Today's News-Tuesday, July 28, 2009

FIRE HEAVILY DAMAGES THREE HOMES IN POTTSVILLE

THREE POTTSVILLE CITY HOMES WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED BY A SUNDAY NIGHT FIRE. CITY FIRE OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT THE BLAZE STARTED BY AN UNATTENDED PAN COOKING ON THE STOVE AT 810 NORTH THIRD STREET. FLAMES THEN SPREAD TO ADJOINING ROW HOMES AT 808 AND 812 NORTH THIRD. ALL TOLD, EIGHT PEOPLE WERE LEFT HOMELESS. THE CALL CAME IN AROUND 9PM SUNDAY NIGHT.

LAST DEALER GOES TO JAIL

THE LAST FIGURE IN A DRUG DEALING OPERATION IS HEADED TO STATE PRISON. KENNETH PETUSKY, WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY IN JUNE OF POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER HEROIN, COCAINE AND MARIJUANA, WILL SPEND 8 TO 16 YEARS IN JAIL. THE MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE OF 5 TO 10 YEARS FOR HAVING A GUN ALONG WITH THE DRUG SENTENCES WAS HANDED DOWN BY PRESIDENT JUDGE WILLIAM BALDWIN. PETUSKY JOINS LUIS CALCANO AND XAVIER PAGAN IN JAIL FTER THEY PLEADED GUILTY FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CASE.

HAVEN PD GETS GRANT

LOCAL POLICE HAVE RECEIVED A FINANCIAL BOOST FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO COMBAT UNDERAGE DRINKING. STATE REPRESENTATIVE TIM SEIP PRESENTED A CHECK TO SCHUYLKILL HAVEN POLICE FOR MORE THAN $10-THOUSAND-DOLLARS MONDAY. BOROUGH POLICE WILL WORK WITH PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL POLICE TO BEEF UP ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, FOCUSING ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PENN STATE STUDENTS LIVING OFF CAMPUS IN THE BOROUGH. THE GRANT IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD’S BUREAU OF ALCOHOL EDUCATION.

FAIR COURT CROWNED

A MINERSVILLE TEEN HAS BEEN NAMED QUEEN OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR. 18 YEAR OLD MEGAN HOFFMAN EARNED THE CROWN MONDAY NIGHT. RHONDA CARL, A 9TH GRADE STUDENT FROM TRI VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL WAS NAMED THE 2009 PRINCESS AND THE 2009 LITTLE MISS IS 7 YEAR OLD ANGELIQUE ANTONINI FROM SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. TODAY IS KIDS DAY AT THE 26TH ANNUAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR.

IDOL WINNER NAMED

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY IDOL NUMBER 7 WAS NAMED YESTERDAY AT THE SCHUYLKILL MALL. 17 YEAR OLD ZACHARY SCHEIB OF HEGINS BEAT OUT TOM FRANKO OF POTTSVILLE AND JESSICA MOSER OF PORT CARBON. SCHEIB WON A $1-THOUSAND DOLLAR SCHUYLKILL MALL SHOPPING SPREE AND OTHER PRIZES. HE'LL ALSO PERFORM ON THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR STAGE SATURDAY NIGHT.

STATE BUDGET
RENDELL CONSIDERING A STOPGAP BUDGET FOR PA.
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL IS CONSIDERING WAYS TO PAY FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SO THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES DON'T MISS MORE PAYDAYS DURING THE ONGOING BUDGET IMPASSE. RENDELL SAID MONDAY THAT HE IS EXPLORING OPTIONS AND WANTS THE MONEY APPROVED BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK. PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE GOVERNMENT BUDGET IMPASSE IS APPROACHING ITS FIFTH WEEK. THE STATE'S BEEN STRIPPED OF ITS POWER TO PAY BILLS AND MEET ITS PAYROLL. NEARLY 80,000 STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED PARTIAL PAYDAYS BECAUSE THE STATE CAN'T PAY THEM FOR DAYS WORKED AFTER JUNE 30. SOME 33,000 FACE A PAYLESS PAYDAY ON FRIDAY. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE QUARRELING OVER THE SIZE OF THE STATE BUDGET, WITH FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENTS OVER WHETHER TAXES SHOULD BE RAISED TO SUPPORT STATE PROGRAMS.

BALLPARK BEATING
POLICE: 2 CHARGED IN FATAL BEATING NEAR BALLPARK
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE HAVE CHARGED TWO MEN WITH MURDER AND HAVE A THIRD SUSPECT IN CUSTODY IN THE BEATING DEATH OF A MAN OUTSIDE THE PHILLIES' BALLPARK FOLLOWING A GAME. PHILADELPHIA POLICE HAVE CHARGED 35-YEAR-OLD CHARLES BOWERS AND 45-YEAR-OLD JIM GROVE WITH MURDER FOR ALLEGEDLY BEATING AND KICKING 22-YEAR-OLD DAVID SALE TO DEATH OUTSIDE CITIZENS BANK PARK ON SATURDAY. 28-YEAR-OLD FRANCIS KIRCHNER DECLINED TO COMMENT TO REPORTERS AS HE TURNED HIMSELF IN AROUND 6 P.M. YESTERDAY. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE FIGHT BEGAN WITH A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN TWO GROUPS INSIDE THE MCFADDEN'S PUB ATTACHED TO THE BALLPARK SPILLED OUTSIDE. BOTH GROUPS WERE KICKED OUT OF THE BAR. BUT THE FIGHT RESUMED OUTSIDE WHERE POLICE SAY SALE, OF NEARBY LANSDALE, WAS BEATEN AND KICKED REPEATEDLY IN THE HEAD. ONLINE COURT RECORDS SHOWED NO LAWYER FOR BOWERS. GROVE WAS REPRESENTED BY A PUBLIC DEFENDER; A MESSAGE LEFT WITH THE OFFICE WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY RETURNED.

COURTHOUSE KICKBACKS
US JUDGE ASKED TO SAVE EVIDENCE IN PA. SCANDAL
SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS BEEN ASKED TO PRESERVE RECORDS OF A PENNSYLVANIA JUDICIAL SCANDAL THAT THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID SHOULD BE DESTROYED. THE HIGH COURT'S PLAN TO DELETE THOUSANDS OF JUVENILE COURT RECORDS WILL PREVENT JUVENILES IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA FROM PURSUING FEDERAL CLAIMS AGAINST A CORRUPT JUDGE AND KEEP THE PUBLIC IN THE DARK ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE JUDGE'S MISCONDUCT. THAT'S ACCORDING TO ATTORNEYS FOR VICTIMS OF THE CORRUPTION SCANDAL IN LUZERNE COUNTY. THEY ASKED A FEDERAL JUDGE MONDAY TO ORDER THE PRESERVATION OF MORE THAN 6,000 RECORDS AS EVIDENCE IN THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST FORMER JUDGE MARK CIAVARELLA
AND OTHERS IN LUZERNE COUNTY. CIAVARELLA WAS CHARGED THIS YEAR WITH TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PUT JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN PRIVATELY OWNED DETENTION CENTERS. HE HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO FRAUD.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
PA. SENATE NEARS VOTE TO EXTEND JOBLESS BENEFITS
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A BILL EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN PENNSYLVANIA BY SEVEN WEEKS IS NEARING A STATE SENATE VOTE AFTER
DEMOCRATS ACCUSED REPUBLICANS OF BOTTLING UP THE MEASURE. THE SENATE LABOR AND INDUSTRY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY MONDAY TO PASS THE BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE. HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE AMENDED THE BILL SO THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY EXHAUSTED THEIR 72 WEEKS OF BENEFITS EARLIER THIS MONTH WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ADDITIONAL SEVEN WEEKS. A FULL SENATE VOTE IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY, ALTHOUGH THE SENATE'S AMENDMENT MEANS ANOTHER HOUSE VOTE IS NECESSARY BEFORE GOV. ED RENDELL CAN SIGN IT. THE HOUSE PASSED THE BILL JULY 7. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD COVER THE EXTENSION FOR PEOPLE WHO LOST JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COVER THE EXTENSION FOR THEIR EX-EMPLOYEES.

