TODAY"S NEWS - Tues July 27, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

PA TOPS NATION REVENUE FROM GAMBLING TAX

PENNSYLVANIA GENERATES THE HIGHEST REVENUE IN THE NATION WITH IT’S GAMBLING TAX. STANDING AT 55%, THE 9 CASINOS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN THE STATE GENERATED $1.1BILLION DOLLARS IN 2009. WHICH IS FAR MORE THAN NEVADA’S 260 CASINO’S WHICH GENERATED $831 MILLION LAST YEAR. THE 55% TAX RATE ON SLOTS IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION, AND EXPERTS SAY THIS COULD BE A DETERENT FOR NEW CASINO CONSTRUCTION IN THE FUTURE. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN NOTED THAT SEVERAL PENNSYLVANIA CASINOS HAVE ALREADY SCRATCHED THEIR EXPANSION PLANS. ONE OF THOSE IS MOHEGAN SUN AT POCONO DOWNS WHICH TOOK IN $216 MILLION BUT HAS TO GIVE $116 MILLION OF THAT TO THE STATE. PENNSYLVANIAN’S ARE STILL GAMBLING, EVEN WITH THE UNCERTAIN ECONOMY, SLOT REVENUE INCREASED FROM $13.4 MILLION IN 2006-2007 TO ALMOST $1.5 BILLION THE FOLLOWING YEAR. WITH TABLE GAMES NOW OPEN, PENNSYLVANIA CAN ONLY EXPECT TO GENERATE EVEN MORE INCOME FOR THE STATE. 100, 000 SENIOR CITIZENS WILL HAVE THEIR PROPERTY TAX ELIMINATE NEXT YEAR, AS ONE OF THE PAYBACKS FROM THE GAMBLING TAX,

6-14 YEAR SENTENCE FOR 2009 STABBING

A POTTSVILLE MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED 6-14 YEARS IN A STATE PRISON FOR THE 2009 STABBING OF TRAVIS KROMER IN POTTSVILLE. TODD M. RICHTER WAS CHARGED WITH TWO ACCOUNTS EACH OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND ONE EACH OF PROHIBITED OFFENSIVE WEAPON AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR. RICHTER GRABBED A KNIFE BEFORE ENTERING TRAVIS KROMER’S HOUSE, STABBING HIM INTENTIONALLY AND LEAVING A PERMANENT SCAR OF HIM. JUDGE D. MICHAEL STINE RULED IN THE TRIAL FOR RICHTER TO ALSO PAY ALMOST $46,000 IN COSTS.

MINERSVILLE ARSONIST STILL OUT THERE

IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE AN ARSONIST BURNED DOWN THE WYNN-ANN RESTAURANT IN MINERSVILLE AND POLICE THINK THEY WILL SOON SOLVE THE CASE. THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INTERVIEWING PEOPLE AND GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT THE APRIL 24TH INCIDENT, AT ALSO TOOK OUT SEVERAL BUILDINGS ATTACHED TO THE RESTAURANT ON SUNBURY STREET. DEMOLITION OF THOSE BUILDINGS IS UNDERWAY, HOWEVER THE BOROUGH COUNCIL OF MINERSVILLE VOTED IN MAY TO SEEK CONSERVATORSHIP OF THE WYNN-ANN RESTAURANT BEFORE TEARING IT DOWN, GUARANTEEING THEY WOULD RECOUP THE LOSS OF DEMOLITION. THE RESIDENTS OF MINERSVILLE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REMAIN VIGILANT ABOUT ARSON IN THEIR TOWN, SINCE SEVERAL OTHER SUSPICIOUS FIRES HAPPENED IN THE AREA SHORTLY AFTER THE APRIL 24TH INCIDENT.



