TODAY'S NEWS - Friday July 23, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

DEATH PENALTY SOUGHT

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, JAMES GOODMAN SAID THURSDAY HE WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST THE BERKS COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH FATALLY SHOOTING A SHENANDOAH MAN IN MARCH. GOODMAN TELLS THE REPUBLICAN-HERALD, HE WILL SEEK THE LAW’S ULTIMATE SANCTION AGAINST 30-YEAR OLD JULIUS ENOE OF READING, WHOM STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE ALLEGE KILLED 24-YEAR OLD BRUCE FORKER ON MARCH 16TH IN THE VICIM’S HOME. 29-YEAR OLD DAMON ENNETT OF FREELAND, AND 19-YEAR OLD JAHMAL OLLIVIRRE OF READING ARE ALSO CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH FORKER’S DEATH.

PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES SECURES LOWER POWER PRICES FOR 2011

PPL ELECTRIC SAID THURSDAY IT IS SECURING POWER FOR 2011 AT PRICES LOWER THAN ITS CURRENT COST TO SUPPLY POWER TO “DEFAULT” CUSTOMERS – THOSE WHO DO NOT SHOP FOR GENERATION SERVICE FROM COMPETITIVE SUPPLIERS. WITH THE CONTINUING TREND OF LOWER MARKET PRICES FOR POWER, PPL SAID IT WOULD LIKELY BE PASSING ALONG A LOWER RATE FOR ITS GENERATION SERVICE TO RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS. THE ACTUAL RATE WILL NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL DECEMBER AFTER ADDITIONAL PURCHASES ARE MADE THIS YEAR. THE STATE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION THIS WEEK FORMALLY APPROVED THE RESULTS OF THE COMPANY’S LATEST ROUND OF POWER PURCHASES, WHICH WAS THE 5TH WHOLESALE POWER PURCHASE THIS YEAR. UNDER STATE RULES, PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES MUST BUY POWER SUPPLY IN A COMBINATION OF SHORT-TERM, LONG-TERM AND SPOT MARKET PURCHASES AND PASS ALONG THE COSTS TO CUSTOMERS WITHOUT PROFIT. THE GENERATION SERVICE CHARGE MAKES UP ABOUT 3/4THS OF THE TOTAL BILL FOR PPL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

VA MEDICAL HOSPITAL IN LEBANON LOSES AIR CONDITIONING

THE LEBANON VA MEDICAL CENTER EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING IN MULTIPLE PATIENT CARE BUILDINGS ON WEDNESDAY. A PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEMS WAS ALSO SUSTAINED ON MONDAY, BUT WAS SINCE REPAIRED. THIS IS DUE TO A COOLING LINE BREAK WHICH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. ALL 107 INPATIENTS WERE RELOCATED TO LOCAL AND OTHER VA HOSPITALS AS A PRECAUTION TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK. VETERANS WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE LEBANON VA MEDICAL CENTER UNTIL THE COOLING LINE IS FULLY REPAIRED AND FUNCTIONAL. NORMAL OPERATIONS CONTINUED YESTERDAY FOR OUTPATIENT CLINICS, SPECIALTY CARE AND PRIMARY CARE.



FOUR CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AND THEFT

FOUR PEOPLE WERE CHARGED WITH THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN A PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BURGLARY/THEFT INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT 179 MARKET STREET, VILLAGE OF CUMBOLA, IN BLYTHE TOWNSHIP ON MAY 1ST OF THIS YEAR. WILLIAM WALLACE 20, BRETT WALLACE 18, AND DAVID NETTLES 22 OF POTTSVILLE AS WELL AS A 17 YEAR OLD MINOR OF PALO ALTO ACRE ACCUSED OF STEALING $3965 WORTH OF PROPERTY AND CAUSING $2355 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE RESIDENCE OF SHARON BRISH, 50, OF CUMBOLA. THE MINOR WAS CHARGED THROUGH THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMET AND THE OTHERS WERE ARRAIGNED BEFORE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE PLACHKO AND COMMITTED TO THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON, UNABLE TO POST BAIL.


DRIVER NAMED IN CYCLIST’S DEATH

GILBERT WACONDA WAS NAMED WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON KOAT-TV TO BE THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR STRIKING THE RINGTOWN CYCLIST JUNE 21 IN THE LAGUNA PUEBLO, AND INDIAN RESERVATION IN NEW MEXICO. JOHN ANCZARSKI, 19 YEARS OLD OF RINGTOWN, WAS CYCLING ACROSS COUNTRY AS PART OF AN AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING EFFORT FOR BREAST CANCER, THE PINK PEDAL. NO MORE INFORMATION WAS RELEASED ON WACONDA, FOR FEARS IT WOULD HINDER THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH. ANCZARSKI DIED JUNE 22 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HOSPITAL IN ALBURQUERQUE.

GILBERTON COUNCILMAN ASKED TO RESIGN

GILBERTON COUNCILMAN ROBERT WAGNER WAS ASKED TO RESIGN BY THE GILBERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL FOLLOWING HIS ARREST LAST WEEK FOR HARASSING THE MAYOR AND POLICE DEPARTMENT BY TELEPHONE. WAGNER ALLEGEDLY USED OBSCENE LANGUAGE IN THE PHONE CALLS. HE WAS ARRAIGNED BEFORE A LOCAL MAGISTERIAL JUDGE AND COMMITTED TO THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO POST BAIL.



STATE NEWS

MONACA, PA. (AP) - TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND AT LEAST ONE PERSON
IS HURT FOLLOWING AN EXPLOSION AT A ZINC SMELTING PLANT IN WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA. A HORSEHEAD CORPORATION SPOKESMAN SAYS THE BLAST
INVOLVED A REFINERY COLUMN THAT PRODUCES ZINC OXIDE. AN
INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT IS UNDER WAY.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUP SAYS THE OIL AND
GAS INDUSTRY POURING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO STATE ELECTION
CAMPAIGNS AND LOBBYING EFFORTS IN ORDER TO GET DRILLING FOR NATURAL
GAS APPROVED IN THE STATE'S LUCRATIVE MARCELLUS SHALE. A
PENNSYLVANIA COMMON CAUSE OFFICIAL SAYS INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS HAVE
SPENT $4.2 MILLION SINCE 2007.

CARLISLE, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES ARE SEARCHING FOR THE PERSON
WHO SHOT AND KILLED A MAN AT A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA GUN RANGE.
PROSECUTORS TELL THE CARLISLE SENTINEL THAT TODD GETGEN, OF ENOLA,
WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AT A RANGE IN NORTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP,
JUST OUTSIDE CARLISLE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A MASTERPIECE BY PAINTER THOMAS EAKINS IS
GOING BACK ON DISPLAY AT THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART AFTER A
10-MONTH RESTORATION. "THE GROSS CLINIC" WILL BE ON VIEW STARTING
TOMORROW. THE RESTORATION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A MASSIVE PUBLIC
EFFORT IN 2006 TO RAISE $68 MILLION TO BUY THE WORK WHEN THOMAS
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY PLANNED TO SELL IT.


NATIONAL NEWS

TROPICAL WEATHER
TROPICAL STORM BONNIE MOVING TOWARD OIL SPILL

NASSAU, BAHAMAS (AP) - FORECASTERS SAY TROPICAL STORM BONNIE
COULD REACH THE SITE OF THE GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL BY SATURDAY.
AND KEY SHIPS STATIONED OVER BP'S CRIPPLED WELL HAVE BEEN ORDERED
TO EVACUATE AHEAD OF THE STORM.
ON FRIDAY, THE CENTER OF BONNIE IS EXPECTED TO PASS NEAR OR OVER
THE FLORIDA KEYS AND PART OF THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA.
FORECASTERS SAY THE STORM COULD SLOWLY STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT 48
HOURS, BUT EMERGENCY OFFICIALS AREN'T PLANNING ANY MANDATORY
EVACUATIONS FOR THE KEYS BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXPECT A MAJOR STORM
SURGE.
BONNIE STEAMED THROUGH THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS ON THURSDAY NIGHT
WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH. BAHAMIAN EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SAY
THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF DAMAGE, FLOODING OR INJURIES ON
ISLANDS IN SOUTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. MORE POPULATED ISLANDS
IN THE NORTHEAST, INCLUDING GRAND BAHAMA AREN'T YET IN THE CLEAR.

