Today's News- Tuesday, March 17, 2009

DRIVER DIES IN TREMONT TOWNSHIP CRASH

A Pottsville man is dead following a crash on Interstate 81 Monday morning. Jonestown state police report that 74-year-old Thomas Desantis was northbound in Tremont Township when the van he was driving went off the road, struck a road sign and became lodged on an embankment. Emergency crews worked on Desantis, but he died due to a medical condition, according to officials.

CRASH VICTIM IDENTIFIED

A Shamokin man has been identified as the victim of a Sunday afternoon crash in Union Township. 55 year old Kenneth Shinskie was a passenger in a Jeep Cherokee that collided with a van driven by 42 year old Elizabeth Beaver. Shinskie was ejected from the vehicle driven by 17 year old Patrick Shinskie, who remains a patient at Geisiner Medical Center, Danville. Beaver, and a passenger in the van, Joseph Tomcavage, were treated for injuries, then released.

YERUSAVAGE SENTENCING POSTPONED

An Auburn man who torched several buildings last year had his sentencing postponed in county court Monday, due to questions about the plea deal by some of his victims. The Republican Herald reports that 32 year old John Yerusavage pleaded guilty but mentally ill in February to setting fires in Auburn, Wayne and South Manheim Townships. Reports indicate that some of the victims seeking restitution did not agree with the possible 8 to 16 years in prison. Among the buildings destroyed was the Precisionaire factory in Auburn, which never reopened after the fire. The Red Hill Gun club was destroyed in a separate fire, along with a garage and a cabin. Another sentencing date has not yet been set.

MONIES FROM FEDS

Several Schuylkill County entities will receive federal funds for various projects. At a press conference at Schuylkill Medical Center Monday, Congressman Tim Holden, Democrat from the 17th District, presented checks to those organizations. Schuylkill Medical Center will receive $190-thousand-dollars for improvements in information technology to bring both hospitals together. SEDCO received over $165-thousand-dollars to continue development at Highridge Business Park. The Union Street Trade and Transit Center will get $475- thousand dollars to help with the $18 million dollar project. Schuylkill Women in Crisis gets $100 thousand dollars to maintain staffing and services. The monies came from the Omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2009.

PENNDOT PROJECTS ANNOUNCED

The federal stimulus package will bring funding to several county road projects, according to state officials. Of the more than $3-billion dollars in funding for Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County projects will see nearly $6-million dollars. PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler, in annoucing the projects, said its more than a road improvement project:

BIEHLER

The biggest chunk of county funding is for resurfacing of Route 924 north of Frackville, which gets nearly $3.3 million dollars. One point five million goes to replace the bridge between Palo Alto and Pottsville. That structure was deemed unsafe and has been closed for several years. Two hundred twenty thousand dollars will construct a pedestrian stairway in Tamaqua and other funds will resurface some state roads and to install some railroad warning devices in Rush Township.

Ex-Pa. Sen. Fumo guilty of 137 corruption counts

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A lawyer for former Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Fumo says he plans to appeal the Philadelphia Democrat's conviction on 137 corruption counts. Defense lawyer Dennis Cogan says a juror who posted updates about the status of deliberations on the Internet should have been kicked off the jury. The juror had posted a Facebook message Friday that said to expect "a big announcement on Monday." That prompted a closed-door meeting early Monday involving the juror, the judge and lawyers in the case. The defense wanted him dismissed, calling the deliberations "tainted." The judge ruled that the juror could continue to participate. Cogan says that will be the basis of an appeal.

Lynne Cheney treated for fainting in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Lynne Cheney has been treated and released at a Philadelphia hospital after she was taken there because she fainted. Hahnemann University Hospital spokeswoman Coleen Cannon says former Vice President Dick Cheney's wife is to return to Washington on Tuesday. She was taken to Hahnemann's emergency department after fainting Monday afternoon. An aide to Dick Cheney says she was in Philadelphia on a private visit with her family.

DeWeese e-mail acknowledges bonus-getter's thanks

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A spokesman for a high-ranking Pennsylvania House Democrat says a recently disclosed e-mail message doesn't mean Rep. Bill DeWeese knew of illegal activity.
Someone writing from DeWeese's account replied to a message thanking him for "the bonus for campaigning" in December 2004. The reply said: "UR welcome." The e-mail exchange reported Monday by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review would seem to contradict DeWeese's position that he didn't know that bonuses had been given out for campaigning. But DeWeese spokesman Tom Andrews said staff members often responded to e-mails on behalf of the state representative. He says DeWeese doesn't remember the exchange and even if DeWeese sent the message personally, he may not have thought about it much. Andrews says DeWeese was responding to many messages thanking him for Christmas bonuses at the time.

Pa. AG Tom Corbett sets stage to run for governor

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's attorney general is taking an important step toward running for governor in 2010. Republican Tom Corbett said Monday he filed paperwork with the state after setting up an exploratory committee, called Tom Corbett for Governor. Also, a Web site for the committee was made public on Monday.

Philly mayor plans double-digit tax increases

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The mayor of Philadelphia says he needs temporary tax increases to prevent layoffs of police officers and firefighters. Mayor Michael Nutter said Monday that he will propose a 19 percent increase in property taxes for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. It would be scaled back to 14.5 percent the year after. He says starting July 1, 2011, tax rates would revert to the current level. Nutter says without the tax increases, he'd have to lay off 500 police officers and close eight fire companies. Nutter is to present his full budget proposal to City Council on Thursday.

