Today's News- Monday, March 30, 2009

WINDY NIGHT

Sunday's weather may have been a sure sign of spring as heavy thunderstorms roared through Schuylkill County mid afternoon. While reports of damage were minor across the region, several customers of PPL Utilities were without power overnight. The same can't be said for people in Lancaster County, where a possible tornado may have destroyed five trailer homes in Clay Township. Three people suffered minor injuries. Officials from the National Weather Service will survey the area in Lancaster County to determine if in fact a tornado touched down there.

BAR BREAK IN

State police are investigating a break in at a Girardville bar overnight Saturday. Troopers report that someone took several bottles of booze from Dave Eye's Bar on Second Street. The break in was discovered yesterday. Frackville state police are handling the investigation.

THEFT OF BARRELS IN EAST BRUNSWICK

A thief was busy outside a home in East Brunswick Township Saturday afternoon. Frackville state police report that 40 year olf Kemper Ritchie of New Ringgold took 8 to 10 50 gallon plastic drums from Jimmy Ritchie's home on Cold Run Road around 4pm. Theft charges will be filed against Kemper Ritchie.

MCCANN TO OPEN LEHIGH VALLEY CAMPUS

An area education institution is expanding. McCann School of Business and Technology is planning to open a campus in the Lehigh Valley, according to school officials. Getting its start in Schuylkill County more than 100 years ago, the school has campuses in Pottsville, Scranton and Hazleton. They are also planning a campus in Carlisle as well. The Lehigh Valley campus, when completed, is expected to serve up to 500 students.

PHILLY DA CANDIDATE
Philly DA candidate vows appeal of removal

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The campaign manager for a man running for Philadelphia district attorney says he will appeal the candidate's removal from the primary ballot. Democrat Seth Williams was kicked off the May 19 ballot Friday by a judge who ruled that he had failed to disclose all sources of his income as required by law. Campaign manager Dan Fee says the
appeal will be filed Monday and the campaign will continue. Williams, an attorney, ran for district attorney in 2005 and narrowly lost to incumbent Lynne Abraham, who is stepping down. Attorneys for rival Dan McCaffery say Williams failed to disclose more than $11,000 he received from his campaign committee, which Williams says was reimbursement for campaign expenses.

LIONS POISONED
Pa. pesticide maker vows steps to protect lions

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The manufacturer of a pesticide blamed by conservationists for the poisoning deaths of lions and other animals in Kenya says it is taking "aggressive action" to prevent misuse of the product, halting sales to the country and trying to buy back existing supplies. Carbofuran, marketed as Furadan by Philadelphia-based FMC Corp., is used to control insects and other pests on crops such as corn, rice and sorghum. But conservationists say herdsmen in East Africa trying to protect their flocks have taken to using the pesticide to poison lions, hyenas and other predators. Milton Steele, vice president for agricultural products of
Philadelphia-based FMC Corp., told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday that the company has no proof that the product was involved. But he says FMC has suspended sales to Kenya, is trying to buy back remaining supplies and wants to work with conservationists to resolve the problem.

HUNTER SHOT
Man held for trial in fatal shooting of Pa. hunter

BEAVER, Pa. (AP) - A man has been ordered to stand trial in the death of a fellow hunter shot last year in western Pennsylvania as his 9-year-old son sat nearby. Twenty-one-year-old Daniel Logan was held for trial on separate counts of shooting at or causing injury to a human being and reckless endangerment in the death of 35-year-old Duane Smith, of Frankfort Springs. The charges were filed under the state's game law. A game commission officer says Logan acknowledged having fired at a deer in the direction of Smith and his son on Dec. 13 in
Hanover Township. But another hunter who has not been charged says he also fired at the deer, and officials say state police are testing the guns of both men.

VAN SHOOTING
Man charged as driver in Pa. van shooting

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A western Pennsylvania man has been charged in the shooting deaths of two men in a van in Pittsburgh last summer. Thirty-eight-year-old Victorio Hinton, of McKeesport, was arraigned Saturday night on two counts of criminal homicide and one count of criminal conspiracy in the killings of Christopher Brandyburg and William Walker, of Beaver Falls. Pittsburgh police say he was driving the van in which they were shot July 5. Forty-two-year-old Allan Moorefield, of Pittsburgh, was quickly arrested and charged with homicide. But authorities say Hinton denied that Moorefield was the shooter and named another man. Moorefield's trial was scheduled to begin Monday but has been postponed. Hinton remains in Allegheny County Jail without bond pending a preliminary hearing Friday. It was unclear whether he has an attorney.

VILLANOVA RETURNS
Villanova set for 1st Final Four since '85

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Jay Wright and the Villanova Wildcats are back on campus. celebrating their trip to the Final Four. Scottie Reynolds flashed the "V" sign with one hand to a booming crowd on Sunday and used his other arm to keep that lucky ball wrapped tight. Villanova's 24-year Final Four absence is over all because of Reynolds' clear-path, half-court race to the rim that gave the Wildcats a 78-76 victory over Pittsburgh in the East Regional final. The stunning layup with a half-second left led all the local news shows Saturday night and was being replayed all the next morning. It will surely have a permanent spot on the March Madness highlight reel.
Villanova's charter flight home from Boston was delayed about two hours, but once the Wildcats were back on campus, they were greeted by nearly 1,000 delirious fans at the Pavilion. Wright,
Reynolds, Dante Cunningham and other players addressed the crowd in a brief rally where they promised the tournament run wasn't over yet. Wright cautioned the excited crowd that the Wildcats have two more games to get. Villanova will face North Carolina in one national semfinal, while Connecticut takes on Michigan State.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama plans make an announcement this morning crucial to two big automakers. The government has found that General Motors and Chrysler submitted inadequate restructuring plans required to get more bailout money. Each company gets a brief deadline to get it right.

DETROIT (AP) - General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner is stepping down immediately under White House pressure which includes a major management shakeup. Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli gets to stay as last ditch efforts are mounted to save the auto giants.

BANGKOK (AP) - There's been a nosedive on Asian stock markets today. Trouble at American automakers and other downbeat news has investors thinking recent optimism about economic recovery might be premature. Stock futures point to more losses today on Wall Street.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Cigarette users are about to see more of their money go up in smoke every time they buy a pack. The single largest federal tobacco tax increase ever takes effect Wednesday. It's to finance an extension of a kids' health insurance program.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods is all the way back from knee surgery. Woods came from five shots behind in the final round to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one shot by sinking a 12-foot birdie put on the last hole. It's the first win of his comeback. The Masters is in two weeks.