Todays News-Saturday August 22 2009

GUNSHOTS IN WEST PENN

MORE DETAILS HAVE COME TO LIGHT FROM AN INCIDENT THURSDAY NIGHT IN WEST PENN TOWNSHIP. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT 39 YEAR OLD DAVID ZELLNER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER CALLING HIS NEIGHBORS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT LIGHTS BEING ON AT THEIR HOUSE. WHEN TWO MEN WENT TO THE HOME, ZELLNER PULLED A 38 CALIBER HANDGUN ON THEM, FIRING SHOTS TOWARD THEM AND ONTO ROUTE 443, WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE'S CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT HOMICIDE, FELONY AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND A HOST OF OTHER CHARGES. ZELLNER IS LODGED IN THE COUNTY PRISON.

TWO LEHIGH COUNTY MEN KILLED IN CRASH

TWO MEN FROM LEHIGH COUNTY DIED IN A CRASH IN WEST PENN TOWNSHIP FRIDAY MORNING. POLICE REPORT THAT A CAR TRAVELING ON ROUTE 309 WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. COUNTY DEPUTY CORONER LARRY NEFF PRONOUNCED NICHOLAS SALTZER AND THE UNIDENTIFIED MAN DEAD AT THE SCENE. A WOMAN DRIVING THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL.

BROADWAY, JAZZ AND STANDARDS COME TO SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC

TONIGHT IS DATE NIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAVORITE SOMEONE WITH GREAT TUNES AT THE SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC. JAY LEVAN HAS MORE:

SOVEREIGN MACCREADY
1:12
O.C. WPPA NEWS

STATE CAPITOL ROUNDUP

THE BUDGET STALEMATE, HEADING TOWARD ITS EIGHTH WEEK, CAPPED A TUMULTUOUS WEEK IN HARRISBURG. CHUCK NICHOLS HAS THIS WEEK'S STATE CAPITOL ROUNDUP:

NICHOLS
:48

DEMS PUSH FOR ADEQUATE EDUCATION FUNDING

AS STUDENTS ENJOY THEIR FINAL DAYS OF SUMMER VACATION, STATE LAWMAKERS IN HARRISBURG CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR ADEQUATE EDUCATION FUNDING. ROSEANN CADAU REPORTS FROM THE CAPITOL:

CADAU
:55

HARLEY DAVIDSON-PLANT
HARLEY-DAVIDSON LOOKS AT 4 STATES IN PLANT MOVE
NEW YORK (AP) - HARLEY-DAVIDSON INC. SAYS IT IS CONSIDERING SITES IN FOUR STATES FOR A POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF ITS MAIN MOTORCYCLE PLANT IN YORK, PA. HARLEY SPOKESMAN BOB KLEIN SAYS HARLEY OFFICIALS HAVE TOURED LOCATIONS IN MURFREESBORO, TENN., SHELBYVILLE, IND., SHELBYVILLE, KY., AND KANSAS CITY, MO., OVER THE LAST WEEK. HARLEY HAS SAID ITS MOTORCYCLE ASSEMBLY PLANT IN YORK HAS TOO MUCH CAPACITY AND IS NOT COST-EFFECTIVE. THE MILWAUKEE-BASED COMPANY ANNOUNCED IN MAY IT WOULD EITHER FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PLANT'S EFFICIENCY OR RELOCATE ELSEWHERE. A DECISION IS EXPECTED LATER THIS YEAR. KLEIN SAYS REMAINING IN YORK IS THE COMPANY'S PREFERRED PATH. THE FACILITY EMPLOYEES 2,300 PEOPLE.

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
PA.'S JOBLESS CLAIMS RISE A BIT AFTER 9-MONTH-LOW
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FILING FOR THEIR FIRST WEEK OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN PENNSYLVANIA ROSE LAST WEEK AFTER HITTING A NINE-MONTH-LOW AT THE END OF JULY. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY SAID FRIDAY THAT MORE THAN 31,100 PEOPLE SUBMITTED INITIAL BENEFITS FILINGS IN THE WEEK ENDING AUG. 15. THAT WAS ABOUT 1,500 HIGHER THAN THE WEEK ENDING AUG. 1, WHEN THE STATE RECEIVED THE FEWEST FILINGS SINCE NOVEMBER. IT ALSO IS 50 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE SAME WEEK A YEAR AGO. ALL TOLD, MORE THAN 475,000 PEOPLE RECEIVED AN UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK FROM THE STATE DURING THE WEEK ENDING AUG. 15. THAT'S ABOUT ONE IN EVERY 13 PEOPLE IN THE STATE'S CIVILIAN WORK FORCE. PENNSYLVANIA'S JULY JOBLESS RATE WAS 8.5 PERCENT - THE HIGHEST IN ALMOST 25 YEARS.

