Today's News-Saturday, January 28th, 2010

ELECTION BUREAU RELEASES CRITICAL DATES

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ELECTION BUREAU HAS RELEASED CRITICAL DATES FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION YEAR. FEBRUARY 16TH IS THE FIRST LEGAL DATE TO OBTAIN SIGNATURES FOR A CANDIDATE'S NOMINATION PETITION WITH MARCH 9TH AS THE LAST DAY DAY TO CIRCULATE AND FILE THE PETITION WITH THE ELECTION BUREAU. CANDIDATES SEEKING OFFICE CAN WITHDRAW THEIR PETIONS NO LATER THAN MARCH 24TH. THE LAST DAY FOR VOTERS TO REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS APRIL 19TH, WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION ABOUT A MONTH LATER ON MAY 18TH. YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR PETITION OR REGISTER TO VOTE BY STOPPING BY ELECTION BUREAU HEADQUARTERS AT 420 NORTH CENTRE STREET IN POTTSVILLE OR CALL 628-1467 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

MIDDLEPORT WOMAN INJURED IN CRASH
TRACY WILCOSKY OF MIDDLEPORT WAS INJURED IN AN EARLY FRIDAY MORNING CRASH. AROUND 3 A.M. FRIDAY WILCOSKY WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON MOUNTAIN ROAD AT THE BLYTHE TOWNSHIP/NEW PHILADELPHIA LINE WHEN SHE STRUCK A TREE HEAVILY DAMAGING HERE 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED FROM THE SCENE BY THE POTTSVILLE/SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AMBULANCE AND THEN FLOWN BY MEDIVAC HELICOPTER TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER TO BE TREATED FOR HER INJURIES. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL FROM KASKA AND THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE ASSISTED AT THE SCENE.

LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES GAINING FUNDING
SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS APPROVED FUNDING FOR SEVERAL FIRE COMPANIES IN OUR AREA. THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE COMPETITIVE FISCAL YEAR 2009 FIRE GRANTS AWARD. THE AWARDS ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION. LOCAL COMPANIES AWARDED MONIES ARE THE CRESSONA FIRE COMPANY, DEFENDER HOSE COMPANY IN SHENANDOAH, AND THE GOOD WILL HOSE COMPANY OF FRACKVILLE.
　
A STATE SENATE LEADER IS URGING SWIFT ACTION ON A HOUSE-PASSED BILL THAT WOULD GENERALLY PROHIBIT THE USE OF HANDHELD CELL PHONES AND TEXT MESSAGING WHILE DRIVING. HOWARD ONDICK HAS THIS REPORT.

ONDICK


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A man who fled to South Korea for a decade after being charged in a 1996 slaying in Philadelphia has been convicted of second-degree murder. Prosecutors say David Nam and three juvenile accomplices tried to rob a retiree, then shot him when he came to his door with a gun.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A jury in Montgomery County has convicted two men in the death of businessman during a home invasion one year ago this month. Joseph Page and Amatadi Latham were found guilty of second-degree murder. Robert Chae suffocated after he was left
bound with duct tape in his garage, while robbers forced his wife to open a safe.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The state Supreme Court has ruled that a central Pennsylvania jury will decide the fate of a man accused of killing three Pittsburgh police officers last April. The jury will
come from Dauphin County because of intense pretrial publicity in the Pittsburgh area.

TOWANDA, Pa. (AP) - Police in northern Pennsylvania say they discovered a natural gas well-drilling service truck that was more than 41 tons over the weight limit for the road it was on. Police say it is the latest of numerous examples of troopers finding overweight natural gas trucks inflicting damage on area roads.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of poor, elderly and disabled Pennsylvanians will be getting a little less in their monthly Supplemental Security Income checks. The state budget cut Supplemental Security Income by about $10 million, or about 6 percent. That means monthly checks will shrink by about $5 beginning Monday.

BEIJING (AP) - The planned $6.4 billion U.S. arms sale to neighboring Taiwan has drawn a reaction from a rankled China. Chinese state media says the defense ministry is suspending
military exchanges with the United States. The Xinhua (shin-wah) News Agency says the suspension of the scheduled visits by military personnel is because of the "bad impact" of the weapons deal on military relations.

KABUL (AP) - The Afghan Taliban say there have been no olive branches between themselves and a U.N. official. They deny reports that their representatives met with the official to discuss
prospects for peace in Afghanistan. A Taliban statement calls the reports "futile and baseless rumors."

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - U.S. plans to regulate the financial industry are causing concerns at the World Economic Forum. Government officials from several nations are meeting behind closed doors with bankers. Congressman Barney Frank says the U.S. is "determined to do strong, sensible regulation" and rejected any notions that his government was threatening to choke off growth by putting in too many controls.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Icy roads and snowy landscapes are becoming evident in the Southeastern U.S. as a storm pushes east. Interstates in part of North Carolina are closed, while folks in one Kentucky town bought up all the sleds. Earlier the storm knocked out power to tens of thousands and closed major highways in the Midwest and Southern Plains.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - It's for all the marbles tonight in Las Vegas. A group of 53 beauty queens from around the country are set to smile, strut and talk their way to the 2010 Miss America Pageant crown. The winner gets a $50,000 scholarship and embarks on a yearlong run as Miss America. The 89-year-old pageant to be televised live on cable network TLC.

Today's News-Friday, January 29, 2010

TWO WOMEN ACCUSED IN ATTEMPTED BURGLARY IN GIRARDVILLE

TWO WOMEN ARE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. 22 YEAR OLD ROCHELLE HAUZE AND 21 YEAR OLD AMBER MCCRACKEN WERE ARRAIGNED YESTERDAY. THEY REPORTEDLY ENTERED THE HOME OF MARGARET HENNESSY ON A STREET DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JANUARY 20TH, WEARING STOCKING MASKS AND DARK CLOTHING. HENNESSY'S GRANDSON INTERRUPTED THEIR BREAK-IN. MCCRACKEN WAS LATER SEEN BY THE VICTIM'S FAMILY, AND TOLD AUTHORITIES THAT SHE WAS HELD AT KNIFEPOINT BY THE BURGLAR'S, WHICH WAS UNTRUE. HAUZE AND MCCRACKEN LATER ADMITTED TO THE BREAK-IN, LOOKING FOR CASH AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. BOTH ARE JAILED IN THE COUNTY PRISON, AWAITING A PRELIMINARY HEARING.

ST LUKE'S TO CUT 30 JOBS

FINANCIAL LOSSES RESULT IN THE LOSS OF 30 JOBS AT ST LUKE'S HOSPITAL IN COALDALE. INFORMATION FROM HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT SAY THE FACILITY LOST $1.1 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE LATTER HALF OF 2009 DUE TO THE ECONOMY. THE JOBS THAT WILL BE CUT ARE FULLTIME, PARTTIME AND PER-DIEM POSITIONS. OTHER POSITIONS HAD BEEN CUT EARLIER. ST LUKE'S EMPLOYS OVER 320 PEOPLE.

BOTTLE BOMBS FOUND IN MAILBOXES

BUTLER TOWNSHIP POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING BOTTLE BOMBS FOUND IN MAILBOXES AT SEVERAL HOMES. SINCE TUESDAY, SEVEN SUCH DEVICES HAVE BEEN FOUND. A REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRIMES. CALL BUTLER TOWNSHIP POLICE AT 875-4131, OR THE POSTAL INSPECTOR MICHAEL BOND AT 717-257-2330.

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY CEREMONY

VETERANS IN OUR AREA HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS TO ENCOURAGE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO WRITE ABOUT PRIDE IN THEIR COUNTRY IN THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY AND PATRIOTS PEN COMPETITION. THURSDAY, THEY WERE HONORED BY THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY REPORTS FROM THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE:

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

MINERSVILLE MAN CHARGED IN BURGLARY

A MINERSVILLE MAN IS CHARGED IN A CONVENIENCE STORE BURGLARY. THE INVESTIGATION BY MINERSVILLE POLICE CULMINATED IN THE ARREST OF MICHAEL REED, 135 SUNBURY STREET. HE'S CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, CRIMINAL TRESPASS AND THEFT FOR TAKING CASH, CIGARETTES AND LOTTERY TICKETS, TOTALING NEARLY $8 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE MINERSVILLE GENERAL STORE LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD. A TIP FROM AN INFORMANT LED TO SOME OF THE EVIDENCE FROM THE BURGLARY AT FRANK VANNICOLO'S HOUSE. REPORTS SAY REED AND HIS GIRLFRIEND BROKE INTO THE STORE USING A PRY BAR. VANNICOLO WAS ALREADY CHARGED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE BURGLARY.

ZELIENOPLE, PA. (AP) - THE POLICE CHIEF IN THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TOWN WHERE TWO TEENAGE FIREFIGHTERS AND A THIRD TEEN DIED WHEN THEIR SUV WENT INTO AN ICY POND SAYS AUTOPSIES WON'T BE DONE, BUT TOXICOLOGY TESTS WILL BE. THE POLICE CHIEF IN ZELIENOPLE SAYS IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR AUTOPSIES NOT TO BE PERFORMED IN CRASHES IN BUTLER COUNTY.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (AP) - POLICE ARE SEEKING WITNESSES OF A TWO-CAR CRASH THAT KILLED THREE PEOPLE IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. POLICE IN BETHLEHEM SAY THREE PEOPLE IN A CAR DIED EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AFTER COLLIDING WITH A PICKUP TRUCK.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING NEW STEPS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IS BEING PROTECTED AMID A RUSH TO DRILL FOR NATURAL GAS BENEATH PENNSYLVANIA. RENDELL SAID THURSDAY HIS ADMINISTRATION IS HIRING MORE INSPECTORS TO MONITOR A GROWING NUMBER OF WELL SITES AND WRITING TOUGHER RULES TO PREVENT GAS FROM LEAKING INTO NEARBY HOMES AND WATER WELLS.

EXETER, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN WHO WAS SEVERELY BURNED WHEN HIS HOUSE BLEW UP HAS NOW BEEN CHARGED WITH CAUSING THE EXPLOSION. DAVID LAMOREAUX WAS ARRAIGNED THURSDAY ON CHARGES OF ARSON, RISKING A CATASTROPHE AND OTHER OFFENSES FOR LAST SUMMER'S EXPLOSION THAT LEVELED HIS HOUSE IN EXETER AND DAMAGED MORE THAN A DOZEN NEARBY HOMES AND A SCHOOL.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY A MAN FRUSTRATED WITH BANK OVERDRAFT CHARGES THREATENED TO ROB THE BRANCH
AND INVITED A TV STATION TO FILM HIM DOING IT. POLICE SAY 40-YEAR-OLD FRANCIS COLEMAN CALLED WFMZ ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO SAY HE WAS UPSET WITH A BANK OF AMERICA BRANCH IN BETHLEHEM. THE STATION REPORTED THE THREAT TO POLICE, WHO WENT TO COLEMAN'S HOME AND ARRESTED HIM.

WICHITA, KAN. (AP) - THE CASE A MAN WHO HAS OPENLY CONFESSED TO KILLING A KANSAS ABORTION PROVIDER COULD GOT TO THE JURY TODAY AFTER CLOSING ARGUMENTS. SCOTT ROEDER'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ALREADY HAVE LOST THEIR BID FOR A LESSER CHARGE BASED ON THEIR CLIENT'S BELIEF THAT HE WAS SAVING UNBORN CHILDREN. ROEDER IS CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATH OF DR. GEORGE TILLER AT HIS CHURCH.

LIEGE, BELGIUM (AP) - WHAT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN A GAS EXPLOSION AT AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN BELGIUM HAS NOW KILLED 11 PEOPLE. SEARCHERS PULLED TWO MORE BODIES FROM THE RUBBLE OF A COLLAPSED APARTMENT BLOCK TODAY. OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED ONLY THREE VICTIMS SO FAR. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION EARLY WEDNESDAY CAUSED THE FIVE-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING TO COLLAPSE.

TOKYO (AP) - INDUSTRY ANALYSTS SAY TOYOTA COULD SEE ITS MARKET SHARE DROP TO THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN FOUR YEARS, THANKS TO AN EXPANDING RECALL DUE TO FAULTY GAS PEDALS. TOYOTA'S STOCK VALUE FELL FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT TRADING DAY TODAY IN TOKYO. THE ISSUE HAS LOST MORE THAN 10 PERCENT OF ITS VALUE OVER THE LAST WEEK.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TODAY WILL BE PROMOTING A RETOOLED BUSINESS TAX CREDIT DESIGNED TO GIVE BUSINESSES INCENTIVES TO HIRE NEW WORKERS. HIS PROPOSAL WOULD GIVE COMPANIES A $5,000 TAX CREDIT FOR EACH NET NEW WORKER HIRED IN 2010. IT DREW A COOL RECEPTION FROM CONGRESS LAST MONTH DESPITE THE NATION'S HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THERE ARE SIGNS THAT THE ECONOMY HUMMED RIGHT ALONG IN THE FINAL THREE MONTHS OF 2009. BUT SOME ANALYSTS SAY IT WAS GIVEN A BOOST BY TEMPORARY FACTORS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT STIMULUS WHICH WON'T LAST FOREVER. ANALYSTS SURVEYED BY THOMSON REUTERS ESTIMATE THE GOVERNMENT WILL REPORT 4.5 PERCENT GROWTH TODAY.

Today's News-Thursday, January 28, 2010-8AM

SNOW SHOWERS HAVE OVERSPREAD THE AREA, AND THERE ARE SOME ICY SPOTS FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE. ROAD CREWS ARE OUT SALTING HIGHWAYS, BUT ALLOW FOR EXTRA TIME AS YOU TRAVEL THIS MORNING.

MAN CHARGED IN PINE GROVE BURGLARY

STATE POLICE HAVE NABBED A PINE GROVE MAN INVOLVED IN A BURGLARY LAST OCTOBER. REPORTS SAY 24 YEAR OLD ERVIN WASHINGTON BROKE INTO THE HOME OF PAUL AND TARA KARENDA ON OCTOBER 3RD, TAKING JEWELRY AND MUSICAL EQUIPMENT. WASHINGTON REPORTEDLY FLED TO A HOME IN MT CARMEL THAT NIGHT. HE WAS PICKED UP BY MT CARMEL POLICE THAT DAY, AND WAS JAILED IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY PRISON. FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED SOME OF THE ITEMS AT THAT HOME. WASHINGTON IS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, THEFT AND RELATED CHARGES. AFTER ARRAIGNMENT, WASHINGTON WAS TAKEN BACK TO
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY PRISON.

DAMAGES DONE AT CAR LOT

STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR THE VANDAL WHO DAMAGED VEHICLES AT AN EAST NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP USED CAR LOT. TWO VEHICLES WHICH WERE AT DON'S AUTO FOR SERVICE HAD WINDOWS SMASHED, AND A STEREO TAKEN FROM ONE OF THE VEHICLES. TROOPERS FROM THE SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BARRACKS ARE CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION.

THREE VEHICLE SMASHUP IN TREMONT TOWNSHIP

A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON CRASH IN TREMONT TOWNSHIP LEFT ONE PERSON WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE CRASH HAPPENED ON MOLLEYSTOWN ROAD AROUND 1:30PM, WHERE CHIRSTOPHER WRIGHT OF BERWICK WAS PULLING OUT FROM THE RACEWAY TRUCK STOP, AND CRASHED INTO A CAR DRIVEN BY KATHY SMITH OF TREMONT. THE IMPACT FORCED SMITH'S CAR TO SPIN INTO JENNIFER COOMB'S CAR. COOMB WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT. THE OTHER DRIVERS WEREN'T HURT. WRIGHT WILL BE CITED IN THE CRASH.

KEYSTONE POTATO TO BE FEATURED ON HISTORY CHANNEL

THE HISTORY CHANNEL'S "MODERN MARVELS" WILL FEATURE A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMPANY TONIGHT. OFFICIALS FROM THE NETWORK INDICATE THAT KEYSTONE POTATO PRODUCTS IN HEGINS WILL BE PART OF "THE POTATO" EPISODE AT 8PM. THE PROGRAM WILL LOOK AT THE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT KEYSTONE TAKES RAW POTATOES AND CONVERTS THEM INTO OTHER USABLE FORMS.

HEALTHCARE

THE SUBJECT OF HEALTHCARE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE NATIONAL HEADLINES. WEDNESDAY IN HARRISBURG, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS GATHERED FOR A "HEALTH CARE FREEDOM" RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL. CHUCK NICHOLS HAS MORE:

NICHOLS HEALTHCARE W/KNOWLES

RENDELL SETS UP CENSUS PANEL, ASKS PUBLIC'S HELP

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL IS ASKING PENNSYLVANIANS TO HELP THEIR STATE BY COMPLETING AND RETURNING SOON-TO-BE-MAILED CENSUS FORMS. RENDELL SIGNED AN ORDER WEDNESDAY ESTABLISHING AN ADVISORY PANEL TO WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN RESPONDING TO THE 2010 CENSUS. HE CITED ONE STUDY THAT SUGGESTS THE 2000 CENSUS MISSED ABOUT 100,000 PENNSYLVANIANS. FORMS WILL BE MAILED OUT IN MID-MARCH, AND APRIL 1 IS NATIONAL CENSUS DAY. FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT TO COUNT ABOUT 310 MILLION AMERICANS THIS YEAR. CENSUS FIGURES HELP ESTABLISH REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE AND CONGRESS AS WELL AS STATE SHARES OF FEDERAL MONEY.

