Today's News-Tuesday, May 5, 2009

BRADS LANDFILL APP STILL UNDER REVIEW

A construction waste landfill in our area continues its slow move through state channels. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says that Blythe Township has addressed some of the issues that stalled the application of the BRADS landfill last April, and will be given a second look by the agency. DEP said that Blythe Township's application was deficient on such items like water, air quality and other environmental impacts. The initial application, which was turned down, also requested a life span of more than 10 years. Now that some of the issues have been addressed, DEP will decide on the harms/benefits analysis portion of the application, but it does not guarantee that the BRADS landfill will be approved to move forward. The original application was filed in February, 2004.

AGENCY DAMAGED BY CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

A Pine Grove Township business was damaged by vandals over the weekend. Schuylkill Haven state police say that between Saturday and Monday, the front corner of the Freeman-Gingrich Insurance Agency on Suedberg Road was damaged, causing brick and mortar to crack and resulted in damage to the inside of the building. Cost is estimated at $25-hundred dollars.

BUDGET PROPOSAL TO AFFECT SCHOOL DISTRICTS

The budget battle in Harrisburg continues to heat up after a proposal by Republicans yesterday. House leaders are promoting legislation to soften the impact of skyrocketing public pension costs expected to kick in in 2012. They want to dedicate $435 million dollars in federal stimulus monies to help school districts pay minimum contributions that districts must make. Representative Doug Reichley of Berks/Lehigh counties explains:

REICHLEY

Senate leaders proposed a pared down spending plan of $27.3 billion dollars, almost $2 billion less than the Governor's budget. The state faces a $3 billion dollar shortfall.

PROTEST PLANNED

In the aftermath of Friday's verdict against two Shenandoah teens, a Florida man is reportedly organizing a peaceful protest to seek justice. The Republican Herald is reporting that Will Mella, a retired oil and gas worker, will seek a permit to hold the event sometime this month to honor Luis Ramirez, who died as the result of a beating in Shenandoah last July. Derrick Donchak and Brandon Piekarsky were found guilty of simple assault and alcohol related charges by a county jury last week. Mella reportedly wants to meet with US Justice Department officials to discuss possible federal charges against the boys. Sentencing on the convictions has not yet been set by Judge William Baldwin.

ASSAULT INVESTIGATED

State police continue to investigate the assault of a Spring Glen teenager last week. 18 year old Gavin Klinger was attacked at a church parking lot in Sacramento on the night of April 30th. Three teenaged boys, who have not been identified, were reportedly involved. Klinger sustained severe injuries and was treated at Hershey Medical Center, then released.

TEEN ACCUSED OF INDECENT ASSAULT

Lykens state police are charging a 16 year old with indecent assault and sexual abuse of children following incidents spanning the past 9 months. The boy allegedly touched a teenaged girl in a class at Upper Dauphin High School and made a video of it on his cell phone. The teen reportedly threatened the girls who witnessed the event. On another occasion, the boy exposed himself in class.

RENDELL NOT HAPPY WITH SENATE BUDGET ALTERNATIVE

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That's Gov. Ed Rendell, expressing his displeasure at a budget proposal from state Senate Republicans released yesterday, at almost $2 billion dollars less that his spending proposal of $29 billion dollars. Rendell says aid to school districts needs to be adjusted for
inflation, and says the plan could financially devastate schools. The Democratic governor says limiting the aid to this year's level could lead to higher property taxes and teacher
layoffs. Republicans say their budget proposal is appropriate to the times and reflects the money that's available. The Senate Republicans' $27.3 billion budget plan that would hold overall spending to slightly less than this year's level while avoiding tax increases. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted along a straight party line Monday to send the plan to the Senate floor. Leaders of the Republican majority said they anticipate final Senate approval as early as Wednesday.
IRVING, Texas (AP) - An Allentown, Pa., company that built the recently Dallas Cowboys' training facility says proper engineering practices were used. Saturday's collapse injured 12 people. Summit Structures president Nathan Stobbe says he's in Irving working to
assess what he called a "severe weather event."

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The head of a Philadelphia museum says its sample of Abraham Lincoln's blood may get DNA testing, but some questions must be answered first. The 16th president's blood is on a strip of a pillowcase. Board members from the Grand Army of the
Republic Museum and Library say they want to know how the artifact will be treated.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says the state budget favored by Pennsylvania Senate Republicans would devastate school districts. The Democratic governor says limiting the aid to this year's level could lead to higher property taxes and teacher layoffs. Republicans say their budget proposal is appropriate to the times.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The first U.S. double hand transplant was underway yesterday at a Pittsburgh hospital. A spokeswoman for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that patient Jeff Kepner went into surgery yesterday morning; it was scheduled to last at least 20 hours.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - City officials in Pittsburgh say about 400 residents of the city's Brighton Heights neighborhood will have to evacuate while an unstable bridge is demolished. Officials say
neighborhood residents should get their vehicles and pets out by 11 a.m. tomorrow so the explosives can be used safely on the Davis Avenue Bridge.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke could face tome tough questions on unclogging credit when he testifies on Capitol Hill today. He's also expected to offer a fresh assessment of the economy that will note gains but warn that it will take time to get back to normal.

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico's president says it's nearly time to reopen businesses that had closed over the spread of swine flu. Universities and high schools will open their doors Thursday, and younger kids report back to school May 11. Some warn the flu could bounce back with people back at work and school.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - A senior Pakistani official says authorities are urging residents to flee the Taliban-held Swat valley because militants are roaming the area and planting mines. A curfew has been lifted in the main town so people can flee ahead of possible retaliation by security forces.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Officials say the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan will be discussed today at a National Security Council meeting. One concern is the possibility that extremist sympathizers in Pakistan's military or intelligence services could tip off militants to the movement of nuclear weapons.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - In Turkey, officials say security forces have detained eight suspected gunmen following an attack at a wedding ceremony that killed 44 people including the bride and
groom. The interior minister says the attack appeared to be the result of a blood feud and not a terrorist strike.