TODAY'S NEWS - Thursday July, 29 2010

LOCAL NEWS

PA LAWMAKER’S VIEW OF AZ IMMIGRATION LAW REFLECTED IN FEDERAL COURT DECISION

A FEDERAL COURT RULING IS TEMPORARILY BLOCKING KEY ELEMENTS OF THE CONTROVERSIAL ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW THAT TAKES EFFECT TODAY, THROWING WEIGHT BEHIND OPPOSITION TO THE LAW HERE IN PA. THE JUDGE SHOT DOWN PARTS OF THE LAW REQUIRING OFFICERS TO CHECK A PERSON’ IMMIGRATION STATUS WHILE ENFORCING OTHER LAWS, AND ALSO WARRANTLESS ARRESTS OF SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. IT ALSO PUT ON HOLD A REQUIREMENT THAT IMMIGRANTS CARRY THEIR PAPERS AT ALL TIMES. PA SENATOR DAYLIN LEACH ALREADY HAS A BILL ON THE TABLE THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT, UNLIKE IN ARIZONA, STATE AND LOCAL POLICE WOULDN’T BE USED TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS. SUPPORTERS OF THE ARIZONA LAW SAY THEY EXPECT TO APPEAL THE DECISION AND HAVE THE JUDGE’S RULING OVERTURNED. LEACH SAYS IF A LAW LIKE ARIZONA’S PASSED IN PA, IT WOULD FORCE POLICE AGENCIES TO DIVERT THEIR RESOURCES AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO AN ALREADY CHALLENGING JOB.

WALL STREET HONE “RESALE” FEE’S RAISE IRE, AND EYEBROWS

WITH THE REAL ESTATE VALUES STILL LOW IN MOST OF THE COUNTRY, A NEW INVESTMENT DEVICE HAS SURFACED – AND A COALITION OF CONSUMER GROUPS AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS IS SOUNDING AN ALARM. ‘PRIVATE TRANSFER FEE COVENANTS” BEING PLACED ON HOMES BY INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS REQUIRE A PERCENTAGE OF THE FINAL SALE PRICE TO BE PAID TO THE PRIVATE THIRD PARTY EVERY TIME THE PROPERTY IS SOLD…FOR UP TO 99 YEARS. KURT PFOTENHAUER WILL THE AMERICAN LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION IS JOINING THE COALITION’S CALL FOR STATE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE ACTIONS AND FOR A FEDERAL BAN. SO FOR 16 STATES HAVE RESTRICTED THE RESALE FEES, AND HUD WON’T INSURE LOANS THAT HAVE THE FEES ATTACHED. THE COALITION IS DELIVERING A LETTER TO US FINANCIAL OFFICIALS ON THE ISSUE THIS WEEK.

PALO ALTO FIRE LEAVES THREE PEOPLE HOMELESS

THREE PEOPLE ARE LEFT HOMELESS AFTER A FIRE DESTROYED A TWO –STORY HOME IN PALO ALTO YESTERDAY EVENING. THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE IS STILL UNDETERMINED AND THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. A WOMAN AND HER TWO CHILDREN WERE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, WHICH STARTED AROUND THE BACK PORCH. THE HOUSE LOCATED AT 418 SAVORY STREET WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. MULTIPLE FIRE COMPANIES FOUGHT THE BLAZE, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.


STATE PARKS REMAIN OPEN AMIDST BUDGET CUTS

YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO VISIT ANY OF THE 117 STATE PARKS THIS YEAR WITHOUT WORRY OF THEM CLOSING. STATE CONSERVATION OFFICIALS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ENSURE THEY WON’T HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE PARKS TEMPORARILY UNTIL FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. THEY WILL RELY ON A COMBINATION OF ADDITIONAL OIL AND GAS REVENUES, REDUCE SERVICES AND FURTHER CUTS IN HOURLY WAGES PAID TO OFFSET THE $3.6 MILLION CUT IN STATE PARK OPERATIONS, AS A RESULT OF THE NEWLY PASSED PA STATE BUDGET. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATIONAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS BEING FUNDED LESS FROM THE TAXPAYER-SUPPORTED GENERAL FUND AND MORE FROM THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES LIKE TIMBER AND OIL AND GAS DEPOSITS ON THE LANDS IT MANAGES. TAX DOLLARS CURRENTLY PAY FOR 62% OF DCNR’S BUDGET, COMPARED TO 77% TRADITIONALLY.


