Saturday, May 29, 2010

Today's News-Saturday, May 29, 2010

BUTLER TOWNSHIP WINDMILLS HALTED TEMPORARILY
 
A Schuylkill County judge on Friday rejected a Gilberton company's appeal of the Butler Township Zoning Hearing Board's rejection of its plan to build 27 windmills along the top of Ashland Mountain. According to the Republican and Herald, Judge Charles M. Miller ruled Broad Mountain Development Co. LLC did not show the board erred or abused its discretion in revoking its zoning permit for the wind turbines on 1,110 acres. The decision at least temporarily ends the proposed construction in Butler Township of the turbines, which have sprouted on many mountains in northern Schuylkill County. Township Zoning Officer Thomas Squires issued the permit to the company Feb. 4, 2008, at the request of John D. Rampolla, Broad Mountain's secretary-treasurer. The board revoked the permit July 29, 2009, ruling Squires did not have the authority to issue it because a wind farm is not a permitted use in a Woodland Conservation (W-C) zoning district. Broad Mountain appealed that ruling Aug. 25. In his opinion, Miller ruled the board had substantial evidence to support its decision and Broad Mountain could not overcome that. The board's substantial evidence included testimony from several neighboring property owners who opposed the project. Broad Mountain had challenged those owners' right to intervene in the case, but Miller rejected that contention.

STEEL STOLEN

Thousands of pounds of steel stolen from a Schuylkill County business. Troopers say sometime between Midnight and 7 this morning someone made off with almost 4,000 pounds of allow steel from Shalmet Corporation in the Pinedale Industrial Park near Orwigsburg in West Brunswick Township. Anyone with information about this theft is asked to call State Police at Schuylkill Haven.

BUDGET FOR PA LOOMS

A Lehigh Valley lawmaker says with just a month to go before a new state budget is due....it's going to take discipline and the political will by the state legislature to get it done on time. Howard Ondick has this report.

ONDICK

DRUG TESTING FOR SHENANDOAH VALLEY
 
Drug testing of Shenandoah Valley students may be a reality as soon as next school year. As reported by the Republican and Herald, the proposed policy calls for both voluntary and mandatory testing, which will be a requirement for almost all students involved in any extracurricular activity. That means students from seventh to 12th grades participating in football, cheerleading, band, chorus and much more will all be subject to urine testing if the policy in its present form were to pass. The Shenandoah Valley school board met Wednesday, during which the proposed policy was read aloud in its entirety by Superintendent Dr. Stanley G. Rakowsky. The first reading was unanimously approved by board members. There will be two more public readings before the school board votes on whether or not to adopt the policy. During this time, the policy can be amended. Students selected for testing will be chosen at random by an approved contractor. The district may test up to 10 of the eligible students randomly within two-week intervals during the school year or interscholastic season.
 
PICK UP HEISTED

A truck stolen from a body shop in Mechanicsville. State Police are investigating the theft of a white 1989 Ford F-150 pick-up truck owned by William Stock of Saint Clair from Bill's Auto Body at the rear of 348 Anderson Street in Mechanicsville. The truck was unlocked with the keys in the ignition. It was taken between 3:45 Thursday afternoon and 7:30 Friday morning. The truck has a Pittsburgh Steelers plate on the front. Anyone with information about this vehicle theft should call Schuylkill Haven State Police.

JUNIOR DRIVERS WILL BE CITED FOR CELL PHONE USAGE
 
A Cambria County lawmaker is defending his action that makes it a secondary offense for junior drivers to talk on a cell phone or text message while driving.Howard Ondick has this report.

ONDICK

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressman Joe Sestak says he spoke for less than minute with former President Bill Clinton about a White House appointment that was meant to keep Sestak out of the Senate primary that he won this month. Sestak says he never considered any position the White House was willing to offer.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday for an event at Carnegie Mellon University. No additional details have been released. The White House has said it's a priority for Obama to travel outside of Washington.

GREEN LANE, Pa. (AP) - A water treatment operator from a Philadelphia suburb has been charged with dumping raw sewage into the Perkiomen (pur-kee-OH'-mehn) Creek for years and submitting bogus reports to cover it up. The attorney general's office says Michael Martin of Pennsburg is charged with records tampering.

EPHRATA, Pa. (AP) - A hospital in Lancaster County says it has laid off 31 workers. Ephrata Community Hospital says the 31 employees lost their jobs this week. A recent state hospital report showed that Ephrata's profits fell 50 percent from 2008 to 2009, from $12.8 million to $6.3 million.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. military is reportedly making plans to go after the Pakistani Taliban if the terror network launches a successful attack in the U.S. That's what senior military officials have told The Washington Post. The operation would focus on air power but could also involve ground action involving special forces.

ROBERT, La. (AP) - BP says its engineers have been shooting drilling mud and assorted junk into the its blown out Gulf of Mexico oil well. The so-called "top kill" started Wednesday, but
BP says it will be Sunday or later before the verdict is known. President Barack Obama says he is ordering an increase in manpower in the Gulf Coast to deal with the spill.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan are headed to a summit amid tensions over the sinking of a warship blamed on North Korea. At the same time Saturday, Top military commanders are meeting in South Korea to discuss ways to counter North Korean provocations.

ATLANTA (AP) - Travelers are being more budget conscious on the first traditional summer holiday weekend. Auto club AAA says about 28 million Americans will take road trips over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, 1.6 million more than last year. But AAA estimates families will spend less on summer travel because of a still-fragile economy.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Jamaica's top police official says security forces will capture a reputed underworld boss who escaped a bloody, four-day assault on his slum stronghold. At a news conference in Jamaica's tense capital, police Commissioner Owen Ellington says authorities believe Christopher "Dudus" Coke, wanted by the U.S. on drugs and gun trafficking charges, is hiding somewhere on the tropical island.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Today's News-Friday, May 28, 2010

MAN DIES FROM INJURIES SUFFERED IN CRASH
A man from Ashland has died from injuries suffered in a crash in Locust Township. Police report that 94 year old Albert Kleponis was driving north on Route 42 Wednesday afternoon when his car crossed the road, struck a gas pump, went through a split-rail fence and went down an embankment, ending up in a field. Kleponis was taken to Geisinger Medical Center where he died from his injuries Wednesday night. The investigation is continuing.

REAR END CRASH ON ROUTE 61
One person suffered minor injuries in a three vehicle crash on Route 61 Thursday afternoon near Cressona Mall. The vehicles were traveling south on 61 near the mall around 1:30pm when 24 year old John Breslin of Schuylkill Haven took his eyes off of the roadway, adjusting his air conditioner. He was unable to stop in time, rear ending a vehicle driven by Victor Young of Reading. The impact forced Young's van into a car driven by Martha Anderson of Kings Mountain, North Carolina. A passenger in Anderson's car had minor injuries. The other drivers and their occupants were not hurt. State police from Schuylkill Haven investigated the crash.

FIRE COMMISSIONER MEETS WITH VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann spoke Thursday night at the Humane Fire Company in Pottsville. He educated local fire departments on state and federal grants available to help them operate. Mann explains the problems affecting volunteer fire companies:

MANN

Mann also gave other state and federal cost saving measures. These include surplus and community development programs. The event was hosted by State Senator Dave Argall.

HEAVY TRAVEL WEEKEND
 
With the number of travelers expected to increase for the Memorial Day holiday, PennDOT is urging motorists to plan ahead and practice safe driving habits. "We ask all drivers to buckle up, avoid distractions and obey the speed limit, so that everyone can reach their destinations safely," said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. Throughout the weekend, PennDOT will partner with Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police departments for this year's Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement effort. Under it, any unbuckled motorist stopped and cited for a traffic violation will receive a second ticket and fine for not wearing a seat belt. Also, police will conduct patrols and other enforcement activities aimed at stopping aggressive and impaired drivers. According to PennDOT, last year's Memorial Day holiday period was the deadliest of any holiday in 2009. There were more than 2,900 crashes, resulting in 47 fatalities. Of those, 436 crashes and 24 fatalities were alcohol-related. The holiday period includes Memorial Day and the weekends before and after the holiday.

SAFE COOKOUTS
Memorial Day marks the unofficial kickoff of barbecue season, and a meat specialist in Penn State's College of Ag Sciences says the watchword for 2010 is variety. More from Gary Abdullah:

COOKOUT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Governor Ed Rendell is abandoning his plan to cut the state sales tax rate and increase revenue by extending it to more types of purchases. The Democrat says he now thinks the proposal is too complicated and politically charged to pass in an election year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Harrisburg district judge is ordering the remaining Republican defendants in Pennsylvania's legislative corruption case held for trial. The judge has affirmed multiple charges against nine people with ties to the House GOP caucus. All are accused of illegally using taxpayer-financed resources for election purposes.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A man who has been leading efforts to solve racial problems at South Philadelphia High School has resigned after eight months on the job. A school district spokesman tells The Philadelphia Inquirer Theos McKinney left this week to accept an out-of-state job offer. Last December, groups of mostly African American students carried out attacks on Asians at the school.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan woman who took a flight to Philadelphia is suing after she says she woke up in her seat and was surprised to see no one else aboard the United Express plane. Gingie McGuire says police opened the door of the plane 15 minutes later. McGuire claims no one woke her when the plane landed. United says it's investigating. 
 
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Another person has been detained in connection with the attempt to bomb Times Square. An intelligence official in Pakistan says a Pakistani man is in custody -- one of about 11 detained so far. The primary suspect is still held in the U.S.

SARDIHA, India (AP) - Terrorism may be to blame for the derailment of a passenger train in India that was then hit by another train. Officials say at least 65 people are dead and 200
hurt. About a dozen passengers are still trapped in wreckage.

TANACROSS, Alaska (AP) - A wildfire in eastern Alaska has forced evacuation of more than 100 homes in a village. But a forestry official says fire crews using bulldozers were able to make the fire burn around the town. No injuries or structural damage reported.

GRAND ISLE, La. (AP) - As cleanup crews in the Gulf of Mexico have learned, the miles of booms deployed to contain the leaking oil haven't worked as well as hoped. But experts say they do offer at least some defense, as well as giving a psychological boost against helplessness.

NEW YORK (AP) - Parents will likely groan, but a brain researcher says people who play fast-paced video games have better vision, better attention, and better cognition. And people who play pro-social games that promote cooperation are more likely to help in real-life situations.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Today's News-Thursday, May 27, 2010

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Authorities continue to probe the circumstances of the shooting of a Tuscarora man Tuesday by police in Walker Township. 41 year old Scott Mackelvey was involved in an altercation with police at a home on Whitetail Crossing Drive, reportedly ramming a police cruiser with a stolen pickup truck. As police tried to stop Mackelvey, he was shot and killed. An autopsy is expected to continue today at Schuylkill Medical Center to determine which shots fired by officers killed Mackelvey. The state police and the District Attorney's office are involved in the investigation.

SCHUYLKILL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
The Schuylkill County Commissioners took another step yesterday to bring the day to day management of the Schuylkill Transportation Authority back under county control. Last month, the Commissioners announced they were exploring options to make that happen. A public hearing was held to hear comments about the proposed change, which could save the county money, rather than paying a management fee of over $300 thousand dollars to ReDCo. That not for profit company has been managing STS for three decades. The assets of STS already are owned by the county. An ordinance was passed by the board to establish a nine member Schuylkill Transportation Authority, made up of individuals from across Schuylkill County. They will be charged with overisight of STS, serving in staggered terms and will be paid $100 per month to serve. Some of the services currently provided by ReDCo are expected to be consolidated into other county departments, or other persons hired to do the work.

CENSUS
As US Census takers criss cross the county to interview persons who didn't file paper questionaires for the 2010 Census, Schuylkill County got a final update of how residents responded in the tally that takes place every ten years. Alvin Taylor addressed the County Commissioners Wednesday with some preliminary numbers after the mail in was completed:

TAYLOR 1

Taylor commended the county and its residents for doing such a good job in getting the message out to file Census forms in a timely manner. Taylor says that once field enumerators are finished their field work, we should see some preliminary numbers of how many people live in the county, state and nation:

TAYLOR 2

The Census is very important because the numbers will determine federal funding for the county and to determine Congressional districts. In 2000, about 72 percent of all Americans were counted, according to Taylor.

NIGHT OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HISTORY
A night of Schuylkill County History was held last evening at the Sovereign Majestic Theatre, honoring 36 famous countians. Pottsville High School Seniors Meg Halcovage, Jill Matz and Hannah Spece presented their research in numerous categories. Hannah Spece explains:

SPECE 1

Meg Halcovage focused on several other individuals and groups:

HALCOVAGE 1

The students were assisted by history teacher Pam Delenick, Librarian Lillian Hobbs and the Historical Society of Schuylkill County.

