Today's News-Wednesday, January 6, 2010

CRASH ON 61

A POTTSVILLE WOMAN WAS INJURED AFTER HER CAR WENT AIRBORNE LAST NIGHT OFF OF ROUTE 61. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE SAY 45 YEAR OLD LAURA WHITLEY WAS SOUTHBOUND NEAR THE PENSKE CURVE AT AN APPARENT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HIT THE GUIDERAIL, HIT A UTILITY POLE AND WENT OVER THE EMBANKMENT. WHITLEY WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO BE RESCUED BY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. SHE WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH FOR TREATMENT. THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 7:45PM.

JUDGE SETS CONDITIONS FOR PIEKARSKY'S POSSIBLE RELEASE

A SHENANDOAH TEENAGER, FACING FEDERAL HATE CRIMES CHARGES, MAY BE RELEASED FROM FEDERAL CUSTODY SOON, WITH SOME STIPULATIONS. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE RICHARD CAPUTO HAS ORDERED THAT BRANDON PIEKARSKY COULD BE RELEASED TO HOME DETENTION WHILE HE AWAITS TRIAL ON FEDERAL CHARGES IN THE BEATING DEATH OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT LUIS RAMIREZ IN JULY, 2008 IN SHENANDOAH. WHILE NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR HIS RELEASE, PIEKARSKY WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO LEAVE HIS HOME FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH HIS LAWYER, WORKING AND SUBMIT TO RANDOM DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING, AMONG OTHER STIPULATIONS. PIEKARSKY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE CONTACT WITH OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE CASE. PIEKARSKY AND DERRICK DONCHAK BOTH HAVE FEDERAL CHARGES PENDING AGAINST THEM.

ZIMMERMAN APPEAL REJECTED

A FORMER ORWIGSBURG MAN, CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE BEATING HIS WIFE TO DEATH IN JULY, 2006, WILL REMAIN IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. THAT'S ACCORDING TO A RULING FROM THE STATE SUPERIOR COURT. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT JEFFREY ZIMMERMAN'S SECOND APPEAL OF HIS LIFE SENTENCE WAS TURNED DOWN, CITING THAT HIS INTENT WAS CLEAR IN KILLING HIS WIFE CINDY AT HER PARENTS HOME. ZIMMERMAN'S APPEAL ALSO CONTENDED THAT HIS LEGAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE. THAT CLAIM WAS ALSO REBUFFED BY THE THREE JUDGE STATE PANEL. ZIMMERMAN IS SERVING HIS LIFE SENTENCE AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION/FAYETTE.

HEATING AID TO HELP WARM HOMES THIS WINTER

AS THE WINTER WINDS CHILL US TO THE BONE, THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED HEATING ASSISTANCE WILL GET ADDITIONAL HELP. THAT'S ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR ED RENDELL, WHO SAYS THE FEDERALLY-FUNDED LIHEAP PROGRAM TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES WILL BE INCREASED BY $100 DOLLARS, TO AN AVERAGE OF $326 DOLLARS. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM IS BEING EXTENDED BY NEARLY THREE WEEKS UNTIL APRIL 2ND. APPROXIMATELY 600-THOUSAND FAMILIES WILL BE HELPED BY THE PROGRAM. RENDELL SAID THAT IF CONGRESS RELEASES ADDITIONAL CONTINGENCY FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM, THE STATE COULD INCREASE GRANTS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING SENIOR CITIZENS, YOUNG CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

BLOOD DRIVES TODAY, TOMORROW

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET READY TO DONATE BLOOD. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS HOSTING BLOOD DRIVES TO BOLSTER SUPPLIES OF THE LIFE GIVING GIFT TODAY AT FAIRLANE VILLAGE, ROUTE 61 FROM 11:30AM TILL 6:30PM, AND TOMORROW AT JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, FROM NOON TILL 6PM. BY DONATING BLOOD, YOU CAN HELP AS MANY AS THREE PEOPLE, AND YOU'LL RECEIVE A RE-USEABLE HAND WARMER, PLUS BE REGISTERED TO POSSIBLY WIN UP TO $1-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN WINTER HEATING HELP. STOP BY ONE OF THE DRIVE LOCATIONS, OR CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. WPPA AND T102 ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN THIS EFFORT.

