Today's News-Friday, January 9, 2009

UPDATE ON MULTI VEHICLE CRASH

Two men remain in the hospital following Wednesday's tractor trailer pile up on Interstate 81. Frackville state police report that fog played a major factor in the crash that closed north bound I-81 for hours. Four tractor trailer rigs and a PennDOT truck were involved. Basil Brown of Berwick and Gerry Warmkessel of Mallorytown, Ontario were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries. They are in stable condition. The investigation continues.

HAVEN MAN SUFFERS MINOR INJURIES

A Schuylkill Haven man suffered minor injuries when his vehicle rolled over in a crash early this morning in South Manheim Township. 21-year-old Kyle Corinchock was northbound on Berne Road when he missed a sharp left hand turn. His Chevy Cavalier hit an embankment, rolled over and slid on its roof for about 100 feet, coming to rest in the northbound lane. Corinchock suffered minor cuts in the accident.

GREENWOOD HILL DROPPED FROM POTTSVILLE FIRE RANKS

After a year on suspension, the Greenwood Hill Fire Company is no longer a part of the Pottsville Fire Department. City fire officials dropped the company according to the Republican and Herald. The company was suspended in November, 2007 after questions about training and response to city fires arose. Seven city fire companies remain in service.
An official announcement is expected at Monday night's Pottsville City Council meeting.

SEDCO ADDS NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Three county residents have been added to the SEDCO board of directors. Chairman Ronald Aungst introduced former state legislator Bob Allen, local banker Denise Ressler and George Halcovage Jr, an insurance agency owner this week. Their terms will run until December, 2011. SEDCO is the economic development arm for the county.

YOUNG REPUBLICANS ELECT OFFICERS

Area Young Republicans have elected new officers for the coming year. Scott Thomas of Pottsville will serve as chairman. Brad Gotshall of Frackville, Joe Sterns of Deer Lake, Doug Litwhiler of Shenandoah Heights and Rob Heffner of Pottsville were appointed to the board of directors. Megan Angelo serves as Secretary. According to a press release, the organization is throwing their full support behind Representative Dave Argall as he seeks the vacant state Senate seat held by the late Senator Jim Rhoades. Argall will face County Clerk of Courts Steve Lukach in a special election on March 3rd.

FINAL BLOOD DONOR DAYS

Thursday was a successful day for blood drives as part of Blood Donor Days. A steady stream of donors flocked to Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Schuylkill Haven and at many other sites in northeast Pennsylvania to donate. You still have an opportunity to give locally at the Auburn Fire and Ambulance building from noon till 6pm. Their goal is 42 donors. Make your appointment today by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. From WPPA and T102, thank you so much for your support.

FARM SHOW BEGINS SATURDAY

The 93rd annual Pennsylvania Farm Show kicks off Saturday in Harrisburg. Howard Ondick has more on this week-long agricultural event:

ONDICK

Pa. court says it can't suspend raises for judges

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's highest court says it doesn't have the authority to suspend automatic pay raises that took effect last week for the state's 1,000 judges. State Supreme Court spokesman Jim Koval said Thursday the court reached its conclusion after studying whether it could legally rescind the 2.8 percent cost-of-living increase as one of several
ways to cut judicial spending. Koval says individual judges can decide for themselves whether
they want to refuse the raise. Koval says the court is still examining other ways to cut the
judiciary's costs. State lawmakers and executive-branch officials received similar raises.
Gov. Ed Rendell, some legislators and other officials have pledged to forgo their increases, but that means writing a check to the state treasury for what's left over after taxes.

Literacy a struggle for 13 percent of Pa. adults

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A new report estimates that 13 percent of Pennsylvania adults lack basic literacy skills, such as the ability to read newspapers or brochures. The report released Thursday by the National Center for Education Statistics is the first national comparison of state and county statistics on adult literacy. It examines data from 2003, the most recent year available. The center says the percentage of Pennsylvania adults who struggle with basic literacy is at around the national average and remains unchanged from 1992. Philadelphia County has the state's lowest literacy rate, with 22 percent of adults lacking basic skills.
State Education Department spokesman Michael Race says the agency spent more than $11 million on literacy programs during the 2006-07 fiscal year.

Bush wants education law kept after he leaves

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - President George W. Bush says it's critical to keep the annual tests in reading and math under the No Child Left Behind law. At the General Philip Kearny School in Philadelphia, he dismissed concerns that the law encourages test preparation at the expense of real learning. No Child Left Behind remains one of Bush's top domestic achievements, and he considers it vital to his legacy. Approved with strong bipartisan support in 2001, the school accountability law still has support from key Democrats. But it has grown deeply unpopular, and Obama has pledged to revamp it. The law prods schools to improve test scores each year, so that every student can read and do math on grade level by the year 2014.

