Today's News- Thursday, January 15, 2009

PRESS CONFERENCE AT STATE POLICE BARRACKS AT FERN RIDGE, MONROE COUNTY













THOMAS SENAVITIS BEING LED FROM STATE POLICE BARRACKS AT FERN RIDGE TO MONROE COUNTY PRISON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

SENAVITIS CHARGED IN RHOADES DEATH

A Carbon County man is jailed, charged in the death of Senator Jim Rhoades of Mahanoy City. 45 year old Thomas Senavitis is alleged to have been driving drunk when his pickup truck hit Rhoades' Cadillac head-on on Route 209 near Broadheadsville October 17th. Rhoades died the next day from his injuries, and his wife Mary Edith was seriously injured. State police Captain James Murtin, head of Troop N, lists some of the charges.

MURTIN CHARGES

The police criminal complaint says that Senavitis' blood alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit at the time of the accident. Senavitis maintained that he had only one beer before taking to the road. After arraignment, he was jailed on $25-thousand-dollars cash bail.

FIRE DESTROYS HOME IN LAVELLE

A fire destroyed a home in Lavelle Wednesday afternoon. WPPA/T102 News Reporter Kerry Dowd was at the scene and filed this report:

DOWD LAVELLE FIRE



HACKERS AT POTTSVILLE

Pottsville City police are investigating computer hacking incidents at the Pottsville School District. Apparently, several individuals tapped into Classroll, an online grading and planning system used by faculty and parents to track students progress. The Republican and Herald reports police believe that someone gained a teacher's login and password to gain access to the system and changed grades. The Pottsville School District reported the illegal access last month, and the investigation is ongoing. Those involved are expected to be charged at the completion of the investigation.

SEIP WORKSHOPS BEGIN TONIGHT

Representative Tim Seip continues his quest to stop taxing authorities from assessing properties when sold, while others around them pay the same property taxes. The 125th Legislative District Representative will host a workshop tonight at the Tremont Borough Building at 6:30pm. Seip talks about why he is holding the workshops:

SEIP

For more information, call one of Seip's district offices.

TWO INJURED IN ROUTE 61 CRASH

Two Schuylkill Haven residents were injured in a crash on Route 61 Wednesday afternoon. Traffic in the southbound lanes was snarled for more than an hour after 29 year old Leslie McClain was northbound in the turning lane, attempting to enter the Cressona Mall. A Dodge Charger rental car, driven by 71 year old James Oliver of Ontario, Canada, was southbound. McClain turned into the path of Oliver's vehicle and they collided, leaving McClain's car on its right side. McClain and her passenger, 33 year old Thomas McClain had to be removed from the car by emergency personnel. They were taken to Schuylkill Medical Center. Oliver was not hurt.
TWO INJURED IN ROUTE 61 CRASH

Two Schuylkill Haven residents were injured in a crash on Route 61 Wednesday afternoon. Traffic in the southbound lanes was snarled for more than an hour after 29 year old Leslie McClain was northbound in the turning lane, attempting to enter the Cressona Mall. A Dodge Charger rental car, driven by 71 year old James Oliver of Ontario, Canada, was southbound. McClain turned into the path of Oliver's vehicle and they collided, leaving McClain's car on its right side. McClain and her passenger, 33 year old Thomas McClain had to be removed from the car by emergency personnel. They were taken to Schuylkill Medical Center. Oliver was not hurt.
Jury says Giants' Burress owes only $1,700 for damage to borrowed car

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania jury has sided with Plaxico Burress in a dispute over how much the New York Giants star should pay in damages for a car he borrowed that ended up getting impounded by New York City police. A jury in Lebanon County civil court decided Wednesday that Burress owes $1,700 in damages, far less than the $19,000 sought by the dealer who loaned the car to Burress. Burress declined to comment afterward and was followed by a small crowd of fans seeking autographs. Burress testified that his agent arranged for the Chevrolet Avalanche in 2005. Burress disputed that he had agreed to make personal appearances for the dealership. New York police later impounded the truck after it was connected to a shooting incident.

Phone lines cut in Scranton, Pa.; repairs underway

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Landline phone service is disrupted in Scranton because a contractor cut a pipe that contains thousands of phone lines. The problem on the city's west side began about 4 p.m. Wednesday and Verizon says repairs could take more than 24 hours. People who don't have cell phone service are told to go to the nearest Scranton fire station to report emergencies.

