Penn State's future, drunken Iowa fans, program reboot, and a 14 hour game

WNEP morning meteorologist Joe Snedeker joins the News Engine Podcast to discuss, well, everything. 

Joe goes into detail about how he got his start at WNEP, when and why he began wearing shorts in the middle of winter, the rigors of the annual Go Joe bike ride, and why he can't sit still and battles a short attention span. It all adds up to a high-energy morning broadcast that has lasted over two- decades.

Joe shares his feelings about the work St. Joseph's Center does, how he handles any awkward moments that come with teasing his co-workers on the air, what he thinks of people who claim to be meteorologists but aren't, and how he really doesn't want to be the center of attention.

CLICK HERE to donate to St. Joseph's Center.

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Many people have seen Frank Dubas' creations. From his colorful umbrellas over Bogart Place to his community Gardens of Cedar, Dubas has been making Scranton a more colorful place while creating a splash on social media.

Learn more about how he did it and what's next.

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Rich Roman, District Executive for PennDOT’s Engineering District 4, joins the News Engine Podcast to discuss the 7.5-mile Interstate 81 widening project between Scranton and Avoca.

The enormous project will cost $500 million and take 10 years but it will be 5 years before crews start digging. Between now and then there's a lot of planning.

Rich takes us inside the expansion and discusses how traffic will be affected and what drivers and commuters can expect. He also discusses a similar 7-mile widening project for Luzerne County that's expected to start in two years.

We also couldn't resist the opportunity to give Rich some grief about the traffic circle near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and he breaks down for us why roundabouts can work.

If you travel on Interstate 81 in Lackawanna or Luzerne Counties this episode is a must-listen.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

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Carbondale native Earl Granville is a decorated Army veteran who served tours in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, famously losing his leg to a roadside bomb and his twin brother to suicide.

Earl joins the News Engine podcast to tell us about how he battles adversity and how he helps veterans and law enforcement, sharing insight into how his injury and the loss of his brother helped guide him toward the work he does today.

Earl shares the story of the loss of his leg in combat, his twin brother's suicide, and how those tragedies helped shape his life of service. When he's not competing in extreme and endurance events to promote well-being, Earl travels the country delivering his inspiring message of hope, wellness, and healthy ways to serve.

You can reach Earl at his Instagram handle @earlgranville or www.earlgranville.org.

You can also help any of the organizations Earl works with.

Operation Enduring Warrior www.enduringwarrior.org

Oscar Mike www.oscarmike.org

WarriorStrong www.WarriorStronginc.org

Achilles Freedom Team www.achillesinternational.org

Camp Freedom www.campfreedompa.org

Veterans Promise www.veteranspromisenepa.org

Valhalla Veterans Services www.valhallaveterans.com

You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

If you know someone who you'd like to hear on the News Engine podcast or would like to join us we'd love to hear your guest suggestions.

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Chris Murley and Dan Shurtleff have a love of coal mining and its history. They understand how mining helped shape the region and wanted to find a way to share their knowledge and love of anthracite mining with a new generation who may know little or nothing about the industry that helped build Northeast Pennsylvania.

The mining enthusiasts took one look at the long-forgotten Brooks Mine at Nay Aug Park and knew they found something special. Knowing the mine was perfect to rehabilitate and share with the public they now needed permission and funding.

They approached the City of Scranton for permission to enter and inspect the mine, and once inside they realized restoring the long-closed mine was possible. Their non-profit organization Underground Miners swung into action and began raising the funds needed to complete the work.

You can donate, volunteer or explore the history of anthracite mining at  Underground Miners or email the team at ugmanthracite@gmail.com

You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

If you know someone who you'd like to hear on the News Engine podcast or would like to join us we'd love to hear your guest suggestions.

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The Times-Tribune politics reporter Borys  Krawczeniuk breaks down the Primary election by taking a look at what happened to Jerry Notarianni and if reassessment was to blame.

Borys also digs into the emergence of Bill Gaughan onto the Lackawanna County stage, what Matt McGloin is going to need to learn to be a commissioner, and how local voters sought change and younger leadership.

Over the past several years Borys has been tracking a change in voter registration in Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania. The increase in the number of registered Republicans and a drop in the number of registered Democrats may have NEPA shifting toward purple instead of blue.

We also ask Borys about the changes voters made to the Scranton School Board, the re-emergence of Nibs Loughney in Dunmore, the first new mayor in Carbondale in almost 20 years, and what we can expect in November.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

If you know someone who you'd like to hear on the News Engine podcast or would like to join us we'd love to hear your guest suggestions.

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Former Lackawanna County District Attorney and Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate joins the News Engine Podcast for an extensive interview that details his rise to the top of county and state politics, his stunning fall, and his desire to reform prisons he helped fill.

You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

If you know someone who you'd like to hear on the News Engine podcast or would like to join us we'd love to hear your guest suggestions.

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Rev. Myron Myronyuk, the pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Scranton, has spent the past year on a personal mission to help purchase supplies for soldiers from his Ukraine homeland.  He purchases helmets, body armor, tourniquets, uniforms, boots, vehicles, drones, and medical supplies and ships everything to the front lines in Ukraine.

Father Myron speaks to the soldiers - including his twin brother Taras - weekly and offers spiritual and emotional support, confession, and therapy to the troops as he travels Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York for the supplies Ukrainian soldiers desperately need - all while running his parish on North 7th Avenue.

To support Ukraine's soldiers, people can send checks to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 430 N. 7th Ave., Scranton, PA 18503, or call (570) 342-7023

Read more about Father Myron's work HERE.

You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

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On Jan. 26, 1981, Scranton School Director Tommy Genova was running late for a school board meeting. He exited his car behind the district's administration building and was shot in the back, dying a few hours later.  Scranton Tribune reporter Lew Marcus was in the building covering the school board meeting when the shooting occurred and talks about that night and the years that followed.

Editor's note: During the episode, we refer to Tommy Genova's brother as a state trooper. The trooper mentioned was his cousin, not his brother.

You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

If you know someone who you'd like to hear on the News Engine podcast or would like to join us we'd love to hear your guest suggestions.

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After years as a teacher, principal, school superintendent, and founder and director of the Steamtown Marathon, Scranton City Council President settles into his new role just a year after being sworn in.

You can subscribe to the News Engine Podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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Contact News Engine: contactus@timesshamrock.com

If you know someone who you'd like to hear on the News Engine podcast or would like to join us we'd love to hear your guest suggestions.

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