Today's News-Saturday, February 14, 2009

PORT CARBON WOMAN CHARGED IN THEFT
An investigation into the theft of monies from an elderly woman has led to charges against a Port Carbon woman. WPPA News Director Jay Levan has more:

DELEON PKG

HEARING SET FOR SANCTUARY OWNER

A Pine Grove woman who ran an animal sanctuary and used donated items to fuel a drug habit will face those charges next week. 49 year old Virginia Justiniano ran the Cats With No Name animal shelter in Pine Grove, and is alleged to have used products donated to the operation to broker for drugs is facing various narcotics counts. Her boyfriend, 38 year old Andrew Oxenrider of Tower City, is also facing drug related charges. Pine Grove police uncovered cocaine, pot and drug paraphernalia at the hom on Walmer Lane in Pine Grove Township where Justiniano set up shop. Seventy cats were found in filth at the home, along with piles of hypodermic needles several weeks ago. The cats that survived are being cared for by staff from the Ruth Steinert SPCA. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 19th in Tremont.

FORMER RUSH TOWNSHIP CHIEF SUES

The former Rush Township police chief wants to know why he was dismissed, and he's gone to county court to find out. Robert Romanick served as chief in the township for 4 years, and was terminated after refusing to resign as chief and be demoted to a patrolman's position. The Republican and Herald reports the lawsuit seeks to find out why Rush Township supervisors wanted him to step down. No hearing or a written statement was reportedly given to Romanick for the move, and now he's filed suit against them. In January, Romanick requested that the supervisors give him a hearing, but reportedly have refused to do so. The suit contends that the action violated the Police Tenure Act. No reinstatement or monetary damages are being sought.

STATE REPUBLICAN ROUNDUP

Campaign donors and the federal stimulus package were among the items discussed this week in Harrisburg. Chuck Nichols has the Republican Week in Review:

NICHOLS

CHILD PORN PROTECTIONS DEBATED IN HARRISBURG

Its a loophole that may seem like its splitting hairs, but a state lawmaker says we must close it, in order to protect our children from predators. More from Roseann Cadau:

CADAU PORN

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia is mourning the death of the city's sixth active duty officer to be killed in the line of duty in the last two years. The latest is 25-year-old Officer John Pawlowski who was fatally shot Friday night while responding to a street fight.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A judge says he will rule soon whether to extradite a northeastern Pennsylvania woman who shot her husband in Canada. Mary Beth Harshbarger of Meshoppen is charged in Canada with criminal negligence causing death and careless use of a firearm.

IMPERIAL, Pa. (AP) - The Allegheny County Airport Authority wants to borrow up to $20 million to further reduce airline fees at Pittsburgh International Airport. It says it needs to do so to keep competitive and can repay the loan in five years with state gambling proceeds.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The public has a new way to submit tips about the improper or unsafe use of Pennsylvania's state-owned vehicles. The new complaint system allows the public to describe the type of misuse as well as when and where it occurs.

MONACA, Pa. (AP) - A merged school district in western Pennsylvania has settled on a name. The former Center Area and Monaca school districts in Beaver County will be known as Central
Valley. More than 760 suggestions had been made, including jokes such as "United Ninjas."

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has the first major victory of his young administration, a $787 billion stimulus bill aimed at easing the worst economic crisis in decades. The Senate passed the measure last night. The president is expected to sign the bill within the next few days.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The vote on the stimulus bill was so tight the White House arranged for a plane to fly Sen. Sherrod Brown from his mother's memorial in Ohio last night in order to cast the decisive vote. Brown then flew back to Ohio where he will attend his mother's funeral today.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Workers have begun the task of removing the victims' remains from the incinerated wreckage of the commuter plane that crashed into a suburban home in upstate New York Thursday, killing 50 people. The plane was engulfed in a raging fireball that made it too hot to begin removing the bodies any earlier.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Three separate roadside bombs have left seven Afghani police officers and a government official dead around Afghanistan. Taliban militants frequently target Afghan police. President Barack Obama has vowed to strengthen the U.S. focus on Afghanistan, where militants have increased attacks over the last three years.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The parents of a 17-year-old boy killed by an escaped tiger at the San Francisco Zoo have reached a settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit. Their lawyer says the family of Carlos Sousa Jr. have asked the amount of the settlement remain confidential. The teen was killed by the tiger on Christmas Day 2007.