Today's News-Tuesday, September 1, 2009

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES ACROSS THE REGION. ONE OF THE MAJOR ITEMS ON EVERYONE'S MIND IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A RETURN OF THE H1N1 FLU. INFORMATION IS BEING SENT HOME TO PARENTS TO GIVE THE LATEST ON THE POSSIBLE OUTBREAK AND HOW FAMILIES CAN HELP TO STAY HEALTHY. POTTSVILLE SUPERINTENDENT DR. JAMES GALLAGHER TELLS WPPA/T102 NEWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING:

GALLAGHER FLU

GALLAGHER SAYS AS MORE GUIDANCE COMES FROM FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS, THEY PLAN ON PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND TO INSTITUTE NEW HEALTH POLICIES IN THE VARIOUS BUILDINGS. PARTICULAR FOCUS IS BEING PAID TO THE ELEMENTARY AGE KIDS, ACCORDING TO GALLAGHER.

POTTSVILLE SCHOOLS TWO

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES ACROSS THE REGION. ONE OF THE MAJOR ITEMS ON EVERYONE'S MIND IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A RETURN OF THE H1N1 FLU. INFORMATION IS BEING SENT HOME TO PARENTS TO GIVE THE LATEST ON THE POSSIBLE OUTBREAK AND HOW FAMILIES CAN HELP TO STAY HEALTHY. POTTSVILLE SUPERINTENDENT DR. JAMES GALLAGHER TELLS WPPA/T102 NEWS WHAT THE STAFF WILL REMIND THE KIDS ABOUT PRECAUTIONS THEY CAN TAKE:

GALLAGHER FLU 2

GALLAGHER ALSO SAYS THAT FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE LETTING IT UP TO THE DISTRICTS, IF A FLU OUTBREAK OCCURS, TO IMPLEMENT ANY TYPE OF SCHOOL CLOSINGS.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL FORMER BOARD DENIED BY SUPREME COURT

EIGHT FORMER NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS EFFORT TO BE REINSTATED WAS TURNED DOWN BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT MONDAY. THE HIGH COURT RULED THAT THE DIRECTORS CAN'T BE RETUNED TO THE BOARD UNTIL THE APPEAL IS DECIDED AND TO CONSIDER THAT APPEAL ON AN EXPEDITED BASIS, ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD. HOWEVER, THE STATE SUPREME COURT DID SAY THAT COMMONWEALTH COURT MUST CONSIDER THE APPLICATION FOR THE EIGHT MEMBERS TO TEMPORARILY HALT THE ORIGINAL ORDER BY JUDGE D. MICHAEL STINE TO REMOVE THOSE DIRECTORS FROM THE BOARD. THE REMOVAL WAS PROMPTED BY STINE’S RULING IN JUNE THAT THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD VIOLATED THE STATE SCHOOL CODE FOR NOT ELECTING A SUPERINTENDENT IN A TIMELY MANNER AFTER ROBERT FRANKLIN STEPPED DOWN TWO YEARS AGO. FIVE APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS ARE CONDUCTING THE SCHOOL'S BUSINESS RIGHT NOW.

ANOTHER DRUG BUST IN MAHANOY CITY

POLICE IN MAHANOY CITY CONTINUE TO CRACK DOWN ON THE ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE WITH ANOTHER ARREST. SUNDAY NIGHT, AN UNDERCOVER BUY OF MARIJUANA AND PILLS WAS MADE WITH 22 YEAR OLD JAMES KILLIAN. POT AND THE MARKED CASH WAS FOUND ON KILLIAN WHEN ARRESTED. HE WAS ARRAIGNED ON DRUG COUNTS AND SENT TO THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON ON $50-THOUSAND-DOLLARS BAIL.

MONDAY BURGLARY IN NEW BOSTON

A HOME ON ROOSEVELT DRIVE WAS BROKEN INTO ON MONDAY, WITH VARIOUS ITEMS TAKEN ACCORDING TO FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE. DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE WOMAN'S HOME WAS ENTERED AND A WII GAMING SYSTEM, GAMES AND A DIGITAL CAMERA WERE TAKEN. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

FORMER BRENNAN PRINCIPAL FILES SUIT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A FORMER WOMAN WHO SERVED AS PRINCIPAL AT CARDINAL BRENNAN HIGH SCHOOL IS SUING THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN OVER ALLEGED SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION. JACLYN FOWLER SAYS SHE ENDURED HARASSING COMMENTS FROM PRIESTS DURING THREE YEARS AT THE SCHOOL WHICH OPERATED IN NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THE FEDERAL SUIT FILED LAST WEEK SAYS THE DIOCESE REASSIGNED MALE ADMINISTRATORS BUT NOT FOWLER WHEN THE BUTLER TOWNSHIP SCHOOL CLOSED TWO YEARS AGO. SHE ACCUSES PRIESTS AT THE SCHOOL OF CALLING HER "TOOTS" AND "SWEETHEART," AND SAYS ONE MADE UNWELCOME INVITATIONS FOR DINNER OR CAR RIDES. DIOCESAN SPOKESMAN MATT KERR SAYS THE DIOCESE HAS NOT SEEN THE LAWSUIT AND CANNOT COMMENT. FOWLER, WHO LIVES IN LUZERNE COUNTY, IS SEEKING $200-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN DAMAGES.

BUDGET

WE START A NEW MONTH TODAY WITH NO STATE BUDGET. LAWMAKERS IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ARE SCHEDULED TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE TODAY TO TRY AND FIND SOME COMMON GROUND ON THE STALEMATE THAT HAS STRESSED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS TO THE NEAR BREAKING POINT. GOVERNOR RENDELL SAYS THAT THE MEETINGS ARE LONG OVERDUE:

RENDELL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

THE $28 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN WAS TO HAVE BEEN PASSED ON JUNE 3OTH.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS HE'S DROPPING HIS PLAN TO IMPOSE A TAX ON THE EXTRACTION OF NATURAL GAS IN PENNSYLVANIA. RENDELL SAYS CONVERSATIONS WITH MAJOR GAS PRODUCERS CONVINCED ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THAT IMPOSING SUCH A TAX AT THIS EARLY STAGE COULD HURT THE INDUSTRY. HE SAID THOSE CONCERNS OUTWEIGHED THE PROJECTED $90 MILLION THE TAX WOULD HAVE GENERATED.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. RENDELL HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTION WARRANT FOR A NORTH PHILADELPHIA MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING A DRUG STORE MANAGER DURING A 2003 ROBBERY. RENDELL HAS SIGNED 97 DEATH WARRANTS, BUT NO EXECUTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION. THREE PEOPLE WERE EXECUTED SINCE THE STATE REINSTATED THE DEATH PENALTY NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL SPEAK AT THE AFL-CIO CONVENTION IN PITTSBURGH ON SEPTEMBER 15. OBAMA WILL ADDRESS THE LABOR CONVENTION IN TWO WEEKS. THE ORGANIZATION ENDORSED OBAMA DURING LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. MANY LABOR UNIONS HAVE BEEN VOCAL SUPPORTERS OF OBAMA'S PROPOSED HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL.

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY SMOKING WAS THE CAUSE OF A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FIRE THAT DESTROYED A HOME AND CLAIMED THE LIVES OF AN ELDERLY COUPLE. CONEWAGO TOWNSHIP FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THE BODIES OF FRANK PIAZZA AND RITA PIAZZA WERE FOUND IN THE BEDROOM. STATE POLICE SAY THE FIRE STARTED FROM SMOKING IN THE BEDROOM.

NEW YORK (AP) - PHILADELPHIA NATIVE, SHEILA LUKINS, A STORE OWNER AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR WHO HELPED CHANGE HOW AMERICA EATS, HAS DIED. LUKINS' COOKBOOKS HAVE SOLD SEVERAL MILLION COPIES. SHE ALSO WAS THE FOOD EDITOR AT PARADE MAGAZINE AND OWNED THE SILVER PALATE IN NEW YORK CITY. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN CANCER THREE MONTHS AGO.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - SOME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS WHO WERE CHASED OUT BY WILDFIRES HAVE STARTED TO RETURN TO THE ASHES OF THEIR HOMES. THE BIGGEST OF A SLEW OF FIRES IN THE STATE DESTROYED 53 HOMES AND ARE THREATENING 12,000 OTHERS. NORTHEAST OF SACRAMENTO, A WIND-DRIVEN FIRE DESTROYED 60 STRUCTURES OVER THE WEEKEND.

LOS CABOS, MEXICO (AP) - MEXICAN EMERGENCY WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO EVACUATE THOUSANDS OF SLUM DWELLERS AS HURRICANE JIMENA APPROACHES BAJA CALIFORNIA. MANY OF THE RESIDENTS FEAR THEIR FEW POSSESSIONS WILL BE STOLEN IF THEY LEAVE. JIMENA IS JUST SHORT OF CATEGORY 5 STATUS WITH WINDS OF 155 MPH.

DUXBURY, VT. (AP) - SAME-SEX MARRIAGES ARE NOW LEGAL IN VERMONT. ALREADY, GAY COUPLES HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED UNDER THE LAW THAT TOOK
EFFECT AT MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME. MEANWHILE, AN ANTI-GAY GROUP PLANS
TO PICKET TODAY IN MONTPELIER, VERMONT'S CAPITAL.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - IT'S MOVING DAY IN ORBIT. SOME OF THE ASTRONAUTS AT THE LINKED SPACE SHUTTLE AND STATION WILL BEGIN UNLOADING TONS OF EQUIPMENT AND EXPERIMENTS BROUGHT BY DISCOVERY.
ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS TO COME OUT WILL BE A TREADMILL NAMED AFTER
COMEDY CENTRAL'S STEPHEN COLBERT.

GDANSK, POLAND (AP) - SEVENTY YEARS AGO, ON SEPT. 1, 1939, WORLD WAR II BEGAN AS GERMANY INVADED POLAND. TODAY, OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS THE EUROPE AND THE U.S. ARE GATHERED TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY IN A CEREMONY BRINGING TOGETHER FRIENDS AND FORMER FOES TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE TENS OF MILLIONS KILLED IN THE CONFLICT.