The Wright Center: Dr. Hassan Joins As Teaching Hospitalist

A teaching hospitalist and physician has joined The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. 

Dr. Faiza Hassan will serve as a teaching hospitalist for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, supervising resident physicians in clinical learning environments across Northeast Pennsylvania, including Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and Geisinger Community Health Center.

In this role, Dr. Hassan will support program leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating curriculum for the internal medicine residency program, as well as mentoring resident learners and assessing their progress.

Additionally, Dr. Hassan will provide responsive and inclusive whole-person primary health services for individuals 18 and older, including checkups, physicals, screenings, and treatment of common illnesses and injuries at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. The community health center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

Dr. Hassan earned her medical degree from Fatima Jinnah Medical University in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. She moved to the United States in 2014 and completed her internal medicine residency at Central Michigan University Health in Saginaw, Michigan, in July 2025. The program focuses on training resident physicians for careers as hospitalists and primary care physicians.

Shapiro Administration Continues Safety Efforts with Roundabouts

Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that roundabouts continue to provide safe, efficient travel across the Commonwealth. Since 2005,104 roundabouts have been built to improve traffic flow and/or decrease crash severity, and more than 30 additional roundabouts are in various stages of design and construction across Pennsylvania.

“For us, it’s simple. Roundabouts remove cross-traffic turns and eliminate T-bone crashes, while improving traffic flow” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Any design that dramatically reduces the most serious crashes we see on the road is worthy of consideration in our projects.”

PennDOT finalized a data review through 2024 using 20 years of crash data from roundabouts around the state. Study findings showed that crashes with injuries were reduced by 51 percent and total crashes decreased by 7 percent. Pennsylvania data reflects national studies that found changing two-way sign-controlled intersections to a single-lane roundabout reduced injury crashes by more than 80 percent. Likewise, changing a signalized intersection to single-lane or multilane roundabout reduced crashes with injuries by up to 78 percent.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) lists roundabouts as a “Proven Safety Countermeasure” that improves safety by reducing vehicle speeds by angling incoming traffic. The crashes that do occur tend to be sideswipe crashes with vehicles traveling at slower speeds rather than T-bone or head-on collisions. Additionally, eliminating left turns across opposing traffic results in dramatically fewer injuries.

In addition to safety improvement, roundabouts carry, on average, approximately 30 percent more vehicles during peak traffic than similar intersections. In off-peak hours, roundabouts cause almost no delay, compared to traffic signals.

As roundabouts are constructed around the state, it is important to know how to correctly navigate them.

Here are a few key things to remember when navigating a roundabout:

  • Slow down and be prepared to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
  • Circulating traffic has the right of way. Look left and check for approaching traffic. If there are multiple circulating lanes, yield to both before entering. Do not assume the vehicle in the inside lane will stay there.
  • Do not stop while in the circulatory roadway, and always use your right turn signal to indicate your exit.

Click here for PennDOT’s data review

Click here for the national studies

Treasurer Garrity Announces Relief Funding for Children and Most Vulnerable Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced today that the Pennsylvania Treasury Department will make $500 million available for Pennsylvania’s Head Start providers and county governments through a short-term, investment loan effort designed to ease the financial burden being faced by these entities, which serve Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable populations, due to the lack of an enacted state budget.

“Our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, especially our children, should not suffer because of ongoing state budget negotiations in Harrisburg,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Pennsylvania’s taxpayers expect their hard-earned tax dollars to be put to work, not be put on hold. We should not stand by and watch Head Start providers and county-level agencies like those that provide mental and behavioral health support struggle to provide necessary services to families relying on them while they wait for a state budget that is nearly three months late. Treasury is here to do its part to bridge the gap until an agreement is reached.”

“We support the Treasurer’s bold leadership for this program that provides an important safety net to ensure counties can continue serving our communities without interruption, even during times of delayed state funding,” said Julie Wheeler, York County President Commissioner & Treasurer, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. “This initiative directly aligns with a resolution CCAP passed at our conference this past summer to support direct deposits from the State Treasury into county accounts.”

“In a time of financial distress for many counties, the Treasury’s offering of short-term, investment loans is a welcomed option,” said Kyle Kopko, Executive Director, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. “The uncertainty surrounding the state budget is putting immense pressure on Pennsylvania counties, and while this new opportunity may provide some relief, our prime emphasis continues to be urging the Governor and General Assembly to work together to finalize a budget without delay.” 

Treasury will make outreach directly to Head Start programs and county governments. Funds will be received within two business days of approval. Those who enter into a loan agreement will be required to pay back the initial Treasury investment plus a 4.5 percent annual interest rate within 15 days of state funds being released following the enactment of a state budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.

To be eligible for this program, Head Start providers and county governments must indicate the investment will be used for immediate operating expenses and agree to the loan’s standard terms and conditions.

“We have no greater responsibility than to take care of our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and that’s exactly what’s being achieved by making these funds available,” Treasurer Garrity said.

Click here to find the press conference

Treasurer Garrity Announces Fee Reduction for PA ABLE

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that a new fee reduction for PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account owners went into effect on Sept. 1, 2025 — the sixth PA ABLE fee reduction since she took office in 2021.

“Every dollar counts for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, and this latest fee cut is another step in making sure PA ABLE account owners are saving as much as possible,” Treasurer Garrity said. “PA ABLE is a tremendous program that helps our friends and neighbors with disabilities live more independently and build financial stability.”

