Today's News - Saturday, June 27, 2009

JUDGE SAYS DIRECTORS DIDN’T DO THEIR JOB

WE HAVE NOW LEARNED MORE AS TO WHY JUDGE D MICHAEL STINE REMOVED 8 SCHOOL DIRECTORS FROM THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL BOARD. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE JUDGE SAID THE DIRECTORS DIDN’T DO THEIR JOBS AND VIOLATED THE SCHOOL CODE IN TRYING TO FIND A SUPERINTENDENT TO RUN THEIR SCHOOL AFTER ROBERT FRANKLIN RETIRED IN 2007. BOARD MEMBERS INSTEAD TRIED TO INSTALL INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD SOLICITOR MARK SEMANCHIK EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN’T MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS. A LAWSUIT BY MORE THAN 50 TAXPAYERS ABOUT THE ISSUE LED TO STINE’S DECISION THAT LEFT ONE BOARD MEMBER STANDING. FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE MAY PRIMARY BALLOT WERE APPOINTED TO MAKE UP THE 5 PERSON BOARD. INTERESTED RESIDENTS OF THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL DISTRICT HAVE UNTIL JULY 22ND TO SUBMIT THEIR NAMES FOR CONSIDERATION.

CAP AND TRADE PASSES, HOLDEN VOTES NO

A BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE FRIDAY NIGHT FORCES THE COUNTRY TO REDUCE POLLUTION AND GENERATE ENERGY MORE CLEANLY. BUT CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN SAID IT DOESN’T HELP THE COAL REGION. HOLDEN TELLS WPPA NEWS SOME OF THE REASONS WHY:

HOLDEN CAP AND TRADE

THE FINAL VOTE WAS 219-212 TO CURB GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, INCLUDING CARBON DIOXIDE AND MAKE IT COST PROHIBITIVE FOR BUSINESSES TO USE FOSSIL FUELS. HOLDEN ALSO SAID IT COULD HURT JOBS HERE IN THE 17TH DISTRICT. THE ST CLAIR CONGRESSMAN INDICATES THAT HIS OFFICE WAS INUNDATED WITH CALLS FROM ALL ACROSS THE NATION TO VOTE NO FOR THE CAP AND TRADE BILL.

HEGINS VALLEY FOLKS TO HELP OUT

PEOPLE IN THE HEGINS VALLEY ARE PULLING TOGETHER TO HELP OUT ONE OF THEIR OWN TODAY AT HEGINS PARK. EVENT ORGANIZER STEVE BIXLER TELLS US ABOUT 27 YEAR OLD ADAM MESSNER, HIS WIFE AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN:

BIXLER EVENT

MESSNER IS ACTIVE WITH THE CIVIL AIR PATROL, HEGINS AMBULANCE AND FIRE COMPANIES. TODAY’S EVENTS INCLUDE MUSIC, FOOD, GAMES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO HELP MESSNER’S FAMILY. ORGANIZERS WILL ALSO BE COLLECTING NON PERISHABLE FOOD AND CLEANING SUPPLIES AS WELL. ENTRANCE IS BY FREE WILL DONATION. FOR INFORMATION ON TODAY’S EVENT AT HEGINS PARK, CALL 449-2593.

STATE BUDGET, RENDELL CUTS MORE, STICKS TO GUNS ON SCHOOL AID

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS WHO TREAT THE POOR,
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGE STUDENTS SEEKING GRANTS WOULD ALL FEEL THE PINCH OF GOV. ED RENDELL'S NEWLY REVISED BUDGET. RENDELL REVEALED FRIDAY WHERE HE IS CUTTING AN ADDITIONAL $500 MILLION IN HIS PROPOSED BUDGET AS STATE POLICY-MAKERS GRAPPLE WITH A $3 BILLION-PLUS SHORTFALL. RENDELL ALSO SLASHED SPENDING TO CREATE HIGH-TECH CLASSROOMS IN HIGH SCHOOLS, A PROGRAM THAT HE LAUNCHED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, HE STUCK TO HIS GUNS ON A PROPOSED 7 PERCENT INCREASE IN STATE FUNDING FOR INSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DESPITE THE CUTS, THE UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH COST OF TAX REFUNDS AND CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, POOR AND DISABLED WOULD KEEP THE RENDELL'S TOTAL PROPOSED SPENDING AT AROUND $29 BILLION.

