Today's News-Wednesday, June 24, 2009

NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS KICKED OFF

IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE, A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUDGE HAS REMOVED 8 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOLLOWING A SUIT BROUGHT BY RESIDENTS. THE RULING BY JUDGE D MICHAEL STINE GRANTED THE PETITION IN REMOVING ALL BUT ONE BOARD MEMBER ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN AND HERALD. THE SUIT CONTENDED THAT NORTH SCHUYLKILL BOARD MEMBERS VIOLATED THE PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL CODE BY APPOINTING MARK SEMANCHIK AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IN 2008, SAYING THAT HE WASN'T QUALIFIED, AND THAT THE BOARD DIDN'T LOOK FOR A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT. THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD HAS TRIED TWICE TO GET A WAIVER TO MAKE SEMANCHIK THE PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT. THE 8 BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE REMOVED CANNOT SERVE IN ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR 5 YEARS ACCORDING TO STINE'S RULING. INTERESTED CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION HAVE UNTIL JULY 22ND TO DO SO. A TENTATIVE BUDGET HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

ST CATHERINE’S NAME INTERIM CEO

A VETERAN HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR WILL TAKE THE POSITION OF INTERIM CEO AT ST CATHERINE'S MEDICAL CENTER. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM ST CATHERINE HEALTHCARE, DANIEL COLON WILL FILL THE SLOT VACATED BY ROBERT MARQUARDT, WHO'S LEAVING FOR A HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT POSITION IN WEST VIRGINIA AFTER TWO YEARS IN THE POST. COLON MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS ADMINISTRATOR AND CEO OF A HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME IN TENNESSEE.

LITTLE LEAGUE ASSAULT STANDS

A RULING IN STATE SUPERIOR COURT UPHOLDS THE SENTENCE OF A GILBERTON MAN CONVICTED OF SIMPLE ASSAULT IN AN INCIDENT AT A LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME. 42 YEAR OLD VINCENT BLOSS WAS INVOLVED IN AN ALTERCATION AT A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME, WHERE BLOSS PUNCHED 60 YEAR OLD FRANK JACKOWIAK. THE MAN DIED A WEEK LATER AT HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER. INITIALLY, BLOSS WAS CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT. THE HIGHER COURT SAID THAT BLOSS’S CONTENTION ABOUT FACTORS CONSIDERED IN HIS SENTENCE FROM JUDGE WILLIAM BALDWIN WERE WITHOUT MERIT, AND THAT BLOSS WILL NEED TO SERVE AT LEAST THE ONE YEAR SENTENCE.

THREE SHOT
WOMAN KILLED, 2 MEN WOUNDED FROM PHILADELPHIA SHOOTING
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A WOMAN IS DEAD AND TWO MEN ARE WOUNDED FROM A SHOOTING IN PHILADELPHIA. POLICE SAY 26-YEAR-OLD NYESHA WHITNEY WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD TUESDAY AS SHE SAT ON A PORCH IN THE CITY'S KINGSESSING
NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL. ALSO, A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT IN THE HAND AND A 71-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT IN THE HIP. BOTH WERE HOSPITALIZED AND LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION LATER TUESDAY.
NO ARRESTS WERE IMMEDIATELY MADE.

OFFICER SHOT
WOUNDED PHILADELPHIA POLICEMAN OUT OF HOSPITAL
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS SHOT JUNE 14 IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. OFFICER ASHLEY HOGGARD WAS SHOT IN THE SHOULDER AND IS EXPECTED TO FULLY RECOVER. HE WAS RELEASED FROM TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ON TUESDAY. ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE SERIES OF SHOOTINGS THAT HOGGARD WAS RESPONDING TO, BUT POLICE HAVEN'T FILED CHARGES AGAINST ANYONE ACCUSED OF SHOOTING THE OFFICER.

MOTORCYCLE CRASH-RIVER
WOMAN GOES INTO PA. RIVER AFTER MOTORCYLE CRASH
NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - A MOTORCYCLIST HAS CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE OVER THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER NEAR PHILADELPHIA AND HIS PASSENGER WENT INTO THE RIVER. BY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT, THE SEARCH FOR THE FEMALE PASSENGER WAS
DESCRIBED AS A RECOVERY OPERATION, MEANING THE WOMAN WAS BELIEVED
TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE MALE MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE HIS CONDITION WAS NOT AVAILABLE LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.

