Today's News-Wednesday, July 1, 2009

NORTH SCHUYLKILL BOARD PASSES BUDGET

THE 5 MEMBERS OF THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD HAVE RATIFIED THEIR BUDGET. THAT MAY NOT BE A BIG DEAL TO MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT TO NORTH SCHUYLKILL IT IS, SINCE EIGHT OF THE NINE DIRECTORS WERE REMOVED BY A COUNTY JUDGE LAST WEEK, STATING THEY DIDN’T DO THEIR JOBS FOR THE PUBLIC. THAT LEFT JUST ONE BEHIND. A PACKED HOUSE OF TAXPAYERS ATTENDED THE MEETING LAST EVENING ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN AND HERALD. FOUR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS WERE APPOINTED BY JUDGE D MICHAEL STINE LAST WEEK TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO DO BUSINESS, BUT THE NEW BOARD TABLED ACTION ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ATHLETIC FIELDS, STATING THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THE OPTIONS THAT HAD BEEN WORKED ON BY THE PREVIOUS BOARD. INTERESTED PERSONS LOOKING AT FILLING OPEN SEATS ON THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD HAVE UNTIL JULY 22ND TO DO SO.

LIGHTNING CAUSES FIRE

MOTHER NATURES WRATH SPARKED A FIRE IN WEST PENN TOWNSHIP TUESDAY AFTERNOON. LIGHTNING APPARENTLY STRUCK A TREE ON SPRING ROAD DURING A STORM. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO SMOKE AND MINOR FIRE DAMAGE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

PENNSYLVANIA-STATE BUDGET
PA. BEGINS 2009-10 FISCAL YEAR WITHOUT BUDGET DEAL
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A NEW FISCAL YEAR HAS BEGUN WITHOUT A PENNSYLVANIA STATE BUDGET. GOV. ED RENDELL AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE EACH SIGNALED NO BREAKTHROUGH IS IN SIGHT. AIDES TO THE GOVERNOR SAY NO TALKS ARE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. HIGH-LEVEL TALKS MONDAY AND TUESDAY AT HIS OFFICIAL HARRISBURG RESIDENCE ENDED WITH NO SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. BUDGET TALKS ARE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT THIS YEAR BECAUSE PENNSYLVANIA HAS AN ESTIMATED $3.2 BILLION REVENUE SHORTFALL FOR THE 2008-09 YEAR. THERE'S A SIMILAR GAP TO FILL FOR THE 2009-10 YEAR.

OBAMA RURAL TOUR
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITS NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TODAY
YANKTON, S.D. (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS HEADED TO NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF MEETINGS ON HOW TO REVITALIZE RURAL AMERICA. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS THE MAIN TOPIC IN WEDNESDAY'S SESSION IS TO BE RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS. BIDEN IS TO ATTEND WEDNESDAY'S MEETING IN WATTSBURG, A SMALL TOWN 17 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF ERIE. OBAMA OUTLINED THE EFFORT TUESDAY DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH WNAX RADIO IN YANKTON, S.D. HE SAYS TOP ADMINISTRATION LEADERS, INCLUDING CABINET OFFICIALS, WILL "FAN OUT" AND HOLD DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES. HE SAYS DMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WANT TO FIND OUT WHETHER PROGRAMS ARE WORKING, ADDING THAT THERE'S NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL ANSWER FOR RURAL AMERICA.

SEVERE STORMS
FLOODING STRIKES NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
ERIE, PA. (AP) - HEAVY RAIN IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HAS CAUSED FLOODING, WITH SOME AREAS UNDER 4 FEET OF WATER AND RESIDENTS OF AT LEAST TWO HOUSEHOLDS HAVING TO BE RESCUED BY BOAT. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A FLOOD WATCH FOR ERIE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR BRIAN MCGRATH SAYS THE MOVE ALLOWS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR FLOOD DAMAGE. IT ALSO ALLOWS THE TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR OVERTIME PAY AND MATERIALS.

OVERTURNED TRUCK
TRUCK CRASH NEAR PHILADELPHIA DRAWS HAZMAT CREW
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA. (AP) - AN OVERTURNED TRACTOR-TRAILER CARRYING CONTAINERS OF ACID IS TYING UP TRAFFIC IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA AND OFFICIALS HOPE TO HAVE THINGS BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE WEDNESDAY MORNING'S RUSH HOUR. PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPOKESMAN GENE BLAUM SAYS THE TRUCK OVERTURNED TUESDAY AFTERNOON ON A RAMP CONNECTING INTERSTATE 476, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BLUE ROUTE, TO THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WITH
NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. SEVERAL INTERCHANGE RAMPS WERE
CLOSED DOWN. STATE POLICE LT. ANTHONY SIVO SAYS THERE IS NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, BUT PRECAUTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS CARRYING A CORROSIVE MATERIAL. A HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CREW HAD TO CUT THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE TRAILER TO GET TO THE CONTAINERS OF ACID INSIDE.

