Today's News-Tuesday, October 13, 2009

ONE INJURED IN NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP CRASH

A MINERSVILLE MAN SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES IN A CRASH OUTSIDE OF POTTSVILLE LAST NIGHT. STATE POLICE SAY 27 YEAR OLD JUSTIN TERRY LOST CONTROL WHILE ROUNDING A CURVE ON ANN STREET. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN, HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER, SLIDING ABOUT 30 FEET ON ITS ROOF. TERRY WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE BY EMS PERSONNEL. HE WILL BE CITED IN THE CRASH THAT HAPPENED AFTER 9PM.

PINE GROVE MAN AVOIDS INJURY

A TEENAGER AVOIDED INJURY IN A MONDAY MORNING CRASH ON STATE HIGHWAY 125 NEAR PINE GROVE. MATT DIETRICH WAS HEADED NORTH WHEN HE LOST CONTROL ON A LEFT CURVE. HIS PICKUP TRUCK HIT A MAILBOX, SIDESWIPED A TREE AND SPUN ACROSS THE ROAD. STATE POLICE SAY DIETRICH WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT, ESCAPING INJURY. THE CRASH HAPPENED AFTER 6AM YESTERDAY.

CITY RESIDENTS COMPLAIN

RESIDENTS IN ONE POTTSVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE FED UP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE HANGING OUT. THEY TOOK THEIR CONCERNS TO POTTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT. LARGE GROUPS ARE REPORTEDLY CONGREGATING ON RACE STREET, MAKING NOISE, LITTERING AND CREATING A NUISANCE, ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD. SOME RESIDENTS SUSPECT THAT DRUG ACTIVITY IS GOING ON. CITY OFFICIALS TOLD RESIDENTS TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE BY CALLING POLICE. CHIEF JOSEPH MURTON V SAYS THAT THREE DOCUMENTED CALLS CAN PROMPT ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST PROPERTY LANDLORDS. POTTSVILLE MAYOR JOHN REILEY THANKED THE RESIDENTS FOR COMING TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.

PA. TREASURY SETS RECORD FOR CHECKS PROCESSED

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE STATE TREASURY DEPARTMENT IS WORKING OVERTIME TO PROCESS A GLUT OF OVERDUE PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COUNTIES AND OTHER ENTITIES AWAITING FUNDING. STATE TREASURER ROB MCCORD SAID MONDAY THAT THE AGENCY TOPPED ITS RECORD FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PROCESSED IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SINCE FRIDAY'S BUDGET SIGNING. TREASURY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WORKED FOR WEEKS TO ENSURE PAYMENTS COULD BE PROCESSED QUICKLY ONCE GOV. ED RENDELL AND THE LEGISLATURE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A STATE BUDGET. RENDELL SIGNED A KEY APPROPRIATIONS BILL FRIDAY NIGHT, ENDING A 101-DAY STALEMATE.
TREASURY OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 1,400 CHECKS AND ABOUT 3,000 ELECTRONIC DEPOSITS WERE APPROVED AS OF MONDAY AFTERNOON. THAT ADDS UP TO ABOUT $2.4 BILLION IN PAYMENT PROCESSED, WITH MORE ON THE WAY.

SCHOOLS, COUNTIES WANT PA. TO REPAY BORROWING COST

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - COUNTIES, SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WERE FORCED TO BORROW MONEY DURING THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE GOVERNMENT'S 101-DAY BUDGET IMPASSE WANT TO BE REPAID FOR THE INTEREST. THEY SAY REPAYMENT IS A MATTER OF BASIC FAIRNESS. TONY ROSS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WAY OF PENNSYLVANIA, POINTS OUT THAT THE AGENCIES DIDN'T STOP TRYING TO SERVE THE PUBLIC ONCE STATE FUNDING SHUT OFF. OFFICIALS SAY THAT, IN MANY CASES, THE AGENCIES THAT WERE FORCED TO BORROW WERE THE ONES THAT COULD LEAST AFFORD IT. GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS REPAYMENT WILL DEPEND ON HOW MUCH IT IS AND WHETHER THE STATE CAN AFFORD IT. AS OF YET, THERE IS NO FINAL TALLY FOR HOW MUCH REPAYMENT WOULD COST.

PA. HIGHRISE FIRE INJURES RESIDENT, FIREFIGHTER

BRIDGEVILLE, PA. (AP) - AN ELDERLY WOMAN AND A FIREFIGHTER HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR INJURIES FROM A FIRE AT AN APARTMENT BUILDING FOR THE ELDERLY NEAR PITTSBURGH. BRIDGEVILLE FIRE CHIEF BILL CHILLEO SAYS MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM THE 11-STORY BRIDGEVILLE TOWERS DUE TO MONDAY NIGHT'S FIRE. IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHEN THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO RETURN. THE FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE INJURED WOMAN'S APARTMENT. CHIEF DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL DONALD BRUCKER SAYS THE WOMAN IS "VERY ELDERLY" AND THAT HER CONDITION IS "VERY SERIOUS." BRUCKER DIDN'T RELEASE HER NAME. BRUCKER SAYS THE FIRE APPEARS TO BE ACCIDENTAL BUT HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE INJURED WOMAN BEFORE DECLARING A CAUSE.

