Today's News-Monday, December 29, 2008

Thefts at Renningers

State police are investigating two thefts at Renningers Market in North Manheim Township. Over the past week, a 100 pound propane tank was taken from outside the market. The tank was used to fuel a business at the market, and belonged to J Wilson Barto and Company. In a second theft, unknonwn theives took a Coleman generator from inside of the building. Anyone with information should call state police at 593-2000.

Six escape injury in weekend accident

Six people escaped injury in a two vehicle crash Saturday in northern Berks County. State police say 18 year old Victoria Glogg was attempting to merge onto Route 61 at Jetson Drive and her car collided with 68-year-old James Stoner's car. Both cars then crossed the highway median. The drivers nor their passengers were hurt.

Pa. director of health care reform to step down

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell's first and only director of the Office of Health Care Reform is stepping down from the post. Rosemarie Greco's final day is Wednesday.
The governor's spokesman, Chuck Ardo, says Greco has been a tireless advocate for health care reform. She spearheaded Rendell's health care reform initiative, which included measures that broadened the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. An initiative that calls for expanding health coverage for the uninsured is still pending in the Legislature. Greco will be replaced by her deputy, Ann Torregrossa. She'll continue to serve as a senior adviser on health care issues.

Police: Man slept undetected in Pa. woman's attic

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Police in northeastern Pennsylvania say an intruder slept undetected for days in a woman's attic, stealing food and clothing when the homeowner and her family were away. Twenty-one-year-old Stanley Carter of Arkansas surrendered Friday after he heard a police canine inside the house in Plains Township. Homeowner Stacey Ferrance says Carter was wearing her family's clothes when he descended from the attic. She says she had no idea he was up there. She says she dismissed any noises he made, attributing them to her three children. Police say Carter kept warm by wrapping himself in blankets and insulation. Carter has been charged with offenses including burglary, theft and trespassing. Flight 93 families ask Bush to OK land seizure

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Relatives of those who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93 want the Bush Administration to seize the land needed for a memorial where the plane crashed in Shanksville, Pa., in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Families of Flight 93 vice president Patrick White said Saturday the group sent a letter in December asking President George W. Bush
to empower the Secretary of the Interior to take the land. The group says ground must be broken early next year in time for a memorial to be build for the 10th anniversary of the crash in 2011. Svonavec Inc. owns one of the last large chunks of land needed for the 2,200-acre memorial, including the area where the plane crashed Sept. 11, 2001.

Death toll climbs...Afghan bombings...He saw a lot

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The Palestinian death toll is over 300 as a third day of Israeli air strikes aimed at obliterating Hamas continues. Most of those killed are members of Hamas security forces. A rocket fired into the Israeli city of Ashkelon has left one Israeli dead.

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama's transition team says Obama plans to work closely with Israel while promoting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. But it's also unclear whether Obama will be as supportive of Israel as President George W. Bush has been.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide car bomber struck a governor's compound north of the capital of Afghanistan while U.S. troops were inside, killing two Afghan civilians and wounding two American soldiers. Two other bombings in the southern province of Kandahar killed three civilians and wounded 21.

DETROIT (AP) - Thousands of homes and businesses in Michigan are without power, as a cold front drops temperatures back into the 20s and 30s. Some could be in the dark until Thursday. Crews from five other states have been brought in to help get the lights back on.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - After living through parts of three centuries, the nation's oldest man has passed away at the age of 112. Born in 1896, George Francis lived through both world wars
before succumbing Saturday to congestive heart failure.