Today's News-Tuesday, January 15th

A possible environmental problem was averted last night when diesel fuel leaked onto the highway near St. Clair. A tractor trailer traveling on Route 61 apparently hit a rock and busted a fuel line, causing the spill onto the highway. According to the Republican and Herald, quick work by firefighters to spread absorbent kitty litter on the road prevented the fuel from running into Mill Creek. DEP officials were on the scene to survey any possible environmental impact. Wal Mart provided bags of the litter to help in the cleanup. A HazMat team will be in to finish clean up today. The spill happened before 6pm.

A North Manheim Township man is jailed after making false reports to police about a shooting in Orwigsburg. Authorities say that 48-year-old Keith Dewitt called 9-1-1 Sunday afternoon, stating that there was shots were being fired at a Market Street home in Orwigsburg. When officers arrived, they found that no shots had been discharged. A trace of the call led them back to Dewitt, who allegedly made the call from his home in North Manheim Township. He was arraigned on charges of filing false reports to law enforcement, reckless endangerment and related counts. He was taken to Schuylkill County Prison after he was unable to post the $20-thousand-dollars bail. Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven and Penn State police responded to the call.

Pottsville City Council got off to a busy start at their meeting Monday night. In commemoration of Mardi Gras, a proclamation was passed renaming Centre Street, "Bourbon Street" for the evening of February 5th. Grants were announced for several projects. A $15-thousand-dollar DCED grant will upgrade traffic signals at the intersection of West Market Street and the Gordon Nagle Trail. Another $15-thousand was announced for the construction of the bandshell at Joulwan Park on the city's East Side. The ongoing project for Quick Connect adapters for the many fire hydrants in the city will receive over $22-thousand-dollars in a shared municipal services grant. A woman from the city addressed the council with a problem that she found in the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival Pageant. She commented that the process in which the girls are picked to enter the pageant, along with the actual judging, is unfair and that girls with disabilities are not represented. Officials will pass the concerns on to pageant organizers.

With a week to go, ideas from citizens for the mural in the city's Elm Street Corridor are rolling in. Pottsville Elm Street Manager Mike McGeever fills us in on the contest:
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Pottsville artist Martin Braukus is using his brush and paint to complete the project into the city's past and future, at the site on North Centre Street. With less than a week left, McGeever reports that 30 submissions of various ideas have been received already, and more are welcomed. The deadline is January 21st. McGeever gives us the guidelines for entries:
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To enter the contest, contact McGeever at Schuylkill Community Action at 622-1995, or mmcgeever-at-schuylkillcommunityaction-dot-com.

Frackville state police are looking for a runaway teenager from Tamaqua. On Monday, 17 year old Michael Brode Jr. was reported as a runaway by his grandfather, who is his legal guardian.
Brode was last seen on Friday afternoon, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and jeans. He is believed to still be in the Tamaqua area. Anyone with information about Brode's whereabouts should call Frackville State Police at 874-5300.

An investigation is continuing into a theft at a Cressona Mall pet store. Sunday afternoon, someone removed a brown ferret from a cage at We Luv Pets store in the mall. The thief fled the mall after taking the animal. State police at Schuylkill Haven are handling the investigation.

PROPERTY TAXES
All Pa. homeowners to see property tax cuts in 2008
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state's budget chief says slot-machine gambling revenue will provide property-tax cuts to all Pennsylvania homeowners this year. Budget Secretary Michael Masch says a special property-tax relief fund now contains more than $576 million in slots proceeds. The fund must reach a $570 million threshold before the state can distribute the money for tax cuts for 2008-09 fiscal year. The money will allow school districts to reduce residential property-tax bills and will reduce taxes paid by those who pay Philadelphia's wage tax. The size of the property-tax cuts will vary by school district.

ENERGY CORRIDORS
Department of Energy sued over power line corridor
WASHINGTON (AP) - Eleven environmental groups are suing the U.S. Department of Energy. It's over the government's creation of a corridor in the mid-Atlantic region that could smooth the way for construction of new power lines. Under a 2005 law, the federal government can approve new power transmission towers within corridors such as this one if states and
regional groups fail to approve such lines. The environmental groups claim the Department of Energy violated environmental laws with its mid-Atlantic corridor, which includes large parts of Pennsylvania. They say the department failed to study the impact the corridor designation would have on air quality, wildlife, habitat and other natural resources. They're asking the court to declare the corridor invalid and in violation of the law.