INSPECTORS FIND MORE PROBLEMS IN CAPITOL CAFETERIA

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA FOOD SAFETY INSPECTORS SAY THE PROBLEM-PLAGUED STATE CAPITOL CAFETERIA STILL ISN'T MAINTAINING PROPER STANDARDS FOR FOOD HANDLING. AN INSPECTION REPORT MADE PUBLIC WEDNESDAY FOUND EVIDENCE OF INSECTS OR RODENTS, PROBLEMS WITH HAND-WASHING AND INADEQUATE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR FOODS. THE LATEST FINDINGS WERE GENERATED BY AN UNANNOUNCED WALK-THROUGH ON MONDAY OF THE FACILITY OPERATED BY PHILADELPHIA-BASED ARAMARK CORP. THAT'S THE SAME DAY AN ARAMARK OFFICIAL WAS IN THE CAPITOL, APOLOGIZING TO A HOUSE PANEL FOR PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED IN THE CAFETERIA'S TEMPORARY CLOSURE LAST MONTH. THE CAFETERIA IS FREQUENTED BY GOV. ED RENDELL, LAWMAKERS, AND MANY STATEHOUSE VISITORS, TOURISTS AND EMPLOYEES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - U.S. SEN. ARLEN SPECTER SAYS PENNSYLVANIA WILL GET $26.4 MILLION OF THE $8 BILLION IN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY THAT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PLANS TO AWARD FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORRIDORS. MOST OF THE MONEY WILL PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE KEYSTONE CORRIDOR LINKING HARRISBURG AND PHILADELPHIA.

ZELIENOPLE, PA. (AP) - TWO TEENAGE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS WHO WERE REPORTED MISSING AFTER THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR A TRAINING DRILL FOR THEIR SMALL-TOWN DEPARTMENT DIED ALONG WITH A FRIEND WHEN THEIR SUV SLID OFF A SLICK ROAD AND INTO AN ICY WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA POND. OFFICIALS IN ZELIENOPLE SAY THE BODIES OF THE MALE VICTIMS -- TWO 18-YEAR-OLDS AND A 17-YEAR-OLD -- WERE PULLED FROM THE POND WEDNESDAY MORNING.

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - ONE OF THREE MEN CHARGED IN THE HOME-INVASION SLAYING OF A BUSINESSMAN IN HIS SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA HOME A YEAR AGO HAS CONFESSED HIS ROLE IN THE CASE. TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD AMATADI LATHAM TESTIFIED WEDNESDAY THAT HE DECIDED TO HELP ROB THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HOME OF 58-YEAR-OLD ROBERT CHAE IN JANUARY 2009, BUT SAYS HIS CO-DEFENDANTS HAD NO ROLE IN THE PLAN.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - A MAN CONVICTED OF A TRIPLE MURDER IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA THAT AUTHORITIES CALLED A "GANGLAND HIT" HAS BEEN
SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE AFTER JURORS DEADLOCKED
OVER WHETHER HE SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD ALI ELIJAH DAVIS OF FREEMANSBURG WAS CONVICTED MONDAY IN THE NOVEMBER
2007 TRIPLE SLAYING.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA STATE REGULATORS WANT THE DEVELOPERS OF A PHILADELPHIA CASINO PROJECT TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY SHOULDN'T LOSE THEIR GAMBLING LICENSE. THE PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD IMPOSED THAT REQUIREMENT ON FOXWOODS PHILADELPHIA
REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, AND FINED THE GROUP FOR FAILING TO SUBMIT CERTAIN INFORMATION.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS RENEWING HIS PLEDGE TO GET ALL U.S. COMBAT TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ BY THE END OF AUGUST. IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, OBAMA ALSO WARNS OF "DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD" IN AFGHANISTAN. HE ALSO SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT THAT AFGHAN FORCES MAY BE READY TO START TAKING "THE LEAD" IN SECURITY OPERATIONS THERE BY JULY OF NEXT YEAR.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS ORDERING A THREE-YEAR FREEZE ON MOST DOMESTIC SPENDING, WITH A FEW NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS. SPENDING ON NATIONAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY WOULD BE EXEMPT. IN HIS FIRST STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE, HE'S ALSO CALLING FOR A COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO WAYS TO CONTROL SKYROCKETING SPENDING.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO APPARENTLY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE WAS HEARING FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. DURING WEDNESDAY'S SPEECH TO CONGRESS, OBAMA TOOK THE UNUSUAL STEP OF SCOLDING THE HIGH COURT OVER ITS RECENT RULING ON CORPORATE POLITICAL ACTIVITY. ALITO MADE A FACE, SHOOK HIS HEAD AND APPEARED TO MOUTH THE WORDS "NOT TRUE."

KABUL (AP) - NATO IS REPORTING THAT FOREIGN TROOPS HAVE KILLED AN AFGHAN CIVILIAN DURING AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A MILITARY CONVOY. THE DEATH HAS LED TO A PROTEST OUTSIDE A U.S. MILITARY BASE IN KABUL. NATO AND AFGHAN OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT.

UNDATED (AP) - TOYOTA IS EXPANDING A RECALL TO INCLUDE ANOTHER 1.09 MILLION VEHICLES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FIVE MODELS AFFECTED INCLUDED THE HIGHLANDER, VENZA AND THE PONTIAC VIBE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES A DAY AFTER TOYOTA SAID IT WOULD SUSPEND U.S. SALES OF EIGHT MODELS TO FIX GAS PEDALS THAT COULD STICK AND CAUSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING.

Today's News-Wednesday, January 27, 2010-updated 820am

EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY TAKES CAR OUT FOR A RIDE

AN EIGHT YEAR OLD SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BOY ESCAPED INJURY WHEN HE TOOK A CAR OUT FOR A RIDE IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP TUESDAY EVENING. THE BOY TOOK THE CAR KEYS FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER'S COAT AND DROVE THE VEHICLE NEAR RENNINGERS MARKET. WHILE TRYING TO RETURN HOME, THE BOY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, ENDING UP ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IN A CREEK. THE BOY WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT A WINDOW. STATE POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING.

THREE VEHICLE CRASH ON I-81

A THREE VEHICLE CRASH ON INTERSTATE 81 CLOSED THE HIGHWAY FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR YESTERDAY MORNING. REPORTS SAY 28 YEAR OLD ERICA REILLY OF PINE GROVE WAS NORTHBOUND NEAR EXIT 131. HER CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT, STRIKING A MARYLAND WOMAN'S VEHICLE ON THE ON RAMP. MICHELLE CVACH'S CAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE CEMENT BRIDGE. A CANADIAN TRUCKER, ROBERT MACDONALD WAS UNABLE TO AVOID CVACH'S CAR AND STRUCK IT AS WELL. THANKFULLY, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, BUT IT TOOK EMERGENCY CREWS SOME TIME TO CLEAN UP. ERICA REILLY WILL BE CITED WITH VARIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS.

POTTSVILLE MAN INVOLVED IN CHASE WITH POLICE

A POTTSVILLE MAN IS UNDER ARREST AFTER HE LED POLICE ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT 47 YEAR OLD TROY LANGTRY WAVED A GUN AT A WOMAN IN BRANCH TOWNSHIP AND FOUR MEN AT LLEWELLYN FIRE COMPANY BEFORE TAKING OFF. LOCAL POLICE, ALONG WITH A STATE POLICE HELICOPTER WERE IN PURSUIT FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE BEING CAUGHT IN BUCK RUN. LANGTRY IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT, FLEEING POLICE AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. BAIL WAS SET AT $25-THOUSAND-DOLLARS.

MAN FACES DRUG CHARGES

POTTSVILLE POLICE ARRESTED A READING MAN MONDAY ON DRUG CHARGES. THIRTY SEVEN YEAR OLD DANTE KEY WAS FOUND TO BE SELLING COCAINE, AND WAS QUICKLY NABBED BY DRUG INVESTIGATORS. KEY WAS ALSO CHARGED FOR A DRUG SALE HE MADE LAST WEEK IN POTTSVILLE. KEY WAS ARRAIGNED ON THE VARIOUS DRUG COUNTS AND TAKEN TO THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF BAIL.

KNOWLES TO SEEK RE-ELECTION

THE INCUMBENT STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE 124TH DISTRICT WILL SEEK RE-ELECTION TO THE STATE HOUSE. JERRY KNOWLES, WHO WAS ELECTED LAST SUMMER TO FILL THE SEAT VACATED BY DAVID ARGALL, WILL RUN FOR A FULL TERM. THE FORMER AIDE TO ARGALL HAS SERVED IN LOCAL ELECTED POSITIONS, AS WELL AS SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

ANOTHER CANDIDATE ANNOUNCES FOR CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY

A MYERSTOWN MAN IS THE LATEST PERSON TO ANNOUNCE HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. SIXTY FIVE YEAR OLD ALLEN GRIFFITH, FOUNDER OF BIBLICAL FAMILY MINISTRIES, WILL RUN IN THE GOP PRIMARY IN MAY, FACING STATE SENATOR DAVE ARGALL AND JOSH FIRST. THE WINNER WOULD FACE INCUMBENT CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF GRIFFITH'S CANDIDACY WILL BE MADE EARLY NEXT MONTH.

NEW CASTLE SUP'V FACE DRUG CHARGE

A ST CLAIR MAN WHO CRASHED A VEHICLE INTO THE BLYTHE TOWNSHIP WATER AUTHORITY BUILDING LAST MONTH IS FACING CHARGES. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD, MICHAEL TOBIN THE THIRD WAS IN POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA WHEN HE CRASHED A ST CLAIR SCHOOL DISTRICT VEHICLE INTO THE BUILDING ON VALLEY STREET, ROUTE 209 ON DECEMBER 7TH. EMERGENCY CREWS FOUND A PIPE WITH MARIJUANA RESIDUE IN IT WHEN TREATING TOBIN.PA. HOUSE VOTES TO BAN DRIVERS' HAND-HELD PHONES

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - POLICE COULD PULL OVER AND FINE DRIVERS FOR TEXTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OR USING A CELL PHONE WITHOUT A HANDS-FREE DEVICE UNDER A BILL THAT PASSED THE STATE HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY TUESDAY. THE HOUSE VOTED 189-6 TO IMPOSE THE NEW RULES ON MOVING VEHICLES, WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEMS OR DIALING 911. THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY REP. JOE MARKOSEK OF ALLEGHENY. IT WAS SENT TO THE SENATE, WHICH IN JULY PASSED NARROWER LEGISLATION TO BAN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. THE HOUSE-PASSED BILL MAKES VIOLATIONS A "PRIMARY OFFENSE," WHICH MEANS OFFICERS CAN STOP MOTORISTS FOR VIOLATIONS WITHOUT NEEDING SOME OTHER REASON TO PULL THEM OVER. NINETEEN STATES BAN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING, AND SIX BAN HAND-HELD CELL PHONES.
FORMER NFL LINEMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN PA. PROBE

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A FORMER NFL LINEMAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO ACCEPTING A BRIBE WHILE SERVING AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN LUZERNE COUNTY. FORMER COMMISSIONER GREG SKREPENAK PLEADED GUILTY TUESDAY IN FEDERAL COURT IN SCRANTON. PROSECUTORS CHARGED HIM LAST MONTH WITH ACCEPTING $5,000 IN GIFTS FROM A DEVELOPER SEEKING PUBLIC FINANCING OF A TOWNHOUSE PROJECT. SKREPENAK IS FREE PENDING SENTENCING ON MAY 12. HE FACES 33 TO 41 MONTHS IN PRISON UNDER FEDERAL GUIDELINES. THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR THE OFFENSE IS 10 YEARS IN PRISON. SKREPENAK WAS CHARGED AS PART OF AN ONGOING FEDERAL CORRUPTION PROBE. HE SAID IN COURT, "I HAVE TO HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED."

EASTON, PA. (AP) - JURORS IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ARE TO HEAR CLOSING ARGUMENTS TODAY ON WHETHER A MAN CONVICTED OF A TRIPLE MURDER THAT AUTHORITIES CALLED A "GANGLAND HIT" SHOULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH OR TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD ALI ELIJAH DAVIS OF FREEMANSBURG WAS CONVICTED MONDAY OF THE NOVEMBER 2007 TRIPLE SLAYING.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE FBI IS LOOKING INTO WHETHER PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICERS VIOLATED THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF AN 18-YEAR-OLD VIOLIST WHO ACCUSED THEM OF BRUTALLY BEATING HIM AS HE WALKED TO HIS GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE AFTER DARK. AN FBI SPOKESMAN SAYS THE AGENCY HAS LAUNCHED AN INITIAL PROBE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A LETTER FROM JORDAN MILES' ATTORNEY FORMALLY REQUESTING A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE JANUARY 12TH CONFRONTATION.

ELKINS PARK, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SAY A MAN ARRESTED IN A DOMESTIC DISPUTE LAST WEEK TURNED OUT TO BE WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH A DOUBLE MURDER IN CALIFORNIA MORE THAN 15 YEARS AGO. POLICE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SAY 34-YEAR-OLD THIEU VAN TRAN WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY LAST WEEK AND HIS FINGERPRINTS INDICATED THAT HE WAS WANTED ON A WARRANT ISSUED IN 1994 IN SACRAMENTO, CHARGING HIM WITH TWO COUNTS OF MURDER AND ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY HAS DIED A DAY AFTER HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT WHILE HUNTING RACCOONS WITH RELATIVES. STATE POLICE SAID RUDY SHETLER OF FREDONIA WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WHEN A RIFLE ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED LATE MONDAY NIGHT IN A WOODED AREA OF MERCER COUNTY. HE DIED AT A PITTSBURGH HOSPITAL TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE THEME OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S FIRST STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE TONIGHT WILL BE HEAVY ON JOBS CREATION AND THE ECONOMY. HE'LL BE TRYING TO REASSURE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THEIR STRUGGLES. HE'LL ALSO BE MAKING THE CASE THAT HE'S WORKING TO CHANGE WASHINGTON EVEN AS HE FINDS HIMSELF HAVING TO WORK WITHIN ITS OLD POLITICAL WAYS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THERE'S WORD THAT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS PLANNING TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH THE COUNTRY'S $1.35 TRILLION BUDGET DEFICIT. THE SENATE REJECTED A SIMILAR PLAN YESTERDAY. BUT THE NEW YORK TIMES IS REPORTING ON ITS WEB SITE THAT OBAMA WILL USE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE PANEL.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREA HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING FIRE NEAR THEIR DISPUTED SEA BORDER. THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES. THE NORTH SAYS IT'S FIRING ARTILLERY ROUNDS AS PART OF A MILITARY DRILL. THE SOUTH HAS BEEN RESPONDING WITH ABOUT 100 SHOTS FROM AN ISLAND MARINE BASE.

BEIRUT (AP) - A LEBANESE ARMY OFFICIAL SAYS CREWS ARE EXPANDING THEIR SEARCH FOR THE BLACK BOXES AND OTHER WRECKAGE OF AN ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES JET THAT CRASHED MINUTES AFTER TAKING OFF FROM BEIRUT. ALL 90 PEOPLE ABOARD THE PLANE ARE BELIEVED TO BE DEAD. INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW WHY THE PLANE WENT DOWN IN FLAMES EARLY MONDAY. AN OFFICIAL SAYS "ONLY THE BLACK BOX CAN TELL."

WASHINGTON (AP) - ANALYSTS ARE CALLING TOYOTA'S MOVE UNPRECEDENTED. THE AUTOMAKER IS SUSPENDING U.S. SALES OF EIGHT OF ITS MOST POPULAR MODELS WHILE IT WORKS TO FIX FAULTY GAS PEDALS. TOYOTA IS ALSO PLANNING TO STOP PRODUCTION AT SIX NORTH AMERICAN PLANTS, STARTING NEXT WEEK.

Today's News-Tuesday, January 26, 2010

KLINGERSTOWN WOMAN HURT IN CRASH

A KLINGERSTOWN WOMAN WAS HURT WHEN A TREE PLUNGED THROUGH HER WINDSHIELD MONDAY DURING THE STORM. STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SAY 58 YEAR OLD DARCIE WEHRY WAS DRIVING ON STATE ROUTE 4016 IN ELDRED TOWNSHIP AFTER 5:30AM WHEN HER CAR HIT A TREE BRANCH, AND IT SMASHED THROUGH HER WINDSHIELD, INJURING HER FACE. WEHRY WAS TAKEN TO GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT. STATE POLICE AREN'T CERTAIN IF THE TREE BRANCH WAS ALREADY ON THE ROADWAY OR WHETHER IT FELL ON HER CAR DURING HIGH WINDS AND DRIVING RAIN.

