WILKES-BARRE — The city will have a balanced budget next year after City Council Thursday night approved the second and final reading of the ordinance to adopt the $53.2 million spending plan Mayor George Brown presented back in October.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s surprise announcement last July lacked any detail, but its meaning was crystal clear.

HAZLE TWP. — Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday, in conjunction with CAN DO, announced that Crop One, an industry-leader in technology-driven indoor vertical farming, is opening a vertical farm in the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township, bringing 40 new full-time managerial and farm production jobs to the region.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House gave final approval Thursday to legislation protecting same-sex marriages, a monumental step in a decadeslong battle for nationwide recognition of such unions that reflects a stunning turnaround in societal attitudes.

HUNLOCK TWP. — State police at Shickshinny charged a Hunlock Township man with recording a sexual encounter with a woman without her knowledge and consent.

KINGSTON TWP. — A new Orloski’s Car Wash is expected to open by late summer 2023 on the Memorial Highway in Kingston Township.

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper lobbed Philadelphia’s first recruiting pitch over the summer when the injured All-Star used a guest stint in the broadcast booth to advocate for the future free agent and his former Washington teammate.

\WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Grine r on Thursday in a high-profile prisoner exchange, as the U.S. released notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout but failed to win freedom for another American, Paul Whelan, who has been jailed for nearly four years.

Drew Sechleer (14) and Chaz Wright (13) combined for 27 points as the Crestwood boys basketball team defeated Lake-Lehman 44-27 on the road on Wednesday.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Sam Poulin is taking a leave of absence from the club’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.