GOVERNOR GIVE GREEN LIGHT FOR DCNR TO HIRE FORESTERS FOR GAS DRILLING.

LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR ED RENDELL’S ADMINISTRATION GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RECOURSES TO HIRE 12 FORESTERS TO OVERSEE THE NATURAL GAS DRILLING IN THE STATE. THE DRILLING, SO FAR CONCENTRATED IN CENTRAL-PENNSYLVANIA, IS KNOWN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND FOCUS IS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE DRILLING-MONITORING PROGRAM. ABOUT 100 WELLS WILL HAVE BEEN DRILLED INTO THE MARCELLUS SHALE BY YEARS END AND DCNR PROJECTS MORE THAN 6,000 WELLS WILL BE DRILLED ON ALREADY LEAST STATE FOREST LAND IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS. THE MONITORING PROGRAM IS A LONG-TERM EFFORT TO MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE TO THE STATE FORESTS. IT WILL FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF DRILLING ON AIR, WATER AND SOIL QUALITY, WILD LIFE HABITATS, THE FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, PARK AND FOREST USERS AND RESIDENT IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES


STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA MAN IS CHARGED WITH KILLING
HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW. POLICE SAY STEVEN ESTREMERA IS ACCUSED OF
KILLING MARIAN FREW, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND SUNDAY AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE BASEMENT STEPS IN HIS ROW HOME. POLICE SAY SHE HAD BEEN STABBED
IN THE NECK WHILE HER TWO 9- AND 11-YEAR-OLD GRANDSONS WERE
SLEEPING ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

EBENSBURG, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN
CONVICTED OF STEALING MORE THAN $650,000 FROM A 94-YEAR-OLD WOMAN.
THE JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT REPORTS JURORS IN CAMBRIA COUNTY
DELIBERATED FOR ONLY ABOUT AN HOUR YESTERDAY BEFORE CONVICTING
FRANK SOLENSKY JR. OF WINDBER OF ALL 18 COUNTS OF THEFT BY
DECEPTION.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - TWO REMAINING SPANS OF A NEARLY 60-YEAR-OLD
BRIDGE THAT ONCE TOOK THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE ACROSS THE
ALLEGHENY RIVER NEAR PITTSBURGH WILL BE DEMOLISHED TOMORROW. THE
MAIN SPAN OF THE BRIDGE IN HARMAR TOWNSHIP WAS IMPLODED JULY 13TH
USING 200 POUNDS OF EXPLOSIVES.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - COMPUTER GIANT IBM IS TEAMING UP WITH CARNEGIE
MELLON UNIVERSITY IN PITTSBURGH ON A RESEARCH LAB TO DEVELOP
TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP GOVERNMENTS BETTER MANAGE THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE. THE COLLABORATIVE LAB IS PART OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
SMART INFRASTRUCTURE INCUBATOR AND SHOULD OPEN IN THE FALL AT CMU'S
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING.


NATIONAL NEWS

MILITARY PLANE CRASH
UPDATE: CARGO PLANE CRASHES AT AK BASE; 4 PEOPLE ON BOARD

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA (AP) - A BOARD OF MILITARY
OFFICERS PLANS TO INVESTIGATE A PLANE CRASH THAT WITNESSES SAY SENT
A FIREBALL RISING HUNDREDS OF FEET OVER AN AIR FORCE BASE NEAR
DOWNTOWN ANCHORAGE.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE PLANE WAS ON A LOCAL TRAINING RUN WEDNESDAY
EVENING WHEN IT CRASHED AT ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE.
THEY GAVE NO IMMEDIATE WORD ON CASUALTIES, BUT LT. GEN. DANA
ATKINS NOTED THAT THE PLANE WAS NOT AN EJECTION AIRCRAFT AND SAID
IT WAS "LIKELY NOBODY ESCAPED."
HE SAID LATE WEDNESDAY THAT "IT'S LIKELY THERE ARE FATALITIES
INVOLVED IN THIS MISHAP."
AIR FORCE SPOKESMAN SAYS FOUR PEOPLE WERE ONBOARD THE C-17.