TEEN CHARGED WITH HARASSMENT

POLICE SAY A SHENANDOAH TEENAGER WILL BE CHARGED WITH HARASSMENT AFTER AN INCIDENT IN WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP SUNDAY NIGHT. TROOPERS FROM THE FRACKVILLE BARRACKS SAY 48 YEAR OLD JOYCE BAROWSKI WENT TO HER PARENTS HOME ON TEXAS AVENUE, HEAVILY INTOXICATED, AND YELLED AT HER TEENAGED SON TO CLEAN UP HIS ROOM. REPORTS SAY THE BOY BECAME UPSET, AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE. THE BOY REPORTEDLY GRABBED HIS MOTHER'S WRISTS AS HE PUSHED PAST HER. CHARGES OF HARASSMENT ARE EXPECTED TO BE FILED.

PUC DENIES CAB COMPANY PERMIT

A PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION JUDGE HAS DENIED THE APPLICATION OF AN ILLINOIS COUPLE WHO WANTED TO START A NEW CAB COMPANY IN THE AREA. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE EMBER JANDEBEUR RULED THAT CLAUDE DAVIS JR. AND HIS WIFE LINDA "DID NOT PROVE THEY HAD THE ABILITY OR INCLINATION TO OPERATE CHARLIE'S YELLOW CAB INCORPORATED." THE DAVISES HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO TRY AND START A CAB OPERATION IN THE CITY. JUDGE JANDEBEUR WAS CRITICAL OF CLAUDE DAVIS'S APPLICATION AND HIS CRIMINAL PAST. DAVIS INTENDED TO OPERATE THE CAB SERVICE IN SCHUYLKILL AND CARBON COUNTIES.

SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS RESULTS

IN SPITE OF TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, SCHUYLKILL COUNTIANS DUG DEEP TO HELP OTHERS DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. CAPTAIN ADAM HENCH OF THE POTTSVILLE SALVATION ARMY REPORTED POSITIVE RESULTS YESTERDAY AT THE ARMY'S BOARD MEETING. HENCH SAID THAT CASH DONATIONS FROM THE KETTLE CAMPAIGN AND OTHER SOURCES EXCEEDED 2008'S LEVELS. OVER 15-THOUSAND-TOYS WERE GIVEN OUT TO MORE THAN 18-HUNDRED CHILDREN, MORE THAN 600 FAMILIES WERE ALSO AIDED DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. HENCH SAID THAT THERE WERE ALOT OF FIRST TIME FAMILIES SEEKING AID DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

PADCO BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

THE POTTSVILLE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION HAS ROLLED OUT ITS 2010 BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION. WPPA/T102 NEWS REPORTER SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS MORE:

PADCO

ESSENCE OF JOY CONCERT

SOUNDS OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FILLED THE AIR OVER THE WEEKEND AT PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY TOOK IN THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND FILED THIS REPORT:

ESSENCE OF JOY

ESSENCE OF JOY WORKSHOP-SHERRY MARCHEFSKY


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - JURY SELECTION IS UNDER WAY IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF A MAN ACCUSED OF FLEEING OVERSEAS JUST BEFORE A 1998 TRIAL IN THE SLAYING OF A PHILADELPHIA RETIREE. PROSECUTORS SAY THEN 19-YEAR-OLD DAVID NAM KILLED A WORLD WAR II VETERAN DURING A 1996 HOME-INVASION ROBBERY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN PHILADELPHIA SAY THEY WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST A MAN CHARGED IN A HOME INVASION THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF HIS BEST FRIEND AND A WOMAN LAST SUMMER. TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD NAFIS PINKNEY IS CHARGED WITH MURDER AND RELATED COUNTS IN THE DEATHS OF 21-YEAR-OLD JONATHAN PITTS AND 20-YEAR-OLD NAKEISHA FINKS.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - JURORS IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE CONVICTED A MAN OF A TRIPLE MURDER THAT AUTHORITIES CALLED A "GANGLAND HIT." THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY PANEL DELIBERATED FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE HOURS MONDAY BEFORE CONVICTING 22-YEAR-OLD ALI ELIJAH DAVIS OF FREEMANSBURG OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN THE NOVEMBER 2007 DEATHS OF THREE YOUNG PEOPLE.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A JUDGE HAS REVOKED THE BOND OF A SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH MAN WHO AUTHORITIES SAY FLED TO VIETNAM TO AVOID TRIAL AFTER ONE OF HIS 9-YEAR-OLD ADOPTED TWINS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT AND KILLED THE OTHER.SIXTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL LANESE, OF UPPER ST. CLAIR, ARRIVED IN PITTSBURGH ON SATURDAY AFTER SURRENDERING LAST WEEK TO FBI AGENTS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A BILL THAT WOULD IMPOSE A FINE ON MOTORISTS IN PENNSYLVANIA WHO USE A CELL PHONE WITHOUT A HANDS-FREE DEVICE IS ADVANCING IN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE HOUSE GAVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO THE BILL MONDAY AND A FINAL VOTE ON THE BILL COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS TODAY.

BEIRUT (AP) - LEBANON'S TRANSPORTATION MINISTER SAYS THE PILOT OF AN ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES JET WAS FLYING THE WRONG WAY BEFORE YESTERDAY'S FATAL CRASH. HE SAYS THE BEIRUT CONTROL TOWER ASKED THE PILOT TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS BUT HE "DID A VERY FAST AND STRANGE TURN." AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDER WAY INTO WHY THE PLANE WENT DOWN IN FLAMES SOON AFTER TAKING OFF WITH 90 PEOPLE ABOARD.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - HAITI'S PRESIDENT IS ASKING FOR DONATIONS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TENTS TO HELP SHELTER EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS, NEARLY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DISASTER STRUCK. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPREADING OUT ACROSS EMPTY LOTS, PARKS AND PLAZAS UNDER THE BURNING TROPICAL SUN. AN ESTIMATED 1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT HOMELESS BY THE 7.0 MAGNITUDE QUAKE.

UNDATED (AP) - A WINTER STORM BLOWING ACROSS SEVERAL MIDWESTERN STATES HAS BEEN BRINGING FIERCE WINDS AND SNOW. IN SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA, ABOUT 100 STUDENTS ARE SPENDING THE NIGHT AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL AFTER THE WEATHER BECAME TOO DANGEROUS FOR TRAVEL. MEANWHILE, CREWS IN THE DAKOTAS, NEBRASKA AND IOWA HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESTORE ELECTRICITY TO ABOUT 13,000 CUSTOMERS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN HINTING AT WHAT HE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN TOMORROW NIGHT'S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE. THE SPEECH IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND BOOSTING JOB CREATION. HE'S ALSO EXPECTED TO SUBMIT A PLAN TO REDUCE SWELLING BUDGET DEFICITS.

DETROIT (AP) - THERE'S WORD THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS SET TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT'S ADDING ABOUT 1,200 JOBS AT ITS CHICAGO ASSEMBLY PLANT. THE WORKERS WOULD HELP BUILD THE NEW FORD EXPLORER STARTING LATER THIS YEAR. SOME OF THE JOBS ARE EXPECTED TO GO TO FORMER FORD EMPLOYEES LAID OFF AT OTHER FACTORIES.

Today's News-Monday, January 25, 2010-9:15AM

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALERTS:

SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOONTIME TODAY FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3PM THIS AFTERNOON.

WARM TEMPS AND WIND BLOWN RAIN START THIS MONDAY MORNING. THERE ARE REPORTED POWER OUTAGES IN SPOTS OF THE COUNTY ACCORDING TO PPLRESOURCES.COM. APPROXIMATELY 15-HUNDRED CUSTOMERS OF PPL RESOURCES ARE WITHOUT POWER AS OF 9:15AM, THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION IN WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP, BUT PLACES LIKE PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP, POTTSVILLE, EAST UNION TOWNSHIP HAVE SPOTTY OUTAGES. STANDING WATER IS ALSO REPORTED TO BE A PROBLEM ON AREA ROADWAYS. THE RAIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OUT TOWARDS THE AFTERNOON. WARM TEMPS AND WIND BLOWN RAIN START THIS MONDAY MORNING.

SIMPLE ASSAULT IN SHENANDOAH

A SHENANDOAH MAN IS JAILED FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT IN THE BOROUGH SATURDAY. STATE POLICE SAY 24 YEAR OLD YESI MENJIVAR REPORTED THAT SHE WAS ASSAULTED BY DANIEL TEJADA AT THEIR WEST ATLANTIC STREET HOME. MENJIVAR WAS INJURED IN THE INCIDENT. TEJADA WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT, AND COMMITTED TO THE COUNTY PRISON AFTER ARRAIGNMENT.

PURSE THIEF BEING SOUGHT

FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING A SHENANDOAH WOMAN'S PURSE AND ASSAULTING HER. EARLY SUNDAY, 65 YEAR OLD MARION ANDREWSKY WAS WALKING IN THE 200 BLOCK OF WEST MOUNT VERNON STREET WHEN THE MAN, DESCRIBED AS BEING A HISPANIC MALE, ABOUT FIVE FEET FOUR INCHES TALL IN HIS LATE TEENS OR EARLY TWENTIES, TOOK HER PURSE AND PUSHED ANDREWSKY TO THE GROUND. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL PA STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE, 874-5300.

RINGTOWN WOMAN INJURED IN CRASH

A RINGTOWN WOMAN WAS INJURED IN A ONE VEHICLE CRASH SUNDAY MORNING IN UNION TOWNSHIP. SIXTY FIVE YEAR OLD MARY BALKIEWICZ WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROUTE 4033, LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT, CROSSED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, FINALLY STRIKING GUIDERAILS AND ENDED UP ON ITS ROOF. BALKIEWICZ SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO ST CATHERINE'S MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT. THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 10:30 SUNDAY MORNING.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTIANS ENJOY DAY AT SWEET ARROW LAKE

YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE TOOK TO THE OUTDOORS SATURDAY AT SWEET ARROW LAKE COUNTY PARK. WPPA/T102 NEWS REPORTER SHERRY MARCHEFSKY JOINED THEM:

CABIN FEVER

ERIE, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE AND ARSON IN THE DEATH OF HER FATHER IN A MARCH 2007 FIRE. POLICE ALLEGE THAT 29-YEAR-OLD ERICA DUNSTON USED A FLAMMABLE LIQUID TO START THE BLAZE THAT KILLED 56-YEAR-OLD RICHARD DUNSTON, A FATHER OF FIVE AND A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN FROM ERIE COUNTY.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WILL PRESENT THEIR CASE TODAY FOR A MAN ACCUSED OF A TRIPLE HOMICIDE IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT PROSECUTORS ALLEGE WAS RETALIATION FOR EARLIER KILLINGS IN NEW JERSEY. PROSECUTORS RESTED THEIR CASE AGAINST 22-YEAR-OLD ALI ELIJAH DAVIS OF FREEMANSBURG ON FRIDAY AFTER SHOWING JURORS GRAPHIC AUTOPSY PHOTOS OF THE VICTIMS.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PROFESSOR HAS BEEN GIVEN A $750,000 FEDERAL GRANT TO STUDY DARK ENERGY -- WHETHER IT EXISTS AND WHAT IT MIGHT SAY ABOUT THE EVENTUAL FATE OF THE UNIVERSE. JEFFREY NEWMAN WAS AMONG 69 RESEARCHERS NATIONWIDE TO GET THE GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - JONATHAN SAIDEL, PHILADELPHIA'S CITY CONTROLLER FROM 1989 TO 2005, IS SET TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION TO RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTION. THE PHILADELPHIA ATTORNEY IS MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS AFTERNOON AT CITY HALL.

DRUMS, PA. (AP) - AN ONE EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT, GETTING A COLD ONE IS NO PROBLEM SINCE EVERYTHING IS ON ICE -- AND UNDER IT, AND SURROUNDED BY IT. DEMENTI'S RESTAURANT IN MOUNTAIN TOP HAS SET UP A TEMPORARY FREESTANDING BAR IN ITS BACKYARD THAT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY MADE OF 50 TONS OF ICE -- INCLUDING WALLS, ROOF, SERVING BAR, BENCHES AND DECORATIONS.

BEIRUT (AP) - LEBANON'S PRESIDENT SAYS SABOTAGE IS NOT SUSPECTED IN THIS MORNING'S CRASH OF AN ETHIOPIAN PLANE THAT WENT DOWN IN FLAMES SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM BEIRUT. SHIPS ARE SEARCHING THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA FOR ANY POSSIBLE SURVIVORS. AT LEAST FOUR BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED SO FAR. AUTHORITIES SAY THE PLANE TOOK OFF IN STORMY WEATHER.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - OFFICIALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE MEETING IN MONTREAL TODAY TO DISCUSS WAYS TO BETTER COORDINATE RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI. MEANWHILE, INTERNATIONAL AID WORKERS ARE GETTING MORE FOOD INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS. ON SUNDAY, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LINED UP IN PORT-AU-PRINCE'S LARGEST SLUM AS U.S. AND BRAZILIAN TROOPS HANDED OUT AID. ONE WOMAN WELCOMED THE HANDOUTS, BUT SAID, "WE NEED MORE."

KABUL (AP) - NATO SAYS EIGHT SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INJURED IN A ROCKET STRIKE AT THE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL MILITARY BASE IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN. AN OFFICIAL SAYS THE ROCKET HIT INSIDE KANDAHAR AIR FIELD SUNDAY EVENING. INJURED WERE FOUR BULGARIANS AND FOUR ROMANIANS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - AN AUDIT OF A STATE DEPARTMENT CONTRACT TO TRAIN IRAQ'S POLICE FORCE SHOWS POOR OVERSIGHT OF MORE THAN $1 BILLION. ONE EXAMPLE SHOWS THE DEPARTMENT SPENDING $4.5 MILLION A YEAR ON A SECURITY DETAIL TO PROTECT SIX U.S. CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ. THE GROUP ALREADY HAD A TEAM OF HIRED GUARDS.

DALLAS (AP) - CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO PROTECT TWO SENSITIVE WILDLIFE AREAS AFTER SOME 462,000 GALLONS OF OIL SPILLED SATURDAY OFF THE COAST OF TEXAS. THE COAST GUARD SAYS THE OIL SPILLED WHEN A TANKER COLLIDED WITH A TOWING VESSEL NEAR PORT ARTHUR. IT'S THE LARGEST SPILL IN TEXAS SINCE 1994.

Today's News-Saturday, January 23, 2010

TWO MORE ARRESTED IN PINE GROVE FIRE

A MAN AND WOMAN HAVE NOW BEEN ARRESTED FOR THEIR ROLES IN STARTING A FIRE THAT DESTROYED SEVEN HOMES IN PINE GROVE LAST WEEK. STEVEN DONTON AND ANGELA SINGH ARE NOW CHARGED WITH RISKING A CATASTROPHE AND OTHER COUNTS, STEMMING FROM AN EXPLOSION OF A METH LAB AT 75 SOUTH TULPEHOCKEN STREET ON JANUARY 12TH. DONTON AND SINGH NOW JOIN LANCE CHRISTMAN AND AMBER JOLLEY AS THOSE BEING CHARGED. THE FOUR ARE JAILED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON.

HEGINS FIRE WORK OF ARSONIST

A STRING OF FIRES IN THE HEGINS VALLEY, DATING BACK 9 MONTHS, HAVE RESIDENTS ON EDGE. THE MOST RECENT BLAZE AT A SUMMER HOME ON BROOK STREET HAS BEEN RULED ARSON, ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL JOHN BURNS. THURSDAY NIGHT'S FIRE DESTROYED THAT PROPERTY, AND ALL OF THE HALF DOZEN FIRES HAVE BEEN RULED ARSON.

FROM LEFT:

STUDENTS FROM MINERSVILLE'S 6TH GRADE CLASS

JOANNE WOOD AND LINDA CLEVELAND, FROM REST HAVEN

MAKE A DIFFERENCE RECEPTION

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE NEVER TURNED AWAY THOSE IN NEED. THAT COMMITMENT TO SERVICE WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE 2009 MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY AWARDS CEREMONY AT ST. CATHERINE'S MEDICAL CENTER IN ASHLAND. GIRL SCOUT TROOPS, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES WERE AMONG THE 134 REGISTERED PROJECTS CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER DURING MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY. FAITH STERANKO AND JANEL KRAMER OF MINERSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL'S 6TH GRADE CLASS TALKED ABOUT THEIR PROJECT, OPERATION CHRISTMAS STOCKING:

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

CLICK TO LISTEN

OVER 61-HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS HELPED WITH PROJECTS, BENEFITTING COUNTLESS PEOPLE AND ANIMALS DURING MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY IN OCTOBER.

CHAIN REACTION CRASH IN POTTSVILLE

A NEW PHILADELPHIA WOMAN ESCAPED INJURY IN A CRASH IN POTTSVILLE EARLY FRIDAY. CITY POLICE SAY NICOLE SCHREPPLE WAS EASTBOUND ON NICHOLS STREET WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE, AND STRUCK A PARKED JEEP. THE IMPACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A SECOND CAR, AND THE JEEP ALSO STRUCK A BASEMENT WALL OF THE HOUSE AT 447 NICHOLS STREET. SCHREPPLE'S CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE.

HIT AND RUN

STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A HIT AND RUN DRIVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING IN CRESSONA. REPORTS SAY THE CAR APPARENTLY WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST ON A CURVE NEAR THE CRESSONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE VEHICLE SPUN, STRIKING A WOODEN FENCE AND SPEED LIMIT SIGN, THEN LEFT THE SCENE. POLICE SAY RED PAINT WAS SEEN ON THE WOODEN FENCE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS ACCIDENT SHOULD CALL SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE.

