The LuLac Edition #1026, Dec. 2nd, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: INFORMATION ON ENERGY FAIR FROM SENATOR BOB MELLOW (CLICK AD TO ENLARGE) AND SOON TO BE FORMER LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE MICHAEL TOOLE.

TOOLE TO GO

Luzerne County Judge Michael Toole has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of honest services fraud and filing a false income tax return. That announcement came from the U.S. Attorney's office announced today. According to a complaint filed today, Toole secretly communicated with an attorney to determine who that attorney wished to have appointed as an unbiased arbitrator in an under insured motorist case. The attorney, who is identified only as participant #1, had given Toole free use of a New Jersey beach house. Toole did not disclose that information to other parties involved in the arbitration case. Toole is also charged with failing to report $30,000 he received as a referral fee from another attorney on his income tax return in 2006. The plea agreement calls for Toole to resign from office within 10 days of acceptance of the plea. The crimes carry a maximum sentence of up to 23 years in prison. Earlier in this decade Toole won a Judicial seat by defeating another political family heir, Attorney Tom O’Connor for Luzerne County Judge in a hard fought primary. Toole rose to the bench after a career as a solicitor for the Wilkes Barre Area School board. His father was President Judge and a former District Attorney.

WYLN TV NEWS DONE

Received a communication that WYLN TV will discontinue their news broadcasts at the end of the year. WYLN TV 35 provided a wonderful community service for the Hazleton area and in my estimation had a very good 5pm news broadcast. I was associated with the station as a political analyst and am very sorry to hear that jobs will be lost. However a greater loss will be the presence of a true community partner in that neck of the county woods. Here's a video with their political team from this year's spring primary. One of the station's services to the community was wall to wall coverage on every election for 3 solid hours. That's pretty much gone and I can't see any local station willing to fill the void. God speed guys.