YOUGHIOGHENY DROWNING
MAN DROWNS IN WESTERN PA. RIVER
OHIOPYLE, PA. (AP) - A MAN HAS DROWNED AFTER BEING SWEPT OVER A WATERFALL IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. OHIOPYLE STATE PARK MANAGER JOHN HALLAS SAYS A 20-YEAR-OLD WASHINGTON, PA., MAN WAS SWIMMING IN THE YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER WITH FOUR FRIENDS TUESDAY AFTERNOON WHEN HE WAS SWEPT OVER THE 18-FOOT-HIGH OHIOPYLE FALLS. A KAYAKER PULLED HIM FROM THE RIVER, BUT HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON ARRIVAL AT UNIONTOWN HOSPITAL. HIS NAME WAS BEING WITHHELD BECAUSE HIS FAMILY HADN'T BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO TUESDAY, A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY FELL INTO NINE MILE RUN AT FRICK PARK IN PITTSBURGH AND WAS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LATE TUESDAY.

AIR TOXICS-PA
AIR HAS ELEVATED CANCER RISK IN 600 NEIGHBORHOODS
PITTSBURGH (AP) - TWO CENSUS TRACTS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA., ARE AMONG NEARLY 600 NATIONWIDE WHERE PEOPLE ARE BREATHING CONCENTRATIONS OF TOXIC AIR POLLUTANTS THAT PUT THEM AT A MUCH GREATER RISK OF CONTRACTING CANCER. NEW FIGURES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SHOW THAT CENSUS TRACT 492700, WHICH IS IN CLAIRTON, HAS A CANCER RISK OF 762 IN ONE MILLION. AND TRACT 499300, IN GLASSPORT, HAS A RISK OF 700
IN ONE MILLION. THE AVERAGE CANCER RISK ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS 36 IN ONE MILLION. THE FIGURES ARE FROM THE NATIONAL-SCALE AIR TOXICS ASSESSMENT,
WHICH WILL BE RELEASED BY THE EPA ON WEDNESDAY.

SLOTS CONTRIBUTIONS
UPDATE: PHILLY PLANNING COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING ON SLOTS PARLOR
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE PHILADELPHIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION IS ABOUT TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON A PLANS FOR A SLOT-MACHINE PARLOR ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON'S HEARING IS TO BE HELD AT THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES IN DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA. IT'S ABOUT PLANS FOR THE SUGARHOUSE CASINO. IN OTHER GAMBLING NEWS, LEGISLATION TO REINSTATE A BAN ON GAMBLING INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS IN PENNSYLVANIA HAS AN IMPORTANT FIRST ENDORSEMENT. THE SENATE COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE BILL TUESDAY. IT'S THE FIRST MAJOR GAMBLING REFORM LEGISLATION TO GET OUT OF COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE SINCE 2006 AND COMES LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT STRUCK DOWN THE PREVIOUS BAN.

2004 CLEAVER KILLING
PA. MAN CHARGED IN 2004 MEAT CLEAVER KILLING
STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN WHO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED KILLING A MAN WITH A MEAT CLEAVER IN 2004 IS NOW
CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE. HE IS 66-YEAR-OLD ROBERT GIARDINI OF POCONO TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY, WHO MAINTAINS HE KILLED IN SELF DEFENSE. GIARDINI HAS TOLD POLICE THAT 30-YEAR-OLD KEVIN WALKER OF
PATERSON, N.J., CAME TO HIS HOME IN APRIL 2004, CLAIMING TO HAVE CAR TROUBLE, AND ASKED TO USE THE PHONE. HE SAID HE USED THE CLEAVER AFTER WALKER BECAME VIOLENT. AUTHORITIES SAY A LONG INVESTIGATION INTO GIARDINI'S ACCOUNT CONTRIBUTED TO THE DELAY. HE WAS ARRESTED WITHOUT INCIDENT ON MONDAY AND HELD WITHOUT BAIL. IT WAS UNCLEAR IF HE HAD A LAWYER.

DISMEMBERED TEEN
DA: PA. TEEN WAS KILLED, DISMEMBERED, PUT IN TRASH
WEST CHESTER, PA. (AP) - A PROSECUTOR IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAYS A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS SHOT DEAD IN OCTOBER AND HIS BODY WAS CUT UP WITH TWO CHAIN SAWS AND PUT IN THE TRASH. CHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOSEPH CARROLL SAID TUESDAY THAT AUTHORITIES HAVEN'T RECOVERED AARON TURNER'S BODY, BUT HE SAYS BLOOD AND HUMAN TISSUE ON BOTH CHAIN SAWS MATCH TURNER'S DNA. CARROLL ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THAT 29-YEAR-OLD LAQUANTA CHAPMAN OF COATESVILLE AND 19-YEAR-OLD BRYAN BYRD OF NEWARK, N.J., ARE CHARGED IN TURNER'S DEATH. BOTH WERE ALREADY JAILED ON OTHER CHARGES. MESSAGES LEFT AFTER BUSINESS HOURS TUESDAY FOR THEIR DEFENSE
LAWYERS WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY RETURNED.

