Today's News-Wednesday, August 5 2009

QUICK MART BURGLARY

A GIRARDVILLE GROCERY STORE WAS BURGLARIZED EARLIER THIS WEEK. STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE SAY THAT SOMEONE FORCIBLY ENTERED R&R QUICK MART ON NORTH SECOND STREET DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS MONDAY AND TOOK AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF CASH AND CIGARETTES THEN FLED. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

HIT AND RUN

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ELDERLY COUPLE WHOSE CAR WAS STRUCK ON ROUTE 61 LAST NIGHT. WITNESSES SAW A GREEN TOYOTA DRIVEN BY 25 YEAR OLD MAURICE REID OF DUNDALK, MARYLAND HIT A SILVER VEHICLE, BUT THE DRIVER NEVER STOPPED. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 7:30 LAST NIGHT. CALL STATE POLICE IF YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION.

DRIVER KNOCKS OFF UTILITY POLE

A SLEEPING DRIVER FROM ST CLAIR CRASHED ALONG ROUTE 443 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. 38 YEAR OLD DESTA FRYER APPARENTLY DOZED OFF AND TRAVELED ALONG AN EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK A UTILITY POLE. SHE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.

LANSFORD MAN CHARGED IN WIFE’S MURDER

POLICE HAVE CHARGED A LANSFORD MAN WITH MURDERING HIS WIFE. 34 YEAR OLD ERNEST FREEBY WAS ARRAIGNED TUESDAY ON CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE. FREEBY'S WIFE EDWINA ONYANGO HAS BEEN MISSING FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, BLOOD EVIDENCE WAS FOUND IN THE ACCUSED'S BASEMENT, ALONG WITH OTHER INFORMATION THAT LED THEM TO THE ARREST. FREEBY AND ONYANGO'S MARRIAGE WAS ONE OF CONVENIENCE TO MAINTAIN HER GREEN CARD AND STAY IN THE COUNTRY. A PRELIMINARY HEARING WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 12TH IN CARBON COUNTY ON THE CHARGES. FREEBY IS LOCKED UP IN THE CARBON COUNTY PRISON.

GIRL HURT AFTER BEING STRUCK BY CAR

A TEENAGER WAS INJURED IN RUSH TOWNSHIP AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A CAR TUESDAY. TOWNSHIP POLICE SAY THAT THE 17 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS CROSSING BETWEEN STOPPED CARS ON ROUTE 309 WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A CAR DRIVEN BY 21 JUSTINE GREGUS OF NESQUEHONING. THE TEEN WAS FLOWN TO ST LUKE'S HOSPITAL AT FOUNTAIN HILL WHERE SHE IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION. GREGUS WAS TAKEN TO ST LUKES MINERS MEMORIAL FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES. THE CRASH HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR YESTERDAY.

HEALTH CLUB SHOOTING
SILENT GUNMAN'S PA. HEALTH CLUB SHOOTING KILLS 4
BRIDGEVILLE, PA. (AP) - A GUNMAN STROLLED TO THE BACK OF AN EXERCISE CLASS AT A HEALTH CLUB IN SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH AND STARTED SPRAYING BULLETS, LEAVING AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE DEAD, INCLUDING HIMSELF, AND INJURING AT LEAST 10 OTHERS. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL SAYS TWO WOMEN AND A MAN BELIEVED TO BE THE SHOOTER DIED AT THE SCENE TUESDAY NIGHT AND A FOURTH PERSON DIED ON THE WAY TO A HOSPITAL. THE OFFICIAL WASN'T AUTHORIZED TO COMMENT ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING AND SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY. THREE BODIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE L.A. FITNESS CENTER IN BRIDGEVILLE, A COMMUNITY OF ABOUT 5,000 RESIDENTS NOT FAR FROM DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH AND THE PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. POLICE INITIALLY SAID FOUR PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED AT THE GYM.

STATE BUDGET
HOUSE SENDS PA. GOV BILL AIMED AT PAYING WORKERS
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - BACK-PAY CHECKS FOR 77,000 PENNSYLVANIA STATE WORKERS COULD GO OUT WITHIN A WEEK BECAUSE OF A STOPGAP BUDGET BILL. BUT THE VOTE DID NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE TAXES-VS.-CUTS IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE THAT HAS GRIPPED HARRISBURG FOR MONTHS. THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN HAS EVAPORATED BILLIONS IN EXPECTED TAX REVENUES AND FORCED DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON THE POLITICALLY DIVIDED GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THAT MEANS THAT THE BUDGET PASSED BY THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATE SENATE THREE MONTHS AGO IS NO LONGER BALANCED. DEMOCRATIC GOV. ED RENDELL IS EXPECTED TO ELIMINATE MORE THAN HALF OF THE BUDGET WITH HIS LINE-ITEM VETO. THAT COULD MEAN THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL CONTINUE TO LACK STATE FUNDS UNTIL A FINAL BUDGET DEAL IS WORKED OUT.

