Today's News-Wednesday, October 14, 2009

CARS DAMAGED AT DEALERSHIP

STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING VANDALISM AT A SHENANDOAH AUTO DEALERSHIP. EARLY MONDAY, SOMONE USED A SHARP OBJECT TO SCRATCH 11 VEHICLES AT JM AUTO SALES ON THE GOLD STAR HIGHWAY. THE WINDSHIELDS OF TWO VEHICLES WERE SMASHED WITH A ROCK AS WELL AND A BUSINESS SIGN STOLEN. FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR LEADS IN THE CASE. CALL THEM AT 874-5300.

BLUE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT BREAKS GROUND

A MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECT AT THE BLUE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY EAST COMPLEX IS UNDERWAY. GROUND WAS BROKEN TUESDAY FOR THE $19 MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION AND RENOVATION TO HELP ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING AND UPDATE FACILITIES. THE JOB WILL INCLUDE CLASSROOM RENOVATION, THE ADDITION OF A GYMNASIUM AND FULL SERVICE CAFETERIA, AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE. BLUE MOUNTAIN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDIED SEVERAL PROJECT OPTIONS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS BEFORE SETTLING ON THIS ONE. THE BOARD APPROVED A 1.31 MILL TAX INCREASE TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT.

DEBATE SLATED FOR THIS MORNING

CANDIDATES FOR SEVERAL COUNTY SEAT RACES WILL DEBATE THIS MORNING AT THE POTTSVILLE CLUB. THE SCHUYLKILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE IS HOSTING THE FORUM AT 8AM, WHERE CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, INCUMBENT JAMES GOODMAN AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER CHRISTINE HOLMAN WILL DEBATE THE ISSUES, AS WELL AS CANDIDATES FOR SHERIFF, INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT JOSEPH GROODY AND REPUBLICAN DALE REPP. THE GENERAL ELECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD.

PHEAA GRANTS ON THE WAY

AMONG THE MANY ENTITIES WAITING FOR A FINAL STATE BUDGET TO BE APPROVED WERE COLLEGE STUDENTS. PHEAA, THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY, HAD TO WAIT ON FINAL APPROPRIATIONS BEFORE KNOWING HOW MUCH STUDENTS ARE ENTITLED TO. FINAL FUNDING FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM IS JUST OVER $403 MILLION DOLLARS, BENEFITTING AS MANY AS 172 THOUSAND STUDENTS. PHEAA EXPECTS THAT FUNDING WILL BE COMPLETED TO STUDENT ACCOUNTS BY THE END OF THE WEEK. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES STATEWIDE COVERED THE UNFUNDED PAYMENTS FOR STUDENTS TUITION WHILE THE BUDGET WAS HAMMERED OUT, 101 DAYS LATE.

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY INTERNET POSTINGS COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING TO SERVE ON A JURY IN A MURDER TRIAL ARE "INNOCUOUS." THE LANCASTER COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAS RESPONDING TO A MOTION FOR ACQUITTAL OR A NEW TRIAL FILED ON BEHALF OF MICHAEL ROSEBORO, A FUNERAL DIRECTOR CONVICTED OF KILLING HIS WIFE.

ERIE, PA. (AP) - DEPUTY ERIE COUNTY CORONER KORAC TIMON SAYS AN AUTOPSY IS PLANNED FOR TODAY ON THE BODY OF A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL. AUTHORITIES SAY HER DEATH IS SUSPICIOUS, BUT THEY ARE OFFERING FEW DETAILS. ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACK DANERI SAID LAST NIGHT THAT INVESTIGATORS HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXAMINE THE BODY OF THE GIRL IN A HOUSE ON ERIE'S EAST SIDE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE OWNERS OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER AND PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS ARE APPEALING A BANKRUPTCY COURT RULING THAT WOULD LIKELY GIVE THE COMPANY TO CREDITORS.A BANKRUPTCY JUDGE RULED LAST WEEK THAT SENIOR LENDERS CAN USE THE $300 MILLION THEY'RE OWED TO BID ON THE COMPANY AT A PLANNED AUCTION. NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE AUCTION.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SUING A TEXAS COMPANY THAT ALLEGEDLY STOPPED PAYING PREMIUMS ON ITS EMPLOYEES' HEALTH INSURANCE. ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT SAID HIS OFFICE FILED A CONSUMER-PROTECTION LAWSUIT YESTERDAY SEEKING RESTITUTION FOR FORMER WORKERS AT THE TURBINE AIRFOIL DESIGNS PLANT IN HARRISBURG.

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - A LAWYER FOR REALITY STAR KATE GOSSELIN SAYS HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND, JON, HAS BEEN ORDERED TO RETURN $180,000 IN MARITAL FUNDS. JON GOSSELIN'S LAWYER SAYS KATE GOSSELIN ISN'T COMPLYING WITH AN ARBITRATOR'S ORDER. THE DIVORCING STARS OF TLC'S "JON AND KATE PLUS 8" APPEARED IN FAMILY COURT IN NORRISTOWN YESTERDAY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE LEADERS START TRYING TODAY TO MERGE TWO VERY DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE BILLS INTO ONE VERSION. THE PROCESS BEGINS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, BUT ALL EYES ARE ON SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID. HE SAYS HE WANTS TO GET LEGISLATION ONTO THE SENATE FLOOR THE WEEK AFTER NEXT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA MEETS WITH HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AGAIN AS HE MULLS A DECISION ON AFGHANISTAN. THIS MORNING'S MEETING IS THE LATEST OF FIVE ON AFGHANISTAN AS THE PRESIDENT CONSIDERS WHETHER TO SEND MORE TROOPS, REDEFINE THE MISSION -- OR BOTH.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - POWERFUL WINDS AND SOAKING RAIN ARE MENACING AN AREA OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALREADY SCARRED BY RECENT WILDFIRES. EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED NEAR SANTA CRUZ AHEAD OF THE
STORM.

ROME (AP) - A NEW REPORT SAYS THE NUMBER OF UNDERNOURISHED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN CLIMBING STEADILY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE -- EVEN BEFORE THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS. THE U.N. FOOD AGENCY SAYS THE WORLD'S HUNGRY NOW NUMBER A RECORD 1 BILLION PEOPLE.

SEDONA, ARIZ. (AP) - SELF-HELP EXPERT JAMES ARTHUR RAY SAYS HE'S "FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED" AFTER TWO PEOPLE DIED DURING ONE OF HIS
SPIRITUAL RETREATS. THE TWO WERE AMONG MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE CROWDED
INTO A SWEAT LODGE DURING A TWO-HOUR PERIOD LAST WEEK. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDER WAY.