Today's News-Wednesday, May 5, 2010-7:30AM

WATER BOIL ADVISORY

CUSTOMERS FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT IN PINE GROVE TO WEST MILL STREET WILL HAVE WATER SERVICE SHUT OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS MORNING WHILE REPAIRS ARE MADE TO A WATER LINE. A BOIL ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT ONCE THE REPAIRS ARE MADE.

CRASH ON 61

SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN A CRASH ON ROUTE 61 DURING RUSH HOUR TUESDAY. DETAILS FROM POLICE ARE STILL LIMITED, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MOTORISTS HAD TO BE FLOWN FROM THE SCENE NEAR THE FORMER MADY CAR WASH. TWO VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AROUND 3:30PM.

TWO HURT IN TUESDAY MORNING CRASH

TWO POTTSVILLE WOMEN WERE HURT IN A TWO VEHICLE CRASH TUESDAY MORNING IN THE CITY. THE CRASH BETWEEN VEHICLES OPERATED BY 47 YEAR OLD WAYNE COVELY OF ST CLAIR AND 26 YEAR OLD DENETTE WILLAMS OF POTTSVILLE HAPPENED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 61 AND MAUCH CHUNK STREET, NEAR DUNKIN DONUTS AROUND 6:30AM. WILLIAMS AND HER PASSENGER, KIMBERLY HAYLE, HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THEIR VEHICLE. THEY WERE FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT. ROUTE 61 WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT.

KAREN'S HEROES

KIDS AT JOHN S CLARKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL KAREN'S HEROES PROGRAM. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS MORE:

KAREN'S HEROES

USDA GRANTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES

BOROUGHS, MUNICIPALITIES AND FIRE COMPANIES HAVE SOME OPTIONS WHEN LOOKING FOR FUNDING. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS MORE:

USDA GRANT

VEHICLES VANDALIZED

STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR THE VANDALS WHO SPRAY PAINTED TWO VEHICLES NEAR PINE GROVE. THE CARS WERE PARKED JUST OFF INTERSTATE 81 WHEN THE CARS WERE DAMAGED. STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR ANY LEADS IN THE CASE. CALL THEM AT 593-2000.

HOME BURGLARIZED

A NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP HOME WAS BURGLARIZED. STATE POLICE SAY THAT THE BREAK IN TOOK PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE LONG RUN ROAD PROPERTY, WITH A COMPUTER AND OTHER ELECTRONIC GEAR TAKEN. TOTAL LOSS IS ABOUT $800. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

CHARGES FILED IN BURGLARY

A PORT CARBON WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH BURGLARIZING A BOROUGH HOME. 22 YEAR OLD STEPHANIE KNORR IS ALLEGED TO HAVE ACCESSED THE APARTMENT OF RICHARD WEISS ON COAL STREET BY A DOOR THAT ADJOINED HER APARTMENT. KNORR AND HER APARTMENT MATE 30 YEAR OLD RYAN WINKLER REPORTEDLY MOVED A REFRIGERATOR TO GET TO THE HIDDEN DOOR. CASH WAS TAKEN FROM THE APARTMENT. KNORR WAS ARRAIGNED ON THE THEFT CHARGE AND TAKEN TO COUNTY PRISON FOR OTHER COUNTS NOT RELATED TO THE BURGLARY. A WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WINKLER.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A BILL TO TEMPORARILY STOP THE LEASING OF STATE FOREST LAND FOR NATURAL GAS DRILLING HAS STATE HOUSE APPROVAL AND IS HEADED TO THE SENATE. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED THE BILL 157-33 YESTERDAY. IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY ENACT A THREE-YEAR MORATORIUM.
PROPONENTS OF THE BILL WANT A THOROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
OF THE IMPACT OF DRILLING ON THE LAND BEFORE MORE CAN BE LEASED. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SENATE'S REPUBLICAN MAJORITY SAYS THERE'S NO PLAN TO ACT ON THE BILL AND THAT THE STATE ALREADY HAS STRONG REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THE RENDELL ADMINISTRATION HAS LEASED MORE THAN 100,000 ACRES TO DRILLING COMPANIES HUNGRY TO EXPLORE THE MARCELLUS SHALE NATURAL GAS FORMATION. THE STATE HAS RAISED MORE THAN $300 MILLION AND MORE ROYALTY MONEY IS EXPECTED.

