TODAY'S NEWS - Monday July 26, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

SUNDAY STORMS

THE ROUGH PATCHES OF RAIN AND WIND CAUSED TREES TO FALL AND POWER TO BE OUT FOR THOUSANDS ACROSS THE COUNTY YESTERDAY. THE CRESSONA AREA FELT IT THE MOST. THE OUTING OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS THE INTERSECTION AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CRESSONA MALL BECAME A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND STATE POLICE AS WELL AS LOCAL FIRE POLICE HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. DOWNED TREES ON POWER LINES AND ROADWAYS WERE REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THO UNCONFIRMED, THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF HAIL IN THE SOUTHWESTERN AREAS. 2500 CUSTOMERS WERE WITHOUT POWER MID AFTERNOON, ACCORDING TO PPL ELECTRIC. THIS WAS THE 2ND STORM OVER THE WEEKEND CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR RESIDENTS. SATURDAY NIGHT, STORMS CUT POWER TO COUNTY RESIDENCE WITH ST CLAIR LOSING POWER FROM 10:30PM UNTIL ABOUT 6AM SUNDAY MORNING.

ORWIGSBURG TO GET EXPANDED GROCERY STORE

BOYER’S PLANS TO RENOVATE AND TRANSFORM THE FORMER ALPHA MILLS FACTORY ON SOUTH WARREN STREET INTO A NEW GROCERY STORE. THE 48,000 SQUARE FT BUILDING WILL ALSO INCLUDE CORPORATE OFFICES AND WAREHOUSE SPACE. THOUGHT CONTENT WITH IT’S CURRENT LOCATION ON 1165 CENTER TURNPIKE, THE MOVE WILL OPEN UP A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR4 THE COMPANY, SAYS VICE-PRESIDENT JOHN BOYER. THE MOVE IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN AT THE END OF AUGUST, AND BRING MORE REVENUE TO THE BOROUGH. THE FACTORY IS BEING RENOVATED BY SON-RIC ASSOCIATES. BOYERS WAS FOUNDED 61 YEARS AGO, WITH THREE GENERATIONS OPERATING THE BUSINESS, IT CURRENTLY HAS 17 STORES.

CAR STOLEN DURING A BURGLARY

A 2005 PEARL WHITE CADILLAC CTS WAS STOLEN FROM A BOROUGH WOMAN IN SELTZER OVER THE WEEKEND. AN UNKNOWN SUSPECT GAINED ENTRY TO THE HOME AT 418 NELMS STREET THROUGH AN UNLOCKED ATTACHED THREE CAR GARAGE. THROUGH THE GARAGE THE SUSPECT ENTERED THE HOME STEALING A PLASTIC JUG CONTAINING ABOUT $100 WORTH OF U.S. COINS AND SMASHING A LAMP IN THE INTERIOR BEDROOM. THE SUSPECT THEN FLED THE SCENE UNDETECTED DRIVING THE CADILLAC CTS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BURGLARY AND CAR JACKING IS TO CONTACT THE PSP OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.


BULLET ENTERS HOME

A BULLET ENTERED THE HOME OF A PINE GROVE MAN. AN UNKNOWN SUSPECT SHOT THE UNKNOWN CALIBER BULLET INTO THE REAR OF THE RESIDENCE AT 1338 MOUNTAIN ROAD IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BELONGING TO ARLAND BECKER, 48 OF PINE GROVE. THE BULLET TRAVELED THROUGH THE ALUMINUM SIDING ENTERING THE HOME, BECOMING LODGED INTO THE MATTRESS OF SECOND-FLOOR CHILD’S BEDROOM. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS CONTACT THE SPS OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.


