Today's News-Tuesday, April 4th

VOTER OUTREACH DEMONSTRATION SITES
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A second former executive at Schuylkill Products Incorporated is accused of participating in a scheme to defraud the government's minority set-aside program. Federal prosecutors have charged Timothy Hubler, who served as vice president of CDS Engineers Inc., a subsidiary of Schuylkill Products Inc. of Cressona. He's accused of being part of a scheme to improperly obtain more than $100 million worth of highway contracts. Prosecutors have said that Schuylkill Products and CDS Engineers used a minority-owned firm in Connecticut, Marikina Contstruction, as a front to get federally funded highway work in Pennsylvania. Former Vice President Dennis Campbell pleaded guilty in federal court in February to similar charges. Schuylkill Products says it feels "betrayed and victimized" by the actions of people it had trusted.

The family of a Hazleton woman who died in a car crash last September has filed suit against the driver and PennDOT. Angeline Francisci died September 28th, 2007 in a crash on Route 61 between Hamburg and Port Clinton. William Moyer of the Auburn area is accused of homicide by vehicle and related counts in what has been termed as a case of road rage. The Republican and Herald reports that Louis and Theresa Francisci filed suit against Moyer in the accident. PennDOT was also named in the suit. Francisci's family claims that the section of Route 61 where the crash happened was improperly maintained and designed. Moyer was driving south on 61 when he swerved toward Francisci's car, causing her to lose control. The vehicle crossed into a northbound Jeep driven by Lisabeth Gimbel of Nesquehoning.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Jim Goodman is giving lawbreakers a chance to turn themselves in. Goodman said that there is a high number of bench warrants being issued for criminal hearings. The warrants are being issued for failing to show up for court. A $50 dollar fee will be assessed against all defendants where a bench warrant is issued. If a defendant is picked up on a bench warrant, they will go to jail. Goodman's office is giving defendants an opportunity to possibly avoid going to jail by voluntarily turning themselves in on Friday, April 11th at 9:30am in Courtroom Number 1 at the courthouse.
A list of defendants and their outstanding warrants are posted on the county's website: http://www.co.schuylkill.pa.us/. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of any of these defendants, contact Detective Dennis Clark at 628-1361. The suit, which Moyer has yet to respond to, claims that Moyer harassed their daughter on the road and caused the accident.

A Schuylkill Haven man was arrested on numerous counts in an incident in Cass Township Sunday. Frackville state police say that 23-year-old Isaac Boom entered Brook Evitts home on Sunbury Street around 8:30 Sunday night and asked if she knew where he could purchase marijuana and where he could get money to buy it. Evitts reportedly said no, and Boom held her down and took cash from the home and attempted to leave. Evitts tried to stop Boom and he hit her in the stomach. Evitts is three months pregnant. She was treated at Pottsville Hospital. Boom was apprehended a short time later in Minersville and charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking and other offenses. He was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison.

Frackville state police are investigating a theft from an Arnot's Addition man's truck overnight Sunday. Paul Liddick Jr.'s truck was parked on Chestnut Street. A cell phone, satellite radio and CD’s were taken.

A Schuylkill Haven man was involved in a crash yesterday afternoon on Route 61. Schuylkill Haven state police say that 44-year-old Joseph Powanda was traveling south near Stoner Tile when he saw a large truck pull onto the highway. Powanda tried to slow down and traveled across the southbound lanes, striking the concrete barrier separating the highway. The vehicle traveled about 50 feet before stopping. Troopers suspected that Powanda was driving under the influence of alcohol. He was only able to complete one part of the field sobriety test, and was arrested. A blood alcohol test was conducted at Pottsville Hospital. Charges will be filed in district court after the test results are received. The crash happened after 3pm Monday.

With two weeks to go until the primary election, county officials are putting the final touches to its voting systems. Betty Dries, county Election Bureau director said that logic and accuracy testing of the voting systems will begin tomorrow and continue until the work is complete. The public is invited to attend at the Bureau offices at 420 North Centre Street, Pottsville. Completed finance reports for candidates must be turned in by Friday, April 11th. Voter outreach demonstrations continue at locations across the county. Check for sites on our website wpparadio.com.

Risk of salmonella contamination, which causes diarrhea and vomiting, has triggered a recall of puffed rice and puffed wheat cereals sold at local grocery stores, including Giant and Weis. Malt-O-Meal, the Minneapolis maker of generic cereals sold under grocery store brand names, announced the recall Monday. No illnesses have been reported to date. Malt-O-Meal said the recall came about after "internal routine food safety testing detected the presence of salmonella in a product." Affected are 6 ounce bags of cereal with "best if used by" dates ranging from April 8, 2008 to March 18, 2009. The specific recalled products are:

Weis Quality Puffed Rice - 6 oz
Weis Quality Puffed Wheat -- 6 oz
Giant Puffed Rice Cereal, 6 oz. bag
Giant Puffed Wheat Cereal, 6 oz. bag

More information is available at www.malt-o-meal.com/recallinfo, or by calling 1-877-665-9331.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A bill to increase the criminal penalties for possessing a firearm with an altered serial number is heading to the state Senate. The House of Representatives voted unanimously Monday in favor of the bill. The bill also prohibits seizure of guns and bullets by the government during an emergency and establishes a state police registry of lost or stolen firearms.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Two suburban Philadelphia counties that were longtime bastions of the Republican Party now have more registered Democrats than Republicans. Like the state as a whole, Bucks and Montgomery counties saw a surge of new registered Democrats as the presidential nomination battle intensifies. Democrats also made gains in Chester and Delaware counties.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Federal prosecutors have filed a preliminary list of evidence they plan to use in the corruption trial of state Sen. Vincent Fumo. The 93-page evidence list was filed Monday. Fumo's trial is set for Sept. 8. He is charged with defrauding the state Senate, a seaport museum and a nonprofit by allegedly using their staff and assets for his personal and political needs.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says his city is facing a deluge of requests for homeowner assistance during the subprime mortgage crisis. Nutter testified at a Senate hearing that his city needs more federal housing aid. Nutter says cities could even see lower property taxes from reduced assessments as home prices continue to fall.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A federal jury in Pittsburgh has ended a 10th day of deliberations in the fraud trial of celebrity pathologist Cyril Wecht. The jury called it quits just before noon and will return this morning. Typically, the jury has deliberated from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. No reason was given for the shortened deliberations.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - General David Petraeus is expected to ask for more time for the war in Iraq when he testifies before two Senate committees this morning. Democrats say Petraeus has until the November elections. All three major presidential candidates are expected to be at the hearings.

BAGHDAD (AP) - At least six civilians are dead after a roadside bombing struck a minibus northeast of Baghdad. Iraqi police say 10 others were wounded and that at least four of the dead are children.

BEIJING (AP) - The International Olympic Committee will consider stopping the international leg of the Olympic torch relay because of protests against China. The committee's president says he's "deeply saddened" by violent protests in London and Paris and concerned about the relay in San Francisco tomorrow.

LONDON (AP) - Mohamed Al Fayed still believes British secret agents might have been involved in the death of his son and Princess Diana. A coroner's jury ruled yesterday there was no conspiracy but Al-Fayed's spokeswoman today tells the BBC "it's possible" MI6 had a hand in the deaths. She says it's unclear what legal action Al-Fayed could take.

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - A 16-year-old boy has been killed in a shark attack off the Australian coast. The boy and a friend were bodyboarding when the attack happened. It's the first fatal shark attack in Australia in two years.