TODAY"S NEWS - Wednesday July, 21, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

OLIVIRRE WAIVES RIGHT TO PRELIMINARY HEARING

A READING MAN HAS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A PRELIMINARY HEARING IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A SHENANDOAH MAN. STATE POLICE REPORT THAT 19 YEAR OLD JAHMAL OLLIVIRRE APPEARED BEFORE DISTRICT JUDGE ANTHONY KILKER ON MONDAY, WAIVING HIS RIGHT TO A PRELIMINARY HEARING. OLLIVIRRE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT HOMICIDE, ROBBERY AND OTHER CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF BRUCE FORKER ON MARCH 16TH AT A HOME IN SHENANDOAH. OLLIVIRRE, 29 YEAR OLD DAMON ENNETT OF FREELAND AND 30 YEAR OLD JULIUS ENOE OF READING ARE IMPLICATED IN THE CRIMES.

IGNITED PORTABLE TOILET

UNKNOWN SUSPECTS IGNITED A PORTABLE TOILET WITH AN UNKNOWN ACCELERATE SOMETIME EARLY THIS WEEK. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT THE POTTSVILLE SOCCER AND BASEBALL COMPLEX ON THE GORDON NAGLE TRAIN IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. THE SUSPECTS APPROACHED THE BASEBALL FIELD TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE COMPLEX, SET THE TOILET ON FIRE AND FLED THE SCENE. THEY TOILET WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CRIME IS TO CONTACT THE PSP SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.

DAIRY QUEEN HELPS THE CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK

ONE THING'S FOR SURE, DAIRY QUEEN LOVES KIDS AND KIDS LOVE DQ®. DAIRY QUEEN’S AND DQ GRILL AND CHILL’S ACROSS THE STATE ARE TEAMING UP WITH THE CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK THURSDAY AUGUST 5TH, FOR MIRACLE TREAT DAY. ON THAT DAY, $1 OR MORE FROM EVERY BLIZZARD® TREAT SOLD WILL GO TO HELP SICK AND INJURED CHILDREN IN LOCAL CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SAVING AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN BY RAISING FUNDS FOR CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. EACH YEAR THE 170 CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS PROVIDE THE FINEST MEDICAL CARE, LIFE-SAVING RESEARCH, AND PREVENTATIVE EDUCATION TO HELP MILLIONS OF KIDS OVERCOME DISEASES AND INJURIES OF EVERY KIND. SINCE 1984, DQ HAS RAISED OVER $81 MILLION FOR THE CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS.


MALAVE ASKS JUDGE TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST HER

AT A BRIEF HEARING BEFORE JUDGE D. MICHEL STINE AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURTHOUSE YESTERDAY, 37 YEAR OLD MIRIAM MALAVE ASKED TO HAVE ALL THE CHARGES FILED AGAINST HER DISMISSED. MALAVE IS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS EACH OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, SIMPLE ASSAULT AND CONSPIRACY, TWO OF RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON AND ONE EACH OF TERRORISTIC THREATS, HARASSMENT AND ETHNIC INTIMIDATION. IT’S THE RESULT OF A BAR BRAWL THAT BROKE OUT AT THE M&T BAR IN SHENANDOAH ON FEBRUARY 17TH OF THIS YEAR. NO TESTIMONY WAS PRESENTED BY EITHER SIDE AT YESTERDAY’S HEARING, INSTEAD A TRANSCRIPT FROM MALAVE’S APRIL 14TH PRELIMINARY HEARING WAS OFFERED AND BOTH SIDES ARE RELYING HEAVILY IN TESTIMONY AND OTHER EVIDENCE FOR THE TRIAL. MALAVE’S 2 SONS, DANNY “D BLOCK” MALAVE AND RICHARD “BRICK” MALAVE AND STEPSON MICHAEL BERDECIA ALSO FACE CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIGHT.

METH CASE IN POTTSVILLE

A TREMONT MAN’S STATE PRISON SENTENCE OF 4-8 YEARS HAS BEEN UPHELD BY THE SUPREME COURT. BRIAN HOKE JR, 25 OF TREMONT, IS CHARGED WITH OPERATING A SECRETIVE METHAMPHETAMINE LAB IN DOWNTOWN POTTSVILLE IN THE FIRST-FLOOR APARTMENT AT 224 N SECOND STREET, WHICH WAS RAIDED ON NOVEMBER 16, 2004. THE SUPREME COURT DID DROP A COUPLE OF HOKE’S SENTENCES STATING HE SHOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN CHARGED WITH ONE OF THREE CONSPIRACY CHARGES, AND SINCE COUNTY JUDGE CYRUS PALMER DOLBIN MADE HOKE’S SENTENCES CONCURRENT, THE OVERALL TIME HOKE DOE WILL NOT CHANGE.