FORMER POLICE CAPTAIN NOT FLIGHT RISK

A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED YESTERDAY, AT A HEARING IN WILKES-BARRE THAT FORMER POLICE CAPTAIN JAMIE GENNARINNI IS NOT A FLIGHT RISK AND WILL NOT HAVE TO WEAR ELECTRONIC MONORITING OR BE ON HOUSE ARREST BEFORE HIS TRIAL. SENIOR US DISTRICT COURT JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO MADE THE DECISION FOLLOWING THE 30-MINUTE HEARING, IN WHICH GENNARINNI IS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF OBSTRUCTING COMMERCE AND ONE EACH OF CONSPIRACY AGAINST RIGHTS AND DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS IN THE BEATING DEATH OF LUIS EDUARDO RAMIREZ ON JULY 12, 2008. CAPUTO ALSO RULED THIS MONTH TO END HOME DETENTION FOR TWO OTHER FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS, WILLIAM MOYER AND JASON HAYSES. THOSE ALONG WITH FORMER POLICE CHIEF, MATHEW R NESTOR FACE CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO THE SAME INCIDENT.


STATE NEWS

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A DISTRICT JUDGE SAYS HE'S HEARD ENOUGH
EVIDENCE TO SEND PUBLIC CORRUPTION CHARGES AGAINST STATE REP. BILL
DEWEESE TO A COUNTY COURT FOR TRIAL. THE CASE REVOLVES AROUND THE
ROLE CAMPAIGN WORK PLAYED IN THE OFFICES OF THE GREENE COUNTY
DEMOCRAT.

CHESTER, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS IN CHESTER HAVE IDENTIFIED A MAN
SHOT TO DEATH LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER OFFICIALS ENDED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY DECLARED MORE THAN A MONTH AGO DUE TO SPIRALING VIOLENCE.
AUTHORITIES TELL THE DELAWARE COUNTY DAILY TIMES RAHIM HICKS DIED
AFTER HE WAS SHOT IN THE DOORWAY OF A MARKET EARLY SATURDAY.

CHESWICK, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION SECRETARY JOHN HANGER SAYS THERE'S "NO DEFINITIVE WORD
YET" ON WHAT CAUSED A FATAL EXPLOSION AT A NATURAL GAS AND OIL
WELL IN INDIANA TOWNSHIP NEAR PITTSBURGH LAST WEEK. HANGER SAYS THE
AGENCY HOPES TO ANNOUNCE ITS FINDINGS WITHIN 45 DAYS.

ELKINS PARK, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SAY A
KITTEN IS BEING TREATED AFTER SOMEONE LEFT IT IN THE BOOK DROP OF A
COMMUNITY CENTER. STAFFERS SAY THE KITTEN WAS SHOVED INTO THE BOOK
DROP AT THE LA MOTT COMMUNITY CENTER IN CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP
SOMETIME AFTER CLOSING THURSDAY NIGHT. THE KITTEN WAS FOUND THE
NEXT MORNING BY A MAINTENANCE MAN WHO HEARD MEWING COMING FROM THE
DROP BOX.


NATIONAL NEWS

GULF OIL SPILL
NEW: BP CONFIRMS HAYWARD DEPARTURE AS CEO

LONDON (AP) - BP PLC SAYS TONY HAYWARD WILL STEP DOWN AS CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER FROM OCT. 1, TO BE SUCCEEDED BY AMERICAN ROBERT
DUDLEY.
IN A STATEMENT ACCOMPANYING ITS EARNINGS UPDATE ON TUESDAY, BP
SAYS THE DECISION WAS MADE BY "MUTUAL AGREEMENT."
BP ALSO REPORTS IT HAS TAKEN A PRETAX CHARGE OF $32.2 BILLION
FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO SPILL, AND PLANS TO SELL ASSETS FOR UP TO
$30 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.
THE COMPANY SAYS DUDLEY WILL BE BASED IN LONDON WHEN HE TAKES UP
HIS APPOINTMENT AND WILL HAND OVER HIS PRESENT DUTIES IN THE UNITED
STATES TO LAMAR MCKAY - THE CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT OF BP AMERICA.
HAYWARD WILL REMAIN ON THE BOARD UNTIL NOV. 30 AND BP PLANS TO
NOMINATE HIM AS A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ITS RUSSIAN JOINT
VENTURE TNK-BP.