AIRPORT INVESTIGATION
FEDS PROBE PA. AIRPORT CONTSTRUCTION
SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAYS FEDERAL AGENTS HAVE ASKED FOR ALL CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE BUILDING OF A NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL. LACKAWANNA COUNTY COMMISSIONER MIKE WASHO SAID MONDAY THAT THE
COUNTY IS COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATION AT WILKES- BARRE/SCRANTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HE WOULDN'T SAY WHICH
FEDERAL AGENCY IS INVESTIGATING. THE AIRPORT IS OPERATED JOINTLY BY LACKAWANNA AND LUZERNE COUNTIES.

2000 STRANGULATION
PA. MAN CHARGED IN 2000 STRANGULATION DEATH
BETHELEHEM, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN PENNSYLVANIA'S LEHIGH VALLEY SAY A MAN HAS CONFESSED TO STRANGLING A MAN IN 2000. POLICE CHARGED 62-YEAR-OLD GREGORY GRANT WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE MONDAY FOR THE JUNE 9, 2000, KILLING OF 42-YEAR-OLD RUDOLPH CZOPOTH IN HIS APARTMENT IN BETHLEHEM. HE IS TO BE ARRAIGNED TUESDAY MORNING. POLICE SAY GRANT ACKNOWLEDGED ALL ALONG THAT HE'D BEEN IN CZOPOTH'S APARTMENT THE NIGHT HE WAS KILLED BUT DENIED KILLING HIM UNTIL RECENTLY. COURT RECORDS SHOW GRANT REGULARLY SUPPLIED CZOPOTH WITH THE DRUG PERCOCET. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY PATRICIA MULQUEEN SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHETHER HER OFFICE WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST GRANT. IT WAS UNCLEAR MONDAY NIGHT WHETHER GRANT HAD A LAWYER.

NO RECOVERY COPS
4 BIG CITIES NO COPS AID
WASHINGTON (AP) - FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY A $1 BILLION ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROGRAM TO HELP CITIES AVOID LAYING OFF POLICE OFFICERS HAS DECIDED NOT TO GIVE MONEY TO FOUR MAJOR U.S. CITIES, NEW YORK, SEATTLE, HOUSTON AND PITTSBURGH. THE OFFICIALS TELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE FOUR CITIES WERE
AMONG SOME 7,000 STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES THAT WILL NOT GET AID UNDER THE SO-CALLED COPS PROGRAM IN THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR. MORE THAN 1,000 AGENCIES WILL RECEIVE AID. THE OFFICIALS SPOKE MONDAY ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS PUBLICLY. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER ARE TO APPEAR IN PHILADELPHIA ON TUESDAY TO ANNOUNCE WHO GETS WHAT. AMERICAN IDOL CONTESTANT-DEATH

UPGRADED CHARGES IN DEATH OF EX-'IDOL' CONTESTANT
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) - A TOMS RIVER MAN FACES AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER AND DRUNKEN DRIVING CHARGES AFTER A WEEKEND ACCIDENT AT THE JERSEY SHORE THAT KILLED A FORMER "AMERICAN IDOL" CONTESTANT WHOSE ANGRY REJECTION RANT BECAME AN INTERNET SENSATION. OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR MARLENE FORD ANNOUNCED THE UPGRADED CHARGES MONDAY SHORTLY AFTER 23-YEAR-OLD DANIEL BARK HAD AN INITIAL COURT HEARING ON CHARGES OF RECKLESS DRIVING AND LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALEXIS COHEN WAS KILLED WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK BY A MOTOR VEHICLE EARLY SATURDAY IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS. THE 24-YEAR-OLD ALLENTOWN, PA., RESIDENT PERFORMED DURING "AMERICAN IDOL'S" SEVENTH SEASON. BARK WAS ARRESTED SUNDAY. DEFENSE ATTORNEY DAVID GLASSMAN SAID BARK AND HIS FAMILY ARE DISTRAUGHT OVER COHEN'S DEATH.

