Today's News-Wednesday, April 7, 2010

2 MORE ARRESTED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ARSONS

ORWIGSBURG, PA. (AP) - A FIFTH FIREFIGHTER AND ANOTHER MAN ARE FACING ARSON CHARGES CONNECTED WITH A STRING OF FIRES IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY THAT CAUSED ABOUT $2 MILLION IN DAMAGE. PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE CHARGED 19-YEAR-OLD CHARLES FERGUSON JR. OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, AND 21-YEAR-OLD DEVON SMITH, OF AUBURN, IN A PAIR OF BARN FIRES SET LAST YEAR. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE TWO MEN WERE PART OF A GROUP OF SERIAL ARSONISTS THAT BURNED SEVERAL BARNS AND A HOME. FERGUSON AND THREE OTHER SUSPECTS WERE FRIEDENSBURG FIRE COMPANY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS. ANOTHER SUSPECT WAS A MEMBER OF THE DEER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT. POLICE SAY SMITH WAS NOT A FIREFIGHTER. FERGUSON AND SMITH SPEAK TO REPORTERS FOLLOWING AN ARRAIGNMENT TUESDAY. THEY ARE FREE ON $25,000 BAIL.

FIRE IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP

A FURNITURE MAKING BUSINESS WENT UP IN FLAMES TUESDAY IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP. PLEASANT VALLEY CHAIR ON DETURKSVILLE ROAD CAUGHT FIRE MID MORNING, APPARENTLY AN ACCIDENT. FIREFIGHTERS FROM SCHUYLKILL, BERKS AND LEBANON COUNTIES BATTLED THE FIRE FOR SEVERAL HOURS, SOME BEING RECALLED FOR A FLARE UP LATE AFTERNOON. AUTHORITIES SAY THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN A TRANSPORT SYSTEM THAT CARRIES WOOD CHIPS FROM ONE BUILDING TO ANOTHER. DAMAGE ESTIMATES ARE IN THE $400-THOUSAND-DOLLAR RANGE.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY IN POTTSVILLE

ELECTRONICS WERE TAKEN IN A HOME BURGLARY IN POTTSVILLE. THE THIEVES, IN TRYING TO PAWN THE ITEMS IN BERKS COUNTY, ADMITTED TO THE CRIME. 21 YEAR OLD JEFFREY MCANANEY AND 26 YEAR OLD ASHLEY CHARLES BROKE INTO A SPRING GARDEN STREET HOME ON TWO OCCASIONS, TAKING A BIG SCREEN TV, GAMING SYSTEM AND OTHER ITEMS, THEN TRYING TO PAWN THEM IN SHILLINGTON TO GET MONEY TO BUY HEROIN IN READING. BOTH CONFESSED TO THE CRIME AFTER BEING IDENTIFIED BY VIDEO SURVEILLANCE TAPES AT THE PAWN SHOP. CHARLES WAS ALREADY IN TROUBLE FOR SEPARATE DRUG AND BURGLARY COUNTS BY CITY POLICE.

CARS VANDALIZED

THREE POTTSVILLE MEN, APPARENTLY DRUNK, DAMAGED 8 PARKED VEHICLES ON WEST MARKET STREET OVER THE WEEKEND. INVESTIGATORS SAY CODY BARNES, PATRICK SHARTEL AND RANDY TAYLOR LEFT A CITY BAR AND DAMAGED THE PARKED CARS ON WEST MARKET STREET BETWEEN THIRD AND SEVENTH STREETS. ALL WERE CHARGED WITH PUBLIC DRUNKENESS AND FACE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF CHARGES.

FEDS REJECT PA'S PLAN TO TOLL I-80

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REJECTION OF PENNSYLVANIA'S APPLICATION TO TOLL INTERSTATE 80 WILL STALL WORK ON VALUABLE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. RENDELL SAID TUESDAY HE WILL CALL A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO FIND A WAY TO REPLACE THE $450 MILLION-PLUS PER YEAR THAT TOLLS WERE TO PRODUCE FOR HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS. RENDELL LOBBIED HEAVILY IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION AND SAYS HE DISAGREES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REASONS FOR REJECTING IT. TRANSPORTATION FUNDING WILL DROP SHARPLY IN JULY WITHOUT THE I-80 TOLLS. RENDELL ENCOURAGED LEGISLATORS TO PUT ASIDE PARTISAN DIFFERENCES AND ACT RIGHT AWAY. THE DECISION WAS A VICTORY FOR MANY LAWMAKERS AND CONGRESSMEN ACROSS NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA WHO HAD OPPOSED THE IDEA AS AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THEY REPRESENT.

CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR REPORT ON FUNDRAISING

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR ARE FACING A DEADLINE FOR MAKING PUBLIC THE DETAILS OF THEIR CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING. REPORTS FROM ALL SIX MEN ARE DUE TUESDAY. DEMOCRAT DAN ONORATO - THE TOP FUNDRAISER IN EITHER PARTY - HAS SAID HIS LATEST REPORT WILL SHOW HE RAISED MORE THAN $900,000 SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, LEAVING A CASH BALANCE OF $6.7 MILLION. DEMOCRAT JOE HOEFFEL REPORTED $229,000 IN CONTRIBUTIONS, LEAVING HIM WITH $102,000 IN THE BANK. NO DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE YET FROM REPUBLICANS TOM CORBETT AND SAM ROHRER OR DEMOCRATS ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS AND JACK WAGNER.

SENATOR INVESTIGATED

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A PERSON FAMILIAR WITH THE DEALINGS OF AN ALLEGHENY COUNTY GRAND JURY SAYS AN INDICTMENT WILL BE RETURNED TODAY IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER CAMPAIGN WORK WAS BEING DONE IN STATE SEN. JANE ORIE'S OFFICE ON STATE TIME. THE PERSON COULD NOT COMMENT FOR THE RECORD BECAUSE THE GRAND JURY'S FINDINGS ARE SECRET UNTIL THEY ARE RETURNED. THE PERSON WOULD NOT SAY WHO WILL BE CHARGED. ALLEGHENY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEPHEN ZAPPALA CONFIRMED IN JANUARY THAT HE WAS INVESTIGATING CLAIMS BY THE REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR'S FORMER INTERN. THE INTERN SAYS ORIE'S STAFF PERFORMED CAMPAIGN WORK FOR THE SENATOR'S SISTER, STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOAN ORIE MELVIN, ON STATE TIME.

PHILLY TRAIN DEATH
WOMAN HIT, KILLED BY TRAIN IN NE PHILLY

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A WOMAN WAS KILLED WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A TRAIN IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA. AMTRAK SPOKESWOMAN TRACEY CONNELL SAYS THE 26-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS HIT JUST BEFORE 8 P.M. YESTERDAY NEAR THE TACONY STATION BY AN AMTRAK TRAIN HEADING FROM HARRISBURG TO NEW YORK. SERVICE WAS SUSPENDED ON THE AMTRAK AND SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY R-7 LINE BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA AND TRENTON, N.J., BUT PARTIAL AMTRAK SERVICE WAS LATER RESTORED. POLICE SAY THE AMTRAK ENGINEER BELIEVED THE TRAIN HAD STRUCK A PERSON AND STOPPED, BUT NO BODY WAS IMMEDIATELY FOUND, BUT THE WOMAN WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND AND DECLARED DEAD AT 8:45 P.M.

CONGRESSMAN-YOUTUBE THREAT
SUSPECT IN VA. CONGRESSMAN THREAT NOT COMPETENT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PROSECUTORS SAY A PHILADELPHIA MAN CHARGED WITH THREATENING A RANKING CONGRESSMAN IN AN INTERNET VIDEO HAS MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES AND IS NOT CURRENTLY COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL. A FEDERAL MAGISTRATE IS SENDING 38-YEAR-OLD NORMAN LEBOON TO A PRISON HOSPITAL IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR PSYCHIATRIC TESTING. AUTHORITIES SAY HE MADE A VIDEO LAST MONTH THREATENING REP. ERIC CANTOR OF VIRGINIA, THE NO. 2 HOUSE REPUBLICAN. THEY SAY LEBOON BELIEVES HE IS THE SON OF GOD. PUBLIC DEFENDER KAI SCOTT DID NOT CHALLENGE THE PRELIMINARY INCOMPETENCY FINDING AT A HEARING YESTERDAY. THE JUDGE SAYS LEBOON COULD LATER BE FOUND COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL. AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT LINKED THE VIDEO THREAT TO A BULLET RECENTLY FIRED THROUGH CANTOR'S CAMPAIGN OFFICE IN RICHMOND. POLICE HAVE DETERMINED THAT WAS A RANDOM ACT.