AFGHANISTAN
NATO: 1 MISSING SAILOR KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - A NATO OFFICIAL SAYS THAT ONE OF TWO
SAILORS MISSING IN AFGHANISTAN SINCE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN CONFIRMED
DEAD. THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE BODY OF THE DEAD SAILOR HAS BEEN
RECOVERED AND FAMILY MEMBERS INFORMED.
THE OFFICIAL SPOKE TUESDAY ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY OUT OF A
DESIRE TO PROTECT ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE ONGOING
SEARCH FOR THE SECOND SAILOR.
AFGHAN OFFICIALS AND A TALIBAN SPOKESMAN HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID
THAT ONE OF THE SAILORS WAS KILLED IN A FIREFIGHT WHEN THEY DROVE
INTO A TALIBAN-HELD AREA IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN, AND THE OTHER WAS
CAPTURED.
COLORADO LEGISLATOR JIM KERRY SAID THE NAVY SAILOR KILLED WAS
HIS WIFE'S NEPHEW, JUSTIN MCNELEY, 30. HE SAID THE FAMILY LEARNED
OF HIS DEATH MONDAY.

AFGHANISTAN-WIKILEAKS
PENTAGON ASSESSES DAMAGE FROM POSTING OF LEAKED DOCUMENTS

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE MONUMENTAL LEAK OF CLASSIFIED AFGHAN WAR
DOCUMENTS HAS SENT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION INTO DAMAGE CONTROL
MODE.
THE LEAK THREATENS TO CREATE DEEPER DOUBTS ABOUT THE WAR AT
HOME, CAUSE NEW FRICTION WITH PAKISTAN OVER ITS SPY AGENCY AND
RAISE QUESTIONS AROUND THE WORLD ABOUT WASHINGTON'S ABILITY TO
PROTECT MILITARY SECRETS.
THE WHITE HOUSE CALLED THE TORRENT OF MORE THAN 91,000 SECRET
DOCUMENTS "ALARMING."
IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURES IN MILITARY
HISTORY AND THE MATERIAL COULD REINFORCE THE VIEW OF CONGRESSIONAL
OPPONENTS THAT ONE OF THE NATION'S LONGEST CONFLICTS IS HOPELESSLY
STALEMATED.
THE LEAKS ALSO COME AT A TIME WHEN POLLS FINDING THAT A MAJORITY
OF AMERICANS NO LONGER THINK THE WAR IS WORTH FIGHTING. THE LEAKS
ARE NOT EXPECTED TO PREVENT PASSAGE OF A $60 BILLION WAR FUNDING
BILL.

AP-UNIVISION POLL-HISPANICS-POLITICS
NEW: POLL: A FEW CRACKS IN OBAMA'S HISPANIC SUPPORT

WASHINGTON (AP) - AN ASSOCIATED PRESS-UNIVISION POLL FINDS A FEW
CRACKS IN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S ONCE SOLID SUPPORT AMONG
HISPANICS.
THE SURVEY OF MORE THAN 1,500 HISPANICS SHOWS THEY STILL
OVERWHELMINGLY FAVOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OVER THE GOP, AND A
MAJORITY STILL THINK OBAMA IS DOING A GOOD JOB.
BUT THE SURVEY, ALSO SPONSORED BY THE NIELSEN COMPANY AND
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, SHOWS OBAMA GETS ONLY LUKEWARM RATINGS ON
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO HISPANICS LIKE THE ECONOMY AND IMMIGRATION.
THAT COULD BODE POORLY FOR THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY.
IN A TOUGH POLITICAL CLIMATE, DEMOCRATS DESPERATELY NEED THIS
CRITICAL CONSTITUENCY EXCITED ABOUT HELPING THE PARTY HOLD ONTO
CONGRESS THIS FALL.

