TODAY'S NEWS - Friday July, 30 2010

LOCAL NEWS

PA AMONG WORST STATES FOR OIL ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Oil companies mean big business in PA, and a new report from the National Wildlife Federations says they can also spell big trouble. From seeps and spills, to fires and explosions, oil-related accidents in the past decade in the state have left 10 people dead, three dozen more injured, and a lot of environmental damage. In 2008 alone, three incidents at the Sunoco’s refinery outside Philadelphia released tons of nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and other dangerous compounds into the air. The study reveals that the B-P Gulf Coast oil leak is not an isolated incident, and that the oil industry is guilty of broken promises to limit well blowouts, underground tank leaks and worker injuries and deaths. The industry defends its record. BP officials said recently that their mission statement involves safe and reliable operations.

COUNTY SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS

The PSP at Schuylkill Haven will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location , within Schuylkill County, sometime during the weekend. Mororists are reminded to utilize proper restraint systems in their vehicles. One of the main factors in fatal accidents is drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts.

IDENTITIY THEFT

A vehicle-stop was conducted S/B on I-81 at the Luzerne/Schuylkill County line on a 1996 Jeep Cherokee where the driver verbally identified himself as Andrew Gartner, age 40, though he did not have photo identification. Further investigation during the stop through additional law enforcement resources, revealed that Gartner was an alias name and the driver actually was George Hoffman Jr, 44 of Breinigsville. In Addition, Hoffman was somehow able to secure and official PA driver’s license in the alias name, and was operating in society as 2 different people. Hoffman was subsequently placed under arrest and was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Bayer. Bail was set at $25,000 cash and he is currently being housed at the Schuylkill County Prison.


POTTSVILLE’S LIBRARY HAS ANOTHER ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN

The Pottsville Free Public Library has again had another attempted break-in. The incident happened between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The suspect attempted to gain entry through the wire-laden windows on the building’s south end, smashing three of them with a pipe and brick. Library Maintenance Employee, Marie Whitman, discovered the damage at 7am Thursday morning. While nothing was stolen during the first or second attempted to break in, repairs to the broken windows and upgrades to door locks have cost the library money, and since the PA State Budget has been slashed their funding by 9.1%, they have little left to spare.

POTTSVILLE TO GET 2 NEW COMMUNITY PARKS

Schuylkill Community Action Elm Street program for Pottsville, will have two new parks completed by years end. One is the Pocket Park on the 500 block of N. Centre Street, almost directly across from the YMCA, and the other is the Joan S. Fanelli Overlook Park off Route 61. Over 50 youths volunteers from NJ, part of the Jesus Unites Neighbors Everywhere, will return on Monday to work at the Overlook Park. This is the 19th year volunteers from the project have come to Schuylkill County. City Administrator, Thomas Palamar says by establishing these parks, the Elm Street Program improved the quality of life in the neighborhood.


STATE NEWS

SEWICKLEY, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY SAY A SEWAGE
PLANT EMPLOYEE BECAME FAINT AND DIED WHILE WORKING IN A 30-FOOT
HOLE, AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO RESCUE HIM WERE OVERCOME
BY AN UNKNOWN GAS AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED. THE DEAD WORKER IS
IDENTIFIED AS JACK HOGAN OF BADEN.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - ONE OF TWO COUNSELORS SUSPENDED AFTER THE
HEAT DEATH OF AN AUTISTIC MAN LEFT FOR HOURS IN A PARKED VAN AT A
PENNSYLVANIA TREATMENT CENTER IS BACK AT WORK. WOODS SERVICES IN
LANGHORNE SAYS A SECOND COUNSELOR WHO DROVE THE VAN SATURDAY
REMAINS SUSPENDED. PROSECUTORS ARE WEIGHING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE
DEATH OF BRYAN NEVINS OF NEW YORK.

LOCK HAVEN, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAN WILL SPEND
FIVE TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON FOR WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY WAS A DRUNKEN
BOATING CRASH LAST YEAR THAT KILLED A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL. JOHN
ENGLERT WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY. PROSECUTORS SAY HIS BLOOD-ALCOHOL
LEVEL WAS NEARLY THREE TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT DURING THE ACCIDENT ON
THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IN LOCK HAVEN.

WILLIAMSPORT, PA. (AP) - A MARINE FROM CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HAS
BEEN KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN. THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS 21-YEAR-OLD
LANCE CORPORAL ABRAM HOWARD OF WILLIAMSPORT DIED WHILE SUPPORTING
COMBAT OPERATIONS. HOWARD GRADUATED IN 2007 FROM WILLIAMSPORT AREA
HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS AN AVID HUNTER WHO CAME FROM A LONG LINE OF
MARINES.


NATIONAL NEWS

RANGEL-ETHICS
NEW: RANGEL TALKS ABOUT ETHICS VIOLATIONS

WASHINGTON (AP) - NEW YORK REP. CHARLES RANGEL CAN EXPECT A
SEPTEMBER TRIAL BEFORE THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE, THE SAME MONTH
HE HAS A PRIMARY.
HOUSE INVESTIGATORS ACCUSED THE VETERAN CONGRESSMAN THURSDAY OF
13 VIOLATIONS OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS STANDARDS, INCLUDING FAILURE
TO REPORT RENTAL INCOME FROM VACATION PROPERTY IN THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC .
RANGEL SAYS, "EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SERIOUS CHARGES, I'M
PREPARED TO PROVE THAT THE ONLY THING I'VE EVER HAD IN MY 50 YEARS
OF PUBLIC SERVICE IS SERVICE."
RANGEL ALSO IS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING HOUSE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
BY USING CONGRESSIONAL LETTERHEAD TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FOR A CENTER
FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TO BEAR RANGEL'S NAME ON THE NEW YORK CAMPUS OF
THE CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK.
THE CHARGES CAME AS LAWYERS FOR RANGEL AND THE HOUSE ETHICS
COMMITTEE WORKED OUT A PLEA DEAL, ACCORDING TO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH
THE TALKS. BUT REPUBLICANS ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE INDICATED IT WAS
TOO LATE.

AFGHANISTAN
3 US TROOPS DIE IN DEADLIEST MONTH OF AFGHAN WAR

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - THREE U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN, BRINGING THE TOLL FOR JULY TO AT LEAST 63
AND MAKING IT THE DEADLIEST MONTH FOR AMERICAN FORCES IN THE NEARLY
9-YEAR-WAR.
A NATO STATEMENT FRIDAY SAID THE THREE DIED IN TWO SEPARATE
BLASTS IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN ON THURSDAY. THE STATEMENT GIVES NO
NATIONALITIES BUT U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE ALL AMERICANS. THE
OFFICIALS SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY PENDING NOTIFICATION OF
KIN.
THAT BRINGS THE U.S. DEATH TOLL FOR THE MONTH TO AT LEAST 63
ACCORDING TO AN ASSOCIATED PRESS COUNT. JUNE HAD BEEN THE DEADLIEST
MONTH FOR THE U.S. WITH 60 DEATHS AND FOR THE OVERALL NATO LED
FORCE WITH 104 FATALITIES.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
1,200 HOMES UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS IN LA COUNTY

PALMDALE, CALIF. (AP) - AN OUT-OF-CONTROL WILDFIRE HAS BURNED
THROUGH MORE THAN 7 SQUARE MILES AND FORCED HUNDREDS OF EVACUATIONS
IN THE HILLS AROUND PALMDALE IN NORTHERN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
FIRE INSPECTOR MATT LEVESQUE SAID ABOUT 1,200 HOMES IN LEONA
VALLEY AND PARTS OF PALMDALE ARE UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS
THURSDAY EVENING.
KCAL-TV SHOWED AT LEAST TWO STRUCTURES FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
THE BLAZE, BURNING NORTH OF STATE ROUTE 14, JUMPED ELIZABETH
LAKE ROAD IN SEVERAL PLACES, SENDING FIREFIGHTERS AND SHERIFFS
DEPUTIES SCATTERING.
LEVESQUE SAYS THE FIRE IS ACTIVE ON ALL FLANKS, AND DRIVEN BY
HEAVY BRUSH AND DRY BROWN GRASSES THAT BURN EASILY.
ANOTHER FIRE SOUTH OF STATE ROUTE 14 IN THE HILLS THAT CONNECT
LOS ANGELES TO THE INLAND DESERT WAS CONTAINED AT 350 ACRES.