SHOOTING-GIRL KILLED
DEATH PENALTY SOUGHT IN SLAYING OF PA. CHILD
YORK, PA. (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ARE SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN THE BACK, KILLING HER. CIARA SAVAGE WAS KILLED MAY 10 IN WHAT POLICE SAY WAS A TURF WAR AMONG GANGS IN YORK. THE LANCASTER GIRL WAS VISITING AN AUNT IN YORK WHEN SHE WAS SHOT. YORK COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY PROSECUTOR CHUCK PATTERSON FILED COURT PAPERS TUESDAY SHOWING NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST 19-YEAR-OLD NIGEL MAITLAND, WHO'S ACCUSED OF FIRING THE GUN. MAITLAND AND TWO CO-DEFENDANTS, 20-YEAR-OLD SKYLER HANDY AND 22-YEAR-OLD FERNANDO VALENTIN JR., ALL PLEADED NOT GUILTY TUESDAY. PATTERSON SAYS THE AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT JUSTIFY THE DEATH PENALTY ARE THE VICTIM'S YOUNG AGE AND THE "GRAVE RISK OF DEATH" TO OTHERS.

NAKED BURGLARY
SUSPECT SURRENDERS IN PA. NAKED BURGLARY
ABINGTON, PA. (AP) - A MAN ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO APARTMENTS IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA, STEALING WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR AND LEAVING
THE SCENE NAKED HAS SURRENDERED TO POLICE. THE LAWYER FOR 52-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL VICTOR SAYS HIS CLIENT "HAS SOME SEVERE ISSUES TO DEAL WITH." ATTORNEY MICHAEL DUNN SAID AS HIS CLIENT TURNED HIMSELF IN TO ABINGTON POLICE TUESDAY: "HE'S VERY SORRY AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE ACTION TO MAKE SURE NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN." VICTOR HID HIS FACE AND IGNORED REPORTERS' QUESTIONS. THE BURGLAR WAS CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO DURING FRIDAY'S BREAK-IN.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
PA. EXTENDS JOBLESS BENEFIT CHECKS BY 7 WEEKS
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - MANY JOBLESS PENNSYLVANIANS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR AN EXTRA SEVEN WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. GOV. ED RENDELL SIGNED LEGISLATION TUESDAY APPROVING THE SEVEN-WEEK EXTENSION. BENEFIT CHECKS ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME SHORTLY FOR SOME 20,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY EXHAUSTED MORE THAN A YEAR OF STATE AND FEDERAL BENEFIT CHECKS. UP TO 60,000 WORKERS IN PENNSYLVANIA WHO ARE EXPECTED TO DEPLETE THE FIRST 72 WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BY DEC. 31 WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXTENSION. THE STATE'S MAXIMUM UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PAYOUT IS $583 PER WEEK. MOST OF THE COST IS PAID BY FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS, WHILE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MUST PAY A SMALL PORTION. SINCE THE RECESSION BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2007, PENNSYLVANIA HAS LOST MORE THAN 180,000 JOBS, OR ONE IN EVERY 32 JOBS.

PITTSBURGH-G-20
INTERNATIONAL TEAMS TO TOUR PITTSBURGH BEFORE G-20
PITTSBURGH (AP) - ABOUT 200 INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES HAVE TOURED PITTSBURGH SITES WORLD LEADERS WILL ENJOY DURING SEPTEMBER'S GROUP OF 20 SUMMIT. A BARREN, SIX-ACRE AREA OF THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A MEETING AREA FOR THE LEADERS, INCLUDING AN ENORMOUS ROUND TABLE DEPICTING EARTH, A POSH LOUNGE, A BRIEFING ROOM AND SMALLER ROOMS FOR BEHIND-THE-SCENES CHATTING. THE DELEGATES VISITED ON TUESDAY THE ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM, WHERE MICHELLE OBAMA WILL HOST A LUNCHEON, AND THE PHIPPS CONSERVATORY, WHERE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL WELCOME THE 19 WORLD LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. PITTSBURGH MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL SAYS HE HAS ASKED THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR $20 MILLION TO COVER SECURITY COSTS.

