Today's News-Wednesday, March 4, 2009

ARGALL WINS

Tuesday's 29th District special election belonged to Dave Argall. The shortened campaign between the Republican state representative and Democratic challenger Steve Lukach was a sprint from start to finish, but in the end, Argall swept all 6 counties that encompass the district that was held for nearly 30 years by the late Senator Jim Rhoades. In unofficial tallies from more than 200 precincts, Dave Argall garnered more than 62 percent of the vote, compared to 38 percent for Lukach, which surprised even Senator-elect Argall.

ARGALL

Lukach addressed his supporters at his home base in Mahanoy City and was gracious in defeat:

LUKACH

Once the vote is certified, Argall can move from the House to the Senate chamber and begin work for the citizens of the 29th district, joining the Republican majority.

INCIDENT AT BAR LANDS MAN IN JAIL

A man is jailed following a weekend incident in Tremont, involving drugs. Borough police were summoned to the Corner Bar, where Porfiro Roman the Third was brandishing a knife, attacking the walls and throwing chairs around. After subduing Roman, police found bags of heroin and cocaine on him. He was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center South for treatment of self inflicted stab wounds. Officers report Roman was strung out on drugs as well. He was arraigned on several drug related charges and taken to the county prison.

TWO CHARGED WITH DRUG POSSESSION IN MAHANOY

Mahanoy City police have nabbed two borough men for drug possession. In separate investigations, officers charged 21 year old James Killian and 42 year old William Price. The Republican Herald reports that Killian's home was searched Monday and they uncovered pot and paraphernalia. Killian reportedly would buy marijuana and resell it. Price was charged after a search by Mahanoy City police and agents from the county drug task force, finding pot, oxycontin, drug paraphernalia and cash. In fact, reports indicate that several of Price's customers showed up to make purchases and trade for drugs. Both men are jailed for the crimes.

Murtha says 600,000 troops needed for Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. John Murtha says the situation in Afghanistan is so challenging that he estimates it would take 600,000 troops to fully squelch violence in the country. There are now 38,000 troops there. The Pennsylvania Democrat chairs the powerful subcommittee that funds the military. He says his figure is based on the country's history of rigorous fighting and its size. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he can't predict when the United States will be able to leave Afghanistan, but that it won't be soon. Some argue that too many forces would be counterproductive, partly because of Afghan distaste for having foreign forces on their soil.

Defense: Fumo case 'a clash of interpretations'

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A lawyer for former Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Fumo says the corruption case boils down to "a clash of interpretations." The sweeping corruption case against a powerful Pennsylvania lawmaker boils down to "a clash of interpretations," a defense lawyer said in his closing argument Tuesday. During six days on the stand, the Philadelphia Democrat conceded many of the facts charged in the $3.5 million fraud and obstruction case. He agreed that he let a nonprofit group run by aides pay for political polls, power tools, vehicles and other goods, and that his Senate staff and workers for the charity regularly performed personal and campaign favors for him. But Fumo denied any intent to defraud those institutions, or obstruct the five-year FBI probe. Jurors could begin deliberating as early as Wednesday, after the government gives its rebuttal and the judge instructs the jury.

Penn State's Spanier hits tuition aid plan

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell's plan to expand college tuition aid is coming under fire from the heads of some state-related universities. At a hearing Tuesday before the House Appropriations Committee, Penn State President Graham Spanier said university officials are very disappointed that none of the aid will be available to students there. Rendell wants to legalize video poker machines and tax the revenue to expand financial aid for thousands of students entering any of the 14 state-owned universities or the 14 community colleges this fall. University of Pittsburgh President Mark Nordenberg expressed a similar sentiment. He says the governor's proposal would unfairly place the state-related universities at a disadvantage. The heads of Temple and Lincoln universities also testified at the hearing.

2nd arrest made in 2002 Pittsburgh slaying

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Police have made a second arrest in a 2002 homicide case in Pittsburgh. He is 23-year-old Zachary Jerome Blair, who was already jailed on unrelated charges when charged with homicide on Tuesday afternoon. Blair is charged in the shooting death of James Malloy on May 30, 2002. William Bey, who's now 27, was arrested the next day and charged in Malloy's death. Last month, he reached a plea bargain and agreed to testify against Blair, leading to Tuesday's arrest. Police announced Blair's arrest after business hours Tuesday.

Ex-Erie cop gets 9-22 months for stealing drugs

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - A former Erie police officer has been sentenced to nine to 22 months in prison and house arrest for stealing cocaine from the department's evidence room. Erie County Judge John Garhart ordered 47-year-old Robert Liebel to serve 120 days in prison and the rest on house arrest on Tuesday. Liebel was given credit for 43 days he's already spent in jail and in rehabilitation. He'll be eligible for work release once he reports to jail April 1. Liebel pleaded guilty in January to all nine charges against him, including theft and possession of cocaine. He said he took the cocaine for himself. The 22-year veteran was arrested last February after Erie police conducted a sting. The drugs were taken in 2007 and 2008.

