Today's News-Friday, April 30, 2010

SIX IMPLICATED IN ARSON FIRES

SIX MEN, IMPLICATED IN A STRING OF ARSON FIRES IN OUR AREA, WILL HAVE THEIR CASES BOUND OVER FOR COURT. THAT FOLLOWS PRELIMINARY HEARINGS AT THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES FERRIER OF ORWIGSBURG THURSDAY. SHAWN HOY AND JONATHAN EICHERT ARE ACCUSED OF THE MOST SERIOUS CHARGES OF ARSON AND RELATED COUNTS. THE OTHER FOUR, JUSTIN GEIGER, CHARLES FERGUSON, DEVON SMITH AND MATTHEW DIXON, HAVE VARIOUS CONSPIRACY RELATED CHARGES FOR THEIR ROLES IN THE FIRES THAT DID MORE THAN $2 MILLION DOLLARS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN SOUTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. FIVE OF THE SIX ARE FORMER VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS. HOY AND EICHERT ARE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON, WHILE THE OTHER ACCUSED ARE FREE ON BOND. THE PROCEEDINGS TOOK MOST OF THE MORNING TO COMPLETE YESTERDAY.

FIRE DEEMED ACCIDENTAL

FIRE INVESTIGATORS IN POTTSVILLE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S SMOKY FIRE AT WEINER IRON AND METAL WAS ACCIDENTAL. CARDBOARD BUNDLES CAUGHT FIRE, AND THE FLAMES SPREAD TO AN ADJOINING BUILDING WHICH WAS DESTROYED. NO VALUE HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE DAMAGED PROPERTY AT THAT BUSINESS ALONG ROUTE 61 OUTSIDE OF POTTSVILLE CITY LIMITS.

COURTHOUSE KICKBACKS SCRANTON, PA.

(AP) - ONE OF TWO FORMER NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA JUDGES FACING FEDERAL RACKETEERING CHARGES IN A "KIDS-FOR-CASH" KICKBACK SCHEME HAS AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY. ACCORDING TO A PLEA AGREEMENT FILED YESTERDAY, FORMER LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE MICHAEL CONAHAN WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO HIS ROLE IN A $2.8 MILLION SCHEME INVOLVING THE PLACEMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN FOR-PROFIT DETENTION FACILITIES. ANOTHER FORMER JUDGE, MARK CIAVARELLA IS ALSO CHARGED IN THE SCANDAL. PROSECUTORS SAY CONAHAN AND CIAVARELLA TOOK KICKBACKS FROM THE OWNER AND BUILDER OF TWO PRIVATE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES. LAST YEAR, THE STATE'S HIGH COURT VACATED THE CONVICTIONS OF THOUSANDS OF JUVENILES WHO APPEARED BEFORE CIAVARELLA BETWEEN 2003 AND 2008.

SESTAK, SPECTER CONTINUE DUEL IN NEW TV ADS HARRISBURG, PA.

(AP) - NEW, DUELING TV ADS ARE ON THE AIR FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S TWO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE BEFORE THEY MEET TO DEBATE SATURDAY. INCUMBENT ARLEN SPECTER CLAIMS U.S. REP. JOE SESTAK DOESN'T PAY SOME CAMPAIGN EMPLOYEES THE MINIMUM WAGE. THE AD FIRST AIRED WEDNESDAY. A SESTAK SPOKESMAN SAYS THE CAMPAIGN IS COMPLYING WITH THE LAW AND ACCUSED SPECTER OF TRYING TO DISTRACT DEMOCRATS FROM HIS 28-YEAR VOTING RECORD AS A REPUBLICAN. A SESTAK AD AIRING YESTERDAY RESPONDS TO AN EARLIER ATTACK BY SPECTER. IT FEATURES A VETERAN WHO ASKS SPECTER NOT TO LIE ABOUT SESTAK'S NAVY RECORD. THE FORMER NAVY VICE ADMIRAL SERVED 31 YEARS BEFORE JOINING CONGRESS IN 2007. SPECTER CONTENDS SESTAK WAS REASSIGNED IN 2005 FOR CREATING A POOR COMMAND CLIMATE. SESTAK DISPUTES THAT. THE PRIMARY IS MAY 18.