MAYOR-THEFT CHARGES
FORMER PA. MAYOR SENTENCED FOR FUNERAL HOME THEFT

MEDIA, PA. (AP) - A FORMER MAYOR FROM SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA HAS BEEN ORDERED TO SPEND THREE TO 23 MONTHS BEHIND BARS FOR STEALING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM HIS FUNERAL BUSINESS. SIXTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD THEODORE BATHURST WAS SENTENCED MONDAY AFTER PLEADING GUILTY IN DELAWARE COUNTY COURT IN DECEMBER TO THEFT BY DECEPTION AND OTHER COUNTS. BATHURST ADMITTED HE TOOK MORE THAN $73,000 HELD IN ESCROW FOR CLIENTS WHO PREPAID FOR BURIAL EXPENSES. HE BLAMED BANKS FOR TAKING THE MONEY TO PAY DEBTS OWED BY THE FUNERAL HOME. BATHURST SOLD THE FUNERAL HOME IN 2007. THE NEW OWNER ABSORBED THE COST OF THE FUNERALS WHEN SHE DISCOVERED THE MISSING MONEY. PROSECUTORS SAY BATHURST WILL BE ALLOWED TO SERVE THE MINIMUM TERM ON WEEKENDS AND HAS ALSO AGREED TO PAY THE MONEY BACK TO THE NEW OWNER BY MAY 1 OR FACE A STRICTER SENTENCE.

PLANT CLOSING
MORE THAN 130 PA. WORKERS LAID OFF AFTER CLOSURE

MOUNTAINTOP, PA. (AP) - AN INSULATION MANUFACTURER IS SHUTTING DOWN A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA PLANT, LAYING OFF MORE THAN 130 WORKERS. OFFICIALS AT CERTAINTEED NOTIFIED WORKERS OF THE CLOSURE DURING MEETINGS MONDAY. COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY A SLOWDOWN IN NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION HAS DECREASED DEMAND FOR INSULATION. CERTAINTEED VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS KERMIT STAHL SAYS PRODUCTION WILL STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE MOUNTAINTOP PLANT WILL BE SHUT DOWN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT STAHL SAYS HE'S OPTIMISTIC IT CAN REOPEN WHEN DEMAND PICKS UP. UNION OFFICIALS SAY EMPLOYEES WILL BE OFFERED A SEVERANCE PACKAGE THAT WILL BE NEGOTIATED BE THE UNION AND THE VALLEY FORGE-BASED COMPANY.

INFANT FIRE DEATH
3 1/2- TO 10-YEAR TERM IN PA. FIRE THAT KILLED BOY

MEDIA, PA. (AP) - A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 3 1/2 TO 10 YEARS IN STATE PRISON IN A FIRE THAT KILLED HIS 14-MONTH-OLD SON A YEAR AGO. THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD THOMAS PIERCE OF CLIFTON HEIGHTS PLEADED NO CONTEST IN FEBRUARY TO CHARGES OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING OTHERS AND A DRUG COUNT AS PART OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PROSECUTORS IN THE MARCH 2009 BLAZE. AUTHORITIES SAID PIERCE WAS SLEEPING ON A COUCH WHEN AN UNATTENDED GAS BURNER STARTED THE BLAZE, AND BLOOD TESTS INDICATED THAT HE HAD DRUGS IN HIS SYSTEM. HIS SON, ROBERT, DIED OF SMOKE AND SOOT INHALATION. TWO OTHER CHILDREN, AGES 8 AND 10, ALSO ESCAPED THE BURNING ROW HOME. COMMON PLEAS JUDGE FRANK HAZEL CALLED THE BOY'S DEATH TRAGIC AND UNNECESSARY. HE TOLD THE DEFENDANT "SIR, YOU LOVE DRUGS MORE THAN YOU LOVE ANYONE."

MISSING WOMAN
PA. MAN CHARGED AFTER BODY OF MD. WOMAN, 29, FOUND

WAYNESBORO, PA. (AP) - A PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF A MARYLAND WOMAN WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA OF SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. STATE POLICE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY SAY TROOPERS RESPONDED TO AN INTERSTATE 81 OVERPASS AT ABOUT 2:30 A.M. YESTERDAY AND FOUND A DISTRAUGHT MAN THREATENING TO HARM HIMSELF. THE HIGHWAY WAS CLOSED, AND THREE HOURS LATER THE MAN WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. POLICE SAY THE INVESTIGATION LED TROOPERS TO A WOODED AREA OF WAYNESBORO, WHERE THEY FOUND THE BODY OF 29-YEAR-OLD KRISTY HOKE OF HAGERSTOWN, MD., WHO HAD BEEN REPORTED MISSING MONDAY. INVESTIGATORS SAID SHE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN STABBED. POLICE SAY 46-YEAR-OLD JEFFREY MILES OF STATE LINE, PA., WAS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE.

