Today's News-Thursday, July 1, 2010

SUSPECT NABBED IN ARMED ROBBERY
Police have nabbed a suspect from an armed robbery in Schuylkill Haven less than 24 hours after it happened. State and local police were called to the Red and White Market, Route 61 and Earl Street early Wednesday. A man, now identified as 26 year old William Kistler, 110 River Street, Cressona, pointed a gun at a store clerk, demanding money around 5:30am, then fled on foot. Kistler was located in Fredericksburg, Virginia by local police and the Virginia State Police and taken into custody. He is being extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges of armed robbery and motor vehicle theft.

BURGLARY AT EAST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP HOME
State police are looking for three Hispanic looking suspects who may have burglarized a home on Summer Valley Road in East Brunswick Township Wednesday. The men forced their way into the home and took several items, then fled in an older model, green colored car with tinted windows. One of the suspects is reported to have shoulder length hair and wore a bandana. Anyone with leads should call the Frackville state police station at 874-5300.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON SHOOTING
We expect to learn more details about the shooting of a Tuscarora man by police today. Schuylkill County District Attorney Jim Goodman has called a press conference for 10am this morning at the county courthouse to discuss the case of Scott Mackelvey. Mackelvey was shot and killed by police after an incident in Walker Township on May 25th. WPPA/T102 News will be there to cover the press conference.

ANCZARSKI VIEWING
Over a thousand people came to pay their respects to a Ringtown man who died after injuries suffered in a car/bicycle accident in New Mexico last week. A viewing was held at St John's Lutheran Church in Ringtown for 19 year old John Anczarski. Three friends and Anczarski were bicycling across the United States to raise money for breast cancer when a car hit Anczarski's bicycle in New Laguna, New Mexico. The men were nearly finished their cross country ride as part of the Pink Pedal team. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is investigating the accident.

TWO FORMER POLICE OFFICERS OFF OF HOME CONFINEMENT
A federal judge on Wednesday ruled two former Shenandoah police officers accused of impeding a murder investigation can have freedom and be off home confinement. Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo gave the ruling to Former Shenandoah officers Jason Hayes and William Moyer. Defense attorneys proved to the Judge that prosecutors didn't have enough evidence to hold the two on house arrest. Both were involved in the attempted cover-up into the fatal beating of 25-year-old Luis Ramirez. Jason Hayes remains engaged to Tammy Piekarsky the mother of Brandon Piekarsky who was acquitted of third-degree murder in the case but later charged with a federal hate crime.

MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING ELECTRICITY
A New Ringgold man is accused of stealing electricity from PPL Utilities. State police report that 29 year old David Heckman allegedly used a jumper wire to bypass a PPL electric meter. That allowed Heckman to use electricity for free after his service had been cut off for non payment. PPL is seeking restitution of more than $300 dollars for the electricity used.

COUNTY LAWMAKERS SPLIT ON BUDGET
Schuylkill County's legislative delegation split along party lines in voting on the Pennsylvania state budget. Democratic representatives Neal Goodman and Tim Seip voted in favor of the $28 billion dollar spending plan, while Jerry Knowles and Senator Dave Argall, both Republicans, voted against it. The spending plan, passed on the last day of the fiscal year, is the first budget passed on time during Rendell's 7 years in office. The budget increases overall spending less than 1 percent, increases education funding by $250 million dollars, and cuts services in a number of state agencies, including libraries and state parks. The Governor is expected to sign the budget in the next few days.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State prosecutors have charged a suburban Philadelphia judge with inappropriate contact with a 12-year-old girl in 2004. Attorney General Tom Corbett says a statewide investigative grand jury recommends the charges against 69-year-old Gerald Liberace, who's a Delaware County senior magisterial district judge.

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania man has been ordered to stand trial in a shooting death stemming from an apparent dispute over the microphone during a musical performance in Columbia, Lancaster County. The Lancaster Intelligencer Journal reports Jakeem Towles is accused in the May shooting death of Cornell Stewart.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A police officer injured in Chester has been released from a hospital while a teenager still hospitalized is facing charges of murder and aggravated assault. Officer Luis Rodriguez was shot in the city south of Philadelphia yesterday afternoon. Police say he was shot when he confronted a man leaving a building through a second-story window on Tuesday.

SAN FERNANDO, Mexico (AP) - Forecasters say Hurricane Alex has weakened to Category 1 strength and is expected to continue losing its punch during the day. The storm has sustained winds of 85 mph as it pushes inland, about 35 miles northwest of La Pesca, Mexico. Wednesday night Alex struck the northern coast of Mexico, but there are no reports of injuries.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will give his first speech as president on immigration overhaul this morning. The president isn't expected to announce any new proposals or policy changes, but hopes to rally new momentum behind the push for a comprehensive approach to fixing illegal immigration.

WASHINGTON (AP) - It's going to be a long holiday weekend for some 1.3 million people who are out of work. For the third time in three weeks, Senate Republicans have blocked a vote on extending jobless benefits and won't revisit the issue until after Independence Day. The House is supposed to vote on a similar measure later today.

TOKYO (AP) - Another possible safety problem for Toyota. Toyota says some 270,000 of its cars could have faulty engines, possibly stalling the car while the vehicle is still moving. The automaker's luxury Lexus sedans are included in the announcement. No recall has yet been announced.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to surpass the 140 million gallon mark today, based on government estimates. The oil has now been gushing for two and a-half months from a blown-out well a mile under the sea.