LIFE SENTENCES, RULING COULD AID PA. PRISON LIFERS SEEKING RELEASE

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A FEDERAL JUDGE'S RULING COULD MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR MANY INMATES SERVING LIFE SENTENCES IN PENNSYLVANIA PRISONS TO GET REQUESTS FOR COMMUTATIONS CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR. THE RULING BY U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE RICHARD CAPUTO OF SCRANTON POTENTIALLY AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF LIFERS WHO COMMITTED THEIR CRIMES BEFORE A NOVEMBER 1997 REFERENDUM VOTE TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION. THE CHANGE REQUIRES AN UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE STATE PARDONS BOARD BEFORE A COMMUTATION COULD BE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR. BEFORE THAT, ONLY A MAJORITY VOTE BY THE FIVE-MEMBER BOARD WAS REQUIRED. CAPUTO THIS MONTH REAFFIRMED THE KEY PART OF HIS OWN ORIGINAL RULING FROM 2006 THAT IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO APPLY THE STRICTER, NEW STANDARD FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BEFORE THE 1997 VOTE. STATE OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING APPEALING CAPUTO'S RULING.

VA HOSPITAL ERROR, DOC IN PHILLY VA HOSPITAL CONTROVERSY TAKES LEAVE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AN ONCOLOGIST INVOLVED IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED BOTCHED PROSTATE CANCER THERAPY AT PHILADELPHIA'S VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER HAS TAKEN A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY DR. GARY KAO WAS GRANTED A LEAVE OF ABSENCE THURSDAY. KAO IS SCHEDULED TO TESTIFY BEFORE A SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE MATTER ON MONDAY IN PHILADELPHIA. ACCORDING TO A NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REPORT, 92 VETERANS RECEIVED INCORRECT RADIATION DOSES IN A COMMON SURGICAL PROCEDURE THAT IS USED TO TREAT PROSTATE CANCER. THE NRC IS INVESTIGATING. THE MEDICAL CENTER SUSPENDED ITS PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT PROGRAM IN 2008 AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION.

NEWSPAPER-LAWSUIT, REPUTED PA. MOBSTER ORDERED TO TESTIFY

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A REPUTED MOB BOSS HAS BEEN CALLED TO TESTIFY ABOUT ACCUSATIONS THAT HE PLOTTED WITH TWO JUDGES TO FIX A DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER. WILLIAM D'ELIA HAS BEEN ORDERED TO APPEAR NEXT WEEK AT A HEARING IN ALLENTOWN. THE STATE SUPREME COURT GRANTED A REVIEW OF THE $3.5 MILLION VERDICT AGAINST THE CITIZENS' VOICE OF WILKES-BARRE, CITING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE PLAYED BY D'ELIA AND FORMER LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGES MICHAEL CONAHAN AND MARK CIAVARELLA. THE JUDGES PLEADED GUILTY EARLIER THIS YEAR IN A SEPARATE CASE INVOLVING JUVENILE DEFENDANTS. D'ELIA'S LAWYER SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING HOW TO RESPOND TO THE ORDER. D'ELIA IS SERVING NINE YEARS IN PRISON ON FEDERAL MONEY-LAUNDERING AND WITNESS-TAMPERING CHARGES.

