Today's News-Monday, November 30, 2009

THE ANNUAL FALL RITE OF HUNTING, RIFLE DEER SEASON, GETS UNDERWAY IN THE COMMONWEALTH TODAY. ACCORDING TO THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION, ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION HUNTERS WILL DON THE FLOURESCENT ORANGE AND HIT THE WOODS IN SEARCH OF PENNSYLVANIA WHITETAIL. THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THANKSGIVING HAS BECOME A HOLIDAY IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR DEER HUNTERS, AND THIS MORNING WAS NO EXCEPTION. DINERS WERE BUSY WITH VEHICLES BEFORE 4AM AS MEN AND WOMEN FUELED UP BEFORE HEADING OUT TO THE WOODS. THE TWO WEEK SEASON EXPECTS TO HARVEST SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DEER. THE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO TURN RAINY AS THE DAY WEARS ON, WHICH COULD KEEP THE WHITETAIL HIDDEN UNDER COVER.

TWO INJURED IN EARLY SUNDAY CRASH IN EAST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP

TWO PEOPLE WERE HURT IN A CRASH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING NEAR MCKEANSBURG. STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE SAY SCOTT REED OF ORWIGSBURG WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 895 AND LOST CONTROL OF HIS SUV ON A LEFT CURVE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT, THEN ROLLED OVER. HIS PASSENGER, HOLLY MOTLEY OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. STATE POLICE SAY REED WAS INTOXICATED AND ARE AWAITING RESULTS OF BLOOD TESTS BEFORE CHARGING HIM. HE WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER EAST FOR TREATMENT. A NEW RINGGOLD MAN WAS HURT WHILE TRYING TO ASSIST FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. MARK BRENSINGER WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE OPERATED BY JONATHAN FAUST OF ANDREAS. BRENSINGER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED AT LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL.

DUI CHECKPOINTS BUSY

SEVEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING STATE TROOPERS, WERE VERY BUSY DURING A DUI CHECKPOINT OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. ACCORDING TO THE NORTH CENTRAL HIGHWAY SAFETY NETWORK, 77 VEHICLES WERE DETAINED NEAR SCHUYLKILL HAVEN OF THE NEARLY 13 HUNDRED TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE CHECKPOINT. SIX ADULT DUI ARRESTS WERE MADE, 1 UNDERAGE DRINKING ARREST AND A VARIETY OF TRAFFIC CITATIONS ISSUED. TWENTY TWO OFFICERS PARTICIPATED IN THE CHECKPOINT.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A PENNSYLVANIA FAMILY IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS KILLED IN AN AMBUSH AT A COFFEE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON STATE. MATT RENNINGER, A BROTHER OF SGT. MARK RENNINGER. THEIR FAMILY GREW UP IN BETHLEHEM. HE SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT HIS BROTHER WAS "A PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED POLICE OFFICER WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE."

PITTSBURGH (AP) - PITTSBURGH POLICE SAY A GAS STATION MANAGER WAS STRUCK BY THE SUSPECT'S GETAWAY CAR. NIGHT MANAGER WALTER WETZEL CHASED THE SUSPECT TO HIS CAR AND WAS STRUCK AS HE YELLED FOR THE MAN TO STOP. WETZEL WAS HOSPITALIZED IN CRITICAL CONDITION. A MAN FROM ALIQUIPPA HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT.

CHICAGO (AP) - A MASS WILL BE HELD IN CHICAGO TOMORROW FOR A BOXER WHO DIED AFTER A FIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA. 25-YEAR-OLD FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ DIED LAST WEEK AFTER LOSING A USBA SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT AGAINST TEON KENNEDY. OFFICIALS SAY HE BEGAN TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER THE FIGHT WAS STOPPED IN THE 10TH ROUND. HE LATER UNDERWENT EMERGENCY BRAIN SURGERY.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S BIGGEST DRAW FOR HUNTERS IS SET TO BEGIN WITH THE START OF THE 12-DAY FIREARMS DEER SEASON. ABOUT 750,000 HUNTERS STATEWIDE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE TO THE FIELD TODAY. HOWEVER, RAIN IS FORECAST IN SOME AREAS. HUNTERS ARE EXPECTED TO KILL BETWEEN 80,000 AND 90,000 DEER ON OPENING DAY.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - POLICE IN SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A WOMAN WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND NEAR RAILROAD TRACKS. THE BODY OF ANTOINETTE GIULIANI WAS SPOTTED BY TRAIN CREW MEMBERS, BUT POLICE SAY SHE WAS NOT STRUCK BY THE TRAIN. THE CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. AUTHORITIES ARE AWAITING THE RESULTS OF AN AUTOPSY.

SEATTLE (AP) - A HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR IS USING A BULLHORN AND POLICE SHONE SPOTLIGHTS ON A SEATTLE HOUSE THIS MORNING IN HOPES OF COAXING A MAN SOUGHT IN THE TACOMA COFFEE-SHOP KILLINGS OF FOUR POLICE OFFICERS TO SURRENDER. MAURICE CLEMMONS IS DESCRIBED AS A PERSON OF INTEREST. THERE'S BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM THE HOME.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THIS IS A BUSY AND VERY IMPORTANT WEEK FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, WHO ANNOUNCES HIS REVISED AFGHANISTAN POLICY AT A WEST POINT SPEECH TOMORROW. THE WEEK ALSO INCLUDES A WHITE HOUSE JOBS SUMMIT AND THE OPENING OF SENATE DEBATE ON OBAMA'S SWEEPING HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE 60 VOTES DEMOCRATS MUSTERED TO MOVE THE BILL FORWARD AREN'T THERE AS SENATE DEBATE BEGINS TODAY ON THE HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL. THAT CREATES A DELICATE SITUATION FOR MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID, WHO MUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THOSE 60 VOTES TOGETHER AGAIN TO PASS THE BILL.

NEW YORK (AP) - ONLINE RETAILERS ARE LOOKING TO CYBER MONDAY WITH A BIG WEEKEND SALES BOOST ALREADY UNDER THEIR BELTS. THAT'S THANKS TO EARLY PROMOTIONS. BRICK AND MORTAR RETAILERS GOT MILD ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE FIRST BIG HOLIDAY SHOPPING WEEKEND. THE KEY WILL BE TO KEEP PEOPLE SHOPPING.

NAIROBI, KENYA (AP) - THE EUROPEAN UNION'S ANTI-PIRACY FORCE SAYS A SUPER TANKER CARRYING CRUDE OIL FROM SAUDI ARABIA TO THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN HIJACKED. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EU NAVAL FORCE, SAYS THE GREEK-OWNED MARAN CENTAURUS WITH 28 CREW WAS HIJACKED BY PIRATES SUNDAY ABOUT 800 MILES OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA.