Today's News-Monday, July 21st, 2008

Emmaus man jailed after chase

An Emmaus man is jailed after leading police on a chase into Berks County late Friday. Schuylkill Haven state police spotted 47-year-old Barry Strohl failing to stop at the intersection of Route 61 and East Main Street in North Manheim Township. When troopers attempted to stop him, he fled south on Route 61. Strohl was apprehended a short time later at the entrance to Cabela's in Tilden Township. Police report that he was driving under the influence. Following arraignment on charges of fleeing police, driving under the influence and other traffic violations, Strohl was committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post bail.

Senate Committee to meet in Schuylkill Tuesday

A state Senate committee will meet in Schuylkill County Tuesday to discuss the problem of neighborhood blight. The Urban Affairs and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing at 10am tomorrow at the Schuylkill County Courthouse to take testimony about Senate Bill 1291. The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act would allow communities to go after property owners who let their buildings become run down. SenatorJim Rhoades, a sponsor of the bill, is hosting the hearing. Blighted properties are a serious problem all across the state, according to Rhoades.

Hartranft expected to plead guilty

A Tamaqua man, charged with third-degree murder and other offenses, is expected to plead guilty in county court today. 33-year-old Robert Hartranft is charged with shooting David Ruhl with a shotgun in March 2007, after Ruhl and his girlfriend Kimberly Leary were arguing at the home of Edward Sestakaukas on Elm Street. Sestakaukas called Hartranft to the home, where he shot Ruhl. It is not known exactly what charges Ruhl will plead guilty to.

Child struck by car in Shenandoah

A 12 year old Shenandoah girl was injured last night after being struck by a car. The child was walking in the 200 block of West Centre Street around 7pm when she was hit in the leg by the vehicle. She was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Hazleton mayor named Pa.'s Mayor of the Year

HAZLETON, Pa. (AP) - Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta has been named Mayor of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Mayors Association. Lititz Mayor Russell Pettyjohn leads the association's six-member Mayor of the Year award committee. He says Barletta was picked for being a hands-on mayor who shows up in person at crime scenes and who has taken on the national issue of immigration. He is best known for a local crackdown on illegal immigration that was struck down by a federal court. Barletta, a Republican, is trying to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski. He is continuing to use the immigration issue in his congressional campaign.

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) - Although their strike is over, about 360 union employees at Latrobe Specialty Steel won't be returning to work until next week. Members of United Steelworkers Local 1537 have narrowly approved a new five year contract on Sunday. They'll have to pass physicals and take drug and alcohol tests this week.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Residents of three suburban Philadelphia communities are still being urged to boil their tap water before drinking it. A water main break is affecting approximately 2,300 customers in parts of Norristown, East Norriton Township and Plymouth Township. The main broke on Saturday and repairs were completed Sunday afternoon but some customers will have to boil their water until late today.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - The Erie School District may become the sixth in the state to offer free lunches to all of its students by next year. Under federal guidelines, districts that have 60 percent or
more students receiving free or reduced-priced lunches can apply for the free-lunch program.

DERRY, Pa. (AP) - The Westmoreland County Coroner's Office is still trying to confirm the identity of a man burned beyond recognition in a fiery pickup truck crash. State police say the
victim was driving on route 982 in Derry Township when he went off a curve in the road and hit two trees about 3:25 a.m. Sunday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Finding an on-street parking space may become easier in downtown Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Parking Authority is looking at wireless sensors that could be installed at parking meters and provide a list of the sites accessible by using a cell phone or a PDA.BABY MYSTERY Woman charged with homicide, unlawful restraint, kidnapping in Pa. stolen-baby case.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Barack Obama is getting a first-hand look at Iraq today. His trip began with a stop in Basra, and he has since been seen arriving for a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the heavily protected Green Zone.

NEW YORK (AP) - John McCain says he expects Barack Obama to see for himself that the surge "is succeeding and we are winning." He made the rounds on the morning news shows, criticizing Obama's opposition to the surge. McCain says he'll use the same strategy to
win in Afghanistan.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) - Yahoo says it's reached a settlement with activist investor Carl Icahn that will put him and two of his nominees on an expanded board of directors. That could
lead to an eventual sale to Microsoft, a deal that Icahn has made clear he wants to negotiate.

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - A soldier from Fort Bliss in Texas who was missing through the weekend has been found hurt but alive. The husband of soldier Jeneesa Lewis turned himself in to El Paso police, where he's jailed on an aggravated kidnapping charge. His wife was found beaten with two stab wounds to her leg.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Over half-a-million tractor-trailer and bus drivers have commercial licenses, even though some of them have health conditions that could make them significant threats to others when they get behind the wheel. A new report this week will show the federal agency in charge of oversight hasn't completed any of eight recommendations made since 2001.