DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH PROSTITUTION

A Lackawanna County defense attorney has been charged with prostitution after allegedly coercing clients or family members of clients to pay for legal services with sexual acts and pornographic photos.  According to North Central PA dot com, the PA Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, announced the criminal charges against Corey Kolcharno, who Shapiro says chose his victims because of their history with addiction, and other vulnerabilities.  Charges stem from incidents involving Kolcharno and at least four victims between 2018 and 2022.  Promoting prostitution is a third degree felony.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN WILLIAMSPORT

Watch for construction during the day today, along I-180 in both directions which could slow your commute.  According to PennDOT, lane restrictions will be in place while crews perform roadway maintenance between Route 87 in Fairfield Township and the Route 15 northbound interchange in Williamsport.  Work is to take place between 9am and 3pm and will affect traffic coming from Loyalsock Township as well.

NEW WAGE LAWS FOR TIP EARNERS

The PA Department of Labor and Industry has modernized regulations to protect wages earned by service industry workers that took effect last Friday, August 5^th.  There are five new areas that have been revised for tipped workers.  First, the new definition of a tipped worker means they can now earn up to 135 dollars in tips monthly rather than the previous 30 dollars per month, before their wage changes from $7.25 to $2.83 per hour.  Other changes involve differences in tip-credit conditions for employers, federal regulatory updates about tip-pooling, a prohibiting of taking fees from tips left by customers through credit card transactions and a requirement to inform guests that services fees are not gratuities.  Overtime regulations for hourly workers are not changing at this time. 

TIOGA COUNTY FAIR THIS WEEK

It’s senior citizen day at the 56^th annual Tioga County Fair today.  Gates open at 10am and rides begin running at 5pm all this week except for Wednesday and Saturday when they start at noon. There is a talent competition Wednesday at 7pm with almost a thousand dollars in cash prizes available.  Information and tickets for entertainment like Grammy award winning bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent coming up for two shows Thursday as well as tickets all week for the rodeo, tractor pull and demolition derby are available at tiogacountyfair.com.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VICTIMS IN NESCOPECK HOUSE FIRE

More information is coming out in the investigation of the deaths of 5 remaining victims of the fire that tore through a home on First Street in Nescopeck early last Saturday morning.  According to the Daily Item, the coroner there reported that all 10 of the victims died of smoke inhalation and that their pets also perished.  Police say 3 people escaped the fire, but State police are still investigating the cause of the fatal blaze.  There is a GoFundMe page set up online for the “Nescopeck House Fire”, raising money for the family who lost so much more than just their possessions. Donations are also being accepted at the Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Company on Warren Street.

COVID VAX REQUIRED AT BUCKNELL THIS FALL

Students at Bucknell University will require a COVID vaccination to be on campus unless they get a medical or religious exemption this fall.  According to PennLive, health personnel will meet with those choosing not to vaccinate to discuss the risks of not receiving it.  Students coming to campus are not required to provide a negative test, but they are encouraged to home test and if they test positive before their planned arrival date, they are to arrange a new date to come to school.  New student orientation is Aug. 17 with fall semester classes beginning Aug. 22.

PA CAPITOL POLICE OFFER PAID INTERNSHIP

There’s a new paid internship program within the Pennsylvania Capitol Police for those seeking a career in law enforcement.  According to  Penn Live, the incentive is to potentially add officers to the force that has struggled with shortages, and will provide the income for 6 months while they pursue their police certification through Harrisburg Area Community College.  Interns can earn around 42 thousand dollars and will be able to complete their Act 120 Classes – the state’s basic police education – at HACC for free. 

ARTIST PROPOSAL BEING SOUGHT FOR LEWISBURG

The Lewisburg Arts Council is seeking an artist or a group of artists to submit a proposal for an outdoor site-specific temporary art project before August 27^th.  The council is looking to consider artists who have a strong connection to Central Pennsylvania, and create a project that will last a minimum of 30 days and enhance pedestrian level interactions.  There is a seven thousand dollar budget for the project in The Piers Art Park near Cherry Alley in Lewisburg.  Email lewisburgpublicart@ gmail.com for information about the submission requirements.  Applicants will be notified by September 7^th and the installation will begin by October 15^th, 2022.

SPORTS

MLB
Orioles 7             Blue Jays 4
Mets 5                 Reds 1
Cubs 6                 Nationals 3
Diamondbacks 3 Pirates 0
Yankees 9           Mariners 4

MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters vs Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Muncie Bank Ballpark in Historic Bowman Field tonight 6:35pm 1^st pitch.

Little League
Junior Baseball Eastern Regional Tournament
Keystone 9          Canton, MA 0
Keystone advances to today’s Eastern Regional championship at 10am
The Junior LLWS is August 14-21 in Taylor, Michigan

MLB News
– The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will wear throwback uniforms when they take the field for this year’s Major League Baseball game at the “Field of Dreams” movie site.  The game is Thursday, and it will take place in a specially constructed stadium located near the Dyersville, Iowa, diamond from the 1989 movie.

• Matt Carpenter’s dream comeback season with the New York Yankees was intterupted Monday night.  Carpenter broke his left foot when he fouled off an 89 mph slider from Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert in the first inning. He will be out indefinitely.

NCAA Football
For the first time in six years, the Penn State football program will go into a fall season unranked in the preseason AFCA Coaches Poll. Penn Live reports the Nittany Lions were receiving votes in the poll released yesterday and with 246 points came 11 points shy of No. 25 Houston. Only Iowa with 248, received more votes among unranked teams in a top-25 headlined by No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Clemson and No. 5 Notre Dame.