Today's News-Thursday, January 14, 2010

TEEN CHARGED WITH BURNING POTTSVILLE CHRISTMAS TREE

POTTSVILLE POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A TEENAGED BOY FOR BURNING THE CITY CHRISTMAS TREE. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 7TH IN GARFIELD SQUARE. THE BOY TOLD POLICE THAT HE POURED GASOLINE ON THE TREE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING IT TO IGNITE. THE UNIDENTIFIED BOY FINALLY STARTED THE FIRE AND FLED ON FOOT TOWARD RACE STREET, THEN CHANGED INTO SPARE CLOTHES THAT HE HAD HIDDEN. JUVENILE AUTHORITIES ARE HANDLING THE CASE, WITH CHARGES OF ARSON AND OTHER COUNTS LODGED AGAINST THE 16 YEAR OLD.
　
MASSIVE FIRE SWEEPS THROUGH SEVERAL HOMES IN PINEGROVE

A MASSIVE FIRE LEFT SIX HOMES DESTROYED AND OTHERS DAMAGED EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING ON SOUTH TULPEHOCKEN STREET IN PINEGROVE. THE FIRE WAS BELIEVED TO BE STARTED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF 75 S TULPEHOCKEN STREET. CREWS WERE CALLED IN BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY TO FIND HEAVY FIRE HAD SWEPT FROM 75 TO 77 S TUPLEHOCKEN STREET. PINE GROVE FIRE CHIEF, DAVID SATTIZAHN STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AND CREWS HAVE BEGAN DIGGING THROUGH THE RUBBLE TO DETERMINE WHERE AND HOW THE FIRE STARTED.
　
SEEKING A WHITE WORK VAN W/ORANGE LADDER IN HIT AND RUN

A WHITE WORK VAN WITH AND ORANGE LADDER IS BEING SOUGHT OUT FOR A HIT AND RUN LAST NIGHT ON 6TH STREET IN E NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 10:18 PM ON THE PROPERTY BELONGING TO MICHAEL BUCHINSKY OF PORT CARBON. THE VAN ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN IN THE PROPERTY'S DRIVEWAY AND STRUCK THE RAILING AND STEPS TO THE FRONT DECK BEFORE FLEEING THE SCENE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS INCIDENT PLEASE CONTACT THE PA STATE POLICE OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.
　
MULTI-CAR CRASH BY WILLIAMS INSURANCE AGENCY

CRASH OCCURRED TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROAD 61 BY WILLIAMS INSURANCE AGENCY IN EAST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP AT 7:25 LAST NIGHT. HENRY REBER, OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ,WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR MOVE HIS VEHICLE INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND STUCK THE REAR OF MATTHEW LAUBENSTINES' VEHICLE AFTER FAILING TO SEE A STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF LAUBENSTINE. ORWIGSBURG FIRE POLICE ASSISTED ON THE SCENE AND THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES TO BOTH PARITIES.
　
WOMEN KILLS DEER IN SINGLE CAR CRASH

SHELIA D MCDONNELL WAS UNABLE TO AVOILD STRIKING A DEER ON STATE ROAD 61 NORTH OF GREENVIEW ROAD IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP AROUND 6:25 LAST EVENING. THE DEER WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT AND MCDONNELL'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. NEITHER SHE NOR HER PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES IN THE IMPACT.
　
RETIREMENT BOARD APPROVES ASSET MANAGEMENT CHANGES

THE COUNTY RETIREMENT BOARD APPROVED CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF ITS RETIREMENT FUND AT THEIR FIRST MEETING OF 2010 ON WEDNESDAY. THE BOARD, CONSISTING OF 3 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CONTROLLER AND TREASURER, APPROVED THE MOVING OF $10.8 MILLION IN FIXED INCOME AND $6.9 MILLION IN STOCKS AFTER IT WAS INFORMED LATE LAST YEAR THAT SOVEREIGN BANK WILL BE PULLING OUT OF THE RETIREMENT PLAN BUSINESS. PORTIONS OF THE ASSETS WILL THUS BE HELD BY BARROW, HANLEY, MEWHINNEY AND STRAUSS OUT OF DALLAS TX, AND THE REMAING WILL BE MOVED TO STRUCTURED BANK NOTES AND OTHER ACCOUNTS.
　
COUNTY BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

