Today's News-March 17, 2010

TREMONT ACCUSED

FOUR PEOPLE CHARGED WITH OPERATING A METHAMPHETAMINE LAB THAT CAUGHT FIRE JANUARY 12TH IN PINE GROVE WERE IN COURT TUESDAY. THAT BLAZE DESTROYED SEVEN HOMES, AND NOT 37 YEAR OLD ANGELA SINGH, AND 45 YEAR OLD LANCE CHRISTMAN, WHO LIVED AT 75 SOUTH TULPEHOCKEN STREET, THE HOME WHERE THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED, AND 28 YEAR OLD STEVEN DONTON OF POTTSVILLE, HAD HIS CHARGES HELD FOR COURT. AND, 21 YEAR OLD AMBER MAREK-JOLLEY, OF INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI, WAS CHARGED WITH THE SAME OFFENSES BUT HAD ALL CHARGES DISMISSED AT HER HEARING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FAILURE TO REPORT A FIRE AND CONSPIRACY TO MANUFACTURE METHAMPHETAMINE. ALL FOUR REMAIN JAILED IN THE COUNTY PRISON.

BUS RIDES FOR A BUCK

STS IS OFFEREING A GREAT DEAL FOR RIDING THEIR FIXED ROUTES TODAY. ALL RIDERS CAN BOARD FOR A DOLLAR. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHT ARE FREE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL STS AT 429-2701.

SUSPECTS STILL BEING SOUGHT IN SHENANDOAH SHOOTING

AUTHORITIES ARE STILL LOOKING FOR TWO MEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING OF A SHENANDOAH MAN TUESDAY. THE UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS ENTERED THE HOME OF BRUCE FORKER AT 333 EAST CENTRE STREET AFTER 2AM, IN AN APPARENT BURGLARY ATTEMPT. DURING THE COURSE OF THE CRIME, FORKER WAS SHOT AND KILLED. HIS GIRLFRIEND AND TWO CHILDREN WERE HOME AT THE TIME, BUT WERE UNINJURED. STATE AND LOCAL POLICE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF TUESDAY AT THE SCENE, LOOKING FOR CLUES AS TO WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. THEY ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN SOLVING THE CRIME. LEADS CAN BE CALLED INTO THE FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE BARRACKS AT 874-5300 OR ANONYMOUSLY, AT 1-800-4PA-TIPS. THERE IS A REWARD OF UP TO $1-THOUSAND-DOLLARS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF THE RESPONSIBLE PERSONS.

JOBLESS RATE TICKS UP

MORE PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT WORK IN JANUARY HERE IN THE COUNTY. THAT'S ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, WHO REPORT THAT SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 10-POINT-7 IN JANUARY. THAT'S THREE TENTHS OF A PERCENTAGE POINT HIGHER THAN DECEMBER, BUT LOWER THAN THE HIGH WATER MARK OF 11 PERCENT IN OCTOBER. SCHUYLKILL'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STILL REMAINS NEARLY TWO FULL PERCENTAGE POINTS HIGHER THAN THE STATE LEVEL OF 8-POINT-8 PERCENT AND ONE PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT AVERAGE OF 9-POINT-7 PERCENT.

MINERSVILLE MAN JAILED FOR DRUGS

AN UNDERCOVER DRUG OPERATION HAS LED TO THE ARREST OF A MINERSVILLE MAN SUNDAY. 32 YEAR OLD ROBERT JOHNSON WAS APPREHENDED AT HIS LEWIS STREET HOME, AND CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ALONG WITH OTHER OFFENSES. JOHNSON REPORTEDLY SOLD POT TO AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER. MINERSVILLE POLICE AND AGENTS FROM THE DA'S DRUG TASK FORCE ARRESTED JOHNSON. HE'S LOCKED UP IN THE COUNTY PRISON.

FEDS ANNOUNCE PLAN FOR DIALUP TO GO AWAY IN RURAL AREAS

MAKING SURE DIAL-UP GOES THE WAY OF THE DINOSAURS--THAT'S PART OF THE GOAL BEHIND THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN, OFFICIALLY RELEASED BY THE F-C-C ON TUESDAY. MANY ARE STILL COMBING THROUGH THE 360-PAGE PLAN, BUT AMALIA DELONEY WITH THE GRASSROOTS GROUP CENTER FOR MEDIA JUSTICE SAYS THE RELEASE OF THE PLAN IS A VICTORY IN ITSELF.

