Today's News-Thursday, May 7, 2009

DOLZANI TO RETIRE
Schuylkill County's administrator is retiring. Darlene Dolzani has been county administrator for nearly two years after succeeding Bill Reppy. Advertisements for her replacement appeared in local newspapers in the past week. Dolzani headed the Tax Claim Bureau prior to stepping up to the top job, and served as a banking executive in Schuylkill County for several decades.

DEBATE
Members of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce had a chance to hear the views of the two candidates who want to serve the 124th Legislative District Wednesday in Orwigsburg. Democrat Bill Mackey, who has sought the seat twice opposing former Representative Dave Argall, and Republican Jerry Knowles, a former Argall aide, talked about taxes, energy, transportation and healthcare. The special election to replace now Senator Dave Argall is May 19th. Knowles said he has the experience for the job:

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Mackey said that his work in the private sector sets him apart:

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ARGALL EXPLAINS SENATE APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET

A $27.3 billion Republican state budget plan that wouldn't increase taxes or tap reserves is on its way to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Senate Republicans backing the plan Wednesday said it would satisfy the state's basic needs without committing to spending levels that can't be sustained once federal economic-stimulus money runs out. Democrats say the state needs to bolster public services such as education and job training as Gov. Ed Rendell proposes in his $29 billion budget proposal. State Senator Dave Argall says that schools will actually get more:

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The Senate approved the bill 30-20 on a party-line vote after an hours-long debate. That sets the stage for negotiations aimed at reaching a compromise before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

HELP STAMP OUT HUNGER
Put a note on the refrigerator Friday night so you don't forget to put non perishable food items by your mailbox Saturday morning for Stamp Out Hunger. The National Association of Letter Carriers annual collection helps your neighbors in need, according to Pottsville drive organizer Greg Andregic explains:

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By now you should have received a reminder postcard in your mailbox, courtesy of Campbell Soup. In last year's drive nationwide, over 73 million pounds of food was collected. Andregic says that people of all walks of life need help during the economic slowdown:

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You don't even need to leave your house this Saturday to help Stamp Out Hunger.

FLIGHT 93 MEMORIAL
Feds use land condemnation for 9/11 memorial
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The National Park Service says it will begin taking land for the Flight 93 memorial in western Pennsylvania from property owners because negotiations have proven unsuccessful. The service says it will condemn about 500 acres still needed for the memorial to be built in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The park service planned to publicly release further details later Thursday. Flight 93 was traveling from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco when it was diverted by hijackers with the likely goal of crashing it into the White House or Capitol. The official 9/11 Commission report said the hijackers crashed the plane as passengers tried to wrest control of the cockpit.

ARROW-CAT
Pa. cat killed with arrow
DUNBAR, Pa. (AP) - State police are investigating the killing of a western Pennsylvania house cat with an arrow. It happened in Dunbar Township, Fayette County. Michelle Zuzak says she found her cat with the archery wound outside her home early Monday morning. The cat, named Fluffy, was taken to a veterinarian, but died late Tuesday. Zuzak said Wednesday, "I can't believe someone could be so cruel."

PAPADAKIS MEMORIAL
Memorial scheduled Thursday for Drexel president
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter are among those expected to speak at a memorial service for Drexel University President Constantine Papadakis. Thursday's memorial on campus comes a little over a month after
Papadakis died of complications from lung cancer on April 5. Another speaker at the service is his daughter, Maria Papadakis, who earned her bachelor's degree from Drexel last year and is now in graduate school. Papadakis had been the Drexel University president since 1995.

CHIROPRACTOR CHARGED
Pa. chiropractor accused of molesting patients
BATH, Pa. (AP) - A chiropractor in the Lehigh Valley is accused of molesting four female patients over the course of two years. Defense lawyer Allan Sodomsky says Dr. John Marino is innocent and looks forward to his day in court. Police accuse Marino of sliding his hand down patients' pants at his office in Bath, about 50 miles north-northwest of Philadelphia. Another chiropractor, Dr. Robert Gordon, told police that there's no legitimate reason for a chiropractor to do that. Colonial Regional Police Detective Gary Hammer says one victim came forward in February and he has been investigating since. Marino is charged with four counts each of indecent assault and harassment. Marino also serves on the Nazareth Area School Board.

