Latest news with #GiannaGalli
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Low turnout for Scranton primary race
SCRANTON (WBRE/WYOU)— It's Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania. Voters in Scranton are deciding who they want to represent their party in the race for mayor. Kathryn O'Leary and Gianna Galli are in Lackawanna County watching the Scranton mayoral race. Incumbent Paige Cognetti is seeking another term, while former school board president and retired police officer Bob Sheridan is hoping to unseat her. 28/22's Kathryn O'Leary has all you need to know on the Democratic candidates vying for a spot in November's general election. Both candidates say they're deeply invested in the future of Scranton but offer different approaches to getting there. Cognetti is running on her administration's record highlighting financial stability, a stronger credit rating, and no tax increase for 2025. Despite light turnout, voters value local elections She says she wants to continue investing in public safety, infrastructure, and making city government more efficient. Sheridan says it's time for new leadership pointing to concerns about crime, potholes, and blight. He believes the city needs a full-time mayor who's more present in neighborhoods and responsive to everyday issues. We caught up with both Cognetti and Sheridan, both say the day is filled with excitement and nerves. 'We're always anxious, of course you couldn't be in this business, if you're not anxious, we always, always run all the way through the tape, working hard all day, going all over the city greeting voters, thanking our volunteers, we can't think our volunteers are not out since before 7 am this morning,' voiced Mayor Paige Cognetti (D) Scranton. 'I feel great, it's in the air, supports in the air, win is in the air, people are coming out to vote. They're coming out, Bob, we're coming out to support you and vote for you. It feels fabulous,' stated Bob Sheridan (D), Scranton mayor candidate. Both Democratic candidates say they're running because they love Scranton and want to make it the best place it can be. On the Republican ticket for Scranton mayor, 28/22's Gianna Galli is working the race between two women fighting for the GOP nomination. The battle in this race is between accounting executive Patricia Beynon and business owner Lynn Labrosky. Labrosky tells 28/22 News she's ready to change the direction of Scranton's future. The mom to four is centered on improving infrastructure, combating crime and addressing homelessness concerns. She believes the root to several Scranton conflicts is because of ongoing mental health issues and drug use in the Electric City. The Scranton business owner believes bringing more people together is where positive change begins. 'I think first and foremost everyone needs to have a seat at the table. There's a lot of really smart people in our community and they have really good ideas, so I think bringing everyone to the table would bring solutions,' said Lynn Labrosky (R) Scranton mayor candidate. Beynon believes this city should be a place to call home. She says she wants to instill more resources to teenagers in the community, provide elderly with greater financial stability, and bring about improvement to city infrastructure. Beynon is leaning on her 30 plus years experience in accounting and construction management to benefit her in better organizing Scranton's finances. She says her daughter left the area when she was younger which is why she is now in search of making Scranton the place to stay. 'It's a nice area it just needs help at this point and I feel like I'm the person that could help the city, I know I am,' expressed Patricia Beynon (R) Scranton mayoral candidate. Beynon also says she wants to strengthen relationships with first responder unions. Labrosky says she has spent 8,000 on her campaign. Voter turnout here is still low. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Solving serious contamination issue in Columbia County
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — 28/22 News is getting a clearer picture about how to solve a serious water contamination issue in Columbia County. We first reported on 'forever chemicals' detected in private well water in March. 28/22 News Reporter Gianna Galli, the latest from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as more wells become contaminated and more people become worried. At least another 50 wells have been tested, and the number of contaminated ones has increased. DEP has begun installing home filtration systems for impacted homes that volunteered for one. On Wednesday, 28/22 News learned more about the system and spoke with a couple who are still wary about it. Lori and her husband, Doyle Shadle, are on the list of Columbia County residents without clean well water. High levels of PFAS were found in the couple's private well in January. 'I feel like it is going to escalate even beyond,' Lori stated. And it has. The DEP has now identified five home wells with high levels of PFAS in Mount Pleasant Township, an area outside the original point of investigation. It has also sampled more than 114 wells for PFAS near the Brookside Mobile Home Park, where the contamination was first discovered; 42 of those wells were found to have levels of PFAS above the drinking water standard. Sugarloaf firefighters battle garage fire 'We will probably get a filtration system. They are going to have to fix this issue,' Doyle said. The filtration product DEP is offering to install at no cost to affected homeowners is through Culligan Water Treatment Systems and Solutions. In late April, DEP's contractors began to install the first Point of Entry Treatment System (POETS) on private drinking water wells in the area where the contamination was first discovered. The acceptance agreement that affected homeowners are receiving states the following: 'I understand that I will be responsible for maintaining the POETS at my own expense, including regularly scheduled change-out of the treatment media, should DEP's final response decision include a POETS to permanently address the contamination in my well water. In other words, homeowners will get free installation, but are responsible for upkeep. 'We were given a number around $2,000, maybe every 18 months to two years. That's pretty big,' Lori continued. 28/22 News has yet to confirm the maintenance cost with DEP. As of this week, DEP says four poets have been installed. The Shadle's have lived in their home since 1982 and say these chemicals were always a concern, but even more now than ever. 'Whether it was bio sludge or landfills, whatever. PFAS is becoming quite the hot topic, if you will. These forever chemicals. We are in a hurry to get safe water, but I want to make sure it's done the proper way,' Lori added. You can find more information about the POETs filtration system agreement, installation process, and the HSCA's investigation online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
