State News-Wednesday, Nov. 1st

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Results of two new statewide polls on the Pennsylvania governor's race and U-S Senate race are to be released this morning. One is the Keystone Poll, which was conducted by Franklin and Marshall College on behalf of several Pennsylvania news organizations. Results are coming out at 6 a-m. Half an hour later, results of another survey are to be released. That poll from Quinnipiac University has a larger sample of Pennsylvanians who say they are likely to cast ballots in Tuesday's election.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - U-S Senator Rick Santorum pledges to continue opposing the estate tax and picked up awards from two groups that want to eliminate it. Democratic challenger Bob Casey says he wants to reform the tax to help family farms and small businesses.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - In front of a room full of college students, Governor Ed Rendell touted proposals on renewable energy and his record on job growth. But he received his warmest reception on a topic that hit close to home: the minimum wage. Legislation signed by Rendell in July increased Pennsylvania's minimum wage by two dollars an hour. It's currently five dollars and 15 cents an hour. Rendell urged students to vote. Although Rendell is well ahead of challenger Lynn Swann in opinion polls, Rendell said those polls can't always be trusted and noted that many races are tight.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Bad news for Representative Curt Weldon and good news for two other Republican congressmen in the Philadelphia suburbs. The National Republican Congressional Committee is cutting back on spending for Weldon, who's ensnared in a federal corruption probe, and appears to be putting that money into more competitive races. They include the re-election campaigns of U-S Representatives Michael Fitzpatrick and Jim Gerlach. In contrast to the Republican strategic retreat, House Democrats are expanding the number of districts where they are advertising. It's an indication of confidence that the election is moving their way. In recent days, they have moved into districts in Kansas and Nebraska that have long been in G-O-P hands.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Governor Ed Rendell is expected to sign two major pieces of legislation today in Philadelphia. One bill will make numerous changes to the state's slot-machine gambling law in an effort to improve oversight and strengthen anti-corruption measures. The other bill will require lobbyists to disclose what they spend to influence public policy, and wipe away Pennsylvania's distinction as the only state without such a law.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Hazleton's laws cracking down on illegal immigrants had been scheduled to go into effect today until a federal judge's ruling stopped that. Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta says he isn't discouraged by yesterday's ruling. Barletta says he's confident that the courts will ultimately rule in favor of the measures approved by City Council last month. The measures fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny business permits to companies that employ them. The judge says landlords, tenants and businesses that cater to Hispanics faced "irreparable harm" from the laws. He says the laws may not be enforced until at least November 14th while he considers legal arguments. The lawsuit comes from the American Civil Liberties Union and several Hispanic groups.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jury deliberations should begin today in the Philadelphia pier collapse trial. In closing arguments, the prosecutor said the defendants only authorized cheap, cosmetic repairs despite dire warnings. Defense lawyers told jurors their clients were never warned and were being used as scapegoats. They asked jurors not to convict their clients just to get somebody punished for the 200 collapse that killed three young women. The prosecution's star witness is an engineer who testified that he warned the defendants of the danger. The defense says he's lying to cover up his own culpability.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Nearly three dozen people face fraud charges after federal authorities set up a phony chiropractic clinic in Philadelphia as part of a sting operation. The U-S Attorney says the clinic focused on personal-injury claims from supposed automobile accidents. Authorities say a lawyer, Jordan Luber, obtained a legal settlement on behalf of two F-B-I agents posing as injured patients from a traffic accident. The 35 people charged also include 31 who allegedly sought payments based on false diagnoses and nonexistent treatment. The
others are accused of getting fees from the clinic for bringing in phony patients.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Union leaders at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News have agreed with the papers' new owners to maintain the status quo for a month. If that hadn't happened, a strike could have begun today. The new owners say revenues aren't what they expected and they need to cut back. Union leaders say cutbacks should be done by buyouts instead of layoffs -- or if layoffs are absolutely needed, they should be done by seniority.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Justice Department says it has suspended an antitrust investigation into Entercom Communications Corporation's purchase of several New York radio stations. That's because the Bala Cynwyd based company said it would sell three stations to comply with media ownership rules. The Justice Department had been looking into Entercom's 262 (m) million dollar purchase of 15 radio stations from C-B-S Corporation. They are in Austin, Texas; Cincinnati; Memphis, Tennessee; and Rochester New York The investigation centered on Rochester, where Entercom already owned four radio stations, one A-M and three F-M. The acquisition would hand over four more F-M stations in the area -- meaning Entercom would control more than half the radio ad market.