Today's News-Tuesday, April 20, 2010-10am

A MAN IS DEAD FOLLOWING A CRASH THIS MORNING IN BUTLER TOWNSHIP. WHILE FIRM DETAILS ARE NOT YET KNOWN, THE CRASH HAPPENED ON ROUTE 54 NEAR ASHLAND, AND ONE PERSON IS DEAD. WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A TRACTOR TRAILER FIRE ON I-81 IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. THE BLAZE WAS FIRST REPORTED EARLY TODAY NEAR MILE MARKER 131 AND GAVE FIRE CREWS A TUSSLE.

THEFT REPORTED AT CREDIT UNION

A PORT CARBON WOMAN IS FACING THEFT CHARGES, ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM HER EMPLOYER. POTTSVILLE POLICE SAY 30 YEAR OLD JENNIFER LEE DOYLE WORKED IN THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT AT HIDDEN RIVER CREDIT UNION. SHE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE DEPOSITED INVESTMENT INTEREST CHECKS PAYABLE TO CREDIT UNION ACCOUNTS INTO HER OWN PERSONAL ACCOUNT, THEN DOCTORED THE RECORDS TO HIDE THE CRIME. AN AUDIT INDICATES THE LOSS TO THE CREDIT UNION AT JUST OVER $58-THOUSAND-DOLLARS. ARRAIGNMENT FOR DOYLE ON THEFT, MISAPPLICATION OF ENTRUSTED PROPERTY AND OTHER COUNTS WILL BE HELD LATER.

RENDELL TWO

PENNSYLVANIA'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE PROVIDED 7TH GRADERS AT DHH LENGEL MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH A CIVICS LESSON AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION FUNDING YESTERDAY MORNING. AROUND 200 STUDENTS WELCOMED GOVERNOR ED RENDELL, WHO SAYS THAT IN SPITE OF BICKERING BETWEEN PARTIES, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING LEADERS IN HARRISBURG CAN DO IS PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS. HE ALSO SAID THAT BEING ACTIVE AT THE BALLOT BOX IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY TURN 18:

RENDELL VOTING

THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINED THE BUDGET PROCESS TO STUDENTS, AND TOOK QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR TO WRAP UP THE EVENT. THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT WAS A LONG TIME IN COMING, AS CIVICS TEACHER JIM TOOMEY WROTE SEVERAL LETTERS OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD TO RENDELL BEFORE HIS VISIT BECAME A REALITY.

CIVICS WITH RENDELL

GOVERNOR ED RENDELL CAME TO POTTSVILLE MONDAY TO OFFER A CIVICS LESSON TO 7TH GRADE STUDENTS AT THE D.H.H. LENGEL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE REVOLVED AROUND EDUCATION FUNDING. RENDELL STATED THAT THE STATE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE STUDENTS PROPER FUNDING TO MAKE THE WORKFORCE READY POST-GRADUATION. DURING THE 45 MINUTE ADDRESS, THE GOVERNOR ALSO TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES HE HAS PROPOSED FOR THE COMING BUDGET BATTLE... INCREASED TAXES. RENDELL PROPOSES TAXING NATURAL GAS BEING TAKEN FROM THE MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING PROGRAM, TAXES ON CIGARS AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO AND OTHER BUSINESS TYPE TAXES TO CLOSE A WIDENING BUDGET GAP. A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THE GOVERNOR FOLLOWED. SARAH WILLIAMS SAID SHE ENJOYED HEARING GOV. RENDELL SPEAK:

SARAH WILLIAMS

SHEA GOLDEN FELT RENDELL'S MESSAGE WAS POSITIVE:

SHEA GOLDEN

THE ASSEMBLY WAS ORGANIZED BY TEACHER JIM TOOMEY, WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE GOVERNOR TO COME TO THE DISTRICT FOR TWO YEARS. THE GOVERNOR'S FULL ADDRESS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE LATER TODAY.

MAN WITH GUN

A POTTSVILLE MAN IS JAILED AFTER HOLDING THREE PEOPLE AT BAY WITH A GUN. EARLY SUNDAY, CITY POLICE RESPONDED TO THE 500 BLOCK OF NORTH CENTRE STREET, WHERE 33 YEAR OLD SCOTT MCCROBIE WAS POINTING A GUN AT THREE PEOPLE. POLICE ARRESTED MCCROBIE AND CHARGED HIM WITH AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT. HE WAS JAILED FOLLOWING ARRAIGNMENT. THE GUN WAS IN MCCROBIE'S POSSESSION WHEN ARRESTED.