MISSING ERIE GIRL
MONT. MAN CAUGHT WITH PA. GIRL PLEADS NOT GUILTY
ERIE, PA. (AP) - A MONTANA MAN ACCUSED OF TAKING A 14-YEAR-OLD RUNAWAY GIRL FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO ARKANSAS HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY AND HAS GIVEN UP HIS RIGHT TO A DETENTION HEARING. DONALD RAY CATES COULD HAVE SOUGHT TO BE RELEASED FROM JAIL AT SUCH A HEARING. BECAUSE OF TUESDAY'S WAIVER, THE 21-YEAR-OLD LEWISTOWN, MONT., MAN IS TO REMAIN JAILED. CATES IS ACCUSED OF TRAVELING ACROSS STATE LINES TO HAVE SEX WITH THE ERIE GIRL AND COERCING HER INTO SEXUAL CONDUCT THAT WAS RECORDED ON VIDEO. THE FBI SAYS CATES CAME TO ERIE ON APRIL 12 TO MEET THE GIRL, WITH WHOM HE'D CORRESPONDED ONLINE. THEY WERE CAUGHT FOUR DAYS LATER IN CLARKSVILLE, ARK., WHEN SOMEONE SAW THEM TRYING TO HITCH A RIDE, NOTICED HOW YOUNG THE GIRL LOOKED AND CALLED POLICE.

FLIGHT 93 MEMORIAL
INTERIOR SEC. OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FLIGHT 93 LAND
SOMERSET, PA. (AP) - INTERIOR SECRETARY KEN SALAZAR SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC DEALS WILL BE MADE FOR LAND IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA NEEDED FOR THE FLIGHT 93 MEMORIAL WITHOUT INVOKING EMINENT DOMAIN. SALAZAR SAYS AGREEMENTS IN PRINCIPLE HAVE BEEN REACHED WITH MOST OF THE LANDOWNERS. NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REST OF THE LANDOWNERS ARE
CONTINUING AND DEALS COULD BE REACHED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE GOVERNMENT SET A DEADLINE EARLIER THIS MONTH FOR DEALS TO BE
IN PLACE OR ELSE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE
THE LAND. THAT DEADLINE PASSED BUT NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED. FLIGHT 93 WAS HIJACKED BY TERRORISTS ON SEPT. 11, 2001, AND CRASHED IN RURAL SOMERSET COUNTY, ABOUT 65 MILES OUTSIDE OF PITTSBURGH. THE GOVERNMENT AND VICTIMS' FAMILIES WANT THE MEMORIAL IN PLACE BY THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS.

CAIRO (AP) - IRANIAN TV REPORTS A CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN IRAN'S DISPUTED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SAYS HE'S WITHDRAWING HIS COMPLAINTS ABOUT VOTING FRAUD FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY. CANDIDATE MOHSEN REZAIE IS A FORMER COMMANDER OF THE FEARED REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS.

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AP) - A CLOSE ASSOCIATE OF BAITULLAH MEHSUD
IS DENYING REPORTS THAT PAKISTAN'S TOP TALIBAN LEADER HAD A CLOSE CALL. TWO INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY MEHSUD ATTENDED A FUNERAL SHORTLY BEFORE A SUSPECTED U.S. MISSILE STRIKE THAT KILLED ABOUT 55 PEOPLE.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - AN AMERICAN DESTROYER IS CONTINUING TO TAIL A NORTH KOREAN SHIP SUSPECTED OF TRANSPORTING WEAPONS TOWARD MYANMAR. IT'S SAILING ALONG THE CHINESE COAST. A NEW U.N. SECURITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES MEMBER STATES TO INSPECT SUSPECT
NORTH KOREAN VESSELS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY A WASHINGTON, D.C. METRO TRAIN DIDN'T STOP BEFORE COLLIDING WITH
ANOTHER TRAIN ON MONDAY, KILLING 9 PEOPLE AND INJURING MORE THAN
70. OFFICIALS SAY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CONTROL WAS PUSHED DOWN AND
THERE'S EVIDENCE THE OPERATOR TRIED TO SLOW HER CAR BEFORE IMPACT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO SIMPLIFY THE FEDERAL COLLEGE AID FORM. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WANTS TO MAKE IT MUCH MORE USER-FRIENDLY AS PART OF A SWEEPING PLAN TO PUT HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN REACH OF MORE STUDENTS. THE CURRENT FORM CONTAINS 153 QUESTIONS.