STATE NEWS

WAYMART, PA. (AP) - THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CONFIRMED
THAT NO FEWER THAN THREE TORNADOS TORE THROUGH NORTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THE TWISTERS TOUCHED DOWN IN WAYNE
AND PIKE COUNTIES. THEY TOPPLED TREES, DAMAGED BUILDINGS AND CUT
POWER TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - HEALTH OFFICIALS IN PHILADELPHIA SAY THE
DEATHS OF TWO PEOPLE OVER THE WEEKEND WERE HEAT-RELATED. THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS HYPERTHERMIA WAS A FACTOR IN THE
DEATH OF A 90-YEAR-OLD SOUTH PHILADELPHIA WOMAN. ALSO, A
56-YEAR-OLD NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA MAN WAS TREATED FOR HYPERTHERMIA
AT A HOSPITAL BUT DIDN'T SURVIVE.

WINSLOW, N.J. (AP) - THREE PHILADELPHIA RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN
KILLED IN A ONE-CAR CRASH IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. NEW JERSEY STATE
POLICE SAY THE VEHICLE WAS WESTBOUND ON THE ATLANTIC CITY
EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AROUND EARLY SUNDAY AND HIT
A CLUSTER OF TREES. TWO OF THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
23-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN BAXLEY AND 22-YEAR-OLD STEVEN BLOUNT.

SOMERSET, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS IN SOMERSET COUNTY
REMEMBERED THE CRASH OF UNITED FLIGHT 93 AND THE DRAMATIC RESCUE OF
NINE TRAPPED MINERS OVER THE WEEKEND. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND
QUECREEK MINE RESCUE FOUNDATION HELD BACK-TO-BACK EVENTS IN THE
AREA ON SATURDAY.


NATIONAL NEWS

AFGHANISTAN-WIKILEAKS
LEAKS PROVIDE GROUND-LEVEL ACCOUNT OF AFGHAN WAR

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE WHITE HOUSE IS CONDEMNING AN ONLINE
WHISTLE-BLOWER FOR RELEASING SENSITIVE AFGHAN WAR DOCUMENTS.
IT SAYS THE POSTING BY WIKILEAKS OF SOME 90,000 U.S. MILITARY
RECORDS HAS "PUT THE LIVES OF AMERICANS AND OUR PARTNERS AT
RISK."
THE LEAKED DOCUMENTS AMOUNT TO A BLOW-BY-BLOW ACCOUNT OF SIX
YEARS OF THE AFGHANISTAN WAR, INCLUDING UNREPORTED INCIDENTS OF
AFGHAN CIVILIAN KILLINGS AS WELL AS COVERT OPERATIONS AGAINST
TALIBAN FIGURES.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, LONDON'S GUARDIAN AND GERMANY'S DER SPIEGEL
WERE GIVEN EARLY ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENTS.
THE TIMES SAYS THE DOCUMENTS ALSO DESCRIBE U.S. FEARS THAT
PAKISTAN'S INTELLIGENCE SERVICE WAS ACTUALLY AIDING THE TALIBAN.
BUT THE GUARDIAN SAYS THE DOCUMENTS "FAIL TO PROVIDE A CONVINCING
SMOKING GUN" FOR SUCH COMPLICITY.
THE GUARDIAN REPORTS THAT MORE THAN 2,000 SENIOR FIGURES FROM
THE TALIBAN AND AL-QAIDA ARE ON A "KILL OR CAPTURE" LIST.
PAKISTAN'S AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. HUSAIN HAQQANI SAYS THE
DOCUMENTS "DO NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT ON-GROUND REALITIES."

GULF OIL SPILL-BP
NEW: BP: NO DECISIONS YET ON CHIEF; AMERICAN IN LINE FOR
HAYRWARD JOB

LONDON (AP) - BP SAYS THAT "NO FINAL DECISION" HAS BEEN MADE
ABOUT POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT CHANGES, WHICH APPARENTLY INCLUDE REPORTS
THAT CHIEF EXECUTIVE TONY HAYWARD IS ON THE WAY OUT.
IN A STATEMENT TO THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, BP SAYS NO FINAL
DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT POTENTIAL CHANGES TO MANAGEMENT AND
THE CHARGE FOR COSTS RELATED TO THE GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL.
BP SAYS ITS BOARD MEETS TODAY, A DAY BEFORE THE COMPANY
ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER.
ONE OF THE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS FOR HAYWARD NOW OVERSEES THE
DAY TO DAY RESPONSE BY BP TO THE GULF OIL SPILL CRISIS. IF BOB
DUDLEY DOES SUCCEED THE GAFFE-PRONE HAYWARD, HE'D BE THE FIRST
AMERICAN TO EVER HEAD THE OIL GIANT.
A SENIOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAYS HAYWARD IS ON HIS WAY
OUT.