PANAMA-DEAD AMERICAN
NEW: NICARAGUA DETAINS 2 FOREIGNERS IN PANAMA CASE

MANAGUA, NICARAGUA (AP) - TWO FOREIGNERS ARE BEING HELD IN
NICARAGUA IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN
IN PANAMA.
THE NICARAGUAN ARMY SAYS THE COUPLE WERE ARRESTED AT THE BORDER
WITH COSTA RICA AFTER IGNORING WARNINGS FROM SOLDIERS TO STOP. THE
TWO WERE TRAVELING BY BOAT ON A RIVER THAT SEPARATES THE TWO
COUNTRIES.
AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE SUSPECT COUPLE FLED
NORTH THROUGH COSTA RICA FROM PANAMA.
PANAMANIAN PROSECUTORS SAY THE TWO RESEMBLE WILLIAM ADOLFO
CORTEZ OF TEXAS AND HIS WIFE, JANE, WHO ARE BEING SOUGHT IN
CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF AMERICAN CHERYL LYNN HUGHES.
HUGHES' BODY AND THE SKELETAL REMAINS OF ANOTHER PERSON WERE
DISCOVERED LAST WEEK, BURIED IN THE BACK PATIO OF A PANAMANIAN
HOTEL OWNED BY CORTEZ. HUGHES HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE MARCH.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE ARRESTED COUPLE HAVE GIVEN NAMES DIFFERENT
FROM THE SUSPECTS.

KOREAS-US-MILITARY DRILLS
NO SIGN OF NKOREA ACTION AS US-SKOREAN EXERCISES ENTER THIRD DAY

ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (AP) - SOUTH KOREA'S MILITARY
SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNS THAT NORTH KOREA WILL MAKE GOOD ON
ITS THREATS AS U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN FORCES CONDUCT A THIRD DAY OF
EXERCISES IN THE EAST SEA OFF THE KOREAN COAST.
THE DRILLS, WHICH RUN THROUGH WEDNESDAY, ARE INTENDED TO SEND A
MESSAGE TO NORTH KOREA IN THE WAKE OF THE MARCH SINKING OF A SOUTH
KOREAN WARSHIP THAT KILLED 46 SAILORS. AN INTERNATIONAL
INVESTIGATION DETERMINED A TORPEDO WAS RESPONSIBLE, LIKELY IN A
SNEAK ATTACK BY A NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINE.
THE INCIDENT HAS SHARPLY RAISED TENSIONS BETWEEN THE KOREAS. THE
STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS THIS WEEK'S MILITARY EXERCISES "DEFENSIVE
IN NATURE."

DRUG WAR-MEXICO
MEXICAN POLICE INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE NEW DRUG GANG

ACAPULCO, MEXICO (AP) - MEXICAN AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING
THE POSSIBLE EMERGENCE OF A NEW DRUG GANG.
OFFICIALS SAY THEY APPEAR TO BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR SIX
KILLINGS IN THE STATE OF GUERRERO. POLICE THERE SAY THEY FOUND THE
BODIES INSIDE A CAR ALONG WITH A MESSAGE READING: "THIS WILL
HAPPEN TO ALL RAPISTS, EXTORTIONISTS AND KIDNAPPERS." IT WAS
SIGNED, "THE NEW CARTEL OF THE SIERRA."
PROSECUTORS SAY THEY GROUP HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN HEARD OF AND
ITS AUTHENTICITY IS BEING INVESTIGATED.
AT LEAST SEVEN MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING CARTELS OPERATE IN MEXICO.
MEXICAN AUTHORITIES BLAME INFIGHTING FOR A SURGE OF GANG VIOLENCE
THAT HAS KILLED NEARLY 25,000 PEOPLE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

US AIRWAYS-PILOTS
CARRIER ASKS FEDERAL JUDGE TO SETTLE PILOT DISPUTE

PHOENIX (AP) - US AIRWAYS HAS ASKED A FEDERAL JUDGE TO RESOLVE A
SENIORITY DISPUTE INVOLVING ITS PILOTS.
EXECUTIVES WITH THE TEMPE, ARIZ.-BASED CARRIER SAID MONDAY'S
LEGAL ACTION IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN PHOENIX IS CALLED A
COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY RELIEF. THEY SAY THE DISPUTE HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY STALLED EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE A JOINT CONTRACT
COVERING THE 4,000 PILOTS JOINED TOGETHER BY THE MERGER OF AMERICA
WEST AND US AIRWAYS FIVE YEARS AGO.
THE AIRLINE'S PILOTS UNION SAYS IT WILL VIGOROUSLY OPPOSE THE
COMPANY'S MOVE. THE US AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION SAYS THE COURT
HAS NO JURISDICTION IN LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
SENIORITY IS IMPORTANT TO PILOTS AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS BECAUSE
IT DICTATES THEIR SCHEDULES, PAY, VACATIONS AND PROMOTIONS.

