Today's News-Saturday, October 10, 2009

BUDGET DONE

RENDELL OPEN CUT

GOVERNOR ED RENDELL AFTER SIGNING THE 101 DAY LATE STATE BUDGET, BUT HE'S PRAISING THE ULTIMATE RESULT. THE PACKAGE DOESN'T HAVE BROAD-BASED TAX INCREASES AS MANY STATES HAVE DONE. HE SAYS IT DOESN'T MAKE CUTS TO HIS PRIORITIES OF EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. RENDELL SIGNED THE BILLS AFTER THE STATE LEGISLATURE HELD A FLURRY OF VOTES ON THE $27.8 BILLION BUDGET'S PRIMARY APPROPRIATIONS BILL AND A KEY COMPANION BILL, ENDING THE STALEMATE. THE BUDGET AGREEMENT CUTS SPENDING BY MORE THAN 1 PERCENT TO HELP RESOLVE PENNSYLVANIA'S MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR, RECESSION-DRIVEN SHORTFALL. THE COMPANION BILL TAPS MORE THAN $1.5 BILLION FROM THE STATE'S RESERVES. HOWEVER, THE DEAL ISN'T ALL ROSY. APPROVAL OF NEARLY $700 MILLION IN DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS IS BEING HELD UP IN THE HOUSE. LAWMAKERS MUST SETTLE DISAGREEMENTS ON A BILL TO LEGALIZE AND TAX TABLE GAMES AT SLOT-MACHINE CASINOS. TABLE GAMES ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE $200 MILLION IN TAXES AND FEES FOR THE STATE TREASURY.

BUDGET DONE VERSION TWO

NOW THAT PENNSYLVANIA HAS A NEW STATE BUDGET, THE MONIES SO DESPARATELY NEEDED BY SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL AGENCIES WILL BEGIN FLOWING AFTER THE COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY. THE NEARLY $28 BILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATIONS BILL AND COMPANION LEGISLATION CUTS SPENDING BY MORE THAN ONE PERCENT, TAPS A BILLION AND A HALF FROM THE STATE RESERVES AND ADDS TO CERTAIN CONSUMER TAXES. ABOUT $300 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW MONEY WILL GO TO EDUCATION SPENDING AND OTHER PROGRAMS ASKED FOR BY THE GOVERNOR. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'S LONE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATOR JERRY KNOWLES OPPOSED THE BUDGET, STATING QUOTE "WE SIMPLY CANNOT CONTINUE SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN WE HAVE AND THEN ASKING THE TAXPAYERS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE". STATE REVENUE SECRETARY MARY SODERBERG SAYS THE TREASURER'S OFFICE WILL BE WORKING OVERTIME:

MARY SODERBERG

GOVERNOR RENDELL SIGNED THE BUDGET IN HARRISBURG FRIDAY NIGHT, 101 DAYS LATE.

THEFT IN NORTH MANHEIM

A WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH THEFT FOLLOWING AN EARLY FRIDAY INCIDENT IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. WHILE 39 YEAR OLD BRYON WARD OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SLEPT, 20 YEAR OLD ANGELA SCHAEFFER OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN GOT INTO WARD'S CAR, TURNED IT ON AND TRIED TO BACK OUT, STRIKING THE CAR PORT AND A TREE. SCHAEFFER THEN DROVE TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH WHERE SHE WAS STOPPPED BY POTTSVILLE POLICE. SHE WILL BE CHARGED WITH THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING.

DIOCESE NIXING COMMON CUP COMMUNION

MOST EVERYONE IS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBLE WIDESPREAD OUTBREAK OF FLU. NOW, OFFICIALS FROM THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN ARE IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN THE WAY THE SACREMENT IS DISTRIBUTED. BEGINNING NEXT WEEKEND, THE PRACTICE OF DRINKING FROM THE COMMON CHALICE IS SUSPENDED. AND, THE PRACTICE OF PASSING THE PEACE DURING MASS THROUGH HANDSHAKE IS SUSPENDED AS WELL. THESE PRACTICES ARE ALSO BEING IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER DIOCESES ACROSS THE STATE DURING THE FLU SEASON, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THREAT OF THE H1N1 VIRUS.