SHARPSBURG CRANE COLLAPSE
CRANE COLLAPSES ON PA. HOME, NO INJURIES REPORTED

PITTSBURGH (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN A PITTSBURGH SUBURB SAY A CRANE COLLAPSED ONTO A HOME, DISPLACING A FAMILY OF SIX, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. OFFICIALS SAY THE CRANE WAS BEING USED IN THE DEMOLITION OF A HOME WHEN IT COLLAPSED ONTO A NEIGHBORING STRUCTURE AT ABOUT 6 P.M. TUESDAY IN SHARPSBURG, ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM PITTSBURGH. RED CROSS OFFICIALS SAY THEY PROVIDED FOOD AND SHELTER FOR AN ADULT AND FIVE CHILDREN AS WELL AS SOME CLOTHING.

HEALTH CLERK CHARGED
PHILLY HEALTH CLERK CHARGED IN PRESCRIPTION CASE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN PHILADELPHIA SAY A STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WORKER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH STEALING AND SELLING PRESCRIPTIONS AND HELPING OTHERS OBTAIN FRAUDULENT PRESCRIPTIONS. PROSECUTORS SAY 44-YEAR-OLD MARIA JOSEY WAS ARRESTED LAST NIGHT AND CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY, POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER AND IDENTITY THEFT. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES FROM THE NEW SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION WERE ABLE TO BUY ILLEGAL PRESCRIPTIONS FROM JOSEY OUTSIDE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT CENTER WHERE SHE WORKED AS A CLERK/TYPIST. A PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SCHEDULED APRIL 12.

PHILADELPHIA-NURSES STRIKE
TEMPLE NURSES STRIKE OVER WORK RULE, TUITION PERK

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - STRIKING NURSES IN PHILADELPHIA SAY A PROPOSED SPEECH RESTRICTION AND THE LOSS OF A COLLEGE TUITION BENEFIT ARE AT THE HEART OF A NEARLY WEEKLONG LABOR DISPUTE. ABOUT 1,500 NURSES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN PICKETING TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SINCE MARCH 31. THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRED SEPT. 30. THE STRIKERS RALLIED YESTERDAY IN HOPES OF RESTARTING NEGOTIATIONS. TEMPLE HAS HIRED ABOUT 850 TEMPORARY WORKERS TO KEEP THE HOSPITAL RUNNING. HOSPITAL CEO SANDY GOMBERG SAYS THAT ELIMINATING FREE TUITION FOR EMPLOYEES' CHILDREN WILL MEAN AN EXTRA $5.5 MILLION FOR PATIENT CARE. GOMBERG SAYS A PROPOSED "NON-DISPARAGEMENT" CLAUSE IS TO KEEP THE WORKERS' UNION FROM DEFAMING THE HOSPITAL. THE UNION SAYS IT VIOLATES FREE SPEECH RIGHTS AND COULD JEOPARDIZE PATIENT CARE.

HOMELESS HOMICIDE
HOMELESS MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING ANOTHER IN PA.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - PITTSBURGH POLICE HAVE CHARGED ONE HOMELESS MAN WITH KILLING ANOTHER AFTER THE ALLEGED VICTIM REJECTED THE SUSPECT'S SEXUAL ADVANCES. FIFTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD RICHARD KELLY IS JAILED WITHOUT BOND ON A CHARGE OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE IN THE DEATH OF 51-YEAR-OLD DENNIS FARLEY. POLICE SAY KELLY APPROACHED FARLEY AT A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IN SOME WOODS NEAR THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE LATE FRIDAY OR EARLY SATURDAY. OTHER HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TOLD POLICE THAT KELLY HIT FARLEY IN THE HEAD WITH A METAL OBJECT THEN KICKED FARLEY AFTER HE REJECTED KELLY'S ADVANCES. POLICE WERE CALLED AND FOUND FARLEY DEAD ABOUT 12:30 A.M. SATURDAY.
HE WAS ARRAIGNED YESTERDAY AND FACES A PRELIMINARY HEARING APRIL 16.