CHILD TRAFFIC DEATH
ANOTHER CHILD KILLED BY TRUCK IN PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO DAYS, A CHILD HAS BEEN KILLED BY A VEHICLE IN PHILADELPHIA'S MAYFAIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE LATEST FATALITY IS A 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL HIT BY A PICKUP TRUCK TUESDAY EVENING. THE DRIVER STOPPED AT THE SCENE, AS DID THE DRIVER OF INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT THE DAY BEFORE. ON MONDAY, A BOY GOT CAUGHT IN THE WHEELS OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER AFTER FALLING INTO THE STREET.

PROSECUTOR-DUI
NJ ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR HAS DUI CHARGE IN PA.
BETHLEHEM, PA. (AP) - AN ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR FOR A NEW JERSEY
COUNTY IS ACCUSED OF DRUNKEN DRIVING NEAR HIS HOME IN BETHLEHEM, PA. WARREN COUNTY ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR KEVIN BROTZMAN WAS ARRESTED JUNE 14. POLICE SAY FIREFIGHTERS WERE TRYING TO PUT OUT A BURNING VEHICLE WHEN BROTZMAN CHANGED LANES TO PASS A TOW TRUCK AND RAN OVER A FIRE HOSE. COURT RECORDS SHOW BROTZMAN FAILED THREE FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS AND HIS PRELIMINARY BLOOD-ALCOHOL CONTENT WAS 0.09. BROTZMAN'S BOSS, WARREN COUNTY PROSECUTOR THOMAS FERGUSON, SAYS BROTZMAN IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND REMAINS ON THE JOB. HE SAYS HIS OFFICE HAS OPENED AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION. A PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 14.

RURAL DEATHS
PA. WOMAN SHOT DEAD, MAN'S BODY FOUND HOURS LATER
WATERFORD, PA. (AP) - POLICE SAY A MAN SHOT A WOMAN DEAD IN THEIR RURAL NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HOME HOURS BEFORE HIS DEAD BODY WAS FOUND. POLICE SAY THE MAN KILLED THE WOMAN IN WATERFORD JUST BEFORE 1:30 P.M. TUESDAY. THE MAN'S BODY WAS FOUND SOMETIME BEFORE 6 P.M., BUT POLICE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SAY WHERE IT WAS FOUND. NEIGHBORS TOLD THE ERIE TIMES-NEWS THAT THE COUPLE HAD LIVED IN THE HOUSE FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS.

DATE RAPE TRIAL-SENTENCE
PA MAN SENTENCED IN DATE RAPE CASE
BOISE, IDAHO (AP) - A PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON IN IDAHO FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A WOMAN AT HIS SUN VALLEY CONDOMINIUM IN 2005. JEFFREY MARSALIS, 35, WAS SENTENCED TUESDAY BY 5TH DISTRICT JUDGE DANIEL HURLBUTT JR., WHO SAID MARSALIS MUST SERVE AT LEAST 15 YEARS BEFORE BEING ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE IN THE DATE RAPE CASE. MARSALIS WAS EXTRADITED TO IDAHO LAST FALL FROM PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE HE IS SERVING A 21-YEAR SENTENCE FOR 2007 CONVICTIONS ON TWO COUNTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. PROSECUTORS SAY MARSALIS DRUGGED THE THE VICTIM'S DRINK WHILE THE TWO WERE AT A BAR. HE LATER RAPED THE 21-YEAR-OLD WHILE SHE WAS INCAPACITATED. DURING THE TRIAL, DEFENSE ATTORNEY DOUG NELSON ARGUED THAT THE NIGHT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A DATE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE WHO GOT DRUNK AND HAD CONSENSUAL SEX. AN ADA COUNTY JURY FOUND MARSALIS GUILTY IN APRIL OF ONE COUNT OF FELONY RAPE. MARSALIS' FATHER, FORREST MARSALIS, APPEALED TO THE JUDGE FOR LENIENCY BEFORE SENTENCING, AND JEFFREY MARSALIS APOLOGIZED TO THE VICTIM FOR HIS ACTIONS. "I AM SORRY," MARSALIS SAID IN COURT. "I WAS DRUNK." MARSALIS WILL BE RETURNED TO PENNSYLVANIA TO FINISH SERVING OUT HIS SENTENCE THERE BEFORE SERVING HIS LATEST PUNISHMENT.