BLAGOJEVICH TRIAL
NEW: CLOSING ARGUMENTS TODAY

CHICAGO (AP) - ATTORNEYS ARE PREPARING TO MAKE THEIR FINAL PITCH
IN THE CORRUPTION TRIAL OF FORMER ILLINOIS GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH.
TWENTY MONTHS AFTER BLAGOJEVICH WAS LED OUT OF HIS HOME IN
HANDCUFFS, CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN MONDAY.
BLAGOJEVICH ATTORNEY SAM ADAM JR. BELIEVES PROSECUTORS PROVED
NOTHING DURING THE SEVEN-WEEK TRIAL. HE'LL LIKELY TELL JURORS THAT
THAT'S WHY THE DEFENSE DIDN'T BOTHER PRESENTING ANY EVIDENCE OR
FULFILL PROMISES TO HAVE BLAGOJEVICH TESTIFY.
PROSECUTORS WILL LIKELY SAY BLAGOJEVICH AND HIS INNER CIRCLE
SCHEMED TO BENEFIT FROM HANDING OUT STATE CONTRACTS AND LEVERAGING
OTHER OFFICIAL DECISIONS.
BLAGOJEVICH AND HIS BROTHER HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO SCHEMING
TO SELL AN APPOINTMENT TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S OLD SENATE SEAT.

IRAQ-SECURITY FORCES
IRAQI FORCES STILL FRAIL AS US TROOPS HEAD HOME

MOSUL, IRAQ (AP) - U.S. TROOPS ARE SCHEDULED TO END THEIR COMBAT
MISSION IN IRAQ FIVE WEEKS FROM NOW, BUT IS IRAQ READY?
THE COUNTRY'S MILITARY CHIEF SAYS THAT WITHOUT A U.S. PRESENCE,
IRAQI FORCES WON'T BE ABLE TO FULLY FEND FOR THEMSELVES BEFORE
2020. ANTHONY CORDESMAN, A FORMER DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE
ASSESSMENT IN THE PENTAGON, AGREES THAT IT WILL TAKE YEARS.
THAT VIEW HAS ALSO COME ACROSS IN MANY CONVERSATIONS THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS HAD IN RECENT MONTHS WITH IRAQI MILITARY,
POLICE AND KURDISH MILITIA.
U.S. COMMANDERS SAY VIOLENCE IS DOWN BY MORE THAN HALF SINCE
AMERICAN TROOPS PULLED OUT OF IRAQI CITIES A YEAR AGO. BUT BOMBINGS
STILL HAPPEN ALMOST DAILY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND DRIVE-BY
SHOOTINGS AND KIDNAPPINGS ALSO ARE COMMON.
GEN. RAY ODIERNO, COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ, TOLD
REPORTERS LAST WEEK THAT IRAQ SECURITY FORCES "CONTINUE TO GROW
AND IMPROVE EVERY DAY."