ECONOMIC SURVEY
AP SURVEY: A BLEAKER OUTLOOK FOR ECONOMY INTO 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS THE U.S. ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WILL REMAIN SLOW DEEP INTO NEXT YEAR, HELD BACK BY
SHOPPERS RELUCTANT TO SPEND AND EMPLOYERS HESITANT TO HIRE.
THE LATEST QUARTERLY ASSOCIATED PRESS ECONOMY SURVEY SHOWS
ECONOMISTS HAVE TURNED GLOOMIER IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. THEY
FORESEE WEAKER GROWTH AND HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT THAN THEY DID BEFORE.
ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, ECONOMIC GROWTH THE REST OF THIS YEAR
AND EARLY NEXT YEAR WILL WEAKEN, TO LESS THAN 3 PERCENT, AND THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WILL BE NO LOWER AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAN IT
IS NOW -- 9.5 PERCENT.
AS A RESULT, THE ECONOMISTS THINK THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL KEEP
INTEREST RATES NEAR ZERO UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT SPRING.
DESPITE EXPECTATIONS OF SLOWER GROWTH, A MAJORITY OF THE 42
ECONOMISTS SURVEYED BELIEVE THE RECOVERY REMAINS ON TRACK, RAISING
HOPES THAT THE ECONOMY CAN AVOID FALLING BACK INTO A "DOUBLE-DIP"
RECESSION.

MICHIGAN RIVER-OIL SPILL
UPDATE: EPA: 1M GALLONS OF OIL MAY BE IN MICH. RIVER

BATTLE CREEK, MICH. (AP) - FEDERAL OFFICIALS NOW ESTIMATE THAT
MORE THAN 1 MILLION GALLONS OF OIL MAY HAVE SPILLED INTO A MAJOR
RIVER IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RELEASED THE UPDATE
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, SHORTLY AFTER THE GOVERNOR SHARPLY CRITICIZED
EFFORTS TO CONTAIN OIL FLOWING DOWN THE KALAMAZOO RIVER.
GOV. JENNIFER GRANHOLM WARNED OF A "TRAGEDY OF HISTORIC
PROPORTIONS" IF THE OIL REACHES LAKE MICHIGAN, WHICH IS STILL AT
LEAST 80 MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM WHERE OIL HAS BEEN SEEN.
ENBRIDGE INC. OWNS THE PIPELINE THAT LEAKED THE OIL, AND ITS CEO
SAID EARLIER WEDNESDAY THAT THE COMPANY HAS MADE "SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS."
THE COMPANY DIDN'T RETURN MESSAGES FOR COMMENT AFTER GRANHOLM'S
STATEMENTS.

AFGHANISTAN
NEW: KARZAI: RELEASE OF SECRET DOCS ENDANGERS AFGHANS

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI
(HAH'-MIHD KAR'-ZEYE) SAYS THE RELEASE OF SECRET U.S. MILITARY
DOCUMENTS HAS ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF AFGHAN CITIZENS WHO HAVE
COOPERATED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FORCES.
KARZAI SAYS HE'S ORDERED HIS CABINET MINISTERS TO STUDY THE MORE
THAN 90,000 DOCUMENTS ON THE AFGHANISTAN WAR POSTED SUNDAY ON THE
WEB BY WIKILEAKS. HE CALLS THE RELEASE OF PAPERS NAMING AFGHANS WHO
SIDE WITH THE NATO-LED FORCE "SHOCKING" AND "IRRESPONSIBLE,"
AND SAYS "THEIR LIVES WILL BE IN DANGER NOW."
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, KARZAI SAYS HE'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTED
IN THE PAPERS THAT ADDRESS CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND MILITANT AND
TERRORIST SANCTUARIES ACROSS THE BORDER IN PAKISTAN.