SCHUYLKILL ALLIANCE FINANCIAL ISSUES

A COUNTY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS FACING A SERIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION. SCHUYLKILL ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHCARE, WHICH HELPS UNINSURED COUNTY RESIDENTS, IS FACING ITS WORST BUDGET SHORTFALL DUE TO CUTS IN GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND THE TIMING OF RECEIPT OF OTHER FUNDING. THE ALLIANCE NOTES THAT IT HAS CUT ITS BUDGET AS FAR AS IT CAN, AND HAS A WAITING LIST OF PEOPLE WHO NEED SERVICES. THEY ARE ASKING FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS TO PARTNER WITH THEM TO CONTINUE SERVING THE PUBLIC BY MAKING TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE "SAVE THE ALLIANCE" CAMPAIGN. THE MONIES RAISED WILL HELP PROVIDE HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO THE UNINSURED WORKING POOR IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A DONATION, CALL THE SCHUYLKILL ALLIANCE AT 628-5515.

HEALTHY MOVIE SNACKS

WHEN YOU HEAD TO THE MOVIES, YOU IMMEDIATELY THINK OF POPCORN AND A COLD DRINK. AS SHERRY MARCHEFSKY REPORTS, THERE MAY BE MORE HEALTHY OPTIONS:

MOVIE SNACKS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS IT SECRETLY CAPTURED SOME 56,000 WEBCAM PHOTOGRAPHS AND SCREEN SHOTS FROM LAPTOPS ISSUED TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. A STUDENT IS SUING THE DISTRICT OVER ALLEGED WIRETAP AND PRIVACY VIOLATIONS. A DISTRICT LAWYER SAYS THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN BY A TRACKING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO FIND MISSING COMPUTERS.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN THE SLASHING OF TWO OTHER STUDENTS. THE INCIDENT PROMPTED A LOCKDOWN OF ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL IN ALLENTOWN. THE ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL REPORTS NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED. POLICE SAYS THEY WANT TO TALK WITH LEHIGH COUNTY PROSECUTORS ABOUT THE CASE.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A LAWYER REPRESENTING TWO INDICTED STATE LAWMAKERS IS CHALLENGING THE STATE LAW UNDER WHICH HIS CLIENTS ARE
CHARGED. ATTORNEY BILL COSTOPOULOS WANTS PUBLIC-CORRUPTION CHARGES
AGAINST REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JANE ORIE AND DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL DEWEESE DISMISSED.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER SAYS THE ISSUE OF WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING BY GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATORS MAY PLAY A ROLE
IN HIS VOTE ON A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE. SPECTER SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING WHETHER TO JUDGE HIS SUPPORT FOR A NOMINEE ON WHETHER THEY AGREE TO CONSIDER SUCH CASES.

PARIS (AP) - THE DRIFTING VOLCANIC ASH FROM AN ICELAND ERUPTION HAS EASED ENOUGH TO ALLOW A TRICKLE OF FLIGHTS TO RESUME IN A FEW PARTS OF EUROPE. ONLY LIMITED FLIGHTS ARE BEING ALLOWED TO RESUME TODAY AND MOST OF BRITISH AIRSPACE REMAINED SHUT DOWN. AN INTERNATIONAL PILOTS GROUP WARNS THAT ASH REMAINS A DANGER AND THE VOLCANO IS STILL ERUPTING AND SPEWING MORE OF IT.

JIEGU, CHINA (AP) - FORECASTERS SAY THERE COULD BE SNOW AND SLEET IN THE HIGH-ALTITUDE REGION WHERE EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS ARE UNDER WAY IN WESTERN CHINA. THE DEATH TOLL HAS PASSED 2,000 AND ABOUT 200 PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING. TOMORROW IS AN OFFICIAL DAY OF MOURNING IN CHINA.

KNOXVILLE, TENN. (AP) - POLICE ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE A MOTIVE FOR A SHOOTING OUTSIDE A TENNESSEE HOSPITAL THAT LEFT A WOMAN AND THE GUNMAN DEAD AND TWO OTHER WOMEN INJURED. POLICE SAY IT DOESN'T APPEAR THERE WAS ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WOMEN AND THE GUNMAN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - TOYOTA HAS AGREED TO PAY A $16.4 MILLION FINE FOR BEING SLOW ABOUT ITS OVER RECALL EFFORT. MEANWHILE, IT'S RECALLED NEARLY 10,000 LEXUS SUV'S IN NORTH AMERICA TO UPDATE A STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. IT'S ALSO OFFERING THE SAME FIX OVERSEAS.

DETROIT (AP) - MOURNERS HAVE BEEN PAYING THEIR RESPECTS TO LONGTIME NAACP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BENJAMIN L. HOOKS. HE LIES IN REPOSE AT THE GREATER NEW MOUNT MORIAH BAPTIST CHURCH IN DETROIT WHERE HE WAS PASTOR FROM 1964 TO 1994. THE 85-YEAR-OLD DIED LAST WEEK AND HIS FUNERAL IS SCHEDULED TODAY.