CHINA FLOODS
CHINA LANDSLIDE LEAVES 21 MISSING AMID FLOODS

BEIJING (AP) - A LANDSLIDE CAUSED BY RAINS IN SOUTHERN CHINA
BURIED 58 HOMES AND LEFT 21 PEOPLE MISSING WHILE ABOUT 4,000
VILLAGERS WERE EVACUATED AS THE WORST FLOOD SEASON IN A DECADE
CONTINUES IN CHINA.
THE OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS AGENCY SAYS RESCUERS ARE SEARCHING FOR
21 PEOPLE MISSING AFTER A LANDSLIDE IN CHINA'S SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF
SICHUAN.
THE STATE FLOOD CONTROL AND DROUGHT PREVENTION OFFICE REPORTS
FLOODS THIS YEAR HAVE ALREADY KILLED AT LEAST 823 PEOPLE, LEFT 437
MISSING AND CAUSED TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.
IT SAID TWO DOZEN MAJOR RIVERS HAD RISEN BEYOND THEIR WARNING
LEVELS.
THE WATER LEVEL IN THE MASSIVE THREE GORGES DAM, THE WORLD'S
LARGEST HYDROELECTRIC AND FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT, HIT ITS HIGHEST
LEVEL EVER LAST WEEK.
MORE TORRENTIAL RAINS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE SOUTHWEST, SOUTHEAST
AND NORTHEAST.

RUSSIA-SPACEWALK
2 RUSSIAN ASTRONAUTS START SPACEWALK

MOSCOW (AP) - TWO RUSSIAN ASTRONAUTS HAVE EXITED THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR A SPACEWALK INTENDED TO REPLACE A
VIDEO CAMERA AND IMPROVE CABLE CONNECTIONS TO THE ORBITING
LABORATORY'S NEWEST MODULE.
FYODOR YURCHIKHIN AND MIKHAIL KORNIENKO ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND
ABOUT SIX HOURS OUTSIDE THE STATION TO COMPLETE THE WORK.
IN A VIDEO FEED FROM RUSSIAN MISSION CONTROL JUST OUTSIDE
MOSCOW, ONE OF THE ASTRONAUTS WAS HEARD EXCLAIMING "ISN'T IT
BEAUTIFUL" OUTSIDE AS THE SPACEWALK BEGAN EARLY TUESDAY.
THE ASTRONAUTS ARE REPLACING A CAMERA USED IN MONITORING DOCKING
OF AUTOMATIC TRANSFER VEHICLES, SUPPLY SHIPS SENT BY THE EUROPEAN
SPACE AGENCY. THEY ALSO ARE TO ATTACH CABLES CONNECTING THE REST OF
THE STATION TO THE RUSSIAN RASSVET MODULE. RASSVET, USED FOR
STORAGE AND AS A MINI-LABORATORY, WAS DELIVERED TO THE STATION IN
MAY.

HAITI-ELECTIONS-WYCLEF
PRESIDENT WYCLEF? SINGER/ACTIVIST MULLING HAITI CAMPAIGN

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - SINGER WYCLEF JEAN (WY'-KLEF ZHAHN)
IS CONSIDERING A RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF HAITI, BUT HIS FAMILY SAYS
HE'S NOT MADE A DECISION YET.
THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS THAT THE HAITIAN-BORN ENTERTAINER MIGHT
ENTER THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST. PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL, WHO CANNOT
SEEK RE-ELECTION, APPOINTED JEAN AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE THREE YEARS
AGO.
JEAN WAS BORN NEAR PORT-AU-PRINCE BUT LEFT HAITI AS A CHILD. HE
GREW UP IN NEW YORK. THE MUSIC STAR HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN RECENT YEARS
IN RAISING MONEY THROUGH HIS FOUNDATION AND PARTICIPATED IN THE
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORT.
A FAMILY STATEMENT SAYS JEAN'S COMMITMENT TO HAITI IS BOUNDLESS
WHETHER HE SEEKS PUBLIC OFFICE OR NOT.