MORE EXPECTED TO USE FOOD STAMPS IN 2010

IN 2009, MANY PENNSYLVANIANS WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D BE USING FOOD STAMPS, NEEDED THEM. IN 2010, ITS LIKELY EVEN MORE FAMILIES WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT BOAT, AS TOM JOSEPH REPORTS:

JOSEPH FOOD STAMPS

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A FINAL VOTE ON A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE BLACKJACK AND OTHER TABLE GAMES AT PENNSYLVANIA'S SLOTS CASINOS IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS TAX REVENUE FROM TABLE GAMES IS NEEDED TO AVERT THE LAYOFFS OF NEARLY 1,000 STATE WORKERS.

MIFFLINBURG, PA. (AP) - A JUDGE HAS DISMISSED A CITATION ISSUED TO A PENNSYLVANIA FARMER ACCUSED OF KILLING A 400-POUND BLACK BEAR SAID TO HAVE KILLED MORE THAN A DOZEN ANIMALS. JOHN NOLT'S LAWYER SAYS THE CASE WAS DISMISSED AFTER TESTIMONY REVEALED SOMEBODY ELSE FIRED THE FATAL SHOT IN BUFFALO TOWNSHIP LAST OCTOBER.

IRWIN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A SALT-TRUCK JUMPED OUT SECONDS BEFORE HIS TRUCK PLUNGED OVER A 100-FOOT WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CLIFF. THE DRIVER WAS SALTING A ROAD ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PITTSBURGH WHEN HIS TRUCK SLID OFF THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A JUDGE IS REFUSING TO DELAY TRIAL FOR A FORMER PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKER AND THREE CO-DEFENDANTS ACCUSED OF DIVERTING STATE RESOURCES FOR CAMPAIGNING AND OTHER PURPOSES. DAUPHIN COUNTY JUDGE RICHARD LEWIS RULED AGAINST FORMER REP. MIKE VEON'S REQUEST TO POSTPONE THE JANUARY 19TH START OF TRIAL.

BENSALEM, PA. (AP) - POLICE SAY FOUR FLORIDA MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH RUNNING A MULTISTATE IDENTITY THEFT RING FROM A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA MOTEL ROOM. BENSALEM POLICE SAY THEY RECOVERED LICENSES, CREDIT CARDS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS LISTING THE NAMES OF ABOUT 100 VICTIMS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE NATION'S HIGHEST-LEVEL SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE GOTTEN A TONGUE LASHING FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. IT HAPPENED IN A PRIVATE MEETING IN WHICH OBAMA SAID THE ATTEMPTED BOMBING OF A U.S. AIRLINER RESULTED FROM A "SCREW UP THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS." OBAMA SAYS INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS FAILED TO "CONNECT THE DOTS."

WASHINGTON - THERE ARE SIGNS OF POLITICAL TROUBLE FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S PARTY WITH THE 2010 ELECTION YEAR BARELY UNDER WAY. TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND ONE GOVERNOR HAVE DITCHED PLANS TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION. SENS. CHRIS DODD OF CONNECTICUT AND BYRON DORGAN OF NORTH DAKOTA AS WELL AS COLORADO GOV. BILL RITTER ARE CALLING IT QUITS.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - FLORIDA STRAWBERRY, TOMATO AND CITRUS GROWERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO WARD OFF THE FROST. BUT A DEEP FREEZE THAT'S HIT SOUTHERN STATES MAY LAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. CROP DAMAGE COULD MEAN HIGHER PRODUCE PRICES FOR CONSUMERS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PLANS TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE TODAY ON CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS TO PASS A UNIFIED HEALTH CARE BILL. HE'S SCHEDULED ANOTHER WHITE HOUSE MEETING IN AN EFFORT TO GET COMPROMISE TALKS ON A FAST TRACK. OBAMA WOULD LIKE TO SIGN A BILL BEFORE THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS NEXT MONTH.

SAN'A, YEMEN (AP) - THREE SUSPECTED AL-QAIDA MILITANTS WHO WERE WOUNDED IN CLASHES WITH SECURITY FORCES IN YEMEN EARLIER THIS WEEK HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AT A HOSPITAL. THE THREE WERE WOUNDED WHEN SECURITY FORCES CLASHED ON MONDAY WITH A GROUP OF MILITANTS FROM A CELL THAT THE U.S. HAS SAID WAS LINKED TO A PLOT AGAINST THE AMERICAN OR OTHER EMBASSIES.