WINTER CARNIVAL

THE GREATER POTTSVILLE WINTER CARNIVAL CONTINUES IN FULL SWING THIS WEEKEND. WITH A LOOK BACK AT PAST EVENTS, AND WHAT'S ON THE CALENDAR, HERE'S REPORTER SHERRY MARCHEFSKY.

WINTER CARNIVAL

ESSENCE OF JOY CONCERT

A WELL KNOWN MUSICAL GROUP FROM PENN STATE'S MAIN CAMPUS WILL BE PERFORMING AT SCHUYLKILL CAMPUS SATURDAY NIGHT. WPPA NEWS REPORTER SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS MORE:

ESSENCE OF JOY (click to listen)

EDWARD JONES RANKS HIGH IN FORTUNE 500

THE ST LOUIS BASED FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRM EDWARD JONES HAS RANKED NUMBER 2 ON FORTUNE MAGAZINE'S "100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN 2010". EDWARD JONES ALSO RANKED NUMBER ONE FOR LARGE-SIZED COMPANIES. THE COMPANY'S FORTUNE RANKINGS INCLUDE TOP 10 FINISHES FOR EIGHT YEARS AND CONSECUTIVE NUMBER 1 RANKINGS IN 2002 AND 2003. JIM WEDDLE, MANAGING PARTNER OF EDWARD JONES, SAID THAT IN PART, THE SATISFACTION OF THE FIRM'S ASSOCIATES STEMS FROM THE WORK THEY DO:

WEDDLE

IN NAMING EDWARD JONES TO THE LIST, FORTUNE EDITORS NOTED THAT THE FIRM HAS NOT CLOSED ANY OFFICES-OVER 12 THOUSAND NATIONWIDE DURING THE RECESSION. EDWARD JONES HAS OFFICES IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, TAMAQUA AND HAMBURG.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE FIELD OF CANDIDATES EYEING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS GOTTEN SMALLER. PHILADELPHIA BUSINESSMAN TOM KNOX IS DROPPING OUT AND THROWING HIS SUPPORT BEHIND ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN ONORATO. KNOX SAYS HE WILL URGE THE OTHER THREE DEMOCRATS TO ALSO WITHDRAW AND ENDORSE ONORATO.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE MOTHER OF A BLACK TEENAGE VIOLA PLAYER ALLEGING BRUTALITY BY THREE WHITE PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICERS SAYS SHE BELIEVES HER SON WAS ATTACKED BECAUSE OF HIS RACE. JORDAN MILES ATTENDS THE CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS CHARGED LAST WEEK WITH ASSAULT AND RESISTING ARREST.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE SENTENCE IS A YEAR OF HOME CONFINEMENT FOR MICHAEL PALERMO, A FRIEND OF CONVICTED FORMER STATE SENATOR VINCENT FUMO. PALERMO PLEADED GUILTY LAST YEAR TO TAKING $287,000 FOR LITTLE- OR NO-WORK STATE CONTRACTS. FUMO IS SERVING A 55-MONTH SENTENCE FOR DEFRAUDING THE STATE AND TWO NONPROFITS OF MILLIONS.

MILWAUKEE (AP) - HARLEY-DAVIDSON POSTED A LARGER-THAN-EXPECTED FOURTH-QUARTER LOSS. THE COMPANY LOST NEARLY $219 MILLION, OR 94 CENTS PER SHARE. HARLEY HAS BEEN REORGANIZING ITS BUSINESS OVER THE PAST YEAR TO COPE WITH FALLING DEMAND, CUTTING EMPLOYEES, CLOSING FACILITIES AND SHUTTERING OR SELLING BRANDS.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY IN PITTSBURGH SAYS A SEARCH OF THREE CLASSROOM BUILDINGS FRIDAY AFTERNOON TURNED UP NOTHING UNUSUAL AFTER THE CAMPUS RECEIVED AN UNSPECIFIED SECURITY THREAT. A CAMPUS SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SCHOOL RECEIVED A PHONED-IN THREAT ABOUT NOON BUT REOPENED THE BUILDINGS ABOUT 2:30 P.M.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - A PAIR OF RESCUES A STARTLING 10 DAYS AFTER HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE COULD BE THE LAST. THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS HAITI'S GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED AN END TO THE SEARCH AND RESCUE PHASE FOR SURVIVORS, AS AN INCREASED HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORT CONTINUES.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - A SEVERELY DEHYDRATED 21-YEAR-OLD IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY IN WHAT COULD BE THE LAST SURVIVAL MIRACLE IN EARTHQUAKE-DEVASTATED HAITI. AN ISRAELI RESCUE TEAM PULLED THE MAN FROM THE RUINS OF HIS BEDROOM 10 DAYS AFTER THE QUAKE. AN 84-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IS REPORTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER RELATIVES SAY SHE WAS RESCUED FROM THE WRECKAGE OF HER HOME. HAITI HAS NOW DECLARED THE SEARCH AND RESCUE PHASE COMPLETED.

BAGHDAD (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS HOLDING TALKS TODAY WITH IRAQI LEADERS ABOUT THE BLACKLISTING OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MARCH ELECTION. THE WHITE HOUSE WORRIES THE BANS COULD RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VOTE'S LEGITIMACY. A VETTING PANEL HAS PUT 512 NAMES ON THE BLACKLIST BECAUSE OF SUSPECTED LINKS TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REGIME AND MORE ARE EXPECTED.

KABUL (AP) - POLICE SAY A GUNBATTLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROTEST IN AFGHANISTAN STARTED WHEN MILITANTS HIDING AMONG DEMONSTRATORS OPENED FIRE AND OFFICERS SHOT BACK. TWO PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED. THE PROTEST WAS AGAINST THE DEATHS OF FOUR MEN IN A NATO-AFGHAN RAID. VILLAGERS SAY THE MEN WERE CIVILIANS BUT NATO AND AFGHAN POLICE SAY
THEY WERE MILITANTS.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - SHE ACTED ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN FILM IN THE MID 20TH-CENTURY. JEAN SIMMONS, WHOSE ETHEREAL SCREEN PRESENCE MADE HER AN ICON OF THE TIME, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 80. THE ACTRESS SANG WITH MARLON BRANDO IN "GUYS AND DOLLS," CO-STARRED WITH GREGORY PECK, AND PLAYED OPHELIA TO LAURENCE OLIVIER'S "HAMLET."

Today's News-Friday, January 22, 2010

SNOWFLAKE AND SNOWDROP CORONATION TOMORROW NIGHT FOR WINTER CARNIVAL

IT'S JANUARY AND THAT MEANS WINTER CARNIVAL FOR POTTSVILLE. IN THE MID 1960’S G. EARL STEVENSON, A CITY COUNCILMAN AND DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY WENT TO ST. PAUL MINNESOTA AND ATTENDED THEIR WINTER CARNIVAL, WHICH HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 100 YEARS. STEVENSON PRESENTED THE IDEA TO THE POTTSVILLE RECREATION COMMISSION AND BUILT THE FOUNDATION WE KNOW TODAY AS THE GREATER POTTSVILLE WINTER CARNIVAL. 1968 MARKED ITS FIRST YEAR AND THE PAGENT WAS HELD IN THE HENRY CLAY ROOM AT THE NECHO ALLEN HOTEL. THE CARNIVAL WEEK’S EVENTS INLUDED FIREWORKS, SKI JUMPING, DOWN HILL SKIING, A TORCH LIGHT SKI PARADE, ICE SCUPLTURES IN GARFIELD SQUARE, HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST, AND DOG SLEDDING. MANY CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE 1968, BUT THE CARNIVAL PRESSES ON TO THIS DAY. THE SNOWDROP & SNOWFLAKE PAGANT WILL BE HELD JANUARY 23RD AT THE POTTSVILLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL AT 7PM. A PAGENT PARTY WILL BE HELD FOLLOWING THE CORONATION AT THE POTTSVILLE CLUB. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR. COME OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.


ESSENCE OF JOY TO PERFORM AT PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL CAMPUS

PENN STATE MAIN CAMPUS’S "ESSENCE OF JOY" WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE SCHUYLKILL CAMPUS JANUARY 23RD AT THE JOHN E MORGAN AUDITORIUM AT 7:30PM. TICKETS ARE $5 FOR ADULTS, AND $3FOR SENIORS AND STUDENTS. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR ANTHONY LEACH, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND MUSIC EDUCATION AND PENN STATES 2ND CHOSEN LAUREATE, THE ESSENCE OF JOY WILL BE PERFORMING A VARIETY OF MUSIC GENRES FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT. THEY WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE ON SUNDAY AT 10, WHICH IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC. THESE ACTIVITY IS IN HONOR OF THE CAMPUS’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY.


FIRE DESTROYS HOME IN HEGINS

A THURSDAY NIGHT FIRE ALL BUT DESTROYED A HOME IN HEGINS. FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO 12 BROOK STREET SHORTLY AFTER 7PM. REPORTS INDICATE THAT FIRE WAS HEAVY AT TIMES, AND IT TOOK SEVERAL HOURS FOR CREWS TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE. THE SUMMER HOME WAS UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME. A CAUSE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED IN THAT FIRE IN HEGINS TOWNSHIP.

EDUCATION EXPRESS

PARENTS WITH CHILDREN HEADED TO KINDERGARTEN CAN SPEND A FUN DAY SATURDAY AT FAIRLANE VILLAGE MALL AT THE EDUCATION EXPRESS. TAMMY SPEVAK, COORDINATOR FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION EXPLAINS:

SPEVAK 1

VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CRAFTS AND STORY TIME WILL BE OFFERED
FROM 11AM TILL 4PM. INFORMATION ABOUT COUNTY-WIDE KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE. SPEVAK SAYS THAT THE PROGRAM SHE COORDINATES IS MUCH MORE THAN BUILDING BLOCKS AND TOYS:

SPEVAK 2

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS FUNDED IN PART BY A STATE GRANT AWARDED TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED.

BIG BUCKS AT FREEDOM

SOME LUCKY INDIVIDUAL WILL GET THEIR OWN ECONOMIC STIMULUS TONIGHT AT THE FREEDOM DEALERSHIPS, POSSIBLY WALKING AWAY WITH $15 THOUSAND DOLLARS. FREEDOM TOYOTA AND HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN RUNNING THEIR "SWING FOR THE MONEY" CAMPAIGN FOR NEW CAR PURCHASERS, BY PUTTING ON AN INDOOR GREEN. TONIGHT, THE FINAL QUALIFIERS WILL COMPETE TO WIN FROM $15-THOUSAND TO AS MUCH AS $30-THOUSAND DOLLARS. FREEDOM PRESIDENT ERIC SAVAGE GUARANTEES THAT SOMEONE WILL TAKE HOME THE $15 GRAND. THE FREEDOM DEALERSHIPS ARE LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTES 61 AND 78 IN HAMBURG.

PA. JOBLESS RATE UP, JOBS AT MOST SCARCE IN DECADE

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A NEW REPORT SAYS JOBS IN PENNSYLVANIA WERE HARDER TO FIND IN DECEMBER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN MORE THAN A DECADE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY SAID THURSDAY THAT STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT JUMPED TO 8.9 PERCENT LAST MONTH. THE OCTOBER RATE ALSO WAS 8.9 PERCENT, THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 25 YEARS, BEFORE DIPPING TO 8.5 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS EMPLOYERS ELIMINATED ABOUT 81-HUNDRED JOBS IN DECEMBER, LEAVING PENNSYLVANIA WITH FEWER THAN 5.6 MILLION JOBS -THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE SEPTEMBER 1999. THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 10 PERCENT. AMONG THE 10 MOST POPULOUS STATES, ONLY TEXAS' RATE IS LOWER.

PA. SLOTS REVENUE IN DEC. PASSES NJ FOR 1ST TIME

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GAMBLERS ARE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO SLOT MACHINES IN PENNSYLVANIA THAN THEY ARE IN ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. THE GAMING INDUSTRY OBSERVER SAYS DECEMBER WAS THE FIRST MONTH EVER THAT SLOT-MACHINE HANDLE IN PENNSYLVANIA SURPASSED ATLANTIC CITY'S. EDITOR JOSEPH WEINERT CALLS IT A MILESTONE THAT IS A RESULT OF DECLINING SLOTS PLAY IN NEW JERSEY AND RISING SLOTS PLAY IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE DIFFERENCE WAS $2.1 BILLION IN PENNSYLVANIA TO ABOUT $2 BILLION IN NEW JERSEY. ON TOP OF THAT, WEINERT IS FORECASTING AN INCREASE IN PENNSYLVANIA'S SLOTS REVENUE IN 2010 AND A DROP IN ATLANTIC CITY'S. HOWEVER, ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS BROUGHT IN MORE MONEY TOTAL BECAUSE OF TABLE GAMES REVENUE THERE. PENNSYLVANIA JUST LEGALIZED TABLE GAMES EARLIER THIS MONTH.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA'S TEACHERS UNION HAS APPROVED A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT. THE PHILADELPHIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS APPROVED THE PACT BY A VOTE OF 1,831 TO 885 ON THURSDAY NIGHT. THE CONTRACT RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 2012 AND INCLUDES TWO ACROSS-THE-BOARD RAISES OF 3 PERCENT.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - TWO SISTERS WHO HELPED BRING 54 ORPHANS FROM EARTHQUAKE-RAVAGED HAITI TO PITTSBURGH SAY THEY HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO
STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. JAMIE AND ALI MCMUTRIE SAY THEY'RE JUST THANKFUL THAT ALL THE CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND SOUND.

READING, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY TWO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA STUDENTS ACCUSED OF ARRANGING A GUN PURCHASE AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL WERE NOT PLANNING TO HARM ANYONE. SCHUYLKILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY TOLD THEM HE BOUGHT A PISTOL AND AMMUNITION FROM AN 18-YEAR-OLD STUDENT.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A JEWISH TEENAGER TRYING TO PRAY ON A NEW YORK-TO-KENTUCKY FLIGHT CAUSED A SCARE THURSDAY WHEN HE PULLED OUT A SET OF SMALL BOXES CONTAINING HOLY SCROLLS. THAT LED THE FLIGHT'S CAPTAIN TO DIVERT THE PLANE TO PHILADELPHIA WHERE IT WAS MET BY POLICE AND FEDERAL AGENTS. THE 17-YEAR-OLD FROM WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. WAS LATER CLEARED TO CONTINUE HIS TRAVELS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN SAID THURSDAY THE PARTY WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF CONGRESSMAN JOE SESTAK WERE TO ABANDONS HIS BID FOR SEN. ARLEN SPECTER'S SEAT AND INSTEAD SEEK A THIRD TERM IN THE HOUSE. DEMOCRATIC LEADER T.J. ROONEY SAID A SESTAK WITHDRAWAL WOULD ALLOW SPECTER TO FOCUS MORE ON THE GENERAL-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TRAVELS TO A STATE HIT HARD BY THE RECESSION TODAY AS HE CONTINUES THIS WEEK'S FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY. HE'LL VISIT LORAINE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN OHIO, WHERE HE'LL TALK TO WORKERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ABOUT PLANS FOR PUTTING MORE AMERICANS TO WORK.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - IN HAITI, THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES TO GET FOOD, WATER AND CRITICAL SUPPLIES TO SURVIVORS OF LAST WEEK'S EARTHQUAKE. SCAVENGERS HAVE BEEN SEEN RAMPAGING THROUGH COLLAPSED SHOPS. A U.S. CHARITY REPORTS THAT STICK-WIELDING QUAKE VICTIMS HAVE MADE OFF WITH ABOUT 50 TONS OF RICE, OIL, DRIED BEANS AND SALT.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES SAYS THE U.S. HAS NO DESIGNS ON PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR "A SINGLE INCH OF PAKISTANI SOIL." HE'S BEEN TALKING TO PAKISTANI MILITARY STUDENTS AND TRYING TO COMBAT MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT AMERICAN INTENTIONS IN THE REGION.

KABUL (AP) - AFGHANISTAN IS BANNING THE USE OF A FERTILIZER CHEMICAL THAT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MAKE BOMBS. THE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE GIVES CITIZENS 30 DAYS TO TURN IN SUPPLIES TO AUTHORITIES. FARMERS ARE BEING URGED TO USE FERTILIZER WITH UREA NITRATE INSTEAD OF THE NOW-BANNED AMMONIUM NITRATE.

PHOENIX (AP) - THE WEATHER THREAT IS EASING IN ARIZONA, AND FLIGHTS ARE RESUMING AT PHOENIX'S SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS HAD BEEN STRANDED AFTER A WINTER STORM DUMPED HEAVY RAIN AND DEEP SNOW ON MUCH OF ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA.