THE FIRST OF SEVERAL HEARING WAS HELD YESTERDAY FOR THE COUNTY'S PROPOSED 2010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF $380,000, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO LAST YEARS, IS STILL AWAITING FINAL ALLOCATION FIGURES FROM THE STATE. THE COUNTY PLANS TO USE THIS MONEY FOR SEVERAL DEMOLITION PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS, A WATERLINE EXTENSION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS. IT ALSO INCORPORTATES ONGOING MANAGEMENT AND OVERSITE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM AS WELL AS PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PLANNING.

STATE STORIES 1.14.10

OBIT-PENDERGRASS
SOUL SINGER TEDDY PENDERGRASS DIES IN PA. AT 59

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TEDDY PENDERGRASS, WHO BECAME R&B'S REIGNING SEX SYMBOL IN THE 1970S AND '80S AND LATER BECAME AN INSPIRATIONAL FIGURE AFTER SUFFERING A DEVASTATING CAR ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HIM PARALYZED, DIED WEDNESDAY AT AGE 59.
THE SINGER'S SON, TEDDY PENDERGRASS II, SAID HIS FATHER DIED AT BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA. THE SINGER UNDERWENT COLON CANCER SURGERY EIGHT MONTHS AGO AND HAD "A DIFFICULT RECOVERY," HIS SON SAID.
PENDERGRASS SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AND WAS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN IN THE 1982 CAR ACCIDENT. HE SPENT SIX MONTHS IN A HOSPITAL BUT RETURNED TO RECORDING THE NEXT YEAR WITH THE ALBUM "LOVE LANGUAGE." HE RETURNED TO THE STAGE AT THE LIVE AID CONCERT IN 1985, PERFORMING FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR.


GOVERNOR-CORBETT
CORBETT CLOSER TO GOP ENDORSEMENT FOR GOVERNOR

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - TOM CORBETT IS PICKING UP MORE SUPPORT IN HIS BID FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S ENDORSEMENT FOR GOVERNOR. A STRAW POLL OF GOP STATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ON WEDNESDAY SHOWED SUPPORT FOR CORBETT, THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SOUTHEASTERN CAUCUS CHAIRMAN MICHAEL MEEHAN OF PHILADELPHIA SAYS THE VOTE WAS NEARLY UNANIMOUS, ALTHOUGH HE ISN'T RELEASING THE RESULTS OF THE UNOFFICIAL VOTE. CORBETT FACES COMPETITION FOR THE GOP NOMINATION FROM STATE REP. SAMUEL ROHRER. ON SATURDAY, THE CENTRAL PENNSYLVNAIA GOP CAUCUSES VOTED TO BACK CORBETT. THE FULL STATE COMMITTEE IS SLATED TO VOTE ON AN ENDORSEMENT NEXT MONTH.

HAITI QUAKE-PA
PA. GROUPS RALLY TO HELP HAITI QUAKE VICTIMS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PENNSYLVANIANS WITH RELATIVES IN HAITI ARE TRYING DESPERATELY TO REACH THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE EARTHQUAKE-DEVASTATED NATION WHILE HUMANITARIAN GROUPS IN THE STATE SCRAMBLE TO FIND OUT HOW THEY COULD HELP. MEMBERS OF THE FIRST HAITIAN CHURCH OF GOD GATHERED IN WEST PHILADELPHIA ON WEDNESDAY TO PRAY AND SING FOR RELATIVES IN THEIR HOMELAND. THEY WANT TO HELP, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW SINCE TUESDAY'S EARTHQUAKE KNOCKED OUT VIRTUALLY ALL COMMUNICATION WITH THE ISLAND. MEANWHILE, AID GROUPS FROM PHILADELPHIA TO PITTSBURGH ARE WORKING TO RAISE MONEY AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN HELP.