FOOD STAMPS-DOG
PA. COURT NIXES FOOD STAMPS FOR MAN'S SERVICE DOG

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A PENNSYLVANIA APPEALS COURT IS RULING AGAINST A DISABLED MAN WHO'S BEEN SEEKING FOOD STAMPS TO HELP FEED HIS SERVICE DOG. COMMONWEALTH COURT HAS UPHELD A DECISION BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE THAT DENIED THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO JAMES DOURIS OF THE PHILADELPHIA SUBURB OF NEWTOWN. DOURIS SAYS HE FEEDS HIS DOG POULTRY, VEGETABLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE HE EATS. HE ARGUES HIS DOG SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DEPENDENT MEMBER OF HIS HOUSEHOLD AS OFFICIALS DECIDE ON HIS FOOD STAMP ALLOTMENT. THE COURT SAYS THE LAW'S CLEAR THAT ANIMALS DON'T QUALIFY.

PEOPLE-JON GOSSELIN
JON GOSSELIN: KATE IGNORES KIDS TO BE ON 'DANCING'

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - JON GOSSELIN SAYS HE PLANS TO SUE EX-WIFE KATE FOR PRIMARY CUSTODY OF THEIR EIGHT CHILDREN BECAUSE HER APPEARANCES ON "DANCING WITH THE STARS" HAVE TURNED HER INTO AN ABSENTEE MOM. JON GOSSELIN'S LAWYER ANTHONY LIST TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HE PLANS TO FILE PAPERS IN BERKS COUNTY COURT IN PENNSYLVANIA THIS WEEK TO REOPEN THEIR DIVORCE SETTLEMENT. LIST SAYS KATE GOSSELIN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE HIT ABC DANCE COMPETITION SHOW HAS TAKEN HER AWAY FROM THE CHILDREN. HE SAYS SHE HAS DELEGATED MOST CHILD-REARING RESPONSIBILITIES TO THREE NANNIES. KATE GOSSELIN'S ATTORNEY MARK MOMJIAN CALLS THE ALLEGATION RECKLESS AND "PATENTLY FALSE." THE TWO FORMERLY STARRED ON THE REALITY SHOW "JON & KATE PLUS 8." THE PENDING COURT PETITION WAS FIRST REPORTED BY CELEBRITY GOSSIP SITE TMZ.COM.

MONTCOAL, W.VA. (AP) - IF FOUR MISSING MINERS ARE STILL ALIVE AFTER MONDAY'S EXPLOSION IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, IT WILL STILL BE MANY HOURS BEFORE RESCUERS CAN REACH THEM. FIRST, A HOLE NOW BEING DRILLED SOME 1,000 FEET MUST REACH THEM, AND TOXIC GAS MUST BE VENTED FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS. THE CONFIRMED DEATH TOLL SO FAR IS 25.

UNDATED (AP) - THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE WEST VIRGINIA MINE WHERE FOUR MINERS ARE STILL MISSING IS KNOWN FOR SWAMPING FEDERAL REGULATORS WITH APPEALS WHEN IT'S CHARGED WITH SAFETY VIOLATIONS. AMONG THE VIOLATIONS MASSEY ENERGY HAS CONTESTED IS ONE CONCERNING THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AT THE MINE HIT BY MONDAY'S EXPLOSION.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA FLIES TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC TODAY TO SIGN A NEW NUCLEAR TREATY WITH RUSSIA. IF RATIFIED, BOTH COUNTRIES WOULD COMMIT TO TRIMMING THEIR NUCLEAR ARSENALS EVEN MORE, BY ALMOST A THIRD. OBAMA SEES THE TREATY AS A KEY PART OF HIS EFFORT TO CURB THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

DETROIT (AP) - THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS IS SUING GENERAL MOTORS FOR $450 MILLION. THE UAW SAYS IT'S RETIREE HEALTH CARE MONEY PROMISED BY GM THREE YEARS AGO AS PART OF THE DEAL THAT HELPED DELPHI CORP. EMERGE FROM BANKRUPTCY. THE UAW SAYS GM'S OWN BANKRUPTCY LAST YEAR SHOULDN'T AFFECT THAT.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - BRAZILIAN AUTHORITIES IN RIO ARE NERVOUSLY WATCHING THE RAIN FALL AGAIN HOURS AFTER THE HEAVIEST DELUGE ON RECORD TRIGGERED KILLER MUDSLIDES. AUTHORITIES FEAR THE ADDED WATER COULD DISLODGE MORE SATURATED GROUND AND ADD TO THE 95 DEATHS ALREADY RECORDED. MOST OF THE DEATHS CAME WHEN LANDSLIDES SMASHED OVER SHACKS IN SLUMS BUILT PRECARIOUSLY ON STEEP SLOPES.