, the county Planning Commission decided Thursday. The prior version, which still stands, said generators can only be operated between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. under the following conditions: • During declared emergencies as ordered by county emergency management, state, and federal authorities and/or a grid/utility operator with applicable authority. • When a facility is deemed “essential.” However, the proposed ordinance did not define what could make data centers and related facilities essential, prompting Thursday’s revision, said county Community Planning and Economic Development Division Head Ted Ritsick. The omission was discovered during a discussion with county Councilwoman Denise Williams, he said.
Times Leader · Luzerne, PA
Nearby: Luzerne, PAIn last week’s Nov. 3 general election, 1,393 Luzerne County polling place ballots were voided, which could occur for a variety of reasons, including voters making a mistake on their initial ballot, officials said. Before 2026, voters made their selections on electronic ballot-marking devices that automatically prevented them from choosing more than the allowable number of candidates, known as overvoting, or scribbling on the ballot, called an extraneous mark. Those built-in restrictions are no longer in place because the county changed to hand-marked paper ballots this year as part of its switch to new leased voting equipment from Hart InterCivic. Instead, the new system’s tabulator displays messages on a screen alerting voters of overvotes and extraneous marks when they feed their ballot into the tabulator. Voters in this situation have the option to ask a poll worker for a new ballot.
The Lafayette · Easton, PA
Nearby: Easton, PAWhat do robotic animals, Banksy and a college philosophy class have in common? According to improv logic, more than you’d think. On Friday night, a small but boisterous crowd gathered at Good Human Improv Company in downtown Easton for The Beacon, an improv showcase featuring a group of rising performers who had just undergone an intensive eight-week performance workshop. This week, the newly minted group, Breakfast in the Morning, started the show. They worked based on a form of improv called “The Harold,” a 30-minute format that heavily centers audience participation to guide the group through three distinct scenes.
The Lafayette · Easton, PA
Nearby: Easton, PAEight months after a February fire in downtown Easton forced several businesses to close, State Cafe and Grill reopened its doors on Oct. 29. Owner Bill Sneeringer said the water used to extinguish the fire flooded the building’s basement, destroying much of State Cafe’s inventory and equipment. “We had six feet of water that basically destroyed everything,” Sneeringer said, noting the water damaged electrical service, a walk-in cooler, food stock, water heaters, alarm and camera systems and Wi-Fi equipment. He said the restaurant experienced difficulties working around contractors’ schedules after the fire due to the last-minute nature of their requests. Employees received financial support for the first three months before filing for unemployment benefits, according to Sneeringer. Of State Cafe’s roughly 15 employees at the time of the fire, four of five left to find other jobs during the closure.
Times Leader · Pittston, PA
Nearby: Pittston, PAPITTSTON — Police have charged a man who they said had child sex abuse videos saved to a flash drive. 32-year-old Damian Armitage is charged with child sexual abuse material after investigators were alerted in June by Google that Armitage had downloaded the material. On Nov. 9, a search warrant was approved to seize all electronic devices within Armitage’s W. Frothingham Street home in Pittston. Law enforcement arrived and met with Armitage in the kitchen, and he agreed to an interview. Police said they explained to Armitage that there was an investigation that showed illegal internet use involving child sexual abuse material coming back to this residence. Armitage claimed that he’s seen CSAM on Twitter and that he would click on the hashtag “teen” or “teeen” when he would see CSAM, as stated in the affidavit. According to court documents, on Armitage’s thumb drive, located in his bedroom, were at least two video files of child sexual abuse material. Armitage was arrested on Nov.
The Philadelphia Citizen · Temple, PA
Nearby: Temple, PARay Epstein was a 13-year-old living in Washington, D.C. when she had her first boyfriend, and he abused her. Epstein did exactly as she was taught. The eighth grader told a trusted adult, her head of school. The outcome was the opposite of what she expected. Listen to the interview edition here: … Continue reading The Temple Grad Combating Campus Sexual Assault
Times Leader · Dallas, PA
Nearby: Dallas, PADallas Township’s 2027 proposed budget includes no tax increase, according to a recent supervisor’s meeting on Nov. 4. When giving an overview of the budget during its first public reading, Supervisor William Grant said expenses came out to $9,285,313, against expected revenue of $9,286,750, for a balanced budget. The tax millage will remain at 2.75 mills, while the rate for fire protection will stay at .5 mills. Grant said revenue is expected to be much higher in 2027, compared to 2026’s income of $8,259,00, mainly because of grants the township has been approved for. Those grants total over $1.2 million. Another item included in the revenue for 2027 is a $1.5 million loan through People’s Security Bank, which the township took to help fund construction of the new police station. Those funds will be added to the roughly $1 million in grants awarded for the project. Expenses of note include a $500,000 line item for road improvements.
The Derrick · Dallas, PA
Nearby: Dallas, PADALLAS — Dallas police announced the arrest of an 18-year-old capital murder suspect in the Halloween night shooting that killed three people on Crowdus Street in the Deep Ellum entertainment district. The arrest of Justin Murdock was announced at a…
The Derrick · Dallas, PA
Nearby: Dallas, PADALLAS — “KPop Demon Hunters” is coming to North Texas. The animated action flick is the most-watched film in Netflix’s history, charting around 325 million views since its release in June 2025. The film also won two Academy Awards for…
The US Inquirer · Denver, PA
Nearby: Denver, PADemocrats received the message loud and clear from the midterm elections that Americans want results, not “shallow litmus tests,” as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro put it at a conference in Denver this week. But it was evident that Democrats, who gathered at a summit on the way forward as they take control of the House and Senate next year, are still working out just how to achieve those results while President Trump is still in the White House. Shapiro helped Democrats flip four House seats in his state, and he spoke after an election that delivered decisive majorities to Democrats in the Senate and the House. He said voters had rejected “chaos” and “corruption” and are demanding results-focused governance. Shapiro urged congressional Democrats to focus on lowering costs, building affordable housing, protecting consumers and expanding economic opportunity — and not on ideological fights.
The Derrick · Denver, PA
Nearby: Denver, PADENVER — The death of a 42-year-old Black man after a struggle with Denver police officers this summer was ruled a homicide Thursday. Milton “Mister” Banks died July 14 from cardiopulmonary arrest “following prolonged struggle and physical restraint,” according to…