Today's News-Thursday, January 17th

A Berks County man who is in state prison for trying to put a hit on the former Schuylkill County DA and others was in Schuylkill County court yesterday, looking for a new trial. Forrest Pawling, Reading, who was convicted on charges of solicitation to commit homicide and arson in 2006, had a hearing yesterday. He believes that his attorney, John Adams, was not effective in representing him at the time by not having him testify in his own defense. Adams was elected Berks County DA in November. Pawling attempted to hire someone to kill former county DA Frank Cori and eight others in 2004, according to the Republican and Herald. Pawling said that his cellmate at the county prison, Paul Eline, was the one who planned the killings, and Pawling feared for his life if he didn't comply. Adams stated that he was unable to corroborate Pawling's story. Attorney James Conville of Schuylkill Haven is now representing Pawling, and says that his client deserves a new trial because of ineffective representation by Adams. Judge Jacqueline Russell, who presided over Pawling's original case, did not rule on the request yesterday.

As expected, Chief Deputy Sheriff Harold Rowan has been promoted to Acting Sheriff. The promotion was effective last Monday and announced during Wednesday's County Commissioners meeting. Rowan came out of retirement to become chief deputy Sheriff when former Sheriff Frank McAndrew was elected county commissioner in November. He was named Acting Sheriff when McAndrew resigned to become a County Commissioner and has agreed to serve as Sheriff until Governor Rendell appoints a new one. McAndrew explained the process for appointing a new sheriff to serve his unexpired term which has two years left…….
McAndrew (0684)…..
Rowan's salary was set at $50,526. In other business, Darlene Laughlin of Pottsville was transferred from Assistant County Clerk to Acting County Clerk in the commissioners office at an annual salary of $34,269 and Marc Freligh of Pottsville was appointed Acting Assistant County Clerk at a salary of $23,960.

Acting to help Pennsylvania parents afford college education for their children, Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) today introduced bills that will cap tuition increases at the rate of inflation in the Commonwealth’s state-supported colleges and universities. "A college education is not just a dream anymore, it is a ticket to good jobs and a fulfilled life," Rhoades said. "But we can’t keep telling people that a college education is a ticket to success if they can’t afford to buy it. "We need to do something about it. Today." According to Rhoades, tuition increases over the past fifteen years have averaged 5.5%, nearly double the rate of inflation over that same period. Rhoades’ bills would cap annual tuition increases for the four state-related universities, the fourteen universities in the State System of Higher Education and the fourteen community colleges at the annual inflation rate. Any college that acts to increase tuition by more than the inflation rate would forfeit its state appropriations. "For years, I have been encouraging our colleges to hold down their tuition increases," Rhoades said. "Now, I am not asking them. I am telling them." According to Rhoades, the General Assembly spent $1.2 billion on Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities in 2007. "There is no way that we can allow the price of tuition to put a college education out of reach for people who want to work for a better life," Rhoades said. "This has to stop. We can do something about this. And we can make sure that not a single Pennsylvanian gets left behind.”

Frackville police are investigating a burglary in the borough earlier this week. Monday morning, police were notified that someone broke into the David Kehler rental properties on North Railroad Avenue through a basement door, and cut and removed copper tubing and wires. Frackville police remind property owners to keep their buildings secured and to keep a check on them, since these types of thefts are increasing. If anyone has information, contact Frackville police at 874-2040.

Pottsville Area school district is presented with 1 thousand dollars from the Lions Club. At the monthly school board meeting held last evening, the district was given the money as a token of the Pottsville Cruise committee's appreciation for the use of its grounds during the 2007 cruise. In other business, Kevin Corby was appointed as the Freshman Boy’s basketball coach while Jenna DeMarkis, Robert Price, and Sue Pierdon were appointed as assistant swimming coaches. The district also approved the payment of 48 thousand 1 hundred 52 dollars to the IU 29 and 6 hundred 38 thousand 2 hundred 40 dollars to the Schuylkill Technology Center for their services in the upcoming 2008- 2009 school year. This is a decrease of over 4 thousand dollars from the current term. To conclude the meeting, the board recognized the achievement of the high school student council which raised over 2 thousand 8 hundred dollars in their annual Penny a week fundraising drive, which purchased gifts for 142 needy families.