TURNPIKE PRIVATIZATION
Senator wants to lease Pa. Turnpike in 3 parts, repeal I-80 tolls
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state senator says he plans to introduce legislation to privatize the Pennsylvania Turnpike in three sections. The idea behind his legislation is to raise more than $1 billion annually for the state's crumbling highways and bridges and cash-strapped mass transit agencies. The proposed legislation by Senator John Gordner also would repeal a seven-month-old law that authorized new tollbooths on Interstate 80. Gordner, a Republican from Columbia County, says Pennsylvania needs a money-raising alternative because of the possibility that the federal government will reject the tolling plan. Gordner's idea is to lease the turnpike in three parts: the Ohio border east to Harrisburg; the New Jersey border west to
Harrisburg; and the Northeast Extension. He says he hopes to introduce the bill in the next two weeks. One provision would prevent a foreign-owned entity from leasing the roadway.

CONGRESS-IRAQ VETERAN
Fitzpatrick endorses retired colonel for his old seat
WASHINGTON (AP) - A former Pennsylvania congressman says he won't seek to win back the seat he lost to Iraq war veteran Patrick Murphy. Republican Mike Fitzpatrick of Bucks County says he instead endorses the potential candidacy of Thomas Manion, the father of a Marine killed last year in Iraq. Manion, also a Republican, has invited reporters to his house today to discuss his political intentions. Manion is a pharmaceutical executive who recently retired as a
colonel in the Marine Reserves. His son, Marine First Lieutenant Travis Manion, died last year during his second Iraq tour. Murphy was a military lawyer who served in Iraq with the Army's
82nd Airborne Division. The Democrat seized on his military record and voters' discontent with the war to win in 2006.

CONGRESS-PETERSON SEAT
Iraq vet, former Centre Co. commissioner plan run for House seat
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - An Iraq war veteran and a former Centre County commissioner say they are planning campaigns for the seat of retiring Congressman John Peterson. Bill Cahir spent two tours in Iraq with the Marines. He resigned his job Monday as Washington correspondent for the Express-Times of Easton to run for the seat as a Democrat. He says he plans to move to Bellefonte, where he was born. The news of Cahir's plans was first reported by The Patriot-News of Harrisburg. The central Pennsylvania district is heavily Republican. Former Centre County commissioner Chris Exarchos says he has the go-ahead from county Republican leaders to run. He says he's scouting how the rest of the field shakes out before making a formal announcement. Centre County businessman Matt Shaner announced last week he was also seeking the GOP nod.

STATE UNIVERSITIES
Pa. schools to start 'college portraits'
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities are joining a national effort to shed more light on the operations of public colleges and universities. The State System of Higher Education schools will develop "college portraits" that include statistics such as enrollment, costs, student-faculty ratios and student perceptions of the schools. The information will be posted on the schools' Web sites by early spring as part of a project called the Voluntary System of Accountability. The project was developed by two national public-university associations. State system chancellor Judy Hample says the project will
promote greater accountability in public higher education.

RACING COMMISSIONS
NEW: Rendell to merge racing commissions
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell plans to merge the agencies that regulate horse racing in Pennsylvania. The two agencies, which regulate harness racing and thoroughbred
racing, would keep the same staff, but report to one board, instead of two. Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo says the change is being made for the sake of efficiency, not because of problems with the boards. Pennsylvania has six horse racing tracks - three harness and three thoroughbred - and another harness racing track is licensed to be built.

FAMILY DETENTION CENTER
NEW: Advocates want to continue modifying family detention rules
DALLAS (AP) - Advocates called the first set of approved standards for detaining immigrant families a commendable step by the federal government. The Berks Family Residential Center in Leesport is one of only two immigration detention centers in the country that hold related
adults and children. The standards will apply there and at the other center in Texas. But the American Civil Liberties Union and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children say they remain worried. They're concerend about the effect some provisions of confinement
could have on children. The rules announced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
cover dozens of topics. They include discipline guidelines, medical care, training for staff and recreation for detainees.

PENGUINS ARENA
NEW: New Pens arena master plan OK'd
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Planning Commission has approved the master plan for a new $290 million home for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 5-3 vote comes despite pleas from a neighborhood group that wanted a community benefits agreement before the plan was approved. The One Hill group wants a development fund from public subsidies and money from the hockey team. The group also wants a grocery store and first opportunity on jobs.
Government leaders say they will try to lure a grocery store into the area and have pledged to help fund a neighborhood plan, resource center and a YMCA. The Penguins have pledged $2 million toward a grocery store. The new multipurpose arena will replace Mellon Arena, which was built in 1961 by displacing thousands of black residents.