PA. MAN FOUND GUILTY OF BAITING BEAR WITH PASTRIES

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A MAN HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF USING PASTRIES TO ILLEGALLY BAIT THE LARGEST BEAR KILLED IN THE STATE DURING THE 2009 SEASON. THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION SAYS 39-YEAR-OLD CHARLES OLSEN JR. OF WILKES-BARRE WAS FOUND GUILTY YESTERDAY AND ORDERED TO PAY $6,800 IN FINES AND RESTITUTION, PLUS COURT COSTS. GAME COMMISSION OFFICIALS SAID OLSEN ADMITTED IN NOVEMBER TO USING BAIT TO KILL THE 707-POUND BEAR. OFFICIALS SAY HE FIRST RAISED SUSPICIONS WHEN HE WAS SPOTTED A WEEK BEFORE THE HUNTING SEASON DRIVING A TRUCK LOADED WITH PASTRIES THROUGH A HEAVILY HUNTED AREA. OLSEN ALSO FACES THE LOSS OF HUNTING PRIVILEGES FOR THREE YEARS.

CHARGES DROPPED FOR MOM OF BOY FOUND WITH DRUGS PITTSBURGH

(AP) - CHARGES HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AGAINST A WOMAN WHOSE 8-YEAR-OLD SON BROUGHT HEROIN TO HIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OUTSIDE PITTSBURGH. TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHYNITA YOUNG HAD BEEN CHARGED APRIL 15 WITH CHILD ENDANGERMENT AND CORRUPTION OF MINORS AFTER THE BOY WAS FOUND WITH 60 SINGLE-DOSE PACKETS OF HEROIN IN HIS POCKETS AT TURNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WILKINSBURG. ALLEGHENY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SPOKESMAN MIKE MANKO SAID THE THIRD-GRADER HAD BEEN LIVING IN THREE DIFFERENT HOUSES WITH FOUR DIFFERENT ADULTS. MANKO SAYS THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PROVE WHERE THE BOY GOT THE DRUGS, SO CHARGES AGAINST HIS MOTHER WERE WITHDRAWN. MANKO SAYS THE CASE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

PHILADELPHIA WOMAN CHARGED IN FATAL HIT-AND-RUN NORRISTOWN, PA.

(AP) - A 19-YEAR-OLD PHILADELPHIA WOMAN IS FACING A FELONY CHARGE OF FLEEING THE SCENE OF A FATAL ACCIDENT. PROSECUTORS SAY STEPHANIE PHILLIPS IS CHARGED IN THE MARCH 28 CRASH THAT KILLED 17-YEAR-OLD DENISE COTTETA NEAR SUBURBAN PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH HIGH SCHOOL. MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RISA VETRI FERMAN SAID COTTETA FELL IN FRONT OF PHILLIPS' CAR. FERMAN SAID COTTETA HAD BEEN CELEBRATING THE SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY AND HAD BEEN DRINKING, BUT HER BLOOD-ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS WELL BELOW THE LEGAL LIMIT. AUTHORITIES SAID PHILLIPS WAS NOT IMPAIRED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, AND TOLD POLICE SHE PANICKED AFTER HITTING THE GIRL AND KEPT DRIVING. PA.

COUPLE HELD FOR TRIAL IN ADOPTED BOY'S DEATH YORK, PA.

(AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA COUPLE CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF THE 7-YEAR-OLD SON THEY ADOPTED FROM RUSSIA WILL REMAIN BEHIND BARS UNTIL THEIR TRIAL. A DISTRICT JUSTICE YESTERDAY ORDERED MICHAEL AND NANETTE CRAVER TO REMAIN IN YORK COUNTY PRISON. THEY WILL NEXT APPEAR IN COURT IN JUNE. THEY ARE FACING CHARGES INCLUDING CRIMINAL HOMICIDE IN THE BOY'S AUGUST 25 DEATH. THE COUPLE ADOPTED NATHANIEL AND HIS TWIN SISTER IN 2003 FROM AN ORPHANAGE IN RUSSIA. THE GIRL IS NOW IN FOSTER CARE. DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SAY THE PROSECUTION HAS NOT PROVEN THAT THE COUPLE INJURED NATHANIEL.