Dozens of cats found in filthy Phila. home

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals plans to return to a filthy Philadephia home where dozens of cats are believed to remain despite a rescue attempt. PSPCA Officer Wayne Smith said Wednesday that the home in the Kensington neighborhood has piles of trash six feet high and that more than 30 cats are living there. He says the cats have been digging tunnels through the trash. Humane officers were only able to get a few cats out on Wednesday and plan to return to the house Thursday morning. The woman who lived in the home has been taken to a mental hospital.

Fumo defense suggests lawyers gave e-mail advice

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A former computer technician for indicted state Sen. Vincent Fumo says he knew his own work duties perhaps bordered on being illegal. Ex-senate staffer Mark Eister says he thought his efforts to destroy e-mails amid an FBI probe were in "a gray area." The Camp Hill resident has since pleaded guilty to five obstruction-related counts and is testifying this week for prosecutors in Fumo's sweeping corruption trial. Eister acknowledged on cross-examination that much of the advice on deleting e-mails came to him from another technician or from lawyers. The prosecution is nearly finished presenting its case after three months. It's not yet clear whether Fumo will testify in his own defense.

Pa. woman dies in house fire

HUMMELS WHARF, Pa. (AP) - A woman is dead from a house fire about 40 miles north of Harrisburg. Hummels Wharf Fire Chief Jack Grove says the fire broke out late Wednesday morning and spread quickly. The woman wasn't able to get out. A man was able to escape the fire and was badly burned. The victims' names weren't immediately released.

Pa. man accused of hacking estranged wife's e-mail

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania man is accused of hacking into his estranged wife's computer and sending hundreds of her e-mails to his account. Forty-one-year-old Brian Helfer, of Butler, was charged Tuesday with numerous counts of computer crime, including unlawful use of a computer, computer trespass and unlawful duplication. Terri Helfer contacted police last April after noticing that her computer was highlighting and sending e-mails as if on its own. Police say they found software that allowed Brian Helfer to access her computer remotely. Police say Brian Helfer admitted installing the software, saying he was doing work on the computer. They say he told them he wouldn't answer yes or no to sending her e-mails. He's being held in the Butler County Jail.

Memphis hoops star's cousin pleads to Pa. slaying

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) - A 17-year-old cousin of University of Memphis basketball player Tyreke Evans admits he fatally shot a man from the front seat of Evans' vehicle. Jamar Evans has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and gun charges in the Nov. 25, 2007, shooting of 19-year-old Marcus Reason in Chester Township, near Philadelphia. Tyreke Evans was driving.
Delaware County Assistant District Attorney Erica Parham says Jamar Evans had faced a first-degree murder charge before his plea Tuesday. He is set for sentencing in February. Tyreke Evans was a highly recruited high school player at the time. He was never charged and is now a freshman at Memphis.

Gettysburg monument vandalized

GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A monument at Gettysburg National Military Park has five plywood boards on it to cover up graffiti. Park spokeswoman Jo Sanders says the spray paint can't be removed yet from the Eternal Peace Light Memorial because cleaning materials will freeze in cold weather. Sanders says the park doesn't have the equipment needed to repair the monument and will most likely hire a contractor to do it. She says she doesn't know how much it will cost. The latest damage was discovered Thursday. Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides President Rick Hohmann says vandalism has been a problem at the park since the 19th century.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A wary Senate is set to vote today on President-elect Barack Obama's request for $350 billion in financial bailout money. It's been a tough sell and Obama has dangled a veto threat if he's rejected, combined with promises of a change in course. He'd use the money for more lending and to help homeowners facing foreclosure.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Another major Cabinet appointee is expected to sail through a confirmation vote today as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considers Hillary Rodham Clinton for secretary of state. Sen. Clinton and outgoing Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, the
vice president-elect, are expected to give their farewell speeches on the Senate floor today.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The Israeli military intensified its assault on Gaza City today, sending terrified residents fleeing for cover. Israeli tanks shelled downtown Gaza City and ground troops thrust deep into a crowded neighborhood for the first time, increasing pressure on Hamas to accept a proposed cease-fire.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - A Pakistani official says Pakistan still needs more information from India to allow it to prosecute suspects in the Mumbai attack. But he adds that 124 people have been arrested in a crackdown on groups allegedly linked to the attack. India says a Pakistan-based militant group masterminded the November attack that killed 164 people.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An ex-convict is back in Oklahoma to face charges in the strangling of his ex-girlfriend and her four young children. Joshua Steven Durcho was caught in Texas after a car crash and waived extradition. He told reporters in Texas he was sorry for getting into a -- quote -- "mess I didn't do."