In the News

Northeast Pennsylvania residents have been waiting for a train to New York for more than 30 years. Now, Amtrak has signaled that it wants the route, including three stops in Monroe County, to be part of an unprecedented plan to expand rail nationwide. “It’s something we possibly envisioned, but not something we would bet the farm on. Now it looks like it’s actually going to happen,”…

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright this week voted to pass a seven-bill fiscal year 2022 appropriations package — H.R. 4502 — on a 219-208 vote. In addition to strong funding for infrastructure, job training, education, veterans’ health care and more, the package includes $14.5 million in direct funding for seven projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania: • $1 million for the Greater Wyoming Valley…

The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority and Amtrak have signed an agreement that represents new formal involvement by the passenger rail service in a potential route from Scranton to New York City... Following the PNRRA announcement, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-8) announced the formation of the Lackawanna Cut-Off Rail Restoration Caucus, a group of four federal lawmakers…

Something considered a means for social change is about to begin Thursday. The IRS will begin sending Child Tax Credit payments to some 36 million eligible families with children 17 or younger on Thursday. These first-ever child tax credit payments have been months in the making. As officials say many families stand to benefit,…

A House subcommittee has passed an appropriations bill designating $2.1 million for Wilkes-Barre to improve community policing, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced Tuesday. The funding would enable the Wilkes-Barre Police Department to improve community policing efforts by purchasing new Tasers and dashboard cameras that are synced with police officers’ body cameras, which would…

Lackawanna County would receive $2 million for a targeted effort to counter growing gang and gun violence under legislation moving through the U.S. House of Representatives. The funding for the county’s proposed Gun and Gang Reduction Intelligence Project, or GGRIP, is part of more than $11 million sought by U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright for six public safety and economic and social recovery…

The U.S. House on Thursday passed a bill that includes $6 million for road and bridge projects in Monroe County, among other funding for infrastructure in northeast Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. “This bill is to help us modernize our roads, our bridges, our rail systems, our water systems, our sewer systems, all of these things that we’ve been disinvesting in for an awfully long…

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, PA-8th District, announced that $1 million for Chestnuthill Township is included in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The money will be used to provide a new shared emergency services facility for 10 emergency service organizations in Monroe County. The shared emergency services facility, sponsored by Chestnuthill Township, will be centrally located…

You may soon be able to ride the rails from northeastern Pennsylvania to the Big Apple. Passenger rail service from Scranton to New York City may become a reality through the “Invest in America Act” which the House passed Friday. It would provide funding for Amtrak to implement major portions of its 2021 “Connect Us” expansion plan. That plan includes adding a Scranton to New York City…

More than 30 agencies with a wide range of services, ranging from housing to substance abuse recovery to education, set up shop in Kirby Park on Sunday to aid those in need as part of the Luzerne County Cares Commission’s Resource Day. ...Also on hand were a couple of lawmakers with an eye on fighting the many issues that Northeastern Pennsylvanians grapple with on a daily basis:…