Today's News-Wednesday, November 28th

The Pennsylvania state flag will be lowered to half-staff to honor the memory of a fallen Pottsville soldier. Funeral services will be held this morning for Captain David Boris, who died from an explosion in Afghanistan. Governor Rendell has ordered all state flags at state-run buildings, and in the Capitol complex to be flown at half-mast today. Boris was a 1995 graduate of Pottsville High, and a 1999 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point.

A multi-vehicle crash in West Penn Township yesterday left several people hurt. According to reports, a vehicle operated by Esther Meier of New Ringgold failed to stop at a traffic light at Route 309 and 443. Her SUV hit a minibus driven by Richard Baudner of Lansford. The impact forced the SUV into Robert Warfel the Third's car as well during the spin. A female teenager had to be flown from the scene to Lehigh Valley Hospital. Two male students in the minibus had minor injuries, and four other children had to be taken for medical attention at a local hospital. The crash happened before 3:30pm yesterday.

State police are investigating a theft in Hegins Township over the weekend. Sometime between Sunday night and Monday, unknown persons entered the LS Geist Truck Repair garage on Goodspring Road. The burglars removed items, including a battery, a plow pump assembly and frame and two tractor trailer wheels, then drove off with the items in a stolen truck. The truck and items were recovered a few miles down the road. The thieves are believed to have been involved with a related incident in that area around the same time. The investigation is continuing.

An investigation is underway at the State Correctional Institution at Frackville about possible plans for a prison escape by inmates. The Republican and Herald says that officials at the prison confirmed that they are looking into a report of a possible escape. However, the plans apparently didn't get too far. Due to the nature of the investigation, details are limited. Prison authorities did report that the facility did not have to be locked-down.

A Cumbola man escaped injury after his car struck a parked car yesterday afternoon in Port Carbon. Kevin Mansfield was driving north on Market Street in the borough when his car veered off the road and struck the rear of a parked car owned by Alethea Viars. Her car was heavily damaged. Mansfield was able to drive from the scene.

A Quakertown man, charged with sexual assault, had his preliminary hearing yesterday. The 7-year-old who was allegedly assaulted appeared before District Judge Stephen Bayer, in the case against 27-year-old Jason Mullin. The assaults reportedly took place in Schuylkill County and Quakertown when the girl was 6 years old. The Morning Call reports that the child underwent examination from both prosecution and defense lawyers, trying to determine when and how many times the assaults occurred. District Judge Bayer ordered that Mullin be held for trial on charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and other offenses. A second charge of rape was dismissed. Mullin is free on bail pending trial. He is also facing similar charges in the county involving an 8 year old boy, from 2000.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Anyone fueling up a vehicle in Pennsylvania may have to begin handing over about one more penny per gallon. The Rendell administration says the money is needed to pay into an insurance fund to clean up leaking underground fuel tanks. The proposal would boost the fee from the current rate of 1.1 cents per gallon to 2 cents a gallon.

WYOMISSING, Pa. (AP) - A Berks County businessman is expected to plead guilty today to federal fraud charges. Prosecutors say Wesley Snyder of Oley victimized hundreds of homeowners with his now-defunct mortgage company. Snyder sold "wraparound" mortgages
to his customers. Six corporations Snyder owned abruptly filed for bankruptcy in September.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A suburban Pittsburgh beautician who helped a teenage girl change her looks so she could run away and live with a man 25 years her senior is scheduled for sentencing today in Allegheny County. Judith Sokol, of Duquesne, has already pleaded no contest to statutory sexual assault and related offenses.

ALBION, Pa. (AP) - Authorities have been interviewing friends and relatives of a convicted murderer who escaped from state prison. The prison that 53-year-old Malcolm Kysor escaped from on Sunday is about 20 miles southwest of Erie, where he used to live. A state police helicopter has joined the search for Kysor, augmenting vehicle and foot patrols near the prison.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Temple University executive will hold a critical post in the new Philadelphia mayor's administration. Mayor-elect Michael Nutter says Temple chief operating officer Clarence Armbrister will coordinate mayor's office activities and coordinate with other city government leaders as his chief of staff.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush hosts Israeli and Palestinian leaders today at the White House to mark the formal start of new peace talks between the two sides. Bush says without a hopeful vision for Palestinians, an entire generation could be lost "to radicals and extremists."

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) - Now that he's stepped down as army chief, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is ready to be sworn in as the nation's civilian leader. Musharraf handed over his ceremonial baton to his military successor today, ending more than 40 years in the army.

PENTAGON (AP) - A four-page memo from an army official instructs commanders to start calculating budget and personnel cuts because of the gridlock over war funding on Capitol Hill. The Army's operating funds will run out in mid-February unless Congress passes a war funding bill.

PARIS (AP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy is speaking out about violence that's rocked the suburbs of Paris for three days. He says rioters who shot at police will be brought to justice. Violence appears to be ebbing, but more cars were torched last night.

UNDATED (AP) - The father of slain NFL star Sean Taylor thinks the killer will one day come to grips with what he did and turn himself in. Pedro Taylor spoke outside his south Florida home, where friends and family fathered to grieve. Sean Taylor died yesterday after being shot in his home Monday. Police say they're looking at "every angle" in the investigation.