WILKES-BARRE—Wyoming County residents will have increased access to critical health care services as the Pennsylvania Department of Health opened a State Health Center in Tunkhannock this week.

Secretary of Health Debra Bogen participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Wyoming County State Health Center in its new location at 608 Hunter Hwy, Suite #2, Tunkhannock.

“State Health Centers are a bridge to health care, providing many public health services to Pennsylvanians and linking those who need more comprehensive care to local providers,” said Secretary Bogen. “Whether you need a flu shot, vaccines for your child, or confidential STI testing and treatment, your local State Health Center is a great place to start if you don’t have a primary health care provider in your community.”

The Wyoming County State Health Center is now more accessible to public transportation at its new location and shares a plaza with the Wyoming County Assistance Office.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health oversees 59 State Health Centers in counties throughout the Commonwealth.

These clinics offer several health services for free, including:

• Confidential testing, counseling, and treatment for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).

• Tuberculosis (TB) testing and treatment.

• Naloxone.

• Condoms.

• Gun locks.

• COVID-19 take-home tests.

• Health education materials.

Immunizations are also available for people who are uninsured and under-insured. Health care providers at State Health Centers make referrals to local health care and social services for people with needs beyond what the center is equipped to provide.

All of Pennsylvania’s State Health Centers are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meuser supports HALT Fentanyl Act

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, voted this week in favor of S. 331 — the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, more commonly known as the HALT Fentanyl Act.

Meuser said the HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify fentanyl analogues as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act, replacing the current temporary designation set to expire in September.

He said the bill also streamlines registration for researchers working with Schedule I substances, removes unnecessary barriers to critical research, and allows for individual analogues to be exempted from Schedule I if supported by scientific evidence.

Meuser said it ensures that medical practitioners and researchers can continue studying fentanyl-related substances to better understand their effects on human health, while also giving law enforcement the tools needed to halt this epidemic.

The fentanyl crisis continues to devastate communities across Pennsylvania and the nation. In 2023 alone, fentanyl was linked to a staggering 76% of Pennsylvania’s overdose deaths, underscoring the urgent need for decisive action.

“For too long, traffickers have exploited loopholes — tweaking chemical compounds to stay one step ahead of the law while continuing to flood our communities with deadly drugs,” Meuser said. “The HALT Fentanyl Act puts an end to that. By permanently scheduling fentanyl-related substances, we’re giving law enforcement the authority and tools they need to go after traffickers and shut down these operations.

“This builds on the important progress made under President Trump to slow the flow of illegal drugs through our borders and strengthens our ability to combat the crisis at every level. It also ensures researchers can continue developing life-saving treatments and countermeasures. This is a serious, bipartisan step toward protecting our communities and ending the fentanyl epidemic.”

Meuser said the U.S. House of Representatives voted and passed S. 331 — the HALT Fentanyl Act — this week by a margin of 321 to 104, with all Pennsylvania Republicans voting in favor of the legislation.

The bill now heads to President Trump to be signed into law.

Flynn announces funding for Family Literacy Direct Service Grants

State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, announced this week that two community-based education organizations in Northeast Pennsylvania — United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Luzerne County Community College — have been awarded a combined total of $781,200 through the Family Literacy Direct Service Grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

“This grant empowers both generations by making education a shared experience,” said Flynn. “Parents have the opportunity to return to the classroom, while their children begin their own educational journey with a strong foundation. These are the kinds of investments that lift up entire communities and create lasting pathways to opportunity.”

Flynn said the funding will support literacy programs that help parents and caregivers strengthen their reading, writing, and workforce skills while also promoting early childhood education for their children. These services are designed to uplift entire families as a unit, improve educational outcomes, and increase access to economic mobility.

This grant is part of a statewide investment of more than $3.6 million to expand access to family literacy services across Pennsylvania. Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has dedicated over $10.6 million to support these programs. The Governor’s proposed 2025–26 budget includes a request for an additional $6 million in adult and family literacy funding.

Institutions receiving the Family Literacy Direct Service Grant include:

• United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County: $403,000 to support adult and family literacy education, including reading and writing skill development, early childhood learning and parent education services.

• Luzerne County Community College: $378,200 to provide comprehensive family literacy programming that integrates adult education, early learning, and parent-child engagement activities.