Latest news with #LuzerneCountyCommunityCollege
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Paola's Parenting Playbook presents Fentanyl, A Guide for Parents, preview
(WBRE/WYOU) — According to the CDC, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the U.S. 28/22 News is taking a deep dive into this epidemic as it remains a threat facing families right here in northeastern Pennsylvania. The special program airs Friday night. Since the opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency in 2017, it has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Initially driven by prescription opioids and heroin, the epidemic has shifted in recent years to illicit fentanyl. A substance 100 times more potent than morphine. 28/22 News is helping to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl with a special in-depth program. Paola's Parenting Playbook presents Fentanyl, A Guide for Parents, and it airs Friday night on 28/22 news. Struggling with substance use disorder can derail someone's future. Madison Hayes and Amanda O'Day know that all too well. In a special Paola's Parenting Playbook, Fentanyl, A Guide for Parents, the women open up about their drug addiction. How it started, the darkest moments, and what recovery looks like today. 'I was rapidly deteriorating, everything was going downhill. I didn't notice until I tried to take my own life,' said Hayes. Amanda's story echoes similar pain. Students getting hands on automotive learning 'I would never stick it out. I would always end up relapsing, I would find anything available, and that's what led to heroin, the pills got less and less,' said O'Day. Madison and Amanda credit their recovery to a combination of personal resilience, support from family, and access to a unique program at Luzerne County Community College. Both women are now in long-term recovery. 'He was thriving, he was out one night with friends using substances he should not have,' said Maria Pascale, Clarks Summit. You'll also meet a couple from Clarks Summit who lost their son to fentanyl poisoning. The couple has made it their mission to prevent other families from suffering the same tragedy. 'We think he was using cocaine that was laced with fentanyl, and late that night, he went to sleep and never woke up. His roommate found him that morning,' explained Pascale. Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters sees the impact of the fentanyl crisis up close. In a sit-down interview, he addresses the growing threat. 'Our society is being poisoned from the inside with fentanyl,' said Peters. 'Joe, you have been a drug czar, a police chief, a prosecutor, you have served in two presidential administrations. How is fentanyl getting into these street drugs?' asked 28/22 News reporter Paola Giangiacomo. 'It is being flooded into our border, now it is in everything. No one is immune, no one is safe. The most important thing a parent can do is be a parent,' said Peters. Ryan Hogan, a drug and alcohol administrator, says fentanyl remains a growing danger across Pennsylvania. His message is clear: education, access to care, and community support are the strongest tools in the fight against fentanyl. 'I would encourage any parent out there, educate as soon as possible,' said Hogan. The program also sheds light on reducing overdose deaths and expanding access to life-saving resources. Plus tips for parents on how to talk to their kids about the dangers of drug abuse. Paola's Parenting Playbook, Fentanyl, A Guide for Parents, airs Friday night. We hope you'll tune in to WBRE Friday at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. on WYOU. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teach in NEPA program plans to keep teachers local
HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A new educational partnership program in Luzerne County hopes to fight the teacher shortage here in Pennsylvania. According to state data there are currently around 5,500 teacher vacancies. Those vacancies are why the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Luzerne County Community College (LCCC), and the Hazleton Area School District are teaming up to create the Teach in NEPA Project. Fire department prepares for rescue training at coal mine The Teach in NEPA Project aims to follow the Shapiro administration and the general assembly's goal of addressing the statewide teacher shortage. It starts and ends right here in Hazleton. 'You will not have to leave this community to go to school. You will not have to leave this community to earn your degree, and in most respects you're not gonna have to leave this community to find a job as a teacher,' stated John Yudichak, President, LCCC. Through the program, students can obtain their associate's degree with LCCC and get their bachelors with commonwealth university all at LCCC's Hazleton campus. 'All four years are here in this building. The services will be brought to them. The teachers and the professors will be brought to the,' explained Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, Commonwealth University President. While students are completing their degrees, they will train at Hazleton area, and when they graduate, they will have employment opportunities within the district. Hazleton Area Superintendent Brian Uplinger says this is crucial as the number of students within the district continues to grow and the number of teachers declines. 'We have 80 emergency-certified folk in the district, and we have a number of teachers that are going to retire this year,' said Superintendent Uplinger. Through a grow your own model, the Teach in NEPA Project aims to recruit and retain local students to ease the shortage and create a new generation of teachers here at home. 'The Teach in NEPA Project really is about go here, graduate here, and teach here. So this historic partnership really makes a pathway to the most affordable, accessible four year degree anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I would say anywhere in the country,' added Yudichak. Students can begin the program in the fall, and it will allow them to obtain their degrees for under $30,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
INNOVATION: Luzerne County Community College excels in regional partnerships