EX-NEWSWEEK TAPPED FOR PHILLY NEWSPAPERS CEO POST PHILADELPHIA

(AP) - THE NEW OWNERS OF PHILADELPHIA'S TWO MAJOR NEWSPAPERS HAVE SELECTED A FORMER NEWSWEEK EXECUTIVE AS THE PUBLISHER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PAPER'S PARENT COMPANY. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER POSTED ON ITS WEBSITE LATE THURSDAY THAT 52-YEAR-OLD GREGORY OSBERG HAS BEEN TAPPED FOR THE JOB. HE IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND WORLDWIDE PUBLISHER OF NEWSWEEK AND NEWSWEEK.COM. MOST RECENTLY HE WAS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BUZZWIRE, COMPANY THAT PROVIDES CONTENT AND VIDEO FOR MOBILE PHONES. OSBERG ALSO HAS LOCAL ROOTS. HE'S A NATIVE OF PAOLI. A GROUP OF CREDITORS BEAT A GROUP OF PHILADELPHIA-AREA PHILANTHROPISTS AND WON THE CLOSED-DOOR AUCTION WEDNESDAY FOR THE INQUIRER AND THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS.

PHILLY CASINO GROUP MAY FACE LICENSE REVOCATION HARRISBURG, PA.

(AP) - INVESTORS IN A STALLED WATERFRONT CASINO PROJECT IN PHILADELPHIA ARE ABSORBING MORE BAD NEWS. A STATE GAMBLING ENFORCEMENT LAWYER FILED A PETITION YESTERDAY TO REVOKE FOXWOODS PHILADELPHIA'S CASINO LICENSE AFTER REGULATORS DENIED ITS BID FOR MORE TIME TO SECURE FINANCIAL BACKERS. FOXWOODS' INVESTORS HAVE 30 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE PETITION. THE PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD'S CHIEF ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL, CYRUS PITRE, SAYS THE FOXWOODS GROUP COULD STOP THE REVOCATION PETITION BY SECURING FINANCING AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT SATISFY THE BOARD. THE PROJECT HAS FACED FINANCIAL TROUBLES AND NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSITION SINCE WINNING ONE OF TWO STATE CASINO LICENSES SET ASIDE FOR PHILADELPHIA IN 2006. EARLIER THIS MONTH, INTERNATIONAL CASINO MOGUL STEVE WYNN WAS THE LATEST FINANCIAL BACKER TO PULL OUT OF FOXWOODS' PLANS. PA.

CASINO/RACE TRACK ORDERED TO CLEAN UP MANURE BENSALEM, PA.

(AP) - PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS ARE ORDERING THE OWNERS OF A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA CASINO AND HORSE-RACING TRACK TO STOP WASHING MANURE INTO STORM GRATES. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SAYS MORE THAN 1,200 HORSES ARE BEING KEPT ON PROPERTY WHERE MANURE-LADEN STORM WATER IS IMPACTING THE NESHAMINY CREEK WATERSHED. THE DEP SAYS THE OWNERS OF THE PARX CASINO AND PARX RACING FACILITIES IN BENSALEM, PA., ALSO MUST IMPLEMENT A WATER ONSERVATION PLAN, IMPROVE EFFORTS TO MANAGE WASTE WATER AND MAKE OTHER CHANGES. THE DEP SAYS A MARCH INSPECTION UNCOVERED NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS. PARK SPOKESWOMAN CARRIE NORK MINELLI SAYS THE COMPANY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS AND HAD BEEN COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT THEIR RESPONSE WAS DETERMINED UNACCEPTABLE.

HOSPITAL IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA TO LAY OFF 100 ABINGTON, PA.

(AP) - OFFICIALS AT A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL SAY 100 WORKERS ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS. ABINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY WILL BE LAYING OFF FULL- AND PART-TIME WORKERS. HOSPITAL CEO LARRY MERLIS SAID THE LAYOFFS ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS HAS DECREASED. ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS IN STAFF WILL COME THROUGH ATTRITION AND VACANT POSITIONS THAT WON'T BE FILLED. MERLIS SAID THE HOSPITAL IS EXPERIENCING GROWTH IN MANY OUTPATIENT AREAS, BUT INPATIENT VOLUME REMAINS ON THE DECLINE.

