Attorneys split $4M in fees
WILKES-BARRE - Attorneys representing former juvenile offenders who filed class-action suits in the kids-for-cash scandal will share about $4 million in legal fees and expenses from a $17.75 million settlement with local developer Robert K. Mericle under a proposed agreement filed Monday in U.S. District Court. Mr. Mericle has admitted to paying more than $2 million to two former Luzerne County judges who placed juveniles in two for-profit detention centers built by his construction firm. The settlement with 1,800 former juvenile defendants is to be finalized Nov. 19.
Moscow project wraps next week
MOSCOW - While orange and white cones have disappeared from downtown, the borough's downtown construction project will formally wrap up next week.
At 9 a.m. on Nov. 13, the state Department of Transportation will conduct one of the final inspections for the project that has left Main Street a construction zone for more than 20 months.
While infrastructure improvements create more sidewalks, improved parking areas and replace blinking red lights with a full traffic light, many downtown business owners complained about the ongoing construction discouraging customers from shopping along Main and Church streets.
Warrant lifted for woman's arrest
JEFFERSON TWP. - A warrant for the arrest of a township woman for failing to appear in court has been lifted. Kristen Kochis, 31, had been wanted for failing to appear for a pretrial conference on Oct. 12. An order lifting the warrant was later issued and became effective Monday, according to the Lackawanna County sheriff's office.