Apr. 27—NANTICOKE — John Yudichak, president of Luzerne County Community College, said LCCC is at the forefront of educational innovation in Pennsylvania — establishing robust regional partnerships designed to enhance accessibility, affordability and workforce readiness for students. "These strategic collaborations are transforming the higher education landscape and addressing critical workforce gaps in the regional economy of northeastern Pennsylvania," Yudichak said. One of the most significant new educational partnerships comes through groundbreaking articulation agreements with the 10 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Yudichak said higher education reforms embodied in Act 69 of 2024 that was championed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and a bipartisan coalition of state legislators, guarantees junior status for LCCC graduates at any PASSHE institution. "Creating the best pathway to a debt-free college education, the initiative makes transferring seamless for students and empowers them to pursue a four-year degree in a timelier, more cost-efficient way," Yudichak said. "LCCC has long been recognized as the leading institution for students transferring to Commonwealth University, and this new partnership will foster greater collaboration among public institutions, stretching the value of public investments in these institutions and strengthening their abilities to respond to workforce development needs in Pennsylvania. The alliance aims to cultivate new professionals in high-demand careers such as education, nursing, and criminal justice." In addition to its collaboration with PASSHE, Yudichak said LCCC has forged Regional Articulation Agreements with private universities in Luzerne County, like King's College, Misericordia University, and Wilkes University. "These agreements simplify the transition for students moving from LCCC to pursue bachelor and graduate programs, ensuring a smoother path to graduating with a degree," Yudichak said. Recognizing the trade and technology skills gap in the local workforce, Yudichak said LCCC is also partnering with career and technical high schools, including the Hazleton Area Career Center, West Side Career & Technical Center and the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center. With a startling 61,000 credentialed worker shortage revealed in the 2023 Post Secondary Workforce Credential Gap Analysis, this initiative aims to provide more than 2,000 high school students with college credits toward certifications in vital trade and technology fields. Yudichak said LCCC's commitment to accessibility is evident in its "Go Here, Graduate Here, Work Here" model that will be featured at its seven campus centers across northeastern Pennsylvania. The LCCC Centers in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Scranton, Berwick, Shamokin and Watsontown serve as community hubs where students can access academic resources, financial aid assistance and career advising. Yudichak said LCCC's localized approach to higher education breaks down transportation barriers and fosters a sense of belonging among students, significantly enhancing their chances of success. "In a rapidly changing job market, LCCC is mindful of the need for relevant career education," Yudichak said. LCCC's new Micro-Credential Certification Program is designed to address workforce demands by offering targeted training in high-demand fields like AI in Manufacturing. Yudichak said recognizing that success is seldom linear and students may need greater support to achieve their academic goals, LCCC established the AllOne Recovery Educational Institute (AREI) to support students in recovery from substance use disorders by emphasizing recovery through earning a post-secondary credential. With the support of a $250,000 grant from the Luzerne County Council and ongoing support from the AllOne Foundation, Yudichak said the institute has served nearly 250 students since its inception and produced impressive outcomes in recovery and educational attainment. "In a world where educational accessibility and workforce development are more critical than ever, Luzerne County Community College is setting a standard for higher education innovation and regional partnerships," Yudichak said. "Luzerne County Community College is the largest, most popular, most accessible college in northeastern Pennsylvania. "At LCCC, community is in our name, community is our mission, and building stronger communities is exactly what we are invested in every day to ensure each succeeding generation of students can achieve their educational and career goals right here at Luzerne County Community College." For more information on programs and partnerships at LCCC, visit Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newsmakers to Feature: Challenges and Changes in Education, April 13, 2025
(WBRE/WYOU) Newsmakers will take a closer look at some of the challenges facing higher education this Sunday Host Jayne Ann Bugda will be joined by a panel from Luzerne County Community College. John Yudichak, LCCC President, Rebecca Brominski, Executive Director, LCCC Foundation, and Dr. Graceann Platukus, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Enrichment, will discuss the changes and challenges in higher education and the vital role community colleges play. April is Community College Month. Newsmakers airs Sunday, April 13, at 7:30 am on WYOU and Noon on WBRE. LCCC History Luzerne County Community College formally began operations on October 2, 1967. The first class of 836 students attended classes in two buildings in downtown Wilkes-Barre located near the Hotel Sterling. The college offered 11 programs at the time, with tuition at only $12.50 per credit. In January 1974, the College moved to its permanent 122-acre campus in Nanticoke. Missions of Community Colleges Help Students transfer to a four-year university Career Ready Education Build foundational skills of students who need more help in their math or English Community colleges educate 40 percent of all undergraduates in the United States To learn more about Luzerne County Community College Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Public forum scheduled Thursday for Republican Luzerne County Council candidates
Apr. 9—Luzerne County's Republican Party is holding a public forum for all nine Republican county council contenders Thursday evening at the Luzerne County Community College. County Republican Chairman Gene Ziemba said Wednesday that county Controller Walter Griffith was instrumental in setting up the forum to help the party's voters learn more about the candidates. The forum will start at 5:30 p.m. and is scheduled to run until 8 p.m. at the college's auditorium (building 30), 521 Trailblazer Drive in Nanticoke. Ziemba said all nine Republican candidates have agreed to attend the forum: Thomas Dombroski, Ronald D. Knapp, Kevin Lescavage, John Lombardo, Jackie Scarcella, Brian Thornton, Stephen J. Urban, Rob Viars and Greg Wolovich. Republican and Democratic voters will each select five nominees in the May 20 primary election. Those 10 will then advance to the November general election, when all voters are free to select five of any affiliation. Ziemba will ask the questions during Thursday's forum based on submissions from audience members and online at gopforumquestions@ Candidates will have three minutes to respond. One question Ziemba personally wants to ask with a yes-or-no answer required: If a candidate is not among the five primary nominees, will he or she support the other nominees for the general election? Ziemba encourages voters to take advantage of the opportunity, saying it was organized to help them decide their selections. Democrats Seven Democrats are seeking that party's five nominations in the primary: Chris Belles, Steven M. Coslett, Tony Perzia, Johnny Price, Dawn Simmons, Emily Singh and Denise Williams. Democratic Chairman Thomas Shubilla said the party's candidates will discuss their platforms in a "meet the candidates night" May 8 hosted by the county Democratic Party, with a $10 ticket purchase required. The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at Keeley's Alehouse and Grille, 99 Division St. in Pringle. Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.
