Today's News-Wednesday, June 30, 2010-UPDATED

BREAKING NEWS

Police are looking for a white male involved in an armed robbery at the Red and White Market on Route 61 in North Manheim Township early today. State police report that the man held up the store between 5:15 and 5:30am. The white male is described as being about 6 feet 2 inches tall, 20 to 30 years old, medium build, wearing a dark shirt, light pants and black ski mask. The suspect apparently left on foot after he demanded money from the store cash register. Schuylkill Haven state police are handling the investigation.

FRACKVILLE MAN CHARGED IN BURGLARY
A tip from an informant leads to the arrest of a Frackville man on burglary charges. Frackville police report that 30 year old Jason Hozella is alleged to have taken items from Kehler Computers between June 15th and Monday. The lead that broke the case came from an informant who told Schuylkill Haven police about the burglary. A search of Hozella's Lehigh Avenue home uncovered stolen computers and an ATV. Hozella is charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, possession of drug paraphernalia and corruption of minors. Police say that Hozella revealed two others who were involved in the burglaries. Hozella is jailed in the county prison.

AUBURN MAN INJURED IN CRASH
An Auburn man was injured in a motorcycle crash in Berks County last night. Hamburg state police say 27 year old Michael Kieffer was southbound on Route 61 in Perry Township around 6:30pm when he lost control negotiating a curve and ran into an embankment. Kieffer flew off the motorcycle. He was taken to Reading Hospital for treatment of his injuries. State police say Kieffer will be cited for driving without a cycle license and other motor vehicle violations.

STUFF THE BUS
An area charity is kicking off a month-long project to help kids in our area return to school well prepared. Bobby Bechtel has more.

STUFF THE BUS

BUDGET
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The final pieces of a Pennsylvania state budget deal appear to be in place. Governor Ed Rendell:

RENDELL BUDGET

He calls it a conservative and responsible budget that nevertheless is full of cuts to account for a huge recession-driven deficit and the rising cost of prisons, health care and pensions. Most details remained under wraps before rank-and-file lawmakers are briefed on it. The new fiscal year begins tomorrow. It would not require new or higher taxes, but relies on nearly $3 billion in expected federal budget aid. It also would boost spending on public school instruction by more than 4 percent. State agencies, such as agriculture, environmental protection, state parks and libraries are facing cuts in the tentative spending plan.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The hot weather in Philadelphia this month is being cited as a factor in four deaths in the city. City health officials tell The Philadelphia Inquirer that two victims were
discovered on Sunday and two others were found earlier in the month.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A US Airways pilot has surrendered to police on charges he took inappropriate cell phone photos of a teenager at Philadelphia International Airport. The airline has suspended Joseph Pereira. A district spokeswoman says Pereira has also resigned as a girls softball coach at North Allegheny High School, near Pittsburgh.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Philadelphia 76ers star Manute Bol was remembered at a funeral service yesterday in the nation's capital. The 7-foot-7 Bol was brought to Washington National Cathedral in a specially built 8-foot casket. Bol died earlier this month from a painful skin condition and severe kidney problems. He will be buried in his native Sudan near his grandfather's grave.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Hurricane Alex's wind is blowing at 80 mph on a collision course with Mexico and the southern Texas coastline. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm is expected to deal only a glancing blow to Texas and make landfall this evening south of Matamoros, Mexico.

MEXICO CITY (AP) - There's no word yet about the extent of injuries or damage after a strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. It was felt at least as far away as Mexico City. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was centered in a sparsely populated, mountainous area near the southern Pacific coast.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The details are being worked out, but the State Department says 12 countries and international organizations will offer the U.S. assistance with the Gulf oil spill. Japan is providing skimmers. Canada is providing containment boom. In the Gulf, skimming efforts have been halted because of high waves kicked by Hurricane Alex.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - It's up to an immigration judge to decide whether the 32-year-old son of one of the founders of the militant group Hamas is a terrorist or a hero. The Department of Homeland of Security ruled more than a year ago that Mosab Hassan Yousef should be denied asylum as a security risk. His supporters say the former Israeli spy is a hero and will be killed if he's deported. The hearing is today in San Diego.

NEW YORK (AP) - Canada Geese still have unlimited takeoff privileges near John F. Kennedy International Airport a year and a half after they forced an airliner to splash down in the Hudson
River. A National Park Service official says for now, his agency won't touch the hundreds of birds living in a refuge near the runways. Officials of other federal and local agencies want the goose population limited.