PITTSBURGH-G-20, PITTSBURGH DISPLAYS FLAGS OF G-20 SUMMIT MEMBERS

PITTSBURGH (AP) - PITTSBURGH HAS COMPLETED ITS FIRST FLAG DISPLAY AHEAD OF THE GROUP OF 20 SUMMIT IT IS HOSTING ON SEPT. 24 AND 25. ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE VICE PRESIDENT BILL FLANAGAN SAYS AN EXPERT WAS CONSULTED TO AVOID MISTAKES. LUCKILY, THE FINAL ARBITER FOR THE PROPER CARE AND DISPLAY OF THE U.S. FLAG IS BASED IN PITTSBURGH - THE NATIONAL FLAG FOUNDATION. IN THE NEW MEDIA CENTER DISPLAY, THE U.S. FLAG IS ON THE LEFT. THEN, THE 19 OTHER NATION'S FLAGS ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER . THE EUROPEAN UNION FLAG IS AT THE END. NOW, FLANAGAN SAYS THE ORGANIZERS NEED TO GET PITTSBURGH'S G-20 WEB SITE IN LINE. INITIALLY UNAWARE OF THE RULES, THE FLAGS ON THE WEB SITE ARE DISPLAYED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WITH THE U.S. FLAG ON THE FAR-RIGHT - A FLAG FAUX PAS.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles County coroner's office says there is no sign of foul play in the death of Michael Jackson but more testing is needed after an autopsy. The body has now been released to the family. A source says Jackson apparently had a heart attack.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Friends and colleagues say Michael Jackson had been heavily involved in rehearsals for his comeback and seemed to have new life in the days before he collapsed and died. After years of seclusion, he'd hired a personal trainer and was practicing with backup dancers and choreographers several hours a day. A person with knowledge of the situation says it appears he suffered a heart attack.

TRIESTE, Italy (AP) - President Barack Obama's envoy to Afghanistan has announced a new drug policy for the opium-rich country. Richard Holbrooke tells The Associated Press that the U.S. is phasing out funding for eradication efforts and using it for drug interdiction and alternate crop programs instead.

CORFU, Greece (AP) - Foreign ministers from Russia and NATO are set to resume formal military ties for the first time since last year's war between Russia and Georgia. The meeting comes as President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev prepare to hold a summit next month.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea is threatening to shoot down Japanese planes after accusing the nation of spying. North Korea's air force said Japan's E-767 surveillance aircraft conducted the aerial espionage near a missile site on its northeast coast Wednesday and Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has passed a sweeping bill to curb pollution linked to global warming and create a new energy-efficient economy. The 219-to-212 vote comes as a big win for President Barack Obama. But it may be tougher to get the legislation throught the Senate, where 60 votes will be needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.

NEW YORK (AP) - Another five banks have failed. The shutdown of the small banks boosts to 45 the number of failures this year of federally insured banks. More are expected. The latest five are: Community Bank of West Georgia; Neighborhood Community Bank in Newnan, Ga.; Horizon Bank in Pine City, Minn.; MetroPacific Bank in Irvine, Calif.; and Mirae Bank in Los Angeles.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett have been drawing their share of Internet attention. But Google says curiosity over the identity of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sandford's Argentine paramour has topped them both, even without confirmation of her true identity.

WASHINGTON (AP) - If it can't go through Congress, the White House may go around in its effort to indefinitely imprison a small number of Guantanamo Bay detainees considered too dangerous to prosecute or release. Two administration officials say the White House is considering issuing an executive order.

SAO PAULO (AP) - The search for the black boxes goes on but Brazil has ended the search for more bodies and debris from Air France Flight 447. A Brazilian Air Force officer says it's now impossible to find more bodies. France will coordinate the continued search for the black boxes.

UNDATED (AP) - Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi's web site is still down today, a day after he effectively ended his role in street protests against a disputed election in Iran. He claims hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole the election but says he will seek official permission for any future rallies.

KABUL (AP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is trying to get out the vote -- even from the Taliban. Karzai is telling the militants that they should vote for the provincial council delegates and a presidential candidate they support on Aug. 20. The Taliban are not fielding candidates and have warned Afghans against voting in the election.

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Police in Pakistan have raided an apartment in Karachi and killed five suspected militants. The say the insurgents were loyal to the Pakistani Taliban leader blamed for a wave of suicide attacks. Police say they seized explosives and weapons.

UNDATED (AP) - Highway tragedies in two states have taken at least 14 lives. Nine people were killed on an Oklahoma turnpike when a tractor-trailer slammed into a line of cars stopped in traffic due to another accident. And an Indiana couple and their three children died when their pickup truck was crushed between two semi-trailers and burst into flames in Indiana.

NEW YORK (AP) - Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff has been ordered to give up his interests in all property, including real estate, investments, cars and boats -- to the tune of $170 billion. Friday's order from a federal judge comes ahead of his sentencing Monday in his massive fraud case.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - There's no free lunch with billionaire investor Warren Buffett. But the winner of this year's charity auction of a lunch with Buffett is getting a bargain at $1.68 million. Last year's lunch topped $2 million. The winner remains anonymous for now.