GULF OIL SPILL
KEY SHIPS ORDERED TO LEAVE SPILL SITE BEFORE STORM

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) - KEY SHIPS AT THE SITE OF BP'S
CRIPPLED WELL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO ARE UNDER ORDERS TO EVACUATE
AHEAD OF TROPICAL STORM BONNIE. BUT ENGINEERS HAVE GROWN SO
CONFIDENT IN THE LEAKY CAP FIXED TO THE WELL HEAD, THEY WILL LEAVE
IT CLOSED WHILE THEY ARE GONE.
THE ORDER TO LEAVE CAME FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S POINT MAN IN THE
CRISIS. RETIRED COAST GUARD ADM. THAD ALLEN ISSUED THE ORDER TO
BEGIN MOVING DOZENS OF VESSELS FROM THE AREA. ALLEN SAYS SOME
VESSELS COULD STAY ON SITE.
TROPICAL STORM BONNIE COULD DELAY BY ANOTHER 12 DAYS THE PUSH TO
PLUG THE BROKEN WELL FOR GOOD USING HEAVY DRILLING MUD AND CEMENT.
EVEN IF IT'S NOT A DIRECT HIT, THE ROUGH WEATHER WILL PUSH BACK
EFFORTS TO KILL THE WELL BY AT LEAST A WEEK.
LOUISIANA GOV. BOBBY JINDAL SAYS HE EXPECTS LOCAL LEADERS IN
COASTAL PARISHES TO CALL FOR EVACUATION OF LOW-LYING AREAS AS EARLY
AS FRIDAY MORNING.

STORMY WEATHER-WISCONSIN
FLOODING SHUTS DOWN AIRPORT, CLOSES ROADS IN WIS.

MILWAUKEE, WIS. (AP) - POWERFUL THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAUSING
WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN, CLOSING DOWN MILWAUKEE'S
AIRPORT AND BLOCKING ROADS, AND TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.
HEAVY RAINS POUNDED THE REGION THURSDAY, WITH PARTS OF MILWAUKEE
SEEING UP TO 7.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN JUST TWO HOURS. THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE RECEIVED SEVERAL REPORTS OF TORNADOES.
STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SAY TWO PEOPLE HIT BY
LIGHTNING WERE TAKEN TO A MILWAUKEE HOSPITAL. THEIR CONDITIONS
HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED.
THEY ALSO SAY A MASSIVE SINK HOLE OPENED UP AT AN INTERSECTION
NORTH OF DOWNTOWN - AND SWALLOWED A CADILLAC ESCALADE.
A SPOKESWOMAN SAYS MILWAUKEE-GENERAL MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL
CLOSED AROUND 9:30 P.M. WHEN FLOODWATERS BEGAN COVERING THE
RUNWAYS.

CONGRESS-WAR FUNDING
SENATE PASSES $60B WAR BILL, KILLS HOUSE ADD-ONS

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE SENATE HAS PASSED AN ALMOST $60 BILLION
BILL FUNDING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S TROOP SURGE IN AFGHANISTAN
AFTER STRIPPING OUT MORE THAN $20 BILLION IN DOMESTIC SPENDING
APPROVED BY THE HOUSE.
IN A TAKE-IT-OR-LEAVE-IT GESTURE, THE SENATE IS RETURNING THE
BILL IT PASSED IN MAY TO THE HOUSE.
THE SPENDING BILL IS NOW LIMITED CHIEFLY TO AFGHANISTAN FUNDING,
FOREIGN AID, MEDICAL CARE FOR VIETNAM WAR VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT
ORANGE, AND REPLENISHING ALMOST EMPTY DISASTER AID ACCOUNTS.
THE MOVE REPELS A LONG-SHOT BID BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS EARLIER THIS
MONTH TO RESURRECT THEIR FALTERING JOBS AGENDA WITH $10 BILLION IN
GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO AVOID TEACHER LAYOFFS, MONEY FOR A
SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM AND IMPROVED SECURITY ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO
BORDER.