Today's News-Thursday, January 21, 2010

CHARGES FILED IN MASSIVE PINE GROVE FIRE

A MAN AND WOMAN ARE IN PRISON, AND TWO MORE ARE TO BE CHARGED FOR RUNNING A METH LAB THAT CAUSED A MASSIVE FIRE IN PINE GROVE LAST WEEK. INVESTIGATORS REPORT LANCE CHRISTMAN AND AMBER MAREK-JOLLEY WERE ARRAIGNED WEDNESDAY ON VARIOUS DRUG COUNTS AND RISKING A CATASTROPHE FOR OPERATING THE ILLEGAL DRUG LAB AT 75 SOUTH TULPEHOCKEN STREET. THE PAIR WERE COOKING METHAMPHETAMINE ON THE NIGHT IN QUESTION WHEN AN EXPLOSION HAPPENED THAT STARTED THE FIRE. TWO OTHERS, ANGELA SINGH AND STEVEN DONTON, WILL ALSO BE CHARGED IN THE INCIDENT. A HALF DOZEN PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED, AND SEVEN PROPERTIES HEAVILY DAMAGED BY THE FIRES. CHRISTMAN AND JOLLEY WERE TAKEN TO JAIL AFTER THEY COULDN'T POST BAIL. SINGH AND DONTON ARE ALREADY IN PRISON FOR OTHER REASONS.

IDENTITY THEFT

A CRESSONA MAN WAS VICTIMIZED BY IDENTITY THEFT, TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $8-THOUSAND- DOLLARS. BETWEEN OCTOBER 17TH AND 19TH, SOMEONE USED CHRISTIAN KELLER'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND DATE OF BIRTH, OPENING A HOME DEPOT CREDIT CARD AND USING IT TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES ONLINE FROM A PHILADELPHIA AREA HOME DEPOT. STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE IDENTITY THEFT.

BOY STRUCK BY CAR

A 9 YEAR OLD POTTSVILLE BOY WAS STRUCK BY A POTTSTOWN MAN'S CAR ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 33 YEAR OLD THOMAS DEAROLF WAS DRIVING AN SUV ON WEST MARKET STREET WHEN HIS VEHICLE STRUCK 9 YEAR OLD BRENTON WILLIAMS. POLICE ARE CONTINUING THEIR INVESTIGATION, BUT PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS SAY THE BOY WALKED OUT IN FRONT OF DEAROLF'S AUTO. THE BOY WAS TREATED AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER, THEN RELEASED.

MAHANOY CITY MAN GOES TO STATE PRISON

A MAHANOY CITY MAN WHO PARTICIPATED IN A HOME INVASION IN OCTOBER 2008 IN SHENANDOAH IS HEADED FOR STATE PRISON FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS. COUNTY JUDGE JACQUELINE RUSSELL SENTENCED 27 YEAR OLD JOSEPH YUTKO TO 5 TO 10 YEARS, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS PROBATION ON HIS CONVICTION FOR ROLE IN A HOME ROBBERY ON EAST CENTRE STREET IN SHENANDOAH.

COMMISSIONERS/PRISON BOARD MEETING

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE CONTINUING TO STREAMLINE POSITIONS, PROPOSING SEVERAL MORE AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING. WPPA/T102 NEWS REPORTER SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS MORE FROM THE COURTHOUSE:

COMMISSIONERS 012001

IN AN EFFORT TO CONSERVE MONEY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ELIMINATED AND CONSOLIDATED SEVERAL POSITIONS. THOSE ELIMINATIONS INCLUDE PLUMBER/GENERAL MAINTENANCE, MAP TECHNICIAN, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND GRANT WRITER/DEMOLITION COORDINATOR. GARY BENDER WAS APPOINTED TO A CONSOLIDATED POSITION AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COORDINATOR/GRANT ADMINISTRATOR IN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BENDER'S SALARY AND BENEFITS ARE COMPLETELY COVERED BY THE CDBG GRANT. EDWARD SHEARN HAS RESIGNED AS CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER. THERE WAS AN APPROVAL REQUEST BY THE PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE FOR CONDUCTING A CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE WATER FOR THE SCHUYKILL COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON HEATING SYSTEMS. STATE BUDGET CUTS HAVE EXPIRED THE FUNDING FOR THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL OUTPATIENT TREATMENT COUNSELING FOR THE COUNTY PRISION. EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MAKE TO OBTAIN SERVICES THROUGH NEW BEGINNINGS. THEIR COUNSELING SERVICES WILL FOCUS ON A CO-OCCURING CURRICULUM AS WELL, INCLUDING A DRUG AND ALCOHOL EDUCATION COMPONENT. TOTAL POLULATION AVERAGES FOR THE COUNTY PRISON FOR 2009 WERE 279 INMATES, 252 MALES AND 27 FEMALES, AT AN AVERAGE STAY OF 57 DAYS.

HOW SAFE IS YOUR WELL WATER?

MORE THAN THREE MILLION PENNSYLVANIANS COUNT ON PRIVATE WELLS FOR THEIR DRINKING WATER, AND NEARLY HALF OF WELLS FAIL AT LEAST ONE SAFE-DRINKING-WATER STANDARD. SO PENN STATE EXTENSION EDUCATORS ARE PROVIDING HELP AND ADVICE. MOUNTING MARCELLUS SHALE NATURAL-GAS DRILLING HAS INCREASED THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD THE STATE'S GROUND WATER. PENN STATE EXTENSION EDUCATOR JIM CLARK SAYS HE AND OTHER EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE FORMED A WATER RESOURCE TEAM TO HELP PRIVATE WELL OWNERS MAINTAIN A SAFE WATER SUPPLY:

CLARK

CLARK SAYS IN SOME RURAL COUNTIES, MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS RELY ON WELLS, AND MANY DON'T KNOW HOW TO TEST, TREAT AND MAINTAIN THESE PRIVATE WATER SUPPLIES. YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON EXTENSION'S WATER RESOURCE TEAM ONLINE AT WATER DOT C-A-S DOT P-S-U DOT E-D-U.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - SOME OF THE HAITIAN ORPHANS WHO ARRIVED IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA ARE STARTING TO BE RELEASED TO THEIR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. SO FAR, AT LEAST SEVEN CHILDREN BROUGHT TO PITTSBURGH EARLIER THIS WEEK HAVE BEEN RELEASED. IN ALL, 54 CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT OUT OF HAITI AFTER LAST WEEK'S DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A JUDGE DECIDED WEDNESDAY THAT JURORS IN THE TRIAL OF A MAN ACCUSED OF FATALLY SHOOTING THREE POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTY. THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JUDGE CITED WHAT HE CALLED "PERVASIVE, PREJUDICIAL PRETRIAL PUBLICITY"SURROUNDING THE CASE OF 23-YEAR-OLD RICHARD POPLAWSKI.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY OFFICERS SHOT AND CRITICALLY WOUNDED A ROBBERY SUSPECT AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY AIMED A GUN AT THEM DURING A CHASE. POLICE SAY THE MAN WAS TAKEN TO ALBERT EINSTEIN MEDICAL CENTER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER LAST NIGHT'S SHOOTING IN THE OLNEY SECTION OF NORTH PHILADELPHIA.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL HAS SIGNED A DEATH WARRANT FOR AN UNEMPLOYED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR A PITTSBURGH-AREA SHOOTING RAMPAGE THAT EVENTUALLY LEFT SIX PEOPLE DEAD 10 YEARS AGO. FORTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD RICHARD BAUMHAMMERS OF MOUNT LEBANON IS SCHEDULED TO BE EXECUTED MARCH 18TH.

VINELAND, N.J. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A PHILADELPHIA MAN WHO MANAGES A BOWLING ALLEY IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH HIRING TWO OTHER MEN TO SET A RIVAL ALLEY ABLAZE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, POLICE ARRESTED THREE MEN, INCLUDING 47-YEAR-OLD STEVEN SMINK OF PHILADELPHIA, THE MANAGER OF PIKE LANES FAMILY FUN CENTER IN DEERFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

KABUL (AP) - NATO IS REPORTING THAT FOUR MILITANTS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A RAID IN AFGHANISTAN, BUT VILLAGERS SAY THE DEAD ARE CIVILIANS. NATO SAYS THE RAID TARGETED A TALIBAN COMMANDER. A COALITION STATEMENT SAYS ONE OF THE DEAD WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO GRABBED A SOLDIER'S WEAPON.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES IS MEETING WITH PAKISTANI OFFICIALS TODAY TO EXPLAIN THE U.S. WAR STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN. GATES ALSO HAS AN ESSAY PUBLISHED IN A PAKISTANI NEWSPAPER. IN IT, HE TALKS UP THE NEED TO KEEP PRESSURE ON MILITANTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN BORDER.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - IN HAITI, WORKERS HAVE BEEN CARVING OUT MASS GRAVES FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS ON A HILLSIDE NORTH OF THE CAPITAL. ELSEWHERE, MEDICAL TEAMS ARE WARNING OF POSSIBLE OUTBREAKS OF DIARRHEA AND OTHER DISEASES AMONG THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
QUAKE SURVIVORS LIVING IN OVERCROWDED CAMPS.

BOSTON (AP) - TWO DAYS AFTER HIS STUNNING SENATE WIN, MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN SEN.-ELECT SCOTT BROWN IS HEADING TO WASHINGTON. HIS SCHEDULE INCLUDES A MEETING WITH HIS FUTURE STATE PARTNER, SEN. JOHN KERRY. THE TIME OF BROWN'S SWEARING-IN REMAINS A QUESTION.

WASHINGTON (AP) - FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS ARE WRAPPING UP A 16-MONTH INVESTIGATION INTO A DEADLY 2008 COMMUTER TRAIN CRASH IN A LOS ANGELES SUBURB. THE COLLISION KILLED 25 PEOPLE AND INJURED AT LEAST 130. THE PROBE FOUND THAT A TRAIN ENGINEER WAS SENDING AND RECEIVING TEXT MESSAGES SHORTLY BEFORE THE CRASH.

Today's News-Wednesday, January 20, 2010-7:28AM

COMMISSIONERS/PRISON BOARD MEETING

IN AN EFFORT TO CONSERVE MONEY, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ELIMINATED AND CONSOLIDATED SEVERAL POSITIONS. THOSE ELIMINATIONS INCLUDE PLUMBER/GENERAL MAINTENANCE, MAP TECHNICIAN, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND GRANT WRITER/DEMOLITION COORDINATOR. GARY BENDER WAS APPOINTED TO A CONSOLIDATED POSITION AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COORDINATOR/GRANT ADMINISTRATOR IN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BENDER'S SALARY AND BENEFITS ARE COMPLETELY COVERED BY THE CDBG GRANT. EDWARD SHEARN HAS RESIGNED AS CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER.

THERE WAS AN APPROVAL REQUEST BY THE PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE FOR CONDUCTING A CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE WATER FOR THE SCHUYKILL COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON HEATING SYSTEMS. STATE BUDGET CUTS HAVE EXPIRED THE FUNDING FOR THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL OUTPATIENT TREATMENT COUNSELING FOR THE COUNTY PRISION. EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MAKE TO OBTAIN SERVICES THROUGH NEW BEGINNINGS. THEIR COUNSELING SERVICES WILL FOCUS ON A CO-OCCURING CURRICULUM AS WELL INCLUDE A DRUG AND ALCOHOL EDUCATION COMPONENT.

TOTAL POPULATION AVERAGES FOR THE COUNTY PRISON FOR 2009 WERE 279 INMATES, 252 MALES AND 27 FEMALES, AT AN AVERAGE STAY OF 57 DAYS.

AFTERSHOCK HITS HAITI

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - AN AFTERSHOCK WITH A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 6.0 HAS HIT HAITI. THERE ARE REPORTS THAT THE BUILDINGS WERE SHAKING AND PEOPLE RUNNING INTO THE STREETS. JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, A 7.0 QUAKE ROCKED THE IMPOVERISHED NATION, KILLING AN ESTIMATED 200,000 PEOPLE.

ATTEMPTED BREAK IN AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT IN GIRARDVILLE

STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT IN GIRARDVILLE EARLY THIS MORNING. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE JUST AFTER ONE AM AT A HOME IN THE 200 BLOCK OF A STREET. TWO PEOPLE, A MAN WITH TATTOOS ON HIS CALVES, WEARING BROWN SHORTS AND A BLACK SWEATSHIRT, AND A WOMAN, BOTH WEARING BLACK MASKS TRIED TO BREAK INTO THE HOME WHEN THEY WERE SCARED OFF BY THE HOMEOWNER. THE SUSPECTS FLED TOWARDS THE INTERSECTION OF SECOND AND OGDEN STREET, WHERE THE MAN GRABBED A WOMAN OUTSIDE THE JIFFY MART, PLACING A KNIFE TO HER THROAT AND CARRYING HER ACROSS THE STREET INTO A WOODED AREA WHERE BOTH SUSPECTS DISAPPEARED. THE WOMAN WAS ABLE TO GET FREE AND HIDE FROM THE SUSPECTS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS MORNING'S INCIDENT SHOULD CALL STATE POLICE.

ACCIDENTAL FIRE IN SHENANDOAH

TWO HOMES WERE DAMAGED IN A FIRE IN SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS TUESDAY MORNING. THE FIRE BROKE OUT AT 234 INDIANA AVENUE DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND SPREAD TO 232 INDIANA. FIRE INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT THE CAUSE WAS ACCIDENTAL, BUT THE DAMAGE WAS SIGNIFICANT IN BOTH PROPERTIES. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE FIRE IN WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP.

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO ARREST

A STATE POLICE TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO THE ARREST OF A MAN WANTED ON OUTSTANDING WARRANTS. 28 YEAR OLD STEVEN DONTON, ADDRESS UNKNOWN, WAS STOPPED AT THE RACEWAY TRUCK STOP EARLY TUESDAY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WERE WARRANTS AGAINST HIM. HE TRIED TO GIVE TROOPERS A DIFFERENT NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH, AND WAS CHARGED WITH GIVING FALSE INFORMATION TO AUTHORITIES, IN ADDITION TO THE WARRANT CHARGES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE COUNTY PRISON.

POTTSVILLE MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORN

A CITY MAN WILL SPEND TIME IN JAIL FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. 43 YEAR OLD KEITH WEIDER JR. WAS SENTENCED BY JUDGE WILLIAM BALDWIN TUESDAY TO 11 TO 23 MONTHS IN PRISON, FIVE YEARS ON PROBATION AND A LIFETIME OF MEGAN'S LAW SANCTIONS, ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD. WEIDER WAS ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH HAVING THE PORN ON HIS COMPUTER IN JUNE, 2008 AND PLEADED GUILTY IN DECEMBER ON THE COUNTS.

HEGINS BUSINESS FASTEST GROWING IN STATE

A HEGINS MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN RANKED AS THE FASTEST GROWING BUSINESS IN PENNSYLVANIA. ASHLAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC. MAKES MACHINED AND FABRICATED PARTS, AND WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE IN GROWTH BY INC. 500 MAGAZINE. THE COMPANY WAS FOUNDED IN 1996 AND EMPLOYS ABOUT 3 DOZEN PEOPLE.

BUDGET STARTS

BUDGET TALK STIRS UP IN HARRISBURG, WITH GOVERNOR ED RENDELL STOKING UP CONVERSATION ABOUT NEW TAXES. MIKE DAVIES HAS MORE FROM HARRISBURG:

DAVIES BUDGET

CHIP

MORE THAN 197 THOUSAND CHILDREN STATEWIDE ARE ENROLLED IN THE CHIP HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. ITS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THERE'S MOVEMENT IN HARRISBURG TO REMOVE THAT DATE FROM THE LAW, WITH LEGISLATION PENDING IN THE STATE HOUSE. DEMOCRAT TONY DELUCA OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY IS THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL TO KEEP THE PROGRAM IN EFFECT PAST THE EXPIRATION DATE, STATING THAT CHIP IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER:

DELUCA

CHIP IS PROVIDED FREE OR AT A REDUCED RATE BASED ON A FAMILY'S INCOME. FOR MORE INFORMATION, LOG ON TO CHIPCOVERSPAKIDS.COM

PITTSBURGH (AP) - FIFTY-THREE ORPHANS RESCUED FROM HAITI HAVE BEGUN THEIR NEW LIVES. THEY ARRIVED IN PITTSBURGH TUESDAY MORNING AFTER A DARING MISSION THAT INVOLVED OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EVEN PENNSYLVANIA GOV. ED RENDELL, WHO WENT ALONG ON THE RESCUE FLIGHT.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE ARE SEEKING THE PUBLIC'S HELP IN SOLVING THE MURDER OF A 68-YEAR-OLD NORTH PHILADELPHIA GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS BEATEN TO DEATH IN AN APPARENT HOME INVASION. POLICE SAY THE BODY OF 68-YEAR-OLD ELLEN WALTON WAS FOUND MONDAY IN THE GERMANTOWN HOME IN WHICH SHE HAD LIVED FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY WANTS THE DEATH PENALTY FOR A MAN ACCUSED OF FATALLY SHOOTING A SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICER. DA STEPHEN ZAPPALA JR. SAYS 32-YEAR-OLD
RONALD ROBINSON SHOT PENN HILLS OFFICER MICHAEL CRAWSHAW LAST MONTH
AFTER LEAVING A HOUSE WHERE ROBINSON HAD JUST SHOT AND KILLED A MAN
OVER A $500 DRUG DEBT.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE SUPREME COURT ON TUESDAY THREW OUT A RULING THAT HAD SET ASIDE THE DEATH SENTENCE OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL, CONVICTED OF KILLING A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER IN A RACIALLY TINGED CASE. THE JUSTICES ORDERED THE 3RD U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN PHILADELPHIA TO REVISIT ITS 2008 RULING THAT THE FORMER BLACK PANTHER DESERVED A NEW SENTENCING HEARING BECAUSE OF FLAWED JURY INSTRUCTIONS AT HIS 1982 TRIAL.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA GANG MEMBER WILL SPEND LIFE IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO KILLING ANOTHER MAN IN A GANG HIT. TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD JEFFREY FUTURE PLEADED GUILTY TO FIRST-DEGREE MURDER TUESDAY IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY COURT, AVOIDING A TRIAL THAT COULD HAVE ENDED IN THE DEATH PENALTY IF HE WAS CONVICTED.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A WEEK SINCE THE MAGNITUDE-7 QUAKE IN HAITI, AND STILL SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING PULLED OUT OF THE RUBBLE -- ALIVE. A 69-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS RESCUED TUESDAY. ALSO, TWO WOMEN WERE PULLED FROM A DESTROYED UNIVERSITY BUILDING. ANOTHER WOMAN WAS SAVED FROM A COLLAPSED STORE. THE QUAKE HAS KILLED AN ESTIMATED 200,000 PEOPLE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW POLL SUGGESTS THAT MOST PEOPLE LIKE BARACK OBAMA AS A PERSON, BUT THEY HAVE MIXED REVIEWS ON THE JOB HE'S DOING. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS-GFK POLL FINDS THAT NEARLY 90 PERCENT SURVEYED LIKE OBAMA PERSONALLY, BUT ONLY 42 PERCENT RATE HIM AS AN ABOVE AVERAGE OR OUTSTANDING PRESIDENT. OBAMA'S OVERALL APPROVAL RATING IS 56 PERCENT, DOWN FROM 74 PERCENT A YEAR AGO.

