Today's News-Thursday, November 13, 2008

County preliminary budget approved

The Schuylkill County Commissioners have unanimously approved a preliminary spending plan for fiscal 2009. The $46.1 general fund plan, presented by outgoing budget analyst Mark Catranis, holds the line on property and per capita taxes, but will be balanced by a draw from surplus of $1.1 million dollars. At last week's work session, that figure was estimated at $800 thousand dollars, due in large part to a significant increase in contributions to the county retirement plan for benefits. During the process, 3 percent in spending cuts were made. A tense exchange took place between the commissioners and County Controller Melinda Kantner as to the amount of "surplus"on the county's books right now. Kantner told the commissioners that an exact figure would not be known until year end, but the budget preparers needed some amount to go on to make the plan balance. Currently, the "surplus" stands at $7.5 million dollars, but will change daily, according to Kantner. The 2009 budget will be approved on Christmas eve.

North Schuylkill parents petition court to remove administrator, board

A group of citizens concerned about the closure of the Ringtown Elementary School have filed documents with Schuylkill County Court to appeal the North Schuylkill school board's efforts to close the building. They are also asking the court to remove Mark Semanchik as interim superintendent and 7 board members for violating the school code. The Republican and Herald reports the petition states that Semanchik is not qualified to serve as interim superintendent. The school board is attempting to close Ringtown Elementary and move the students to the elementary complex at Fountain Springs. The Schuylkill County court issued an injunction to stop the transfer earlier this year, citing timing issues outlined in the school code. Another vote was taken in October to close the school, prompting the litigation by the parents group.

Salary board splits on elimination of positions

Two county employees were left go yesterday, but the status of the positions is still in limbo. Last week, John Guers, a community planner and Philip McCarthy of the 9-1-1 center were scheduled for termination due to the expiration of their grants. Both remained on the county payroll in those positions for several years after. Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier asked for a second look by human resources to see if grants could be re-applied for to keep the men on the job, as not to lose the valuable experience they provided to the county, but a 2 to 1 vote by the commissioners, with Staudenmeier voting no, ended the jobs. Mary Labert of McAdoo, Schuylkill County Republican Vice Chair, addressed the commissioners about the job cuts:

LABERT

During the salary board meeting, Commissioners Gallagher and McAndrew voted to eliminate the positions, and Commissioner Staudenmeier and Controller Kantner voted against it. The terminations will save the county over $95 thousand dollars annually.

PA Lt. Governor dies

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker
Knoll is dead. She passed away at 6pm Wednesday night at about 6 p.m. at National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C. She was 78. Governor Ed Rendell reflected on her life and service to Pennsylvania:

RENDELL CBK

Knoll, who at age 72 became the first woman to be elected as the
state's lieutenant governor, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in July and began radiation and chemotherapy treatments. She returned for the start of the fall Senate schedule in September. But she showed signs of fatigue and on Sept. 22 announced she would heed the advice of doctors, family members and colleagues and take time off.

Pa. foreclosure filings drop, 2nd month in a row

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The number of Pennsylvania homeowners
falling behind on mortgage payments fell for a second straight month in October. That's according to new figures from RealtyTrac Inc. However, the figures also show that foreclosure filings in Pennsylvania last month were about 26 percent above the number of filings recorded in October 2007. That's a little higher than the national increase over the same
period. The foreclosure rate in Pennsylvania remains about one-third the
national rate, with about one in every 1,360 households receiving a
foreclosure filing in October. Last month, 4,005 properties received a foreclosure filing, while nearly 1,000 properties were repossessed.
October was the fifth straight month where Pennsylvania saw more
than 4,000 foreclosure filings, the longest such stretch since at least 2005, when RealtyTrac began compiling the figures.

Report: Philadelphia area sees immigration growth

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A new report says more than half a million
immigrants call the Philadelphia metropolitan area home. The report by the Brookings Institution says more than one fifth of that number has arrived since 2000. Unlike national immigration numbers, which leveled off after 2000, Philadelphia's rate rose between 2000 and 2006. The report suggests that the Philadelphia area is poised to re-emerge as a destination for immigrants, a longtime characteristic of the region that stalled in the mid-20th century. The report is based on census data from the 10-year increments from 1970 through 2000, as well as the Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey. It was prepared by the Brookings Institution for The Philadelphia Foundation and other philanthropic groups.

Pa. revenue chief Wolf stepping down Nov. 30

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's revenue secretary says
he's leaving state government at the end of the month to pursue another opportunity in public service. Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf wouldn't elaborate on his future plans Wednesday, saying only that he intends to "pursue another option in public service." Wolf says he'll make an announcement soon. Wolf has overseen state tax collections and the Pennsylvania Lottery since he was nominated to post in January 2007 by Gov. Ed Rendell. He's a former York businessman and top Democratic Party donor. Rendell says he's nominating Stephen Stetler of York to replace Wolf. Stetler is executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy
League and a former Democratic state representative.

Appeals court considers Philadelphia gun laws

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Commonwealth Court is considering whether
Philadelphia may pass its own gun laws. Earlier, a lower-court judge struck down a one-gun-a-month limit and an assault-weapons ban. But she upheld other laws, including one requiring lost or stolen guns to be reported. The National Rifle Association says only the state Legislature
can enact gun laws in Pennsylvania. The city says it needs tougher laws to slow gun violence. Its attorneys say officials only want to stop unlawful activity, not lawful gun ownership.

Bill passes to let Pa. drivers keep plates longer

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell's office says he plans to sign a bill that will allow Pennsylvania license plates to be used for as long as they're legible. Current law requires the plates to be replaced every 10 years. Under the new law, free new plates will be provided once existing plates can no longer be read. Supporters say the legislation will save the state about $60 million over the next several years. Republican-sponsored amendments to impose new rules for any tolling of Interstate 80 and to change the composition of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission were defeated. The bill also would ease requirements for armed forces veterans with relevant driving experience who want to obtain a commercial driver's license.

Artists stage street scenes to lurk in Google maps

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Google's Street View map feature provides street-level photographs online so users can get a feel for wherever they might be heading. But anyone using it to scan one Pittsburgh street might see some odd things -- like two 17th century swordsmen doing battle and an
escape from a building using knotted sheets. Google really did capture those scenes when it sent a car equipped with cameras down Pittsburgh's Sampsonia Way. But they were staged by artists Ben Kinsley and Robin Hewlett. The two contacted the company with their idea and Google agreed to cooperate. Google sent its cameras down the street on a
prearranged day to capture the odd images.

Feuding Philly anchors making, not breaking, news

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The soap operas that fill TV screens in Philadelphia don't stop when the local news comes on. Former WCAU-TV newscaster Vince DeMentri complained in a court filing that he was fired over an affair with a colleague -- yet she got to keep her job. That woman, Lori Delgado, quit last month, saying she was afraid of DeMentri. Delgado's lawyer accuses DeMentri of stalking her. His lawyer didn't return phone calls. The station denies DeMentri's accusation of gender bias. This follows the high-profile feud between two now-fired anchors at rival station KYW-TV. Alycia Lane spent the night in jail after scuffling with New York police, but the charges were later dropped. Later, Larry Mendte admitted in federal court that he obsessively hacked into Lane's e-mails. He's awaiting sentencing.

Pa. teachers urged to improve knowledge of courts

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Dozens of Pennsylvania school teachers are getting a lesson at the state Capitol in the role of the judiciary. The workshop kicked off Wednesday morning with remarks by the state's chief justice, Ronald Castille, and first lady, federal appeals court Judge Marjorie Rendell. Castille calls a strong and independent court system the guardian of Americans' freedom. The one-day program is designed to improve civics education and increase awareness of the role an independent judiciary plays in society. There'll be basic instruction in court issues, a mock Supreme Court argument and a roundtable discussion by several judges on the process of deciding criminal and civil cases.

QVC laying off hundreds of workers

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - Television shopping company QVC is laying off hundreds of employees. QVC, based in the Philadelphia suburb of West Chester, says it laid off 160 workers on Wednesday as it begins a cost-cutting program. Ultimately, QVC says about 900 jobs will be eliminated over the next 14 months. About 200 new jobs are to be added. The net reduction of about 700 jobs is 5.8 percent of QVC's U.S. work
force. QVC says the cost-cutting measures will lower its 2009 operating
costs by $30 million to $40 million.

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The sharp downturn in the U.S. economy
continues to reverberate around the world. Asian stock markets
tumbled today. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average fell 5.3
percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dived 5.2 percent. Yesterday in
New York, the Dow fell 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON (AP) - What can the government do to save the U.S.
auto industry? Congressional Democrats are trying to marshal
support for a rescue package that would pump $25 billion in
emergency loans into Detroit's automakers in exchange for a
government ownership stake.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Dick Cheney will get together
tonight with his successor, Joe Biden. Cheney and his wife, Lynne,
have invited Biden and his wife, Jill, for a tour of their
soon-to-be official residence on the sprawling Naval Observatory
grounds in northwest Washington and for dinner afterward.

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he's hoping for a better relationship with President-elect Barack Obama than he has with the current U.S. administration. Medvedev says he's had a good phone conversation with Obama and that they've agreed to meet face-to-face as soon as possible.

CHICAGO (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama's family is on a canine quest, but allergists have a news flash: There's no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Doctors say kids who are truly allergic to dogs probably shouldn't get one. Obama has promised his daughters a pooch but he says Malia "is allergic."