TRANSPORTATION WOES
RENDELL WARNS LAWMAKERS TO ACT ON TRANSPORTATION

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL HAS WARNED STATE LAWMAKERS OF DISASTER IF THEY FAIL TO DEDICATE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND MASS TRANSIT AGENCIES BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
IN AN ADDRESS YESTERDAY, HE SAID LAWMAKERS COULD ADOPT A SHORT-TERM FIX OR FIND THE BILLIONS IT WILL TAKE TO FULLY REPAIR AND MAINTAIN THE STATE'S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DECADES TO COME. HE CALLED INACTION "UNACCEPTABLE." RENDELL SAID LAWMAKERS COULD EXPLORE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, RENEW EFFORTS TO TOLL EXISTING INTERSTATES, RAISE GAS TAXES OR MOTORISTS' FEES OR GET TOUGHER ON RECKLESS OR UNINSURED
DRIVERS. RENDELL SAID THE ALTERNATIVES WOULD HELP PLUG A HOLE IN STATE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING THAT WAS PARTLY CAUSED BY FEDERAL REGULATORS' DECISION LAST MONTH TO REJECT A PLAN TO TOLL INTERSTATE 80.

SENATOR INVESTIGATED
JUDGE DELAYS CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST RULING FOR ORIE

PITTSBURGH (AP) - AN ALLEGHENY COUNTY JUDGE WON'T DECIDE WHETHER PENNSYLVANIA'S CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE
UNTIL AFTER STATE SEN. JANE ORIE HAS A PRELIMINARY HEARING JUNE 4 FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING THE LAW. ORIE'S ATTORNEY, WILLIAM COSTOPOULOS LAST MONTH FILED A MOTION TO DISMISS THE CHARGES AGAINST ORIE BASED ON THAT ARGUMENT. JUDGE JEFFREY MANNING RULED YESTERDAY THAT THE MOTION "DESERVES CONSIDERATION" BUT NOT BEFORE THE PRELIMINARY HEARING.
ORIE AND HER SISTER, JANINE, ARE CHARGED WITH USING THE SENATOR'S LEGISLATIVE STAFF TO DO CAMPAIGN WORK ON STATE TIME FOR THE SENATOR AND A THIRD SISTER, PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOAN ORIE MELVIN.
JANINE ORIE WAS THE JUSTICE'S AIDE, BUT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED WITH PAY FROM HER $67,000-A-YEAR JOB.

SENATOR INVESTIGATION-NONPROFITS
AUDIT: 2 PHILLY NONPROFITS SHOULD GIVE BACK $5.4M

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA'S INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS TWO PHILADELPHIA CHARITIES LINKED TO A PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR'S CORRUPTION TRIAL SHOULD RETURN $5.4 MILLION IN GRANTS. FORMER SEN. VINCENT FUMO IS SERVING A 55-MONTH PRISON TERM IN PART FOR MISUSING MONEY AND RESOURCES FROM THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE FOR BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE SPRING GARDEN REDEVELOPMENT CORP. INSPECTOR GENERAL AMY KURLAND SAYS IN AN AUDIT RELEASED YESTERDAY THAT THE FUNDS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERFRONT CORP. SO THEY CAN BE USED BY OTHER GROUPS. THE WATERFRONT CORPORATION SAYS IT COMMISSIONED THE AUDIT AND WILL QUICKLY DETERMINE ITS RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS. CITIZENS ALLIANCE'S FORMER DIRECTOR, RUTH ARNAO, WAS CONVICTED WITH FUMO LAST YEAR AND SENTENCED TO A YEAR IN PRISON.

PENNSYLVANIA SENATE-UNDECIDEDS
UNDECIDEDS MAY TILT PA. SENATE DEMS' PRIMARY RACE

ELKINS PARK, PA. (AP) - DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WHO ARE STILL UNDECIDED OVER WHOM TO SUPPORT IN PENNSYLVANIA'S SENATE PRIMARY MAY BE NUMEROUS ENOUGH TO TILT THE CLOSELY CONTESTED RACE. WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE MAY 18 ELECTION, FIFTH-TERM INCUMBENT ARLEN SPECTER AND CHALLENGER JOE SESTAK ARE SPENDING MILLIONS ON TV ADS TO SWAY THOSE VOTERS. POLLSTERS SAY NEW POLLS THAT SHOW SESTAK CATCHING UP IS A SIGN
THAT VOTERS ARE INCREASINGLY MAKING UP OR CHANGING THEIR MINDS AS
MORE SEE HIS TV ADS. MANY HAVE KNOWN ARLEN SPECTER'S NAME FOR DECADES, BUT THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS OF HIS MOTIVATIONS FOR SWITCHING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LAST YEAR. THEY KNOW LITTLE ABOUT SESTAK, A TWO-TERM CONGRESSMAN FROM SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA. BUT POLLSTERS SAY UNDECIDED VOTERS WHO ACTUALLY VOTE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT SESTAK.

