Today's News-Tuesday, March 30, 2010

MAN STILL HOSPITALIZED AFTER CYCLE CRASH

BUTLER TOWNSHIP POLICE ARE REPORTING THAT A MAN FROM ASHLAND WAS INJURED IN A WEEKEND MOTORCYCLE CRASH. 44 YEAR OLD STEPHEN MCGRATH WAS TRAVELING ON GORDON ROAD AND MISSED A LEFT HAND CURVE. HIS CYCLE SLID OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD INTO A STORM DRAIN. MCGRATH WAS TAKEN TO ST CATHERINE MEDICAL CENTER, THEN FLOWN TO GEISINGER IN DANVILLE WHERE HE IS REPORTED TO BE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

PAIR WAIVE RIGHT TO PRELIMINARY HEARING

TWO MEN NABBED EARLIER THIS MONTH FOR IMPERSONATING DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PROWLING HAVE WAIVED THEIR RIGHT TO A PRELIMINARY HEARING. POTTSVILLE POLICE CHARGED JOSEPH DAVIS OF MINERSVILLE AND ROBERT DAVIS OF POTTSVILLE FOR IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER, PROWLING AND POSSESSING INSTRUMENTS OF CRIME. THEY WERE FOUND IN A YARD OF A HOME ON NORTH THIRD STREET MARCH 6TH. AT THE TIME OF THE ARREST, THE MEN ADMITTED TO TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS TO A HOME TO GET DRUGS AND CASH. JOSEPH DAVIS ALSO WAS FOUND TO HAVE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ON HIM THAT WERE NOT PRESCRIBED TO HIM. THE PAIR APPEARED BEFORE DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES REILEY.

SEARCH PLANNED FOR UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE IN PA.

ANNVILLE, PA. (AP) - NATIONAL GUARD OFFICIALS WANT TO MAKE SURE GAME LANDS ADJACENT TO A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MILITARY BASE ARE SAFE FROM UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE. A PRIVATE COMPANY USING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT WILL SEARCH 8,000 ACRES OF STATE GAME LANDS NEAR FORT INDIANTOWN GAP IN A SEARCH FOR UNEXPLODED SHELLS THAT COULD HAVE STRAYED OFF THE BASE'S FIRING RANGES. NATIONAL GUARD LT. COLONEL CHRIS CLEAVER SAYS IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT THE SURVEY MAY TURN UP. MILITARY UNITS HAVE USED THE BASE FOR EXERCISES SINCE 1932. LATE LAST YEAR, A HUNTER FOUND AN UNEXPLODED SHELL ON AN ADJACENT GAME LAND. HE TOOK IT HOME AND LATER CONTACTED
AUTHORITIES, WHO SAFELY DETONATED IT. A PUBLIC MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 8 TO DISCUSS THE SEARCH.

PAY RAISES IN HOUSE DESPITE FREEZE

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ARE EXPLAINING WHY SOME TOP STAFFERS GOT HEFTY SALARY INCREASES LATE LAST YEAR AND OTHERS RECEIVED RAISES AFTER A PAY FREEZE TOOK EFFECT ON JAN. 1. THE PATRIOT-NEWS OF HARRISBURG REPORTS THAT HOUSE SPEAKER KEITH MCCALL'S CHIEF OF STAFF PAUL PARSELLS RECEIVED A NEARLY $19,000 PAY INCREASE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN REIZDAN MOORE'S SALARY WAS BOOSTED BY ABOUT $3,900. THAT'S IN ADDITION TO A DOZEN HOUSE DEMOCRATIC STAFFERS WHO RECEIVED PAY RAISES AFTER A "SALARY CONTROL" FREEZE ON ANNUAL MERIT PAY INCREASES TOOK EFFECT IN JANUARY. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER TODD EACHUS SAYS THOSE 12 RAISES WERE MISTAKES BUT HE'S LETTING THE RECIPIENTS KEEP THEM. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS HOUSE DEMOCRATS RESISTED REQUESTS TO RELEASE THE DETAILS, AND IT TOOK THE PAPER SIX WEEKS TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION.

RENDELL STILL HOPEFUL OF GETTING FEDERAL ED GRANT

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS HE REMAINS HOPEFUL THE STATE'S APPLICATION FOR A FEDERAL " RACE TO THE TOP" EDUCATION GRANT WILL SUCCEED WHEN THE NEXT ROUND IS AWARDED. PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIALS LEARNED MONDAY THE STATE WAS NOT ONE OF THE FIRST TO SHARE IN A $4.4 BILLION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE. DELAWARE AND TENNESSEE ARE THE FIRST RECIPIENTS. RENDELL SAYS PENNSYLVANIA'S REQUEST FOR $400 MILLION RANKED SEVENTH. PENNSYLVANIA'S APPLICATION FOCUSES ON CHRONICALLY FAILING SCHOOLS. IT CALLS FOR A LONGER SCHOOL DAY AND SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO FIRE PRINCIPALS AND UP TO HALF A BUILDING'S STAFF.