Ground is officially broken on the Solar Innovations manufacturing plant in Pine Grove. The $9.7 million dollar project will bring 48 jobs to the area while maintaining the 58 current employees from the former Myerstown location in Lebanon County. The formal occasion was the culmination of about 2 years of planning and a cooperative effort with SEDCO, and was made possible in part by a $1.68 million dollar PIDA loan. Solar Innovations specializes in the manufacture and installation of sloped overhead glazing products including greenhouses, conservatories, skylights, and folding glass walls. The owner and president Greg Header, looks to finish construction on the plant in about 7 months at which time the company will double its current production level. He is also hopeful about a new start in Schuylkill County and thankful for the support he has received here.
HEADER (heeder)

PROPERTY TAXES
In flurry of votes, Pa. House advances billions in tax cuts
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - When writing the state budget, Pennsylvania House members have to figure out how to pay for new spending. But a tax-cutting frenzy broke out in the House with lawmakers not figuring out what to cut from the budget to avoid a huge deficit. The House stampeded through one tax break after another on
Wednesday. Lawmakers gave preliminary approval to breaks on everything from cell phones and business profits to inheritances and pet adoptions. Among other things, lawmakers voted for a billion-dollar cut in the personal income tax. House Republican Leader Sam Smith says tax cuts of this magnitute are "probably not realistic." But he says the votes send an important message to Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell about the
mood in the House as budget negotiations approach.

RENDELL-BLOOMBERG
Bloomberg, Rendell to appear in LA, sparking ticket talk
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell says not to read too much into the governor's plans to appear with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. They are to appear in Los Angeles on Saturday with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. They say it's to discuss issues involving the public infrastructure. Bloomberg is considering an independent presidential run. But Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo says Saturday's appearance in Los Angeles doesn't mean Rendell will be Bloomberg's running mate if he
should run. Ardo says it's just two governors and a mayor who are concerned about infrastructure.
Rendell, a Democrat, is a political maverick. He delivered most of his ambitious first-term agenda by building coalitions in a Legislature controlled by Republicans.

TREASURER-DIVESTITURE
Pa. treasury policy prompts divestiture
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's state treasurer says selling off investments in a company that does business in Sudan isn't just the right thing to do. Treasurer Robin Wiessmann says the investments are unacceptably risky from a business perspective. Her office says one risk is a potential Sudanese government takeover of company assets. Specifically, Wiessmann says she will divest the state's $1.2 million stake in China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. because its operations in Sudan. Her office also is considering selling its
nearly $14 million investment in two other companies with operations in Sudan. Sudan's government is under growing international pressure to stop violence in its Darfur region.

STATE BUILDINGS-SALES
Pa. sells Philadelphia state office building for $25 million
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - About 900 state employees are expected to leave the state office building in Philadelphia late this year or early next year. The building is being sold for $25.2 million so it can be
converted into residences and retail stores. Gov. Ed Rendell says the move will save the state $30 million
over 20 years. He says it will be far cheaper to lease office space than to maintain and repair the nearly 50-year-old, 19-story building. The president of Tower Investments, which is buying the building, says the area is on its way up. He says the building at Broad and Spring Garden streets will complement the company's
development near Temple University, about a mile north. A 16-story state building in Pittsburgh is also being sold for similar reasons.

GRADUATION EXAMS
Grad-test rules head to Pa. state board
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A committee of the State Board of Education has endorsed new high school graduation rules. They would make students pass a series of state-sanctioned tests before they can graduate. The panel voted unanimously to send the plan to the full board, which will consider it Thursday. Students would have to pass tests covering English, math, science and social studies during their high-school years, starting with the class of 2014. The new rules won't become official until they undergo a review that can take as long as a year. Supporters say the plan will create a uniform set of graduation standards for all school districts. Critics say it will force teachers to spend too much time on test preparation.

HOME HEATING AID
$450 million in federal home heating aid given to states
WASHINGTON (AP) - Pennsylvania is getting more than $44 million in emergency relief funds from the federal government to help needy residents pay heating bills. Lawmakers and heating aid advocates had pressed President Bush to provide additional funding to states through the Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program. It was feared that due to record oil prices, some states would soon run out of money to distribute through the program. The top recipient is New York, which receives $82 million.
Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Ohio each receive $25 million or more.

KUTZTOWN-FACULTY UNREST
NEW: Kutztown faculty may vote on president
KUTZTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Faculty union leaders plan a meeting Jan. 31 to discuss a possible vote of no confidence in Kutztown University president Javier Cevallos. Teachers are complaining about quality-of-education issues including larger classes. And they say faculty working conditions nclude having to share offices in what once were lounges, conference rooms, closets and even, in at least one case, a shower stall.
Union executive committee member Kevin Mahoney says Cevallos has been unwilling to sit down and collaborate on solutions. He says faculty from each department will be asked to report where they stand by mid-February, and a vote could be scheduled early in March. University spokesman Matt Santos says Cevallos is open to working with everyone in the university community, and is committed to improving the school.