VOTE CERTIFICATION
The first part of the vote certification for the General Primary of May 18th was completed yesterday, according to Frances Brennan, County Election Bureau Director. Anyone wishing to petition the Court of Common Pleas has 5 days from yesterday to do so. In case no petition for a recount is received, the vote will be proclaimed officially certified.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Republicans are calling for a special prosecutor to be appointed to look into the claim by Congressman Joe Sestak that he was offered an administration job if he would drop his primary challenge against Democratic Senator Arlen Specter. Attorney General Eric Holder has already rejected a similar request.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor apparently is Scott Conklin, a state representative from Centre County. Runner-up Jonathan Saidel threw in the towel yesterday afternoon -- ending speculation that an automatic recount would be required to settle the outcome of the May 18th primary.

ROCHESTER, Pa. (AP) - A man driving a car with New Jersey plates traveled the wrong way on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Pittsburgh for about 10 miles, causing three accidents that slightly hurt four people, including himself. The car was finally stopped yesterday when troopers rammed it into a jersey barrier. The driver will face charges.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Police in western Pennsylvania say a brawl involving several dozen people resulted in six teenage girls and women being injured and five people arrested. Police said the fight broke out on Pittsburgh's North Side yesterday afternoon. Charges of assault, disorderly conduct and failure to disperse are pending.

ROBERT, La. (AP) - Crews are pumping mud into the blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico in an effort to stop the gushing oil that has already hit an estimated 100 miles of Louisiana coastline. BP says it should know sometime today if the procedure known as a top kill has been successful.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is expected to announce new oil drilling restrictions today in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill. The administration will also announce delays in granting permits to drill in the Arctic and in portions of the Gulf. Obama plans to travel to the Gulf Coast on Friday.

BEIJING (AP) - China is offering no indication of plans to join the U.S. and its allies in blaming North Korea in the sinking of a South Korean warship, saying the issue remains "highly
complicated." Yesterday, U.S. officials said China had indicated it is prepared to hold Pyongyang accountable.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is headed toward landmark votes on whether to allow gays to serve openly in the military. The House is expected to vote as early as today on a proposal that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law. Also, the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to take up an identical measure.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats are hoping to extend jobless benefits before they go on vacation next week. House leaders hope to vote today on a bill that would extend the benefits through November, but they're running into opposition from Republicans and some Democrats concerned about the cost of the overall bill.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Today's News-Wednesday, May 26, 2010-updated 7:30am

TUSCARORA MAN SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE
A Tuscarora man is dead after an incident with police Tuesday morning in Walker Township. State police report they responded to reports of a truck tractor driving through yards and menacing residents. Witnesses say 41 year old Scott Mackelvey of Tuscarora was mad when a friend, Tom Rowlands, reportedly refused to give Mackelvey a ride home from a bar early Tuesday. Mack stole the truck and crashed the truck into a tree at 70 Whitetail Crossing Drive in the Wildcat housing development, then entered Rowland's home and stole keys to a pickup truck. As police tried to stop Mackelvey, he rammed a state police cruiser repeatedly, almost hitting an off duty municipal police officer. Police shot and killed Mackelvey. State police say that Mackelvey had a history of run-ins with police in the past. An autopsy will be performed by Dr. Richard Bindie at Schuylkill Medical Center. State police troopers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative duties, pending the outcome of the investigation.

TEEN CHARGED WITH HARASSMENT
Two teenaged boys got into a fight yesterday afternoon in North Manheim Township. One has been charged with harassment. The 15 year old from Orwigsburg and a 14 year old from Schuylkill Haven got into a scuffle in the parking lot of McDonalds along Route 61 around lunchtime. The 14 year old punched the older boy, causing a bloody nose. State police at Schuylkill Haven handled the investigation.

SPOT APPEALS PACKAGE PASSES STATE HOUSE
A Schuylkill County lawmaker says legislation aimed at reforming "spot" property tax assessments passed the state House Tuesday. Tim Seip said the package of three bills would force school boards to have more open proceedings when considering reassessments of properties that are sold. Seip and other lawmakers have been pushing for reforms for several years. In fact, legislation passed the House and Senate twice in 2007-2008, only to be vetoed by Governor Rendell. Spot appeals have been used by school districts to gain additional tax revenues by revaluing properties when they are sold, while similar properties remain taxed at a lower rate. Seip says he's happy with the compromise legislation:

SEIP REASSESSMENT

Similar legislation has been introduced in the state Senate as well.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TALK HISTORY TONIGHT
Pottsville High School seniors will talk Schuylkill County history tonight at the Sovereign Majestic Theatre. The county's history is full of legendary figures, and will be discussed in a PowerPoint presentation as part of a project in the Social Studies Department at Pottsville High School. The program is free and open to the public at 7pm. The students making the presentation are Meg Halcovage, Jill Matz and Hannah Spece.

POTTSVILLE WOMAN CASE OF DECEPTION HEADED TO COURT
A city woman, accused of deceiving the Pottsville Housing Authority, waived her right to a preliminary hearing in a case where she received subsidized housing. 53 year old Alice Robinson was charged with theft by deception, after she continued to live in subsidized housing even though her husband, Leonard, was living there and had a criminal history. Robinson received more than $10-thousand-dollars in Housing and Urban Development funds, even though her request to allow her husband to live there was denied in 2007. Robinson's case will now be heard in Schuylkill County Court.

ZION GROVE WOMAN'S BODY FOUND
MOOSIC - The badly decomposed body found behind a professional building in Moosic, Monday has been identified as a Schuylkill County woman. 51-year-old Deborah Austin, of Zion Grove, was reported missing in early May. Her body was found Monday afternoon in her vehicle behind an office building at 340 Montage Mountain Road in Moosic. The body was badly decomposed but showed no signs of foul play. The Lackawanna County Coroner's office is waiting on results of toxicology tests to determine a cause of death.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania elections officials say Scott Conklin leads Jonathan Saidel by nearly 3,900 votes after tallying unofficial returns from all 67 counties in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. Saidel is close enough to trigger an automatic recount under state law, which could start next week.

BLUE BELL, Pa. (AP) - Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey says Congressman Joe Sestak should clarify what job the White House offered him to drop a primary challenge to Senator Arlen Specter. Sestak and the White House have declined to discuss the offer in detail, but Sestak has said he was offered a job to avoid challenging Specter.

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in suburban Philadelphia say fire swept through a home, killing a 1-year-old girl and critically injuring her 4-year-old sister and her mother. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the blaze in the two-story home in Upper Southampton Township in Bucks County was reported yesterday afternoon.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A car bomb has exploded in a parking lot outside a small NATO military base in Afghanistan. The few hundred Canadian soldiers, American military police and U.S. and Canadian government development employees at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar city have been ordered into bunkers. There's no information on casualties.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is calling on all nations for "a strong but measured response" to the sinking of a South Korean warship. A team of
international investigators concluded that North Korea torpedoed the ship in March. Clinton spent a few hours in Seoul discussing possible international responses with South Korean leaders.

COVINGTON, La. (AP) - BP is giving it another try and the stakes are high. By dawn today the oil company plans to pack the blown well in the Gulf of Mexico with heavy drilling mud and cement to try to stanch the gusher. Politicians and others are losing patience with the company over its failed attempts to stop the leak. It started more than a month ago after an offshore drilling rig exploded.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - President Barack Obama heads to northern California today to highlight the benefits of alternative energy sources. Obama will tour a solar panel manufacturing facility and speak to workers about expanding the clean energy sector to create jobs and aid the nation's economic recovery.

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) - A Long Island teenager could spend more than 20 years in prison when he is sentenced today. Jeffrey Conroy was convicted of manslaughter as a hate crime in the killing of an Ecuadorean immigrant, Marcelo Lucero. The killing led to a Justice Department investigation of bias attacks against Hispanics.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Breaking News-2:45pm

TAMAQUA, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania state police say they shot and killed a suspect after he rammed a police cruiser with a stolen pickup truck. The suspect's name was not immediately released. Trooper Edward Maloney says the man led police on a chase Tuesday morning into the Wildcat Mountain housing development in Walker Township, Schuylkill County. Police say the man had stolen the cab of a tractor trailer belonging to Koch's Turkey Farm, crashed it into a tree in the development, then stole the pickup and hit the cruiser while trying to flee. He died at the scene.

Today's News-Tuesday, May 25, 2010

LC&N MINING PERMIT SUSPENDED
The state Department of Environmental Protection has pulled the mining permit of Lehigh Coal and Navigation. Citing illegal mining practices, repeated water quality violations and failure to reclaim mined lands, the agency suspended all mining activities of the company in Schuylkill and Carbon counties. DEP Secretary John Hanger says LC&N's management has shown "a persistent unwillingness and inability to mine in accordance with state and federal law". The suspension of the mining permit will remain in effect until the company brings its operations into full compliance. Authorities say that mine water from abandoned underground mines is affecting water quality in the Little Schuylkill River as well. Since 2008, DEP has issued 24 compliance orders against LC&N, assessing penalties of more than $91-thousand-dollars and previous suspensions. LC&N's operations encompass parts of Coaldale, Tamaqua, Nesquehoning and Summit Hill.

MAILBOX EXPLODED
Authorities are investigating the explosion of a mailbox in Friedensburg. The vandalism was reported early Sunday at the Friedensburg Post Office, where a device was thrown in the mailbox, causing extensive damage to the bottom and back of the recepticle. Postal inspectors are conducting the investigation into the incident. Anyone with information should call them at 717-257-2330. It is a federal offense to destroy US Postal Service property.

WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?
State police from Frackville are investigating a case of criminal trespass in North Union Township. Sometime over a three week period, an unidentified individual entered a summer home in Cove Village, using a spare key to gain entry. While no damage was noted nor anything taken, state police have concluded that the prowler slept in the home during the illegal entry. State police advise homeowners not to leave spare keys outside their homes.

PORT CARBON MAN CONVICTED FOR DEALING HEROIN
A Port Carbon man faces jail time for dealing heroin. The Republican Herald reports that 28 year old Rodolfo Valdez was sentenced to three to six years in state prison for drug related charges. Valdez had been found guilty in March of the charges of selling heroin on several occasions through a confidential informant in October, 2009. Pottsville police filed the initial charges against Valdez.

SHAMOKIN MAN INJURED IN CRASH
A Shamokin man remains in fair condition at Geisinger following a crash just before three p.m. Monday in Pine Grove Township. The crash happened at the intersection of Lovers Lane and Paradise Road when police say 57-year-old Charles Jones of Shamokin pulled into the path of another vehicle driven by 23-year-old Kristen Lucas of Tremont. Lucas and two young boys in her car were not hurt. Jones was flown from the scene to Geisinger.

HIGH SPEED CHASE LEADS TO ARREST
A 29-year-old Shenandoah man faces numerous charges after leading police officers on a high-speed chase early Sunday morning along Route 901 that started in Locust Gap and culminated in the area of the 901 Pub after his Camaro struck a police cruiser. Michael Linkchorst, is now facing charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, fleeing or attempting to elude police, resisting arrest, and related counts. A passenger in his car 22-year-old Tina Layton, of Ringtown, also was charged with simple assault, resisting arrest, and public drunkenness involving the chase that began at 2:10 a.m. Both were sent to the Northumberland County Prison.

COST STUDY COMMISSION UPDATE
The Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission has concluded a State Capitol public hearing that focused on higher education costs. Hanson Quickel has more from committee chairman, Senator David Argall.

ARGALL EDUCATION

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A grand jury that investigated the Pennsylvania legislative corruption scandal known as "Bonusgate" is recommending sweeping changes to how the Legislature conducts business. The report calls for reforms on how the General Assembly spends money, hires and supervises employees and conducts its annual state budget debate.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Philadelphia jury has acquitted a 74-year-old man who shot a police officer in 1966 on murder and other charges filed following the officer's death in 2007. William
Barnes had already served 16 years for the attempted murder of Officer Walter Barclay during a botched burglary. Prosecutors had claimed the shooting that left Barclay paralyzed was the direct cause of his death more than 40 years later.

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania say a woman and a baby were hit by a vehicle, but the extent of their injuries wasn't immediately known. Quakertown police say the woman was pushing the child in a stroller Monday night when the vehicle struck them. No charges have been filed against the driver.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia fans flooded streets of the city following the Flyers' 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens that sends them to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in 13 years. There were no immediate reports of problems from the crowds throughout the city.

