State News-Saturday, Dec. 16th

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - As state health officials take steps to prepare Pennsylvania for a possible flu pandemic, they're still struggling with some key questions. For one, how want to know how to ensure the state has an adequate supply of flu vaccine. The state estimates that a pandemic could strike an estimated 1-point-6 million Pennsylvanians.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania says he will visit Syria despite loud objections by the Bush administration. Specter says the situation in Iraq is so dire that it is time Congress step up to the plate and see what it can do. He and other Republicans are concerned that the administration's policies in the Middle East are not working.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Prosecutors say a FedEx worker allegedly stole bundles of Visa travelers checks that were later sold or cashed in New York City or at Atlantic City casinos. Josh Mehal has been charged with stealing 438-thousand dollars' worth of Visa travelers checks that were being shipped through the depot in Pittston where he worked in May 2002.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A gambling industry consultant says Pennsylvania's first slot-machine parlor paid out a lower percentage in its first two weeks than any other East Coast casino in November. The Spectrum Gaming Group says payouts to players at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs averaged just under 90 percent, below the 91 percent average on the East Coast.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sovereign Bancorp will cut 800 jobs, or about 7 percent of its work force, in the coming months as part of a 100 (M) million-dollar cost-saving plan. Of the Philadelphia-based thrift's cuts, 102 will be in Pennsylvania, mostly in Reading.