SCHOOL FIRE
NEW: Fire damages Philadelphia high school
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - No school Thursday for students at Philadelphia's Martin Luther King High School.
Students were sent home early on Wednesday afternoon after a fire in the school. Officials say classes for Thursday have been canceled. The fire started just before noon in a classroom on the third floor of the school in the city's West Oak Lane section. The blaze was under control within a half-hour, but it took firefighters another hour or so to ventilate the building. No injuries were reported, and officials are trying to determine
how the fire started. A spokeswoman for the Philadelphia School District calls the fire "serious."

FIREFIGHTER KILLED
Pa. firefighter, under suspension, dies from fire in own home
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - A volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician is dead from a fire at his own home. The Lycoming County coroner says 23-year-old Scott Wettlaufer died from smoke inhalation. It happened Wednesday morning in Hepburn Township near Cogan Station. At the time of his death, Wettlaufer was on suspension from the fire department. He had been accused of stealing a computer and a
cell phone and was facing a preliminary hearing on those charges Wednesday afternoon. There was no immediate word on what caused the fire in a mobile home at Brass' Trailer Park.

RAP PROMOTER-KINGPIN
UPDATE: Feds: Philly rap promoter, echoing video, led violent drug empire
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A jury has been seated in federal court in Philadelphia for the trial of rap promoter Alton Coles. Coles plays a feared drug lord in a rap music video about a violent drug kingpin named "Ace Capone." The jury will decide whether Ace Capone is in fact Coles' alter ego. A 194-count indictment charges that Coles ran a drug empire that moved $25 million worth of powder and crack cocaine through the
Delaware Valley from 1997 to 2005. According to prosecutors, Coles laundered the illicit cash through his record company, Take Down Records, then used it to maintain a lavish lifestyle. The 34-year-old Coles denied any connection between life and art in a phone interview from jail with The Philadelphia Inquirer last
year. The trial is expected to last about two months.

PITTSBURGH-MOVIE
NEW: New movie to shoot in Pa.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron and Viggo Mortensen are expected to spend several weeks in southwestern Pennsylvania shooting a movie. The Pittsburgh Film Office and the production company, 2929 Entertainment, say "The Road" will shoot in the region for eight weeks starting in late February. Filming also will take place in Oregon and Louisiana. "The Road" is based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set in a post-apocalyptic America. The film also stars Australian actor Guy Pearce. Theron won an Oscar for the film "Monster." Mortensen appeared in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and was seen most recently as a Russian mobster in "Eastern Promises."

"MADE" PARADE
NEW: Bethlehem library hosts "Made" casting
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - Rather than encyclopedias or the latest thriller, the next long line at the Bethlehem Area Public Library is likely to be for a shot at MTV fame. The library will host a casting call for the MTV reality show "Made." Young people who want to be something, whether it's class president or sports hero, are paired with trainers, coaches and mentors to help them reach their goals. Special events manager Lisa Holzinger says library officials also hope the 15- to 21-year-old television hopefuls will stick around and check out the library's offerings. Young people are already working on wish lists. Easton Area High
School junior Brielle Collins says she wants to play basketball. Liberty High junior Arianna Lightfoot plays saxophone and throws shot put and discus, but now says she has "always wanted to be a race car driver." The MTV interviews are scheduled Feb. 2.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - President Bush will be on the phone to congressional leaders today in an effort to help work out a compromise on an economic stimulus package. Meanwhile, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke will be testifying on the economy before the House Budget Committee today.

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidates are fighting over Social Security fixes. Barack Obama wants wealthier Americans to contribute more to the system in avoid cutting benefits. Rival Hillary Clinton claims Obama's plan amounts to a trillion-dollar tax hike.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - A Navy helicopter crash in Texas has left three crew members dead and another hospitalized in critical condition. The helicopter crashed in flames in a farm field during a routine training mission last night.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - O.J. Simpson is expected to fly back to Miami today after being released from a Las Vegas jail last night. At a hearing yesterday, a judge allowed Simpson out on bond again in a robbery case, despite an earlier violation.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - It's another milestone victory for college basketball's "General." Bob Knight became the first men's Division I coach to get 900 wins. It came in Texas Tech's upset victory over 10th-ranked Texas A&M. Knight says he's just "glad it's over."