LONDON (AP) - A strike by cabin crew is disrupting British Airways flights for a second day, mainly at London's Heathrow airport. The airline is struggling to operate as many flights as
possible during the five-day walkout. BA says it operated a full schedule from London's other two airports, but no more than 60 percent from Heathrow.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The Atlantis astronauts are getting their spaceship ready to come home for the last time. It's returning from the International Space Station. Only two missions remain as the shuttle program winds down.

BEIJING (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton may be in tough negotiations with China to resolve thorny issues on North Korea and Iran. But they pale in comparison to her daughter, Chelsea's,
wedding this summer. Clinton told a Chinese television audience that planning the upcoming nuptials are the most important activity in her life right now.

CHICAGO (AP) - The city of Chicago says it's waiting for a court order to hire firefighters in a long-running discrimination case. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sent the 15-year-old case back to a lower court to determine what will happen. The city estimates damages and pension obligations in the case could be as high as $45 million.

MANDARIN, Fla. (AP) - A north Florida man is glad his daughter didn't sleep in on Friday. About 30 minutes after Marwan Saman's daughter got out of bed, a 3-foot-long, 40-pound sonar buoy crashed through the roof of their Mandarin home and landed next to her bed.
A Navy plane on a training flight out of Jacksonville dropped the cylinder, which tracks submarines. No one was hurt.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Today's News-Monday, May 24, 2010

MAN INJURED IN CRASH
An Auburn man was injured in a one vehicle crash last night in South Manheim Township. State police report that 57 year old Robert Steffie Sr. was westbound on Summerhill Road at an apparent high rate of speed when he lost control and the pickup went up an embankment, flipping over on its roof. Steffie had to be flown from the scene to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Troopers say that DUI charges are pending in the crash. The accident happened just before 8pm Sunday evening.

THEFT AT R&R
A theft has been reported at a Schuylkill County auto dealership. Overnight Friday, someone broke into a 1999 Jeep Wrangler parked at the R&R Auto Group lot on Route 61 by smashing a rear window. Two doors were removed from the vehicle, and the suspects fled the scene with the stolen parts. Schuylkill Haven state police are investigating.

ST CLAIR MAN ASSAULTED
A St. Clair man was injured during a bush party in Blythe Township early Saturday. State police say 21 year old Jonathan Bowers was at a party on 8 Ton Road when he was assaulted, suffering facial injuries. The assailants are still being sought by state police. If anyone has information about the incident, you should call state police at Frackville at 874-5300.

BUSINESS BURGLARIZED
An East Brunswick Township business was burglarized early Saturday. According to state police, someone entered a building owned by Steve Dunn of New Ringgold. Money was taken from a cash box located inside a truck parked on the property. Frackville state police are continuing the investigation into the incident.

RIDERS FOR CANCER
ASHLAND - Four friends' 3,100-mile cross-country bicycle journey with a cause kicked off at 8 a.m. Sunday in Schuylkill County. The cyclists - who dubbed themselves "The Pink Pedal: Riding Hard to Fight Breast Cancer" - won't stop riding until they make it all the way to the Pacific Ocean. 19-year-old John Anczarski of Ringtown, 21-year-old Nicholas Gober, 20-year-old Travis Brown, and 19-year-old Ty Bereskie all of Ashland began peddling down Route 54 toward Lavelle. The group has raised about $2,000 so far towards their cause and hope to raise much more. All donations will be given to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure effort, which was launched in 1982. On Sunday, the group rode about 95 miles, stopping for the night in State College. They plan to ride about 100 miles each day, and hope to make it to California within 30 to 45 days.

PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS
It's estimated more than two million people in Pennsylvania under age 65 have diagnosed pre-existing medical conditions. That's nearly one in four Pennsylvanians, according to a new report from Families USA. Nurse practitioner Elizabeth Kostas-Polston says the numbers are not surprising, based on the patients in her practice. She says pre-existing conditions don't just impact those who are older...they also affect adults who are working and raising families, all of whom she says will benefit from the federal health reform bill.

Kostas-Polston

The problem isn't limited to the poor. The report says nearly three-quarters of those with the kinds of medical conditions that could lead to denial of insurance coverage are middle-class and higher-income Americans. Advocates for the federal health reform package are concerned the referendum could jeopardize coverage for pre-existing conditions. They believe implementing the bill as it was passed is the best way to ensure it stays intact.

QUARRYVILLE, Pa. (AP) - Planners in southern Lancaster County are at odds with state officials over a proposal to put an 80-acre solar farm on agricultural land. The glass panels would harvest the rays of the sun, but the Intelligencer Journal of Lancaster reports planners fear allowing the solar farm would spur other developers to make other requests for agricultural land.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Officials in Philadelphia say a proposed change by the federal government could hurt a program that provides free lunches to tens of thousands of students in poor schools. One official tells The Philadelphia Inquirer that a federal change could deny free lunches to as many as 46 percent of the Philadelphia children who now receive them.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jurors in Philadelphia resume deliberations today on the fate of a 74-year-old man who shot a police officer in 1966 and was charged with murder after the officer's death in 2007. The jury must decide whether the shooting that left Officer Walter Barclay paralyzed from the waist down was the direct cause of his death 41 years later.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Tennessee woman has begun a 981-mile swim of the length of the Ohio River. Mimi Hughes began the trek over the weekend in Pittsburgh. She plans to swim about eight hours a day for 60 days until she reaches Cairo, Illinois. The marathon swim is aimed at raising money for groups working to improve education for women and girls.

BEIRUT - Lebanon's prime minister is in Washington for his first official visit. Saad Hariri meets with President Barack Obama to discuss Middle East security issues and peace efforts. Today's visit comes amid claims from Israel that Hezbollah has acquired Scud missiles from Syria.

BEIJING (AP) - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is in intense consultations with China and other nations on what to do about North Korea sinking a South Korean warship. Clinton is in
Beijing, where she told reporters China and the rest of North Korea's neighbors understand how serious the incident is and want to contain it. South Korea is set to take the matter to the U.N.

LONDON (AP) - British Airways' cabin crews are on strike for the next five days. The airline says it will still be able to carry 70 percent of passengers who have booked flights.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The Atlantis astronauts have some surveying work ahead of them before they return Wednesday. The six shuttle astronauts will pull out their newly repaired inspection boom today to check for any space-dust damage. Atlantis undocked
from the space station yesterday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are moving their protests from the street to the boardroom. The group owns stock in at least 80 companies, including Safeway supermarkets and Ruby Tuesday restaurants. Those two companies have
agreed to buy products from suppliers that abide by what the group says are more humane rules.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Today's News-Saturday, May 22, 2010

SHENANDOAH SCHOOL DISTRICT GETS OK FROM ZONING
 
THE NEW SHENANDOAH ZONING HEARING BOARD APPROVED A ZONING REQUEST BY THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO GO AHEAD WITH A PLANS FOR EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL. THIS IS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE SCHOOL TO BUILD ON A CONTROVERSIAL PROPERTY THAT MANY SAY IS UNSAFE TO BUILD UPON. AS REPORTED EARLIER ON WPPA NEWS, RESIDENTS FEEL THAT A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THAT STATED THERE IS A MEDIUM RISK FOR BUILDING AND CONDITIONALLY APPROVED THE EXPANSION. YESTERDAY'S MEETING WAS A CONTINUANCE OF A PREVIOUS MEETING IN WHICH TWO OUT OF THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE ZONING HEARING BOARD RESIGNED. THEY WERE REPLACED BY NEIL REESE AND JACK ROONEY. BOTH ROONEY AND REESE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL, WITH THE LONE REMAINING MEMBER FROM THE ORIGINAL BOARD, DANIEL SALVADORE ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE. THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TO APPLY TO THE COUNTY FOR CONSOLIDATION OF THE CURRENT DISTRICT PROPERTY WITH THE PROPOSED BUILDING SITE. IF THAT IS APPROVED THE SHENANDOAH PLANNING COMMISSION WILL REVIEW THE PROJECT AND THEN FORWARD ITS FINDINGS TO THE SHENANDOAH BOROUGH COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
 
LOCAL MAN PENS MARTIAL ARTS BOOK
 
A local martial arts instructor has published a book about his craft. Sherry Marchefsky has this report.

DRISCOLL
 
MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH
 
The state Senate has unanimously passed a Resolution that recognizes the month of May 2010 as "Older Americans Month" in Pennsylvania. Don Rooney has more:

ROONEY
 
New Map and Brochure of the Schuylkill River Trail To Be Available Today
 
The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has created a new brochure for the Schuylkill River Trail that includes a map of the entire trail and information on amenities in key towns along the trail route. This morning, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., volunteers will be posted along sections of the trail to hand out the brochure to interested trail users. (Rain date for the handout event is June 5). Thereafter, it will be placed at selected visitors centers and trailheads while supplies last. The brochure unfolds to a total length of about 40 inches, allowing for a map that delineates the whole Schuylkill River Trail, including completed, planned and on-road sections from Philadelphia to Pottsville. The opposite side of the map lists towns located along the trail in each of five counties Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. It provides a brief description of each town, and identifies connecting trails and available amenities, such as parking, restrooms, restaurants and bike shops. The map, along with a new website devoted to the trail at Www.schuylkillrivertrail.com, represents the latest effort by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area to unify the trail's various sections and increase awareness about the trail overall. While many maps showing separate sections of the trail are available, this is the first of its kind in that it depicts the entire trail, which will, when complete, run about 130 miles.
 
USO NEEDS YOUR HELP
 
If you can donate a phone card or an old soccer ball, the USO is looking for you. Howard Ondick has more on how Pennsylvanians can help support our troops serving abroad.

ONDICK

LOCAL IRON WORKERS TO PICKET WINDFARM

Monday morning more than 40 representatives of Iron Workers Local 420, Reading, will picket one of the entrances to the Locust Ridge commercial wind farm in northern Schuylkill County. Local workers have always been part of maintenance efforts at Locust Ridge I and Locust Ridge II. However, Monday, manufacturer Gamesa Corp. is bringing in workers from Wisconsin to complete blade changes. According to the Republican and Herald, no locals were offered the job. The protest will begin at 7 A.M. and will occur at an entrance that Gamesa plans to mobilize their equipment. No one seems to have an answer as to why local workers were not used which has raised the ire of union members who continue to look for work.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia police say someone stole a
$4,000 wheelchair from an 8-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. The
wheelchair is red with the name "Jahzir" stitched on it, and has
an oxygen tank attached. It was taken from in front of his home in
southwest Philadelphia yesterday morning.

LANDISVILLE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a tractor-trailer caught
fire at a central Pennsylvania candy factory loading dock.
Officials say the trailer was parked at a dock at the Y&S Candies
building in East Hempfield Township when it caught fire shortly
before noon yesterday. No injuries were reported.

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) - A 61-year-old woman is out of the hospital
after suffering minor injuries from a shotgun blast fired through a
window at a central Pennsylvania nursing home. The ManorCare
Nursing and Rehab Center in North Cornwall Township says it has
stepped up security and the investigation is continuing after
Thursday's incident.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania employers added 34,000 jobs
last month, but the state's unemployment rate remained at its
highest rate in more than 25 years. New state labor figures show
unemployment remained at 9 percent, despite the new jobs. But that
is below the national rate of 9.9 percent.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has chosen a former
Senator and an ex EPA administrator to head up an investigation of
the Gulf oil spill. In his weekly radio and Internet Address, Obama
says he's picked former Florida Sen. Bob Graham and former EPA
Administrator William K. Reilly. Obama says he can't think of
anyone with "greater experience or better judgment" for the task
at hand.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Louisiana Sen. David Vitter says Democrats
holding oil spill hearings have it backward and should be focusing
on capping the well first. In the weekly Republican radio and
Internet address, Vitter says the other main focus should be
protecting the coastline. Vitter also suggests raising the limit on
a company's liability for an oil spill and work on technologies
that can be used to cap deep water leaks.

NEW DELHI (AP) - Officials say some of the victims of the Air
India Express crash in southern India were pulled from the burned
wreckage still strapped in their seats. The plane was trying to
land in the rain at a tricky hilltop airport when it overshot the
runway, crashed and burst into flames. Officials say at least eight
people survived but nearly 160 died.

