BREAKING NEWS-FIRE IN MINERSVILLE

FIRE DAMAGES HOME IN MINERSVILLE

A HOME WAS DAMAGED BY A SMOKY FIRE THIS MORNING IN THE BOROUGH OF MINERSVILLE. THE CALL CAME BEFORE 9AM, WITH COMPANIES FROM MINERSVILLE AND POTTSVILLE RESPONDING TO TWIN AND SECOND STREETS. THE STRUCTURE WAS A DOUBLE HOME. OFFICIALS ON SCENE SAID FIRE WAS CONTAINED MAINLY TO THE BASEMENT AREA. IT WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL WITHIN THE HOUR.

DRUG BUST FOLLOWING TRAFFIC STOP

A PHILADELPHIA MAN IS JAILED AFTER ARREST ON DRUG CHARGES. JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT SATURDAY, 24 YEAR OLD LAMAR GARNER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON DOCK STREET, WHEN A COUNTY SHERIFF'S AGENT ASKED HIM FOR ID. GARNER TRIED TO DELAY GIVING POSITIVE ID TO THE OFFICER, SAYING HE WAS SOMEONE ELSE. A SCHUYLKILL HAVEN POLICE OFFICER NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF AIR FRESHNERS IN GARNER'S VEHICLE, TIPPING POLICE OFF TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DRUGS IN THE VEHICLE. A K-9 SEARCH UNCOVERED MARIJUANA. TESTS CONFIRMED THE CONTENTS, AND GARNER WAS ARRAIGNED ON THE COUNTS, ALONG WITH OTHER OFFENSES AND JAILED IN THE COUNTY PRISON. INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARREST WAS JUST RELEASED BY AUTHORITIES.

SEIP TO UNVEIL BUDGET IMPASSE ALTERNATIVE

THERE IS STILL NO STATE BUDGET, BUT ONE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY LEGISLATOR IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE A BILL TO MODERNIZE THE SALES TAX WHILE TRYING TO CUT PROPERTY TAXES. TIM SEIP WILL HOLD A NOONTIME PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA, AND SAYS THAT NEW MONIES CAN BE REALIZED WITH A MODERNIZATION OF THE SALES TAX:

SEIP TAXES

MORE THAN TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE JUNE 30TH DEADLINE. PENNSYLVANIA IS THE ONLY STATE WITHOUT A BUDGET.

INTERMODAL GROUNDBREAKING

A CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING WILL BE HELD THIS MORNING AT THE SITE OF THE INTERMODAL TRADE AND TRANSIT CENTER IN POTTSVILLE. THE $18 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. A MIX OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL MONIES WILL FUND THE PROJECT ON SOUTH CENTRE STREET IN POTTSVILLE AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO COMPLETE. A NEW YORK CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR BID. CEREMONIES BEGIN AT 8:30AM.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYS LABOR BUILT THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THAT HE AND SEN. ARLEN SPECTER WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR WORKERS. BIDEN SPOKE AT A RALLY BEFORE PITTSBURGH'S ANNUAL LABOR DAY PARADE YESTERDAY. HE ASSURED THE CROWD OF ABOUT 300 THAT HE AND SEN. SPECTER WOULDN'T LET WORKERS DOWN.

HOOKSTOWN, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CORONER SAYS SHE'S NOT PREPARED YET TO SAY HOW A 4-YEAR-OLD BOY FOUND STUFFED IN A SEPTIC TANK DIED. AN AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED ON WYATT SMITSKY, BUT BEAVER COUNTY CORONER TERI TATALOVICH-ROSSI SAID YESTERDAY MORE TESTS ARE NEEDED. SHE DECLINED TO SAY HOW LONG IT MAY BE BEFORE SHE RULES.

EXTON, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A THREE-VEHICLE CRASH IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND INJURED TWO OTHERS. POLICE IN CHESTER COUNTY SAY A PICKUP TRUCK AND A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE COLLIDED ON ROUTE 202 NEAR THE ROUTE 30 BYPASS IN WEST WHITELAND TOWNSHIP. A THIRD VEHICLE THEN STRUCK THE DISABLED PICKUP IN THE ACCIDENT EARLY SUNDAY.

STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE HAVE RULED THE DROWNING ACCIDENTAL OF A FLORIDA MAN WHOSE BODY WAS RECOVERED FROM
A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA LAKE. RICHARD ROBERT HOFFMAN OF ENGLEWOOD, FLA., WAS PULLED FROM LAKE WALLENPAUPACK IN PIKE COUNTY
BY DIVE TEAM MEMBERS. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT IN
PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S 14 STATE-OWNED UNIVERSITIES EXPECT ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR WILL REACH OR EXCEED A RECORD-BREAKING 115,000 STUDENTS. STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION OFFICIALS SAY THE INCREASE COULD BE BETWEEN 2 PERCENT AND 3 PERCENT ABOVE LAST YEAR'S ENROLLMENT OF 112,500 STUDENTS. GAINS ARE IN NEW FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR A TWO-PARTY COMPROMISE ON HEALTH CARE. A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF FINANCE COMMITTEE SENATORS PLANS TO MEET TODAY ON SEN. MAX BAUCUS' PROPOSAL TO CREATE NONPROFIT INSURANCE PLANS TO COMPETE WITH THOSE OFFERED BY PROFIT-MAKING COMPANIES. IT MAY BE THE LAST, BEST HOPE FOR A DEAL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S MESSAGE TO SCHOOLCHILDREN IS STRAIGHTFORWARD: TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR EDUCATION; GO TO CLASS AND LISTEN; AND DON'T LET FAILURES DEFINE YOU. IN A SPEECH TODAY, HE'LL REMIND STUDENTS -- QUOTE -- "WE NEED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU TO DEVELOP YOUR TALENTS, SKILLS AND INTELLECT SO YOU CAN HELP SOLVE OUR MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS."

WASHINGTON (AP) - A COALITION OF PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS IS GIVING PRESIDENT BARACK HIGHER GRADES FOR OPENNESS THAN PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. A NEW REPORT BY OPENTHEGOVERNMENT.ORG. SAYS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE MAJOR STRIDES TOWARD MORE DISCLOSURE
BUT THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONGRESS RETURNS FROM SUMMER BREAK TODAY AND THERE'S A LONG TO-DO LIST. HEALTH CARE DOMINATES, BUT LAWMAKERS ALSO WILL WORK ON OTHER PRESSING ISSUES, INCLUDING ENERGY POLICY AND NEW RULES FOR THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY. THE HOUSE AND SENATE CONVENE AT 2 P.M. EASTERN TIME.

VIENNA (AP) - SAUDI ARABIA'S OIL MINISTER SAYS GLOBAL CRUDE MARKETS ARE "IN GOOD SHAPE." IT'S A SIGNAL THAT OPEC PROBABLY WON'T CHANGE ITS PRODUCTION LEVELS AT THIS WEEK'S MEETING IN VIENNA. HE SAYS THE PRICE OF OIL "IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY: CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS." OIL HAS BEEN HOVERING AROUND $68 A BARREL.