PENNSYLVANIA PENSIONS
VOTES NEARING ON PHILLY, MUNICIPAL PENSION BILLS
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS PLANNING TO VOTE ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS PHILADELPHIA'S BUDGET CRISIS, AS WELL AS STRUGGLING MUNICIPAL PENSION FUNDS. FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN PAT BROWNE SAID HE WILL TAKE A VOTE MONDAY ON THE LEGISLATION. A FINAL VOTE IN THE CHAMBER COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY. LEGISLATORS SAY IT IS VITAL THAT THE STATE LAY OUT A RECOVERY PLAN FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S MUNICIPAL PENSION FUNDS. A BILL ALSO IS PENDING IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE SENATE BILL WOULD GRANT PHILADELPHIA THE AUTHORITY THAT MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER WANTS TO RAISE THE CITY SALES TAX AND TO RECONFIGURE THE CITY WORKERS' PENSION FUND. THE HOUSE VOTED TO DO SO BUT THE SENATE HASN'T ACTED YET. WITHOUT THAT AUTHORITY, NUTTER IS PREPARING TO SLASH 3,000 CITY JOBS.

SENATOR INVESTIGATION-TRIAL
DOCTOR: EX-PA. SEN. ADDICTED TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - DOCTORS FOR CONVICTED FORMER STATE SEN. VINCENT FUMO SAY HE IS ADDICTED TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, INCLUDING THE ANTI-ANXIETY DRUG XANAX. ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS UNSEALED FRIDAY, FUMO TOLD A DOCTOR HE TOOK LARGER DOSES OF THE DRUGS THAN PRESCRIBED AND ABUSED ALCOHOL TO COPE WITH HIS CORRUPTION TRIAL. FUMO WAS CONVICTED EARLIER THIS YEAR OF DEFRAUDING THE STATE SENATE, A SOUTH PHILADELPHIA NONPROFIT AND A SEAPORT MUSEUM OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IN JULY, HE WAS SENTENCED TO 55 MONTHS IN PRISON. FUMO'S ATTORNEYS FILED THE DOCUMENTS AS PART OF A BID TO HAVE HIS DATE TO REPORT TO PRISON DELAYED. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE RONALD BUCKWALTER DENIED THAT REQUEST THURSDAY. FUMO IS DUE TO REPORT TO PRISON BY AUG. 31. PROSECUTORS SAY FUMO'S REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION IS BASELESS.

SUBWAY ALTERCATION-DEATH
DEFENSE RESTS IN PHILLY SUBWAY BEATING DEATH CASE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE SET FOR MONDAY IN THE TRIAL OF THREE TEENS ACCUSED OF BEATING A COFFEE SHOP MANAGER TO DEATH ON A DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA SUBWAY CONCOURSE. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD AMEER BEST, 17-YEAR-OLD KINTA STANTON AND 17-YEAR-OLD NASHIR FISHER ARE FACING THIRD-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF 36-YEAR-OLD SEAN CONROY IN MARCH 2008. ATTORNEYS FOR THE TEENS WRAPPED UP HEIR CASE FRIDAY. PROSECUTORS SAY THE TEENS ATTACKED CONROY AS THE RESULT OF A DARE, TRIGGERING A FATAL ASTHMA ATTACK. STANTON TESTIFIED THURSDAY THAT HE AND FISHER NEVER STRUCK CONROY BUT BEST KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND. TWO OTHER TEENS HAVE PLEADED GUILTY IN THE CASE AND ARE AWAITING SENTENCING. ATTORNEYS HAVE NOT COMMENTED ON THE CASE BECAUSE OF A GAG ORDER.