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A spokesman for the Vermont Yankee
nuclear plant says officials believe they've removed all the soil
containing Strontium-90. That's a byproduct of nuclear fission that
has been linked to cancer and leukemia. The substance was
discovered while cleaning up after a leak of radioactive tritium.
Officials say the Strontium didn't enter the groundwater.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is
ordering authorities to ease power rationing measures that have
darkened homes and businesses for months. Chavez says the
electrical grid is no longer in danger of collapsing. Recent heavy
rains have eased a drought that threatened to stall the Guri
hydroelectric plant, which generates most of Venezuela's power.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Today's News-Friday, May 21, 2010

COMMISSIONERS

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MET IN REGULAR SESSION THURSDAY AT THE COURTHOUSE. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY REPORTS:

COMM 5.20

LEBANON COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT

A FORMER SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MAN IS CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A TEENAGED GIRL LAST YEAR. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS 52 YEAR OLD JOSEPH WOOD IS ALLEGED TO HAVE RAPED A 14 YEAR OLD IN A HOME ON CENTRE AVENUE IN SEPTEMBER, 2009. WOOD, OF PALMYRA, REPORTEDLY LURED THE GIRL INTO THE HOME, UNDER THE GUISE THAT SHE WOULD HELP HIM CLEAN HIS HOUSE. THAT'S WHEN THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THE GIRL, OF LEBANON, REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO STATE POLICE IN MARCH. SHE SAID WHILE WOOD DIDN'T THREATEN HER AFTER THE INCIDENT, HE DID TELL THE GIRL NOT TO SAY ANYTHING TO ANYONE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. FOLLOWING ARRAIGNMENT ON RAPE, STATUTORY SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER COUNTS, DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES FERRIER REMANDED WOOD TO PRISON. A PRELIMINARY HEARING WILL BE HELD FOR WOOD IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC AWARDS

THE FIFTH ANNUAL SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC AWARDS WERE HELD LAST NIGHT AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL HIGH SCHOOL, COMPLETE WITH SINGING, DANCING AND FANFARE. 11 PERFORMANCES AT AREA HIGH SCHOOLS WERE JUDGE IN A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES, WITH TRI VALLEY'S PERFORMANCE OF "SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS" GARNERING THE BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION, WITH ZACH SCHEIB AND HILARY WEHRY PICKING UP OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR AND ACTRESS, RESPECTIVELY. OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR WENT TO HARRY LUCAS OF NORTH SCHUYLKILL FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE OF BYE BYE BIRDIE. EACH SCHOOL PERFORMED A SNIPPET FROM EACH OF THEIR SHOWS BEFORE A PACKED AUDIENCE AT THE GALA, REMINISCENT OF THE TONY AWARDS.

ORWIGSBURG MAN PLEADS GUILTY FOR SELLING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

A 22 YEAR OLD ORWIGSBURG MAN ENTERED A PLEA OF GUILTY FOR SELLING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. COREY WHITECAVAGE HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION AND DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. COUNTY DETECTIVES FILED THE CHARGES FOR MAKING SALES OF PERCOCET AND OXYCODONE TO A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT LAST SPRING. A PRE SENTENCE INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BEFORE WHITECAVAGE IS SENTENCED.

CRASH MAY BE DUI RELATED

A CRASH INVOLVING A TAMAQUA MAN MAY BE DUI RELATED. THAT'S ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, WHO SAY 58 YEAR OLD WILLIAM JOHNSON LOST CONTROL OF HIS PICKUP TRUCK ON PHEASANT RUN ROAD, STRIKING SEVERAL TREES. JOHNSON WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER EAST FOR TREATMENT OF HIS INJURIES, AND A BLOOD ALCOHOL DRAW TAKEN. DUI CHARGES ARE PENDING THE RESULT OF THOSE TESTS. THE CRASH HAPPENED AFTER 6PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - ONE OF THREE AMERICANS JAILED IN IRAN SAYS THE LONELINESS OF CAPTIVITY IS THE HARDEST PART. SARAH SHOURD TOLD REPORTERS THE TREATMENT HAS BEEN DECENT, HOWEVER. SHE WAS ARRESTED
ALONG WITH HER BOYFRIEND AND THEIR FRIEND, JOSH FATTAL OF SUBURBAN
PHILADELPHIA.

WAYNESBORO, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SOLDIER WAS AMONG THOSE KILLED IN AN ATTACK ON NATO FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN THIS WEEK. TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD STAFF SGT. RICHARD JAMES TIEMAN OF WAYNESBORO DIED TUESDAY IN KABUL. TIEMAN WAS ONE OF FIVE AMERICAN TROOPS KILLED BY A CAR BOMB.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PARK OFFICIAL SAYS A WHITE POWDER FOUND IN A BALLOON NEAR THE LIBERTY BELL IN PHILADELPHIA WAS FLOUR. THE BALLOON WAS FOUND YESTERDAY INSIDE THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE LIBERTY BELL. THE LIBERTY BELL CENTER AND PART OF A STREET NEXT TO IT WERE EVACUATED AS A PRECAUTION.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS NOMINATED PITTSBURGH ATTORNEY DAVID J. HICKTON TO SERVE AS THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE 48-YEAR-OLD HICKTON IS ACTIVE IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS AND HELPED FOUND THE PITTSBURGH FIRM OF BURNS, WHITE & HICKTON IN 1987.

TOKYO (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON SAYS THE U.S., JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND CHINA ARE CONSULTING ON AN APPROPRIATE REACTION TO WORD THAT NORTH KOREA SUNK A SOUTH KOREAN WARSHIP. AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION BLAMES NORTH KOREA, THOUGH PYONGYANG
DENIES HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. CLINTON SAYS NORTH KOREA MUST
FACE INTERNATIONAL CONSEQUENCES.

LONDON (AP) - BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER THE U.K. WAS COMPLICIT IN TORTURE OVERSEAS, AN ALLEGATION LONG DENIED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WILLIAM HAGUE SAYS A JUDGE WILL LEAD THE FORMAL INQUIRY. AT LEAST 12 MEN ARE SUING BRITAIN, CLAIMING THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE, OR INVOLVED IN, THEIR TORTURE OVERSEAS.

TOKYO (AP) - TOYOTA'S LEXUS RECALL IS UNDER WAY TODAY, STARTING WITH 4,509 LEXUS CARS IN JAPAN THAT HAVE A COMPUTER PROBLEM AFFECTING THE MODEL'S STEERING SYSTEM. A SIMILAR RECALL WILL FOLLOW IN THE U.S. THE CARMAKER SAYS ANOTHER 7,000 LUXURY LEXUS "LS" CARS ARE AFFECTED IN THE U.S., CHINA, EUROPE AND OTHER REGIONS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS SAVORING A MAJOR VICTORY WITH THE SENATE'S PASSAGE OF THE FINANCIAL OVERHAUL. IT MUST STILL BE RECONCILED WITH A DIFFERENT HOUSE VERSION BUT A KEY HOUSE NEGOTIATOR PREDICTS THE FINISHED BILL WILL BE ON OBAMA'S DESK BY THE FOURTH OF JULY.

GRAND ISLE, LA. (AP) - THERE IS ANGER IN LOUISIANA AND ON CAPITOL HILL WITH OIL GIANT BP. VIDEO OF ITS GUSHING WELL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO SHOWS THERE IS A PLUME OF OIL AND GAS SPEWING INTO THE SEA DESPITE THE SIPHONING OF OIL TO A TANKER ON THE SURFACE. EXPERTS HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT THE LEAK IS FAR MORE THAN 5,000 BARRELS PER DAY. BP NOW AGREES. THE OIL HAS REACHED LOUISIANA WETLANDS NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Today's News-May 20, 2010

COMMISSIONER'S MEETING

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES GAVE THEIR FIRST QUARTERY REPORT FOR JULY 2009 THROUGH SEPT 2009 AT YESTERDAYS COMMISSIONER’S MEETING. THE REPORT SHOWED OPENED ACCOUNTS OF 376 FAMILIES, CLOSED ACCOUNTS OF 409 FAMILIES, 49 FAMILIES ENTERING PLACEMENT AND 73 FAMILY PLACEMENT DISCHARGES. DELINQUENCY WAS THE HIGHEST REASON FOR PLACEMENT AT 33%, FOLLOWED BY CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD UNCONTROLLABLE/EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS BOTH AT 16%. IN THE SAME OFFICE, JESSICA ANDRUCHECK WAS PROMOTED TO COUNTY CASEWORKER 2.

THE COUNTY’S PCORPS RENEWAL WAS ADDRESSED. DAVID MARCH, THE PRESIDENT OF HIGGINS INSURANCE WHICH HANDLES THE COUNTY’S PREMIUMS, ADDRESSED THE COMMISSIONERS STATING THAT THIS YEAR’S PREMIUM RENEWAL WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS FOR THE COUNTY. ABOUT $30,000 LESS THAN LAST YEAR. THIS IS DUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS, ONE OF WHICH IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE DECEASE IN CLAIM ACTIVITY BY THE COUNTY.

FINALLY THE COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THE AUTHORIZATION OF EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF SEVERAL FORMS TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF THE 2.1 MILLIONS DOLLARS PROJECTED FOR THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY’S PRERELEASE CENTER.
THEY COUNTY HAS ALREADY MAXIMIZED ALL THE OTHER PRISON REFORM PROGRAMS AND IS SEEKING A LOAN APPROVAL OPPORTUNITY IN ORDER TO START THE BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE STRUCTURE, OF WHICH IT IS STILL UNSURE IT WILL BE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY AFFORD.


CITY WOMAN INJURED IN ROBBERY

POTTSVILLE CITY POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING A ROBBERY AT A NICHOLS STREET HOME TUESDAY. REPORTS SAY THAT A BLACK MALE WAS IN THE KITCHEN OF ELEANOR BARTELL'S HOME AT 333 NICHOLS STREET. 44 YEAR OLD CHRISTINE DONNELLY HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE KITCHEN AND SAW THE MAN ATTEMPTING TO STEAL A TV. DONNELLY CONFRONTED THE ROBBER, WHO PUSHED HER, KNOCKING HER UNCONCIOUS. A DIAMOND RING WAS TAKEN FROM HER FINGER. POLICE DESCRIBE THE BANDIT AS BEING ABOUT 5 FEET, 8 INCHES TALL, STOCKY BUILD, BETWEEN 20 AND 30 YEARS OLD, WEARING A GRAY HOODED SWEATSHIRT AND GLOVES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL POTTSVILLE POLICE AT 622-1234.

BURGLARY AT TOWNE DRUGS

A CITY MAN IS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY FOLLOWING AN EARLY MORNING INCIDENT TUESDAY DOWNTOWN. POTTSVILLE POLICE FOUND 25 YEAR OLD SCOTT SARGENT, 514 MAHANTONGO STREET, HAD ENTERED TOWNE DRUGS THROUGH A SECOND FLOOR REAR WINDOW. HE SET OFF THE ALARM AS HE TRIED TO GET INTO THE STORE. SARGENT IS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AND RELATED COUNTS. HE WAS JAILED FOLLOWING ARRAIGNMENT. SARGENT'S GIRLFRIEND, 33 YEAR OLD CARLA WOLAK WAS ALSO TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE. SHE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO PRISON.

WATER BOIL CONTINUES

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO HAVE A WATER BOIL ADVISORY IN PLACE FOR SOME CUSTOMERS. WE TOLD YOU YESTERDAY THAT DUE TO AN ACCIDENT, CUSTOMERS OF THE SYSTEM WHO LIVE WEST OF 12TH STREET TO WESTWOOD ROAD AND ROUTE 901, AND IN NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP, INCLUDING BULLS HEAD AND SELTZER, SHOULD BOIL THEIR WATER FOR A FULL MINUTE BEFORE CONSUMPTION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADVISORY, CALL THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AT 622-8240.

MALAVE HEADED TO STATE PRISON

A SHENANDOAH WOMAN IS HEADED TO STATE PRISON FOR STABBING A WOMAN LAST FALL IN THE BOROUGH. 36 YEAR OLD MIRIAM MALAVE PLEADED NO CONTEST TO AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT FROM THE FIGHT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN OUTSIDE OF LA CASITA BAR ON SEPTEMBER 20TH. A WOMAN WAS STABBED IN THE THIGH AND ABDOMEN IN THE INCIDENT. JUDGE CHARLES MILLER SENTENCED MALAVE TO 15 TO 30 MONTHS IN STATE PRISON. SHE ALSO FACES CHARGES FROM AN UNRELATED INCIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR AT THE M&T BAR IN SHENANDOAH, WHERE SHE FACES ETHINIC INTIMIDATION AND ASSAULT CHARGES. MALAVE WAS ALREADY BEING HELD IN JAIL FOR THOSE CHARGES.

FIRE CAUSE NOTED

A TUESDAY FIRE THAT DESTROYED A HOME AND DAMAGED A SECOND IN ASHLAND WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS. THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE 6PM TUESDAY NIGHT AT WAYNE AND DOROTHY ZERBY'S PROPERTY AT 900 BROCK STREET. REPORTEDLY, THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE CEILING OF THE KITCHEN. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THAT FIRE.

SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC AWARDS TONIGHT

STUDENT ACTORS FROM 11 AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE HONORED TONIGHT FOR THEIR EFFORTS ON THE BOARDS AT THE SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC AWARDS AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL HIGH SCHOOL. THE ANNUAL EVENT WILL FEATURE SELECT PERFORMANCES FROM THE REPRESENTED SCHOOL'S SPRING MUSICALS, AND BEGINS AT 7PM. TICKETS ARE $5 EACH. THE EVENING PROMISES TO BE FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AND SUSPENSE AS THE KIDS VIE FOR AWARDS IN A HOST OF CATEGORIES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDEN HAS REPORTEDLY PAID COMPENSATION TO FORMER STUDENTS FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER CITES SEVERAL SOURCES IN REPORTING THAT THE MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL PAID $3 MILLION EARLIER THIS YEAR TO FIVE FORMER STUDENTS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICIAL IS LEAVING THE RENDELL ADMINISTRATION FOR A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SECRETARY OF STATE PEDRO CORTES ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY HE WILL BE TAKING A JOB WITH SAN DIEGO-BASED EVERYONE COUNTS, A COMPANY INVOLVED IN HELPING SOLDIERS, OVERSEAS RESIDENTS AND THE DISABLED VOTE. HIS LAST DAY IS JUNE 11TH.

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - ATTORNEYS IN THE CASE OF A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE IN FRONT OF HER CHILDREN ARE ARGUING OVER WHETHER A PROTECTION-FROM-ABUSE ORDER SHOULD BE ALLOWED AS EVIDENCE IN HIS DEATH PENALTY TRIAL NEXT MONTH. PROSECUTORS CLAIM DONNELL BUCKNER AND KEWAII ROGERS-BUCKNER WERE ARGUING OVER THE ORDER BEFORE SHE WAS KILLED IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

ALTOONA, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A HOMELESS MAN WHO SAID HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE FASTEST ROUTE TO A CONCESSION STAND HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER WALKING ONTO THE OUTFIELD DURING A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME IN ALTOONA. POLICE SAY TYRONE SQUIRES LOWERED HIMSELF OVER A FENCE AND ONTO THE FIELD DURING THE NINTH INNING DURING AN ALTOONA CURVE GAME TUESDAY. SECURITY GRABBED HIM AS HE LEFT THE FIELD.

BANGKOK (AP) - A SPOKESMAN FOR THAILAND'S ARMY SAYS OVERALL, THEY'VE GOT THE SITUATION IN BANGKOK UNDER CONTROL AS A MONTHLONG ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST CAME TO A VIOLENT END. BUT SOME BUILDINGS SET ABLAZE BY DEMONSTRATORS ARE STILL SMOLDERING, AND A NIGHTTIME CURFEW HAS BEEN EXTENDED. THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME GUNFIRE.

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) - A GENERAL STRIKE TODAY IN GREECE BY WORKERS ANGRY WITH A GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY PROGRAM AIMED AT GETTING THE COUNTRY OUT OF ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS. PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE OPEN, WITH EMERGENCY STAFFING, BUT MANY OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS BUSES, TRAINS, FERRIES, AND SCHOOLS ARE SHUT DOWN OR CLOSED. PROTEST MARCHES ARE PLANNED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL TRY AGAIN TODAY TO ADVANCE A SWEEPING OVERHAUL OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS. DEMOCRATS ARE WITHIN REACH OF THE 60 VOTES NEEDED TO AVOID A FILIBUSTER. REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE BILL, ARGUING THAT IT'S BECOME WORSE SINCE IT REACHED THE SENATE FLOOR. THEY ALSO SAY IT DOESN'T TACKLE THE ROOT PROBLEMS.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - THREE AMERICANS JAILED IN IRAN HAVE MET WITH THEIR MOTHERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEIR ARREST IN JULY FOR ALLEGED SPYING. THEIR RELATIVES REJECT THE ACCUSATION. THE MOTHERS WORE LONG BLACK HEADSCARVES AND HELD BOUQUETS OF FLOWERS AT THE VISIT. THEY ARRIVED IN TEHRAN YESTERDAY TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN AND TRY TO SECURE THEIR RELEASE.

BLANTYRE, MALAWI (AP) - A JUDGE HAS SENTENCED A GAY COUPLE IN MALAWI TO THE MAXIMUM 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR UNNATURAL ACTS AND GROSS INDECENCY. MALAWI'S GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DEFIANT IN THE FACE OF INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OVER THE COUPLE'S PROSECUTION. THEY WERE ARRESTED A DAY AFTER CELEBRATING THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH A PARTY AT THE HOTEL WHERE ONE OF THE MEN WORKS.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Today's News-Wednesday, May 19, 2010

VOTING
IT WAS A LIGHT TURNOUT ACROSS SCHUYLKILL COUNTY IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION. UNOFFICIALLY, ABOUT 32 PERCENT OF REGISTERED DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAST BALLOTS. A LIGHT BALLOT AND RAINY CONDITIONS MAY HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THE TURNOUT AT THE POLLS. NEW IN THE COUNTY IN THIS ELECTION WERE FEWER POLLING LOCATIONS, DOWN FROM 167 TO 125. UNOFFICIAL RESULTS WERE PROCESSED QUICKLY, WITH A FINAL COUNT AVAILABLE BEFORE 11PM.

HOLDEN AND ARGALL WIN IN THE 17TH
TWO POLITICAL VETERANS WILL MEET IN THE 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE IN NOVEMBER, FOLLOWING RESOUNDING VICTORIES IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION. IN UNOFFICIAL RESULTS, INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT TIM HOLDEN WON HANDILY OVER CHALLENGER, ATTORNEY SHEILA DOW FORD. IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, SENATOR DAVE ARGALL DEFEATED THREE OTHER CHALLENGERS. HOLDEN WON THE DISTRICT BY A TWO TO ONE MARGIN ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE. ARGALL WON SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, BUT FACED STIFF COMPETITION FROM BOTH FRANK RYAN AND JOSH FIRST IN DAUPHIN AND LEBANON COUNTIES. UNOFFICIALLY, ARGALL WON BY A MARGIN OF NEARLY 1-THOUSAND VOTES. THE 17TH DISTRICT IS MADE UP OF SCHUYLKILL, DAUPHIN, LEBANON AND PARTS OF BERKS COUNTIES. CONGRESSMAN HOLDEN COMMENTS ON THE VICTORY:

HOLDEN ON WIN CUT

ARGALL THANKED HIS OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTERS:

ARGALL ON WIN CUT

LEGISLATIVE RACES
IN THE RACE FOR THE 123RD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, IT WILL BE INCUMBENT NEAL GOODMAN FACING REPUBLICAN ETTORE DICASIMIRRO. BOTH WERE UNOPPOSED. 124TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE JERRY KNOWLES, THE INCUMBENT, WILL FACE DEMOCRAT JEFF FAUST IN NOVEMBER, WITH BOTH RUNNING UNOPPOSED. IN THE 125TH, DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT TIM SEIP WILL RUN AGAINST REPUBLICAN MICHAEL TOBASH, WHO DEFEATED FELLOW CHALLENGER ROBERT LOY.

SPECTER OUTSTED, SESTAK AND TOOMEY TO MEET IN NOVEMBER
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - U.S. SEN. ARLEN SPECTER HAS BEEN DEFEATED IN A PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY IN HIS BID FOR A SIXTH TERM AFTER TAKING THE RISKY STEP OF SWITCHING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. VOTERS TUESDAY PICKED U.S. REP. JOE SESTAK AS THE PARTY'S NOMINEE AND REJECTED THE 80-YEAR-OLD SPECTER IN HIS FIRST DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN SINCE HIS GOP DEFECTION. REPUBLICAN PAT TOOMEY SOUNDLY DEFEATED PEG LUKSIK TO SET UP THE SHOWDOWN IN NOVEMBER FOR ONE OF THE TWO U.S. SENATE SEATS FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

GOVERNORS RACE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT HAS WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR. CORBETT DEFEATED STATE REP. SAM ROHRER IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY. MEANWHILE, DAN ONORATO, A COUNTY EXECUTIVE FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, HAS WON A FOUR-WAY RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR. ONORATO IS CURRENTLY THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICIAL IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. HE DEFEATED STATE SEN. ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS OF PHILADELPHIA, STATE AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER OF PITTSBURGH AND JOE HOEFFEL, A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COMMISSIONER. ONORATO WILL FACE CORBETT IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. DEMOCRATIC GOV. ED RENDELL IS COMPLETING HIS SECOND TERM AND IS BARRED FROM SEEKING A THIRD.

CRASH IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP
A MARLIN MAN IS HURT IN A TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP TUESDAY MORNING. STATE POLICE SAY 41 YEAR OLD CRAIG LAYMEISTER WAS DRIVING ALONG ROUTE 183 IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP JUST NORTH OF SCHUYLKILL MOUNTAIN ROAD AT AN APPARENT HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VINTAGE MUSTANG AND HIT A PICK UP TRUCK DRIVEN BY 29 YEAR OLD JAYME COOPER OF SUMMIT STATION. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 8AM YESTERDAY. LAYMEISTER SUFFERED WHAT POLICE SAY WERE MODERATE INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO READING HOSPITAL. COOPER WASN'T HURT. BOTH DRIVERS WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. LAYMEISTER WILL BE CITED.

ASHLAND FIRE
AN ASHLAND FIRE HAS LEFT 3 PEOPLE HOMELESS AFTER IT SWEPT THROUGH A BURROUGH HOME YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. STARTING IN THE KITCHEN, THE FIRE ON 900 BROCK STREET IGNITED AROUND 5:50 IN THE HOME OF WANE AND DORTHY ZERBY. AS OF LATE LAST NIGHT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS BEING CLASSIFIED AS “UNDETERMINED” AND THE ZERBY HOME IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. FIREFIGHERS FROM ASHLAND WERE ALSO ASSISTED BY GIRARDVILLE, ALTAMONT, ENGLEWOOD, GORDON AND MT CARMEL VOLENTEERS. EMS CREWS FROM ASHLAND, GIRARDVILLE AND LOST CREEK WERE ALSON ON THE SCENE AS WAS PPL CREWS AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.


WATER MAIN BREAK- WATER ADVISORY
A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT BY THE MCCANN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS LAST NIGHT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST BEFORE 9PM, AND WAS UNDER CONTROL BY 10, BUT HE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPLE AUTHORITY HAS ISSUED A WATER BOIL ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE INDIAN RUN SYSTEM AREA WHICH INCLUDES CUSTOMERS IN POTTSVILLE FROM 12TH STREET WEST TO WESTWOOD ROAD AND ROUTE 901 AND IN NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP INCLUDING BULLS HEAD ROAD AND SELTZER CITY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RESIDENTS BOIL THEIR WATER FOR A MINIMUM OF 1 MINUTE BEFORE DRINKING. THERE ARE NO FURTHER DETAILS ON THE CRASH.

TWO MALAVE BROTHERS ARRAIGNED
THE TWO MISSING MOLAVE BROTHERS INVOLVED IN THE FEB 17TH BAR BRAWL A THE M&T BAR ON SOUTH MAIN STREET IN SCHENANDOAH HAVE BEEN CAUGHT, EXTRODITED TO PA, AND ARRAIGNED BEFORE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE ANTHONY J KILKER YESTERDAY. DANNY “DBLOCK” MALAVE 21, AND RICHARD “BRICK” MALAVE 19 WERE RETURNED TO PA FROM NJ WERE THEY ARE BEING HELD ON FUGITIVE WARRANTS, AND CHARGED WITH TWO FELONY COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, ONE FELONY COUNTY OF CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT SIMPLE ASSAULT, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON, TWO MISDEMEANER COUNTS OF RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON AND ONE MISDEMEANOR COUNT OF SIMPLE ASSAULT. KILKER HAS SET EACH OF THEIR BAIL AT $100,000 CASH, AND THEIR PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 26TH.


CRASH ON STATE ROAD 737
A CRASH OCCURRED ON STATE ROAD 737 YESTERDAY AROUND 2 IN THE AFTERNOON. THE CRASH OCCURRED IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANE AT THE INTERSECTION OF STATE ROAD 8020 ON THE ON RAMP OF EXIT 40 AT i-78 EAST. A SECOND VEHICHLE WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN LEFT ON 8020 WHEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND. GETZ TOWING ASSISTED AT THE SCENE AND THE RECKLESS DRIVER WILL BE CITED WTH CARLESS DRIVING AND DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

HARRASSMENT AT THE NOWHERE SALOON
CHARGES OF HARRASSMENT WILL BE FILED ON KEVIN MICHAEL POWELL, 42 OF GIRARDVILLE AFTER HE TOOK A SWING AT JOANNE GREGIS 49 OF ASHLAND, THE BARTENDER AT THE HALLS NOWHERE SALLON ON 200 NORTH SECOND STREET IN GIRARDVILLE EARLY THIS MORNING. POWELL BECAME ANGRY AFTER HE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE BAR AND WHILE BEING ESCORTED OUT BY GREGIS, DECIDED TO GET THE LAST WORD IN. POWELL WILL FACE CHARGES IN DISTRICT COURT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.