POWER OUTAGES
NEW: STORMS SLAM RESIDENTS FROM DC TO NY

UNDATED (AP) - DAYS OF BRUTAL HEAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY STORMS
THAT LEFT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM WASHINGTON NORTH TO
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
A WOMAN IN MARYLAND DIED WHEN A TREE FELL ON HER VEHICLE AND
OFFICIALS SAY A SAILOR IS MISSING ON LONG ISLAND SOUND AFTER
FALLING OVERBOARD. THE STORMS KNOCKED DOWN DOZENS OF TREES.
THE WORST OF THE POWER OUTAGES OCCURRED IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C.
REGION WHERE PEPCO REPORTED MORE THAN 293,000 CUSTOMERS IN THE
DISTRICT AND TWO MARYLAND COUNTIES HAD NO ELECTRICITY. ANOTHER
57,000 CUSTOMERS IN THE BALTIMORE ARE LOST POWER ALONG WITH ABOUT
38,000 IN VIRGINIA.
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS SAID NUMEROUS TRAFFIC SIGNALS WERE OUT
THROUGHOUT THE REGION INCLUDING SOME ALONG MAJOR ROUTES.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAID A STRONG COLD FRONT COMING IN
AFTER DAYS OF OPPRESSIVE HEAT BREWED UP THE STORMS.

KOREAS-US-MILITARY DRILLS
US-LED ARMADA PRACTICES ANTI-SUB MANEUVERS OFF KOREA

ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN
WARSHIPS AND HELICOPTERS ARE PRACTICING ANTI-SUBMARINE MANEUVERS
OFF THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
THEY ARE READYING DEFENSES AGAINST THE KIND OF WEAPON THAT
ALLEGEDLY SANK A SOUTH KOREAN WARSHIP EARLIER THIS YEAR, KILLING 46
SAILORS. AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE 1,200-TON
SHIP WAS SUNK BY A TORPEDO LAUNCHED FROM A NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINE
THAT SOMEHOW PENETRATED SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENSES.
PYONGYANG HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY AND PROTESTED THE EXERCISES,
WHICH IT'S CALLED AN INTOLERABLE PROVOCATION.
THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, A
NUCLEAR-POWERED SUPERCARRIER LEADING THE ARMADA, SAYS HE'S
CONCERNED ABOUT EVERY SUBMARINE UNDERWATER THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW
ABOUT. CAPT. DAVID LAUSMAN DESCRIBES NORTH KOREA'S MILITARY AS
"UNPREDICTABLE" AND SAYS IT SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.

CAMBODIA-GENOCIDE TRIBUNAL
KHMER ROUGE'S CHIEF JAILER GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (AP) - A U.N.-BACKED TRIBUNAL HAS FOUND THE
FORMER KHMER ROUGE CHIEF JAILER GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES
AGAINST HUMANITY AND ORDERED HIM TO SERVE 19 YEARS IN PRISON.
IT WAS THE FIRST VERDICT TO BE HANDED DOWN AGAINST A SENIOR
MEMBER OF THE GENOCIDAL REGIME BLAMED FOR THE DEATHS OF 1.7 MILLION
PEOPLE DURING THEIR 1975-79 REIGN OF TERROR.
THE COURT SENTENCED KAING GUEK EAV (GANG GEHK EE'-OO), ALSO
KNOWN AS DUCH (DOYK) TO 35 YEARS IN PRISON, BUT SHAVED OFF THE 11
YEARS HE'S ALREADY SPENT IN DETENTION AND FIVE MORE FOR COOPERATING
WITH THE COURT.

IRAN-SANCTIONS
NEW: EU TO ADOPT NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

BRUSSELS (AP) - THE EUROPEAN UNION IS SET TO FORMALLY ADOPT A
PACKAGE OF NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN, TARGETING THE COUNTRY'S
FOREIGN TRADE, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND ENERGY AND GAS SECTORS.
THE MOVE IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF MEASURES TAKEN BY THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN AN EFFORT TO HALT IRAN'S NUCLEAR
PROGRAM. EU LEADERS ALREADY HAVE ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT
THE NEW MEASURES, WHICH WILL GO FURTHER THAN THE SANCTIONS ADOPTED
BY THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL IN JUNE.
EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING ON MONDAY ALSO WILL REAFFIRM THE
BLOC'S INVITATION TO TEHRAN TO HOLD TALKS ON THE ISSUE.
THE UNITED STATES, ISRAEL AND THE EU FEAR IRAN IS WORKING ON A
NUCLEAR WEAPON. IRAN DENIES THE CHARGE, SAYING ITS PROGRAM IS
INTENDED FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES SUCH AS ENERGY-GENERATION.