This latest fee cut is the result of the National ABLE Alliance (NAA) surpassing $700 million in assets. PA ABLE is the largest member plan in the NAA with total assets of more than $175 million. The reduction of two basis points lowers program management fee ranges from 0.30%-0.36% to 0.28%-0.34%. This reduction results in about $35,000 in savings across the PA ABLE program.

PA ABLE offers tax-advantaged savings options for people with disabilities. Saving with PA ABLE does not impact eligibility for important benefits such as Supplemental Security Income and Medical Assistance. PA ABLE allows contributions of up to $19,000 annually. With ABLE to Work this limit may be higher for employed individuals who do not contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan.

Funds saved with PA ABLE are easily accessible and can be used for a wide range of disability-related expenses, from day-to-day things like groceries and rent, to bigger expenses like assistive technology, vehicle adaptations and more. No federal or state income tax is paid on PA ABLE account growth or withdrawals when used for qualified expenses.

Currently to save with PA ABLE, a person’s disability must be onset prior to the age of 26. Starting in 2026, this age rises to 46, expanding to include millions more Americans, including one million Veterans.

Marywood University Proudly Presents Lenape/Delaware Leader Curtis Zunigha As Speaker

Event Is Being Co-sponsored by Marywood and the University of Scranton

Curtis Zunigha (Lenape/Delaware) will present “Remembrance & Continuance: The Spirit of Lenapehoking” on Monday, October 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m., in the Latour Room, Nazareth Student Center, on the campus of Marywood University. The program is free and open to the public and is being co-sponsored by Marywood University and the University of Scranton.

Zunigha is an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians in Oklahoma, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He will discuss the return of the Lenape descendants to their original homeland, where he and other contemporary Lenape leaders from Delaware Tribal Nations are forming community partnerships that bring Indigenous knowledge to the area’s history and environmental advocacy.

Zunigha is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Lenape Center based in Manhattan, N.Y. The Lenape Center’s mission is continuing Lenapehoking, the original homeland, in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, through community, culture, and the arts. As Director of Agriculture for Lenape Center, Zunigha has initiated a Lenape Seed Garden Project in his home community in Oklahoma. The project will grow ancestral varieties of corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, gourds, and tobacco.

A specialist in Delaware/Lenape culture, language, and traditional practices, Zunigha has 35 years of experience in tribal government & administration, community development, telecommunications, and cultural preservation. He also has presented locally at the University of Scranton and at The Greenhouse Project in Nay Aug Park.

Mohegan PA Awarded Over $11.7 Million in August Jackpots

One Lucky Guest Hits Massive $150,000 Jackpot

Mohegan Pennsylvania was the place to be in August! Throughout the month, Mohegan Pennsylvania awarded more than $11.7 million in slot jackpots to its guests. Of that $11.7 million, one Mohegan Pennsylvania guest accounted for $150,000 on Wednesday, August 27th. The lucky guest was playing at a Konami Gaming Stuffed Coins Toad slot machine when they hit the massive GRAND progressive jackpot!

Marywood University Earns “Best Value” Recognition Among NEPA Colleges

Marywood University continues to offer the “Best Value” among Northeast Pennsylvania universities, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges ranking.

Moving up four places to #14 on the Regional Universities (North) rankings for “Best Value,” Marywood continues to demonstrate its exceptional affordability and academic excellence as the top regional four-year private university included in this category.

According to U.S. News, the “Best Value” ranking considers a school’s academic quality—the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included. U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.

In the “Best Colleges for Veterans” (Regional Universities North category), Marywood is ranked at #29. Marywood has consistently placed in the top 30 institutions for this category year over year. According to U.S. News, this designation includes the top-ranked schools in the 2026 Best Colleges rankings that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.

Marywood University also had a solid showing at #61 (tie) in its overall position on the “Best Regional Universities North” list, which includes institutions from seven states. Marywood is one of only four local universities to attain placement on this list, and the second highest ranked, demonstrating its enduring quality as a higher education provider in the region.

Additionally, Marywood placed in the top 100 for Top Performers on Social Mobility, ranking at #88 (tie) overall. Marywood is the only local university to place in the top 100 for this category. This includes institutions that are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants. The social mobility ranking also includes borrower debt and college graduates earning more than high school graduates.

Click here for additional information regarding Marywood University’s rankings in U.S. News & World Report

Johnson College Hazleton to Host Open House

Johnson College Hazleton will hold its Fall Open House on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the CAN DO Training Center located inside the Humboldt Industrial Park at 370 Maplewood Drive in Hazle Township.

To register for the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/hazletonopenhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

The event will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted, and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.

Johnson College to Host Fall Flower Design Workshop

Johnson College is now accepting registrations for its Fall Flower Design Workshop, a cozy, hands-on class where participants will create their own floral arrangement using seasonal blooms, rich colors, and natural textures. The workshop will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the college’s Scranton campus.

The cost is $40. Registration is available at johnson.edu/workshops. For more information, contact the college’s WAVE team at wave@johnson.edu or 570-702-8979.

This workshop is perfect for all skill levels and includes all materials, step-by-step instruction and a completed arrangement to take home and enjoy. Participants will explore the beauty of autumn through floral design, embracing creativity in a welcoming environment.

The workshop is open to individuals ages 10 and up, accompanied by a guardian. No prior experience is necessary, making it ideal for anyone interested in learning the art of flower arranging in a relaxed, seasonal setting.