STATE NEWS
 
PENNSYLVANIA SENATE
SPECTER REJECTED BY PA. DEMS IN BID FOR 6TH TERM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - U.S. SEN. ARLEN SPECTER HAS BEEN DEFEATED IN
A PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY IN HIS BID FOR A SIXTH TERM AFTER TAKING THE
RISKY STEP OF SWITCHING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
VOTERS TUESDAY PICKED U.S. REP. JOE SESTAK AS THE PARTY'S
NOMINEE AND REJECTED THE 80-YEAR-OLD SPECTER IN HIS FIRST
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN SINCE HIS GOP DEFECTION.
SESTAK TOOK THE PODIUM AT A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA MILITARY
ACADEMY AND CALLED THE VOTE A WIN FOR THE PEOPLE OVER THE
ESTABLISHMENT, THE STATUS QUO AND EVEN WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE VOTE ALSO WAS A DEFEAT FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, WHO
SUPPORTED SPECTER WHEN HE ABANDONED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LAST YEAR.
THE MODERATE SPECTER CAST HIS SWITCH AS A DECISION OF PRINCIPLE
AFTER INFLAMING THE GOP BY VOTING FOR OBAMA'S ECONOMIC STIMULUS
BILL. BUT MANY DEMOCRATIC VOTERS QUESTIONED HIS MOTIVES.

PENNSYLVANIA SENATE-TOOMEY
PAT TOOMEY WINS GOP SENATE NOMINATION IN PA.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - FORMER U.S. REP. PAT TOOMEY IS THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR SENATE IN PENNSYLVANIA.
TOOMEY WON THE NOMINATION OVER ACTIVIST PEG LUKSIC (LUK'-SIK).
TOOMEY LOST THE 2004 NOMINATION TO FIVE-TERM SEN. ARLEN SPECTER.
BUT SPECTER SWITCHED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LAST YEAR AFTER
CONCLUDING HE COULD NOT BEAT THE MORE CONSERVATIVE TOOMEY AGAIN IN
A GOP PRIMARY.
THE 48-YEAR-OLD TOOMEY REPRESENTED THE ALLENTOWN AREA IN
CONGRESS FOR SIX YEARS AFTER A CAREER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WORKING
IN FINANCE AND RUNNING RESTAURANTS. HE WENT ON TO RUN THE ANTI-TAX
GROUP CLUB FOR GROWTH UNTIL LAST YEAR.
SPECTER IS FACING U.S. REP. JOE SESTAK IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY. SPECTER HAS HELD THE SEAT SINCE 1981 AND IS ENDORSED BY
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR
CAWLEY WINS 9-WAY GOP CONTEST FOR LIEUTENANT GOV

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE TOM CORBETT
NOW HAS A RUNNING MATE.
BUCKS COUNTY COMMISSIONER JIM CAWLEY EMERGED AS TUESDAY'S WINNER
IN A NINE-WAY GOP CONTEST FOR THE NOMINATION AS LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR.
RETURNS FROM MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE 9,233 PRECINCTS SHOWED
CAWLEY VICTORIOUS WITH 25 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
CAWLEY HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE.

PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR
ONORATO WINS 4-WAY PA. DEM PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - DAN ONORATO, A COUNTY EXECUTIVE FROM WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA, HAS WON A FOUR-WAY RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
FOR GOVERNOR.
ONORATO, THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICIAL IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, HAD
44 PERCENT OF THE VOTE WITH RETURNS TUESDAY NIGHT FROM ONE-THIRD OF
THE STATE'S 9,233 PRECINCTS.
EACH OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAD 25 PERCENT OR LESS. THEY ARE
STATE SEN. ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS OF PHILADELPHIA, STATE AUDITOR
GENERAL JACK WAGNER OF PITTSBURGH AND JOE HOEFFEL, A SUBURBAN
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
ONORATO WILL FACE REPUBLICAN STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT
IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.
DEMOCRATIC GOV. ED RENDELL IS COMPLETING HIS SECOND TERM AND IS
BARRED FROM SEEKING A THIRD.

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE-MURTHA'S SEAT
DEMS WIN SPECIAL PA. ELECTION, RETAIN MURTHA SEAT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - DEMOCRATS WILL RETAIN CONTROL OF THE SEAT
HELD FOR DECADES BY THE LATE PENNSYLVANIA REP. JOHN MURTHA AFTER
WINNING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THE FINAL MONTHS OF HIS TERM.
BOTH PARTIES VIEWED THE CONTEST AS A TEST FOR THE FALL.
WITH 70 PERCENT OF PRECINCTS REPORTING TUESDAY, MURTHA AIDE MARK
CRITZ HAD 53 PERCENT OF THE VOTE COMPARED WITH NEARLY 45 PERCENT
FOR BUSINESSMAN TIM BURNS.
CRITZ AND BURNS WILL HAVE A REMATCH IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL
ELECTION AFTER ALSO WINNING THEIR PARTIES' NOMINATIONS IN THE
PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY.
MURTHA DIED IN FEBRUARY OF COMPLICATIONS FROM GALLBLADDER
SURGERY, SETTING OFF A DASH TO THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

PHILLY TAX BOARD
PHILLY VOTERS APPROVE REPLACING PROPERTY TAX BOARD

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - VOTERS IN PHILADELPHIA HAVE APPROVED A
BALLOT MEASURE TO ABOLISH A BOARD THAT HELPED DETERMINE THE TAX DUE
ON EVERY PROPERTY IN THE CITY.
WITH 72 PERCENT OF THE PRECINCTS REPORTING, VOTERS BY A MARGIN
OF 70 PERCENT TO 29 PERCENT APPROVED A PLAN TO REPLACE THE BOARD OF
REVISION OF TAXES WITH TWO ENTITIES.
THE CURRENT BOARD DETERMINES REAL ESTATE VALUES AND HEARS
APPEALS OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS. UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, THE OFFICE OF
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WILL DETERMINE REAL
ESTATE VALUES, AND A NEW SEVEN-MEMBER BOARD OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENT
APPEALS WILL HEAR APPEALS.
THE BOARD DREW HEAVY CRITICISM AFTER A SERIES IN THE
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
AGENCY AND THE ACCURACY OF ITS ASSESSMENTS.

NAZI GUARD
US JUDGE ORDERS PA. FORMER NAZI BACK TO AUSTRIA

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS A FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION JUDGE HAS ORDERED A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN DEPORTED
TO AUSTRIA FOR SERVING AS AN ARMED NAZI DEATH CAMP GUARD DURING
WORLD WAR II.
EIGHT-FIVE-YEAR-OLD ANTON GEISER (GY'-SER) AND HIS ATTORNEYS
DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY COMMENT ON THE 14-PAGE DECISION ANNOUNCED
YESTERDAY AND FILED BY AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE IN PHILADELPHIA ON
MONDAY.
GEISER WAS BORN IN WHAT IS NOW PART OF CROATIA, AND CAME TO THE
UNITED STATES FROM AUSTRIA IN 1956. HE LIVES IN SHARON, ABOUT 60
MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF PITTSBURGH.
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAID GEISER WAS AN ARMED SS DEATH'S HEAD
GUARD AT THE SACHSENHAUSEN (ZAHK'-ZEN-HOW-ZEN) CONCENTRATION CAMP
NEAR BERLIN WHO HAD ORDERS TO SHOOT ANYONE WHO TRIED TO ESCAPE.
A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SPOKESWOMAN SAYS GEISER IS NOT IN
CUSTODY. HE CAN APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS IN
WASHINGTON.

LOVE TRIANGLE SLAYING
WESTERN PA. MAN CHARGED IN SHOOTING DEATH

AMBRIDGE, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED
WITH KILLING ANOTHER MAN OVER WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY APPEARS TO HAVE
BEEN A LOVE TRIANGLE.
AUTHORITIES IN BEAVER COUNTY CHARGED 25-YEAR-OLD TEREL DIXON OF
ALIQUIPPA WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING OTHERS AND
A FIREARMS COUNT IN MONDAY NIGHT'S SHOOTING DEATH OF 45-YEAR-OLD
KEVIN JOHNSON IN AMBRIDGE.
AMBRIDGE POLICE SAID DIXON HAD BEEN VISITING A WOMAN WHEN
JOHNSON ARRIVED AND BEGAN BEATING ON THE FRONT DOOR. THEY SAY HE
EVENTUALLY FORCED HIS WAY INSIDE, AND AN ARGUMENT BEGAN THAT ENDED
IN THE SHOOTING. DIXON FLED BUT SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES
YESTERDAY MORNING.
DIXON TEARFULLY TOLD WPXI THAT HE WAS "VERY SORRY ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED" BUT DECLINED TO SAY WHETHER HE HAD COMMITTED THE CRIME.
HE IS BEING HELD IN THE BEAVER COUNTY JAIL WITHOUT BOND PENDING A
MAY 25 PRELIMINARY HEARING.

BUSHKILL MURDER-SUICIDE
EASTERN PA. COUPLE'S DEATHS RULED MURDER-SUICIDE

BUSHKILL, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY THE
SHOOTING DEATHS OF A MAN AND WOMAN HAVE BEEN RULED A
MURDER-SUICIDE.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY CORONER ZACHARY LYSEK SAYS 39-YEAR-OLD
MICHELE FOGEL WAS KILLED BY HER HUSBAND, 43-YEAR-OLD TROY FOGEL,
WHO THEN KILLED HIMSELF. POLICE SAID A RELATIVE FOUND THEIR BODIES
MONDAY EVENING IN THEIR BUSHKILL TOWNSHIP HOME.
ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, THE COUPLE HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF
DEFAULTING ON THEIR MORTGAGE AND THEIR HOME WAS UP FOR A SHERIFF'S
SALE. COURT RECORDS ALSO INDICATE THAT THE HUSBAND HAD ONCE APPLIED
FOR A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER AGAINST HIS WIFE ON BEHALF OF
HIMSELF AND THE COUPLE'S THREE TEENAGE DAUGHTERS, BUT THE REQUEST
WAS LATER DISMISSED.

INFANT DEATH
EASTERN PA. PARENTS CHARGED IN INFANT'S DEATH

WEATHERLY, PA. (AP) - AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN AND WOMAN HAVE
BEEN CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF THEIR 11-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER.
JACOB AND KIMBERLY TASCHLER OF PALMERTON ARE CHARGED WITH
INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND
RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON IN THE DEATH OF THEIR
DAUGHTER, KAYLA MARIE. STATE POLICE SAY THE MOTHER BROUGHT THE
CHILD'S BODY TO PALMERTON HOSPITAL ON JAN. 20.
DISTRICT JUDGE JOSEPH HOMANKO IN WEATHERLY SET BAIL AT $150,000
FOR KIMBERLY TASCHLER AND $100,000 FOR JASON TASCHLER. BOTH
DECLINED COMMENT AFTER THEY WERE TAKEN TO CARBON COUNTY JAIL AFTER
YESTERDAY'S ARRAIGNMENT.
DEFENSE LAWYER STEVE VLOSSAK SAID HE WILL CONTEST THE BAIL
AMOUNTS. HE DECLINED COMMENT ON THE CHARGES BUT SAID HIS CLIENTS
HAVE BEEN "DEVASTATED."

BODIES UNEARTHED
SELENSKI TRIAL, SET FOR JUNE, DELAYED INDEFINITELY

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - THE MURDER TRIAL FOR A MAN WHOSE
NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA PROPERTY CONTAINED UP TO 12 CORPSES HAS
BEEN DELAYED INDEFINITELY.
HUGO SELENSKI'S HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO GO ON TRIAL JUNE 3 BUT IT
WAS DELAYED AFTER A PRETRIAL HEARING YESTERDAY IN LUZERNE COUNTY
COURT. THE COURT FOUND MORE ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE
TRIAL.
SELENSKI IS CHARGED WITH KILLING MICHAEL KERKOWSKI AND TAMMY
FASSETT IN 2002. THEIR BODIES WERE AMONG THE REMAINS OF AS MANY AS
A DOZEN PEOPLE DISCOVERED A YEAR LATER ON SELENSKI'S KINGSTON
TOWNSHIP PROPERTY.
IN 2006, SELENSKI WAS ACQUITTED ON CHARGES HE KILLED TWO OTHER
PEOPLE BUT CONVICTED OF ABUSE OF A CORPSE AFTER THEIR BODIES WERE
FOUND BURIED IN HIS YARD.