HERSHEY-CADBURY
AP SOURCE: HERSHEY WORKS ON SOLO BID FOR CADBURY

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE HERSHEY COMPANY IS ASSEMBLING A BID TO ACQUIRE BRITISH CANDY MAKER CADBURY PLC WITHOUT THE HELP OF ITALIAN CANDY MAKER FERRERO INTERNATIONAL. THAT'S WHAT A PERSON FAMILIAR WITH HERSHEY'S PLANS TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ON WEDNESDAY. MEANWHILE, KRAFT FOOD CONTINUES TO DEFEND ITS OFFER AND ISSUED AN EARNINGS FORECAST THAT MAY HAVE BEEN INTENDED TO SHOW OFF ITS STRENGTH.
HERSHEY HAS BEEN WORKING ON TWO PARALLEL BIDS FOR CADBURY -- ONE WITH FERRERO AND ONE ON ITS OWN. BUT FERRERO REPORTEDLY HAS WITHDRAWN. HERSHEY IS STILL CRAFTING ITS OWN POTENTIAL BID, ONE DESIGNED TO TOP THE $16.5 BILLION HOSTILE OFFER FROM KRAFT. THE PERSON WHO SPOKE TO THE AP ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY SAID HERSHEY HOPED TO AVOID A BIDDING WAR BY WAITING UNTIL CADBURY'S SHAREHOLDERS MAKE A DECISION ON KRAFT'S BID.

SWIM CLUB-MINORITIES
JUSTICE SUES PA. SWIM CLUB, CHARGING RACE BIAS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACCUSED A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SWIM CLUB OF RACE BIAS IN A LAWSUIT FILED WEDNESDAY, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE CLUB BARRED A GROUP OF MOSTLY BLACK DAY CAMPERS FROM THEIR POOL. THE CIVIL-RIGHTS SUIT CHARGES THAT THE VALLEY CLUB OF HUNTINGDON VALLEY ENGAGED IN A PATTERN OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN CANCELING ITS $1,950, EIGHT-WEEK CONTRACT WITH THE PHILADELPHIA-BASED CREATIVE STEPS PROGRAM AFTER THE CHILDREN'S FIRST VISIT. CLUB OFFICIALS HAVE SAID RACE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OUSTER OF THE MOSTLY BLACK AND HISPANIC CHILDREN FROM PHILADELPHIA LAST JUNE. THEY SAY THERE WERE TOO MANY CHILDREN FOR THE LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY, AND THAT MANY OF THE 65 CAMPERS COULDN'T SWIM. THE LAWSUIT SEEKS TO BAR THE SWIM CLUB, OR ANY SUCCESSOR CLUBS, FROM CONTINUING SUCH CONDUCT.

PHILLY SCHOOL ARRESTS
3 STUDENTS ARRESTED AT PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THREE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN UNRELATED INCIDENTS AT A PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL UNDER SCRUTINY FOR A SERIES OF ATTACKS ON ASIAN STUDENTS. DISTRICT SPOKESMAN FERNANDO GALLARD SAYS TWO SOUTH PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE ARRESTED WEDNESDAY FOR ACTING UP AND DISRUPTING CLASSES. OFFICIALS SAY THOSE STUDENTS ASSAULTED SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS AS THEY WERE BEING TAKEN TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE. GALLARD SAYS A THIRD STUDENT WAS LATER ARRESTED FOR POSSESSING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. THE SCHOOL ADDED SECURITY OFFICERS AND NEW SECURITY CAMERAS AFTER ABOUT 30 ASIAN STUDENTS WERE ASSAULTED AT THE SCHOOL LAST MONTH. STUDENTS SAY THE ATTACKS WERE RACIALLY MOTIVATED. SIX BLACK STUDENTS AND FOUR ASIAN STUDENTS WERE SUSPENDED.
CITY, STATE AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING.

