State News-Friday, Nov. 10th, 2006

Oley, Pa. (AP) - Police say a sport-utility vehicle and a tractor-trailer collided early today in Berks County, killing four people and closing Route 662. Officials say the accident occurred about 1 a-m at Route 662 and Covered Bridge Road in Oley Township. The names of the victims haven't yet been released as police continue to investigate. Meanwhile, traffic is moving again on the Schuylkill Expressway in Philadelphia, where the eastbound lanes were closed until shortly after 4 a-m as crews cleared a crash that killed two people. Officials say one vehicle was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the expressway, I-76, causing the deadly collision near the Girard Avenue exit.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - In what might be called the year of the pay-raise payback, 24 state lawmakers have been ousted this year -- including eight in the election on Tuesday. The latest incumbent to lose is Representative Tom Gannon. The Associated Press yesterday declared that the Delaware County lawmaker was beaten by Bryan R. Lentz. Three other Philadelphia-area races remain undecided and hinge on absentee and provisional ballots. A Montgomery County election official says vote tabulation will begin Monday in the race between Republican Jay Moyer and Democrat Netta Young Hughes. Moyer leads by 69 votes. In Chester County, Republican Shannon E. Royer holds a preliminary lead of 19 votes over Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith. Also in Chester County, Republican Duane Milne leads Democrat Anne R. Crowley by 136 votes. Many incumbents lost because of voter anger over a now-repealed pay raise that lawmakers gave themselves.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The state Health Department says a 20-month-old child in Philadelphia has Pennsylvania's first confirmed case of influenza this season. Health officials are reminding people to get their flu shots, which are recommended for children between six months and five years old, and anyone over 50 years old. Last year, flu season in Pennsylvania began in October and peaked in early March.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The staffing changes continue at Philadelphia's largest newspapers. A former New York Times executive yesterday was named executive vice president of the company that owns The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News. Before joining Philadelphia Newspapers L-L-C, Gordon Medenica supervised news operations as a consultant to Brian Tierney, the newspapers' new publisher. Medenica is a former head of strategic
planning at The New York Times Company. Also yesterday, Michael S. Miller resigned as chief financial officer of Philadelphia Newspapers. Miller says he is leaving for a job at an educational video company in Wynnewood.
The moves are the latest in a series of changes since Tierney's investment group bought the papers in June.
On Wednesday, the Inquirer announced that Bill Marimow would replace Amanda Bennett as editor.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Tickets are now on sale for the King Tut exhibition coming to Philadelphia's Franklin Institute Science Museum next year. The exhibit, titled "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," will feature treasures found in the tomb of the Egyptian "boy king" Tutankhamun. It will run from February third to September 30th, 2007. Franklin Institute president and C-E-O Dennis M. Wint says the museum has already received ticket requests from 32 states. Tickets are timed and dated, and The Franklin Institute recommends advance purchase.