PENN-SCHOLARSHIP
PENN GETS $1M GIFT FOR FOREIGN SCHOLARS PROGRAM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HAS RECEIVED
A $1 MILLION GIFT TO FUND A SCHOLARSHIP FOR A STUDENT FROM THE
BRITISH COMMONWEALTH.
PENN ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE DONATION FROM SIR EVELYN AND
LYNN FORESTER DE ROTHSCHILD WILL GO TOWARD ITS WORLD SCHOLARS
PROGRAM.
THE 2-YEAR-OLD INITIATIVE ALREADY PROVIDES PENN SCHOLARSHIPS TO
19 STUDENTS FROM NATIONS INCLUDING INDIA, AUSTRALIA, LATVIA AND
VIETNAM. THE FIRST ROTHSCHILD SCHOLAR WILL BE CHOSEN FROM THIS
FALL'S FRESHMAN CLASS.
LYNN FORESTER DE ROTHSCHILD IS A FORMER CORPORATE LAWYER AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTREPRENEUR WHOSE TWO SONS ATTENDED PENN. HER
HUSBAND IS RETIRED.
THE COUPLE NOW OVERSEES A HOLDING COMPANY FOR THEIR GLOBAL
INVESTMENTS.


NATIONAL NEWS

THAILAND-POLITICS
UPDATE: CURFEW DECLARED IN BANGKOK

BANGKOK (AP) - THE THAI GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED A CURFEW IN
BANGKOK FROM 8 P.M. UNTIL 6 A.M. AS RIOTING AND VIOLENCE SPREAD
ACROSS THE CAPITAL.
AN ANNOUNCEMENT SIGNED BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND BROADCAST ON
TELEVISION SAID NOBODY IN THE CAPITAL IS ALLOWED OUT OF THEIR HOMES
DURING THOSE TIMES UNLESS THEY HAVE PERMISSION FROM AUTHORITIES.
THE CURFEW WAS DECLARED TODAY AFTER BANGKOK BECAME A RAGING
BATTLEGROUND IN THE AFTERMATH OF AN ARMY CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS.
THE RED SHIRT PROTEST LEADERS SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES, BUT
ENRAGED PROTESTERS SET FIRES AND RIOTED AROUND THE CAPITAL.
AT LEAST TWO PROTESTERS AND AN ITALIAN NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER WERE
KILLED. TWO OTHER FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND 15 THAIS WERE WOUNDED IN
THE FIGHTING.

EUROPE-FINANCIAL CRISIS
MERKEL: EUROPE FACES HISTORIC TEST IN EURO CRISIS

BERLIN (AP) - CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL IS TELLING GERMAN
LAWMAKERS THAT EUROPE FACES AN "EXISTENTIAL" TEST AS IT WORKS TO
SHORE UP THE EURO.
MERKEL SAID TODAY AS SHE ADDRESSED THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT
THAT THE SHARED CURRENCY IS IN DANGER, AND THAT FAILING TO MEET THE
CHALLENGE WOULD HAVE INCALCULABLE CONSEQUENCES.
PARLIAMENT WAS MEETING TO CONSIDER THE EURO750 BILLION ($1
TRILLION) RESCUE PACKAGE TO HELP EUROZONE NATIONS AVOID DEFAULT -
WITH GERMANY TO CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST EURO123 BILLION IN LOAN
GUARANTEES. IT'S EXPECTED TO VOTE ON FRIDAY.
MERKEL SAID EUROPE IS FACING ITS BIGGEST TEST IN DECADES. SHE
SAID: "IT IS ABOUT NO MORE AND NO LESS THAN THE PRESERVATION OF
THE EUROPEAN IDEA. THAT IS OUR HISTORIC TASK; IF THE EURO FAILS,
THEN EUROPE FAILS."

PENNSYLVANIA SENATE/KENTUCKY SENATE/ARKANSAS SENATE
SPECTER REJECTED BY PA. DEMS IN BID FOR 6TH TERM

VARIOUS (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA SEN. ARLEN SPECTER HAS BEEN DEFEATED
IN A PRIMARY IN HIS BID FOR A SIXTH TERM AFTER TAKING THE RISKY
STEP OF SWITCHING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
VOTERS YESTERDAY PICKED REP. JOE SESTAK AS THE PARTY'S NOMINEE,
AND REJECTED THE 80-YEAR-OLD SPECTER IN HIS FIRST DEMOCRATIC
CAMPAIGN.
SESTAK FACES REPUBLICAN PAT TOOMEY IN THE FALL ELECTION.

IN KENTUCKY, RAND PAUL SAYS HIS WIN IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
FOR A SENATE NOMINATION IS A "TREMENDOUS MANDATE FOR THE TEA
PARTY."
PAUL, A POLITICAL NEWCOMER, BEAT REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT
FAVORITE TREY GRAYSON.
THE VICTORY GIVES A TEA PARTY ACTIVIST A KEY WIN IN A STATEWIDE
ELECTION THAT COULD EMBOLDEN THE FLEDGLING POLITICAL MOVEMENT IN
OTHER STATES.

IN ARKANSAS, DEMOCRATIC SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN WAS FORCED INTO A
POTENTIALLY DEBILITATING JUNE RUNOFF ELECTION AGAINST LT. GOV. BILL
HALTER IN HER BID FOR NOMINATION TO A THIRD TERM.
REP. JOHN BOOZMAN WON THE REPUBLICAN LINE ON THE BALLOT
OUTRIGHT.

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE-MURTHA'S SEAT
DEMS WIN SPECIAL PA. ELECTION, RETAIN MURTHA SEAT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - DEMOCRATS WILL RETAIN CONTROL OF THE SEAT
HELD FOR DECADES BY THE LATE PENNSYLVANIA REP. JOHN MURTHA AFTER
WINNING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THE FINAL MONTHS OF HIS TERM.
BOTH PARTIES VIEWED THE CONTEST AS A TEST FOR THE FALL.
WITH 70 PERCENT OF PRECINCTS REPORTING TUESDAY, MURTHA AIDE MARK
CRITZ HAD 53 PERCENT OF THE VOTE COMPARED WITH NEARLY 45 PERCENT
FOR BUSINESSMAN TIM BURNS.
CRITZ AND BURNS WILL HAVE A REMATCH IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL
ELECTION AFTER ALSO WINNING THEIR PARTIES' NOMINATIONS IN THE
PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY.
MURTHA DIED IN FEBRUARY OF COMPLICATIONS FROM GALLBLADDER
SURGERY, SETTING OFF A DASH TO THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

PAKISTAN
TOP US SECURITY OFFICIALS MEET IN PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD (AP) - THE FAILED TIMES SQUARE BOMBING AND THE FIGHT
AGAINST MILITANTS ARE KEY TOPICS AS TOP U.S. SECURITY OFFICIALS
MEET WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS TODAY IN PAKISTAN.
THE VISIT BY CIA DIRECTOR LEON PANETTA AND U.S. NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISER JAMES JONES IS THE FIRST SINCE THE INCIDENT. THE
MEN ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET PAKISTAN'S PRESIDENT, SPY CHIEF AND OTHER
OFFICIALS.
THE MAY 1 BOTCHED CAR BOMBING HAS ADDED TO PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN
TO ATTACK MILITANT-HELD REGIONS IN THE NORTHWEST, NEAR THE BORDER
WITH AFGHANISTAN.
U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SPOKESMAN MIKE HAMMER SAYS IT'S
TIME "TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS WITH OUR ALLIES IN PAKISTAN TO CLOSE
THIS SAFE HAVEN."
AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE RECENTLY PRAISED PAKISTAN'S EFFORTS IN
THE NORTHWEST.

TOBACCO CONTRACTS
BIG TOBACCO CUTTING CONTRACTS WITH US FARMERS

CYNTHIANA, KY. (AP) - CIGARETTE MAKERS ARE CUTTING CONTRACTS
WITH TOBACCO FARMERS AS SMOKING CONTINUES TO DECLINE IN THE U.S.
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ECONOMIST WILL SNELL SAYS HIS STATE, THE
NATION'S TOP PRODUCER OF BURLEY TOBACCO, COULD LOSE A FOURTH OF ITS
CONTRACTS THIS YEAR. MANY CONTRACTS ALSO HAVE BEEN LOST IN NORTH
CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE AND VIRGINIA.
THE CUTBACKS MEAN FARMERS WHO'VE LOST CONTRACTS MIGHT NOT BE
ABLE TO PAY MORTGAGES, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES COULD LOSE JOBS AND
INCOME AS FARMERS HAVE LESS MONEY TO SPEND.
SOME TOP TOBACCO COMPANIES ACKNOWLEDGE CUTTING CONTRACTS, BUT
WON'T SAY BY HOW MUCH.
AN R.J. REYNOLDS SPOKESMAN SAYS THEY'RE JUST DOING WHAT ANY
BUSINESS WOULD DO TO KEEP SUPPLY IN LINE WITH DEMAND.

GULF OIL SPILL
SCIENTISTS WATCHING WHERE OIL SPILL HEADED NEXT

WASHINGTON (AP) - SCIENTISTS ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING SIGNALS
ABOUT WHERE A MASSIVE OIL SLICK IN THE GULF OF MEXICO MAY BE
HEADING NEXT. AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOVERNMENT
COULD HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE IN OVERSEEING THE DRILLING, WHILE
EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE SPILL ARE PROVING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.
THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE IS SET TO
ADDRESS THE SPILL AT A HEARING TODAY.
FEARS ARE GROWING THAT THE GUSHING WELL COULD SPREAD DAMAGE FROM
LOUISIANA TO FLORIDA. INTERIOR SECRETARY KEN SALAZAR TOLD A SENATE
PANEL YESTERDAY THAT HIS AGENCY HAD BEEN LAX IN OVERSEEING OFFSHORE
ACTIVITIES AND THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISASTROUS SPILL.

AFGHANISTAN
UPDATE: US: INSURGENTS ATTACK BAGRAM AIR FIELD

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - INSURGENTS LAUNCHED A BRAZEN PRE-DAWN
ASSAULT TODAY AGAINST THE GIANT U.S.-RUN BAGRAM AIR FIELD, THE
SECOND TALIBAN STRIKE AT NATO FORCES IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL IN
AS MANY DAYS.
A SPOKESWOMAN AT THE BASE SAYS AT LEAST 10 INSURGENTS WERE
KILLED AND SEVEN U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK ON
BAGRAM, WHICH STARTED AT ABOUT 3 A.M. WITH ROCKETS, SMALL ARMS AND
GRENADES FIRED INTO THE BASE. ANOTHER SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE GUNFIRE
FINALLY SUBSIDED AROUND MIDDAY.
THE ATTACK CAME ONE DAY AFTER A SUICIDE BOMBER STRUCK A U.S.
CONVOY IN THE CAPITAL OF KABUL, KILLING 18 PEOPLE.

SOUTH KOREA-SHIP SINKS
SKOREAN OFFICIAL SAYS 'OBVIOUS' NKOREA SANK SHIP

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS
IT'S "OBVIOUS" THAT NORTH KOREA SANK A SOUTH KOREAN NAVY SHIP IN
MARCH.
HE TOLD REPORTERS IN SEOUL ON WEDNESDAY THAT THERE'S ENOUGH
EVIDENCE TO TAKE THE MATTER TO THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL.
THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MARCH 26
SINKING OF THE CHEONAN (CHUH-NAN) ARE DUE OUT THURSDAY. FORTY-SIX
SAILORS WERE KILLED.

