Today's News-Thursday, July 2, 2009

CEMETERY VANDALIZED

POTTSVILLE CITY POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING VANDALISM AT A HISTORIC CEMETERY. IT HAPPENED AT CHARLES BABER CEMETERY, WHERE STAFF REPORTED 33 HEADSTONES ALONG WITH A PARK BENCH WERE TOPPLED OVER IN SECTION 4 OF THE CEMETERY AT 14TH AND MARKET STREETS. POLICE DON'T HAVE ANY SUSPECTS AT THIS TIME. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE VANDALISM SHOULD CALL POTTSVILLE PD AT 622-1234 OR THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMM CENTER AT 628-3792.

NO WAIVER FOR NORTH SCHUYLKILL

AMONG A GROWING LIST OF TO DO ITEMS ON THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARDS AGENDA IS LOOK FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND SOLICITOR. THE THIRD TIME WASN'T THE CHARM FOR THE DISTRICT WHO WAS TURNED DOWN FOR A STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAIVER TO ALLOW MARK SEMANCHIK, THEIR LONG TIME SOLICITOR AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT TO ASSUME THE JOB PERMANENTLY. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT STATE OFFICIALS SAID SEMANCHIK "LACKS ADEQUATE PREPARATION TO ASSUME THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENT." THIS ISSUE IN PART LED TO THE REMOVAL OF EIGHT OF THE NINE SCHOOL DIRECTORS LAST WEEK BY A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUDGE. NOW, THE INTERIM NORTH SCHUYLKILL BOARD WILL BEGIN A SEARCH FOR A NEW SCHOOLS CHIEF.

FUEL TAKEN

ONE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TOWNSHIP IS MISSING AN IMPORTANT AND COSTLY COMMODITY…FUEL…AFTER SOMEONE HELPED THEMSELVES TO IT EARLIER THIS WEEK. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE INVESTIGATORS SAY SOMEONE CUT THE LOCK ON A FUEL STORAGE TANK AT SOUTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIPS BUILDING ON ROUTE 895 AND REMOVED 100 GALLONS OF GASOLINE. THE THEFT TOOK PLACE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS MONDAY.

BILL TO WITHHOLD PAY FROM INMATES DURING BUDGET IMPASSE

ONE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY LEGISLATOR HAS INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT INMATES IN STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FROM GETTING PAID UNTIL THE STATE PASSES A NEW BUDGET. HANSON QUICKEL HAS MORE FROM HARRISBURG:

QUICKEL INMATES

NO BUDGET DEAL IS IN SIGHT IN RIGHT NOW.

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK REMOVAL FUNDS SOUGHT

THE PROBLEM OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS AND THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THEY CREATE HAVE BEEN A HEADACHE FOR STATE LEADERS. NOW THEY ARE LOOKING FOR FEDERAL MONIES TO HELP FIX THE PROBLEM. GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR MORE THAN $6 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STIMULUS POOL TO TARGET ABANDONED UNDERGROUND TANKS AND CLEAN THEM UP. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WILL DIRECT THE FUNDING. IN THIS ROUND OF FUNDING, 71 SITES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN 40 COUNTIES INCLUDING SCHUYLKILL. THOSE SITES INCLUDE THE JENKINS PROPERTY IN CASS TOWNSHIP AND THE FORMER WEST END CLEANERS IN POTTSVILLE. THE FEDERAL MONIES WILL SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING STATE PROGRAM.

STATE POLICE FEES
FEES FOR RELYING ON PA. STATE POLICE CLEAR PANEL
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS CONSIDERING IMPOSING FEES ON PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES THAT DON'T MAINTAIN THEIR OWN POLICE FORCES. A BILL TO IMPOSE THE CHARGES ON THE 20 PERCENT OF THE STATE THAT RELIES SOLELY ON STATE POLICE COVERAGE PASSED THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE NARROWLY ON WEDNESDAY. REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE ARE OPPOSED TO THE IDEA, SAYING THERE ARE MANY OTHER STATE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS PAY FOR WITHOUT GETTING THE BENEFITS. BUT DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S A MATTER OF FAIRNESS, AND THE BILL WOULD GENERATE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE. THE MEASURE AWAITS DEBATE BY THE FULL HOUSE. A SIMILAR PROPOSAL DIED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

STATE BUDGET
PA. GOVERNOR STANDS BY CALL FOR INCOME TAX HIKE
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - AFTER TWO DAYS OF WRANGLING WITH TOP LEGISLATORS OVER PROPOSED SPENDING CUTS, GOV. ED RENDELL IS NOT BACKING AWAY FROM HIS CALL FOR A 16-PERCENT INCOME TAX INCREASE. PENNSYLVANIA ON WEDNESDAY BECAME ONE OF SEVERAL STATES THAT LACK THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PAY ALL THEIR BILLS. A PARTISAN STALEMATE OVER RESOLVING A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT IS STALLING APPROVAL OF A STATE BUDGET FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. SOME OF RENDELL'S FELLOW DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WON'T VOTE FOR AN INCOME TAX INCREASE, AND REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL THE SENATE ARE DEAD SET AGAINST IT. RENDELL SAYS THERE'S NO WAY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT IT. IN THE MEANTIME, THE STATE WILL DELAY PAYMENTS TO VENDORS, ALTHOUGH RENDELL SAYS RESIDENTS WILL NOTICE LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS FOR NOW. TALKS ARE TO RESUME MONDAY.