Alcoa unveils plan to cut dividend, slash costs

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. says it plans to slash its quarterly dividend, sell $1.1 billion worth of shares in a public offering and cut costs by more than $2.4 billion annually by 2010 to cope with the economic downturn. The Pittsburgh-based company says its actions will boost working capital by $800 million this year and reduce capital spending by an additional $1 billion in 2010. Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld says the actions will "better prepare Alcoa to manage through a prolonged downturn." In January, Alcoa announced it would lay off about 13 percent of its global work force by the end of 2009, further cut production and spending, and sell four of its subsidiaries.

Philly papers, creditors delay financing hearing

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The owners of two of Philadelphia's major daily papers will get more time to negotiate a deal with creditors over control of the papers during bankruptcy reorganization. Lawrence McMichael, an attorney for Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, says the two sides are discussing interim financing terms. The company publishes The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. The company supports a $25 million financing plan that would keep CEO Brian Tierney at the helm. But some creditors oppose his leadership and have proposed their own $20 million package. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for March 31. Philadelphia Newspapers has about $395 million in debt but says its day-to-day finances are sound.

Va. man gets life for Pa. porn producer's murder

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A Virginia man convicted of killing a rival in the gay-porn business is to get life in prison because a Pennsylvania jury couldn't agree on whether he deserved the death penalty. Luzerne County jurors could not reach a unanimous decision Monday on the punishment for 27-year-old Harlow Raymond Cuadra of Virginia Beach, Va. Under Pennsylvania law, a sentence of life without parole is automatic in that situation. Cuadra was convicted last week of first-degree murder and other offenses in the 2007 slaying of Bryan Kocis in his rural northeastern Pennsylvania home. Another Virginia Beach man who prosecutors say worked with Cuadra pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December. He is 35-year-old Joseph Kerekes, who authorities say was Cuadra's lover and business partner.

Pa. police shooting suspect in custody

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Police say a suspect is in custody after his ex-girlfriend's home in central Pennsylvania was riddled with 21 bullets from an assault rifle. Police in Logan Township, about 85 miles east of Pittsburgh, say 33-year-old Joseph Olecki shot up the woman's home after she ended their relationship on Saturday night. Authorities had issued an East Coast bulletin for his arrest. But police say Olecki was taken into custody on Monday. Olecki is originally from Scranton. He faces attempted homicide and other charges. Court papers say he had six stolen assault rifles with him and told the woman he plans to "take out as many people as possible" before he's caught.

Pa. teacher accused of sexual affair with student

EAST GREENVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A suburban Philadelphia music teacher has been arrested for allegedly carrying on a sexual relationship with one of his students. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says 28-year-old Brian Miller, of Bethlehem, faces charges including indecent assault and corruption of minors. He is accused of kissing and fondling a 14-year-old girl at Upper Perkiomen Middle School. Police say they were tipped off by a friend of the girl who found provocative messages from the teacher on her iPhone. Police say a second girl has come forward to authorities, reporting similar allegations. Miller did not comment to reporters as he entered and left court Monday afternoon.

Police say 50-year-old son stabbed parents

DUBOIS, Pa. (AP) - Police say a man stabbed his parents in their west-central Pennsylvania home before authorities stopped the attack. Authorities say 50-year-old Michael Lanigan dropped the knife when police arrived before being taken into custody. Police say Olivette Fogg had called 911 on Sunday night to report that she and her husband, James, had been stabbed and had locked themselves in the bathroom. Police say Lanigan then broke into the bathroom before they arrived. He faces charges including two counts of criminal attempt to commit homicide. Lanigan lived at the home. He was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. James Fogg was in critical condition at Altoona Regional Health System, where his wife was listed in serious condition.

38 Pittsburgh Super Bowl revelers avoid jail

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Prosecutors have agreed to allow 31 revelers arrested in Pittsburgh for disturbances after the Steelers' Super Bowl victory to do community service. Those included will have to do 50 hours of community service during the next 90 days. In exchange, charges of failure to disperse will be withdrawn. Seven others will pay a $300 fine for disorderly conduct.'
One University of Pittsburgh senior is facing more serious arson charges and was taken from the courtroom on Monday in handcuffs. Thousands of people took to the streets after the Steelers won their sixth title on Feb. 1. More than 80 people were arrested for setting small fires, throwing bottles and overturning cars. The University of Pittsburgh separately disciplined 24 of its students.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The fallout continues over American International Group's executive bonuses. The White House says it's looking at restrictions on some $30 billion in taxpayers' money approved to help AIG. The administration is also looking to reclaim or block the millions of dollars in bonuses.

WASHINGTON (AP) - On this St. Patrick's Day, President Barack Obama will be meeting at the White House with Irish political leaders intent on maintaining peace despite recent dissident
violence in Northern Ireland. Obama plans to meet with the Irish prime minister as well as Northern Ireland's First Minister.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Former 1970s radical and longtime fugitive Sara Jane Olson is scheduled to be released from a California prison today. The woman once known as Kathleen Soliah plans to return to Minnesota, where Gov. Tim Pawlenty has sent a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asking she be kept in California.

MONTREAL (AP) - Published reports say British-born actress Natasha Richardson is in critical condition at a Montreal hospital after being severely injured in a skiing accident. People.com and
IrishCentral.com report the Tony award-winning actress and wife of Liam Neeson suffered a head injury.

SEATTLE (AP) - The final print edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is hitting the streets this morning. After today, the 146-year-old P-I will be available only online. The rival Seattle Times says it plans to deliver a copy of its paper to every P-I subscribed tomorrow morning.