BOSTON (AP) - TED KENNEDY'S FORMER SENATE SEAT HAS GONE TO A REPUBLICAN. IN A STUNNING LOSS FOR DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICAN SCOTT BROWN MADE AWAY WITH 52 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO DEMOCRAT MARTHA COAKLEY'S 47 PERCENT IN YESTERDAY'S MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL ELECTION. BROWN IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO THE SENATE FROM THE BAY STATE SINCE 1972.

BOSTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS SCRAMBLING TO SAVE HIS HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL PLAN FOLLOWING THE DEMOCRATS' LOSS OF THE SENATE SEAT IN MASSACHUSETTS. SCOTT BROWN'S VICTORY MEANS REPUBLICANS NOW HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO BLOCK A HEALTH CARE BILL.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAN TO ORDER RESIDENTS IN SOME 600 HOMES TO EVACUATE TODAY. AFTER TWO DAYS OF RAINS, AUTHORITIES FEAR THEIR HILLSIDE STRUCTURES COULD WASH AWAY IN MUDSLIDES. LOS ANGELES POLICE HAVE BEEN GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR, ASKING RESIDENTS IN ABOUT 200 HOMES TO LEAVE BY THIS MORNING.

Today's News-Tuesday, January 19, 2010

TODAY'S NEWS 1.19.10

LOCAL NEWS

MARITAL PROBLEMS LINKED TO MURDER/SUICIDE

CINDY AND RANDOLPH ARNDT WERE EXPERIANCEING MARITAL PROBLEMS, OFFICIALS SAY. THE 44 YEAR OLD WOMAN FROM NEW RINGOLD SHOT HER 50 YEAR OLD HUSBAND IN THE CHEST WITH A .44 CAL HANDGUN BEFORE TAKING HER OWN LIFE LATE LAST WEEK. NO ONE WAS ELSE WAS IN THE RESIDENCE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THE INVOLVED FIREARM HAS BEEN OBTIANED.

CRASH AT SCANLON BEVERAGE IN POTTSVILLE

INTOXICATION WAS TO BLAME IN THE CRASH THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK AT SCANLON BEVERAGE IN POTTSVILLE. DEBRA ZERBEY OF PORT CARBON WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE POTTSVILLE PARK PLAZA WHEN SHE STRUCK A STOP SIGN AND A CONCRETE LIGHT POST. ZERBEY WAS TAKEN TO THE SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER ON SOUTH JACKSON STREET. CHARGES ARE PENDING.

SMASHED MAILBOXES

AN UNKNOWN SUSPECT WENT ON A MAILBOX SMASHING RAMPAGE LAST NIGHT. KATHLEEN KEENY, PAUL WOLFE JR AND KEVIN HOLLAND OF SUEDBERG ROAD IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP NOW HAVE TO THEIR MAILBOXES REPLACED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE ALLEGED SMASHER IS TO CALL PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.


DOMESTIC DISPUTE INVOLVES 22 RIFLE

RAYMOND ANDERSON, 32, THREATENED HIS 33 YEAR OLD WIFE, LARK ANDERSON WITH A 22 RIFLE EARLY YESTERDAY MORINING AT THEIR HOME IN NEW RINGOLD. RAYMOND WAS PLACED INTO CUSTODY AND WAS ARRAIGNED BEFORE JUSTICE JAMES REILEY. HE WAS COMMITTED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF $25,000 BAIL ON CHARGES OF TERRORISTIC THREATS AND SIMPLE ASSAULT.


HARRASSMENT AND HIT AND RUN

PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE RESPONDED TO A FIGHT AT 617 MOUNTAINTOP TERRACE IN KLINE TOWNSHIP YESTERDAY MORNING AROUND 6:15AM. STEVEN BENDER, 25 OF MCADOO AND VINCENT YATES, 27 OF HAZELTON WERE INVOLVED IN AN ALTERCATION AND WERE BOTH CHARGED WITH HARRASSMENT. PRIOR TO POLICE ARRIVING ON THE SCENE, YATES DROVE HIS 2001 CHEVY MALIBU INTO THE READ OF A PARKED 2003 DODGE PICKUP OWNED BY JOSEPH PANZERELLA IN FRONT OF 126 GROVE STREEET. YATES FLED THE SCENE PRIOR TO POLICE ARIVAL AND WILL BE CITED FOR CARELESS DRIVING, ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DAMAGE TO UNATTENDED VEHICLE OR PROPERTY AND DRIVING UNDER DUI SUSPENSION.

STATE GRANTS TO BOOST RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES IN DANVILLE, PA

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT BELFANTI JR ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT A TOTAL OF $500,000 IN STATE FUNDING WILL HELP PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY CENTER POOL AND TO HELP DEVELOP A SITE FOR OFF-ROAD RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY. THE GRANTS ARE BEING AWARDED THROUGHT THE STATE’S COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, RIVER AND TRAIL ORGANIZATIONS, LAND TRUSTS AND OTHER NON-PROFIT GROUPS FOR PLANNING, ACUIRING AND DEVELOPING PARKS, RECREATION AREAS, CONSERVATION AND GREENWAY PROJECTS.

PA HOTLINE CAN HELP AS POTHOLE SEASON BEGINS

THE FRIDGED TEMPERATURES OF THE PAST WEEK IS HELPING POTHOLES APPEAR SUDDENLY ON ROADWAYS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT BELFANTI JR ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT MOTORISTS CAN FIGHT BACK BY REPORTING THOSE POTHOLES TO A NEW STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT’S MAINTENANCE-FIRST HOTLINE AT 1-800-FIX ROAD. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE POTHOLE INCLUDING COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, STREET NAME AND ROUTE NUMBER.

PA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN DRIVER SAFTEY RADIO CONTEST

PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN A STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT-SPONSORED RADIO CONTEST. THE STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO WRITE A 30 SECOND RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ON SAFELY TOPICS SUCH AS AGGRESSIVE DRIVING, BUCKLING UP OR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. THE PSA HAS TO INCLUDE THE PHRASE “DRIVE SAFE PA” WHICH PENNDOT INTRODUCED LAST YEAR AS PART OF ITS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO HIGHWAY SAFETY. ONE FINALIST WILL BE CHOSEN FROM EACH OF PENNDOT’S 11 ENGINEERING DISTRICTS. THE WINNING STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES AND HAVE THEIR PSA PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED AND DISTRIBUTED TO RADIO STATIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS. EACH YEAR NEARLY 1,500 DRIVERS DIE IN ACCIDENTS ON PENNSYLVANIA ROADWAYS. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF RULES VISIT DRIVESAFEPA.ORG


STATE NEWS

HAITI ORPHANS-PITTSBURGH
Plane with 53 Haitian orphans on way back to Pa.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A plane carrying dozens of Haitian orphans is
en route from their country's earthquake-ravaged capital to
Pittsburgh, where two local women who have been caring for them for
years hope to finalize their adoptions and place them with American
families.
Gov. Ed Rendell is on the flight along with a crew of doctors
and congressmen. Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma says the flight will
stop in Miami and then fly to Pittsburgh.
The plane is scheduled to land early today.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says there are 53
orphans. Details of the operation to rescue them and their American
caretakers, sisters Jamie and Alison McMutrie, have been kept quiet
since a charity relief flight left Pennsylvania on Monday for the
Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.

CLINTON COUNTY CRASH
Van crash in central Pa. kills 2 men

HYNER, Pa. (AP) - State police in central Pennsylvania say a van
crash killed two men over the weekend.
Police in Clinton County say the van was traveling on Route 120
in Grugan Township at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday when it veered into an
embankment and crashed into a tree.
Police say 47-year-old driver Michael Dittus of Glenolden died
in the crash, and so did a passenger whose name has not been
released.



CORRUPTION SCANDAL
Corruption trial looms for Pa. ex-lawmaker, aides

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The trial of a former Pennsylvania House
power broker and three ex-aides is about to get started with the
selection of a jury in Harrisburg, but the first testimony is still
two weeks away.
The judge presiding over the criminal trial of former Rep. Mike
Veon and the other defendants is also expected to rule today about
the use of e-mail evidence that prosecutors consider key to their
case.
The Dauphin County trial of Veon, Brett Cott, Stephen Keefer and
Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink could take as long as a month. The
defendants are accused of conspiring to divert resources of the
Legislature toward campaigning.
Seven other defendants arrested a year and a half ago have
pleaded guilty to related charges. The eighth, former state Rep.
Sean Ramaley of Beaver County, was acquitted of all charges last
month.

APARTMENT FIRE
At least 10 injured in central Pa. apartment fire

LEWISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Emergency officials say at least 10 people
have been injured and dozens left homeless after a fire broke out
in a central Pennsylvania apartment building.
Mifflin County Emergency Management director Phil Lucas says six
people who suffered burns and smoke inhalation were in intensive
care, and two were reported to be in critical condition.
Officials say the fire broke out shortly before midnight Sunday
at the Elsessers Apartments in Lewistown.
Lucas says 30 to 50 people were evacuated. He says three of the
building's 28 units were severely damaged, and the remaining 25 had
smoke and water damage.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.


SHOOTING-LACROSSE CAPTAIN
Former Villanova lacrosse captain shot in Philly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The former captain of Villanova University's
lacrosse team has been shot in an early-morning altercation in
downtown Philadelphia.
The father of 23-year-old Eddie DiDonato tells WPVI-TV that his
son was in critical condition following the shooting around 2:45
a.m. Sunday.
Police say the shooting in the Old City neighborhood stemmed
from an argument on the sidewalk. Police have charged 28-year-old
Gerald Ung, a Temple University law student, with attempted murder
and other offenses. It was not immediately clear if Ung had a
lawyer.
Old City is known for its bars and nightclubs. The incident was
captured by surveillance cameras at the local Fox TV affiliate,
whose offices are on the block where the shooting occurred.
DiDonato played four years on Villanova's lacrosse team before
graduating in May.
`
MISSING NUCLEAR GAUGE
Police, Pa. DEP looking for missing nuclear gauge

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) - State police and environmental officials
have been searching for a nuclear density gauge containing
radioactive material that is missing from a western Pennsylvania
company.
Police and the Department of Environmental Protection say the
gauge was reported missing Friday from Jeff Zell Consultants, Inc.
in Coraopolis (kor-ee-AH'-poh-lis), about 10 miles west of
Pittsburgh. The company confirmed the device was still missing
Monday, but declined further comment.
DEP officials say there's no threat to the public as long as the
device isn't dismantled and the radioactive material in it isn't
released. The company is offering a $1,000 reward for its return.
The device is a Humboldt Model 5001 EZ122 and is about the size
of a shoe box.
---
Information from: The Herald, http://www.sharon-herald.com

LONZA-SITE CLOSURES
Up to 140 to lose jobs as Philly-area plant closes

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (AP) - A representative of a Swiss chemical
and biological manufacturer says most of the approximately 140
employees at the company's suburban Philadelphia plant are likely
to lose their jobs when the plant closes by the end of the year.
Lonza Group Ltd. in Basel says the closure is part of a
worldwide restructuring expected to cut 450 of its 8,500 workers.
The first phase includes shutting the Upper Merion Township plant
and smaller facilities in Quebec and the United Kingdom.
Spokesman Dominik Werner says the Conshohocken plant, which
makes custom chemical ingredients for pharmaceutical manufacturers,
has about 80 professional or technical staffers and about 60 other
workers. He says "the vast majority" are expected to lose their
jobs, although some might go to other U.S. plants.


NATIONAL NEWS


HAITI-EARTHQUAKE
Help steps up, but so does scale of Haiti tragedy

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Authorities now estimate the number
of dead in Haiti could be 200,000, double the previous best guess.
And the earthquake that caused the carnage has left 1.5 million
people homeless. Injured survivors are dying in the streets,
doctors are begging for help and looters tear at one another amid
the rubble.
The U.N. World Food Program says it needs 100 million prepared
meals over the next 30 days. It's asking for more government
donations.
Doctors treating the seriously injured are in desperate need of
supplies including surgical instruments, anesthesia gear, alcohol,
sutures, and saws.
Former President Bill Clinton said during a visit Monday that
medical staffers had to use vodka to sterilize equipment.
The U.S. Air Force has resorted to an air drop of aid in Haiti.
The military has been reluctant to use air drops for fear of
drawing unruly crowds.

HAITI-FLEEING THE CAPITAL
Haitians fleeing capital in search of food, safety

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - An exodus is under way from the
shattered Haitian capital as thousands struggle to board buses to
flee hunger and violence .
One hope is that food will be easier to find in the countryside.
But both gasoline and food are scarce in Port-au-Prince, and bus
drivers have hiked fares, forcing some to pay more than three days'
wages for a seat.
One driver says he's never seen such urgency to get out of town,
even at Christmas. He says the higher fares are in response to a
doubling of gasoline prices.
Most of those fleeing said they were heading to small farms run
by their relatives, pressed on by the specter of starvation because
foreign aid has failed to reach much of the population.



HAITI-US MILITARY
US military gives aid flights priority; airdrops supplies into
Haiti

UNDATED (AP) - The World Food Program says the U.S. military has
agreed to give aid deliveries priority over military flights at the
now-U.S.-run airport in Haiti's capital.
The Americans' handling of civilian flights had angered some
humanitarian officials who complained the Americans were creating a
bottleneck slowing needed aid to the earthquake-ravaged area.
The U.S. military has also reversed itself and airdropped water
and food into Haiti after earlier ruling out such a delivery method
as too risky.
Maj. Tanya Bradsher, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Southern
Command, said an Air Force C-17 flying out of Pope Air Force Base,
N.C., on Monday dropped 14,500 MREs, or Meals Ready to Eat, and
15,000 liters of water into a secured area 5 miles northeast of the
Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
Military officials are considering whether the method was
successful enough to be used throughout Haiti.

HAITI-KATRINA
NEW: For La. Haitians, earthquake rekindles terror

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - For the small New Orleans Haitian community
that lived through Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in their
homeland is bringing back a barrage of bad memories and stress.
One of those is Pierre Confident, a 48-year-old electrical
engineer. His home was flooded with 5 feet of water during the 2005
storm.
He calls it "a nightmare."
Looking at his fellow Haitians today, he says they wish they had
even a flooded home to live in.
However, Haitians in New Orleans also see cause for hope.
Unlike the much-maligned response to Katrina, the U.S.
government's reaction to the disaster in Haiti has been swift.
President Barack Obama has pledged $100 million for relief, and
some 10,000 troops were ordered to the devastated nation.

INDIA-US
NEW: Gates calls for closer defense ties to India

NEW DELHI (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is starting a
two-day visit to India today by appealing for closer military
cooperation to bring stability to South Asia.
Gates says the United States would like to help India and
Pakistan focus less on each other and more on the terrorism threat,
but the two countries prefer to settle their differences
themselves.
Mutual suspicion drives heavy defense spending and large
standing armies for both countries.
Gates says India and Pakistan have demonstrated admirable
restraint since the three-day terror attack more than a year ago in
Mumbai, India.
In an opinion piece published in The Times of India ahead of his
visit, Gates says the U.S. and India have been drawn together by
their shared values and should push for even greater security
cooperation.
Gates' visit includes meetings with the prime minister, foreign
minister and defense minister.

MASSACHUSETTS-SENATE
NEW: Mass. Senate candidates battle to the end

BOSTON (AP) - Republicans and Democrats in Massachusetts are
predicting a high turnout today as the battle to succeed the late
Sen. Edward Kennedy goes down to the wire.
Special elections tend to draw relatively few voters, but
Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown are locked in a
neck-and-neck race in a state that hasn't elected a Republican
senator since 1972.
Both candidates scoured the state for votes yesterday, with the
Democrats' 60-vote Senate supermajority at stake.
President Barack Obama needs Coakley, the state's attorney
general, to win today to deny Republicans the ability to block his
initiatives, including his signature health care overhaul.




