Luzerne County Council plans to hold off on taking back $1.5 million in unused federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for a heating/utility assistance program, hoping more eligible residents will seek the available help, council Chairman John Lombardo said Monday.

WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square was ponded with water on Monday after a suspected water main break flooded a busy intersection.

NEW YORK (AP) — Police arrested a suspect Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon, mask and writings linking him to the ambush.

Luzerne County ended up with 75% voter turnout in the Nov. 5 general election, according to the final tally posted last week following the election board’s full certification.

HANOVER TWP. — Hanover Township Lions Club held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting event Sunday on Carey Avenue, across the street from Burger King.

DAMASCUS, Syria — Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule.

PLYMOUTH — Local non-profit group Plymouth Alive held its inaugural Jingle and Mingle Sunday at the Goodwill Hose Company No. 2 on Main Street, where families took photos at Christmas-themed selfie stations.

Due to a problem with the press, the printing of the Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, edition of the Times Leader is delayed. The newspapers will be printed and delivered as soon as the press is fixed.

Tennessee has returned to The Associated Press Top 25 at No. 19, ending the school’s longest drought in the 48-year history of the women’s basketball poll.

Tennessee is the new No. 1 in men’s college basketball after a massive shakeup in the AP Top 25.

DALLAS — Star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets agreed Sunday to a record $765 million, 15-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press, a deal that could escalate to $805 million and is believed to be the largest pact in team sports history.

PHILADELPHIA — The mood in the Eagles’ locker room was a bit more bleak than it should have been for a team riding a nine-game winning streak and celebrating a franchise rushing record.

PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley knew the Eagles season rushing record could be his on Sunday with the type of stellar performance that has become the standard during his first season in Philadelphia.

PITTSBURGH — Cam Heyward has been on good teams before. Ones that have captured divisions. Ones that have won playoff games, though admittedly not in a while.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams had to pile up a veritable mountain of points, yards and time-of-possession advantage early on to give themselves even a chance against the Buffalo Bills’ ferocious fourth-quarter rally and a historic six-touchdown performance by Josh Allen.

DALLAS — Having waited for the call from Cooperstown for nearly three decades, Dave Parker burst into tears Sunday when he was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame along with the late Dick Allen.