MISSING WOMAN
PA. WOMAN MISSING SINCE 2002 MAY BE DECLARED DEAD
ERIE, PA. (AP) - THE MOTHER OF A NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN WHO HASN'T BEEN SEEN SINCE 2002 IS ASKING A JUDGE TO DECLARE HER LEGALLY DEAD.
SABRINA KAHLER, OF ERIE, WAS 20 WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED. SHE WAS LAST SEEN WITH AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO'S IN PRISON IN AN UNRELATED CASE AND HASN'T COOPERATED WITH INVESTIGATORS. HER MOTHER, SUSAN BURG, HAS ASKED A JUDGE TO DECLARE KAHLER LEGALLY DEAD. A JUDGE IS TO HEAR THE CASE SEPT. 15.

UPSKIRT VIDEOS
PA. TEEN CHARGED WITH FILMING UP SKIRTS AT SCHOOL
EMMAUS, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA TEEN IS CHARGED WITH FILMING UP THE SKIRTS OF FEMALE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND POSTING THE IMAGES ONLINE. THE 15-YEAR-OLD EMMAUS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IS CHARGED WITH INVASION OF PRIVACY AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT, BOTH MISDEMEANORS. CITY POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED 19 VICTIMS SO FAR, ALL STUDENTS OR TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOL. AUTHORITIES SAY THE UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP BOY USED A CELL PHONE TO TAKE VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS POSTED TO SEVERAL WEB SITES.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS CONTINUING HIS PUSH FOR A HEALTH-CARE OVERHAUL. HE'LL BE TAKING PART TODAY IN A TOWN-HALL MEETING ON HEALTH-CARE, SPONSORED BY THE AARP. MEANWHILE, A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS IS CLOSING IN ON A HEALTH CARE COMPROMISE THAT OMITS KEY DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES AND TRIES TO HOLD DOWN COSTS.

TALIL, IRAQ (AP) - DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES HAS ARRIVED IN IRAQ ON A VISIT TO SEE THE FUTURE OF THE U.S. MILITARY MISSION THERE. HIS FIRST STOP IS A SOUTHERN IRAQ COMMAND POST, WHERE U.S. TROOPS ARE SERVING MAINLY AS ADVISERS TO IRAQI FORCES.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THERE'S WORD THAT AUTHORITIES BELIEVE MICHAEL JACKSON'S PERSONAL DOCTOR GAVE HIM THE INTRAVENEOUS DRUG THAT KILLED HIM. AN OFFICIAL TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT DR. CONRAD MURRAY GAVE THE POP STAR THE POWERFUL ANESTHETIC PROPOFOL AT JACKSON'S HOME SOMETIME AFTER MIDNIGHT THE DAY JACKSON DIED. THE DRUG CAN DEPRESS BREATHING AND LOWER HEART RATES, AND IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN IN MEDICAL SETTINGS.

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS (AP) - OFFICIALS NOW SAY AT LEAST 113 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RESCUED AFTER A BOAT CARRYING HAITIAN MIGRANTS SANK OFF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. AS MANY AS 85 PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING. A SURVIVOR SAYS THE VESSEL WAS CARRYING UP TO 200 HAITIANS. AIRCRAFT ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN IN THE SEARCH AT FIRST LIGHT THIS MORNING.

ATLANTA (AP) - ATLANTA MAY SOON BECOME THE FIRST MAJOR U.S. CITY TO ELIMINATE ALL OF ITS LARGE PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS. CITIES FROM BOSTON TO LOS ANGELES ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING: RAZING MAJOR PROJECTS AND REPLACING THEM WITH A MIX OF HIGHER-RENT AND SUBSIDIZED HOMES AND APARTMENTS. BUT THERE'S CONCERN THAT NOT ENOUGH SUBSIDIZED HOMES REMAIN, AND THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ARE BEING DUMPED ON THE STREETS.