GoLackawanna

HAZLETON — Rep. Dane Watro, R-Hazleton, on Monday announced he has been appointed to serve on the School Safety and Security Committee under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency by House Republican Leader Jesse Topper.

SWIFTWATER — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. on Sunday said it is a great responsibility to take care of the environment and our communities.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Anora,” a strip club Cinderella story without the fairy tale ending, was crowned best picture at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, handing Sean Baker’s gritty, Brooklyn-set screwball farce Hollywood’s top prize.

WILKES-BARRE — The Luzerne Foundation on Friday announced the creation of the “Nonprofit Accelerator.”

WYOMING — With the uncertainty of future federal funding a major concern, the Lackawanna-Luzerne Metropolitan Planning Organization held its first of three open house meetings to gather input and answer questions on the plan to update the 20-year regional long-range transportation plan (LRTP).

WILKES-BARRE — The United Way of Wyoming Valley on Thursday announced the election of Sara Peperno as its new chief executive officer, effective March 24.

Gene Hackman, the Oscar-winning actor who brought a flinty menace to films such as “Bonnie and Clyde,” “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven” was found dead Wednesday along with his wife in New Mexico, authorities said. He was 95.

A series of open houses have been scheduled in coming days to brief residents of Luzerne and Lackawanna counties about the long-range transportation plan under development and accept public comment.

WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes-Barre Mayor George C. Brown joined Police Chief Joe Coffay, Officer Richard Olshefski and K-9 Tenshi to accept a donation to the K-9 Unit from the Wilkes-Barre City Crime Watch.

DALLAS — Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, invites veterans to schedule an appointment to meet with a VFW Service Officer at her Dallas and Nanticoke office locations.