WESLEYAN SHOOTING-PENNSYLVANIA
Conn. student shot at bookstore went to Pa. boarding school
WESTTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The headmaster of a Quaker boarding school in rural southeastern Pennsylvania says he spent hours informing people at the Westtown School that one of their graduates is a murder victim. Head of School John Baird says it was especially hard for
employees of the Westtown School who knew Johanna Justin-Jinich to accept that she was shot near the Wesleyan University campus in Middletown, Connecticut. Justin-Jinich was on track to graduate from Wesleyan next year. In her high school years at Westtown, Justin-Jinich was an honor student who participated in tennis and dance.

SWINE FLU-PENNSYLVANIA
2nd swine flu case is confirmed in Pa.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania health officials have confirmed the state's second case of swine flu. Officials say a 28-year-old man in suburban Philadelphia got sick April 28 but has since recovered. They say the from Montgomery County man hasn't traveled recently or been in contact with anyone believed to be sick. Officials say discovery of a second case was expected due to stepped-up testing and is no cause for alarm. The earlier confirmed case was a 31-year-old Montgomery County man who has also recovered. Officials said Wednesday the state has 19 suspected cases in 11 counties. Pennsylvania health officials say they've received equipment to
perform their own tests and are training workers how to use it.

SPECTER-COMMITTEES
Reid says won't be fair to bump people to accommodate Specter
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says it wouldn't be fair to bump people off committees or subcommittees to accommodate Sen. Arlen Specter. The Senate has passed a resolution making Specter the most junior Democrat on the committees on which he serves. Specter switched to the Democratic Party last week after 28 years as a Republican senator. Pennsylvania's senior senator says he's confident that beginning in 2011, he'll get committee assignments as if he had been elected as a Democrat in 1980. Reid aides say the majority leader didn't make a flat commitment to honor Specter's seniority. They say the Nevada Democrat told Specter he would try, but the issue would have to go before the
Democratic rank-and-file.

COWBOYS-CANOPY COLLAPSE
Records show problems for Cowboys facility builder
DALLAS (AP) - Court records show the company that built the collapsed Dallas Cowboys' training facility also manufactured at least three other buildings that have fallen in heavy weather since 2002. The other tentlike facilities manufactured by Allentown, Pa.-based Summit Structures LLC or its related company, Cover-All Building Systems, were warehouse-type buildings in Philadelphia and upstate New York and an indoor arena for horse competition in Oregon. All the buildings fell in weather conditions that included heavy snow, according to records and interviews. A Summit spokeswoman didn't immediately return a call or e-mail
seeking comment Wednesday. The collapse of the Cowboys facility in heavy winds Saturday
left 12 people injured, including a 33-year-old team staff member who is paralyzed from the waist down. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the incident.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - Officials report three firefighters have been injured battling a southern California wildfire. Santa Barbara County officials say more than 13,000 people have been evacuated. More than 500 acres have been scorched by the wind-whipped blaze.

WASHINGTON (AP) - More details about President Barack Obama's budget are due out later today, when he sends his proposal to Congress. The document lists $17 billion in cuts across 121
different programs. Pentagon spending takes about half the hit, while domestic programs take the rest.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is releasing results of bank stress tests today. Leaked results show some of the nation's biggest banks need to raise more money. But the Obama administration is downplaying concerns about the need for more cash.

KABUL (AP) - Police in Afghanistan have been clashing with protesters angry over the reported deaths of civilians in alleged U.S. bombing runs. The Afghan president has ordered an
investigation into the reports, and the U.S. military has dispatched a brigadier general to head the U.S. probe.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - There's word that the indicted mayor of Mississippi's largest city has died, less than two days after losing his bid for a second term. Jackson Mayor Frank Melton was
taken to the hospital Tuesday. He had a history of serious heart problems.