News Engine

WNEP morning meteorologist Joe Snedeker joins the News Engine Podcast to discuss, well, everything.  Joe goes into detail about how he got his start at WNEP, when and why he began wearing shorts in the middle of winter, the rigors of the annual Go Joe bike ride, and why he can't sit still and battles a short attention span. It all adds up to a high-energy morning broadcast that has lasted ove...

Many people have seen Frank Dubas' creations. From his colorful umbrellas over Bogart Place to his community Gardens of Cedar, Dubas has been making Scranton a more colorful place while creating a splash on social media. Learn more about how he did it and what's next. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podca...

Rich Roman, District Executive for PennDOT’s Engineering District 4, joins the News Engine Podcast to discuss the 7.5-mile Interstate 81 widening project between Scranton and Avoca. The enormous project will cost $500 million and take 10 years but it will be 5 years before crews start digging. Between now and then there's a lot of planning. Rich takes us inside the expansion and discusses how...

Carbondale native Earl Granville is a decorated Army veteran who served tours in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, famously losing his leg to a roadside bomb and his twin brother to suicide. Earl joins the News Engine podcast to tell us about how he battles adversity and how he helps veterans and law enforcement, sharing insight into how his injury and the loss of his brother helped guide him toward...

Chris Murley and Dan Shurtleff have a love of coal mining and its history. They understand how mining helped shape the region and wanted to find a way to share their knowledge and love of anthracite mining with a new generation who may know little or nothing about the industry that helped build Northeast Pennsylvania. The mining enthusiasts took one look at the long-forgotten Brooks Mine at Nay Au...

The Times-Tribune politics reporter Borys  Krawczeniuk breaks down the Primary election by taking a look at what happened to Jerry Notarianni and if reassessment was to blame. Borys also digs into the emergence of Bill Gaughan onto the Lackawanna County stage, what Matt McGloin is going to need to learn to be a commissioner, and how local voters sought change and younger leadership. Over the past...

Former Lackawanna County District Attorney and Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate joins the News Engine Podcast for an extensive interview that details his rise to the top of county and state politics, his stunning fall, and his desire to reform prisons he helped fill. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcas...

Rev. Myron Myronyuk, the pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Scranton, has spent the past year on a personal mission to help purchase supplies for soldiers from his Ukraine homeland.  He purchases helmets, body armor, tourniquets, uniforms, boots, vehicles, drones, and medical supplies and ships everything to the front lines in Ukraine. Father Myron speaks to the soldiers - inc...

On Jan. 26, 1981, Scranton School Director Tommy Genova was running late for a school board meeting. He exited his car behind the district's administration building and was shot in the back, dying a few hours later.  Scranton Tribune reporter Lew Marcus was in the building covering the school board meeting when the shooting occurred and talks about that night and the years that followed. Edit...

After years as a teacher, principal, school superintendent, and founder and director of the Steamtown Marathon, Scranton City Council President settles into his new role just a year after being sworn in. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen and subscribe on Spotify...

What started Monday as an annual social media post noting Rock 107's birthday wound up being a bit of a sad announcement for loyal fans of the 43-year-old classic rock radio station. Word began spreading that Northeast Pa's Classic Rock radio would probably be unable to host future birthday bash parties. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts...

Newly elected state representative and former Scranton City Council President Kyle Donahue looks back on his days working for the city while he looks ahead to his position in Harrisburg representing the 113th legislative district. Donahue talks about his accomplishments during his tenure on council and discusses one of his few regrets and some unfinished business the new council and mayor will hav...

Award-winning Scranton Times-Tribune journalist Borys Krawczeniuk breaks down what happened during the 2022 general election. Borys talks about the Fetterman vs Oz race, transparency, and how things might have been different if Oz lost the primary election. We also discuss "tough hombre" Matt Cartwright, the ballot fiasco in Luzerne County, Trump's impact on the election, and what c...

John Basalyga began building his name and reputation as a teenage roofer, eventually starting his own company and branching out into real estate development. John discusses how he got his start, describes the harrowing bidding process when he purchased the Steamtown Mall, updates us on the Scranton skyscraper project, and tells us if he has any interest in running for public office. You can subscr...

Luzerne County native and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning LA Times reporter Paul Pringle talks about investigative journalism and his new book, Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels. The true-crime events that lead to the investigation into USC School of Medicine Dean Dr. Carmen Puliafito are a shocking tale of drugs, sex, corruption, and several failed systems. Paul discusses the repo...

Mike Stevens spent over three decades traveling Pennsylvania's roads for his series of features and stories with everyday people. Mike joins the News Engine podcast to tell us some of his favorite stories, how he managed to do it and what he's been up to since he partially retired a few years ago. Explore the "Stevens Says" collection of short essays and the Photo Link work Mik...

Thom Welby, Representative for the Pennsylvania 113th legislative district, has spent his promised one year in Harrisburg. Thom discusses his regrets, successes, take on partisan politics, hopes for fairer school funding, tax relief for senior citizens, his future plans for elected office, and his legacy. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen...

Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown discusses the challenges and successes he's encountered during his first term running the largest city in Luzerne County. Mayor Brown talks about crime, blight, homelessness, and investing in the city and makes the surprise announcement that he'll be seeking a second term. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts...

Scranton Police Chief Tom Carroll talks about policing The Electric City. The chief discusses school safety and violence, gangs, community cooperation, recruiting challenges, and more. You can report a crime tip anonymously HERE. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts Liste...

Part 2 of our interview with Scranton Mayor Paige Gephardt Cognetti. The mayor discusses her vision for the city, the train to New York, and her plans for the future. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion about all things Scranton. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts Lis...

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti discusses a wide range of topics important to the city and surrounding areas.  In this episode, the mayor talks about her unconventional path to Scranton, the brutal world of Lackawanna County politics, battling corruption and its legacy, the Scranton School District and how it impacts the entire city, Scranton's financial status, and how the pandemic surprisingl...

Season 2 of News Engine starts in less than a week.  Here's what you can expect. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen and subscribe on Spotify Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com If you know someone who you'd like to hear on the News Engine p...

In season 2 of the News Engine Podcast, we'll venture outside of Times-Shamrock and talk to other media organizations, community leaders, and local decision-makers that have an impact on your daily life. Look for the new season of News Engine in early 2022. You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Listen and s...

This week we talk to Scranton Times-Tribune local history writer Erin Nissley. Erin tells us about how readers respond to her articles and what happens when they reach out to tell us the rest of the story. Included in this week's podcast are the jeweled crown discovered after the 1971 Marywood fire and the untold story of one Scranton firefighter's really bad day. We also tell the story...

We collected your questions and asked Scranton Times-Tribune columnist Chris Kelly everything and anything that was on your mind, including Teddy Daniels, Joe Biden, COVID, Republicans, and Frank Scavo. You asked - Chris answered. You can read Chris' blog HERE and his column HERE . You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Listen and subscribe on Ap...