MICHIGAN RIVER-OIL SPILL
COMPANY AT CENTER OF MICH. OIL CITED FOR PROBLEMS

BATTLE CREEK, MICH. (AP) - A CANADIAN COMPANY AT THE CENTER OF A
HUGE OIL SPILL IN MICHIGAN HAS A HISTORY OF PIPELINE PROBLEMS,
INCLUDING LEAKS, AN EXPLOSION AND DOZENS OF REGULATORY VIOLATIONS.
ENBRIDGE INC. OR ITS AFFILIATES HAVE BEEN CITED FOR 30
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS SINCE 2002 BY THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE AGENCY IS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION'S REGULATORY ARM.
THE AGENCY TOLD ENBRIDGE IN JANUARY THAT IT MAY HAVE VIOLATED
SAFETY CODES BY IMPROPERLY MONITORING CORROSION IN THE PIPELINE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MONDAY'S SPILL. OIL FLOWED INTO THE KALAMAZOO
RIVER, WHICH EVENTUALLY CONNECTS TO LAKE MICHIGAN.
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ESTIMATES THE SPILL AT
MORE THAN 1 MILLION GALLONS, BUT ENBRIDGE'S ESTIMATE IS ABOUT
820,000 GALLONS.

PANAMA-DEAD AMERICANS
PAIR WANTED IN US WOMAN'S DEATH DEPORTED TO PANAMA

PANAMA CITY (AP) - AN AMERICAN COUPLE HAVE BEEN DEPORTED TO
PANAMA, WHERE THEY FACE CHARGES OF KILLING TWO OTHER AMERICANS.
WILLIAM CORTEZ AND HIS WIFE JANE WERE ARRESTED IN NICARAGUA
MONDAY BY SOLDIERS WHO CAPTURED THEM AT THE BORDER WITH COSTA RICA.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE COUPLE GAVE FAKE NAMES.
CORTEZ AND HIS WIFE ARE ACCUSED OF KILLING CHERYL LYNN HUGHES, A
ST. LOUIS NATIVE WHO HAD LIVED IN PANAMA FOR 10 YEARS, AND A FRIEND
DESCRIBED AS THE FORMER OWNER OF A NEW MEXICO GALLERY. THEIR BODIES
WERE UNCOVERED LAST WEEK, BURIED IN SHALLOW GRAVES BEHIND A HOTEL
RUN BY CORTEZ IN BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA.
AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THE CORTEZ'S PREYED ON RESIDENTS IN THE
SCENIC COASTAL REGION, AND THEY'RE BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF FIVE OTHER PEOPLE - REPORTEDLY THREE AMERICANS AND
TWO PANAMANIAN WORKERS.

AVIATION SAFETY
HOUSE PASSES BILL TO BOOST COMMUTER AIRLINE SAFETY

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE HOUSE HAS PASSED FAR-REACHING AVIATION
SAFETY LEGISLATION DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO A DEADLY COMMUTER
AIRLINE CRASH IN WESTERN NEW YORK LAST YEAR.
THE SAFETY MEASURES WERE APPROVED WITHOUT OPPOSITION LATE
THURSDAY, WITH SENATE ACTION EXPECTED ON FRIDAY.
THE BILL IS AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE AIRLINES TO HIRE MORE
EXPERIENCED PILOTS, INVESTIGATE THEIR PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT MORE
THOROUGHLY AND TRAIN THEM BETTER. IT ALSO WOULD REQUIRE THE FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO OVERHAUL REGULATIONS GOVERNING PILOT
WORK SCHEDULES.
THE BILL'S IMPETUS WAS THE CRASH OF A CONTINENTAL CONNECTION
FLIGHT NEAR BUFFALO ON FEB. 12, 2009. ALL 49 PEOPLE ABOARD AND ONE
MAN IN A HOUSE WERE KILLED.
AN INVESTIGATION FAULTED ACTIONS BY THE FLIGHT'S PILOTS.

PAKISTAN-FLOODS
OFFICIALS: FLOODS KILL AT LEAST 267 IN PAKISTAN

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (AP) - RESCUE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY
FLOODING HAS KILLED AT LEAST 267 PEOPLE IN PAKISTAN OVER THE PAST
THREE DAYS.
MOST OF THE DEAD WERE IN THE NORTHWEST, WHICH HAS BEEN HIT
ESPECIALLY HARD BY MONSOON RAINS IN RECENT DAYS.
MUJAHID KHAN OF THE EDHI FOUNDATION, A PRIVATELY RUN EMERGENCY
SERVICE, SAYS AT LEAST 245 PEOPLE HAVE DIED THROUGHOUT THE
NORTHWEST. MANY OTHERS WERE STILL MISSING FRIDAY.
SARDAR ATTIQUE KHAN, THE PRIME MINISTER IN PAKISTAN-CONTROLLED
KASHMIR, SAYS FLOODING THERE HAS KILLED 22 PEOPLE.
THE U.N. SAYS OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ALSO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED
BY THE DELUGE.
POOR WEATHER ALSO MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN A PLANE CRASH
WEDNESDAY THAT KILLED ALL 152 PEOPLE ONBOARD IN ISLAMABAD.

HACKING CONFERENCE-ONLINE SECURITY
ATTACKING THE EDGES OF SECURE INTERNET TRAFFIC

LAS VEGAS (AP) - RESEARCHERS HAVE UNCOVERED NEW WAYS THAT
CRIMINALS CAN SPY ON INTERNET USERS EVEN IF THEY'RE USING SECURE
CONNECTIONS TO BANKS, ONLINE RETAILERS OR OTHER SENSITIVE WEB
SITES.
THE ATTACKS DEMONSTRATED AT THE BLACK HAT CONFERENCE SHOW HOW
DETERMINED HACKERS CAN SNIFF AROUND THE EDGES OF ENCRYPTED INTERNET
TRAFFIC TO PICK UP CLUES ABOUT WHAT THEIR TARGETS ARE UP TO.
IT'S LIKE TAPPING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION AND HEARING MUFFLED
VOICES THAT HINT AT THE TONE OF THE CONVERSATION.
THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE WAY WEB BROWSERS HANDLE SECURE SOCKETS
LAYER, OR SSL, ENCRYPTION TECHNOLOGY, ACCORDING TO
CHINA SPY CASE
ATTORNEY: ENGINEER GAVE CHINA UNCLASSIFIED INFO

HONOLULU (AP) - THE ATTORNEY FOR A FORMER B-2 BOMBER ENGINEER
FROM HAWAII ACCUSED OF SELLING MILITARY SECRETS TO CHINA SAYS HIS
CLIENT DESIGNED A CRUISE MISSILE PART FOR CHINA BUT DID SO BASED ON
PUBLIC INFORMATION.
DAVID KLEIN TOLD A FEDERAL JURY THURSDAY THE EXHAUST NOZZLE
NOSHIR GOWADIA DESIGNED FOR A CHINESE STEALTH CRUISE MISSILE WAS
"BASIC STUFF" AND "NOT CLASSIFIED."
HE SAYS THE 67-YEAR-OLD MAUI MAN WANTED TO GET MONEY FROM CHINA,
BUT HE DIDN'T SELL THE COUNTRY MILITARY SECRETS.
KLEIN'S COMMENTS CAME DURING CLOSING ARGUMENTS OF A TRIAL THAT'S
LASTED NEARLY FOUR MONTHS.
GOWADIA HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO 17 COUNTS, INCLUDING
CONSPIRACY, VIOLATING THE ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT AND MONEY
LAUNDERING.

TV-AMERICAN IDOL
ELLEN DEGENERES OUT AS 'AMERICAN IDOL' JUDGE

LOS ANGELES (AP) - ELLEN DEGENERES IS LEAVING "AMERICAN IDOL"
AFTER ONE SEASON AS A JUDGE FOR THE HIT FOX TV SINGING CONTEST.
A PERSON CLOSE TO THE SHOW SAYS DEGENERES WON'T RETURN FOR THE
10TH SEASON, WHICH GIVES "AMERICAN IDOL" TWO VACANCIES ON ITS
JUDGING PANEL. FOX HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE A REPLACEMENT FOR SIMON
COWELL, WHO LEFT AT THE END OF LAST SEASON TO START A NEW TALENT
SHOW FOR THE NETWORK.
THE PERSON, WHO LACKED AUTHORITY TO COMMENT PUBLICLY ON
DEGENERES, SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY.
WITH "AMERICAN IDOL" FACING RATINGS EROSION, THE COMEDIAN-TALK
SHOW HOST'S EXIT GIVES FOX THE CHANCE TO MAKE A FRESH START WITH A
REVAMPED JUDGING PANEL. THE SHOW RETURNS IN JANUARY.