ARIZONA IMMIGRATION
JUDGE BLOCKS PARTS OF ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW

PHOENIX (AP) - A FEDERAL JUDGE STEPPED INTO THE FIGHT OVER
ARIZONA'S IMMIGRATION LAW AT THE LAST MINUTE WEDNESDAY, BLOCKING
THE HEART OF THE MEASURE AND DEFUSING A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN
POLICE AND THOUSANDS OF ACTIVISTS THAT HAD BEEN BUILDING FOR
MONTHS.
COMING JUST HOURS BEFORE THE LAW WAS TO TAKE EFFECT, THE RULING
ISN'T THE END.
IT SETS UP A LENGTHY LEGAL BATTLE THAT COULD END UP BEFORE THE
SUPREME COURT - ENSURING THAT A LAW THAT REIGNITED THE IMMIGRATION
DEBATE, INSPIRED SIMILAR MEASURES NATIONWIDE, CREATED FODDER FOR
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND RAISED TENSIONS WITH MEXICO WILL STAY IN
THE SPOTLIGHT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR GOV. JAN BREWER SAYS THE STATE WILL APPEAL THE
RULING TO THE 9TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN SAN FRANCISCO ON
THURSDAY, ASKING THE APPELLATE COURT TO LIFT THE INJUNCTION AND
ALLOW THE BLOCKED PROVISIONS TO TAKE EFFECT.

BEAR MAULING DEATH
BEAR KILLS 1, INJURES 2 AT MONTANA CAMPGROUND

COOKE CITY, MONT. (AP) - FIVE BAITED TRAPS HAVE BEEN SET AT A
CAMPGROUND IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK AS WILDLIFE OFFICIALS TRY
TO TRACK DOWN ONE OR MORE BEARS RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEADLY ATTACK.
AT LEAST ONE BEAR RAMPAGED THROUGH THE 10-ACRE SODA BUTTE
CAMPGROUND NEAR COOKE CITY, MONT., EARLY WEDNESDAY, KILLING ONE
PERSON AND INJURING TWO OTHERS.
THE IDENTITIES AND AGES OF THE VICTIMS HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED,
BUT AUTHORITIES SAY A MALE WAS KILLED, AND A MALE AND A FEMALE WERE
HURT.
WILDLIFE EXPERTS ARE COLLECTING BEAR HAIR, SALIVA AND DROPPINGS
WHILE MEASURING THE BITE WOUNDS OF THE VICTIMS TO DETERMINE THE
TYPE AND NUMBER OF BEARS INVOLVED.
A MONTANA WILDLIFE OFFICIAL SAYS IF THEY TRAP A BEAR INVOLVED IN
THE ATTACK, IT WILL BE KILLED.

RUSSIA-SECURITY LAW
MEDVEDEV WIDENS POWERS OF KGB SUCCESSOR AGENCY

MOSCOW (AP) - THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HAS SIGNED A LAW WIDENING
THE POWERS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE, WHICH IS THE KGB'S MAIN
SUCCESSOR AGENCY.
THE LAW ALLOWS THE AGENCY KNOWN AS FSB TO ISSUE WARNINGS TO
PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF PREPARING TO COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST RUSSIA'S
SECURITY. PERPETRATORS FACE FINES OR UP TO 15 DAYS DETENTION.
CRITICS SAY THIS POWER COULD BE USED TO INTIMIDATE GOVERNMENT
OPPONENTS AND STIFLE PROTESTS.
THE BILL HAS RAISED DOUBTS ABOUT PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV'S
(DIH-MEE'-TREE MED-VYEH'-DYEVZ) COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING
FULL-FLEDGED DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
MEDVEDEV HAS TAKEN A SOFTER LINE ON MANY ISSUES THAN HIS
PREDECESSOR, VLADIMIR PUTIN, A FORMER KGB OFFICER AND THEN FSB
CHIEF.
PUTIN IS NOW PRIME MINISTER, AND MANY SEE HIS INTOLERANCE OF
DISSENT AS INFLUENCING THE KREMLIN.