SUPERFUND SETTLEMENT
PA. AGENCY ANNOUNCES $21 MILLION SUPERFUND DEAL
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SAYS AN AGREEMENT TO COMPENSATE THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE IS WORTH $21 MILLION - THE LARGEST EVER IN THE STATE. THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIVE COMPANIES AND VARIOUS STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVES THE PALMERTON ZINC PILE SUPERFUND SITE. THE SITE IS IN CARBON, LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES. IN ADDITION TO MONETARY PAYMENTS, THE DEAL ANNOUNCED TUESDAY INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF 1,200 ACRES OF LAND KNOWN AS KINGS MANOR TO THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION. THE LAND IS VALUED AT MORE THAN $8 MILLION. A CONSENT DECREE HAS BEEN FILED IN FEDERAL COURT AND IS SUBJECT TO A 60-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

ALE HOUSE-150 YEARS
PHILLY ALE HOUSE RAISES GLASSES TO MARK 150 YEARS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A COUNTDOWN CLOCK HAS STARTED FOR THE 150 DAYS UNTIL THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF PHILADELPHIA'S OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED TAVERN. THE HISTORY OF MCGILLIN'S OLDE ALE HOUSE BEGINS WITH IRISH IMMIGRANT WILLIAM MCGILLIN TURNING A ROWHOUSE ON DRURY STREET INTO THE BELL IN HAND TAVERN IN 1860. REGULARS COULDN'T BE BOTHERED WITH THE NAME; THEY JUST CALLED IT MCGILLIN'S. AFTER MCGILLIN'S DEATH, HIS WIFE TOOK OVER. CATHERINE "MA" MCGILLIN KEPT IT GOING THROUGH PROHIBITION AS A RESTAURANT, ALTHOUGH CURRENT OWNER CHRIS MULLINS SAYS HE'S SEEN DEPRESSION-ERA PHOTOS THAT SEEM TO INDICATE AN UPSTAIRS SPEAKEASY.

BRIDGEVILLE, PA. (AP) - THREE BODIES WERE REMOVED EARLY TODAY FROM AN L.A. FITNESS CENTER IN A PITTSBURGH SUBURB WHERE AN ARMED MAN KILLED THREE PEOPLE AND HIMSELF. AUTHORITIES IN BRIDGEVILLE SAY THE MAN SILENTLY WALKED TO THE BACK OF AN EXERCISE CLASS, PULLED OUT TWO GUNS AND OPENED FIRE AS PEOPLE RAN TO ESCAPE THE CHAOS.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS PRAISING THE RELEASE OF TWO IMPRISONED U.S. JOURNALISTS LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER HER HUSBAND ARRIVED IN NORTH KOREA. THE RELEASE FOLLOWED A RARE MEETING BETWEEN THE NORTH'S RECLUSIVE LEADER KIM JONG IL AND FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON. KIM PARDONED THE WOMEN, WHO ARE NOW ON THEIR WAY HOME.

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AP) - INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY A SUSPECTED U.S. MISSILE STRIKE DESTROYED THE HOME OF A CLOSE RELATIVE OF A TOP PAKISTANI TALIBAN LEADER. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK IN A TRIBAL REGION ALONG PAKISTAN'S BORDER WITH AFGHANISTAN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE DEBATE IS ON IN THE SENATE OVER SUPREME COURT NOMINEE SONIA SOTOMAYOR'S CONFIRMATION, BUT THERE'S LITTLE SUSPENSE ABOUT THE OUTCOME. OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT HAVE RUN ALONG PARTY LINES, WITH REPUBLICANS CLAIMING SHE'LL BE AN ACTIVIST JUDGE AND DEMOCRATS DENYING THE CHARGE. DEMOCRATS HAVE THE VOTES TO CONFIRM HER. VIENNA TOWNSHIP, MICH. (AP) - ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF KERRY PAULSON SAYS THE FIRE AT A MICHIGAN FUEL STORAGE FACILITY IS DYING DOWN SOME THIS MORNING. EARLIER, EXPLODING OIL BARRELS FLEW INTO THE AIR AS THE FIRE RAGED ABOUT 65 MILES NORTH OF DETROIT. AN EVACUATION ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED WITHIN A TWO-MILE RADIUS, OFFICIALS CHECK AIR QUALITY.