Today's News-Saturday, May 10th

ST. CLAIR -An early morning fire burned several buildings in St. Clair early today. A Schuylkill County 9-1-1 supervisor tells WPPA & T-102 News that a passerby, traveling on Route 61, spotted flames at the Coal Creek Commerce Center strip mall, which is under construction. As of 5am, crews were still battling the blaze. Firefighters from St. Clair, Altamont, and Goodwill, Phoenix and Humane fire companies in Pottsville are on scene. A firefighter apparently suffered a back injury, and was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP - PennDOT has announced that work will start Tuesday on an area roadway. The work, on Route 924 in Gilberton, Frackville and West Mahanoy Township. This safety project is designed to prevent rocks from falling onto the highway. Improvements include new fencing, rock removal, drainage improvements and other miscellaneous construction. Motorists can expect daytime lane restrictions on PA 924 north and south between Gilberton Borough and PA 61 in Frackville Borough until approximately May 21. Thereafter, PA 924 will be reduced to a single lane in each direction, 24 hours a day, until the completion of the project in November.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's military government has finally relented and plans to allow a U.S. relief plane into the cyclone-ravaged country. The United Nations is also planning to resume relief flights even though Myanmar's government is still banning foreign workers from coming to distribute food and supplies.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Nineteen militants are dead following clashes between U.S. soldiers and Shiite extremists in Baghdad. The military also reports the death of another American soldier, this time from what it says were non-combat injuries.

PENTAGON (AP) - The Pentagon is recommending changes for the handling of troop remains after it discovered that a crematorium that handles the bodies of troops also conducts pet cremations. While there's no evidence that human and animal remains were ever mixed, Pentagon chief Robert Gates says the situation was "entirely inappropriate."

JERUSALEM (AP) - The Israeli army says a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip has damaged a Jewish seminary. Today's attack comes a day after mortar shells fired by Hamas killed an Israeli man near Gaza.

NEW YORK (AP) - Oil has topped the $126 a barrel mark for the first time. The latest increase means oil is up nearly $10 for the week. In the U.S., the average price of gas at the pump has risen above $3.67 a gallon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Corn production this year could be down as much as seven percent from last year's record-breaking heights. The USDA report is a bad sign for those hoping for a drop in prices. Wet weather in the Corn Belt slowed plantings.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. military is reinforcing its mine-resistant combat vehicles to shore up what could be weak points. Troops are seeing a spike in armor-piercing roadside bombings across Iraq. An Associated Press review of statistics shows the attacks have jumped by about 40 percent in the past three months.

UNDATED (AP) - Barack Obama will be campaigning in Oregon today a day after picking up nine more superdelegates toward the Democratic presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton, still in it, plans to attend a Mother's Day Celebration in New York.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is disputing a report that said he voted against President Bush in 2000. Blogger Arianna Huffington has insisted she heard McCain make the comment at a dinner party after the 2000 election. McCain says he voted, campaigned for, and worked as hard as he could for Bush in both 2000 and 2004.

CHICAGO (AP) - Jury selection has begun in Chicago for the child pornography trial of R-and-B singer R. Kelly. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. The 41-year-old Kelly faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Four Los Angeles high school students have been arrested following a lunchtime brawl that involved about 600 students. About 50 police officers in riot gear were called in to break up the fight. Several students were hurt, but no one was hospitalized.

McLEAN, Va. (AP) - Lawyers for convicted D.C.-area sniper John Allen Muhammad say he's changed his mind and has decided to appeal his death sentence. Muhammad had written a letter to Virginia's attorney general asking that the appeal process be stopped. Muhammad and an accomplice were convicted in the 2002 shooting rampage that killed 10 people.

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - It's Jenna Bush's wedding day. The festivities get under way with a barbecue lunch this afternoon, ahead of this evening's ceremony at the family's Crawford, Texas, ranch. President Bush will walk his daughter down the aisle before about 200 family and friends.
SCHAEFFER HILL-Cass-Foster police are cracking down on ATV riders. A Minersville man was arrested Thursday. Officers on routine patrol caught Jeffrey Ayres riding an ATV on Field Road. He was charged with violating the township's ATV Ordinance, along with four other citations. Ayres' ATV was impounded and will not be released until the fines and costs are paid in full. Cass Townships ATV ordinance carries a fine of up to $1000. Cass-Foster Police remind that anyone caught riding an ATV in Cass or Foster Townships face severe penalties and the ATV will be impounded.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY - When you wake this morning, make sure you place a bag of non-perishable food item near your mailbox. Today is the annual National Association of Letter Carriers National Food Drive. Postal employees will be joining forces to stamp out hunger by collecting the food items during normal mail delivery today. The postal service mailed 120 million postcards to customers in towns and cities to let them know about the food drive. The items collected will be sorted by the local post office, then passed on to an area food bank or pantry. On another note, Americans are reminded that postage goes up a penny on Monday, May 12th.