Today's News-Monday, January 12, 2009

FIRE AT ASHLAND RESTAURANT

Three people are homeless today and a landmark Ashland restaurant is destroyed after fire tore through it overnight. Firefighters battled freezing temperatures as they battled the fire at Snyder's Family Restaurant on West Center Street. An exact cause as to what destroyed the business and apartments is ongoing. Crews from Schuylkill and Northumberland County fought that northern Schuylkill County fire.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTOR NAMED AT Y

The Schuylkill YMCA and YWCA have named a new director of health and wellness. Kathleen Tone will be in charge of all fitness and wellness programs for the facility. She is a graduate of Penn State and East Stroudsburg University, and served as an exercise specialist at a New Jersey fitness facility and a Kennett Square, PA corporation. The Y has two facilities in Pottsville, including the newly refurbished building at the former Pottsville Armory.

WEGMAN'S CEO RECOGNIZED FOR BUSINESS ETHICS

The Chief Executive of a regional grocery chain has been named one of the 100 most influential people in business ethics. According to Ethisphere Magazine, Danny Wegman of Wegman's Markets was named to the "100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics" list for 2008. The publication cites the company's decision to stop selling cigarettes early last year, and says that "Wegmans continues to use their moral compass to influence their business decisions". Business school professors consulted with the magazine's editors to chose the 100 individuals from around the world whose decisions greatly influenced the business ethics realm over the past year. Wegman's has stores in the northeastern United States and operates a distribution center here in Schuylkill County.

US: Key government witness has been e-mailing Fumo

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Prosecutors say a key government witness in former state Sen. Vincent Fumo's corruption trial has been e-mailing Fumo and blogging under a pseudonym. The bombshell comes the very day computer technician Leonard "Lenny" Luchko was expected on the stand. Luchko is seen as a once-fiercely loyal employee of the powerful Philadelphia Democrat. Luchko has pleaded guilty to obstruction charges and awaits sentencing. He admits he destroyed years worth of Fumo e-mails on Fumo's orders after the FBI probe became public. Prosecutors nearing the end of their case say they may decide not to call Luchko. Both the government and the defense says it may need a break in the trial to sift through thousands of Luchko's e-mails and blog posts.

Pa. cyber charter schools feeling economy

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pennsylvania's cyber charter schools are seeing a drop in enrollment as some students return to traditional schools because parents find they both must work to make ends meet. Most of Pennsylvania's 11 cyber charter schools require a parent to stay home to provide supervision. But cyber school officials say the economy is forcing the stay-at-home parent to seek work in some cases. Donna Ash says she had to pull her three children from Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School in Midland recently and send them to public school in Newville, Cumberland County. She says her husband is facing a potential layoff and she had to find a job. PA Learners Online Regional Cyber Charter School in Homestead has seen its first enrollment decline since it opened in 2001.

Philadelphia Gas Works customers paying higher rates to cover poor company health, soured financial deal

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Gas Works customers are not seeing the falling utility rates experienced by many people elsewhere in the northeastern United States. Instead, they are covering the $60 million cost of the city-owned utility's poor financial shape and a failed financial deal. As of Jan. 1, PGW customers began paying 5.2 percent more to heat their homes. The increase wiped out most of the benefits of a temporary 9.4 percent PGW rate cut, required by the state because the utility was paying less for natural gas. The city's consumer advocate says the 9.4 percent cut may expire this spring, but the 5.2 percent increase is permanent. PGW may use up to half of the $60 million to escape a complex transaction called an interest-rate swap. The deals are designed to reduce debt costs and protect issuers like PGW from costly swings in interest rates. PGW will use the rest of the $60 million to shore up its finances.

Pa.'s newest medical school nears funding goal

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's first new medical school in 46 years is nearing a big funding goal. Within the next week, Commonwealth Medical College will likely have enough donations to fulfill its promise of scholarships of $20,000 a year - or $80,000 total - for all 60 members of its first class. The total community commitment for scholarships is already at $4.6 million, and will be $4.8 million when the goal is met. The financial support has officials from the Scranton-based college optimistic that the school may one day be tuition-free. Twenty-five students have already committed to be part of the school's first class next fall.

OT issue leaves Pa. school officials plowing snow

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (AP) - When maintenance employees of an eastern Pennsylvania school district refused to work overtime, school administrators drove the snowplows and cleared the school property themselves. Central Columbia School District superintendent Harry Mathias says the contract for the district's maintenance, custodial and cafeteria staff expired in June. About a month ago, Mathias says, the Pennsylvania State Education Association sent a letter to the district saying union members would no longer work overtime. Mathias asked for volunteers to plow if needed, and building and grounds chief Ralph DeFrain held a day of "plow school" to teach them how to work the equipment. Mathias and three other school officials spent part of the weekend clearing the grounds.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush is defending his record but also acknowledging mistakes and disappointments during his eight years in office. Bush reflected on his presidency at a farewell news conference at the White House. Topping his list were the revelations of abuse at Abu Graib prison in Iraq and putting a 'Mission Accomplished' banner on an aircraft carrier after the Iraq invasion.

President George W. Bush says won't ask for the remaining $350 billion from the federal financial bailout unless President-elect Barack Obama asks him to, and that hasn't happened
yet. Obama's economic adviser has been briefing lawmakers on plans for using the money. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd says he's feeling better about it after hearing specifics.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The possibility of another attack on U.S. soil is the "most urgent threat" facing President-elect Barack Obama, according to his predecessor. President George W. Bush also spoke of the threats posed by the countries he once referred to as an "axis of evil," specifically citing North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Vice President-elect Joe Biden has arrived in Iraq, where he's meeting with Iraqi officials in Baghdad. The Iraqi capital has been the scene of several bombings today. The death toll now stands at 10.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Militants in Gaza have fired at least four rockets into southern Israel today, even as Israeli forces continue airstrikes against the homes of Hamas leader and
ground troops close in on Gaza's most densely populated urban center. Israel says its sending reserve units into Gaza as leaders weigh an escalation of the offensive.