Today's News-Monday, July 13 2009

ROADWORK ON AREA HIGHWAYS

PENNDOT HAS ANNOUNCED THE FOLLOWING ROAD WORK TO COMMENCE TODAY THAT MAY CAUSE DELAYS:

1) GORDON NAGLE TRAIL BETWEEN CRESSONA AND POTTSVILLE. POTHOLE PATCHING CONTINUES THROUGH MIDWEEK.

2) ROUTE 924 BETWEEN ROUTE 54 AND POPLAR STREET IN SHENANDOAH FOR POTHOLE PATCHING.

3) BRIDGE REPAIR ON ROUTE 924 BETWEEN THE WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP LINE AND FRACKVILLE BOROUGH LINE.

4) DRAINAGE WORK –US ROUTE 209 BETWEEN ROUTE 901 AND TREMONT BOROUGH LINE.

DRUNK DRIVER CRASHES INTO BAR

A SHEPPTON WOMAN IS FACING CHARGES FOLLOWING A CRASH SUNDAY NIGHT. FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE SAY 41 YEAR OLD JODI OLSEN WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF INTOXICATION AT THE MONTFORT MOTEL IN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP AND WAS ASKED TO LEAVE. POLICE SAY SHE PASSED OUT BEHIND THE WHEEL AND HER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND CRASHED INTO THE BAR. OLSEN’S CAR HAD MINOR DAMAGE BUT THE BAR INCURRED MAJOR DAMAGE. OLSEN WILL BE CHARGED UPON RECEIPT OF BLOOD TESTS.

FIVE HURT IN CRASH ON I 81

FIVE PEOPLE WERE HURT IN A CRASH ON INTERSTATE 81 SATURDAY AFTERNOON. FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE SAY 46 YEAR OLD KATHLEEN TEMPLE WAS nORTHBOUND IN THE TRAVEL LANE NEAR MILE MARKER 135 WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES, STRIKING THE VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 24 YEAR OLD MATTHEW CORRIDONI OF WORMLEYSBURG. BOTH VEHICLES LEFT THE ROADWAY AND ROLLED OVER. TEMPLE WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR UNTIL FREED BY RESCUE PERSONNEL. SHE WAS FLOWN TO GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER ALONG WITH A 16 YEAR OLD FEMALE PASSENGER. CORRIDONI AND TWO OTHER PASSENGERS IN TEMPLE'S CAR WERE TAKEN TO OTHER AREA HOSPITALS. TEMPLE WILL BE CITED IN THE CRASH.

HIT AND RUN IN SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP

A 21 YEAR OLD MARY D MAN SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT EARLY SATURDAY. KYLE KUNKEL WAS REPORTEDLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL WALKING ALONG SUNNY DRIVE AND BELIEVED THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY A VEHICLE SINCE HE SAW LIGHTS COMING TOWARD HIM. KUNKEL WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND UNCONSCIOUS. HE WAS PICKED UP BY A PASSERBY AND TAKEN TO ST LUKES HOSPITAL IN COALDALE.

GOOD CROWD AT HAVEN FAMILY FUN DAY

THE SECOND TIME WAS THE CHARM IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SUNDAY AFTER ORGANIZERS POSTPONED THE FAMILY FUN DAY. THE ANNUAL EVENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY ON THE ISLAND IN HAVEN, BUT WITH THE THREAT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE COMMITTEE DECIDED TO MOVE IT TO SUNDAY. A HORSE DRAWN WAGON RIDE, GAMES FOR THE KIDS, MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND FOOD HIGHLIGHTED THE DAY, WHICH CULMINATED WITH A NEARLY HALF HOUR LONG FIREWORKS DISPLAY SUNDAY NIGHT.

MOSQUITOES EVERYWHERE

YOU MAY NOT HAVE CARED FOR ALL THE RAIN AROUND PENNSYLVANIA LAST MONTH BUT MOSQUITOES WERE LOVING IT, AND NOW EXPERTS ARE PREDICTING THEY’LL BE COMING ON STRONG FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER. TOM JOSEPH REPORTS.

JOSEPH BUGS

BIDEN-SURGERY
JILL BIDEN, VP'S WIFE, TO HAVE OPERATION TO RELIEVE SHOULDER PAIN WASHINGTON (AP) - JILL BIDEN, WIFE OF VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, WILL HAVE ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY MONDAY TO RELIEVE SHOULDER PAIN. MRS. BIDEN WILL HAVE THE OUTPATIENT PROCEDURE PERFORMED AT THOMAS JEFFERSON HOSPITAL IN PHILADELPHIA, THE WHITE HOUSE SAID SUNDAY. THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL ACCOMPANY HER TO THE HOSPITAL, AND THE BIDENS PLAN TO SPEND THE REST OF MONDAY AND TUESDAY AT THEIR HOME IN DELAWARE. JOE BIDEN WILL RETURN TO WASHINGTON ON TUESDAY EVENING, THE WHITE HOUSE SAID.

