Today's News-Monday, February 8, 2010

TWO CRASHES, MINUTES APART

BLOWING SNOW AND ICE RESULTED IN TWO CRASHES ON INTERSTATE 81 SUNDAY MORNING. A CAR OPERATED BY 58 YEAR OLD MARTIN HOLM OF PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS WAS NORTHBOUND NEAR MILE MARKER 133. THE VEHICLE SLID ON THE ICE, WENT INTO A DITCH, HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, HOLM AND HIS PASSENGERS WEREN'T HURT. WITHIN MINUTES, A SECOND VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 74 YEAR OLD MICHAEL WANCHICK OF HAZLE TOWNSHIP LOST CONTROL ON THE ICE, AND ENDED UP FLIPPED ON ITS ROOF, ONLY FEET FROM THE FIRST CRASH. WANCHICK WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT. BOTH HOLM AND WANCHICK WILL BE CITED FOR TRAVELING TOO FAST FOR CONDITION. THE ACCIDENTS HAPPENED AROUND 11AM SUNDAY.

VANDALISM AT FRUIT ORCHARD

FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR VANDALS WHO RAN AMOK AT DUNN'S FRUIT ORCHARD IN EAST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP. UNKNONWN PERSONS WITH A SNOWMOBILE RAN OVER SMALL PEACH TREES AT THE 150 ACRE ORCHARD SATURDAY. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE IS NOT KNOWN. TROOPERS ARE INVESTGATING.

SHOTGUN STOLEN

AN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP HOME WAS BURGLARIZED, AND A SHOTGUN STOLEN. TROOPERS FROM THE FRACKVILLE BARRACKS REPORT THAT SCOTT CAREYVA'S HOME WAS BROKEN INTO ON RATTLIN RUN ROAD, AND THE GUN TAKEN. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

SNOWY ROADS CAUSE CRASH

A DOWNINGTOWN MAN ESCAPED INJURY WHEN HIS CAR CRASHED ON SLUSH COVERED ROUTE 895 IN WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP SATURDAY AFTERNOON. PATRICK HENNEGHAN'S VEHCILE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL ON THE ROAD, CROSSED THE HIGHWAY AND STRUCK SEVERAL MAILBOXES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACROSS A SNOW COVERED FIELD, ENDING UP NEAR A STREAM. HENNEGHAN WILL BE CHARGED WITH DRIVING AT AN UNSAFE SPEED IN DISTRICT COURT.

SMOKING DOWN, WEIGHT UP

SMOKING RATES ARE DOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND THE RESULTS CAN BE SEEN IN FEWER CANCER DEATHS, BUT OBESITY RATES ARE UP-WHICH VIRTUALLY WIPES OUT THE HEALTH GAINS MADE BY REDUCED TOBACCO USE. TOM JOSEPH REPORTS:

JOSEPH HEALTH

GOV TO PUSH SCHOOL AID, BRIDGE FOR LOOMING CLIFF

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - WHEN ED RENDELL DELIVERS HIS ANNUAL BUDGET SPEECH FOR THE LAST TIME TUESDAY, THE GOVERNOR KNOWN FOR BRINGING A KITCHEN-SINK FULL OF PRIORITIES IS EXPECTED TO OUTLINE A NARROWER SET OF GOALS. FOR ONE, THE SECOND-TERM DEMOCRAT HAS A SHORT TIME TO COAX A POLITICALLY DIVIDED LEGISLATURE. ALSO, PENNSYLVANIA'S RECESSION-RAVAGED TAX COLLECTIONS ARE LIKELY TO LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA. THEN THERE'S THE APPROACHING NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION THAT MANY SAY WILL DETER LEGISLATORS FROM TAKING UP CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES. LAWMAKERS EXPECT AN APPROXIMATELY $29 BILLION SPENDING PLAN LIKELY TO INCLUDE ANOTHER HEFTY INCREASE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PERHAPS RENDELL'S TOP PRIORITY. BUT LAWMAKERS DO NOT EXPECT HIM TO SEEK AN INCREASE IN THE STATE'S PERSONAL INCOME TAX. THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE WILL REVIVE LAST YEAR'S FAILED PROPOSALS TO IMPOSE NEW TAXES ON THE EXTRACTION OF NATURAL GAS AND SALES OF CIGARS AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO. HE ALSO IS EXPECTED TO TRY TO START A DISCUSSION OF HOW TO ADDRESS A HUGE, ONE-TWO FINANCIAL PUNCH - THE EXPIRATION OF FEDERAL STIMULUS AID IN 2011 AND A PENSION-OBLIGATION SPIKE THAT WILL EXPLODE TO $4 BILLION.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH HAVE GOTTEN THEIR WISH - A SNOW DAY. THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA SAYS IT WON'T HOLD CLASSES, EITHER. PHILADELPHIA'S CHARTER SCHOOLS WILL EACH MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION ON WHETHER TO OPEN.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY THE DEATH OF A MCKEESPORT MAN AND HIS 19-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAD BEEN USING A GENERATOR FOR HEAT BECAUSE THE POWER WAS OUT AT THEIR HOME.

MEYERSDALE, PA. (AP) - IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL DAYS FOR CSX TO CLEAN UP THE MESS RESULTING FROM A TRAIN DERAILMENT IN MEYERSDALE, ABOUT 70 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PITTSBURGH. A CSX SPOKESMAN SAYS 113 CARS CARRYING COAL DERAILED EARLY SATURDAY. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THE WINTER STORM WAS A FACTOR.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE LAWMAKERS EXPECT GOVERNOR ED RENDELL TO DELIVER A $29 BILLION BUDGET TUESDAY THAT IS LIKELY TO INCLUDE MORE MONEY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO SAID HE PLANS TO REVIVE LAST YEAR'S FAILED PROPOSALS FOR NEW TAXES ON THE EXTRACTION OF NATURAL GAS AND SALES OF CIGARS AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS FILED LAST WEEK SHOW DEMOCRAT DAN ONORATO AND REPUBLICAN TOM CORBETT ARE WELL AHEAD OF THEIR RIVALS FOR THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNOR. AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, ONORATO'S CAMPAIGN HAD $6.5 MILLION AND CORBETT'S HAD $3.2 MILLION.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR HAS BLASTED OFF FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON ONE OF THE LAST BIG CONSTRUCTION MISSIONS. CLOUD COVER THAT SCRUBBED SUNDAY'S LAUNCH CLEARED IN TIME FOR TODAY'S LIFTOFF. THE PRE-DAWN LAUNCH WAS THE LAST ONE IN DARKNESS IF THE REST OF THE SHUTTLE SCHEDULE HOLDS. ONLY FOUR MORE SHUTTLE FLIGHTS ARE LEFT.

MIAMI (AP) - NEW ORLEANS IS CELEBRATING ITS FIRST SUPER BOWL WIN IN ITS FIRST APPEARANCE AFTER THE SAINTS UPSET THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 31-17. SAINTS' QUARTERBACK DREW BREES WAS NAMED MOST VALUABLE PLAYER. THE GAME WAS BACK-AND-FORTH UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER.

CHICAGO (AP) - HAVING A USED TOYOTA ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE. THE QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES AT TOYOTA ARE DOING DAMAGE TO THE RESALE MARKET FOR THE ONCE HIGHLY PRAISED CARS, THANKS TO RECALLS AND A BUNGLED RESPONSE TO SAFETY QUESTIONS.

SRINAGAR, INDIA (AP) - A MASSIVE AVALANCHE HIT A TRAINING CENTER OF THE INDIAN ARMY IN INDIAN-CONTROLLED KASHMIR, KILLING AT LEAST SIX SOLDIERS. OFFICIALS SAY ANOTHER 60 SOLDIERS ARE TRAPPED. AN INDIAN ARMY SPOKESMAN SAYS RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE UNDER WAY AT THE SKI RESORT OF GULMARG.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - UNMANNED SURVEILLANCE PLANES MAY SOON BY FLYING UNDER IRAN'S INSIGNIA. IRAN'S STATE TV SAYS THE COUNTRY HAS LAUNCHED TWO PRODUCTION LINES OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT, OR DRONES. IRAN SAID A YEAR AGO IT HAS BUILT AN UNMANNED SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT WITH A RANGE OF MORE THAN 600 MILES, LONG ENOUGH TO REACH ISRAEL.