BODY IN LAKE
WOMAN'S BODY FOUND IN NE PA. LAKE
DUNMORE, PA. (AP) - A WOMAN'S BODY HAS BEEN RECOVERED FROM A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA LAKE. THE BODY FOUND TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN LAKE WALLENPAUPACK HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THAT OF 28-YEAR-OLD HOLLY ANN STEFFENS OF HAWLEY, WHO WAS REPORTED MISSING EARLY MONDAY. POLICE REPORTS SAY STEFFENS WAS SEEN WANDERING OFF FROM A BOAT THAT WAS BEACHED ALONG THE LAKE IN PALMYRA TOWNSHIP, PIKE COUNTY. STATE POLICE TROOPER BILL SATKOWSKI SAYS A DIVE TEAM FOUND THE BODY NEAR A BOAT LAUNCH IN PAUPACK TOWNSHIP, WAYNE COUNTY. POLICE HAVEN'T SAID IF THE DEATH IS CONSIDERED SUSPICIOUS.

TROOPER-SEX CHARGES
FORMER PA. TROOPER CLEARED ON UNDERAGE SEX CHARGES
MEDIA, PA. (AP) - A FORMER PENNSYLVANIA STATE TROOPER HAS BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF SOLICITING SEX WITH CHILDREN OVER THE INTERNET. FORTY-YEAR-OLD ALBERT SILVERI III OF ASTON WAS ACQUITTED ON CRIMINAL SOLICITATION AND OTHER CHARGES TUESDAY IN DELAWARE COUNTY. SILVERI WAS ARRESTED IN JULY 2008. PROSECUTORS SAY HE USED A STATE-ISSUED LAPTOP TO SET UP MEETINGS WITH AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER POSING AS A WOMAN WILLING TO OFFER UP HER TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS FOR SEX. BUT SILVERI NEVER SHOWED UP. DEFENSE ATTORNEY STEVE PACILLIO SAYS SILVERI NEVER INTENDED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE MEETINGS. SILVERI RESIGNED LAST YEAR FOLLOWING HIS ARREST.

PITTSBURGH-G-20
UNITED STEELWORKERS A PITTSBURGH G-20 PARTNER
PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE UNITED STEELWORKERS HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH OTHER PITTSBURGH POWERS TO MAKE THE GROUP OF 20 SUMMIT IN SEPTEMBER A SUCCESS - A DRASTIC TURN FROM THE PAST, WHEN THE LABOR UNION WAS A VOCAL PROTESTER. THE PITTSBURGH-BASED UNION HAS PROTESTED THE SUMMIT'S POLICIES, MOST RECENTLY AT THE GROUP'S APRIL MEETING IN LONDON. BUT AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE CHOSE PITTSBURGH AS THE SURPRISE VENUE FOR THE GROUP'S NEXT MEETING, THE UNION DECIDED TO JOIN A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, COUNTY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES MEANT TO ENSURE THE CITY SHINES WHEN 19 WORLD LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ARRIVE. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS ALREADY RAISED MORE THAN $500,000 TO BE USED FOR HOSPITALITY TRAINING AND COMMUNICATIONS.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - MICHAEL JACKSON DOES HAVE A WILL, AND IT'S EXPECTED TO BE FILED IN A LOS ANGELES COURT LATER TODAY. A PERSON WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE DOCUMENT TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT IT GIVES GUARDIANSHIP OVER HIS CHILDREN TO HIS MOTHER. MEANWHILE, THERE'S CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT MOVING AROUND NEVERLAND RANCH FUELING SPECULATION IT COULD BE THE SITE OF A FUNERAL OR PERMANENT MEMORIAL.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A REGISTERED NURSE WHO WAS WORKING WITH MICHAEL JACKSON AS HE PREPARED FOR HIS COMEBACK CONCERT SERIES SAYS THE SINGER HAD BEEN DISTRAUGHT OVER PERSISTENT INSOMNIA IN RECENT MONTHS. SHE SAYS HE PLEADED FOR A POWERFUL SEDATIVE DESPITE WARNINGS IT COULD BE HARMFUL.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - ABOUT 500 INVITED GUESTS HAVE BID FAREWELL TO
ACTRESS FARRAH FAWCETT AT A PRIVATE, MUSIC-FILLED FUNERAL IN LOS
ANGELES. LONGTIME COMPANION, RYAN O'NEAL, WAS AMONG PALLBEARERS.
THE COUPLE'S SON, REDMOND, DELIVERED THE SERVICE'S FIRST READING.

ST. PAUL, MINN. (AP) - AL FRANKEN CAN NOW BREATH EASIER, AND THINK ONLY ABOUT HIS YEARS AHEAD IN THE SENATE. THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT HAS CONFIRMED HE WON LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTION, AND INCUMBENT NORM COLEMAN HAS CONCEDED. DEMOCRATS WILL NOW HOLD 60
SEATS IN THE SENATE.

MORONI, COMOROS (AP) - A CONDITION REPORT ON THE ONLY APPARENT SURVIVOR OF YESTERDAY'S JETLINER CRASH INTO THE INDIAN OCEAN IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY. A NURSE ON THE COMOROS ISLANDS SAYS THE TEENAGER IS "DOING WELL." THERE WERE 153 PEOPLE ABOARD THE PLANE.