web1_122753595-42eddab7a6a24c25b669b8d454af8c77.jpg

Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach scratched with breathing issues

web1_Books1.jpg

Area school districts nab chunk of state safety grants

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Where the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will be playing next season will be known on Monday.</p><p>As the Luzerne County Arena Authority Board continues to negotiate a new deal with the Penguins&#8217; parent organization in Pittsburgh, the American Hockey League&#8217;s Board of Governors will meet on Monday in Chicago to discuss, among other issues, where each member franchise will be playing in 2019-20.</p><p>Jason Chaimovitch, the AHL&#8217;s vice president of communications, said Wednesday that each team must declare their intentions on where they will play the coming season at the meeting, or they must request relocation of the franchise.</p><p>&#8220;At the spring meeting, all teams must declare their intentions to be members of the AHL and where they will be playing next season,&#8221; Chaimovitch said.</p><p>When asked if Pittsburgh has submitted a request for relocation of its Wilkes-Barre/Scranton franchise, Chaimovitch said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe so.&#8221;</p><p>Chaimovitch added, &#8220;This rule applies to all of our member leagues.&#8221;</p><p>The local Penguins began playing at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in 1999 &#8212; the year the arena opened &#8212; and just finished celebrating their 20th season in the market.</p><p>The Pittsburgh Penguins organization and the arena authority have been negotiating an extension to their contract, which expires at the end of June. No details of those negotiations have been released to the media or public, but both sides have claimed progress and an intent to get it resolved soon.</p><p>There has been speculation that the major stumbling block to a new deal has been the length of the contract extension &#8212; authority wanting a new 10-year extension and the Penguins seeking a lesser number of years. There has also been reports that the Penguins have asked for significant improvements to the arena facilities. None of the reports could be confirmed.</p><p>Jeff Barrett, chief executive officer for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, said he is not involved in the negotiations and he forwarded the Times Leader&#8217;s questions to Kevin Acklin, senior vice president and general counsel for the parent Penguins organization.</p><p>Barrett had this to say about the situation.</p><p>&#8220;What I do know is getting a deal done is a priority and they are working on a resolution that I would expect to come in the very near future,&#8221; Barrett said. &#8220;I know Pittsburgh and the Authority are in negotiations. I&#8217;m hoping they come to a resolution shorty.&#8221;</p><p>Barrett reached out to Acklin and this was Acklin&#8217;s statement:</p><p>&#8221;We remain fully committed to our successful partnership with Luzerne County and remain confident that our good faith negotiations will extend that partnership well into the future.&#8221;</p><p>At the April meeting of the Arena Authority Board of Directors, Chairman Gary Zingaretti said negotiations for a 10-year extension on the contract with the Penguins are &#8220;getting there.&#8221; He said he is confident an agreement could be reached soon.</p><p>&#8220;We are waiting to hear back from the Penguins,&#8221; Zingaretti said. &#8220;We hope to hear something shortly.&#8221;</p><p>Zingaretti said both sides have been working together, exchanging offers. He said the Penguins are expected to respond to the latest offer soon.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s in their court,&#8221; Zingaretti said.</p><p>A non-disclosure agreement prohibits board members from publicly discussing details of the discussions.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_20th.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_20th.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@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>

Decision on where WBS Penguins will play next season must come by Monday