VIEWING HARRISBURG
STATE EMPLOYEES BRACE FOR 'PAYLESS PAYDAYS'
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S BUDGET BREAKDOWN IS APPROACHING ITS THIRD WEEK, WITH NO END IN SIGHT, AND ANXIETY IS MOUNTING AMONG THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE STATE GOVERNMENT RUNNING. WITHOUT A BUDGET TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENTS FOR WORK PERFORMED SINCE JUNE 30, THE "PAYLESS PAYDAY" HAS BECOME A DISCOMFORTING NEW FACT OF LIFE FOR MOST STATE EMPLOYEES. SOME HAVE ALREADY SEEN THEIR PAYCHECKS REDUCED. MANY MORE WILL BE IN THE SAME BOAT FRIDAY, AND IF THE POLITICAL IMPASSE AT THE CAPITOL LASTS THROUGH JULY 31, THEIR PAYCHECKS WILL STOP ALTOGETHER. THINGS COULD BE WORSE. SEVERAL CREDIT UNIONS AND BANKS ARE OFFERING NO- OR LOW-INTEREST LOANS AND OTHER SPECIAL HELP FOR AFFECTED WORKERS. THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE REMAINS INTACT AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AFFECTED. AND ALL EMPLOYEES WILL BE REIMBURSED ETROACTIVELY FOR MISSED WAGES ONCE A BUDGET IS SIGNED INTO LAW.

STATE BUDGET-BLUE DOGS
'BLUE DOG' DEMS BITE INTO DEBATE ON PA.'S BUDGET
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - AS POWERFUL POLITICIANS CLASH OVER PENNSYLVANIA'S LENGTHENING STATE BUDGET IMPASSE, MEMBERS OF A SMALL BAND OF LARGELY BACKBENCH CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS ARE EXERCISING A LITTLE MUSCLE OF THEIR OWN. THE SO-CALLED "BLUE DOG" DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE HAVE OPENLY DEFIED A CALL BY GOV. ED RENDELL AND LEADERS OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY TO SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX. MANY OF THE 25 OR SO BLUE DOGS ARE FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE MANY TOWNS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME THE LOSS OF HEAVY INDUSTRY. INCOMES IN THE REGION TEND TO BE LOWER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE AND BANKRUPTCY RATES HIGHER. ALLEGHENY REP. NICK KOTIK SAYS MEMBERS HAD MISGIVINGS ABOUT DEFYING CAUCUS LEADERS. BUT THEY FELT THAT AN INCOME TAX INCREASE DURING SUCH ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY WOULD BE SO UNPOPULAR IN THEIR DISTRICTS THAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO BE GOOD SOLDIERS AND SUPPORT IT - OR EVEN QUIETLY OPPOSE IT, HE SAID.

SWIM CLUB-MINORITIES
PA. SWIM CLUB ACCUSED OF RACISM TO ASK KIDS BACK
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA. (AP) - A PRIVATE SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SWIM CLUB ACCUSED OF RACISM AFTER IT CANCELED THE MEMBERSHIPS OF DOZENS OF MINORITY CHILDREN SAYS IT WILL SEEK A MEETING TO WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT FOR THE CHILDREN TO RETURN. MEMBER AMY GOLDMAN SAYS THOSE AT A HASTILY CALLED MEETING AT THE VALLEY CLUB OF HUNTINGDON VALLEY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON VOTED TO REINSTATE THE MEMBERSHIPS OF CREATIVE STEPS AND TWO OTHER DAY CAMPS AS LONG AS SAFETY ISSUES, TIMES AND TERMS CAN BE AGREED UPON. THE 65 MOSTLY BLACK AND HISPANIC CHILDREN WERE TO SWIM ONCE A WEEK AT THE CLUB. BUT DIRECTOR ALETHEA WRIGHT SAYS SEVERAL REPORTED HEARING RACIAL COMMENTS, AND THE CAMP'S $1,950 WAS REFUNDED A FEW DAYS LATER. THE CLUB SAYS THAT WAS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THE PENNSYLVANIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION AND SEN. ARLEN SPECTER HAS ASKED THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER.