MARRIAGE-ECONOMICS
Report: More men get economic boost from marriage

NEW YORK (AP) - A new analysis of census data suggests growth in
the number of working wives over the past 40 years has resulted in
a shift in who gets the biggest economic boost from marriage.
Historically, marriage was the surest route to financial
security for women. But a Pew Research Center report says it's now
men that benefit most.
A larger share of today's men are married to women whose
education and income exceed their own, and a larger share of women
are married to men with less education and income. Back in 1970,
the reverse was true.
Median household income rose 60 percent between 1970 and 2007
for married men, married women and unmarried women, but only 16
percent for unmarried men.
The Pew researchers noted that the economic downturn is
reinforcing the gender reversal trends, with men losing jobs more
often than women.

FBI PHONE RECORDS
Report: FBI illegally collected phone records

WASHINGTON (AP) - A published report says the FBI violated the
law in collecting thousands of U.S. telephone records during the
Bush administration.
Citing internal memos and interviews, the Washington Post
reports the FBI invoked nonexistent terrorism emergencies or
persuaded phone companies to provide information. The report says
the result was more than 2,000 illegally gathered records between
2002 and 2006.
The Justice Department inspector general is expected to release
a report this month detailing the extent of the problem.
FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni said FBI Director Robert
Mueller did not know about the requests until after the inspector
general's investigation had begun.
Caproni told the Post that the bureau will await the inspector
general's report before deciding whether disciplinary action is
warranted.

OBAMA-SCHOOLS
Obama to ask for more school grant money

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is expected to call for
an extra $1.35 billion in education grants when he visits an
elementary school Tuesday outside Washington.
The money would be in addition to $4.3 billion in competitive
set aside in the economic stimulus program. The first of those
awards, known as "Race to the Top," will be handed out in coming
months.
Senior administration officials say Obama wants the new money,
which must be approved by Congress, to also be awarded
competitively.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA-NJ
NJ medical marijuana bill is signed into law

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has signed
legislation granting chronically ill patients legal access to
marijuana.
Corzine's office said the governor signed the bill late Monday,
his last full day in office. Gov.-elect Chris Christie will be
sworn in Tuesday.
New Jersey is the 14th state to allow patients with diseases
such as cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis to use
marijuana to alleviate their pain and other symptoms.
The legislation allows for dispensaries to be set up around the
state where patients with prescriptions can access the drug.
Growing marijuana at home will remain illegal, as will driving
while high.
Assembly sponsor Reed Gusciora says New Jersey's medical
marijuana law is the strictest in the country.


CALIFORNIA STORMS
Evacuations lifted in Calif. as storm tapers

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. (AP) - The first in a series of
winter storms expected this week has passed, easing fears of
dangerous mudslides in Southern California.
Evacuation orders have been lifted throughout the region and
some 200 residents were invited to return to their homes.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials said Monday evening that
the 83 homes in the San Fernando Mountain foothill areas scorched
by last summer's wildfires were out of danger, now that the storm
had passed.
Also on Monday evening, officials with the region's power
providers boosted the number of customers without electricity to
about 63,000, up from around 20,000 earlier in the day. Officials
say the number grew as crews fanned out across the region and
better assessed the damage.
Kern County, Calif. fire officials say a man was killed when
strong winds blew a tree onto his home, crushing him in his sleep.
The National Weather Service reports that the area recorded wind
gusts up to 85 mph and about a half-inch of rain.

MLB-UMPIRES
MLB umpires ratify five-year contract

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - The major league umpires union have
overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year contract that included
increased flexibility on postseason assignments.
The contract, which runs through 2014, does away with the
prohibition against umpires working the World Series in consecutive
seasons, a provision the some in the union originally found
difficult to digest.
Management had sought to add that language after a series of
missed calls in the 2009 playoffs.
Joe West, the president of the World Umpires Association, says
"It was a good day for the union and a good day for baseball.
Baseball owners unanimously ratified the new agreement Thursday
at their meetings in Arizona.

Today's News-Monday, January 18, 2010

TODAY'S NEWS 1.18.10

LOCAL NEWS

AUBURN WOMEN KILLED IN CAR CRASH

THERE WAS A FATAL CRASH YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ON SCHUYLKILL MOUNTAIN ROAD IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP. MICHELE ANN GILBERT, AGE 56 OF AUBURN, WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON STATE ROAD 183 WHEN SHE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. AFTER THE IMPACT THE VEHICLE SPUN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE LANDING ON ITS PASSENGER SIDE. STATE ROAD 183 WAS CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS FOR INVESTIGATION. MULTIPLE CREWS ASSISTED ON THE SCENE. THE VICTIM WASN’T WEARING HER SEATBELT. GILBERT WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

GILBERTON MAN ARRESTED

DENNIS BENNET, 45 OF GILBERTON, WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY OVER THE WEEKEND FOR NUMEROUS MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY WARRANTS PENDING FOR HIS ARREST FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE READING VICE UNIT. DEALING WITH PROCEEDS OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES, POSSESION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS ARE JUST A FEW OF WHAT THE WARRENTS INCLUDED. BENNETTT WAS ARRAIGNED BEFORE ON-CALL MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE REILLY AND HIS BAIL WAS SET AT $75,000. BENNETT WAS UNABLE TO POST BAIL AND REMAINS AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISION PENDIND HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING.

JUVENILE CHARGED WITH DEALING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

A STUDENT AT WILLIAMS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL WAS CHARGED WITH DEALING A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION LAST WEEK. THE 16 YEAR OLD IS BEING PROCESSED THOUGH THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM WITH CHARGES OF VIOLATING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, DRUG, DEVICE AND COSMETIC ACT.

TIRE SLASHING

NICOLE GULDEN, OF SHENANDOAH, HAD HER TIRE SLASHED OVER THE WEEKEND. AN UNKNOWN SUSPECT SLASHED ONE OF THE TIRES ON HER VEHICLE AS IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HER RESIDENCE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION PRETAINING TO THIS INCIDENT IS TO CONTACT PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE OF FRACKVILLE.

SEN ARGALL ANNOUCES MINE IMPROVEMENTS

SENATOR ARGALL ANNOUCED LAST WEEK THAT A STATE CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED TO ASSIST IN ABANDONDED MINE IMPROVEMENTS IN REILLY TOWNSHIP. THE $464,000 CONTRACT WILL BE USED TO CLEAN AND BACKFILL, AS WELL AS SEED THE BLACKWOOD STAFT, A COMPONENT OF THE BLACKWOOD COLLIERY, WHICH WAS EXTENSIVELY MINED IN THE EARLY 1900. A DESIGN TO BACKFILL THE SHAFT WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR, ENTAILING THE DRILLING BELOW THE BLOCKAGES AND THE FILLING OF THE MINE. ARGALL STATES THAT “WITHOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PARTNERSHIP FROM THE COMMONWEALTH, THESE ABANDONED MINE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. THIS FUNDING IS CRITICAL FOR HELPINT PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF REILLY TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.

MAN WANTED IN LOUISIANA

MARK JOSEPH BOURG IS WANTED IN LOUSIANA, OFFICIALS SAY. AFTER ARRIVING AT HIS RESIDENCE IN WICONSICO TOWNSHIP EARLIER THIS MONTH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE HAD AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT IN THE CREOLE STATE. CONTACT WAS MADE WITH LOUSIANA AND IT WAS CONFIRMED HE WOULD BE EXTRADITED. BOURG WAS TRANSPORTED TO DAUPHIN COUNTY NIGHT COURT WHERE HE WAS PLACED ON $125,000 BAIL AND THEN COMMITTED TO DAUPHIN COUNTY PRISION AWATING THE TRANSFER.


STATE NEWS


JUDGE-ASSAULT CHARGES
NORTHEAST PA. JUDGE IS ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING WIFE

PLYMOUTH, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE WHO TOOK
OVER A CAPITAL MURDER CASE FROM ANOTHER JUDGE WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO CORRUPTION CHARGES HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF PUSHING HIS WIFE DOWN AND CHOKING HER. PERRY COUNTY SENIOR JUDGE C. JOSEPH REHKAMP HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT.
STATE POLICE SAY REHKAMP AND HIS WIFE WERE ARGUING SATURDAY
NIGHT AT THEIR HOME IN PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP WHEN ANOTHER PERSON BROKE THEM UP. POLICE SAY REHKAMP FLED.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACQUELINE MUSTO CARROLL TELLS THE
TIMES-LEADER THAT REHKAMP TURNED HIMSELF IN SUNDAY. HE WAS TO BE ARRAIGNED SUNDAY NIGHT.
IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHETHER REHKAMP HAD A LAWYER.
REHKAMP HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO PRESIDE OVER THE CAPITAL MURDER CASE OF MAN ACCUSED OF FATALLY SHOOTING HIS ESTRANGED WIFE IN MARCH IN FRONT OF TWO OF HER CHILDREN.


OFFICER SHOT
SLAIN PA. TROOPER IS MOURNED AT FUNERAL SERVICE

FRANKLIN, PA. (AP) - FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES SHARED
MEMORIES AND TEARS AT A FUNERAL SERVICE IN NORTH-CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA FOR A STATE TROOPER AMBUSHED AND KILLED WHILE
RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC DISPUTE.
STATE TROOPERS STOOD AT ATTENTION AND SALUTED THE CASKET OF
40-YEAR-OLD TROOPER PAUL RICHEY AT SUNDAY'S SERVICE IN FRANKLIN.
THE PLAYING OF TAPS AND A HELICOPTER FLYOVER PRECEDED A FLAG
CEREMONY FOR THE SLAIN TROOPER'S FAMILY.
COLLEAGUES SAID THE 16-YEAR VETERAN LOVED HIS JOB AND
VOLUNTEERED FOR THE CALL THAT ENDED IN HIS DEATH.
HUNDREDS ALSO LINED UP SATURDAY FOR RICHEY'S VIEWING IN
FRANKLIN.
INVESTIGATORS SAY 44-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL J. SMITH SHOT RICHEY, THEN
KILLED HIS OWN 53-YEAR-OLD WIFE, NANCY FREY-SMITH, BEFORE KILLING
HIMSELF IN VENANGO COUNTY'S CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP ON WEDNESDAY.



NEW MEXICO-NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER
NEW PUBLISHER NAMED AT FARMINGTON, NM, NEWSPAPER

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) - A LONGTIME NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER WILL TAKE
OVER AS PUBLISHER MONDAY AT THE DAILY TIMES, IN THE NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO CITY OF FARMINGTON.
MEDIANEWS GROUP INC. NAMED JOHN ELCHERT, A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER SINCE 1994, TO SUCCEED SAMMY LOPEZ, WHO LEFT THE DAILY TIMES ON DEC. 31. HEARTLAND PUBLICATIONS HIRED LOPEZ AS PUBLISHER OF THREE DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA.
ELCHERT MOST RECENTLY WAS PUBLISHER OF THE TIMES OBSERVER IN
WARREN, PA., FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS. BEFORE THAT, HE WAS PUBLISHER
AT THE DAILY MINING GAZETTE IN HOUGHTON, MICH., AND THE
ADVERTISER-TRIBUNE IN TIFFIN, OHIO.
ELCHERT, A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO IN OHIO, ALSO
HAS EXPERIENCE IN NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING AND CIRCULATION.
MEDIANEWS GROUP, BASED IN DENVER, OPERATES 54 DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN 11 STATES, INCLUDING NEWSPAPERS IN FARMINGTON, CARLSBAD, ALAMOGORDO, DEMING AND LAS CRUCES.



HAITI QUAKE-PHILADELPHIA
4 QUAKE SURVIVORS FLOWN TO PHILLY FOR TREATMENT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FOUR PEOPLE SEVERELY INJURED IN THE
EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI, INCLUDING A 4 1/2-YEAR-OLD BOY, HAVE BEEN FLOWN TO PHILADELPHIA FOR TREATMENT.
OFFICIALS AT THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SAY THE THREE HAITIAN WOMEN - AGED 21, 27 AND 32 - AND THE CHILD AS
WELL AS HIS FATHER ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA JUST BEFORE 5 A.M.
SUNDAY. OFFICIALS HAD HOPED TO BRING A FIFTH PATIENT BUT THAT
PERSON WAS JUDGED TO BE TWO ILL TO MAKE THE TRIP.
ONE OF THE WOMEN IS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION WHILE THE OTHER TWO ARE SAID TO BE STABLE. THE CHILD IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA. DOCTORS SAY TWO OF THE WOMEN HAVE REQUIRED AMPUTATIONS, ONE ABOVE AND THE OTHER BELOW THE KNEE.
HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE OTHER EVACUATION FLIGHTS OF
SEVERELY INJURED EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS WILL BE AUTHORIZED.


BACK FROM IRAQ
CLASS CAPTURES SOLDIERS' RARE STORIES FROM IRAQ

STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - U.S. MARINES VETERAN MATT POTH LOOKED
INTO THE VIDEO CAMERA AND TOLD A STORY ABOUT HIS TIME IN IRAQ THAT, UNTIL THAT POINT, ONLY A FEW FELLOW SOLDIERS HAD HEARD.
IT'S HARD FOR HIM TO TALK ABOUT WATCHING A SOLDIER DIE AT THE
HANDS OF A SUICIDE BOMBER, AND HARDER STILL TO RELAY IT TO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NEVER WORN A UNIFORM.
A FIRST-OF-ITS KIND CLASS AT PENN STATE DOCUMENTED THE
RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR AND MILITARY LIFE FROM POTH AND OTHER STUDENT VETERANS HOME FROM IRAQ. STUDENTS LIKE POTH ALSO SAY IT HAS MADE IT EASIER TO TALK ABOUT A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.
THE ONLINE EXHIBIT RECENTLY POSTED BY WPSU IN STATE COLLEGE IS
CALLED "BACK FROM IRAQ: THE VETERANS' STORIES PROJECT."
EIGHT STUDENTS COMPLETED LAST YEAR'S COURSE ENTITLED
"NARRATIVE, ORAL HISTORY, NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES" DESIGNED TO
TEACH VETERANS VIDEO AND WEB APPLICATIONS TO CHRONICLE STORIES
ABOUT WAR AND THE MILITARY.
THEY LEARNED DOCUMENTARY FILM-MAKING AND ORAL HISTORY
INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES, POSTED BLOGS AND CREATED VIDEOS. THE CLASS ITSELF WAS ALSO DOCUMENTED, WITH PORTIONS POSTED ONLINE LATE LAST
YEAR.


DRUGS BEHIND BARS
DRUG ABUSE IN US PRISONS IS TOUGH TO STAMP OUT

UNDATED (AP) - IN MANY LARGE STATE PRISON SYSTEMS, A MIX OF
INMATE INGENUITY, COMPLICIT VISITORS AND CORRUPT STAFF HAS KEPT THE LEVEL OF INMATE DRUG ABUSE CONSTANT OVER THE PAST DECADE DESPITE CONCERTED EFFORTS TO REDUCE IT. A RECENT BOOM IN CELL PHONE SMUGGLING HAS COMPLICATED MATTERS, WITH INMATES SOMETIMES USING PHONES TO ARRANGE DRUG DELIVERIES.
PENNSYLVANIA, WIDELY CREDITED AS A LEADER, INSTITUTED A
ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY IN 1995 AT A TIME WHEN 6 PERCENT OF INMATE
DRUG TESTS WERE POSITIVE. THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT BEGAN USING CANINE DETECTION TEAMS, INSTALLED X-RAY MACHINES IN PRISON MAILROOMS, STEPPED UP DRUG TESTING, EXPANDED SEARCH POLICIES AFFECTING PRISONERS AND STAFF, AND PUNISHED VIOLATORS WITH LOSS OF VISITING PRIVILEGES.
THE POSITIVE DRUG TEST RATE IS NOW NEGLIGIBLE, ACCORDING TO
DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN SUSAN MCNAUGHTON, WHO SAID THE RESULT IS GREATER SAFETY FOR STAFF AND INMATES.
THE POLICY HAS ATTRACTED INTEREST IN OTHER STATES.
EXPERTS WHO WORK WITH EX-OFFENDERS IN PENNSYLVANIA AGREE THAT THE ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE - INSIDE THE PRISONS - BUT SAY PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE SERVE TO LIMIT THE BENEFITS TO SOCIETY.



PREGNANT TEEN DIES
JUDGE OKS TEXT MESSAGE EVIDENCE IN FATAL PA. CRASH

WEST CHESTER, PA. (AP) - A JUDGE HAS DECIDED THAT SUBURBAN
PHILADELPHIA PROSECUTORS CAN USE TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE CELL PHONE OF A WOMAN INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT KILLED HER PREGNANT TEENAGE PASSENGER.
AUTHORITIES IN CHESTER COUNTY ALLEGE THAT 18-YEAR-OLD MEGHAN OBENDORFER OF DOWNINGTOWN WAS ON HER WAY TO MAKE A MARIJUANA DELIVERY AT THE TIME OF THE APRIL 14 CRASH THAT KILLED 17-YEAR-OLD NICOLETTE POMON IN EAST BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP, 30 MILES WEST OF PHILADELPHIA. POMON WAS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT
OBENDORFER IS CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE, INVOLUNTARY
MANSLAUGHTER, RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON, AND DRUG POSSESSION.
COMMON PLEAS COURT JUDGE RONAL NAGLE RULED LAST WEEK THAT
PROSECUTORS CAN USE MESSAGES DELIVERED IN THE HOUR BEFORE CRASH AND A DIGITAL PHOTO OF A BAG OF MARIJUANA. DEFENSE ATTORNEY GLENN DAVIS OF WEST CHESTER DECLINED COMMENT ON THE RULING. A TRIAL DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET.