BISHOP INSTALLATION
CATHOLICS IN NORTHERN INDIANA WELCOME NEW BISHOP

FORT WAYNE, IND. (AP) - BISHOP KEVIN RHOADES HAS BECAME THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF MORE THAN 150,000 ROMAN CATHOLICS IN THE DIOCESE OF FORT WAYNE-SOUTH BEND. INDIANAPOLIS ARCHBISHOP DANIEL BUECHLEIN (BEEK'-LINE) INSTALLED RHOADES AS NINTH BISHOP OF THE NORTHERN INDIANA DIOCESE DURING A MASS ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WEDNESDAY AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN FORT WAYNE. RHOADES BEGAN HIS FIRST HOMILY AS BISHOP BY URGING CONGREGANTS TO PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAITI. HE THEN LED THE WORSHIPERS IN RECITING A HAIL MARY. THE 52-YEAR-OLD RHOADES HAS BEEN BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR FIVE YEARS. HE REPLACES BISHOP JOHN D'ARCY, WHO HAS LED THE FORT WAYNE-SOUTH BEND DIOCESE FOR NEARLY 24 YEARS.

BABY MYSTERY
DOCTOR TESTIFIES IN PA. MURDER FROM WOMB CASE

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A MEDICAL EXAMINER TESTIFIED THAT A PREGNANT SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH TEENAGER WAS ALIVE WHEN HER BABY WAS CUT FROM HER WOMB.
ASSOCIATE MEDICAL EXAMINER DR. TODD LUCKASEVIC TESTIFIED WEDNESDAY THAT TO GET TO KIA JOHNSON'S BABY, SOMEONE WOULD HAVE HAD TO CUT THROUGH HER SKIN AND UTERUS. HE SAID JOHNSON'S JAGGED WOUNDS INDICATED THAT SHE WAS MOVING, OR THAT THE PERSON CUTTING HER HAD A SHAKY HAND. HER BODY WAS FOUND BEHIND ANDREA CURRY-DEMUS' BED, BOUND IN DUCT TAPE, TRASH BAGS AND PLASTIC WRAP. PROSECUTORS CONTEND CURRY-DEMUS LURED JOHNSON TO HER WILKINSBURG HOME IN JULY 2008, REMOVED THE BABY AND TRIED TO PASS IT OFF AS HER OWN. SHE'S CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE AND KIDNAPPING. THE DEFENSE CLAIMS SHE'S NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY.

PHILLY MAN-45TH ARREST
PHILLY MAN, 23, HELD FOR US TRIAL ON 45TH ARREST

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AN ALLEGED CAREER CRIMINAL WHO BEAT THE RAP ON DOZENS OF CITY ARRESTS WILL STAY BEHIND BARS UNTIL HIS FEDERAL TRIAL IN PHILADELPHIA. JOHN GASSEW IS BEING HELD ON FEDERAL CHARGES STEMMING FROM A CONVENIENCE-STORE ROBBERY. GASSEW IS A FOCAL POINT IN A RECENT PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SERIES ON THE MANY ACQUITTALS IN THE CITY COURT SYSTEM. JUST 23, HE HAD NO CONVICTIONS AFTER 44 CITY ARRESTS. ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY ED ZITTLAU SAYS FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SWOOPED IN LAST MONTH TO BUILD A FEDERAL CASE AGAINST HIM. THEY NOW HAVE UNTIL FEB. 8 TO ISSUE AN INDICTMENT. PUBLIC DEFENDER ROSS THOMPSON DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RETURN A CALL FOR COMMENT ON WEDNESDAY'S DETENTION HEARING.

IMMIGRANT KILLING-STUDENTS
2ND TEEN CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME CAN BE RELEASED

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - THE SECOND OF TWO PENNSYLVANIA TEENAGERS FACING FEDERAL HATE CRIME CHARGES IN THE BEATING DEATH OF A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT CAN BE RELEASED FROM JAIL PENDING TRIAL. A FEDERAL JUDGE ON WEDNESDAY RULED 19-YEAR-OLD DERRICK DONCHAK OF SHENANDOAH CAN BE RELEASED FROM PRISON WHEN HIS STATE ASSAULT SENTENCE IS COMPLETED.
DONCHAK AND 18-YEAR-OLD BRANDON PIEKARSKY WERE CONVICTED IN MAY OF ASSAULT IN THE JULY 2008 BEATING DEATH OF 25-YEAR-OLD LUIS RAMIREZ IN SHENANDOAH. A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JURY ACQUITTED THE TEENS OF THE MOST SERIOUS STATE CHARGES AGAINST THEM. THE TEENS WERE CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT LAST MONTH. A SEPARATE INDICTMENT CHARGES THREE POLICE OFFICERS WITH OBSTRUCTING THE INVESTIGATION INTO RAMIREZ'S DEATH. PIEKARSKY HAS COMPLETED HIS SENTENCE AND BEEN RELEASED.

NATIONAL NEWS 1.14.10

HAITI-EARTHQUAKE
UPDATE: U.S., INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HEADING TO HAITI PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - CARGO PLANES FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE HEADED TO HAITI WITH FOOD, WATER, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, SHELTER AND SNIFFER DOGS. THE RESPONSE COMES JUST OVER A DAY AFTER A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE. THE FIRST CARGO PLANE CARRYING PART OF A U.S. MILITARY ASSESSMENT TEAM HAS ARRIVED. THAT'S THE WORD FROM OFFICIALS WITH THE U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND. MEANWHILE, THERE IS DESPERATION IN PORT-AU-PRINCE. MUCH OF THE CAPITAL HAS BEEN FLATTENED BY THE MAGNITUDE-7 QUAKE. DAZED SURVIVORS ARE WANDERING PAST BODIES IN RUBBLE-STREWN STREETS. THEY ARE CRYING FOR LOVED ONES. RESCUERS ARE SEARCHING COLLAPSED BUILDINGS FOR VICTIMS.
THE DEATH TOLL COULD REACH TENS OF THOUSANDS. AMONG THE DEAD ARE AT LEAST 14 U.N. PERSONNEL AND THE CAPITAL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP.
SOME OF THE INJURED ARE BEING TREATED IN OPEN AREAS SUCH AS PARKING LOTS. BUT MOST ARE UNATTENDED. THE RED CROSS SAID IT HAS RUN OUT OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES. ABOUT 3,000 POLICE AND INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS CLEARED DEBRIS, DIRECTED TRAFFIC AND MAINTAINED SECURITY IN THE CAPITAL.

US-HAITI-AMERICAN EMBASSY
US REPORTS DOZENS OF AMERICANS AT EMBASSY IN HAITI

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT AT LEAST 66 AMERICANS HAVE MADE THEIR WAY TO THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN HAITI FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION OR OTHER ASSISTANCE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN P.J. CROWLEY SAYS THAT ANOTHER GROUP OF ABOUT 160 AMERICANS IS AT THE AIRPORT OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL OF PORT-AU-PRINCE, SEEKING A WAY TO LEAVE THE CARIBBEAN NATION.
CROWLEY SAID WEDNESDAY THAT U.S. C-130 MILITARY AIRCRAFT ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN EVACUATING AMERICANS IN THE COMING HOURS AND DAYS.

UN-HAITI
14 UN PERSONNEL KILLED, 150 MISSING IN HAITI

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - THE U.N. SAYS 14 U.N. PERSONNEL WERE KILLED WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE DECIMATED HAITI'S CAPITAL AND 150 ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR, INCLUDING THE MISSION CHIEF. U.N. OFFICIALS SAY 56 OTHERS WERE INJURED; SEVEN WHO WERE SERIOUSLY HURT HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE COUNTRY.
U.N. PEACEKEEPING CHIEF ALAIN LE ROY TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY THAT THE FATALITIES INCLUDE 13 PEACEKEEPERS - 10 BRAZILIANS AND THREE JORDANIANS - AND A HAITIAN CIVILIAN WORKING FOR THE U.N. PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN THE COUNTRY. HE STRESSED THAT THESE WERE ONLY CONFIRMED FATALITIES AND THE NUMBER OF U.N. DEAD "AT THE END WILL BE MUCH HIGHER - IT'S OBVIOUS."

HAITI-EARTHQUAKE-PAT ROBERTSON
ROBERTSON: QUAKE-RAVAGED HAITI IS CURSED

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. (AP) - CHRISTIAN BROADCASTER PAT ROBERTSON SAYS HAITI, WHOSE CAPITAL IS IN RUINS AFTER YESTERDAY'S MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE, HAS BEEN CURSED SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY. ON WEDNESDAY'S BROADCAST OF CBN NEWS' "THE 700 CLUB," ROBERTSON SAID HAITIANS PLEDGED TO SERVE THE DEVIL IF HE WOULD HELP THEM WIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE, AND THE DEVIL SAID, "IT'S A DEAL." ROBERTSON SAID, "EVER SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN CURSED BY ONE THING AFTER THE OTHER." HIS SPOKESMAN, PAT ROSLAN, SAYS THE COMMENTS WERE BASED ON VOODOO RITUALS CARRIED OUT BEFORE A SLAVE REBELLION AGAINST FRENCH COLONISTS IN 1791. ROSLAN NOTES THAT ROBERTSON'S OPERATION BLESSING GROUP IS SENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICATION AND RELIEF WORKERS TO THE COUNTRY. ROBERTSON HAS ANGERED OPPONENTS BEFORE WITH COMMENTS ON CURRENT EVENTS AND CRITICISM OF OTHER FAITHS. HE ONCE SAID AMERICAN AGENTS SHOULD ASSASSINATE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ AND SAID ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON'S STROKE WAS DIVINE RETRIBUTION FOR WITHDRAWING FROM THE GAZA STRIP.

AIRLINE ATTACK-CONGRESS
DETROIT BOMBER: NO COAT, NO LUGGAGE, NO NOTICE

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE WOULD-BE CHRISTMAS DAY BOMBER HAD NO COAT AS HE BOARDED A PLANE IN AMSTERDAM TO FRIGID DETROIT. THAT'S ONE OF
MANY WARNING SIGNS THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAY WENT UNNOTICED LEADING UP TO WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC TERRORIST ATTACK.
CONGRESS GOT ITS FIRST BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK WEDNESDAY AT THE BOTCHED AIRLINE BOMBING. OFFICIALS SAY THE SECURITY FAILURES WERE EVEN WORSE THAN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA OUTLINED LAST WEEK. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR HOW THE SYSTEM WILL BE FIXED. UMAR FAROUK ABDULMUTALLAB DIDN'T HAVE LUGGAGE EITHER WHEN HE ALLEGEDLY BOARDED THE NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT WITH A BOMB IN HIS PANTS. NEW JERSEY REP. BILL PASCRELL THE LACK OF A COAT SHOULD HAVE PIQUED INTEREST AMONG AIRLINE SECURITY OFFICIALS.

HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAIL 'SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS'

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE SAY THEY HAVE MADE "SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS" TOWARD REACHING A FINAL HEALTH CARE DEAL. THE PRESIDENT JOINED HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT LATE TODAY FOLLOWING DAYLONG TALKS AMONG SENIOR DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO RECONCILE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS OF BILLS TO OVERHAUL THE U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. THE STATEMENT FROM OBAMA, PELOSI AND REID SAID THEY ARE "ENCOURAGED AND ENERGIZED" AND ARE CLOSER TO BRIDGING THE DIFFERENCES. THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS OBAMA TO SIGN A BILL IN TIME FOR HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS NEXT MONTH.


OFFICER SHOT
PA. TROOPER FATALLY SHOT, 2 FOUND DEAD IN HOME

CRANBERRY, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT IN THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A STATE TROOPER IS DEAD. STATE POLICE SGT. MARK ZALESKI SAYS POLICE HAVE THE BODY OF THE SUSPECT AND HIS WIFE. AUTHORITIES DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY THE COUPLE. THE MAN HAD BEEN WANTED FOR KILLING 40-YEAR-OLD TROOPER PAUL G. RICHEY. THE TROOPER WAS SHOT DEAD WEDNESDAY MORNING WHEN HE GOT OUT OF HIS POLICE CRUISER TO RESPOND TO A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALL AT A RURAL NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HOME. POLICE SAY THE SHOT WAS FIRED FROM INSIDE THE HOME. ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, THE BODIES OF THE COUPLE WERE FOUND INSIDE.
POLICE HAD BLOCKED OFF ROADS IN THE AREA FOR MOST OF THE DAY AND WERE CIRCULATING A PICTURE OF A MAN NAMED MICHAEL SMITH, WHO LIVES ON THE STREET WHERE THE SHOOTING HAPPENED.


