The Times Leader was steadily returned to its position of prominence as the leading daily in Luzerne County, both in editorial quality and paid circulation.

[citation needed] The Times Leader became known around the US as a growth platform for young journalists, photographers, and newspaper executives.

Duncan was followed by Mark Contreas who worked in several executive capacities with the Pulitzer Company before become head of the newspaper division for Scripps.

It started publishing a half-dozen zoned weekly sections for different parts of metro Wilkes-Barre, affectionately called the "Baby Leaders."

It also actively battled the Hazleton Standard-Speaker in southern Luzerne County with a heavily staffed bureau and daily zoned metro section.

On June 26, 2006, McClatchy announced its sale of the Times Leader to Connor and investors including Frank Henry, Charles Parente, and HM Capital Partners, a Texas equity fund that seeks "investment opportunities in middle-market, cash generative businesses that have strong competitive positions with significant value creation opportunities."

In 2007, to celebrate its 100-year anniversary, the Times Leader engaged in a circulation-building initiative in which it agreed to donate some proceeds to local charities.

Behind its dynamic writers and photographers the Times Leader has gone on to win more Keystone Press Awards than any daily newspaper in the Wyoming Valley area.