Pa. man wants to withdraw guilty plea for murder

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania man is trying to withdraw his guilty plea to third-degree murder for his girlfriend's stabbing death. The lawyer for 50-year-old Bobby Lee Komrowski says the White Haven man wants to go to trial. Komrowski pleaded guilty to third-degree murder Feb. 19 and was immediately sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison. Before the plea, Luzerne County prosecutors had been seeking the death penalty. Komrowski is accused of killing 31-year-old Amy Comly in their home on Oct. 10, 2007. Police say he did so hours after he was served with a protection-from-abuse order.

Ex-Cherry Hill official charged in bribery scheme

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - The former head of the Cherry Hill code enforcement office has been charged with taking bribes to steer municipal contracts to a private inspection service. The U.S. Attorney's Office says 66-year-old Anthony Saccomanno of Cherry Hill solicited and accepted cash payments from officials of Building Inspection Underwriters Inc., a Pennsylvania firm with offices in New Jersey. Also charged is 56-year-old Russell McLaughlin Jr. of Chalfont, Pa., president of BIU. Prosecutors say he gave Saccomanno cash bribes. Both defendants made initial court appearances Tuesday in Camden and were released on $50,000 bonds. After-hours messages left at the offices of Saccomanno's lawyer, Jeffrey Zucker, and McLaughlin's lawyer, F. Emmett Fitzpatrick III, were not immediately returned.

Pa. car dealer had heart attack while setting fire

LIGONIER, Pa. (AP) - Police say a western Pennsylvania auto dealership owner had a fatal heart attack while setting fire to four cars on his lot. Ligonier Township Police Chief Michael Matrunics says investigators determined 61-year-old Gregory Graham acted alone when the fires were set early Feb. 17 Graham Colonial Motors. Graham was found behind one of the burned cars along with rolled up newspaper and gasoline.

Fugitive who took Pa. constable's car caught

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A man who managed to commandeer a constable's vehicle in south-central Pennsylvania is caught. U.S. Marshal Michael Regan says his deputies followed a relative of 38-year-old Eric Anthony Peterson. He says that relative met the Wormleysburg man at a Wal-Mart store in Hampden Township, Cumberland County, Monday night. He says Peterson left in his relative's car, then led deputies on a high-speed chase into Harrisburg, where he ditched the car and jumped into the Susquehanna River. Deputies followed Peterson's progress down the river, keeping a spotlight on him and warning him that he might drown if he did not come to shore. He eventually swam to shore and was taken to a hospital for hypothermia. Peterson fled in Constable Larry Brunner's vehicle on Friday.

FirstEnergy Corp. plans 335 job cuts

AKRON, Ohio (AP) - Electric power company FirstEnergy Corp. plans to cut 335 managers and support staff, including 216 in Ohio. The Akron, Ohio-based company said Tuesday that the reduction is part of a larger effort to improve efficiencies and respond to the global economic downturn. Sixteen job cuts will take place in New Jersey, and the remaining 103 in Pennsylvania. The reduction represents about 4 percent of the company's nonunion work force. It also comes a week after FirstEnergy said its fourth-quarter profit rose 24 percent to $332 million, or $1.09 per share, on revenue of $3.2 billion. FirstEnergy says it expects to take a one-time, after-tax charge of $16 million for severance-related benefits. FirstEnergy's power plants supply electricity to customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Philadelphia broadcaster Frank Ford dies at 92

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Long-time Philadelphia radio announcer Frank Ford has died at age 92. Ford, whose real name was Eddie Felbin, died Tuesday. His death was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Ford's wife, Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham. Ford began working in radio in 1937 as an announcer for WHAT and later worked for many other stations. He retired in 2000, when WWDB-FM switched from a news-talk format to a music format. Ford met Abraham in 1956 when she was 16 and he was 40; she was the babysitter for his daughter from a previous marriage. They married 20 years later.

HONG KONG (AP) - A rebound today on Asian stock markets comes amid hopes China will expand measures to revive its economy. Analysts say major uncertainty persists.

WASHINGTON (AP) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says Congress needs to have more faith in free markets despite eagerness to protect U.S. businesses. Brown today delivers that message in a speech to the House and Senate.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A compromise written by key moderate Democrats in the House could push a bill to help debt-strapped homeowners to a vote as early as tomorrow. The bill adds restrictions to seeking mortgage modifications in bankruptcy court.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - The official search is over for two NFL players and a third man sent adrift in chilly seas when their boat capsized. One survivor was rescued.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has easily claimed a second term. He got 56 percent of the vote and thus avoids a runoff. Some see it as a precursor to a run for
governor and Villaraigosa is not saying if he will serve his full term as mayor.