Today's News-Wednesday, April 30th

A New Ringgold man is jailed after being accused of shaking his 6 week old son. Frackville state police arrested 22-year-old Kyle Bluge, after investigating injuries to his son Friday morning. Troopers say that Bluge admitted to shaking the baby, after initially saying that the injuries were caused by a toy falling on him. Bluge is charged with counts of aggravated and simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and related offenses. He was arraigned Tuesday at the office of District Judge James Ferrier,and was sent to Schuylkill County Prison, in lieu of $15-thousand-dollars bail.

Three people from St. Clair were injured in a crash in Berks County Monday evening. According to Hamburg state police, a vehicle driven by 76-year-old Thomas McDonagh of Naples, Florida was stopped at the off ramp of Interstate 78 at Route 183 in Upper Tulpehocken Township. McDonagh pulled his vehicle onto 183 and into the path of a Chevy Cavalier operated by Peter Kessock of St. Clair, which was southbound. McDonagh's car hit the rear end of Kessock’s auto, forcing it to spin out. McDonagh suffered minor injuries. A passenger in his car was not hurt. Kessock, George Brozana and Joe Rollman, all of St. Clair, were hurt. Rollman had to be taken to Reading Hospital for treatment. The crash happened around 6:30 Monday evening.

A couple of county school districts are looking to implement dress codes for their students. Meetings are scheduled to discuss the matter. Minersville school district officials approved a dress and grooming policy that will take effect in August. Blue Mountain school district announced a similar measure at their meeting last week. The Republican and Herald indicate that the policies will help to reduce taunting of students and create a more positive environment for learning. Blue Mountain officials will hold a public forum Thursday night to discuss the matter at the high school auditorium at 7pm. Minersville is planning two sessions. On Monday night at 7pm in the high school auditorium, parents of high school students can ask questions and learn more about the dress and grooming policy. Elementary parents can learn more on Wednesday, May 7th at 7pm in the elementary school. Tamaqua was the first area school district to adopt such a policy in 2005.

Governor Ed Rendell will be making a stop in Schuylkill County Friday as part of the Cover the Uninsured Week. Rendell will meet with officials from the Schuylkill Alliance for Healthcare Access to discuss the need for funding to help those who don't have health insurance, or who cannot afford premiums. The agency is in business to help hundreds of county residents to get access to doctors and health services at a reduced cost. A number of physicians participate in the county program. Governor Rendell has been an ardent supporter of getting affordable healthcare to those who don't have it across the Commonwealth.

Schuylkill County Controller Melinda Kantner has issued a response to a suit filed by County Adminstrator Darlene Dolzani. The suit, filed in March, claims that Kantner made comments about Dolzani's work as a banking executive to a Republican and Herald reporter. Dolzani claims that Kantner told the reporter that she was fired from her job at Schuylkill Savings and Loan. The institution was acquired by First Federal, and Dolzani remained on as a consultant after the merger. The issue reportedly centers around the county's finances. Kantner says that she never made the statement about Dolzani. Dolzani's suit is seeking $1 in punitive damages, plus attorney's costs.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's public welfare chief says the state could save up to $95 million annually by directly managing prescription drug benefits for Medicaid recipients covered by managed-care health plans. But health plan officials argue that the change would hurt consumers. The two sides presented their arguments Tuesday during a Senate committee hearing in Harrisburg.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Legislature is considering whether to increase pension benefits for a quarter million state government and public school retirees. Some say the multibillion-dollar proposal will boost the state's economy. Others worry about the cost. The State Government Committee voted unanimously to send to the House floor a bill that would provide pension increases.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A law group is asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to nullify decisions in hundreds of Luzerne County juvenile cases. The Juvenile Law Center says more than half of about 1,100 juvenile defendants who appeared in Luzerne County courtrooms in 2005 and 2006 weren't represented by lawyers. The group says nearly 60 percent of those children were removed from their homes.

MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) - In the coming days, more than 260 military vehicles will roll through Meadville as the Northwest Pennsylvania National Guard prepares to deploy abroad. The impressive display of Humvees, Hemetts and about 70 high-tech Stryker combat vehicles are being sent by train from Meadville to a site in Camp Shelby, Miss. Some 100 Crawford County troops will also go to Mississippi for training.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Barack Obama's brash former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, plans to preach next month in his native Philadelphia. Wright is scheduled to preach May 28 and 29 at a revival called "Remember the Journey; Rejoice in the Blessings" at St. Thomas African Episcopal Church. Wright will also preach June 1 at Canaan Baptist Church, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A quarter-point rate cut expected from the Fed today could be the last one for a while. The central bank is concerned about inflation following six cuts since September.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama is looking to get his campaign back on track after publicly denouncing the remarks of his former pastor Jeremiah Wright as "divisive and destructive." Obama will hold a major rally tonight at Indiana University, six days before the state's critical primary.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Seven people are dead following a raid by Afghan security forces on militants with suspected links to a weekend attack on President Hamid Karzai. Today's fighting in Kabul lasted several hours as the two sides traded gun and rocket fire.

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) - A surfer from San Francisco bled to death following a shark attack off Mexico's southern Pacific coast. Mexican officials say the gray shark bit the man's right thigh in the Monday attack, leaving a fatal 15-inch gash.

DORR, Mich. (AP) - An 11-year-old Michigan Boy Scout's good deed has netted him a big reward. The boy returned a wallet he found with $800 inside. After losing his own wallet and the $45 in it a few weeks ago he says he knew how the owner must have felt. She showed up to thank him personally at a pizza party that police threw for the boy and his Scout troop.