BREAKING NEWS- NEW YEARS DAY-1pm

VIDEO FROM NEW YEAR'S FIRE IN POTTSVILLE
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Fire destroys Pottsville apartment building

Several people were displaced by a smoky fire in Pottsville New Years Day. The properties at 1324-1326 Mahantongo Street housed several apartments and is owned by Sandra Nunemacher. Fire officials believe that fire was burning for some time prior to breaking out. Crews were on scene for several hours to knock the blaze down. Three people were displaced by the blaze. An exact cause is not yet known.

Dries retires
The woman at the helm of Schuylkill County's election bureau has retired. Betty Dries called it a career with the county on New Year's Eve. She was instrumental in seeing the county transition its voting systems from paper ballots to touch screen voting systems among her accomplishments, and was tireless in her efforts to educate voters.

Four hurt in Branch Township crash

Four people were injured in a multi vehicle crash Wednesday in Branch Township. Schuylkill Haven state police say that 40 year old Barbara Dietrich was driving north on Route 209 when she lost control on the icy roadway and began to spin. Her Chevy Cobalt ended up in the southbound lane and collided with a car driven by 24 year old Kris Morgan of Pottsville. Dietrich and an 8 year old boy were taken to Schuylkill Medical Center South for treatment. A 6 year old in her car was flown to Hershey Medical Center, along with Morgan. The crash happened around 1130am.

Charges filed against Cumbola man

A Cumbola man is charges with numerous offenses after he fled from state police. Troopers from Frackville say that 20-year-old Kyle Marx took off on New Philadelphia Road when they tried to stop him. After venturing into the mountains, he left his truck and fled on foot. State police say that Marx was in possession of alcohol, and charged him with fleeing police, false reports to law enforcement, underage drinking and other offenses.

Hit and run in Port Carbon

Port Carbon police are looking for the driver who struck a St Clair man's vehicle New Years Eve then fled the scene. The pickup truck, a Ford F-150 was traveling north on Coal Street and failed to stop at the traffic light. The vehicle collided with a truck operated by Bryan Docherty, then took off. Anyone with information should call Port Carbon police at 622-5411.

Blood Donor Days coming next week

The need for blood is never ending. Your donations are urgently needed, and several opportunities are available next week. WPPA and T102 are partnering with the American Red Cross for Blood Donor Days, January 7-10th. Make your appointments now for Wednesday's drive at Fairlane Village Mall from 11:30-6:30pm, on Thursday at Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Schuylkill Haven from Noon till 6pm and on Friday at the Auburn Fire and Ambulance Building from Noon till 6pm. All presenting donors will be eligible for prizes, and the feeling you'll get from donating blood will get 2009 off to a great start. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-Give-Life.

Former Pa. judge plans to fight court ruling

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A Luzerne County judge described as a bully and stripped of her office by a Pennsylvania court is pledging to continue her fight to have the ruling reversed.
Former Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta tells The Citizens' Voice of Wilkes-Barre that she won't stop her fight at the state Supreme Court and that she will take the case to a "logical conclusion." She tells the newspaper that she could eventually appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. On Dec. 9, the Court of Judicial Discipline voted 6-1 to remove Lokuta from the bench. The court ruled Lokuta failed to perform her judicial duties, terrorized courthouse workers and had employees run personal errands. Earlier this week, the court denied an appeal
to reconsider its sanctions.

Pa. food market chain to freeze prices

SUNBURY, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania food market chain is citing record-low consumer confidence as its reason for freezing the price of 2,400 items for 90 days. Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis Markets says it will lower or freeze prices on thousands of grocery items effective Friday. Weis Markets president David Hepfinger says the prices will remain in effect until April 1.
Hepfinger says the market is going beyond weekly promotions to help customers save money and reduce costs. A Weis spokesman says the price-freeze items will include private and brand-name products, dairy, produce, meat, frozen-foods, deli and bakery items. Weis Markets Inc. operates 155 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.

Mummers strut in Philly despite cold, money woes

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Performers dressed as pirates, knights and gunslingers strutted through downtown Philadelphia in the annual Mummers Parade. The Mummers were celebrating New Year's Day and, perhaps, the fact that the beloved Philadelphia tradition did not fall victim to the city's budget ax. Thousands braved sunny but frigid temperatures to watch the parade of comics, musicians and others dressed in elaborate costumes of satin, sequins and feathers. The Mardi Gras-like festivities almost didn't happen this year after the cash-strapped city withdrew more than $400,000 in support. The event was saved through last-minute private fundraising and an agreement to shorten the hours-long pageant.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Palestinians say Israeli warplanes have hit some 20 homes believed to belong to militants. In what appears to be a new tactic, the Israeli military called at least some of the houses ahead of time to warn them of the attack. Gaza officials say more than 400 people have been killed and some 1,700 have been wounded in seven days of airstrikes.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - A major supply route for coalition forces in Afghanistan has reopened. Pakistan says traffic is free to move along the Kyhber Pass, but says it's still chasing down militants blamed for attacking convoys carrying equipment to Western forces.

CHICAGO (AP) - Fresh from a relatively-private Hawaiian vacation, Barack Obama will throw himself back into the Washington scene this coming week. The president-elect is in Chicago with his family and plans to fly out to the nation's capital Sunday. He'll meet with congressional leaders and the current and former presidents in the next few days.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Two people close to New York Gov. David Paterson say they believe he's leaning toward appointing Caroline Kennedy to fill Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's seat. Paterson
cautions his search isn't over, saying -- quote -- "It ain't nothin' till I calls it."

HONG KONG (AP) - An upbeat start to 2009 on world stock markets amid light trading. Stocks in Asia and Europe have climbed and Wall Street futures are pointing to a higher open in New York. Most investors are away for the holidays and only a smattering of markets is open.