Pittsburgh standoff suspect shot dead by marksman

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh police say a man shot dead after a standoff lasting more than nine hours held a gun in each hand when officers first saw him following a domestic dispute.
Police say the man fired a shot inside his apartment during the standoff and at one point tried to jump out the window with guns in his hands. Police say they fired a beanbag round at the man to keep him inside the apartment. Police say the man fired shots at officers, but they didn't shoot back at first. Police say the man was observed lying on the floor with a gun in each hand and was asked again to surrender, but he instead got up and moved toward officers aggressively. This time, a marksman fired one shot at the man's chest. The man was pronounced dead early Thursday afternoon. No other injuries are reported.

Episcopal leaders seek assets from breakaway group

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Church leaders loyal to the leadership of the national Episcopal Church are fighting in court with breakaway conservative parishes in western Pennsylvania. The secessionist parishes are conservative ones that broke with the national church over issues such as acceptance of an openly gay bishop. Now there are two groups that call themselves the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. The liberals, who remain with the national church, have gone to court seeking control of $20 million in diocesan assets. The breakaway conservative parishes say they have a right to some of the assets because they helped develop them before the split.
There's no real estate at stake. The fight is over diocesan endowments and bank accounts, along with insurance, mailing lists and databases.

ATF offers $5,000 reward for Pa. gun thieves

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Federal agents are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of burglars who stole 19 guns from a hunting goods store in Franklin County.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says the burglary at the Keystone Country Store in Fort Loudon occurred just before 6 a.m. Tuesday. The ATF says 16 handguns and three long guns were taken. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS or the Pennsylvania State Police.

Rendell releases review of Pa. state performance

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Rendell administration's second annual report on state government performance is available, outlining the accomplishments of various agencies.
The 224-page document released Thursday is part of the governor's attempt to show how tax dollars translate into public services. Gov. Ed Rendell describes it as a way to measure and improve state services, partly by comparing Pennsylvania's government to other states.
The Budget Office says it cost about $24,000 to print. It's available online at the state's Web site.

FBI: State paid for purchases billed to Fumo group

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - An FBI agent testifying in the corruption trial of former state Sen. Vincent Fumo says a state grant paid for many of the household items charged to a Fumo-linked charity. Agent Brian Nichilo says the state grant paid for thousands of dollars spent on home repairs, hardware and even Sports Illustrated for Kids. The 65-year-old Fumo then had a young daughter. The Philadelphia Democrat is charged with defrauding the state Senate, the South Philadelphia charity and a museum of more than $3.5 million. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jurors on Thursday heard Fumo in a 2004 "Radio Times" interview say he got no money or benefits from the charity. The defense is expected to start its case later this month.

Philadelphia-area man charged in $50M Ponzi scheme

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A suburban Philadelphia investment manager has been charged by federal authorities with running an investment scheme that swindled an estimated $50 million from as many as 80 investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday said Joseph S. Forte, of Broomall, told investors that he put their funds in an account to trade, among other things, S&P 500 stock index futures. Authorities say Forte reported investment gains but consistently lost money. They also say he withdrew millions for his personal use and to
repay other investors. He's charged with fraud and related counts. He hasn't returned a
message left by The Associated Press.

3 charged with murder in Pa. "hunting" death

TIDIOUTE, Pa. (AP) - State police say a western Pennsylvania woman is charged with first-degree murder in a plot to kill her estranged husband. Thirty-three-year-old Susan Yeager was previously charged with conspiracy. She is in jail without bond. Police have also charged Susan Yeager's brother, 28-year-old Cory Altman, and Robert Pessia with first-degree murder. Police say they conspired to kill 39-year-old Shawn Yeager and make it look like a hunting accident.
State police say they were called after Shawn Yeager's sons, 12 and 15, found him shot on the rear deck of his home near the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County on Dec. 5.
Police say Altman shot Shawn Yeager with a hunting rifle then joked that he "got his buck for the year."

JERUSALEM (AP) - Despite a U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire, Israel unleashed an intense bombardment of missiles and Hamas sent out a barrage of rockets in the two-week-old conflict in Gaza. A Hamas spokesman says it's not interested in the cease-fire, because the group was not consulted.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - At least six people are dead after a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a produce market in southern Afghanistan. A provincial governor says a police official who died inside was apparently the bomber's target.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus proposal isn't winning over everyone on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have concerns. Democrats say Obama's proposed tax cuts are too small, while Republicans are worried about excessive new spending.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Rod Blagojevich is facing almost certain impeachment by the state House this morning. Yesterday a key panel voted unanimously to support impeachment. A vote in the full House is scheduled for this morning. The next step will be a trial in the Senate.

NEW YORK (AP) - Some of those who invested with Bernard Madoff and walked away with what they thought were profits may end up paying some of the money back. Under federal law, the court-appointed trustee trying to unravel Madoff's business can demand people who profited from the scheme return some or all of the money.