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šŸŒ± How Luzerne County may spend $2.65 million in opioid funds

Good morning Luzerne! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ā˜•ļøļø

In today's newsletter:

  • How Luzerne County may spend $2.65 million in opioid funds
  • How a $10 million pension hit could affect Luzerne County workers
  • Which bands are headlining this summerā€™s free Rockinā€™ the River nights?

Also on today's calendar: Purcellville Music and Arts Festival and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? šŸ¤” (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Mostly cloudy and warm, with a high of 74 and low of 52 degrees.
  • Saturday: Warm with clouds and sun, temps: high: 78, low: 45.
  • Sunday: Rain and drizzle in the a.m., with a high of 51 and low of 32 degrees.

šŸ“° News we're reading

1. Luzerne County opioid commission recommends 3 new earmarks, totaling $2.65 million (timesleader.com) ā€” Luzerne Countyā€™s opioid commission is urging County Council to approve $2.65 million in new settlement spending, mostly to keep medication-assisted treatment going at the county prison through 2028. Smaller earmarks would support adult treatment court staffing and the Wright Centerā€™s Healthy MOMS program for pregnant and postpartum women. Council is also weighing several Wilkes-Barre treatment projects that could tap millions more.
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2. Investment adviser: Luzerne County pension fund dropped $10M due to war (citizensvoice.com) ā€” Luzerne Countyā€™s pension fund has dropped nearly $10 million in the first quarter of 2026, with an investment adviser linking much of the decline to market volatility from the war involving Iran. Officials heard that investment earnings fell and withdrawals outpaced contributions, even as the broader stock market has recently begun to rebound. Local employees and retirees may feel the impact over time.
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3. Rockin' the River returning to Wilkes-Barre (wnep.com) ā€” Free Rockinā€™ the River concerts are coming back to Wilkes-Barre this July, giving Luzerne County residents three Friday nights of live tribute bands and family-friendly fun by the river. Shows on July 17, 24, and 31 will feature tributes to Sting and The Police, Stevie Wonder, and local favorites Mere Mortals, with food and all-ages entertainment.
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4. Luzerne County Election Task Force presents report (psdispatch.com) ā€” Luzerne Countyā€™s bipartisan Election Task Force has rolled out detailed recommendations it wants Pennsylvania lawmakers to adopt to smooth voting and ballot handling. Ideas include fixing mail ballot deadlines, simplifying provisional ballots, and putting designated-agent information directly on ballot envelopes to help disabled and rural voters. The full report is already posted on the countyā€™s main website.
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5. Woman cited for drug charges after traffic stop in Luzerne (newportdispatch.com) ā€” Police in Luzerne Borough say a woman riding an e-bike ran a stop sign at Kelly and Parry/Main streets and was cited for drug paraphernalia and a traffic violation. Officers report she tried to discard an item used to snort meth and had a container with residue, and they also provided her with addiction outreach information.
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šŸ“ø Around Luzerne

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šŸ—“ Upcoming Events in Luzerne

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šŸ“£ Luzerne Shout Outs!

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šŸ—“ Events Nearby

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šŸ’¬ Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Wendy's posted a job opening for Crew Member in Kingston. Apply here.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue posted a job opening for Warehouse Associate - Equipment Operator in Pittston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Luzerne here.

Ok Luzerne! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

šŸ‘‰ Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you whatā€™s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Luzerne

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Luzerne

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.