COMMERCIAL PILOT PLEADS TO FED DRUG TEST CHARGES PITTSBURGH

(AP) - A PILOT FOR A US AIRWAYS SUBSIDIARY HAS PLEADED GUILTY IN PITTSBURGH TO SELLING A POWDERED DRINK MIX TO HELP DRUG USERS PASS FEDERAL DRUG TESTS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS, PILOTS AND TRAIN ENGINEERS. STEPHEN SHARP, OF PORT ORANGE, FLA., WAS A PILOT FOR PSA AIRLINES WHEN HE ALSO RAN THE WEB SITE WWW.YOURINTHECLEAR.COM FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2008. PSA AIRLINES FLEW UNDER THE US AIRWAYS EXPRESS BANNER. SHARP PLEADED GUILTY YESTERDAY TO CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT'S BECAUSE HIS PRODUCT WAS DESIGNED TO DEFEAT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DRUG TESTS. HE'LL RETURN FOR SENTENCING SEPT. 3. SHARP'S CASE IS THE LATEST BROUGHT BY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN PITTSBURGH AGAINST PEOPLE WHO SOLD PRODUCTS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO DEFEAT FEDERAL DRUG TESTS.

MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

(AP) - LONG THIN LINES OF OIL ARE LAPPING AGAINST THE LOUISIANA SHORELINE AND REACHING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA THIS MORNING. FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY THE LEAK FROM A BLOWN-OUT OFFSHORE OIL WELL IS "OF GRAVE CONCERN." MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THOSE THAT NEST ALONG THE GULF COAST ALONG WITH RIVER OTTERS, MINK AND OTHER WILDLIFE ARE ALL THREATENED, AS ARE FISHERIES.

WASHINGTON

(AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS HAD HIS FIRST KNOWN FORMAL INTERVIEW WITH A CANDIDATE FOR THE UPCOMING VACANCY ON THE SUPREME COURT. A SOURCE TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT THE PRESIDENT MET THURSDAY IN THE OVAL OFFICE WITH FEDERAL APPEALS COURT JUDGE SIDNEY THOMAS OF MONTANA. THOMAS SERVES ON THE 9TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN CONSIDERING ABOUT 10 PEOPLE FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

LOS ANGELES

(AP) - A COMPANY CRITICIZED BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WHEN IT PROPOSED 39 PERCENT HEALTH INSURANCE RATE HIKES FOR CALIFORNIANS HAS SCRAPPED THOSE PLANS SAYING THE DATA USED TO CALCULATE RATES WAS FLAWED. THE ACTION BY ANTHEM BLUE CROSS CAME A DAY AFTER THE PARENT COMPANY, WELLPOINT, INC. OF INDIANAPOLIS, ANNOUNCED ITS FIRST-QUARTER PROFIT SOARED BY 51 PERCENT.

BEIJING

(AP) - STATE MEDIA REPORT A FARMER HAS BURNED HIMSELF TO DEATH AFTER ATTACKING AND INJURING FIVE KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS IN EASTERN CHINA. IT'S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF HORRIFIC ASSAULTS ON CHILDREN AT CHINESE SCHOOLS. THE OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS AGENCY REPORTS THE MAN USED A MOTORCYCLE TO BREAK DOWN A GATE OF THE SCHOOL. TEACHERS RESCUED TWO CHILDREN HELD BY THE MAN AS HE DOUSED HIMSELF WITH GASOLINE. HO CHI MINH CITY,

VIETNAM

(AP) - THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURNED OUT IN HO CHI MINH CITY, FORMERLY SAIGON, TO MARK THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR. IT FEATURED A DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENT OF THE DAY NORTH VIETNAMESE FORCES OUSTED THE U.S.-BACKED SOUTH VIETNAM GOVERNMENT. THE CITY TODAY IS A PLACE WHERE SIGNS OF THE EMERGING MARKET ECONOMY ARE EVERYWHERE AND COMMUNIST BANNERS NOW COMPETE WITH CORPORATE LOGOS.