Today's News-UPDATED 8:30AM TUESDAY

WINTER WEATHER

A MIXED BAG OF WINTER WEATHER MAY AFFECT TRAVEL IN THE REGION LATE TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING AS SNOW IS EXPECTED TO START TONIGHT, THEN CHANGE OVER TO SLEET, FREEZING RAIN AND ALL RAIN. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SCHUYLKILL AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES FROM 7PM THIS EVENING TO 11AM TOMORROW. FORECASTERS SAY WE MIGHT HAVE ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW BEFORE THE CHANGEOVER LATE TONIGHT. YOU CAN CHECK ALL OF THE DELAYS AND OTHER WEATHER RELATED ANNOUNCEMENTS ON WPPARADIO-DOT-COM. THE STORM SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO CHANGE TO ALL RAIN BY LATE MORNING.

DRUG ARREST IN POTTSVILLE

TWO NEW YORK MEN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND JAILED FOLLOWING A WEEKEND INCIDENT IN POTTSVILLE. OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO 719 WEST MARKET STREET BEFORE MIDNIGHT SATURDAY FOR AN ASSAULT OF TWO JUVENILES. NINETEEN YEAR OLD JULIO MEDINA JR REPORTEDLY ASSAULTED THE TEENS AND FLED TO A HOME IN THE 900 BLOCK OF WEST MARKET, WHERE MEDINA WAS FOUND TO BE DRUNK. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, A TUBE OF MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN A BAG BELONGING TO JOSE ENRIQUE RIVERA-HERNANDEZ, PLUS ADDITIONAL BAGS OF POT AND SEVERAL TABLETS OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG SEROQUEL. RIVERA-HERNANDEZ AND MEDINA WERE CHARGED WITH DRUG POSSESSION. MEDINA WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH UNDERAGE DRINKING, HARASSMENT AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. NEITHER MAN COULD POST BAIL FOLLOWING ARRAIGNMENT.

TRUCK LOSES LOAD, FUEL SPILLED

A PORTION OF ROUTE 61 NEAR ST CLAIR WAS CLOSED FOR CLEANUP FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT MONDAY MORNING. AROUND 620AM, STATE POLICE SAY THAT CONCRETE BLOCKS BEGAN FALLING OFF THE TRUCK DRIVEN BY 24 YEAR OLD JORDAN DREHER OF AUBURN. A TRUCK FOLLOWING BEHIND, OPERATED BY 62 YEAR OLD CELEB ADAMS COULDN'T AVOID THE FALLING BLOCKS, AND RUPTURED THE DIESEL FUEL TANK AND OIL PAN, SPILLING IT ON THE ROAD. PENN DOT AND STATE D.E.P. CREWS WERE CALLED IN TO CLEAN UP THE SPILL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

CHAMPNEY STAYS IN PRISON AFTER APPEAL SHOT DOWN

A POTTSVILLE MAN WILL REMAIN IN PRISON AFTER EFFORTS TO APPEAL HIS CONVICTION ON A BURGLARY CHARGE WERE TURNED DOWN. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT 58 YEAR OLD RONALD CHAMPNEY, WHO WON AN APPEAL OF HIS 1992 DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING ROY BENSINGER IN 1992, HAS TO REMAIN IN STATE PRISON FOR A BURGLARY IN 1995 AT AN ELDERLY COUPLE'S PORT CARBON HOME. A THREE JUDGE STATE SUPERIOR COURT PANEL RULED THAT CHAMPNEY WAITED TOO LONG TO FILE THE APPEAL, THE THIRD SUCH ONE THE COURT TURNED DOWN. CHAMPNEY, WHO WAS HIRED BY ROY BENSINGER'S WIFE BETH SHIREY TO KILL HIM, DID WIN APPEAL OF HIS FIRST DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION IN 2008, CITING INEFFECTIVE COUNSEL. A SIMILAR APPEAL FOR BETH SHIREY WAS TURNED DOWN LAST MONTH BY THE SAME STATE COURT PANEL. PROSECUTORS IN THE CHAMPNEY CASE ARE FIGHTING HIS APPEAL ON THE MURDER CHARGES. BOTH ARE IN STATE PRISON.

AGENCY RECEIVES WEATHERIZATION FUNDING

FEDERAL STIMULUS MONIES ARE COMING BACK TO HELP WEATHERIZE LOW-INCOME HOMES IN THE COUNTY. SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY ACTION WILL USE $3.4 MILLION DOLLARS TO WEATHERIZE AN ADDITION 445 HOMES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, AND ADD SEVERAL JOBS TO THAT AGENCIES WORKFORCE. CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN HELPED TO SECURE THE FUNDING. ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS MUST MEET THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES IN ORDER TO QUALIFY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM, CALL 622-0568, OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE, SCHUYLKILLCOMMUNITYACTION.COM.

WOMAN CHARGED IN DAY CARE CRASH

A POTTSVILLE WOMAN IS FACING A HOST OF CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH A CRASH IN PORT CARBON ON NOVEMBER 27TH. POLICE SAY THAT 37 YEAR OLD JENNIFER ANNE MOCK WAS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WHEN HER CAR CRASHED INTO LITTLE SUNSHINES DAY CARE CENTER. MOCK REPORTEDLY WAS DISTRACTED BY A PUPPY WHEN SHE SWERVED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND HIT THE BUILDING. IN ADDITION TO THE DUI CHARGE, MOCK IS FACING COUNTS OF CARELESS DRIVING, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AND SIMPLE ASSAULT. THERE WERE NO CHILDREN HURT IN THE CRASH.

COMPUTER THIEF

STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A MAN AND WOMAN WHO LIFTED A COMPUTER FROM STAPLES IN THE CRESSONA MALL. ABOUT 8PM LAST NIGHT, THE WHITE MALE, DESCRIBED AS BEING 18 to 25 YEARS OLD, ABOUT 5 FEET 6 INCHES TALL WEARING A PITTSBURGH STEELERS JACKET TOOK AN HP COMPUTER BUNDLE, VALUED AT ABOUT $750 DOLLARS. THE MAN WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A WHITE WOMAN, ABOUT 40-50 YEARS OLD, AND APPEARED TO BE PARTIALLY DEAF. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

PENN HILLS, PA. (AP) - A PITTSBURGH PAROLEE HAS BEEN ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BOND ON CHARGES HE SHOT AND KILLED A SUBURBAN POLICE OFFICER AFTER DOING THE SAME TO ANOTHER MAN OVER A $500 DRUG DEBT. A JUDGE ORDERED RONALD ROBINSON HELD YESTERDAY AFTER ARRAIGNING HIM ON TWO COUNTS OF HOMICIDE, ONE COUNT EACH OF BURGLARY AND ROBBERY AND FIREARMS VIOLATIONS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A MAN WHO HELPED HIS COUSIN ESCAPE TO FLORIDA AFTER KILLING A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN GIVEN PROBATION. A JUDGE SENTENCED HAKIM GLOVER YESTERDAY TO 2 TO 12 MONTHS IN PRISON. GLOVER WAS IMMEDIATELY PAROLED BECAUSE HE HAD SPENT THREE MONTHS IN JAIL BEFORE POSTING BAIL.

LEBANON, PA. (AP) - STATE POLICE IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL LED TROOPERS ON A HIGH-SPEED CHASE THAT REACHED SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 100 MPH. THE PURSUIT STARTED WHEN TROOPERS SAY THEY OBSERVED THE DRIVER WEAVING IN AND OUT OF HER LANE IN SWATARA TOWNSHIP. THE GIRL WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND CHARGED WITH SEVERAL VIOLATIONS.

WYOMISSING, PA. (AP) - THOUSANDS OF LIVE CHICKENS SPILLED ONTO A HIGHWAY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AFTER THE TRUCK CARRYING THEM OVERTURNED. SOME OF THE POULTRY WAS KILLED IN YESTERDAY'S ACCIDENT IN WYOMISSING. THE TRACTOR-TRAILER WAS CARRYING AT LEAST 4,500 BIRDS. THE RAMP FROM ROUTE 12 TO ROUTE 422 REMAINED CLOSED SEVERAL HOURS. NO HUMANS WERE INJURED.

MEDIA, PA. (AP) - THE FORMER MAYOR OF A PHILADELPHIA SUBURB HAS ACKNOWLEDGED STEALING MONEY FROM HIS FUNERAL BUSINESS. THEODORE BATHURST PLEADED GUILTY TO THEFT IN DELAWARE COUNTY COURT YESTERDAY. HE SAYS HE TOOK MORE THAN $78,000 HELD IN ESCROW FOR CLIENTS WHO HAD PREPAID BURIAL EXPENSES. BATHURST HAD BEEN MAYOR OF GLENOLDEN BUT RESIGNED IN AUGUST.

WASHINGTON (AP) - JOB CREATION IS TOPIC A FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TODAY. HE'S UNVEILING A FRESH PACKAGE OF STEPS THAT REPORTEDLY INCLUDES NEW TAX BREAKS, EASIER CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND INCENTIVES FOR WEATHERIZING HOMES. AND THE PRESIDENT SAYS PART OF IT COULD BE PAID FOR OUT OF LEFTOVER BANK BAILOUT FUNDS. HE SPEAKS AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION TODAY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE INTENSE EFFORTS TO FIND AN AGREEABLE ALTERNATIVE TO GOVERNMENT INSURANCE IN THE HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL. A COMPROMISE IS BEING CONSIDERED WHERE PRIVATE INSURERS WOULD OFFER COVERAGE, WITH A GOVERNMENT SEAL OF APPROVAL. AN AMENDMENT RESTRICTING ABORTION COVERAGE MAY BE VOTED ON TODAY.

BAGHDAD (AP) - THE GOVERNMENT SAYS A SERIES OF COORDINATED BLASTS AROUND BAGHDAD HAS KILLED AT LEAST 90 PEOPLE. IT IS THE DEADLIEST DAY IN BAGHDAD IN MORE THAN A MONTH. THREE BOMB-RIGGED CARS EXPLODED IN QUICK SUCCESSION, STRIKING THE LABOR MINISTRY, A COURT COMPLEX AND THE NEW SITE OF IRAQ'S FINANCE MINISTRY, WHICH WAS DESTROYED IN AN AUGUST BLAST.

MULTAN, PAKISTAN (AP) - AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE DIED WHEN A BOMB EXPLODED NEAR AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICE IN CENTRAL PAKISTAN TODAY. IT'S PART OF A SURGE OF EXTREMIST VIOLENCE THAT HAS PROMPTED THE U.S. TO OFFER ADDITIONAL AID IN THE COUNTRY'S BATTLE AGAINST THE TALIBAN AND AL-QAIDA. MILITANTS HAVE SUSTAINED A RETALIATORY CAMPAIGN SINCE OCTOBER THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES HAS MET TODAY WITH AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI. GATES SAYS THE U.S. WON'T ABANDON THE COUNTRY. THE TWO MEN DISCUSSED WAYS TO STRENGTHEN AND INCREASE RECRUITING IN THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY.