TODAY'S NEWS - THURSDAY 2.11.10-7:30AM

ARGENTINIAN TRIAL REQUEST OVERTURNED

A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS DENIED A NEW TRIAL OR AN ACQUITTAL TO AN ARGENTINA NATIVE CONVICTED OF PARTICIPATING IN A DRUG RING IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE.  U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE SYLVIA RAMBO RULED CARLOS CEGLEDI PROVIDED NO REASON TO OVERTURN OR SET ASIDE HIS CONVICTION. SHE ORDERED PREPARATION OF A PRESENTENCE REPORT BUT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULE CEGLEDI'S SENTENCING.  THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, ON DECEMBER 11TH, THE JURY FOUND CEGLEDI GUILTY OF DRUG TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE IN BERKS, CUMBERLAND, DAUPHIN, FRANKLIN, LEHIGH AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES AND THE STATE OF GEORGIA IN APRIL AND MAY 2008.

SNOW

WEATHER IN A WORD: WOW! THE AREA IS DIGGING OUT THIS MORNING FROM TWO FEET OF SNOW THAT DUMPED ON THE REGION. MAIN HIGHWAYS ARE BASICALLY CLEAR, BUT SECONDARY ROADS ARE SNOW COVERED. THE COUNTY IS UNDER A DISASTER EMERGENCY, BANNING NON ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TODAY. PENN DOT AND MUNICIPAL SNOW REMOVAL CREWS ARE ON ROUND THE CLOCK DUTY TO CLEAR THE ROADS, BUT IT MAY TAKE THE BETTER PART OF TODAY AND TOMORROW TO CLEAR OUT. INTERSTATE 81, 78 AND 80 WHICH WERE CLOSED YESTERDAY BY GOVERNOR ED RENDELL HAS REOPENED.

CAR THEFT IN HAMBURG

SOMEONE STOLE A DISABLED VEHICLE IN HAMBURG ON ROUTE 61.  THE INCIDENT OCCURRED NEAR THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY LINE AT LOWLAND ROAD IN BERKS COUNTY TOWNSHIP. THE 1995 FORD CONTOUR, OWNED BY THOMAS C SZELIGA 30 OF POTTSVILLE, WAS STOLEN BETWEEN JAN 31 AND FEB 7. THE VEHICLE BEARS A PA LICENSE PLATE OF GYM7646. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS THEFT PLEASE CONTACT THE POLICE AT 610-562-9001.

PILLS STOLEN FROM TRUCK

OXYCONTIN AND PERCOCET PILLS WERE TAKEN FROM FROM A TRUCK IN SHENANDOAH ON MONDAY. THE 2006 CHEVROLET TRUCK, OWNED BY GARY TROY 32 OR SHENANDOAH, WAS PARKED NEAR HIS HOME AT THE TIME OF THE THEFT. $100 WAS ALSO TAKEN BEFORE THE PERPETRATOR FLED UNDETECTED. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS INCIDENT, CONTACT WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP POLICE CONFIDENTIALLY AT 462-1991.

3 INJURIES IN CRASH

A TWO VEHICLE CRASH HAPPENED ON SELTZER ROAD IN NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT HOLLY‘S FOOD STORE. KELLY DRAGINIS, 26 OF CUMBOLA, TOOK A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING HER 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA CAUSING HER TO HIT THE GAS, CROSS OVER THE ROAD AND HIT A SNOW BANK BEFORE LANDING IN HOLLY'S PARKING LOT. DRAGINIS’S CAR CRASHED INTO JEFFERY COLEMAN , 47 OF READING, WHO WAS DRIVING A 2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND PARKED AT THE FOOD STORE. BOTH DRIVERS AND COLMAN’S PASSENGER, CRYSTAL C LYNN 31 OF POTTSVILLE, WERE TREATED ON THE SCENE BY POTTSVILLE-SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AREA EMS FOR MINOR INJURIES AND THEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

THEFT AT CABELA'S

STANLEY J DUBERNAS, 61 OF OLD FORGE, WAS ARRESTED FOR THEFT AT CABELA'S IN HAMBURG ON SUNDAY. STORE SECURITY DETAINED HIM FOR LEAVING WITHOUT PAYING FOR $36 WORTH OF MERCHANDISE. DEBERNAS WAS ISSUED A CITATION FOR RETAIL THEFT AND WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE CHARGE IN BERKS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.

PA NEWS

MORE THAN 200 VEHICLES STRANDED ALONG PA. ROAD

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - EMERGENCY CREWS HAVE CLEARED A BACKLOG OF ABOUT 200 TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES STUCK ON INTERSTATE 78 IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA BECAUSE OF THE BLIZZARD.  A CRASH AND SNOW FALLING AT ABOUT 2 INCHES AN HOUR HAD LEFT THE VEHICLES STRANDED BEGINNING ABOUT NOON WEDNESDAY.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPOKESMAN SEAN BROWN SAYS EMERGENCY
VEHICLES WERE ABLE TO CLEAR SOME PATHWAYS AND PULL OUT ENOUGH VEHICLES TO GET THE TRAFFIC MOVING AGAIN BY MIDNIGHT.  BERKS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR THEODORE COLE SAYS GASOLINE, FOOD AND WATER WERE DELIVERED TO THE DRIVERS WHILE THEY WERE STRANDED.  PENNSYLVANIA SHUT DOWN MAJOR HIGHWAYS INCLUDING I-78 AFTER THEY WERE RENDERED NEARLY IMPASSABLE BY THE STORM.  ENOUGH SNOW FELL TO ASSURE PHILADELPHIA OF ITS SNOWIEST WINTER ON RECORD.

MORE THAN 138K CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER ACROSS PA.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE MASSIVE STORM THAT HAS SET A NEW SNOWFALL RECORD IN PHILADELPHIA HAS CUT POWER TO ABOUT 110,000 ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS IN AND AROUND THE CITY. PECO SPOKESMAN FRED MAHER SAYS RISING WINDS HAVE BEEN TOPPLING SNOW-COVERED TREES INTO POWER LINES, LEAVING 110,000 WITHOUT POWER AS OF 9 P.M. WEDNESDAY IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE FOUR SUBURBAN COUNTIES. ABOUT 49,000 ARE IN BUCKS COUNTY.  OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 138,000 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER ACROSS THE STATE. WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA POWER COMPANIES SAY 26,500 CUSTOMERS HAVE NO ELECTRICITY, AND SOME HAVE HAD NONE SINCE THE LAST STORM BEGAN FRIDAY. ALLENTOWN-BASED PPL CORP. SAYS IT HAS ABOUT 2,100 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT SERVICE.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS 14 INCHES OF SNOW HAS FALLEN
IN PHILADELPHIA SO FAR, SETTING A NEW RECORD OF 70.3 INCHES FOR THE
SEASON SO FAR.

PA. MAN JUST OUT OF JAIL ACCUSED OF KILLING WOMAN

DUNBAR, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY A MAN WHO HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH BEATING AND STABBING HIS LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND TO DEATH. POLICE SAY 29-YEAR-OLD HENRY EARLEY OF BITNER IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP WAS ARRESTED WALKING INTO TRAFFIC ON ROUTE 51 SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT TUESDAY. AT THE HOUSE HE SHARED WITH 30-YEAR-OLD REBECCA DIMATTEO, THEY FOUND HER BODY LYING ON THE FLOOR.  EARLEY WAS ARRAIGNED ON A CRIMINAL HOMICIDE CHARGE AND TAKEN TO FAYETTE COUNTY JAIL WITHOUT BOND. ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, HE HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM THE JAIL ON BOND SUNDAY, A DAY AFTER HE WAS TAKEN THERE ON UNRELATED CHARGES OF SIMPLE ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, RETAIL THEFT AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

MICH. AG SAYS NO DEAL WITH FEDS ON ASIAN CARP

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. (AP) - MICHIGAN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFERED TO SETTLE A LEGAL DISPUTE OVER HOW TO KEEP ASIAN CARP OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES, BUT NO DEAL WAS REACHED.  MIKE COX SAID HE AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL FROM FIVE OTHER STATES HAD A CONFERENCE CALL WEDNESDAY WITH A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAWYER.  COX TOLD REPORTERS HE COULDN'T PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE TALKS BECAUSE THEY WERE CONFIDENTIAL NEGOTIATIONS TOWARD A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT. BUT HE SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFERED NO CHANGES IN ITS $78.5 MILLION STRATEGY RELEASED MONDAY.  THAT PLAN REJECTS MICHIGAN'S DEMAND TO CLOSE TWO SHIPPING LOCKS IN CHICAGO WATERWAYS THAT COULD PROVIDE AN OPENING TO LAKE MICHIGAN FOR THE INVASIVE CARP.  COX SAID HIS STATE'S SUPREME COURT LAWSUIT ON THE MATTER WILL CONTINUE.

FUNERAL PLANS FINALIZED IN PA. FOR MURTHA

JOHNSTOWN, PA. (AP) - FUNERAL SERVICES FOR THE LATE REP. JOHN MURTHA HAVE NOW BEEN FINALIZED FOR NEXT WEEK IN THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT HE REPRESENTED FOR 3 1/2 DECADES. MURTHA'S FAMILY SAYS A PRIVATE VIEWING WILL BE HELD FROM 3 P.M. TO 7 P.M. ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY AT DUCA'S FUNERAL HOME IN JOHNSTOWN.  A PRIVATE FUNERAL SERVICE BEGINS AT 11 A.M. TUESDAY AT THE WESTMONT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AND A PRIVATE BURIAL SERVICE WILL FOLLOW AT GRANDVIEW CEMETERY.  FAMILY MEMBERS SAY A PUBLIC MEMORIAL IS PLANNED AT THE U.S. CAPITOL IN THE COMING WEEKS. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, THEY SUGGEST
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UPMC JOHN P. MURTHA CANCER PAVILION IN JOHNSTOWN OR THE JOYCE MURTHA BREAST CARE CENTER IN WINDBER, PA. MURTHA, D-PA., DIED MONDAY AT A HOSPITAL AT AGE 77 AFTER COMPLICATIONS FROM GALLBLADDER SURGERY.

RENDELL NOMINATES 2 TO LUZERNE CO. BENCH

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL HAS NOMINATED TWO ATTORNEYS TO SPOTS ON THE BENCH IN A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY WHERE THREE FORMER JUDGES HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION.  RENDELL SPOKESMAN GARY TUMA CONFIRMED ON TUESDAY THE NOMINATIONS OF 63-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH VAN JURA AND 67-YEAR-OLD LEWIS WETZEL FOR THE LUZERNE COUNTY BENCH.
VAN JURA, A DEMOCRAT, IS THE NOMINEE TO REPLACE JUDGE MICHAEL TOOLE, WHO RESIGNED LAST MONTH AND PLEADED GUILTY TO HONEST SERVICES FRAUD AND TAX EVASION. WETZEL, A REPUBLICAN, IS THE NOMINEE TO REPLACE JUDGE PETER PAUL OLSZEWSKI JR., WHO LOST A RETENTION VOTE.  BOTH MEN MUST WIN APPROVAL FROM THE STATE SENATE.  TWO OTHER FORMER JUDGES AWAIT TRIAL ON RACKETEERING CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN KICKBACKS TO SEND JUVENILES TO PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES.

TRAVELER HELD WITH ARABIC FLASH CARDS SUES POLICE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A COLLEGE STUDENT HANDCUFFED AT PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS ARABIC LANGUAGE
FLASH CARDS IS SUING SEVERAL FBI AGENTS, POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHERS.
TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD NICK GEORGE OF SUBURBAN WYNCOTE SAYS HE WAS
HELD FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS AND MISSED HIS AUGUST FLIGHT BACK TO SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA. HE SAYS IT'S EVEN MORE ALARMING THAT HIS
CHECKED LUGGAGE MADE IT ONBOARD.
GEORGE IS A SENIOR PHYSICS MAJOR AT POMONA COLLEGE. HE STUDIES
ARABIC AND HAS TRAVELED TO THE MIDEAST AND NORTH AFRICA. HE SAYS HE
WAS DETAINED EVEN AFTER IT WAS CLEAR HE POSED NO SAFETY THREAT.
THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FILED THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT
WEDNESDAY.  DEFENDANTS INCLUDE THREE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OFFICERS.

PROSECUTOR: 1982 CLEVELAND SLAYING AND RAPE SOLVED

CLEVELAND (AP) - AN OHIO PROSECUTOR SAYS DNA EVIDENCE HAS HELPED SOLVE THE JUNE 1982 SHOOTING DEATH OF ONE WOMAN AND THE RAPE OF ANOTHER VICTIM WHO WAS SHOT AND LEFT FOR DEAD BUT SURVIVED.  CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROSECUTOR BILL MASON SAYS 56-YEAR-OLD RICHARD WILSON FACES A POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE IF CONVICTED OF CHARGES FILED WEDNESDAY INCLUDING AGGRAVATED MURDER,  ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED MURDER, RAPE, KIDNAPPING AND ROBBERY.  THE TWO WOMEN WERE ABDUCTED FROM DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND AND FORCED TO DRIVE TO A SECLUDED AREA. FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD MARY ANN FINEGAN WAS FATALLY SHOT AND A 38-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS RAPED, SHOT TWICE AND LEFT FOR DEAD. SHE WAS FOUND ALIVE 15 HOURS LATER.  WILSON IS IN PRISON IN LABELLE, PA., SOUTH OF PITTSBURGH ON A ROBBERY CONVICTION OUT OF ERIE, PA.

BATS GIVEN ANTI-FUNGAL TREATMENTS FOR WHITE-NOSE

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - RESEARCHERS TRYING TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF A SCOURGE THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN A MILLION BATS ARE TESTING ANTI-FUNGAL SOLUTIONS IN A HARD-HIT HIBERNATION CAVE.  NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION RESEARCHERS HOPE THAT TOPICAL ANTI-FUNGAL AGENTS APPLIED TO ABOUT 250 BATS IN AN OLD IRON MINE ON THE EDGE OF THE ADIRONDACKS WILL COMBAT WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME. THE SYNDROME IS NAMED FOR THE SUGARY LOOKING SMUDGES OF FUNGUS ON THE NOSES AND WINGS OF HIBERNATING BATS.
STATE WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST AL HICKS SAID TUESDAY THAT RESEARCHERS WILL REVISIT THE MINE AT THE END OF WINTER TO SEE IF THE ANTI-FUNGAL COMPOUNDS - SIMILAR TO THOSE USED TO TREAT ATHLETE'S FOOT - HELP THE BATS SURVIVE.
WHITE-NOSE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN NINE STATES SINCE IT WAS FIRST NOTICED IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN 2006.

COMPANIES CONTINUE TO CUT OR DELAY IPOS

NEW YORK (AP) - THREE COMPANIES PARED DOWN THEIR IPOS, AND ANOTHER DELAYED ITS DEAL WEDNESDAY, AS A BUMPY STOCK MARKET AND ECONOMIC WORRIES CONTINUE TO MAKE RAISING MONEY THROUGH INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS DIFFICULT.  SAN FRANCISCO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST TERRENO REALTY WENT PUBLIC WEDNESDAY AFTER RAISING $175 MILLION - HALF OF WHAT IT HAD
ORIGINALLY HOPED. ITS STOCK TUMBLED 6.8 PERCENT, TO CLOSE AT $18.65.  ANOTHER REIT, PIEDMONT OFFICE REALTY TRUST, BEGAN TRADING AFTER CUTTING ITS IPO SIZE. THE JOHNS CREEK, GA. COMPANY'S STOCK ROSE 7.6 PERCENT, TO CLOSE AT $15.60. MEANWHILE, GRAHAM PACKAGING CO., A SUPPLIER OF CONTAINERS, CUT
ITS IPO IN HALF. THE YORK, PA., COMPANY, WHICH IS MAJORITY-OWNED BY PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM BLACKSTONE GROUP, HOPES TO RAISE $175 MILLION. 

SNOW BREAKS MID-ATLANTIC RECORDS

WASHINGTON (AP) - TWIN BLIZZARDS THAT EVEN FORCED PLOWS TO STOP WORK HAVE SET WINTER SNOWFALL RECORDS IN PHILADELPHIA, BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON.  THE LATEST STORM LEFT THE MOST POPULOUS STRETCH OF THE EAST
COAST UNDER NEARLY A FOOT OF SNOW TODAY, DEMORALIZING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE STILL TRYING TO DIG OUT FROM A WEEKEND STORM.  FORECASTERS ARE EYEING A THIRD STORM THAT COULD BE BREWING FOR NEXT WEEK.  PENNSYLVANIA'S GOVERNOR SHUT DOWN SOME INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND
WARNED THAT PEOPLE WHO DROVE WERE RISKING THEIR LIVES. TWO PILEUPS INVOLVING 25 VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE 80 ARE BLAMED FOR ONE DEATH AND LOTS OF INJURIES.  HEAVY SNOW HAS ALSO FALLEN IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY. AIRLINES CANCELED THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS, AND NEW YORK CITY'S 1.1 MILLION
SCHOOLCHILDREN ENJOYED ONLY THEIR THIRD SNOW DAY IN SIX YEARS. THE
WASHINGTON AREA'S TWO AIRPORTS HAD NO FLIGHTS COMING OR GOING.
THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA HAVE BEEN NEARLY VACANT.
WASHINGTON D.C'S REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS HAS ASKED FOR FEDERAL
FUNDING TO HELP PAY FOR DIGGING OUT.

DC DELEGATE TO REQUEST FEDERAL FUNDS TO CLEAR SNOW

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS IS ASKING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TO DECLARE A FEDERAL EMERGENCY TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO HELP THE NATION'S CAPITAL RECOVER FROM RECORD SNOWFALL.  D.C. DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON SAID WEDNESDAY THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION IS JUSTIFIED AFTER THREE DAYS OF FEDERAL AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IN THE WASHINGTON AREA BEING SHUT DOWN. SHE SAYS IF THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, SHE WILL SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM CONGRESS TO HELP THE CITY AND THE CASH-STRAPPED METRO TRANSIT SYSTEM PAY FOR BLIZZARD RECOVERY.   NORTON, WHO DOES NOT VOTE IN CONGRESS, SAYS THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A STATE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL RESERVES TO FALL BACK ON IN AN EMERGENCY. SHE SAYS METRO IS IN THE SAME SITUATION.

HAITI SAYS 170,000 BODIES BURIED; NO EXPLANATION

TITANYEN, HAITI (AP) - HAITI'S GOVERNMENT SAYS IT BURIED 170,000 BODIES IN MASS GRAVES IN THE MONTH SINCE THE JAN. 12 EARTHQUAKE. THE COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY SAYS A STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL THAT 270,000 BODIES WERE BURIED CONTAINED A TYPO, AND THAT THE REAL COUNT IS 170,000.   IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE 230,000 PEOPLE DIED IN THE QUAKE - THE NUMBER IT RELEASED ON TUESDAY. PREVAL'S STATEMENT WEDNESDAY SAID 170,000 BODIES WERE HASTILY BURIED, BUT DID NOT CLAIM THAT TO BE THE OVERALL DEATH TOLL.

LAWYER: NO RULING ISSUED ON JAILED MISSIONARIES

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - A LAWYER REPRESENTING ONE OF THE 10 U.S. MISSIONARIES JAILED IN HAITI FOR TRYING TO TAKE A BUSLOAD OF CHILDREN OUT OF THE COUNTRY SAYS THE JUDGE HAS NOT YET ISSUED A DECISION ON WHETHER THEY SHOULD GO TO TRIAL.  ATTORNEY GARY LASSADE TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HE EXPECTS JUDGE BERNARD SAINT-VIL TO ISSUE HIS RECOMMENDATION TO THE PROSECUTOR THURSDAY.  THE PROSECUTOR HAS THE RIGHT TO APPEAL IF THE JUDGE RECOMMENDS THAT CHARGES BE DROPPED, BUT THE JUDGE HAS THE FINAL SAY.  THE AMERICANS, MOST FROM AN IDAHO BAPTIST GROUP, WERE CHARGED
LAST WEEK WITH CHILD KIDNAPPING AND CRIMINAL ASSOCIATION. THEY WERE
ARRESTED JAN. 29 TRYING TO TAKE 33 CHILDREN ACROSS THE BORDER TO AN
ORPHANAGE THEY WERE ESTABLISHING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

COMMISSION TO REPORT ON HONDURAN COUP IN 4 MONTHS

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS (AP) - FORMER GUATEMALAN VICE PRESIDENT EDUARDO STEIN SAYS A TRUTH COMMISSION BEING FORMED IN HONDURAS TO INVESTIGATE THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE OUSTER OF PRESIDENT MANUEL ZELAYA WILL PRESENT ITS FINDINGS IN JUNE. STEIN IS TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PANEL. HE SAID WEDNESDAY IT WILL BE FORMALLY ESTABLISHED LATER THIS MONTH AND WILL INCLUDE TWO HONDURANS AND THREE MORE FOREIGNERS.  HONDURAS' ARMY FLEW ZELAYA OUT OF THE COUNTRY LAST JUNE AFTER HE PUSHED AHEAD WITH PLANS FOR A REFERENDUM ON CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION EVEN THOUGH HONDURAS' SUPREME COURT RULED THE VOTE ILLEGAL.   THE COUP WAS WIDELY CONDEMNED BY OTHER NATIONS. THE UNITED STATES HAS PUSHED FOR THE CREATION OF A TRUTH COMMISSION TO SORT OUT RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE COUP.

2 LATEST EAST TEXAS CHURCH FIRES DEEMED ARSON

DALLAS (AP) - INVESTIGATORS HAVE DETERMINED THAT TWO RURAL CHURCH FIRES ON THE SAME NIGHT THIS WEEK IN EAST TEXAS WERE THE ACTS OF AN ARSONIST.
THE U.S. BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES ANNOUNCED ITS FINDINGS WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON THE FIRES THAT DAMAGED DOVER BAPTIST CHURCH AND CLEAR SPRING MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.  BOTH CHURCHES ARE WITHIN THREE MILES OF EACH OTHER OUTSIDE TYLER.  THE TWO FIRES OCCURRED MONDAY NIGHT WITHIN AN HOUR OF EACH OTHER.  ATF DALLAS SPOKESMAN THOMAS CROWLEY SAYS THOSE INCIDENTS BRING TO NINE THE NUMBER OF DELIBERATELY SET CHURCH FIRES IN THE AREA SINCE JAN. 1.  NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT AGENTS SUSPECT A SERIAL ARSONIST OR GROUP OF ARSONISTS IN THE FIRES. TYLER IS ABOUT 90 MILES EAST OF DALLAS.

TEACHER ACCUSED OF SHOOTING 2 PRINCIPALS AT SCHOOL

KNOXVILLE, TENN. (AP) - A FORMER BOSS OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND WOUNDING THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT HIS SCHOOL SAYS THE SUSPECT ONCE THREATENED HIM.  THE SHOOTINGS TODAY HAPPENED ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER THE CHILDREN AT THE KNOXVILLE, TENN. SCHOOL WERE DISMISSED BECAUSE OF SNOW. POLICE CHARGED MARK STEPHEN FOSTER WITH TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AFTER THE SHOOTING AT INSKIP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  THE SCHOOL WEB SITE IDENTIFIES FOSTER AS A FOURTH-GRADE TEACHER.  UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MEDICAL CENTER OFFICIALS SAID PRINCIPAL ELISA LUNA IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AMY BRACE IS IN STABLE CONDITION WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.  POLICE HAVEN'T RELEASED A MOTIVE FOR THE SHOOTING. OFFICIALS SAY THE SCHOOL DIDN'T INTEND TO REHIRE FOSTER NEXT 2300