DELONEY

THE PLAN CALLS FOR INCREASING THE BROADBAND ADOPTION RATE FROM 65 TO 90 PERCENT NATIONWIDE, CONNECTING VITAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS AND CONNECTING 100 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS TO AFFORDABLE BROADBAND BY 2020.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (AP) - A 21-YEAR-OLD EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF POSTING FAKE ONLINE ADS TO LURE VICTIMS TO ROB THEM HAS AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY. POLICE SAY COREY JACKSON OF EAST STROUDSBURG POSED AS A BUYER INTERESTED IN JEWELRY AND STOLE EXPENSIVE RINGS FROM THE SELLERS, AND OFFERED TO SELL A LAPTOP BUT TOOK THE CASH THEN WRESTLED THE COMPUTER BACK.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A U.S. SENATE PANEL PLANS A HEARING THIS MONTH TO EXAMINE ALLEGATIONS OF WEBCAM SPYING BY A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL SYSTEM. SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER SAYS HIS SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME AND DRUGS WILL HOLD THE HEARING MARCH 29TH ON THE USE OF REMOTE TRACKING SOFTWARE TO TAKE PICTURES USING CAMERAS ON LAPTOPS ISSUED TO LOWER MERION STUDENTS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - HIGHMARK INCORPORATED, PENNSYLVANIA'S SECOND-LARGEST HEALTH INSURER, IS SUING STATE REGULATORS OVER WHAT IT SAYS IS UNAUTHORIZED SCRUTINY OF MARKETPLACE COMPETITION. THE COMPANY SAYS IT'S PARTICULARLY TROUBLED BY THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORT TO ANALYZE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD LICENSING AGREEMENTS THAT INCLUDE EXCLUSIVE SERVICE AREA RIGHTS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE NATURAL-GAS PRODUCERS TO PROMPTLY DISCLOSE HOW MUCH GAS THEY'RE DRAWING FROM PENNSYLVANIA WELLS. GOVERNOR ED RENDELL IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE BILL, WHICH WOULD OVERRIDE CURRENT LAW THAT REQUIRES STATE REGULATORS TO KEEP OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION DATA CONFIDENTIAL FOR FIVE YEARS.

CHICAGO (AP) - HOUSE DEMOCRATS STILL APPEAR TO BE SHORT OF THE 216 VOTES THEY NEED TO PASS HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION. BUT HEALTH SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS (SEH-BEEL'-YUHS) SAYS SHE'S CONFIDENT THEY'LL GET THEM. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI ARE WORKING TO CHANGE ENOUGH MINDS TO PASS THE BILL.

KABUL (AP) - WOULD-BE SUICIDE ATTACKERS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY SECURITY GUARDS IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN BEFORE THEY COULD HIT THEIR INTENDED TARGET. TWO INSURGENTS ATTACKED A CHARITY GROUP, THE INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN THE TOWN OF LASHKAR GAH. ONE FOREIGN EMPLOYEE WAS WOUNDED.

HAVANA (AP) - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS AGAIN URGING CUBA TO RELEASE POLITICAL PRISONERS AND DUMP LAWS WHICH ARE SAID TO RESTRICT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS. AMNESTY'S CALL COMES ON THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF A MAJOR CRACKDOWN ON CUBAN DISSIDENTS. THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT RESPONDED, BUT HAVANA ROUTINELY DISMISSES SUCH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AS TOOLS OF THE UNITED STATES.

CAMPBELLTON, TEXAS (AP) - A PUBLIC SAFETY SPOKESMAN SAYS INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT EQUIPMENT FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED A MEXICO-BOUND BUS TO CRASH, KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND INJURING 40. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE TIRES WERE INTACT AND THEY HAVEN'T YET PINNED DOWN THE CAUSE.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - SANDBAGGING OPERATIONS CONTINUE TODAY IN FARGO, N.D. AND NEIGHBORING MOORHEAD, MINN. TO TRY TO FIGHT OFF THE RISING RED RIVER. IT'S EXPECTED TO CREST SUNDAY AT 20 FEET ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. IN IOWA, RESIDENTS NEAR THE DES MOINES RIVER ARE ON THE ALERT BECAUSE OF RISING WATER.