JURY IN PA. KENNEL CRUELTY TRIAL MAY BE DEADLOCKED

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A JURY IN ALLENTOWN SAYS IT CAN'T REACH AGREEMENT ON SOME OF THE CHARGES AGAINST A LEHIGH VALLEY KENNEL OWNER ACCUSED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY. JURORS DELIBERATED NEARLY FOUR HOURS MONDAY BEFORE TELLING LEHIGH COUNTY JUDGE ROBERT L. STEINBERG THEY MAY BE DEADLOCKED ON SOME COUNTS. DERBE "SKIP" ECKHART IS CHARGED WITH NEGLECTING SCORES OF DOGS AND CATS, ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN WASTE AND FAILING TO GIVE THEM SUFFICIENT FOOD, WATER AND MEDICAL CARE AT ALMOST HEAVEN KENNEL IN UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP. ECKHART SAYS HE RAN A CLEAN KENNEL.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY THREATENING CONGRESSMAN

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA MAN CHARGED WITH THREATENING A VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL PENDING A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION. AUTHORITIES SAY 38-YEAR-OLD NORMAN LEBOON TRIED TO POST A YOUTUBE VIDEO IN WHICH HE THREATENED TO KILL REPUBLICAN REP. ERIC CANTOR. ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY ROBERT REED SAYS LEBOON IS A FUGITIVE WANTED BY CITY AUTHORITIES IN ANOTHER THREAT CASE. REED SAYS THE THREAT AGAINST CANTOR DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CONNECTED TO THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL. HE SAYS IT'S NOT YET CLEAR IF LEBOON WAS UPSET WITH THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN WHIP ABOUT OTHER ISSUES. HE TOLD A JUDGE LEBOON APPEARS TO HAVE "MAJOR" PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES. IN THE VIDEO, THE FBI SAYS LEBOON CALLS HIMSELF THE "SON OF THE GOD OF ENOCH" AND CALLS CANTOR "PURE EVIL."

TEMPLE HOSPITAL NURSES VOTE TO STRIKE WEDNESDAY

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - NURSES AND OTHER WORKERS AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HAVE OVERWHELMING REJECTED THE LATEST CONTRACT OFFER AND SAY THEY PLAN TO BE ON THE PICKET LINE WEDNESDAY MORNING. RESULTS OF MONDAY'S VOTE POSTED ON TEMPLEWATCH.ORG INDICATE THAT 980 MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF STAFF NURSES AND ALLIED PROFESSIONALS VOTED AGAINST THE OFFER AND ONLY 50 WERE IN FAVOR. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CEO SANDY GOMBERG SAYS THE HOSPITAL WILL REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL, WITH MORE THAN 400 DOCTORS ON THE JOB AND 3,000 OTHER WORKERS UNAFFECTED BY THE STRIKE. OFFICIALS SAID LAST WEEK THEY HAD HIRED 850 TEMPORARY WORKERS IN ADVANCE OF A POSSIBLE WALKOUT BY NURSES AND OTHER WORKERS SUCH AS REPIRATORY THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN DIVIDED BY PROPOSALS ON PAY INCREASES AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP, MICH. (AP) - PROSECUTORS SAY NINE MEMBERS OF A CHRISTIAN MILITIA GROUP THAT HOPED TO TOUCH OFF AN UPRISING AGAINST THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ARE NOW IN CUSTODY. AUTHORITIES SAY THE GROUP PLANNED TO KILL POLICE OFFICERS AND SLAUGHTER SCORES MORE BY BOMBING THE FUNERALS. PROSECUTORS SAY THE GROUP WAS PLANNING AN ATTACK SOMETIME IN APRIL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE MIDDLEMAN GETS TAKEN OUT OF THE STUDENT LOAN BUSINESS TODAY. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS PREPARING TO SIGN THE PIECE OF HIS SWEEPING HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL THAT MAKES THE GOVERNMENT THE PRIMARY LENDER TO STUDENTS SEEKING LOANS AND STRIPS BANKS OF THAT POWER. ABOUT HALF OF UNDERGRADUATES RECEIVE FEDERAL STUDENT AID.

HANOI, VIETNAM (AP) - AN AGREEMENT SIGNED TODAY COULD BE A PRECURSOR TO VIETNAM GETTING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS WITH U.S. HELP SOMEDAY. TODAY'S DEAL ADDRESSES NUCLEAR SAFETY AND NONPROLIFERATION CONCERNS -- AND IF A BROADER AGREEMENT IS EVENTUALLY REACHED, IT COULD ALLOW COMPANIES LIKE WESTINGHOUSE AND GENERAL ELECTRIC TO PARTICIPATE IN VIETNAM'S NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR. VIETNAM HAS RAPIDLY GROWING ENERGY NEEDS.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - IRANIAN STATE TV SAYS A DIPLOMAT KIDNAPPED BY GUNMEN IN 2008 IN NORTHWEST PAKISTAN IS SAFELY BACK HOME THANKS TO AN OPERATION BY IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS. THE MAN WAS IRAN'S COMMERCIAL ATTACHE IN PESHAWAR. LAST MONTH, IRAN CAPTURED THE LEADER OF AN ARMED SUNNI OPPOSITION GROUP WHOSE INSURGENCY IN SOUTHEAST IRAN HAD DESTABILIZED THE BORDER REGION WITH PAKISTAN.

MIAMI (AP) - IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE TERRI SCHIAVO RIGHT TO DIE CASE AND THERE'S LITTLE INDICATION THAT IT PROMPTED MORE AMERICANS TO HAVE A LIVING WILL. EXPERTS SAY TODAY, JUST 20 PERCENT TO 30 PERCENT OF U.S. ADULTS HAVE ADVANCE DIRECTIVES, THE SAME RANGE AS BEFORE THE SCHIAVO CASE.