POLICE-RELATED DEATH
PUNXY POLICE DEATH TO WEIGH DIABETES OR DRINKING
PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA. (AP) - STATE POLICE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF A MAN WHO DIED IN PUNXSUTAWNEY POLICE CUSTODY MAY HAVE HAD A DIABETIC CONDITION INSTEAD OF BEING DRUNK AS BOROUGH POLICE FIRST SUSPECTED. LT. BERNIE PETROVSKY SAID THAT'S ONE THING PENDING AUTOPSY RESULTS MIGHT HELP POLICE DETERMINE ABOUT 48-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN OBBISH WHO WAS FOUND DEAD IN A POLICE CRUISER JUST BEFORE 3 P.M. SATURDAY. OBBISH HAD BEEN PICKED UP ON SUSPICION OF PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS ABOUT FIVE HOURS EARLIER, BUT PETROVSKY WON'T SAY IF OBBISH WAS IN THE CRUISER THAT ENTIRE TIME. PUNXSUTAWNEY POLICE OFFICIALS ARE ALSO CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, BUT AREN'T RETURNING CALLS AND E-MAILS FOR COMMENT. PUNXSUTAWNEY, ABOUT 60 MILES NORTHEAST OF PITTSBURGH, IS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS GROUNDHOG DAY FESTIVITIES.

MAYOR-THEFT CHARGES
PHILLY-AREA MAYOR CHARGED IN FUNERAL HOME SCAM
MEDIA, PA. (AP) - A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA MAYOR IS FACING THEFT CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY BILKING OVER $75,000 FROM CUSTOMERS OF THE FUNERAL HOME HE OWNED. THE DELAWARE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS 68-YEAR-OLD GLENOLDEN MAYOR THEODORE BATHURST DEFRAUDED CUSTOMERS OVER A NINE-YEAR PERIOD. AUTHORITIES SAY BATHURST PAID OPERATING EXPENSES USING MONEY FROM A FUND CUSTOMERS COULD PAY INTO IN ADVANCE. BATHURST WAS ARRAIGNED FRIDAY. HE FACES A TOTAL OF 114 CHARGES INCLUDING THEFT BY DECEPTION AND RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. FOLLOWING HIS ARRAIGNMENT, BATHURST SAID HE WAS SORRY BUT WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER HE WOULD STEP DOWN AS MAYOR. GLENOLDEN SOLICITOR MIKE PUPPIO SAID IN A STATEMENT THE CHARGES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH BATHURST'S DUTIES AS MAYOR AND HE HAS NO CONTROL OVER BOROUGH FINANCES. BATHURST SOLD THE FUNERAL HOME IN 2007.

11-YEAR FUGITIVE
PA. WOMAN WHO ESCAPED PRISON IN 1998 FOUND IN DEL.
LYNCH HEIGHTS, DEL. (AP) - DELAWARE STATE POLICE SAY THEY'VE CAPTURED A WOMAN IN KENT COUNTY AFTER SHE ESCAPED FROM A PENNSYLVANIA PRISON 11 YEARS AGO. TROOPERS FOUND CYNTHIA HECK ON LOG CABIN ROAD NEAR LYNCH HEIGHTS TUESDAY NIGHT. THEY'D RECEIVED A TIP THAT SHE WAS STAYING AT A HOUSE IN THAT AREA. HECK WAS FOUND AT THE HOME AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT. PENDING EXTRADITION TO PENNSYLVANIA, SHE'S BEING HELD AT WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN NEW CASTLE COUNTY. SHE ESCAPED FROM THE LEHIGH COUNTY WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON AUG. 10, 1998.

PITTSBURGH-G-20
PITTSBURGH APPROVES PERMIT FOR G-20 RALLY
PITTSBURGH (AP) - PITTSBURGH HAS APPROVED A PERMIT FOR A LARGE PROTEST RALLY AT POINT STATE PARK THE DAY BEFORE THE GROUP OF 20 ECONOMIC SUMMIT AND HAS PICKED TWO ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS FOR PROTESTERS TO GATHER ON THE DAYS THAT THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC LEADERS MEET NEXT MONTH. MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL DECLINED TO DISCLOSE THE TWO LOCATIONS ON FRIDAY, SAYING SOME DETAILS STILL MUST BE WORKED OUT WITH THE SECRET SERVICE. BUT THEY WILL BE "WITHIN SIGHT AND WITHIN SOUND" OF THE DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER, WHERE THE SUMMIT WILL BE HELD SEPT. 24-25, HE SAID. POINT STATE PARK IS ABOUT A HALF-MILE FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER. THE CITY ALSO APPROVED SIX OTHER PERMITS FOR PROTEST-RELATED ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING A MARCH FROM THE CITY'S OAKLAND SECTION, HOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AND CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, TO
DOWNTOWN.

