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News in Luzerne, PA

Times Leader · Luzerne, PA

Backup generator use clarified in Luzerne County’s proposed data center zoning ordinance

Luzerne 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

Luzerne County provides statistic on voided general election ballots

In 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.

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Times Leader · Pittston, PA

Nearby: Pittston, PA

Child sex abuse videos found on flash drive, police say

PITTSTON — 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.