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.