NORTHERN LIBERTIES SHOOTING
LAWYER: PHILA. DOUBLE SLAYING SUSPECT TO SURRENDER
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE LAWYER FOR A MAN ACCUSED OF PLANNING A ROBBERY THAT TURNED INTO A DOUBLE MURDER AT AN UPSCALE PHILADELPHIA
APARTMENT BUILDING SAYS HIS CLIENT WILL SURRENDER MONDAY. POLICE HAVE BEEN HUNTING FOR 40-YEAR-OLD JAMES "POOH" WILSON IN THE JUNE 27 SHOOTING DEATHS AT THE NEWLY OPENED PIAZZA AT SCHMIDT'S IN THE NORTHERN LIBERTIES SECTION OF THE CITY. ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER WARREN TOLD THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT HIS CLIENT SAYS HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRIMES AND WILL TURN HIMSELF IN MONDAY AT THE POLICE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. POLICE HAVE ALSO BEEN SEEKING 32-YEAR-OLD DONNELL MURCHISON, WHO IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING 40-YEAR-OLD RIAN THAL AND THEN 41-YEAR-OLD TIMOTHY GILMORE IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THAL'S APARTMENT. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF DRUGS AND MONEY IN THE UNIT. TWO OTHERS BELIEVED TO HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN KILLINGS WERE ARRESTED EARLIER.

ATTORNEY-PRISON DRUGS
DA: ATTORNEY TRIED TO GET DRUGS INTO PA. PRISON
MEDIA, PA. (AP) - A PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SCHEDULED THURSDAY FOR A PHILADELPHIA ATTORNEY ACCUSED OF TRYING TO BRING DRUGS INTO DELAWARE COUNTY PRISON WHILE VISITING AN INMATE. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS 61-YEAR-OLD RANDALL SOMMOVILLA WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER A SUBSTANCE BELIEVED TO BE HEROIN WAS PICKED UP IN A ROUTINE SCAN. OFFICIALS SAY SOMMOVILLA HAD COME TO THE PRISON AFTER VISITOR HOURS TO SEE A WOMAN AWAITING EXTRADITION TO NEW JERSEY. SOMMOVILLA WAS CHARGED WITH DRUG AND CONTRABAND POSSESSION AND RELEASED ON BAIL. AUTHORITIES SAY HE TOLD POLICE HE BELIEVED ANOTHER WOMAN HAD PLACED THE DRUGS IN HIS CLOTHING. DELAWARE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY G. MICHAEL GREEN SAYS SOMMOVILLA FACES A MANDATORY MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SUPREME COURT NOMINEE SONIA SOTOMAYOR IS EXPECTED TO TELL THE STORY OF HER RISE FROM POVERTY IN NEW YORK CITY TODAY WHEN SHE MAKES AN OPENING STATEMENT AT HER CONFIRMATION HEARING. REPUBLICANS PROMISE SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE THE VOTES IN THE SENATE TO MAKE HER THE COURT'S FIRST HISPANIC AND THIRD WOMAN JUSTICE.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - MORE STORMY WEATHER LOOMS TODAY AS NASA TRIES AGAIN FOR A SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. IT'LL BE THE FIFTH TRY TO LAUNCH ENDEAVOUR. THUNDERSTORMS PREVENTED A LAUNCH YESTERDAY.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (AP) - CALIFORNIA'S LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAY THEY HOPE A DEAL TO CLOSE THE STATE'S $26.3 BILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL HAPPENS BY WEEK'S END. LAWMAKERS SAY THEY AND GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER ARE MAKING PROGRESS AFTER A WEEKEND OF CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS AT THE CAPITOL, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A DEAL REMAINS ELUSIVE.

PENSACOLA, FLA. (AP) - TWO MEN BEING HELD ON OPEN MURDER CHARGES IN A WEALTHY FLORIDA COUPLE'S SLAYINGS ARE DUE IN COURT TODAY. ARREST WARRANTS SAY THE MEN WENT TO THE COUPLE'S HOUSE INTENDING TO ROB IT. THE COUPLE WAS KNOWN FOR ADOPTING CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - AFFECTED WEB SITES ARE RETURNING TO NORMAL TODAY IN SOUTH KOREA AFTER A SERIES OF CYBERASSAULTS THAT HAVE CAST SUSPICION ON NORTH KOREA. SOUTH KOREA'S SPY AGENCY TODAY LOWERED THE COUNTRY'S CYBERATTACK ALERT LEVEL. DOZENS OF SOUTH KOREAN AND U.S. WEB SITES WERE TARGETED IN THE SO-CALLED DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACKS.