Today's News-Monday, February 9 2009

HUSBAND AND WIFE DEAD IN POTTSVILLE

Sunday's shooting in Pottsville that left two people dead is now being classified as a murder suicide. That's according to Pottsville police, who now say that 38 year old Amybeth Williams died at 3:22pm at Lehigh Valley Hospital after being shot by her husband, 38-year-old Jeffrey Williams in their Howard Avenue home. Pottsville PD are waiting for medical reports from Lehigh Valley and Schuylkill Medical Center South before closing the case. The domestic incident took place after 8:30am yesterday. The Williams' children were not home at the time of the shooting.

SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED IN CRASH IN MCKEANSBURG

Several people were hurt this morning in a two vehicle crash in McKeansburg. Early reports indicate that a pickup truck and a car collided on Route 443 and West Market Street. Two people were flown from the scene for treatment and two transported by ambulance. We'll have more details as they become available.

THEFT BY DECEPTION

State police are investigating the theft of monies from an individual in a scam in South Manheim Township. Troopers have not identified the victim, but say that that the person was told they won $3-thousand-dollars, and was told to wire money to collect the prize. Over a four month period, the individual wired money and sent checks to the perpetrator totaling over $11-thousand-dollars. The investigation continues.

ASSAULT IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP

A Pine Grove area man is jailed after he assaulted a woman and threatened her with a gun early Sunday. 22 year old Kacey Hippert is alleged to have struck the unidentified woman, choked her and pushed her down a flight of stairs. Hippert retrieved a rifle from a gun locker and threatened to kill her. Hippert was arraigned on assault charges and being unable to post bail, was taken to Schuylkill County Prison.

TWO ILLEGALS PICKED UP SATURDAY

Two Honduran men, who were in the country illegally, were picked up Saturday in the parking lot of the Schuylkill Mall after allegedly selling three thousand dollars worth of cocaine to an informant. Police say brothers 23-year-old Jaime Discua, and 28-year-old Jose Discua, are charged with drug delivery and related counts and jailed on $75-thousand dollars straight cash bail. Police say two minors, ages 3 and 6, were in the car where the drug sale took place and were turned over to Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services.

Joe Torsella to seek Democratic nod for Senate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Philadelphia civic leader Joe Torsella says he'll seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Arlen Specter. The 45-year-old Torsella is a former president of the National Constitution Center and the current chairman of the State Board of Education. Torsella says he filed paperwork Monday to form a committee to raise and spend money, and that he will announce his candidacy in the weeks ahead. Several other prospective Democratic candidates are considering taking on Specter, who is expected to seek a sixth term next year. One who decided not to run was MSNBC political commentator Chris Matthews.

Gov. Rendell testifies briefly for Fumo in trial

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell has testified for ex-Sen. Vincent Fumo in Fumo's federal corruption trial. Rendell told jurors that his sometime rival Philadelphia Democrat worked long hours on state issues. He says they sometimes met late at night or talked by phone when Fumo was on vacation. On cross-examination, Rendell acknowledged that even successful, hard-working lawmakers must follow the law. A defense lawyer says Fumo will also take the stand Monday in his own defense. Fumo is charged with defrauding the senate, a charity and a museum out of $3.5 million in goods and services. He has been on trial for four months.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Rohm & Haas says its fourth-quarter earnings fell 82 percent as charges and a sales drop sapped profits. The Philadelphia-based company earned $32 million, or 17 cents per share, compared with $180 million, or 91 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding certain charges, profit was 69 cents per share.
Sen. Casey to appear in arson-plagued Pa. city

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is headed to Elkhart, Indiana, for a town meeting on his economic recovery plan. With votes expected in the Senate on an $827 billion version, Obama is looking to make a case for the stimulus directly to the people. Elkhart county's unemployment rate was more than 15 percent as of December. Local officials say recent layoffs have likely pushed it closer to 20.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two senators who have played key roles in shaping the Senate's version of an economic stimulus say it's not perfect, but it's the best possible in the current circumstances. Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Ben Nelson appeared on NBC's
"Today" show. Collins says it should help create 3.5 million jobs.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Some details are emerging about the Obama administration's overhaul of the government's $700 billion financial rescue program. An administration official says it's
likely to include a partnership with the private sector to buy troubled assets. The proposal is set to be announced tomorrow.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi security officials say four Iraqi prisoners have been transferred from the Guantanamo Bay military prison into Iraqi custody. The officials say the men originally had been arrested in Afghanistan.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles police say they are continuing to investigate allegations of domestic abuse against R&B singer Chris Brown. He was arrested last night after police received a 911 call from a woman who accused Brown of hurting her. The singer had earlier been at a pre-Grammy party with his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.