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Son accused of slaying dad headed to county court

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Gas prices drop below $3 per gallon in Luzerne County

<p>YATESVILLE &#8212; Former Vice President Joe Biden will be at Pittston Area High School Sunday evening to campaign for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and other Democratic candidates.</p><p>According to John Pekarovsky, chairman of the Luzerne County Democratic Party, Biden will take the stage around 7:15 p.m. to rally voters to support Casey, D-Scranton, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, and the Democratic slate running in Tuesday&#8217;s general election.</p><p>Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and admittance will be on a first come, first serve basis, Pekarovsky said. No tickets will be issued. Pittston Area High School is located at 5 Stout St., Yatesville.</p><p>Scranton-born Biden served as vice president under President Barack Obama from 2009 until 2017. He has been active on the campaign trail in recent weeks, appearing on behalf of fellow Democrats as the midterm election looms.</p><p>What remains unclear is whether Biden, 75, will launch his own campaign to unseat Republican President Donald Trump in 2020.</p><p>He removed himself from the 2016 race following the death of his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46. While Biden has made no commitment to 2020, he has been dropping hints about considering a run for at least the past year.</p><p>On Tuesday, Politico wrote about what it called Biden&#8217;s latest &#8220;working class whisperer tour,&#8221; which is expected to take him to at least six states carried by Trump in 2016.</p><p>Wednesday&#8217;s announcement signals that the former senator from Delaware will touch down in his birth state as part of that sprint &#8212; and not just anywhere in Pennsylvania, but here in Luzerne County, which pundits have called a lynch-pin to Trump&#8217;s victory, given how resoundingly he won the county, thanks in no small part to longtime Democrats handing him their votes.</p><p>It also signals that both parties continue to see our area as competitive.</p><p>Last week Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for Cartwright&#8217;s opponent, John Chrin, and other Republican candidates during a rally at the Wyoming Valley Airport in Forty Fort.</p><p>And Trump returned to Luzerne County in August, packing the Mohegan Sun Arena in August for a rally that was billed as support for Casey&#8217;s challenger, Rep. Lou Barletta. Nevertheless, many who attended that rally for the popular Hazleton Republican sported gear proclaiming their support for &#8220;Trump 2020.&#8221;</p><p>It is against that backdrop &#8212; with control of Congress at stake in Tuesday&#8217;s vote, seen by some as a potential referendum on Trump&#8217;s presidency &#8212; that Biden will be coming here.</p><p><strong>Check back for updates for more as details become available.</strong></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the media in Cincinnati. Biden is convinced he can beat President Donald Trump, friends and advisers say, and he has given himself until January to deliberate and size up potential competition for the Democratic nomination, according to people who have spoken to the former vice president about his decision making. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_121184740-f862703609cb487e9a0b6df9777ff88f-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the media in Cincinnati. Biden is convinced he can beat President Donald Trump, friends and advisers say, and he has given himself until January to deliberate and size up potential competition for the Democratic nomination, according to people who have spoken to the former vice president about his decision making. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p><p>and Roger DuPuis</p><p>rdupuis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Biden to appear at Pittston Area High School Sunday evening