COURTHOUSE KICKBACKS
NE PA. LAWYER PLEADS GUILTY IN $2.5M KICKBACK SCAM
SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - THE DEFENSE LAWYER REPRESENTING ANOTHER LAWYER AT THE CENTER OF A $2.5 MILLION KICKBACK SCHEME IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAYS HIS CLIENT IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS. MARK SHEPPARD SAYS 49-YEAR-OLD ROBERT POWELL OF HAZLETON IS PROMISING FULL COOPERATION WITH AUTHORITIES. POWELL PLEADED GUILTY TO CONCEALING A FELONY AND BEING AN ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT. IT'S FOR HIS ROLE IN PAYING TWO LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGES WHO SENTENCED JUVENILE OFFENDERS TO A PAIR OF PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES HE OWNED. AMONG THE OFFENDERS ORDERED INTO POWELL'S DETENTION CENTERS WERE TEENAGERS WHO WERE LOCKED UP FOR MONTHS FOR MINOR OFFENSES, INCLUDING PETTY THEFT, PRANK NOTES AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. MANY OF THE TEENS HAD NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE. SOME WERE IMPRISONED EVEN AFTER PROBATION OFFICERS RECOMMENDED AGAINST IT.

VIDEOTAPED POLICE BEATING
3 BEATEN BY PHILLY POLICE ACQUITTED ON CHARGES
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THREE MEN BEATEN BY PHILADELPHIA POLICE AFTER A TRIPLE SHOOTING HAVE BEEN ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES IN THE SHOOTINGS. THE DEFENDANTS' RELATIVES WEPT AND SLUMPED IN THEIR SEATS AS THE CITY JURY READ THE VERDICTS WEDNESDAY. DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY POLICE THOUGHT THE MEN'S CAR CONTAINED A FUGITIVE WANTED IN A POLICE SERGEANT'S SLAYING TWO DAYS EARLIER. FOUR OFFICERS WERE FIRED AND EIGHT DISCIPLINED AFTERWARD. THE VERDICT IN THE WEEK-LONG TRIAL COMES AFTER THE JURY WATCHED THE 10-MINUTE TAPE OF POLICE BEATING AND KICKING PETE HOPKINS JR., BRIAN HALL AND DWAYNE DYCHES ON MAY 5, 2008.

MAYS-FUNERAL
VISITATION TODAY IN PITTSBURGH AREA FOR TV PITCHMAN BILLY MAYS
MCKEES ROCKS, PA. (AP) - FUNERAL PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR
THE LATE TELEVISION PITCHMAN BILLY MAYS. A VISITATION IS SCHEDULED FOR 1 TO 8 P.M. TODAY AT THE ANTHONY MUSMANNO FUNERAL HOME IN MAYS' HOMETOWN OF MCKEES ROCKS, NEAR PITTSBURGH. HE IS TO BE BURIED FRIDAY MORNING. MAYS WAS FOUND DEAD BY HIS WIFE IN THEIR TAMPA, FLA., CONDOMINIUM ON SUNDAY. A MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS HE LIKELY DIED FROM A HEART ATTACK.

COUNTY-ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
PA.'S ALLEGHENY COUNTY PASSES GAY-RIGHTS BILL
PITTSBURGH (AP) - TWENTY YEARS AFTER ITS COUNTY SEAT OF PITTSBURGH PASSED A SIMILAR LAW, ALLEGHENY COUNTY IS BANNING DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION. THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED THE BILL BY A VOTE OF 8-6 ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN ONORATO SAYS HE WILL SIGN IT. THE BILL CONTAINS AN EXEMPTION FOR FRATERNAL, RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE AND SECTARIAN ORGANIZATIONS.

PREGNANT WOMAN KILLED
ARREST MADE IN SLAYING OF PITTSBURGH PREGNANT TEEN
PITTSBURGH (AP) - POLICE HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN THE SLAYING OF A
PREGNANT WOMAN KILLED IN A BARRAGE OF BULLETS IN PITTSBURGH. POLICE SAY 18-YEAR-OLD LAMON STREET WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY WHEN HE SHOWED UP FOR A PRELIMINARY HEARING ON ANOTHER CASE. HE IS ACCUSED OF KILLING 18-YEAR-OLD SHAVAUGHN WALLACE ON MAY 22. THE STUDENT AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT. STREET IS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, CRIMINAL HOMICIDE OF UNBORN, CARRYING A FIREARM WITHOUT A LICENSE, AND SEVEN COUNTS OF RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON.

