Today's News-Tuesday, February 19th

The ongoing problems with the railroad overpass in Cressona will be the subject of a public meeting on Friday afternoon. PennDOT has scheduled a meeting for residents of the boroughs of Cressona and Schuylkill Haven to discuss recommendations about the 11 foot, 8 inch overpass that has seen more than its share of trucks get stuck under it over the past several years. That meeting is scheduled for 1:30pm at the Cressona borough hall. According to the Republican and Herald, another meeting will be scheduled to hear public comments about the installation of two traffic lights on Route 183, near Hoss's Steak and Sea House. Those lights are being installed by Miller Brothers Construction, who owns property near the restaurant. Cressona council members and citizens have expressed opposition to the lights, since it could lead to significant traffic delays and possible danger when a train passes through the crossing at the Burger King restaurant.

Although a merger between Pine Grove Borough and Pine Grove Township in Schuylkill County has been shot down by Township supervisors, the supervisors have requested more information on the proposal from the state. A Department of Community and Economic Development study would be the first phase in a potential Pine Grove borough and township merger. The Republican Herald reports the DCED could determine if it would make fiscal sense to do a merger. If the borough and township ever agree to move forward with a merger it would need to go before the citizens of both municipalities for a vote and be approved by a majority of voters. Something either side doesn't see happening anytime soon.

Several fans at Penn State Schuylkill's basketball games Monday night were charged with disorderly conduct. A double header between Schuylkill's men's and women's team and the Hazleton Campus was held Monday night. Fans got out of control during the contests, and police were called in to calm the situation. The Republican and Herald reports that students got into a shoving match, and campus police, Schuylkill Haven borough police and state police were summoned to the scene. Those who were charged with disorderly conduct were not identified.

An Ashland woman was tested for driving under the influence following a crash in Blythe Township early Sunday. State police at Frackville say that Tiffany Beaver was driving on Route 209 when she struck a parked car. She was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment of injuries. A blood alcohol test was taken at the time.
DUI charges are pending the receipt of those tests.

State police are investigating a hit and run Sunday morning in Girardville. Around 9:30am, an unidentified man was backing out of a space on Main Street, and didn't see a parked car. He struck the car, then fled the scene. Frackville state police say that the car in question may be a blue/grey sedan. Anyone with information should contact the state police barracks at 874-5300.

A Pottsville man will be charged with harassment relating to several incidents Sunday evening. Frackville state police say that 26-year-old Robert Hamm reportedly placed several phone calls and text messages to 35-year-old Theresa Smith of New Philadelphia between 5 and 8pm. The calls were harassing in nature. Charges were filed against Hamm.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Amtrak will start randomly screening passengers' carry-on bags this week. A railroad official told The Associated Press that the new security push will begin on the Northeast Corridor, which goes through Philadelphia. The security
measures include officers with automatic weapons and bomb-sniffing dogs patrolling platforms and trains.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A longtime Pittsburgh city employee has been named the city's new treasurer. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has picked 53-year-old Margaret Lanier to be in charge of tax collection for the city and Pittsburgh Public Schools. The treasurer also is in charge of the real estate department, which sells property seized
back for taxes.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett says there's a scam going on in which people are duped into thinking they'll be paid as "mystery shoppers" to shop at major retailers and evaluate the service. He says they get mailed realistic-looking bad checks. Corbett says the typical scam then instructs the person to wire $3,000 to $4,000, often to an address in Canada.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A program that turned hundreds of parents into truant officers for the struggling Philadelphia School District will end this month. Mayor Michael Nutter has told Philadelphia Safe and Sound, the city-funded nonprofit that runs
the program, that it must cut its budget by $21 million. The agency says it will have to eliminate 300 parent truant officer jobs Feb. 29.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Closing arguments are scheduled today in the trial of Milton Street, the older brother of former Philadelphia Mayor John Street. Milton Street acknowledged in testimony last week that he took advantage of his relationship to the mayor to win lucrative consulting contracts. But he maintains he didn't do
anything illegal.

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) - President Bush is hoping Cuba will begin a transition to democracy following the resignation of Fidel Castro. Castro is stepping down as the communist nation's president after nearly 50 years in power. Bush says "the United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty."

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) - President Bush is calling on all nations to step up efforts to end genocidal killing in Sudan's western Darfur region "once and for all." The president has announced a 100 million dollar plan to train and equip African peacekeepers deploying to Darfur. He spoke in Rwanda, where some 800,000 died in
ethnic bloodshed.

CHICAGO (AP) - Wisconsin and Hawaii are the focus in the Democratic presidential race today as voters head to contests in both states. Wisconsin is the biggest prize with 74 delegates. Polls in the state show Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack
Obama in a dead heat. Meanwhile, Senator John McCain is hoping to get closer to locking up the GOP nomination.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - One newspaper banner in Pakistan reads "Heavyweights knocked out" following elections that appear to have dealt a major blow to Pakistan's ruling party. The results leave the rule of President Pervez Musharraf in doubt. Opposition parties have grabbed more than half the seats in Pakistan's
parliament.

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (AP) - Police in Colorado say a pair of con artists gave Girl Scouts a fake $100 bill for cookies and then made off with more than $93 in change. The bill looked strange, but the couple told the girls that was because it had been washed. The story has a happy ending -- a resident has donated $100 to the Girl
Scouts.