🌱 What Hazleton’s new police drones could mean for your neighborhood

Hello Hazleton! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What Hazleton’s new police drones could mean for your neighborhood
• What went wrong with Luzerne County’s high-tech ballot box security?
• How Hazleton police helped crack a deadly Freeland shooting case

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Flurries; windy, colder, with a high of 25 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Cold; breezy in the morning, temps: high: 29, low: 18.
• Saturday: A little snow in the morning, with a high of 30 and low of 14 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 'Saved us hours in overtime': Pa. PD launches DFR program (police1.com) — Hazleton police are rolling out a new drone-as-first-responder program tied into Flock Safety cameras, license plate readers, and gunshot detectors in a $4.5 million, 10-year deal. Leaders say the integrated system will speed investigations, reduce overtime, and help a short-staffed force, while also inviting local businesses to share exterior camera feeds and addressing privacy and data-retention concerns.
   

• Luzerne County unable to retrieve voter photographs from mail ballot drop box (hazletontimes.com) — Luzerne County officials say they can’t retrieve security photos from a high-tech mail ballot drop box, so recent post-election reviews focused instead on standard boxes in downtown Hazleton and at the election bureau. Election leaders are pushing for better camera angles and may seek a refund from the vendor, raising questions about how future Hazleton-area drop boxes will be monitored.
   

• Second man charged in Freeland shooting (citizensvoice.com) — Hazleton-area readers should know a 19-year-old Hazle Township man has been charged with criminal homicide in connection with a deadly Dec. 2 shooting in nearby Freeland. State police at Hazleton and Hazleton police used camera footage and witnesses to identify suspects, and the newly charged man is being held without bail pending a January preliminary hearing.
   

📸 Around Hazleton

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Hazleton

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 28

• Acoustic Jam
  Hazleton Art League, 31 W Broad St, Hazleton
  1:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday December 16

• GIRLS V. BASKETBALL - NORTH POCONO - HAHS GYM
  HAHS GYM Hazleton, PA 18201
  7:15 pm

📣 Hazleton Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• The First Step: Starting a Small Business in Pennsylvania (In-Person Seminar)
  Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce , 8 W Broad St suite m-1490 , Hazleton
  10:00 am
• Jennifer Barnasevitch: Smith Floral Holiday Arrangements — Hazleton Art League
  Hazleton Art League , 31 W Broad St , Hazleton
  6:00 pm

Friday December 12

• Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol
  Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts , 212 W Broad St , Hazleton
  7:00 pm

Sunday December 14

• Candy Mountain Malbec Roundtable
  Cellar Beast Winehouse , 139 Ash Cir , Andreas
  1:00 pm

Monday December 15

• Wilkes Barre Area Chorus
  Luzerne County, PA Calendar
  11:30 am

Tuesday December 16

• Greater Nanticoke Area High School Chorus
  Luzerne County, PA Calendar
  10:00 am
• Luzerne County Council Voting and Work Sessions
  Luzerne County, PA Calendar
  6:01 pm
• GIRLS V. BASKETBALL - NORTH POCONO - HAHS GYM
  HAHS GYM Hazleton, PA 18201
  7:15 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Group Therapy for Suicide Loss Survivors
  Luzerne County, PA Calendar
  5:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Dallas Area Middle School Chorus
  Luzerne County, PA Calendar
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Juan Soto insiste en jugar con el Licey
  Juan Soto no se quita el uniforme azul de la mente. El estelar jardinero de los Mets de Nueva York ha dejado clara su postura y no acepta un "no"… (Nextdoor Hazleton)
• Seasonal affective disorder is more than just the winter blues.
  If you are feeling depressed, reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional for help. If you need immediate assistance, help is available!… (Nextdoor )

• Pennsylvania State University posted a job opening for Part Time Continuing Education Instructor in Hazleton. Apply here.
• Michaels Stores posted a job opening for Seasonal Material Handler 1st/2nd Shift in Hazleton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hazleton here.

🗞 Nearby News

West Hazleton

• West Hazleton council adds 1 mill to tax rate (standardspeaker.com)

Ok Hazleton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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