Today's News-Wednesday, November 25, 2009

TWO CAR CRASH ON ROUTE 61

TWO CARS WERE LEFT STRANDED AFTER A CRASH AT A FAMILIAR SPOT ALONG ROUTE 61 MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT THE INTERSECTION TO THE CRESSONA MALL, WHERE 68 YEAR OLD ANN WHITEASH OF MINERSVILLE WAS NORTHBOUND, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO THE MALL PARKING LOT. HER CAR STRUCK A SOUTHBOUND VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 55 YEAR OLD MICHAEL DETURCK OF READING. POLICE SAY THAT WHITEASH, DETURCK AND A PASSENGER WERE ALL BELTED IN AND ESCAPED INJURY. THAT CRASH HAPPENED AFTER 4PM.

COAL TOWNSHIP MAN ESCAPES INJURY

A COAL TOWNSHIP MAN WAS FORTUNATE, ESCAPING INJURY WHEN HIS VEHICLE CRASH ON INTERSTATE 81. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE FROM FRACKVILLE, MARCUS BLISS WAS NORTHBOUND ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN HIS REAR TIRE WENT FLAT AND HE LOST CONTROL. THE SUV WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, FLIPPING OVER BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE. THAT CRASH HAPPENED AT 6AM TUESDAY.

FRACKVILLE MAN HEADED TO PRISON

A FRACKVILLE MAN IS BOUND FOR PRISON FOR BURGLARY AND OTHER COUNTS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT 25 YEAR OLD HARRY BANEY THE THIRD WILL SPEND 15 TO 30 MONTHS IN STATE PRISON, PLUS TIME ON PROBATION, FOR PLEADING GUILTY TO CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, CRIMINAL TRESPASS, BURGLARY AND OTHER COUNTS. BANEY BROKE INTO MOTOR SPORTS AND MORE IN JULY, AND DID SOME DAMAGE. BANEY ALSO FACED CHARGES IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS

PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVATION WORKS GRANT MONIES WILL HELP SAVE ENERGY AND KEEP THE MOTORING PUBLIC SAFE AS NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS WILL BE INSTALLED ACROSS THE REGION. THE NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ALLIANCE SECURED THE GRANT MONEY FOR NEW L-E-D BULBS IN TRAFFIC SIGNALS, WHICH USE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS ENERGY THAN TRADITIONAL BULBS. BIDDING FOR THE PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY IN JANUARY.

TO STUFF OR NOT TO STUFF, THAT IS THE QUESTION....

WHAT WOULD A THANKSGIVING TURKEY BE WITHOUT STUFFING, AND WHAT BETTER PLACE FOR THAT STUFFING THAN INSIDE THE BIRD? BUT A FOOD-SAFETY SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS SOME CUSTOMS ARE WORTH RETHINKING. GARY ABDULLAH REPORTS:

ABDULLAH STUFF THE BIRD

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA JURY DELIBERATED FOR TWO HOURS YESTERDAY BEFORE CONDEMNING 23-YEAR-OLD JOHN LEWIS TO DEATH IN THE SLAYING OF OFFICER CHUCK CASSIDY DURING A ROBBERY TWO YEARS AGO. LEWIS ENTERED A SURPRISE GUILTY PLEA TO A GENERAL MURDER CHARGE AFTER JURY SELECTION EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE JURY CONVICTED HIM OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER LAST WEEK.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA-AREA FUND MANAGER IS GOING TO PRISON FOR 15 YEARS FOR RUNNING A PONZI SCHEME THAT COST INVESTORS $35 MILLION. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY JOSEPH FORTE OF BROOMALL SOUGHT STATUS BY ACCUMULATING WEALTH AND PLEDGING LARGE CHARITABLE GIFTS. HE ALSO USED THE INVESTMENTS ON A BEACH HOUSE AND TO RAISE HIS FAMILY.

UPPER DARBY, PA. (AP) - THREE MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS ARE INJURED AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR NEAR PHILADELPHIA AND POLICE SAY THE DRIVER KEPT GOING FOR ANOTHER BLOCK. UPPER DARBY POLICE SAY THE MOST SERIOUSLY INJURED IS A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY LISTED IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE CONDITION HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY EXPECT TO CHARGE THE FEMALE DRIVER.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - AN 86-YEAR-OLD NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN WHO ADMITTED TO MAKING PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEOS WITH A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY IS TO SPEND THREE MONTHS IN JAIL FOLLOWED BY HOUSE ARREST. JOSEPH GYURISKA WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY TO A TOTAL OF SIX TO 23 MONTHS OF CONFINEMENT FOR HIS AUGUST GUILTY PLEA TO CORRUPTION OF MINORS.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN PITTSBURGH SAY THEY'VE ARRESTED EIGHT PEOPLE IN A LARGE ONLINE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY RING THAT
REQUIRED POTENTIAL MEMBERS TO SHARE IMAGES TO SHOW THEY WEREN'T IN
LAW ENFORCEMENT. RECORDS INDICATE MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE MAY BE INVOLVED. THE INVESTIGATION STEMS FROM THE 2008 ARREST OF A WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA MAN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS CAPPED AN ALL-OUT EFFORT TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH INDIA WITH A LAVISH STATE DINNER HONORING INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH ON THE WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN. IT WAS THE MUST-HAVE TICKET IN WASHINGTON AND PART OF AN EFFORT TO GET ON FIRMER FOOTING WITH INDIA. NEW DELHI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ATTENTION BEING PAID TO ASIAN RIVAL CHINA AND ITS NEIGHBOR, PAKISTAN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE COUNTRY WILL KNOW THIS TIME NEXT WEEK ABOUT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S PLANS FOR AFGHANISTAN. OBAMA SAYS HE INTENDS TO "FINISH THE JOB" OF ROOTING OUT TERRORISTS. SOURCES SAY HE'LL SHARE HIS GOALS IN A TUESDAY NIGHT ADDRESS TO THE NATION.

ANAHEIM, CALIF. (AP) - FIREFIGHTERS SAY A WIND-DRIVEN WILDFIRE BURNING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS BEING KEPT AT BAY SO FAR. ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY SPOKESWOMAN LYNNETTE ROUND SAYS FIREFIGHTERS ARE BEGINNING TO GET A LINE AROUND THE BLAZE, IN THEIR EFFORT TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM HOMES ACROSS A ROAD THAT'S ACTING AS A FIREBREAK.

CHICAGO (AP) - MANY AMERICANS WHO GOT OUT OF THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL HABIT DURING THE DIRE ECONOMY LAST YEAR ARE DOING IT AGAIN THIS THANKSGIVING. ACCORDING TO AN AAA SURVEY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAVELING IS LIKELY TO STAY ABOUT THE SAME OR INCH UP SLIGHTLY. AND PEOPLE WHO AREN'T JUST STAYING HOME HAVE SOUGHT CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES TO AIRLINERS.

IRMO, S.C. (AP) - A FIRE MARSHAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS REMINDING PEOPLE TO BE CAREFUL THIS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, EVEN IN THE KITCHEN. IRMO FIRE MARSHAL JEFF ALLEN SAYS THANKSGIVING IS THE BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR KITCHEN FIRES. HE SAYS FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RESPOND TO THREE TIMES AS MANY COOKING FIRES ON THANKSGIVING THAN ON AN AVERAGE DAY.