GRANT DISTRIBUTED TO SCHUYLKILL WOMEN IN CRISIS, COUNTY

CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN WAS BACK IN THE COUNTY FRIDAY TO PRESENT A NEARLY $400 THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT TO HELP COUNTY AUTHORITIES AND SCHUYLKILL WOMEN IN CRISIS. THE MONIES FROM THE INCREASING VICTIM SAFETY THROUGH ACCESS TO OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT WILL HELP PAY FOR LAWYERS AND LEGAL SERVICES FOR VICTIMS FROM ABUSE AND THE PROCESS FOR BRINGING ACCUSED ABUSERS TO JUSTICE. A VIDEO LINK WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN SCHUYLKILL WOMEN IN CRISIS AND THE COURTHOUSE, ALONG WITH ASSISTANCE TO OTHER S.W.I.C SERVICES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) -THE STATE'S NEW BUDGET RAISES THE STATE TAX ON CIGARETTE SALES BY 25 CENTS A PACK AND NOW TAXES "LITTLE CIGARS" AT THE SAME RATE AS CIGARETTES. IT ALSO IMPOSES A NEW 5.9 PERCENT GROSS RECEIPTS TAX ON SOME MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND RAISES THE CAPITAL STOCK AND FRANCHISE TAX THAT SOME BUSINESSES PAY.

DOWNINGTOWN, PA. (AP) - A SECOND CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA HAS CLOSED DUE TO SWINE FLU CONCERNS. THERE ARE FIVE CONFIRMED CASES AT BISHOP SHANAHAN HIGH SCHOOL IN DOWNINGTOWN. IT WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY FOR A THOROUGH CLEANING. ARCHBISHOP JOHN CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL IN RADNOR WAS CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A MAN ALREADY SERVING TWO LONG PRISON SENTENCES HAS BEEN ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL IN THE DEATH OF A MONROEVILLE MAN WHO DIED 10 YEARS AFTER HE WAS SHOT. PROSECUTORS SAY 38-YEAR-OLD KEITH DRAIN SHOT ALONZO THOMPKINS IN 1999 IN PITTSBURGH. THOMPKINS WAS PARALYZED AND DIED IN MARCH.

CHEYNEY, PA. (AP) - TEACHING ADVOCATES ARE WORKING TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF BLACK MEN IN THE PROFESSION. BLACK MEN MAKE UP ONLY 2 PERCENT OF THE NATION'S TEACHERS. ADVOCATE LENNY MACKLIN, OF PITTSBURGH, NOTES THAT MANY BLACK MEN MAY NOT GO INTO TEACHING BECAUSE THEY COULD NEVER RELATE TO THEIR WHITE OR FEMALE TEACHER.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S FOCUS IS BACK ON HEALTH CARE REFORM THIS MORNING. IN HIS SATURDAY ADDRESS, HE SAYS HE'S SEEING "UNPRECEDENTED CONSENSUS" FORMING IN SUPPORT OF AN OVERHAUL. BUT IN THE REPUBLICAN ADDRESS, FLORIDA SEN. GEORGE LEMIEUX CAUTIONS THAT "THE SOLUTION SHOULD NOT BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM" AND SHOULDN'T BE RUSHED.

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (AP) - AT LEAST SIX PAKISTANI SOLDIERS AND FOUR MILITANTS ARE DEAD AFTER A BRAZEN ASSAULT ON THE ARMY'S HEADQUARTERS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD. AUTHORITIES SAY THE ATTACKERS WORE MILITARY UNIFORMS AND CARRIED ASSAULT RIFLES AND GRENADES. TWO MANAGED TO INFILTRATE THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED COMPOUND AND TROOPS HAVE BEEN HUNTING THEM FOR HOURS.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (AP) - THE U.S. MILITARY IS ON THE SCENE IN THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINES TO HELP AUTHORITIES THERE WITH RELIEF OPERATIONS. MARINE HELICOPTERS HAVE FLOWN OVER THE FLOOD-RAVAGED REGION TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND FIND LOCATIONS FOR A MEDICAL MISSION AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION. THE DEATH TOLL FROM BACK-TO-BACK STORMS AND SUBSEQUENT FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES THE PAST TWO WEEKS IS NEARLY 600.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS BEGINING A FIVE-DAY TRIP TO EUROPE, WITH A STOP IN SWITZERLAND TODAY. THE TRIP WILL ALSO TAKE HER TO BRITAIN, IRELAND AND RUSSIA WHERE ARMS CONTROL, IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN ARE EXPECTED TO BE ON THE AGENDA.

BEIJING (AP) - CHINA'S PREMIER SAYS NORTH KOREA IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FLEXIBILITY OVER RETURNING TO NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT TALKS. PREMIER
WEN JIABAO MET WITH LEADERS FROM JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA TODAY, AND AFTERWARD SAID THE OPPORTUNITY MUST BE SEIZED TO GET NEGOTIATIONS BACK ON TRACK.