BELL SALARIES
UPDATE: CALIF. COUNCIL ACCEPTS RESIGNATIONS OF 3 MANAGERS

BELL, CALIF. (AP) - THREE TOP ADMINISTRATORS WHOSE HUGE SALARIES
SPARKED OUTRAGE IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CITY OF BELL HAVE
RESIGNED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS EMERGED FROM A MORE THAN SIX-HOUR MEETING EARLY
FRIDAY AND ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAD ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATIONS OF
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER ROBERT RIZZO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
ANGELA SPACCIA AND POLICE CHIEF RANDY ADAMS.
COMBINED, THE OFFICIALS' SALARIES TOTALED MORE THAN $1.6
MILLION. RIZZO WAS THE HIGHEST PAID AT MORE THAN $787,000 A YEAR.
REVELATIONS ABOUT THE PAY SPARKED ANGER IN THE CITY OF FEWER
THAN 40,000 RESIDENTS. CENSUS FIGURES FROM 2008 SHOW 17 PERCENT OF
THE POPULATION LIVES IN POVERTY.
RESIDENTS HAVE STAGED PROTESTS DEMANDING THE FIRINGS AND STARTED
A RECALL CAMPAIGN AGAINST SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS.

STATEN ISLAND FIRE
UPDATE: BOY SAID TO SLASH THROATS, SET FIRE TO HIS NY HOME

NEW YORK (AP) - AUTOPSIES ARE SCHEDULED FOR FIVE FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO DIED AFTER SOME OF THEM HAD THEIR THROATS SLASHED AND THEIR NEW
YORK CITY HOME WAS SET ON FIRE.
POLICE BELIEVE THE DEATHS WERE A MURDER-SUICIDE COMMITTED BY A
TROUBLED TEENAGE BOY WITH A HISTORY OF SETTING FIRES. THEY SAY
14-YEAR-OLD C.J. JONES' BODY WAS FOUND SLUMPED OVER A BED IN A BACK
BEDROOM OF HIS FAMILY'S STATEN ISLAND HOME AND A STRAIGHT RAZOR WAS
UNDERNEATH IT.
THE BOY'S MOTHER WAS FOUND DEAD NEAR HIS 7- AND 10-YEAR-OLD
SISTERS, WHOSE THROATS WERE SLIT. HIS 2-YEAR-OLD BROTHER DIED LATER
AT A HOSPITAL.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE SAYS THEIR BODIES ARE BEING
EXAMINED FRIDAY.
NEIGHBORS SAY THE TEENAGER WAS THE MOST LOVING PERSON IN THE
WORLD BUT PLAYED WITH FIRE IN FRONT OF HIS BUILDING.

TAXI DRIVER ARRESTS
NEW: SEATTLE POLICE ARRESTING 22 CABBIES IN THEFT BUST

SEATTLE (AP) - SEATTLE POLICE ARE ARRESTING 22 CAB DRIVERS
ACCUSED OF TRAFFICKING IN STOLEN PROPERTY. THE ARRESTS ANNOUNCED
THURSDAY COME AFTER A 10-WEEK UNDERCOVER OPERATION THAT TARGETED
WHAT POLICE CALL AN OPEN AIR MARKET FOR STOLEN GOODS THAT'S BEEN
OPERATING IN THE WESTLAKE AVENUE AREA OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
THE PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED TO DEAL WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN
DOWNTOWN RETAIL THEFT.
SURVEILLANCE SHOWED SHOPLIFTERS TAKING STOLEN GOODS TO A CAB
STAND NEAR THE WESTIN HOTEL AND PEDDLING THEM TO DRIVERS WAITING
THERE FOR FARES. POLICE FOLLOWED UP WITH AN UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE
POSING AS A SHOPLIFTER.
POLICE SAY THERE ARE 2,500 LICENSED TAXI DRIVERS IN THE SEATTLE
AREA.