QUECREEK MINE
PANEL: JUDGE SHOULD RECONSIDER QUECREEK MINE FINES
WASHINGTON (AP) - A FEDERAL PANEL SAYS A JUDGE SHOULD RECONSIDER THE $110,000 IN FINES HE LEVIED AGAINST TWO COMPANIES IN THE 2002 QUECREEK MINE ACCIDENT IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION'S PRELIMINARY DECISION WEDNESDAY WAS IN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGES BY PBS COALS AND MUSSER ENGINEERING AGAINST THE FINES LEVIED BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE LAST FALL. A FEDERAL SAFETY PANEL HAD PREVIOUSLY RECOMMENDED LESSER FINES OF $5,000 AGAINST EACH COMPANY. THE REVIEW COMMISSION SAID THE JUDGE SHOULD CONSIDER THE SIZE OF THE TWO BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF THE FINES ON THE ABILITY OF THE FIRMS TO STAY IN BUSINESS. NINE COAL MINERS BECAME TRAPPED IN A FLOODED TUNNEL IN JULY 2002, AFTER DIGGING INTO AN ADJACENT MINE FULL OF WATER.

SEX OFFENSES-OFFICER
FORMER PA. POLICEMAN GETS 10-19 YEARS IN SEX CASE
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA. (AP) - A FORMER SMALL-TOWN POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED OF SEX OFFENSES COMMITTED WHILE ON DUTY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 10 TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON. ROBERT PAVLOVICH JR. USED TO WORK AS A POLICE OFFICER IN MARYSVILLE, WHICH IS ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HARRISBURG. HE WAS SENTENCED WEDNESDAY BY A PERRY COUNTY JUDGE. PAVLOVICH DENIED THE CHARGES DURING HIS TRIAL IN OCTOBER. SEVERAL WOMEN TESTIFIED DURING THE TRIAL THAT, WHEN THEY WERE 13 OR 14, PAVLOVICH TRIED TO PERSUADE THEM TO SNEAK OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND MEET HIM. THEY SAID THEY BELIEVED HE WANTED TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM. OTHERS TESTIFIED THAT PAVLOVICH HAD FONDLED THEM.

BIDEN-STIMULUS-BROADBAND
BIDEN ANNOUNCES RURAL BROADBAND FUNDING IN PA.
WATTSBURG, PA. (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS ANNOUNCED A LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAM SO COMPANIES CAN DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE TO DELIVER BROADBAND, OR HIGH-SPEED, INTERNET ACCESS TO RURAL AREAS. BIDEN, APPEARING WEDNESDAY AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN WATTSBURG, SEVERAL MILES OUTSIDE OF ERIE, SAYS INTERNET ACCESS IS CRUCIAL SO THAT ALL OF AMERICA CAN COMPETE ECONOMICALLY. HE SAYS AMERICA LAGS BEHIND A DOZEN OTHER COUNTRIES IN INTERNET ACCESS AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE. BIDEN SAYS PROVIDING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS WILL ENABLE RURAL AREAS TO COMPETE AND DEVELOP JOBS WITHOUT LOSING THEIR RURAL CHARACTER. THOUGH THE SENECA SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BROADBAND ACCESS, BIDEN SAYS MANY STUDENTS DON'T HAVE IT AT HOME.

NAWA, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - A MAJOR MILITARY OPERATION IS UNDER WAY IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN. IT INVOLVES NEARLY 4,000 U.S. MARINES PLUS
650 AFGHAN FORCES. THEIR GOAL IS TO CLEAR TALIBAN MILITANTS FROM
HELMAND PROVINCE BEFORE THE NATION'S AUG. 20 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING MICHAEL
JACKSON'S DEATH HAVE BECOME A FEDERAL ISSUE. A LAW ENFORCEMENT
SOURCE SAYS POLICE IN LOS ANGELES HAVE ASKED THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT
ADMINISTRATION TO HELP TAKE A LOOK AT THE POP STAR'S DOCTORS AND
POSSIBLE DRUG USE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - TWO TOP DEMOCRATIC SENATORS ARE PUSHING A NEW
HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL THEY SAY WOULD BE CHEAPER WHILE EXTENDING
COVERAGE TO 97 PERCENT OF ALL AMERICANS. IT INCLUDES A GOVERNMENT-RUN INSURANCE OPTION, AND A FEE ON LARGER COMPANIES THAT DON'T OFFER HEALTH COVERAGE.

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS (AP) - A CURFEW IN HONDURAS AIMED AT STIFLING UNREST OVER THE RECENT COUP HAS BEEN TIGHTENED. MEANWHILE, THE COUNTRY'S NEW LEADER IS WAGGING A FINGER AT VENEZUELA'S HUGO CHAVEZ, ACCUSING HIM OF MAKING THE SITUATION IN HONDURAS WORSE WITH HIS CRITICISMS.

LE BOURGET, FRANCE (AP) - THE ONLY APPARENT SURVIVOR OF TUESDAY'S JETLINER CRASH IN THE INDIAN OCEAN HAS ARRIVED IN PARIS. THE 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO A HOSPITAL. THE OTHER 151 PEOPLE WHO WERE ABOARD THE YEMENIA AIRWAYS JET ARE PRESUMED DEAD.