JURY SELECTION OPENS IN IOWA COACH SLAYING TRIAL

SHELL ROCK, IOWA (AP) - A JUDGE HAS PICKED 36 POTENTIAL JURORS IN THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER TRIAL OF THE MAN ACCUSED OF GUNNING DOWN AN IOWA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH LAST SUMMER.  THE JUDGE BEGAN THE PROCESS WEDNESDAY, SEEKING TO CHOOSE 12 JURORS AND FOUR ALTERNATES WHO WILL HEAR THE CASE AGAINST 24-YEAR-OLD MARK BECKER. BECKER IS CHARGED WITH KILLING APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL COACH ED THOMAS LAST JUNE.
BECKER'S ATTORNEY WILL USE A DEFENSE OF INSANITY OR DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY.  THE SMALLER POOL OF POTENTIAL JURORS WAS CHOSEN AT RANDOM FROM 220 PEOPLE INITIALLY TOLD TO APPEAR. THE JUDGE ALSO EXCUSED MORE THAN THREE DOZEN PEOPLE WHO CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T SERVE. THOMAS WAS THE NFL HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR IN 2005. FOUR OF HIS PLAYERS ARE NOW IN THE NFL. 

EX-MINNEAPOLIS COP FACES MORE ROBBERY CHARGES

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND DECORATED MARINE ALREADY INDICTED IN THE ARMED ROBBERY OF A SUBURBAN MINNEAPOLIS BANK HAS BEEN CHARGED IN FIVE NEW ARMED ROBBERIES AND TWO ATTEMPTED ROBBERIES.  THE COMPLAINT WEDNESDAY SAYS 28-YEAR-OLD TIMOTHY EDWARD CARSON ADMITS TO THE SEVEN NEW CRIMES.  HENNEPIN COUNTY PROSECUTORS HAVE ALREADY CHARGED CARSON IN FIVE ARMED ROBBERIES, AND LAST WEEK A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED HIM ON ONE COUNT OF ARMED BANK ROBBERY AND ONE FIREARMS COUNT IN THE JAN. 6 ROBBERY OF A WELLS FARGO BANK IN APPLE VALLEY.  ON THE FEDERAL CHARGES ALONE HE FACES A MANDATORY MINIMUM OF SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON ON THE FIREARMS CHARGE AND A MAXIMUM 25 YEARS ON THE BANK ROBBERY CHARGE. 

3 SEATTLE BUS TUNNEL GUARDS WATCH BRUTAL BEATING

SEATTLE (AP) - A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WAS BADLY BEATEN IN A SEATTLE BUS TUNNEL AS THREE UNARMED SECURITY GUARDS LOOKED ON TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE THOUGHT THE MEN WOULD PROTECT HER.  THE STATEMENTS WERE REVEALED IN COURT PAPERS FILED WEDNESDAY AGAINST THE TEEN GIRL WHO ATTACKED HER AND THREE YOUNG MEN ACCUSED OF STEALING HER PURSE, PHONE AND IPOD. THE FOUR WERE ALL CHARGED WITH ROBBERY.  THE GIRL TOLD A DETECTIVE THAT THE GROUP FOLLOWED HER FROM A NEARBY DEPARTMENT STORE INTO THE BUS TUNNEL, AND SHE STOOD NEXT TO THE THREE GUARDS THINKING THEY'D PROTECT HER.  THE GUARDS DIDN'T INTERVENE, THOUGH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE STANDING ORDERS TO "OBSERVE AND REPORT," BUT NOT TO TRY TO STOP FIGHTS OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THAT PROTOCOL IS NOW UNDER REVIEW AFTER THE
GUARDS' RESPONSE WAS CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.