PITTSBURGH CASINO
NEW: Pittsburgh casino design OK'd
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The design of the Pittsburgh Majestic Star casino has won unanimous approval from the city's Planning Commission. The commission's approval on Monday comes despite concern from some about a parking garage that will tower behind Detroit businessman Don Barden's casino on the city's North Shore. Barden last year reached and agreement with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato to provide decorative screening atop the 119-foot-high garage on the side that faces the Allegheny River. Barden broke ground on the $450 million casino last month, after nearly a year of delays. The casino is expected to open with 3,000 slot machines before expanding to as many as 5,000 machines.

US STEEL-TUBERCULOSIS
NEW: US Steel workers checked for TB
DRAVOSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Allegheny County health officials are scheduled to test workers at United States Steel Corp.'s Irvin plant for tuberculosis. This comes after a worker at the plant
contracted the lung disease. A health department spokesman says the infectious disease
specialists will test people who have had close contact with the man. Tuesday's tests are voluntary. Neither the worker's name nor where in the plant he works has been made public. Officials say the man lives out of the county and is expected to make a full recovery.

COMCAST-DATA DISCRIMINATION
NEW: FCC questions Comcast on interference with file-sharing traffic
NEW YORK (AP) - Comcast Corporation says it has received letters of inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission. They're about complaints that the Philadelphia-based company
actively interferes with its subscribers' Internet traffic. A coalition of consumer groups and legal scholars complained to the agency in November. The groups asked the FCC to stop Comcast from discriminating against the sharing of certain types of Internet data among subscribers. Comcast denies it blocks file sharing, but acknowledges milder interventions to improve the flow of traffic for the majority of its customers.

PITTSBURGH TEACHERS
NEW: Pittsburgh teachers reach deal
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Public Schools and its teachers' union have reached a tentative contract agreement. No details are being released until the union membership
approves the agreement. Tuesday morning's agreement was reached after about 20 hours of talks. The union's three bargaining units represent more than 3,400 teachers, classroom aides and technical-clerical workers. The average salary for a city teacher is $62,000.

SCHOOL-COLIFORM
NEW: School fountains off in bacteria scare
LANGHORNE, Pa. (AP) - Neshaminy Middle School has shut off the water fountains and is offering bottled water to drink after a test indicating bacteria in the water supply. School district officials say more samples are being tested to confirm whether Monday's test results are correct. The initial test picked up what the district describes as an extremely low level of
coliform bacteria contamination. The Bucks County Health Department does not believe this poses a health risk. But district officials have sent a letter advising parents to call a doctor if their child has stomach problems. Meanwhile, bottled water is being used for cooking at the
school, warning signs are being placed on sinks, and hand sanitizer is being made available.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS MERGE
NEW: 3 shrinking Catholic schools to form one
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Three Roman Catholic schools in Philadelphia are merging into one as enrollments decline. Spokeswoman Donna Farrell of the Philadelphia Archdiocese says
pastors, parents and faculty members of the schools in the Port Richmond section have debated for a year how to deal with sagging enrollment and staff cuts. They have decided forming one regional school is the best way to maintain educational standards. Immigration was heavy enough in the 1800s for three schools to thrive within three blocks of each other. Irish immigrants went predominantly to Nativity of the Blessed Mary, Polish immigrants to
St. Adalbert, and German immigrants to Our Lady, Help of Christians. But in five years, their total enrollment has sagged, from 784 to 685. The schools close in June, and a new school will open in September at the site of St. Adalbert.

UNDATED (AP) - As presidential primary day dawns in Michigan, much of the state has a fresh blanket of snow. More Republicans are expected to turn out than Democrats because top GOP candidates are on the ballot, while Senator Hillary Clinton is the only Democrat. Officials have said 1.5 million voters could show up.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - President Bush is urging OPEC nations to put more oil on the world market. He's told a small group of reporters traveling with him in the Mideast that soaring prices could cause an economic slowdown in the United States.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A special commission recommends the government raise federal gasoline taxes by as much as 40 cents per gallon over five years. The money would be used to repair decaying roads and bridges. The panel says the action is needed to avoid future
disasters like last summer's Minnesota bridge collapse that claimed 13 lives.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - Three big names, all non-athletes, testify today before a House panel on baseball and steroids. Former Senator George Mitchell will elaborate on his report which alleged steroid use by some 80 players. After that, the baseball commissioner and the head of the players union will take their turns.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Search and rescue teams will start searching Oregon's Mount Hood today for two men who were supposed to return from a climb yesterday but haven't been heard from. Authorities describe conditions as blizzard-like. The vehicle belonging to the experienced climbers has been found at a resort on the south side of the mountain.