Today's News-Tuesday, April 29th

A man who survived a 500-foot fall into a Tamaqua area coal mine says he doesn't remember much about what happened. But, police do, and have made an arrest. A friend of 23-year-old Nathan Bowman, the man who survived a
500-foot plunge into the Springdale Pit, is accused of pushing the victim over the edge. Authorities say 23-year-old Richard D. George of Tamaqua confessed to police that he pushed 23-year-old Nathan Bowman, also of Tamaqua. George was sent to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. He's charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and other offenses. Authorities says the two got into an argument before George pushed Bowman.

Even though the Schuylkill County Commissioners have sold the 1912 building and land at Rest Haven, one of the other suitors wants it stopped. The North Manheim Township Board of Supervisors have issued a letter to the county, saying the deal to sell the property to Penn State Schuylkill's Advisory Board be nullified, according to the Republican and Herald. The Township Supervisors, who made an offer for the property, said there was a lack of communication leading up to the sale, and that there were many close ties between Penn State and county officials. North Manheim's letter went on to say that Penn State was allowed to submit a different bid after the appraisal amount was announced and the deadline passed. A number of other issues were outlined in the letter, disputing circumstances about the sale. County Commissioner Chairwoman Mantura Gallagher indicates that as far as the county is concerned, the matter is closed and the deal will go through.

A Mahanoy Township man, already in prison on burglary charges, is facing more time in jail. 23-year-old Kyle Crouch was sentenced to 1 and a half to five additional years for receiving stolen property by Judge Jacqueline Russell. The Republican and Herald reports that Crouch was found guilty of the stolen property charges, but not guilty on arson, criminal mischief and charges of risking a catastrophe. That court proceeding took place in March, in connection with the fire at C&R Emporium and adjoining businesses in Shenandoah. Crouch was already in state prison for burglarizing several homes and a business in the borough in 2006. Judge Russell tacked the sentence onto the original ones handed down.

A Hamburg man's vehicle was broken into Sunday afternoon. Darryl Pettigrew's car was vandalized and a GPS unit stolen near Port Clinton. The state police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating.

A Pine Grove man was injured in a two vehicle crash yesterday morning in Pine Grove Township. 29-year-old Zachary Reinoehl of Williamstown was eastbound on the Sweet Arrow Lake Road around 6:40am when he failed to negotiate a right curve in the roadway. His vehicle crossed into the path of Lee Madenford's car, which was headed in the opposite direction. Madenford suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for treatment. Reinoehl, and his passenger, were not hurt.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania welfare officials are disputing a national report about child abuse and neglect. The report says the state fails to release adequate information about fatal and life-threatening cases. The state was among 10 given failing grades in the report being released by two child advocacy groups. The survey says Pennsylvania lacks a public disclosure
policy. The state disputes that.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania election officials have revised their unofficial vote count for the presidential primary. They've determined that a clerical error had kept about 26,000 Northampton County votes out of the state tally. After the numbers were corrected Monday, about 21,000 votes were added to the Democratic presidential race and about 5,300 to the Republican
presidential race.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - It's been a year since a federal judge issued a scathing order over conditions at Philadelphia's crowded jails. Now civil rights lawyers say in court papers that the problem has only worsened. A spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter, who took office in January, says the new administration is actively working on the problem.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The search for a new chancellor of Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities has narrowed to three finalists. State System of Higher Education spokesman Kenn Marshall says the candidates will be interviewed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Chancellor Judy Hample is leaving to take a new job in July as president of the University of Mary Washington in Virginia.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A bill unanimously approved by state senators would allow more people to remove minor offenses from their record. Under the bill, a person who has remained crime free for five years would be able to ask the court to get a past summary offense expunged. The idea is to give people with no other criminal history an opportunity to present a clean background when seeking employment.

SUFFOLK, Va. (AP) - Virginia Governor Tim Kaine will be touring areas in the southern part of the state ravaged by a trio of tornadoes yesterday. In one Suffolk neighborhood, homes on one side of the street were barely damaged, while some on the other side were wiped off their foundations.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve Board is poised to slash interest rates for what could be the final time for the foreseeable future. The Fed today begins a two-day meeting at which it's expected to cut rates by a quarter point.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Paying for gas tops the list of economic worries facing American families, according to a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation. That beats out getting a good-paying job or a raise, paying for health care and insurance and covering the rent or mortgage.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Former Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and Saddam Hussein's cousin known as "Chemical Ali" are slated to go on trial today for the 1992 execution of 42 merchants. An Iraqi government official says Saddam's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, is too sick to attend the proceeding. The military says he suffered a heart attack this month.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The honeymoon may be over for a pair of Pennsylvania newlyweds. The couple spent Saturday night in jail after police say they brawled with each other following a reception at a suburban Pittsburgh hotel. She was released Sunday morning, still dressed in her white gown. He sported a swollen eye and a bloody T-shirt.