The COVID-19 pandemic and the presidential election dominated the storylines throughout 2020, but there are other stories beyond those that had an impact on our region. Here is a look
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Election-related issues featured prominently in the news throughout 2020 in Luzerne County.
Sweeping changes to Pennsylvania election law took effect this year, including the implementation of âno-excuseâ mail-in voting.
The primary and general elections were held in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a flood of requests for mail-in ballots.
The county unveiled a new secure voting system, which was only partially implemented in the primary because of pandemic-related concerns.
An incident at the county bureau of elections drew nationwide attention and led to a federal investigation.
President Donald Trump, a Republican, and his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, made campaign stops in the region leading up to a hotly contested presidential election.
A total of 2,087 people took COVID-19 tests in the five days a testing site operated at Mohegan Sun Pocono resort and casino, according to the Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency.
The drive-thru testing site in the parking lot of the Plains Twp. resort opened last Friday and closed Tuesday. A steady stream of vehicles entered and exited the lot each day.
The contractor that administered the nasal swab tests, AMI Expeditionary Health Care, will provide a breakdown of day-by-day testing numbers, said Dave Elmore, the countyâs assistant emergency management director.
Daily totals were not available as of Wednesday. Elmore previously said that 369 tests were administered on Friday, while 391 people were tested on Saturday.
Luzerne County is accepting applications for the position of director of elections, and we know the name of one person who applied.
Former county election director Leonard Piazza confirmed Tuesday that he applied to get his former job back. Current election director Shelby Watchilla announced her resignation last week, effective Christmas Day.
Piazza was fired as election director in April 2012 by then-county Manager Robert Lawton, two weeks before a presidential primary and less than four months after the countyâs home rule form of government took effect.
Last year, prior to county Manager David Pedri appointing Watchilla to the top spot in the county bureau of elections, Piazza hand-delivered his resume and application to the county board of elections at a board meeting.