CHILD DRIVER-FATALITIES
DRIVER, 11, RUNS STOP SIGN IN CALIF., KILLING 3

PORTERVILLE, CALIF. (AP) - INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHY AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS DRIVING A CAR THAT RAN A STOP SIGN IN CALIFORNIA AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, LEAVING HIM AND TWO OTHERS DEAD.
THE COLLISION KILLED JOSE MANUEL SILVA COVARRUBIAS, HIS MOTHER, MARIA SILVA, AND 6-YEAR-OLD SISTER, ELIZABETH SILVA COVARRUBIAS. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO INTERVIEW THE CAR'S LONE SURVIVOR TO DETERMINE WHY THE BOY WAS DRIVING TUESDAY NIGHT. FAMILY FRIEND FROYLON GONZALEZ REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
CHP OFFICIALS SAY NEITHER THE MOTHER NOR DAUGHTER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. INVESTIGATORS SAY JOSE WAS DRIVING THE 1993 HONDA WHEN HE RAN A STOP SIGN IN TULARE COUNTY AND WAS HIT BROADSIDE. THE DRIVER OF THAT VEHICLE HAD MINOR INJURIES.

CHILD FOR GUN
DEPUTIES: ARIZ. WOMAN TRIED TO TRADE CHILD FOR GUN

PHOENIX (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE ARRESTED AN ARIZONA WOMAN WHO TRADED HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOR A GUN. MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ARRESTED 33-YEAR-OLD TANYA NAREAU OF MESA ON TUESDAY AFTER RECEIVING A TIP. DEPUTIES SAY THEY SPOKE WITH A FAMILY FRIEND WHO HAD THE CHILD AND CONFIRMED NAREAU GAVE THE GIRL TO HIM FOR GUN.
DEPUTIES SAY NAREAU FELT THE FRIEND WOULD DO A BETTER JOB RAISING THE CHILD THAN SHE WOULD. AUTHORITIES SAY NAREAU HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THE UNLAWFUL SALE OF A CHILD AND SOLICITATION TO POSSESS A WEAPON BY A PROHIBITED PERSON. IT WAS UNCLEAR IF NAREAU HAD LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

SWEDISH RAPPER-ROAD RAGE
NEW: SWEDISH MUSICIAN CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE IN LA TRIAL

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A SWEDISH HIP-HOP ARTIST ACCUSED OF KILLING A JAZZ PIANIST AT A HOLLYWOOD CROSSWALK WILL TESTIFY THAT HE WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE AFTER THE VICTIM SLAPPED HIS RENTED SUV. IN OPENING STATEMENTS WEDNESDAY IN THE TRIAL OF DAVID MOSES JASSY, A DEFENSE LAWYER SAID THE SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER ALSO KNOWN AS DAVE MONOPOLY GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND ASSAULTED THE PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE HE FEARED FOR HIS OWN SAFETY. THE 35-YEAR-OLD JASSY HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO MURDER, ASSAULT AND OTHER CHARGES IN THE 2008 DEATH OF 55-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN JOHN OSNES. PROSECUTORS SAY JASSY GOT OUT OF HIS SUV, PUNCHED OSNES, KICKED HIM IN THE HEAD, THEN RAN HIM OVER AS HE DROVE AWAY.
JASSY, OF STOCKHOLM, HAS CO-WRITTEN SONGS FOR "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL" STAR ASHLEY TISDALE. HE FACES A POSSIBLE LIFE SENTENCE IF CONVICTED OF MURDER.