Today's News-Friday, June 6th

A two vehicle crash injured a Frackville man Thursday morning. Schuylkill Haven state police report that James McCauley was driving north on Route 61 in West Brunswick Township, and 40 year old Sheila Zelzaskowski of Newton, New Jersey was westbound on Route 895. McCauley attempted to stop at the traffic light when his brakes failed. His pickup entered the intersection and crashed head on into Zelaskowski's truck, a World War Two vintage vehicle. A container of asphalt sealer dumped on the roadway, falling from McCauley's pickup. McCauley was taken to the hospital for treatment. 61 and 895 were closed down for several hours for cleanup. The crash happened just before noontime yesterday.

They come from across the region and throughout the US. Reporter Kerry Dowd tells us how our tax dollars educate those who keep us safe:

DOWD (click to listen)

An Allentown man, convicted of raping several children in Schuylkill County, is one of Pennsylvania's Ten Most Wanted fugitives. Russell Rehrig Jr., age 51, was convicted in absentia last fall on numerous counts of sexually assaulting children and related offenses in Tamaqua and Allentown. He never showed up for his trial. State police added Rehrig to the most wanted list yesterday. He was last seen in August, and faces decades in prison for his crimes.

Schuylkill River Sojourn gets underway today. Jay Levan has more:

SOJOURN (click to listen)

State police have released details of an assault that occurred last weekend in Eldred Township. Troopers from the Schuylkill Haven barracks report that 44-year-old Harry Dunleavy assaulted 42-year-old Melissa Smith between May 28th and 31st. Smith said that Dunleavy punched and kicked her, and threatened to kill her. Smith was treated for her injuries at Shamokin General Hospital. State police at Stonington started the investigation, then handed it off to the Schuylkill Haven barracks for followup. A protection from abuse order was in place against Dunleavy, according to the investigating officer.
Dunleavy was arraigned on charges of aggravated and simple assault, making terroristic threats and other counts. He was taken to Schuylkill County Prison.

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - A Democratic congressman is accusing Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign of trying to exploit tensions between Jews and blacks. New Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews was a Clinton supporter. But he tells the Newark Star-Ledger that a call from a top member of Clinton's organization shortly before the Pennsylvania primary disturbed him.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Scorching hot weather is on the way, and the Philadelphia Health Department has issued its first Excessive Heat Warning of the season. The National Weather Service is expecting temperatures to push past 90 for the first time this year.

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) - A prosecutor says a Lancaster teen accused of killing a classmate and the other boy's parents is going to plead guilty in the case later this month. Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman would not tell the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal what Alec Kreider is expected to plead guilty to, or whether it's part of a plea agreement. Kreider is accused of stabbing to death Kevin Haines and his parents.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Film Office says principal photography began Thursday on a new comedy being shot in the city. Film Office Director Dawn Keezer says "Hollywood & Wine" is the first of several films being made by Pittsburgh-based Smithfield Street Productions and California-based Proud Mary Entertainment.

NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa. (AP) - State Game Commission officials confirm that a pair of peregrine falcons have successfully nested on a cliff overlooking the Susquehanna River in Union County. It's only the third known wild nest that endangered peregrines have established in Pennsylvania in half a century.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate colleague from New York says she would accept an invitation from Barack Obama to be his running mate. Obama and Clinton held a private meeting last night. On ABC's "Good Morning America," Senator Charles Schumer said Clinton has said she would accept the vice presidential slot, but that she would work just as hard for the ticket if Obama chooses someone else.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Advisers to Hillary Rodham Clinton say she is likely to seek help form Barack Obama to retire 30 million dollars in campaign debt. Eleven million dollars of that is loans from Clinton herself. Clinton is also asking her finance committee to shift gears and start fundraising for Obama.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's jobless rate jumped last month. The Labor Department says payrolls shrank by 49,000 jobs in May, raising the nation's unemployment rate from 5 percent to 5.5 percent. That's the biggest monthly increase in 22 years.

TOKYO (AP) - A study from the International Energy Agency says if greenhouse gases are to be cut in half by 2050, the world will have to invest 45 trillion dollars. The IEA report envisions an "energy revolution" that would include the construction of some 1,400 nuclear power plants and expand the use of wind power.

MONTEAGLE, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities in Tennessee say a man suspected of shooting to death a sheriff's deputy has died. A daylong manhunt yesterday led police to the home of Kermit Bryson's girlfriend. After 20 minutes of negotiation, they says Bryson shot himself in the head.