MANAGING WILDLIFE
PA. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES SEEK MORE FUNDS

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE AGENCIES THAT MANAGE PENNSYLVANIA'S
WILDLIFE RESOURCES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN SERVICES EVEN AS
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES EXPAND, AND ONE OF THEM IS CONSIDERING
RAISING FEES.
OFFICIALS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION AND AT THE
COMMONWEALTH'S FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION SAY THEY HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING TO FIND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING NEEDED TO MAINTAIN SERVICES. AND FISH AND BOAT COMMISSIONERS, EXPECTING A DEFICIT NEXT YEAR, ARE CONSIDERING RAISING FEES FOR FISHING LICENSES.
THE WILDLIFE COMMISSIONS, UNLIKE OTHER STATE AGENCIES, RECEIVE
NO MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SINCE THEY WERE FOUNDED A CENTURY AGO, THEY HAVE RELIED ON REVENUE RAISED FROM HUNTERS AND ANGLERS.
BUT OFFICIALS SAY PLANS TO EXPAND MANAGEMENT OF NONGAME SPECIES, INCLUDING GOALS IN THE GAME COMMISSION'S NEW FIVE-YEAR PLAN, ARE NOT FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE.
AND WHILE A U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SURVEY IN 2006 FOUND A
DECLINE IN PARTICIPATION IN TRADITIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING,
WILDLIFE WATCHING HAD BECOME THE FASTEST GROWING OUTDOORS PASTIME, BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN PENNSYLVANIA.


DRUGS BEHIND BARS
DRUG ABUSE IN US PRISONS IS TOUGH TO STAMP OUT

UNDATED (AP) - IN MANY LARGE STATE PRISON SYSTEMS, A MIX OF
INMATE INGENUITY, COMPLICIT VISITORS AND CORRUPT STAFF HAS KEPT THE LEVEL OF INMATE DRUG ABUSE CONSTANT OVER THE PAST DECADE DESPITE CONCERTED EFFORTS TO REDUCE IT. A RECENT BOOM IN CELL PHONE SMUGGLING HAS COMPLICATED MATTERS, WITH INMATES SOMETIMES USING PHONES TO ARRANGE DRUG DELIVERIES.
PENNSYLVANIA, WIDELY CREDITED AS A LEADER, INSTITUTED A
ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY IN 1995 AT A TIME WHEN 6 PERCENT OF INMATE
DRUG TESTS WERE POSITIVE. THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT BEGAN USING CANINE DETECTION TEAMS, INSTALLED X-RAY MACHINES IN PRISON MAILROOMS, STEPPED UP DRUG TESTING, EXPANDED SEARCH POLICIES AFFECTING PRISONERS AND STAFF, AND PUNISHED VIOLATORS WITH LOSS OF VISITING PRIVILEGES.
THE POSITIVE DRUG TEST RATE IS NOW NEGLIGIBLE, ACCORDING TO
DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN SUSAN MCNAUGHTON, WHO SAID THE RESULT IS GREATER SAFETY FOR STAFF AND INMATES.
THE POLICY HAS ATTRACTED INTEREST IN OTHER STATES.
EXPERTS WHO WORK WITH EX-OFFENDERS IN PENNSYLVANIA AGREE THAT THE ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE - INSIDE THE PRISONS - BUT SAY PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE SERVE TO LIMIT THE BENEFITS TO SOCIETY.



NATIONAL NEWS


JUDGE-ASSAULT CHARGES
NORTHEAST PA. JUDGE IS ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING WIFE

PLYMOUTH, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE WHO TOOK
OVER A CAPITAL MURDER CASE FROM ANOTHER JUDGE WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO CORRUPTION CHARGES HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF PUSHING HIS WIFE DOWN AND CHOKING HER.
PERRY COUNTY SENIOR JUDGE C. JOSEPH REHKAMP HAS BEEN CHARGED
WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT.
STATE POLICE SAY REHKAMP AND HIS WIFE WERE ARGUING SATURDAY
NIGHT AT THEIR HOME IN PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP WHEN ANOTHER PERSON BROKE THEM UP. POLICE SAY REHKAMP FLED.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACQUELINE MUSTO CARROLL TELLS THE
TIMES-LEADER THAT REHKAMP TURNED HIMSELF IN SUNDAY. HE WAS TO BE ARRAIGNED SUNDAY NIGHT.
IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHETHER REHKAMP HAD A LAWYER.
REHKAMP HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO PRESIDE OVER THE CAPITAL MURDER CASE OF MAN ACCUSED OF FATALLY SHOOTING HIS ESTRANGED WIFE IN MARCH IN FRONT OF TWO OF HER CHILDREN.



OFFICER SHOT
SLAIN PA. TROOPER IS MOURNED AT FUNERAL SERVICE

FRANKLIN, PA. (AP) - FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES SHARED
MEMORIES AND TEARS AT A FUNERAL SERVICE IN NORTH-CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA FOR A STATE TROOPER AMBUSHED AND KILLED WHILE
RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC DISPUTE.
STATE TROOPERS STOOD AT ATTENTION AND SALUTED THE CASKET OF
40-YEAR-OLD TROOPER PAUL RICHEY AT SUNDAY'S SERVICE IN FRANKLIN.
THE PLAYING OF TAPS AND A HELICOPTER FLYOVER PRECEDED A FLAG
CEREMONY FOR THE SLAIN TROOPER'S FAMILY.
COLLEAGUES SAID THE 16-YEAR VETERAN LOVED HIS JOB AND
VOLUNTEERED FOR THE CALL THAT ENDED IN HIS DEATH.
HUNDREDS ALSO LINED UP SATURDAY FOR RICHEY'S VIEWING IN
FRANKLIN.
INVESTIGATORS SAY 44-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL J. SMITH SHOT RICHEY, THEN
KILLED HIS OWN 53-YEAR-OLD WIFE, NANCY FREY-SMITH, BEFORE KILLING
HIMSELF IN VENANGO COUNTY'S CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP ON WEDNESDAY.




NEW MEXICO-NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER
NEW PUBLISHER NAMED AT FARMINGTON, NM, NEWSPAPER

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) - A LONGTIME NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER WILL TAKE
OVER AS PUBLISHER MONDAY AT THE DAILY TIMES, IN THE NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO CITY OF FARMINGTON.
MEDIANEWS GROUP INC. NAMED JOHN ELCHERT, A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER SINCE 1994, TO SUCCEED SAMMY LOPEZ, WHO LEFT THE DAILY TIMES ON DEC. 31. HEARTLAND PUBLICATIONS HIRED LOPEZ AS PUBLISHER OF THREE DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA.
ELCHERT MOST RECENTLY WAS PUBLISHER OF THE TIMES OBSERVER IN
WARREN, PA., FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS. BEFORE THAT, HE WAS PUBLISHER
AT THE DAILY MINING GAZETTE IN HOUGHTON, MICH., AND THE
ADVERTISER-TRIBUNE IN TIFFIN, OHIO.
ELCHERT, A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO IN OHIO, ALSO
HAS EXPERIENCE IN NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING AND CIRCULATION.
MEDIANEWS GROUP, BASED IN DENVER, OPERATES 54 DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN 11 STATES, INCLUDING NEWSPAPERS IN FARMINGTON, CARLSBAD, ALAMOGORDO, DEMING AND LAS CRUCES.



HAITI QUAKE-PHILADELPHIA
4 QUAKE SURVIVORS FLOWN TO PHILLY FOR TREATMENT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FOUR PEOPLE SEVERELY INJURED IN THE
EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI, INCLUDING A 4 1/2-YEAR-OLD BOY, HAVE BEEN FLOWN TO PHILADELPHIA FOR TREATMENT.
OFFICIALS AT THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SAY THE THREE HAITIAN WOMEN - AGED 21, 27 AND 32 - AND THE CHILD AS
WELL AS HIS FATHER ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA JUST BEFORE 5 A.M.
SUNDAY. OFFICIALS HAD HOPED TO BRING A FIFTH PATIENT BUT THAT
PERSON WAS JUDGED TO BE TWO ILL TO MAKE THE TRIP.
ONE OF THE WOMEN IS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION WHILE THE OTHER TWO ARE SAID TO BE STABLE. THE CHILD IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA. DOCTORS SAY TWO OF THE WOMEN HAVE REQUIRED AMPUTATIONS, ONE ABOVE AND THE OTHER BELOW THE KNEE.
HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE OTHER EVACUATION FLIGHTS OF
SEVERELY INJURED EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS WILL BE AUTHORIZED.



BACK FROM IRAQ
CLASS CAPTURES SOLDIERS' RARE STORIES FROM IRAQ

STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - U.S. MARINES VETERAN MATT POTH LOOKED
INTO THE VIDEO CAMERA AND TOLD A STORY ABOUT HIS TIME IN IRAQ THAT, UNTIL THAT POINT, ONLY A FEW FELLOW SOLDIERS HAD HEARD.
IT'S HARD FOR HIM TO TALK ABOUT WATCHING A SOLDIER DIE AT THE
HANDS OF A SUICIDE BOMBER, AND HARDER STILL TO RELAY IT TO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NEVER WORN A UNIFORM.
A FIRST-OF-ITS KIND CLASS AT PENN STATE DOCUMENTED THE
RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR AND MILITARY LIFE FROM POTH AND OTHER STUDENT VETERANS HOME FROM IRAQ. STUDENTS LIKE POTH ALSO SAY IT HAS MADE IT EASIER TO TALK ABOUT A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.
THE ONLINE EXHIBIT RECENTLY POSTED BY WPSU IN STATE COLLEGE IS
CALLED "BACK FROM IRAQ: THE VETERANS' STORIES PROJECT."
EIGHT STUDENTS COMPLETED LAST YEAR'S COURSE ENTITLED
"NARRATIVE, ORAL HISTORY, NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES" DESIGNED TO
TEACH VETERANS VIDEO AND WEB APPLICATIONS TO CHRONICLE STORIES
ABOUT WAR AND THE MILITARY.
THEY LEARNED DOCUMENTARY FILM-MAKING AND ORAL HISTORY
INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES, POSTED BLOGS AND CREATED VIDEOS. THE CLASS ITSELF WAS ALSO DOCUMENTED, WITH PORTIONS POSTED ONLINE LATE LAST
YEAR.



DRUGS BEHIND BARS
DRUG ABUSE IN US PRISONS IS TOUGH TO STAMP OUT

UNDATED (AP) - IN MANY LARGE STATE PRISON SYSTEMS, A MIX OF
INMATE INGENUITY, COMPLICIT VISITORS AND CORRUPT STAFF HAS KEPT THE LEVEL OF INMATE DRUG ABUSE CONSTANT OVER THE PAST DECADE DESPITE CONCERTED EFFORTS TO REDUCE IT. A RECENT BOOM IN CELL PHONE SMUGGLING HAS COMPLICATED MATTERS, WITH INMATES SOMETIMES USING PHONES TO ARRANGE DRUG DELIVERIES.
PENNSYLVANIA, WIDELY CREDITED AS A LEADER, INSTITUTED A
ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY IN 1995 AT A TIME WHEN 6 PERCENT OF INMATE
DRUG TESTS WERE POSITIVE. THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT BEGAN USING CANINE DETECTION TEAMS, INSTALLED X-RAY MACHINES IN PRISON MAILROOMS, STEPPED UP DRUG TESTING, EXPANDED SEARCH POLICIES AFFECTING PRISONERS AND STAFF, AND PUNISHED VIOLATORS WITH LOSS OF VISITING PRIVILEGES.
THE POSITIVE DRUG TEST RATE IS NOW NEGLIGIBLE, ACCORDING TO
DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN SUSAN MCNAUGHTON, WHO SAID THE RESULT IS GREATER SAFETY FOR STAFF AND INMATES.
THE POLICY HAS ATTRACTED INTEREST IN OTHER STATES.
EXPERTS WHO WORK WITH EX-OFFENDERS IN PENNSYLVANIA AGREE THAT THE ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE - INSIDE THE PRISONS - BUT SAY PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE SERVE TO LIMIT THE BENEFITS TO SOCIETY.


PREGNANT TEEN DIES
JUDGE OKS TEXT MESSAGE EVIDENCE IN FATAL PA. CRASH

WEST CHESTER, PA. (AP) - A JUDGE HAS DECIDED THAT SUBURBAN
PHILADELPHIA PROSECUTORS CAN USE TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE CELL PHONE OF A WOMAN INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT KILLED HER PREGNANT TEENAGE PASSENGER.
AUTHORITIES IN CHESTER COUNTY ALLEGE THAT 18-YEAR-OLD MEGHAN OBENDORFER OF DOWNINGTOWN WAS ON HER WAY TO MAKE A MARIJUANA DELIVERY AT THE TIME OF THE APRIL 14 CRASH THAT KILLED 17-YEAR-OLD NICOLETTE POMON IN EAST BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP, 30 MILES WEST OF PHILADELPHIA. POMON WAS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT
OBENDORFER IS CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE, INVOLUNTARY
MANSLAUGHTER, RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON, AND DRUG POSSESSION.
COMMON PLEAS COURT JUDGE RONAL NAGLE RULED LAST WEEK THAT
PROSECUTORS CAN USE MESSAGES DELIVERED IN THE HOUR BEFORE CRASH AND A DIGITAL PHOTO OF A BAG OF MARIJUANA. DEFENSE ATTORNEY GLENN DAVIS OF WEST CHESTER DECLINED COMMENT ON THE RULING. A TRIAL DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET.



MANAGING WILDLIFE
PA. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES SEEK MORE FUNDS

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE AGENCIES THAT MANAGE PENNSYLVANIA'S
WILDLIFE RESOURCES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN SERVICES EVEN AS
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES EXPAND, AND ONE OF THEM IS CONSIDERING
RAISING FEES.
OFFICIALS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION AND AT THE
COMMONWEALTH'S FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION SAY THEY HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING TO FIND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING NEEDED TO MAINTAIN SERVICES. AND FISH AND BOAT COMMISSIONERS, EXPECTING A DEFICIT NEXT YEAR, ARE CONSIDERING RAISING FEES FOR FISHING LICENSES.
THE WILDLIFE COMMISSIONS, UNLIKE OTHER STATE AGENCIES, RECEIVE
NO MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SINCE THEY WERE FOUNDED A CENTURY AGO, THEY HAVE RELIED ON REVENUE RAISED FROM HUNTERS AND ANGLERS.
BUT OFFICIALS SAY PLANS TO EXPAND MANAGEMENT OF NONGAME SPECIES, INCLUDING GOALS IN THE GAME COMMISSION'S NEW FIVE-YEAR PLAN, ARE NOT FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE.
AND WHILE A U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SURVEY IN 2006 FOUND A
DECLINE IN PARTICIPATION IN TRADITIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING,
WILDLIFE WATCHING HAD BECOME THE FASTEST GROWING OUTDOORS PASTIME, BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN PENNSYLVANIA.


DRUGS BEHIND BARS
DRUG ABUSE IN US PRISONS IS TOUGH TO STAMP OUT

UNDATED (AP) - IN MANY LARGE STATE PRISON SYSTEMS, A MIX OF
INMATE INGENUITY, COMPLICIT VISITORS AND CORRUPT STAFF HAS KEPT THE LEVEL OF INMATE DRUG ABUSE CONSTANT OVER THE PAST DECADE DESPITE CONCERTED EFFORTS TO REDUCE IT. A RECENT BOOM IN CELL PHONE SMUGGLING HAS COMPLICATED MATTERS, WITH INMATES SOMETIMES USING PHONES TO ARRANGE DRUG DELIVERIES.
PENNSYLVANIA, WIDELY CREDITED AS A LEADER, INSTITUTED A
ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY IN 1995 AT A TIME WHEN 6 PERCENT OF INMATE
DRUG TESTS WERE POSITIVE. THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT BEGAN USING CANINE DETECTION TEAMS, INSTALLED X-RAY MACHINES IN PRISON MAILROOMS, STEPPED UP DRUG TESTING, EXPANDED SEARCH POLICIES AFFECTING PRISONERS AND STAFF, AND PUNISHED VIOLATORS WITH LOSS OF VISITING PRIVILEGES.
THE POSITIVE DRUG TEST RATE IS NOW NEGLIGIBLE, ACCORDING TO
DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN SUSAN MCNAUGHTON, WHO SAID THE RESULT IS GREATER SAFETY FOR STAFF AND INMATES.
THE POLICY HAS ATTRACTED INTEREST IN OTHER STATES.
EXPERTS WHO WORK WITH EX-OFFENDERS IN PENNSYLVANIA AGREE THAT THE ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE - INSIDE THE PRISONS - BUT SAY PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE SERVE TO LIMIT THE BENEFITS TO SOCIETY.