ASEAN
UPDATE: US, NKOREA MEET BUT PROGRESS ON NUKES UNLIKELY

HANOI, VIETNAM (AP) - TOP AMERICAN AND NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMATS
ARE MEETING FACE-TO-FACE TODAY AT AN ASIAN SECURITY CONFERENCE IN
VIETNAM.
THE RARE CONTACT IS MIRED IN TENSIONS OVER THE SINKING OF A
SOUTH KOREAN WARSHIP AND IS UNLIKELY TO ADVANCE EFFORTS TO RID
PYONGYANG OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS TELLING THOSE
GATHERED AT THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS THAT NORTH
KOREA MUST REVERSE A "CAMPAIGN OF PROVOCATIVE, DANGEROUS
BEHAVIOR" IF IT WANTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH ITS NEIGHBORS AND
THE UNITED STATES.
CLINTON IS ALSO CALLING ON ASEAN STATES TO PRESS MYANMAR'S
MILITARY RULERS TO ABANDON ANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS COOPERATION IT MAY
HAVE WITH NORTH KOREA. SHE SAYS "RECENT EVENTS" CALLED INTO
QUESTION MYANMAR'S PLEDGES TO ABIDE BY U.N. SANCTIONS ON NORTH
KOREA THAT INCLUDE RESTRICTIONS ON ARMS TRANSACTIONS.
CLINTON IS ALSO CRITICIZING THE JUNTA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

ASEAN-NKOREA THREAT
NEW: NKOREA THREATENS 'PHYSICAL RESPONSE' TO US DRILLS

HANOI, VIETNAM (AP) - NORTH KOREA HAS THREATENED A "PHYSICAL
RESPONSE" IF THE U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA GO AHEAD WITH JOINT MILITARY
EXERCISES PLANNED FOR THIS WEEKEND.
NORTH KOREAN SPOKESMAN RI TONG IL TOLD REPORTERS AT THE
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS MEETING IN HANOI, VIETNAM,
ON FRIDAY THAT THE EXERCISES WOULD BE "ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF
HOSTILE POLICY AGAINST" NORTH KOREA. HE SAID "THERE WILL BE
PHYSICAL RESPONSE AGAINST THE THREAT IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES
MILITARILY."

ISRAEL-CONVERSION
ISRAEL: CONTROVERSIAL CONVERSION BILL SHELVED

JERUSALEM (AP) - ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT IS SHELVING A BILL ON
JEWISH CONVERSIONS THAT DREW SHARP CRITICISM FROM AMERICAN JEWS.
IN A STATEMENT, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NIR HEFETZ SAYS THE
GOVERNMENT HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH LIBERAL JEWISH
DENOMINATIONS OPPOSED TO THE BILL. THE BILL WILL BE WITHDRAWN FOR
SIX MONTHS AS THE SIDES TRY TO HAMMER OUT AN ALTERNATIVE.
THE STATEMENT LATE THURSDAY SAID PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU APPROVED THE COMPROMISE TO "PRESERVE THE UNITY OF THE
JEWISH PEOPLE."
THE BILL WOULD HAVE STRENGTHENED THE CONTROL OF ORTHODOX RABBIS
IN ISRAEL OVER THE SENSITIVE PROCESS OF JEWISH CONVERSIONS.
THE LIBERAL JEWISH DENOMINATIONS THAT MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF
AMERICAN JEWS FEARED THE BILL COULD UNDERMINE THEIR LEGITIMACY AND
CONNECTION TO ISRAEL.

VENEZUELA-COLOMBIA
VENEZUELA BREAKS TIES WITH US-ALLIED COLOMBIA

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AP) - VENEZUELA HAS BROKEN DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING COLOMBIA.
PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ IS ACCUSING THE CLOSE U.S. ALLY OF
FABRICATING REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN REBELS FIND SAFE HAVEN INSIDE
VENEZUELA.
CHAVEZ SAYS HE WAS FORCED TO SEVER TIES BECAUSE COLOMBIAN
OFFICIALS INSIST THAT HE HAS FAILED TO MOVE AGAINST LEFTIST REBELS
WHO ALLEGEDLY HAVE TAKEN SHELTER ON VENEZUELAN TERRITORY.
AT A MEETING OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES IN
WASHINGTON, COLOMBIA'S AMBASSADOR PRESENTED PHOTOS, VIDEOS, WITNESS
TESTIMONY AND MAPS OF WHAT HE SAID WERE REBEL CAMPS INSIDE
VENEZUELA AND CHALLENGED VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS TO LET INDEPENDENT
OBSERVERS VISIT THEM.
CHAVEZ RESPONDED WITHIN HOURS, SUGGESTING THAT HIS CONSERVATIVE
COLOMBIAN COUNTERPART, OUTGOING PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE, COULD BE
ATTEMPTING TO PROVOKE A WAR.