PHILLIES-FAN ON FIELD
FAN RUNS ON PHILLY FIELD DAY AFTER TASER INCIDENT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A FAN HAS RUN ONTO THE FIELD AT CITIZENS BANK PARK DURING A BASEBALL GAME IN PHILADELPHIA, ONE NIGHT AFTER A TEENAGER WAS TASERED IN THE OUTFIELD. SECURITY DID NOT USE A TASER TO APPREHEND THE MAN ON TUESDAY NIGHT. HE GAVE HIMSELF UP WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES WERE LEADING ST. LOUIS 1-0 IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH INNING WHEN A GUY HOPPED OVER THE FENCE IN LEFT FIELD AND RAN ALONG THE WARNING TRACK WAVING HIS ARMS. THE SELLOUT CROWD BOOED AND HE WAS SOON CAPTURED. IN MONDAY NIGHT'S GAME, A POLICE OFFICER CHASED A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE THE STUN GUN PROBE HIT THE
TEENAGER.

LEHIGH COUNTY CRASH
EASTERN PA. CRASH KILLS 2, CRITICALLY INJURES 2

COPLAY, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY A HEAD-ON COLLISION HAS KILLED TWO ELDERLY WOMEN AND CRITICALLY INJURED TWO OTHER PEOPLE. STATE POLICE IN BETHLEHEM SAY THE TWO WERE IN A CAR HEADING SOUTH ON ROUTE 873 IN NORTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP WHEN AN ONCOMING CAR VEERED INTO THEIR LANE AND HIT THE VEHICLE AT 9:25 A.M. TUESDAY. LEHIGH COUNTY CORONER SCOTT GRIM SAYS 74-YEAR-OLD MARY ELLEN
KOCH AND 83-YEAR-OLD EMMA SENSINGER OF SLATINGTON DIED AS A RESULT
OF INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT. ANOTHER PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER OF
THE OTHER CAR WERE TAKEN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL-CEDAR CREST,
WHERE BOTH WERE LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION TUESDAY NIGHT. THE CORONER HAS SCHEDULED AUTOPSIES FOR THURSDAY. STATE POLICE SAY THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT.

PRISON GUARD-SEX CHARGE
EX-PA. PRISON GUARD GETS PROBATION IN SEX CASE

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A FORMER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA PRISON GUARD HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 23 MONTHS OF PROBATION FOR HAVING SEX WITH A MALE INMATE A YEAR AGO. THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD RACHEL HOERNER OF MARYSVILLE PLEADED GUILTY IN JANUARY TO INSTITUTIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT. IN RETURN FOR THE PLEA, PROSECUTORS DROPPED A CHARGE OF OFFICIAL OPPRESSION AND AGREED NOT TO RECOMMEND A PENALTY. INVESTIGATORS SAY HOERNER AND THE INMATE HAD SEX IN A CLOSET ON A CELL BLOCK AT CAMP HILL STATE PRISON LAST MAY. CUMBERLAND COUNTY JUDGE J. WESLEY OLER JR. SAID HOERNER WILL
HAVE TO REGISTER AS A MEGAN'S LAW OFFENDER AND WILL BE INELIGIBLE
FOR ANY CORRECTIONAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT JOB.

CARJACKING-SLAYING
TRIAL TO OPEN IN PA. CARJACKING MURDER, RAPE CASE

DOYLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - JURY SELECTION IS UNDER WAY FOR THE SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA TRIAL OF A MAN CHARGED IN THE CARJACKING MURDER OF A MAN AND THE ALLEGED RAPE OF HIS COMPANION TWO YEARS AGO. AUTHORITIES ALLEGE THAT 28-YEAR-OLD OMAR SHARIFF CASH KIDNAPPED A COUPLE OUTSIDE A PHILADELPHIA NIGHTCLUB AND FORCED THE MAN TO DRIVE INTO BENSALEM WHILE HE ASSAULTED THE WOMAN IN THE BACK SEAT. INVESTIGATORS ALLEGE THAT CASH LATER SHOT 32-YEAR-OLD EDGAR ROSAS-GUTIERREZ IN THE HEAD AND DUMPED HIS BODY, THEN TOOK THE CAR AND THE 41-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TO LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., WHERE SHE ESCAPED. IF CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND RAPE, CASH COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY. HE IS ALSO CHARGED WITH KILLING A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN AT A PHILADELPHIA CAR WASH THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE CARJACKING MURDER.

LOVE TRIANGLE-SLAYING
3 CHARGED WITH MURDER IN PA. LOVE-TRIANGLE SLAYING

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES HAVE CHARGED THREE PEOPLE WITH MURDER IN THE ABDUCTION AND BEATING DEATH OF A MAN IN WHAT PROSECUTORS ARE CALLING A LOVE-TRIANGLE SLAYING. MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RISA FERMAN SAYS 27-YEAR-OLD DELIA HERNANDEZ-CORTES AND HER LOVER, 21-YEAR-OLD GABRIEL MARTINEZ-LOPEZ, CONSPIRED TO KILL HER HUSBAND, JOSE CAZARES-OLARTE. THE COUPLE ALLEGEDLY RECRUITED MARTINEZ-LOPEZ'S 26-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, JOSE MIGUEL, TO HELP. AUTHORITIES SAY CAZARES-OLARTE WAS ABDUCTED APRIL 9 AND BEATEN TO DEATH WITH A LANDSCAPING ROCK. HIS BODY WAS LATER DISCOVERED IN KING OF PRUSSIA.
FERMAN SAYS HERNANDEZ-CORTES CLAIMED HER HUSBAND BEAT HER. ALL THREE SUSPECTS ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO. THEY WERE HELD YESTERDAY ON AN IMMIGRATION DETAINER. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THEY HAVE ATTORNEYS.

TRIPLE FATAL
MD. SURVIVOR OF TRIPLE FATAL FLAGGED DOWN HELP

FLINTSTONE, MD. (AP) - MARYLAND STATE POLICE SAY A BLOODY WOMAN FLAGGED DOWN A ROAD WORKER AFTER SURVIVING A CRASH THAT KILLED THREE OTHERS ON INTERSTATE 68 IN WESTERN MARYLAND. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN THE 2008 MUSTANG RAN OFF THE ROAD OR HOW LONG THE WOMAN HAD BEEN SEEKING HELP BEFORE THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION WORKER AND A PASSING MOTORIST SPOTTED HER AT ABOUT 8 A.M. YESTERDAY NEAR ROCKY GAP STATE PARK. SHE WAS FLOWN TO WESTERN MARYLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN
CUMBERLAND. POLICE SAY THE VICTIMS WEREN'T WEARING SEAT BELTS WHEN THE SPEEDING CAR FLEW FROM THE EASTBOUND LANES AND ROLLED HUNDREDS OF
FEET DOWN A STEEP HILLSIDE. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY APPEAR TO BE FROM NEAR FAYETTE CITY, PA. POLICE ARE NOTIFYING RELATIVES BEFORE RELEASING THE VICTIMS' NAMES.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE SCANDAL
WOMAN SENTENCED TO 3 MOS. IN PA. EXCHANGE SCANDAL

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A WOMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO THREE MONTHS IN PRISON FOR PLACING FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN FILTHY HOMES IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD EDNA BURGETTE WAS SENTENCED MONDAY IN SCRANTON. SHE PLEADED GUILTY IN FEBRUARY TO THREE MISDEMEANOR COUNTS OF ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN. BURGETTE WAS FIRED FROM HER JOB WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO-BASED ASPECT FOUNDATION LAST MAY AFTER ALLEGATIONS SURFACED THAT STUDENTS WERE MALNOURISHED AND LIVING IN HOMES WHOSE FLOORS WERE COVERED WITH DOG FECES. SHE STILL AWAITS SENTENCING ON FEDERAL CHARGES STEMMING FROM THE SAME ALLEGATIONS. DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER OSBORNE HAD SOUGHT A SENTENCE OF HOUSE ARREST, CITING HIS CLIENT'S AGE AND POOR HEALTH. THAT REQUEST WAS DENIED. BURGETTE TOLD LACKAWANNA COUNTY JUDGE MICHAEL BARRASSE SHE DID HER BEST TO KEEP UP WITH HER RESPONSIBILITIES.