Bob's STORIES
Here's some of my top stories:
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
I was invited to join The White House Press Pool for President Trump's visit to Northeastern Pennsylvania on Aug. 2, 2018. Got to see Air Force One up close and travel in presidential motorcade.
Behind the scenes: Motorcade a surreal experience
VICE PRESIDENT STUMP SPEECH
Led the coverage of the local visit of Vice President Mike Pence, who came to campaign for a GOP congressional candidate. V-P Pence visits NEPA to campaign
PENCE VISITS TO TOUT USMCA TRADE DEAL
Bob was there when Vice President Mike Pence visited the 2020 battle ground of Luzerne County to tout the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and blast former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic front runner. Pence talks trade, calls out Biden, Dems in Duryea.
EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE JOE BIDEN'S PRIVATE FUNDRAISER IN NEPA
Former Vice President Joe Biden came to his native Northeast Pennsylvania to raise money for his 2020 presidential campaign. Bob had the best seat in the house as the invited guest of the event's top donor. Biden reflects on roots, slams Trump at Exeter fundraiser.
75-YEAR SALUTE
To mark the 75th anniversary of World War II, Bob interviewed five World War II veterans and the son of another for a six part series that concluded Aug. 14, 2020 - the 75th anniversary since the end of the war was announced in the United States. Read the series here: 75-Year Salute
MR. PEANUT, BORN HERE IN WILKES-BARRE, DEAD AT 104
Mr. Peanut, the iconic mascot and logo of global snack company Planters Peanuts, is killed off by the company, which was created in Wilkes-Barre in 1906. Iconic Planters mascot Mr. Peanut, a W-B native, dead at 104. UPDATE: Planters brings back original Mr. Peanut
WORLD PREMIERE OF MARTIN SCORSESE EPIC 'THE IRISHMAN':
Bob was one of the first people in the world to see the new mob movie, The Irishman, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. The movie, based on an alleged true story, claims a little known but powerful Kingston, Pa. mob boss (Pesci) ordered the hit on labor leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) and Frank 'The Irishman' Sheeran (De Niro) completed the task. Media gets first look at gangster movie 'The Irishman'
LOST BUT LOVED: FACES OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Following a record year of fatal drug overdoses, Bob supervised a 12-part series on the local opioid epidemic in Luzerne County. We called the series “Lost But Loved” since many of our stories focused on their survivors. We wanted to put human faces to the statistics provided by the coroner’s office.
The pages can be found at: LOST BUT LOVED
JOURNEY TO JUSTICE: MASS KILLER FINALLY CONVICTED
The lead investigator in a sensational homicide case that fascinated Northeast Pennsylvania for years sits down with Bob for an interview following a long-awaited guilty verdict. After beating a double-murder case in 2005, notorious Hugo Selenski - who gained fame for a prison escape - was found guilty in February 2015. Journey to justice: Investigator reveals intimate details of Selenski case.
PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE WINNER
We were there when the "Prize Patrol" Publishers Clearing House notified a woman she won $1 million and $5,000 a week for life.
Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol delivers big prize to W-B Twp. woman
CHAPPAQUIDICK MOVIE
We caught up with survivors of Mary Jo Kopechne and asked them what they thought of the movie about her death in Sen. Ted Kennedy's car.
Local family of Kennedy crash victim reacts to new movie
CRISIS AT CANAAN
A year-long investigation into the murder of a federal correctional officer at the hands of a gang assassin already serving life in prison for murder.
Free to kill: A ruthless inmate, a lack of discipline, an avoidable death
RAT POISON KILLER'S RELEASE
As notorious killer exits prison after 20 years, the man who prosecuted her reveals many inside details of the sensational rat poison murder case and reasons behind key decisions.
Notorious killer will be a free woman today
SALUTE TO SERVICE
Bob pens column about a yearlong project on World War II veterans - 70-Year Salute. He dedicated the project to his grandfather, a Navy veteran who died in 2006. A salute to those who served
70-YEAR SALUTE
Here's a link to the 48-page special section Bob created for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. The pages can be found at: 70-YEAR SALUTE
LOOKING BACK 40 YEARS - THE STRIKE THAT STARTED THE CITIZENS' VOICE
Bob interviews the strikers who created The Citizens' Voice newspaper in 1978, making Wilkes-Barre a two newspaper town. The Strike That Launched the Citizens’ Voice.
INTERVIEW WITH THE 'FATHER OF INTRAVENOUS FEEDING'
Bob meets up with Dr. Stanley Dudrick, who invented total parenteral nutrition, or TPN, which is considered one of the most important breakthroughs in modern surgery. Influential area doctor to be celebrated in Nanticoke UPDATE: People around world mourn death of legendary doctor
PENNSYLVANIA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY
Pennsylvania is trying to get a jump-start on America’s 250th birthday party and a Luzerne County woman will be leading the effort. County woman will lead state’s celebration of nation’s 250th birthday.
Bob Kalinowski has worked at The Citizens' Voice newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pa for 17 years.