INTELLIGENCE CHIEF
AP SOURCE: INTELLIGENCE NOMINEE HAS SMOOTH SESSION

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S NOMINEE TO BE CHIEF
OF U.S. INTELLIGENCE, JAMES CLAPPER, IS EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED BY
THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WHEN THE PANEL MEETS THURSDAY.
THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OVERSEES THE NATION'S 16
SPY AGENCIES.
CLAPPER MET PRIVATELY WEDNESDAY WITH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
LAWMAKERS. A SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER SAYS ONE OF THE MAIN
OPPONENTS OF CLAPPER'S NOMINATION, REPUBLICAN SEN. KIT BOND OF
MISSOURI, LEFT THE SESSION FAVORABLY IMPRESSED WITH CLAPPER. THE
STAFFER REQUESTED ANONYMITY TO DISCUSS THE MEETING.
CLAPPER'S CONFIRMATION MAY STILL FACE OPPOSITION FROM GOP
LAWMAKERS BECAUSE THEY BLAME THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE CONTINUING
DELAY IN PASSING LAST YEAR'S INTELLIGENCE ACT.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
STRUCTURE LOSSES LOWERED IN CALIF. WILDFIRE

TEHACHAPI, CALIF. (AP) - AUTHORITIES HAVE REVISED DOWNWARD THE
NUMBER OF STRUCTURES DESTROYED BY A 1,400-ACRE WILDFIRE IN
CALIFORNIA'S TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS.
AUTHORITIES SAID WEDNESDAY THAT 25 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN LOST IN
THE BLAZE THAT BROKE OUT TUESDAY IN A COMMUNITY OF SCATTERED RURAL
HOMES KNOWN AS OLD WEST RANCH.
KERN COUNTY FIRE OFFICIALS INITIALLY ESTIMATED THAT 30 TO 40
HOMES WERE LOST. OFFICIALS HAVE NOT SPECIFIED HOW MANY OF THE 25
DESTROYED STRUCTURES WERE HOMES.
ABOUT 150 HOMES REMAIN THREATENED. THE FIRE IS 25 PERCENT
CONTAINED.
TO THE NORTH, IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST, A MORE-THAN
15,500-ACRE WILDFIRE THAT BURNED EIGHT STRUCTURES NEAR KERNVILLE IS
5 PERCENT CONTAINED. ABOUT 1,200 HOMES ARE CONSIDERED THREATENED.

UNIVISION POLL-HISPANICS
AP-UNIVISION POLL: COLLEGE DREAMS FOR HISPANICS

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW ASSOCIATED PRESS-UNIVISION POLL FINDS
THAT HISPANICS PLACE A HIGHER VALUE ON GETTING A COLLEGE DIPLOMA
THAN DOES THE AMERICAN POPULATION AS A WHOLE.
BUT CENSUS FIGURES SHOW ONLY 13 PERCENT OF LATINOS HAVE A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, COMPARED WITH 30 PERCENT AMONG
AMERICANS OVERALL.
THE POLL REVEALED SOME OF THE ROADBLOCKS: LATINOS DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY, AND MANY ARE RELUCTANT TO BORROW. FAMILY OBLIGATIONS
TAKE PRIORITY. PARENTS AND TEACHERS PROVIDE ONLY LUKEWARM SUPPORT.
YET 94 PERCENT OF LATINOS SAY THEY EXPECT THEIR OWN CHILDREN TO
GO TO COLLEGE, A DESIRE THAT'S SLIGHTLY STRONGER WHEN IT COMES TO
DAUGHTERS.