DEVICE INJURIES-KIDS
MEDICAL DEVICE PROBLEMS HURT 70,000+ KIDS ANUALLY

CHICAGO (AP) - GOVERNMENT RESEARCH SAYS CONTACT LENSES ARE THE
TOP CAUSE OF MEDICAL DEVICE COMPLICATIONS IN KIDS.
U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT MORE
THAN 70,000 CHILDREN AND TEENS GET EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT EACH
YEAR FOR MEDICAL DEVICE-RELATED PROBLEMS.
MANY PROBLEMS ARE THINGS LIKE INFECTIONS AND EYE ABRASIONS IN
CONTACT LENS WEARERS. THESE CAN RESULT FROM WEARING CONTACT LENSES
TOO LONG WITHOUT CLEANING THEM.
OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE PUNCTURE WOUNDS FROM NEEDLE INJECTIONS OF
MEDICINE OR ILLEGAL DRUGS, AND INFECTIONS FROM IMPLANTED SHUNTS AND
CATHETERS IN CHRONICALLY ILL KIDS.
THE STUDY APPEARS IN PEDIATRICS, PUBLISHED ONLINE MONDAY.

MENTALLY DISABLED-DEPORTATION
REPORT DETAILS PLIGHT OF MENTALLY ILL DETAINEES FACING
DEPORTATION

NEW YORK (AP) - A NEW REPORT SAYS THOUSANDS OF MENTALLY DISABLED
IMMIGRANTS ARE ENTANGLED IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS EACH YEAR.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION SAY
THEY RECEIVE LITTLE OR NO LEGAL HELP, LEAVING THEM DEFENSELESS AND
DETAINED AS THEIR FATES ARE DECIDED.
THE REPORT'S LEAD AUTHOR SAYS: "NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH
DETAINEES WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES, SO EVERY PART OF THE
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM HAS ABDICATED RESPONSIBILITY."
SHORTCOMINGS INCLUDE NO RIGHT TO APPOINTED COUNSEL, INFLEXIBLE
DETENTION POLICIES, INSUFFICIENT GUIDANCE FOR JUDGES ON HANDLING
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES, AND INADEQUATELY COORDINATED
SERVICES TO AID DETAINEES WHILE IN CUSTODY.
U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT IS THE AGENCY WHICH
ARRESTS AND DETAINS PEOPLE FACING DEPORTATION. IT'S HOSTING A
NATIONAL FORUM IN SEPTEMBER TO GET INPUT FROM MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS
ON WAYS TO IMPROVE ITS PRACTICES.

ZION FLASH FLOOD
FLASH FLOOD CARRIES 3 THROUGH CANYON IN UTAH PARK

ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH (AP) - ZION NATIONAL PARK OFFICIALS SAY
THREE MEN WHO WERE SWEPT AWAY BY A FLASH FLOOD IN A CANYON WERE
WASHED OVER A 40-FOOT DROP AND SURVIVED.
TWO OF THE THREE MEN ALSO WENT OVER ANOTHER 60-FOOT PLUNGE AS
THE WATER RUSHED THROUGH SPRY CANYON ON SATURDAY IN THE UTAH PARK.
ZION SPOKESMAN RON TERRY SAYS THE MEN FROM THE LAS VEGAS AREA
WERE HIKING WHEN ABOUT AN INCH OF RAIN FELL IN LESS THAN 30
MINUTES. ONCE THEY WERE FREE OF THE WATER, ONE OF THE MEN USED A
HEADLAMP TO SIGNAL A DISTRESS CALL AND AN OFF-DUTY PARK RANGER
SPOTTED THE FLASHING LIGHT.
TWO OF THE MEN WERE FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL IN ST. GEORGE, UTAH.
TERRY SAID THEIR NAMES WERE NOT BEING RELEASED AND HAD NO WORD ON
THEIR CONDITION ON SUNDAY.