HAPPY 4th of JULY, 2009

NO BUDGET IN HARRISBURG YET, SEIP COMMENTS

State Rep. Tim Seip is continuing to go over the state budget line by line with fellow lawmakers this weekend as part of the General Assembly's continuing effort to close a $3.2 billion deficit. He offers some thoughts about how to get together on a spending plan:

SEIP

Seip says state legislators are working to identify opportunities for savings and streamlining, but there are no easy answers. Many possible cuts carry negative effects, such as not being able to leverage federal money that could help patch the badly needed safety net in health care, education, job training and other important services.

CREDIT TRANSFER PROBLEM MAY BE FIXED

As college students look for ways to save money on tuition, state lawmakers are advancing legislation that would help by allowing many students in Pennsylvania transfer more credits when they switch schools. Dave Washburn reports from Harrisburg:

WASHBURN CREDITS

ARREST

An Ashland man is charged with theft in Shenandoah from several months ago. He was picked up in Philadelphia. West Mahanoy Township police say 23 year old Adam Powell of Big Mine Run Road reportedly broke into a vehicle and took various items back in April, including a bank card that he used. Police issued a felony warrant for his arrest, and he was picked up for a traffic stop by Philly PD, returned to Schuylkill County for arraignment.

FOURTH CELEBRATION

The United States of America is celebrating its 233rd birthday today, and in one local community an annual parade will mark the occasion. The borough of Port Carbon is holding their parade at 10am, with a host of other activities throughout the day, culminating with fireworks at 10pm tonight. It looks like it should be a banner day weatherwise, so enjoy the 4th of July any way you can.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia police say a homeless man who lunged at officers with a knife before being fatally shot was asked more than 50 times to drop the knife but refused. The confrontation happened Friday morning outside Suburban Station. The officers weren't hurt.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A police officer in the Pittsburgh suburb of Crafton has turned himself in to face charges in a hit-and-run accident in which a pedestrian was killed. Police say 38-year-old
Donnie Breeden surrendered Friday. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the accident nearly two years ago.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a woman has died in a house fire in Erie. Children walking by the home late Friday morning saw smoke coming from the house and called 911. Firefighters contained the fire to the bedroom. The victim was said to be in her 50s.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A woman faces homicide and attempted homicide charges in a February crash in Lehigh County that killed her boyfriend and injured her two children. Prosecutors say Steffanie Ramos was arguing with Rene Amaya and jerked the steering
wheel as Amaya was driving on the Northeast Extension.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - High-wire walker Nik Wallenda has crossed the Allegheny River on a cable suspended 200 feet in the air. Wallenda took the 1,000-foot walk with no net below. Friday evening's feat began the EQT Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta, which continues
through Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is using his Saturday address this Fourth of July to rally support for his domestic initiatives. He says the nation needs to draw on the "unyielding spirit" that has defined it to deal with the challenges of "spiraling health care costs; inadequate schools; and a dependence on foreign oil."

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. John McCain is calling for Americans to support Iranian election protesters. In the Republican Party's weekly radio and Internet address, McCain argues the U.S. has a moral obligation to publicly denounce the government's crackdown on
demonstrations.

KABUL (AP) - It's taken American airstrikes to end a gunbattle between U.S. troops and insurgents in eastern Afghanistan. The attack began with a truck bombing outside an American base. Two soldiers were killed and seven wounded. More than 30 insurgents reportedly died.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Authorities are investigating Michael Jackson's use of prescription drugs. Any criminal charges would depend on whether Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, given drugs inappropriate for his needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name. Investigators found the drug Diprivan in the singer's home after his death. It's an anesthetic used in operating rooms.