CIVIL WAR-MEDAL OF HONOR
147 YEARS LATER, WIS. CIVIL WAR SOLDIER GETS MEDAL

DELAFIELD, WIS. (AP) - A WISCONSIN SOLDIER WHO DIED AT
GETTYSBURG SEVEN SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO IS FINALLY IN LINE TO
RECEIVE THE NATION'S HIGHEST MILITARY DECORATION.
FIRST LT. ALONZO CUSHING OF DELAFIELD, WIS., DIED 147 YEARS AGO
AT AGE 22. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS WOUNDED, HE LED HIS MEN TO A VALIANT
LAST STAND THAT REPELLED A CONFEDERATE THRUST.
DESCENDANTS AND CIVIL WAR BUFFS TOOK UP CUSHING'S CAUSE. THEY'VE
BEEN TRYING TO GET THE ARMY TO TAKE THE RARE STEP OF BESTOWING THE
MEDAL UPON HIM AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. IT LAST HAPPENED FOR A CIVIL
WAR SOLDIER NINE YEARS AGO.
THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY APPROVED CUSHING'S MEDAL EARLIER THIS
YEAR, LEAVING A FEW FORMAL STEPS BEFORE THE AWARD IS EXPECTED TO
BECOME OFFICIAL THIS SUMMER.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

ELECTION RESULTS-UNOFFICIAL FINAL TOTALS

WITH ALL PRECINCTS REPORTING IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY..WE HAVE THESE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:

IN THE RACE FOR THE 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, INCUMBENT TIM HOLDEN DEFEATED CHALLENGER SHEILA DOW FORD, 83 PERCENT TO 17 PERCENT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, STATE SENATOR DAVE ARGALL HAS WON SCHUYLKILL COUNTY 69 PERCENT, FRANK RYAN 18 PERCENT AND JOSH FIRST AND ALLEN GRIFFITH WITH 7 PERCENT EACH. HOWEVER, IN THE OTHER COUNTIES MAKING UP THE 17TH DISTRICT, JOSH FIRST AND FRANK RYAN MADE UP SIGNIFICANT GROUND. ALL TOTALED, UNOFFICIALLY, ARGALL HOLDS ON TO AROUND A 1-THOUSAND VOTE LEAD.

IN THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ENCOMPASSING SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, THE INCUMBENTS, NEAL GOODMAN, JERRY KNOWLES AND TIM SEIP WERE UNOPPOSED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE TICKETS. IN THE 125TH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN BALLOT, MICHAEL TOBASH AND ROBERT LOY ARE VYING TO MEET TIM SEIP IN NOVEMBER. MICHAEL TOBASH HAS 75 PERCENT, LOY 25 PERCENT.

IN THE RACE FOR US SENATE, REPRESENTATIVE JOE SESTAK HAS DEFEATED INCUMBENT ARLEN SPECTER. SESTAK WILL FACE REPUBLICAN PAT TOOMEY, WHO DEFEATED CHALLENGER PEG LUKSIK.

IN THE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DAN ONORATO AND REPUBLICAN TOM CORBETT HAVE BEEN DECLARED THE WINNERS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE TICKETS, AND WILL FACE OFF IN NOVEMBER.

Today's News-Tuesday, May 18, 2010

PRIMARY DAY IN PENNSYLVANIA

VOTERS WILL GO TO THE POLLS TODAY TO DETERMINE WHO WILL FACE WHOM IN NOVEMBER TODAY. IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS CHANGES IN THE POLLING LOCATIONS FOR MANY VOTERS AS SITES ARE CONSOLIDATED FROM 167 TO 125. ELECTION OFFICIALS TELL WPPA/T102 NEWS THAT THOSE AFFECTED WERE NOTIFIED BY MAIL WEEKS AGO AS TO THE CHANGES. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR POLLING LOCATION, CALL THE VOTER REGISTRATION BUREAU AT 628-1467. THE POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 7AM TILL 8PM. REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

LINK TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY POLLING SITES (CHANGES IN BOLD PRINT)

RACES ON THE BALLOT
THE SPOTLIGHT LOCALLY FOCUSES ON THE RACE FOR THE NOMINATION IN THE 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN, A DEMOCRAT, IS CONTESTED BY HARRISBURG ATTORNEY SHEILA DOW FORD. ITS A FOUR WAY RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION, WITH STATE SENATOR DAVE ARGALL, FRANK RYAN, JOSH FIRST AND ALLEN GRIFFITH ON THE BALLOT. ALL THREE STATE LEGISLATORS, TIM SEIP, NEAL GOODMAN AND JERRY KNOWLES ARE ALL SEEKING RE-ELECTION, BUT ARE UNCONTESTED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PARTY TICKET. IN THE 125TH DISTRICT, ROBERT LOY AND MICHAEL TOBASH ARE SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOD TO FACE SEIP IN NOVEMBER.

SENAVITIS GETS PAROLE
STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - A KUNKLETOWN MAN ACQUITTED OF VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN THE DEATH OF STATE SENATOR JIM RHOADES IS FREE AFTER BEING SENTENCED TO TIME ALREADY SERVED ON OTHER CHARGES. MONROE COUNTY PRESIDENT JUDGE RONALD VICAN SENTENCED 46-YEAR-OLD THOMAS SENAVITIS, TO TIME SERVED MONDAY ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM THE 2008 CRASH THAT KILLED SEN. RHOADES IN THE POCONOS. IN MARCH, A JURY FOUND SENAVITIS NOT GUILTY OF MORE SERIOUS CHARGES BUT CONVICTED HIM OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AND DRUNKEN DRIVING. AUTHORITIES SAY SENAVITIS WAS DRIVING DRUNK ON OCT. 17, 2008, WHEN HIS PICKUP COLLIDED WITH THE CAR DRIVEN BY THE SEVEN-TERM REPUBLICAN FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. RHOADES' WIFE WAS ALSO SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE CRASH. SENAVITIS' ATTORNEYS SAID IT WAS RHOADES WHO CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, CAUSING THE HEAD-ON COLLISION.

SHIELD 7
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FACE A MYRIAD OF CHALLENGES, BOTH INSIDE THE CLASSROOM AND OUT. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY REPORTS FROM POTTSVILLE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S EFFORTS TO WARN STUDENTS OF THE DANGERS OUT THERE:

SHIELD 7

MAN CHARGED AFTER LEAVING THE SCENE OF CRASH
POLICE HAVE NABBED A SHENANDOAH MAN IN CONNECTION WITH A CRASH LAST WEEK WHERE HE LEFT THE SCENE WITH AN INJURED MAN INSIDE THE CAR. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT 24 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER BUCK WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN FRACKVILLE THURSDAY. AS A CHASE ENSUED, THE CAR WENT AIRBORNE, STRIKING A PARKED CAR AND A GARAGE. BUCK FLED THE SCENE ON FOOT, LEAVING JACK CLEWS INSIDE WITH A BROKEN LEG. POLICE SAY THE CAR BELONGED TO ANOTHER MAN, WHOM BUCK WAS TO INSTALL A CAR STEREO IN. BUCK FACES A HOST OF CHARGES, AND FOLLOWING ARRAIGNMENT, WAS JAILED IN THE COUNTY PRISON.

IN PA., SPECTER-SESTAK SHOWDOWN TOPS PRIMARY RACES
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS WILL DECIDE TODAY WHETHER TO REPLACE REPUBLICAN-TURNED-DEMOCRAT ARLEN SPECTER IN THE U.S. SENATE AND SETTLE CONTESTED DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNOR. NOMINATION FIGHTS IN DOZENS OF STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ALSO ARE ON THE BALLOT. A POLL RELEASED YESTERDAY INDICATES THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SHOWDOWN BETWEEN SEN. SPECTER AND U.S. REP. JOE SESTAK IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL. THE QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FOUND THAT 16 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS CONSIDERED LIKELY TO VOTE WERE UNDECIDED IN THE SENATE RACE. BOTH MEN PUT IN A FINAL DAY OF CAMPAIGNING IN FAR-FLUNG LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME BASE IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA. THE WINNER OF THE PRIMARY WILL LIKELY SQUARE OFF IN NOVEMBER AGAINST FORMER U.S. REP. PAT TOOMEY, WHO FACES TOKEN OPPOSITION THIS YEAR FROM JOHNSTOWN ACTIVIST PEG LUKSIK. THE POLL SURVEYED 951 DEMOCRATS BY TELEPHONE BETWEEN WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY. THE SAMPLING ERROR MARGIN IS PLUS OR MINUS 3.2 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

ONORATO, CORBETT CROSS STATE ON LAST CAMPAIGN DAY
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL SHOWS ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN ONORATO CONTINUING TO LEAD THE FOUR-WAY RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR, BACKED BY 39 PERCENT OF THE DEMOCRATS LIKELY TO VOTE. THIRTY-ONE PERCENT REMAINED UNDECIDED. TRAILING WERE STATE SEN. ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS WITH 11 PERCENT, STATE AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER, 10 PERCENT, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMISSIONER JOE HOEFFEL, 9 PERCENT. ONORATO AND GOP FRONT-RUNNER TOM CORBETT, BOTH FROM SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, FLEW ACROSS THE STATE FROM EAST TO WEST YESTERDAY. ONORATO SAID HE IS COUNTING ON STRONG PRESENCE IN ALL 67 COUNTIES TO TURN OUT HIS SUPPORTERS TODAY IN SPITE OF THE RAIN THAT IS FORECAST ACROSS THE STATE. CORBETT CAUTIONED SUPPORTERS NOT TO LET HIS STRONG POLLING NUMBERS LULL THEM INTO COMPLACENCY.

MCVEYTOWN, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN MIFFLIN COUNTY SAY A GARBAGE TRUCK RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE, KILLING TWO MEN, INCLUDING THE CORONER OF A NEIGHBORING COUNTY. STATE POLICE SAY HUNTINGDON COUNTY CORONER RONALD MORDER AND HAROLD KNABLE JR. OF NEWTON HAMILTON WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD ON THE SCENE FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A PITTSBURGH-AREA WOMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON PLUS 20 YEARS FOR LURING A PREGNANT TEEN TO HER APARTMENT, DRUGGING HER AND CUTTING THE CHILD FROM THE WOMB. ANDREA CURRY-DEMUS HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY BUT MENTALLY ILL OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS URGING UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA GRADUATES TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC IN THE FACE OF TWO WARS, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND BUDGET CUTS. BIDEN SPOKE TO GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF SOCIAL POLICY AND PRACTICE LAST NIGHT. AMONG THEM WAS HIS 28-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, ASHLEY, WHO WAS AWARDED A DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK.

WASHINGTON (AP) - IT'S PRIMARY DAY AROUND THE NATION. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS NOT ON THE BALLOT, NOR IS THE REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER, KENTUCKY'S MITCH MCCONNELL. BUT BOTH HAVE A STAKE IN CONTESTS TESTING THE TEA PARTY AMONG KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS AND THE DURABILITY OF DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS IN ARKANSAS AND PENNSYLVANIA. TODAY'S ALSO THE DEADLINE FOR OREGON VOTERS TO RETURN THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE NEXT STOP ON THE PRESIDENT'S WHITE HOUSE TO MAIN STREET TOUR: YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. OBAMA'S HEADING TO THE SWING STATE TODAY TO PROMOTE HIS ECONOMIC POLICIES. HE'S TRYING TO CONVINCE VOTERS THAT TIMES ARE GETTING BETTER EVEN WHILE UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS STUBBORNLY HIGH. THE PRESIDENT WILL VISIT A PIPE AND TUBING MANUFACTURER THAT BENEFITED FROM THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - AN IRANIAN OPPOSITION WEBSITE SAYS AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED THE CHIEF BODYGUARD OF THE COUNTRY'S OPPOSITION LEADER, MIR HOSSEIN MOUSAVI. HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT IN JUNE. ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD SET OFF MONTHS OF POLITICAL UPHEAVAL, INCLUDING A BLOODY CRACKDOWN ON STREET PROTESTERS. THE ARRESTED GUARD HAS PROTECTED MOUSAVI SINCE HE SERVED AS PRIME MINISTER IN THE 1980S.

LONDON - BRITISH AIRWAYS EXPECTS TO OPERATE 90 PER CENT OF ITS LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS AND ABOUT HALF ITS SHORT HAUL SERVICES. BRITAIN'S HIGH COURT DECIDED YESTERDAY THE AIRLINE'S CABIN CREWS AREN'T ALLOWED TO STRIKE BECAUSE OF IRREGULARITIES WITH THE UNION'S BALLOT. THE INJUNCTION STOPPED A WALKOUT JUST HOURS BEFORE IT WAS DUE TO BEGIN. THE CREW'S UNION CALLED THE DECISION "NONSENSE."

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (AP) - STUNNINGLY BAD SERVICE. THAT'S WHAT A DAYTONA BEACH, FLA., WOMAN THOUGHT A DRIVE-UP WINDOW AT WENDY'S WAS DISHING UP. AUTHORITIES SAY THAT WHEN 20-YEAR-OLD MELANESE ASIA REID BECAME UPSET ABOUT HER ORDER YESTERDAY, SHE CHASED THE EMPLOYEE SERVING HER WITH A PINK TASER GUN UNTIL THE STORE MANAGER CALLED POLICE. REID'S CHARGED WITH ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.