VACCINE HEARING
UPMC WANTS TO START $830M VACCINE CENTER IN PA.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH MEDICAL CENTER WANTS TO START AN $830 MILLION CENTER THAT WOULD BE THE WORLD'S LEADING SUPPLIER OF VACCINES. ROBERT CINDRICH, UPMC'S SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER, SAYS THE FACILITY WOULD CREATE ABOUT 1,000 HIGH-PAYING JOBS. UPMC OFFICIALS WERE PITCHING THE IDEA AT A FEDERAL HEARING HOSTED FRIDAY BY DEMOCRATIC U.S. SEN. ARLEN SPECTER AT THE U.S. DISTRICT COURTHOUSE IN PITTSBURGH. SPECTER CALLED THE HEARING, IN PART, BECAUSE OF DELAYS ANNOUNCED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE SWINE FLU VACCINE FOR THIS FALL. UPMC OFFICIALS ARE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE UP TO $250 MILLION IF THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $580 MILLION TO START THE CENTER. SPECTER SAYS A CENTER IS NEEDED TO BETTER COMBAT DISEASES AND BIOTERROR THREATS.

PELTIER-PAROLE
AMERICAN INDIAN ACTIVIST DENIED PAROLE
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - U.S. ATTORNEY DREW WRIGLEY SAYS IMPRISONED AMERICAN INDIAN ACTIVIST LEONARD PELTIER HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN DENIED PAROLE. WRIGLEY SAYS THE NEXT SCHEDULED HEARING FOR PELTIER IS 2024, WHEN PELTIER WOULD BE 79 YEARS OLD. PELTIER IS SERVING TWO LIFE SENTENCES FOR THE EXECUTION-STYLE DEATHS OF FBI AGENTS JACK COLER AND RONALD WILLIAMS DURING A JUNE 26, 1975, STANDOFF ON SOUTH DAKOTA'S PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION. HE WAS CONVICTED IN FARGO, N.D., IN 1977. HE HAS CLAIMED THE FBI FRAMED HIM, WHICH THE AGENCY DENIES, AND UNSUCCESSFULLY APPEALED HIS CONVICTION NUMEROUS TIMES. PELTIER HAD A FULL PAROLE HEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS LAST MONTH AT THE LEWISBURG, PA., FEDERAL PRISON WHERE HE IS BEING HELD. DEFENSE ATTORNEY ERIC SEITZ DECLINED COMMENT ON THE U.S. PAROLE COMMISSION DECISION FRIDAY, SAYING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAD NOT INFORMED HIM.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS CHALLENGING HIS CRITICS ON A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL, ACCUSING THEM OF MAKING "PHONY CLAIMS." IN HIS WEEKLY RADIO AND INTERNET ADDRESS, THE PRESIDENT DENIES THE OVERHAUL WILL RESULT IN SO-CALLED "DEATH PANELS," AN IDEA HE CALLS "OFFENSIVE."

WASHINGTON (AP) - FOR THEIR PART, REPUBLICANS ARE ACCUSING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA OF MISREPRESENTING HIS HEALTH CARE REFORM PROPOSAL. GEORGIA CONGRESSMAN TOM PRICE SAYS OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN IS MOUNTING, AND THAT OBAMA HIMSELF "PLAYS FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE
FACTS."

HAMILTON, BERMUDA (AP) - A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS UP FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS COAST. THERE ARE CONCERNS THE AREA WILL BE BUFFETED
BY HURRICANE BILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GENERATING WAVES THAT HAVE BEEN
POUNDING BERMUDA.

BURGIN, KY. (AP) - A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAYS FIRES SET BY RIOTING INMATES AT A KENTUCKY PRISON LEFT SO MUCH DAMAGE, OFFICIALS ARE STARTING TO BUS SOME OF THE PRISONERS TO OTHER FACILITIES. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES TO INMATES OR PRISON STAFF IN THE RIOTING, WHICH BEGAN LAST EVENING AND WAS PUT DOWN FOUR HOURS LATER.

BUENA PARK, CALIF. (AP) - AUTHORITIES ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR A REALITY TV CONTESTANT WANTED IN THE SLAYING OF HIS EX-WIFE, A FORMER MODEL. REPORTS FROM CANADA SAY RYAN JENKINS WAS TAKEN OFF A PLANE IN TORONTO, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.