Colleges combating coronavirus turn to stinky savior: sewage

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15 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County; 1 new death

Luzerne County Council is set to vote Tuesday on proposals to further review county prison inmate Shaheen Mackey&rsquo;s June 2018 death.
				County Manager C. David Pedri proposes hiring Attorney Michael Reed and the Philadelphia-based law firm of Troutman Pepper for $75,000 to complete an outside review of all interactions with Mackey while he was at the county prison and analysis of relevant current and past standard operating procedures and protocols.
				Instead, Councilman Walter Griffith suggested creating a county prison investigation committee to review and evaluate the conduct, policies, standard operating procedures and protocols at the facility and examine the circumstances of Mackey&rsquo;s death.
				Council would allocate up to $75,000 in funds as required by the committee to facilitate the committee&rsquo;s investigation, Griffith&rsquo;s resolution says. The county controller, three council members and three council-appointed residents would serve on the committee.
				A third idea, also proposed by Griffith, would be a council resolution asking county District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis to request a state Attorney General&rsquo;s Office investigation into Mackey&rsquo;s death.
				Salavantis said she has no problem discussing the matter with the state Attorney General if he wants to review her findings, but she has no reason to seek an investigation because her office already completed a thorough one that found no criminal acts or wrongdoing by any correctional officers involved.
				Meeting details
				Tuesday&rsquo;s virtual council meeting starts at 6 p.m. It will be followed by a work session and preceded by two public hearings on proposed budget amendments and the Division Street Bridge transfer to Hanover Township starting at 5:30 p.m..
				Information on attending and participating is posted under the council online meeting link at <a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/1279/Public-Meetings-Online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.luzernecounty.org</a>.
				Road work
				Council plans to vote Tuesday to seek a $1.95 million grant from the state Commonwealth Financing Authority to construct bike lanes and complete roadway improvements on Ransom Road in Dallas and Franklin townships.
				No county match would be required to obtain the funding. The project would not proceed at this time without the grant because the county does not have earmarked funds, officials said.
				If awarded, the county-owned roadway would be milled for a paved overlay with base repairs, likely in next year&rsquo;s construction season, county Manager C. David Pedri told council.
				Committee meetings
				Council&rsquo;s Act 13 Grant Committee will meet virtually at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
				This committee processes applications from municipalities and other outside entities seeking a portion of the county&rsquo;s Act 13 natural-gas funding for recreation projects or efforts to combat gypsy moths and other pests.
				The council Code Review Committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
				Directions on participating in both public meetings are under the council online meeting link at <a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/1279/Public-Meetings-Online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.luzernecounty.org</a>.

Luzerne County Council set to decide on prison review