PA. OFFICIALS ID WORKER KILLED IN 125-FOOT FALL

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AUTHORITIES ARE IDENTIFYING THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER KILLED AFTER FALLING 125 FEET WHEN A TALL CONSTRUCTION LIFT
TOPPLED OVER AND STRUCK A DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA APARTMENT BUILDING.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE VICTIM IS 40-YEAR-OLD JAMES WILSON OF GLASSBORO, NEW JERSEY. INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW IF WILSON WAS PROPERLY STRAPPED INTO THE BUCKET OF THE BOOM LIFT AS HE WORKED ON A CHURCH ROOF. FIRE COMMISSIONER LLOYD AYERS SAYS HE MAY HAVE FREE-FALLEN TO THE
GROUND. AYERS SAYS THE VEHICLE TIPPED OVER WHEN IT WAS OVER A GRATE THAT GAVE WAY ON THE SIDEWALK. A CO-WORKER DESCRIBES WILSON AS A MARRIED FATHER WHO HAD WORKED FOR THE MASONRY COMPANY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. AYERS SAYS THREE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES FROM FALLING DEBRIS THAT STRUCK THEIR VEHICLES

PA. RESURRECTS PLANS TO PUT TOLLS ON INTERSTATE 80

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE COMMISSION SAYS TOLLS ON INTERSTATE 80 ARE A KEY PART OF A STATE LAW PASSED TWO YEARS AGO TO FUND HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSIT. UNDER THE LAW, IF TOLLS AREN'T IMPOSED OR A SUBSTITUTE REVENUE STREAM ISN'T FOUND, STATE FUNDING OF HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT WOULD BE CUT IN HALF BY JULY. THE FUNDING IS NOW $900 MILLION ANNUALLY AND WOULD DROP TO $450 MILLION.
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION REJECTED A PREVIOUS PROPOSAL
FOR TOLLS ON I-80 BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MEET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. TURNPIKE SPOKESMAN CARL DEFEBO SAYS THE TURNPIKE COMMISSION PLANS TO SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE FEDERAL AGENCY IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL. OPPONENTS SAY I-80 TOLLS ARE UNJUSTIFIED AND COULD LEAD TO AN
INCREASE IN CRASHES.

PHILLIES FANS CHEER ON VICTORY OVER COLORADO

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA IS SHOWING BROTHERLY LOVE FOR ITS BASEBALL TEAM FOLLOWING THE VICTORY OVER THE COLORADO ROCKIES. FANS WHO GATHERED IN TAVERNS FOR MONDAY NIGHT'S GAME LOOKED ON WITH CONCERN AS THE ROCKIES TOOK A LEAD LATE IN THE GAME BUT BECAME JUBILANT AS THE PHILLIES MADE A COMEBACK. SOME CHANTED "REPEAT!" TO SHOW THEIR HOPE THAT THE PHILLIES WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES AGAIN THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR'S WORLD SERIES VICTORY ENDED A LONG DROUGHT IN WHICH THE CITY COULD NEVER WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP IN BIG-LEAGUE BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL OR HOCKEY. THE PHILLIES MUST BEAT THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS IN A
BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES THAT STARTS THURSDAY TO REACH THE 2009 WORLD
SERIES.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PLANS TO REVAMP THE NATION'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE A BIG STEP FORWARD TODAY. THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE $829 BILLION PACKAGE DESPITE A FEW DEMOCRATIC CONCERNS AND LITTLE OR NO REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

KABUL (AP) - THERE ARE MORE ACCUSATIONS TODAY ABOUT AFGHANISTAN'S DISPUTED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. A CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL FOR THE RUNNER-UP SAYS PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI ENGINEERED THE RESIGNATION OF A FRAUD INVESTIGATOR TO THROW DOUBT ON THE PROCESS IN CASE A RUNOFF IS ORDERED. THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE INVESTIGATOR WHO QUIT IS BIASED TOWARD KARZAI.

MOSCOW (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS IN RUSSIA DISCUSSING A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES WITH LEADERS THERE, INCLUDING IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS. CLINTON PLANS TO URGE RUSSIA TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PRESSURE IRAN TO PROVE ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS PEACEFUL.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. (AP) - A STRONG PACIFIC STORM MOVING INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA HAS PEOPLE IN AREAS WHERE WILDFIRES RECENTLY BURNED WORRIED AGAIN, THIS TIME ABOUT FLOODING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW.

BERLIN (AP) - GERMAN-BORN MODEL HEIDI KLUM IS A MOTHER FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THE WIFE OF GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER SEAL HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO A DAUGHTER, LOU SULOLA SAMUEL. KLUM ALREADY HAS TWO YOUNG SONS WITH SEAL, WHOM SHE MARRIED IN 2005. THE 36-YEAR-OLD ALSO HAS ANOTHER DAUGHTER FROM A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP.