Today's News-Saturday, June 13, 2009

ARGALL KNOWLES ANNOUNCE FUNDING

Orwigsburg borough sidewalks and streets will be safer for kids to travel on thanks to funding announced Friday by state lawmakers. Senator Dave Argall and Representative Jerry Knowles announced more than $300-thousand-dollars for constructing sidewalks and curbing on Lawrence and RedDale Road near Blue Mountain Elementary East. The Federal Safe Routes to School initiative funded Pennsylvania $16.8 million dollars over four years to help our children stay safe.

ALVERNIA TO MOVE

Alvernia University is moving their county operated site, taking up residence at an area mall. Work is already underway renovating spaces at Cressona Mall to accommodate classrooms with total project cost at $500-thousand-dollars. Alvernia has been operating at McCann School of Business and Technology for over a decade. The seven year lease will cover more than 10-thousand-square feet of space, with ample parking and other amenities for Alvernia students.

BOY ON BIKE HIT

A Hegins boy was only slightly injured when the bike he was riding was struck by a car Friday afternoon. Schuylkill Haven state police say Jayce Sachs was trying to cross the road when he was struck by a car operated by 47 year old Velvet Wedde of Valley View. Sachs reportedly rolled onto the hood of Wedde's car, but only suffered cuts and bruises.

DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE

A bill in Harrisburg that would crack down on those who drive with a suspended license has cleared the Senate Transportation committee. Howard Ondick has this report:

ONDICK

PRESERVING NATURES BOUNTY

From the White House to your backyard, the explosion in victory gardens means that many people will have fruits and vegetables to can or freeze. An expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says you should prepare now to preserve your harvest. Gary Abdullah has more

ABDULLAH

YATESVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania woman whose estranged husband kidnapped their son and then started a fatal shootout with police says she believes he meant to kill his entire family. Susan Autenrieth has told friends her husband, Daniel Autenrieth, pointed a gun at her Sunday and said, "If you don't talk to me, this isn't going to end well for anybody."

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The acting director of the National Park Service says negotiations will continue through the weekend to acquire the land for the Flight 93 National Memorial. The park
service is trying to avoid using eminent domain, the legal process for the government to forcibly take land.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Federal prosecutors say sentencing guidelines call for former state Senator Vincent Fumo to get 21 to 27 years in prison for his corruption conviction. Defense lawyer Dennis Cogan plans to file objections to that calculation. Fumo is asking for his July sentencing to be postponed at least two months.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Philadelphia man is being held without bail after his arraignment in the deaths of a woman and three children who were struck on a sidewalk by a fleeing car. Ivan
Rodriguez is one of two suspects charged with four counts of murder. The driver, 18-year-old Donta Cradock, remains hospitalized.

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Lottery is upgrading its computer system and plans to stop selling tickets at 8 p.m. on Monday to allow for the conversion. Normally, lottery retailers can sell tickets until midnight. Ticket sales are to resume as usual Tuesday morning.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is proposing to cut $313 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years to help pay for his health care plan. In his Saturday Internet and radio address, Obama says the savings "will come from commonsense changes."

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans are blasting a Democratic climate change bill now being considered by the House. In the party's weekly radio and Internet address, Indiana Congressman Mike Pense says capping releases of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
amounts to an energy tax on consumers.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's Interior Ministry say 91 percent of the votes have been counted and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is cruising to a landslide victory for another term. He has about 63 percent of the vote, while his main challenger has less than 35 percent. Reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi is denouncing the results as treasonous manipulation.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea is responding to the U.N. Security Council's imposition of new sanctions with threats. The Foreign Ministry calls the sanctions "another vile product of the U.S.-led offensive" against it and says it will not abandon its nuclear program. Instead, it says it will "weaponize" its plutonium.

DETROIT (AP) - The National Hockey League has a new champion. The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the defending champion Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals in Detroit last night. With the score 2-1, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury sealed the victory with a lunging save as the final seconds ticked off.