Paul Sokoloski of The Express-Times returns to the Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre

Getting the band back together: Paul Sokoloski, a sports columnist at The Express-Times in Easton, is returning to Wilkes-Barre to work at his old paper, the Times Leader.

Express-Times reporter found dead in his apartment

Russ Flanagan, the 33-year-old cops and courts reporter at The Express-Times of Easton, was found by an editor dead in his apartment early Wednesday. The main story (linked above) contains links to a number of other pieces about Flanagan. No word on a cause of death.

Express-Times D.C. reporter to run for Congress

Easton doesn't exactly qualify as NEPA, but it's interesting news nonetheless. Read the memo:


TO: Staff
FROM: Joseph P. Owens, editor in chief

Longtime D.C. correspondent Bill Cahir submitted his resignation today and informed me he plans to run for Congress. Bill is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 5th District seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Rep John Peterson. The district includes Bill's native State College and big chunks of the state north and west of there. Bill's last day is today.

Bill has been covering D.C. for us since the late 1990s, first in partnership with our then-sister papers in York, Lebanon and Hanover Pa. and most recently with our sister papers in Woodbury, Bridgeton and Salem, N.J. As many of you know, Bill signed on with the Marine Corps shortly after 9/11 and has done two stints in Iraq. Aside from doing good work for us and numerous other newspapers in a very hectic environment, Bill is a really good guy. We'll miss him and his contributions.

We plan to begin the process of replacing Bill. It involves editors here and elsewhere, so I don't yet have a timetable. Anyone who wants to be considered for this job should drop me a note.