STATE NEWS

ENOLA, PA. (AP) - REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE TOM CORBETT
IS SHRUGGING OFF REPORTS THAT CONGRESS IS LIKELY TO APPROVE A
DEMOCRATIC BILL TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS. THE
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SAID HE FAVORS AN EXTENSION OF FEDERAL
BENEFITS IF THE COST WAS OFFSET BY SPENDING CUTS, BUT WOULDN'T
WEIGH IN ON THE BORROWING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC BILL REQUIRES.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - STATE SENATOR JANE ORIE'S FORMER CHIEF OF
STAFF SAYS THE LAWMAKER DIRECTED HER AND OTHER TAXPAYER-FUNDED
STAFF TO DO POLITICAL CAMPAIGN WORK FOR ORIE AND HER SISTER,
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOAN ORIE MELVIN. JAMIE PAVLOT ADDS THAT SHE
ALSO HELPED MELVIN'S AIDE AND SISTER, JANINE ORIE, DO WORK FOR
MELVIN'S CAMPAIGNS IN 2003 AND 2009.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. (AP) - A SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAN IS
HEADED TO TRIAL IN THE STABBING DEATH OF A MARYLAND MOTHER LAST
SPRING. JEFFREY MILES OF STATE LINE HAS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A
PRELIMINARY HEARING ON A CRIMINAL HOMICIDE CHARGE IN THE APRIL
DEATH OF KRISTY HOKE OF HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY AN ELDERLY NORTH PHILADELPHIA
HAS BECOME THE 11TH HEAT-RELATED DEATH IN THE CITY THIS YEAR. A
CITY SPOKESMAN TELLS THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT THE 91-YEAR-OLD
WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD MONDAY EVENING IN HER TWO-STORY ROW HOUSE. HE
SAYS THE BUILDING'S WINDOWS WERE CLOSED AND THERE WAS NO AIR
CONDITIONING.


NATIONAL NEWS

GULF OIL SPILL
SPILL CHIEF SAYS THE CAPPED WELL IS HOLDING UP

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - THE GOVERNMENT'S POINT MAN ON THE OIL SPILL
IS DOWNPLAYING WORRIES THAT BP'S CAPPED WELL IS BUCKLING UNDER THE
PRESSURE.
RETIRED COAST GUARD ADM. THAD ALLEN SAYS AT LEAST FIVE LEAKS
HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED AROUND THE WELL MACHINERY, BUT HE DISMISSED
THEM AS "VERY SMALL DRIPS," LIKE AN OIL LEAK IN A CAR.
ALLEN ALSO SAYS SEEPAGE DETECTED ALONG THE SEA FLOOR LESS THAN
TWO MILES AWAY IS COMING FROM AN OLDER WELL NO LONGER IN
PRODUCTION.
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, SINCE A 75-TON CAP WAS PLACED OVER THE
MILE-DEEP WELL TO KEEP THE OIL BOTTLED UP INSIDE, BP AND GOVERNMENT
ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE WHETHER IT WOULD HOLD.
A RUPTURE COULD CAUSE A BIGGER AND HARDER-TO-CONTROL DISASTER.
ALLEN HAS GRANTED BP REPEATED 24-HOUR EXTENSIONS TO KEEP THE CAP
IN PLACE.
BP SAYS THE RELIEF WELLS REMAIN ON TRACK.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
JOBLESS BENEFIT EXTENSION HEADED FOR FINAL SENATE VOTE

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO FINALLY PASS A BILL
WEDNESDAY THAT WOULD EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR SOME 2.5
MILLION AMERICANS WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED THEM.
DEMOCRATS OVERCAME A REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER TUESDAY WITH THE
SUPPORT OF MAINE'S TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND THE NEW SENATOR FROM
WEST VIRGINIA. AFTER A FINAL SENATE VOTE, THE BILL GOES BACK TO THE
HOUSE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE IT.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA THANKED SENATORS FOR ACTING ACCUSED
REPUBLICANS OF HOLDING THE UNEMPLOYED HOSTAGE THROUGH OBSTRUCTION
AND GAME PLAYING.
THREE EARLIER VOTES TO MOVE THE BILL HAD STALLED. REPUBLICANS
WANT THE SPENDING TO BE OFFSET BY CUTS ELSEWHERE IN THE BUDGET AND
OBAMA WANTS TO CONTINUE TREATING THE EXTENSION AS EMERGENCY
SPENDING, MEANING IT WILL INCREASE THE DEFICIT.

SKOREA-US ALLIANCE
NEW: CLINTON: US WILL IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS ON NKOREA

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM
CLINTON SAYS WASHINGTON WILL IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS ON COMMUNIST
NORTH KOREA.
CLINTON SAID AT A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE IN SEOUL ON WEDNESDAY
THE SANCTIONS ARE PART OF A SERIES OF MEASURES DESIGNED TO STOP
NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION. SHE SAYS THE MOVES ARE MEANT TO HALT ILLICIT
ACTIVITIES THAT HELP FUND THE PYONGYANG REGIME'S ATOMIC WEAPONS
PROGRAM.

AFGHAN SHOOTING
NEW: AFGHAN GOV'T: SOLDIER SHOT AMERICANS AMID ARGUMENT

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AFGHANISTAN'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS AN
AFGHAN SOLDIER OPENED FIRE ON U.S. CIVILIAN TRAINERS AT AN ARMY
BASE IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN, KILLING TWO AMERICANS BEFORE BEING
SHOT DEAD.
THE MINISTRY SAYS AN ARGUMENT STARTED DURING A WEAPONS-TRAINING
EXERCISE TUESDAY AND THE AFGHAN SOLDIER TURNED HIS GUN ON THE
AMERICANS. ANOTHER AFGHAN SOLDIER WAS KILLED IN THE RESULTING
CROSSFIRE, AND THE SHOOTER WAS SHOT AND KILLED.
NATO PREVIOUSLY SAID TWO AMERICANS AND TWO AFGHAN SOLDIERS WERE
KILLED BY GUNFIRE AT A FIRING RANGE OUTSIDE MAZAR-E-SHARIF, BUT IT
DID NOT PROVIDE DETAILS ON HOW THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.
A MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SHOOTER WAS A "GROUP LEADER" --
AN AFGHAN SOLDIER SELECTED TO TRAIN OTHER SOLDIERS ON THE BASE.
INTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS BY AFGHANS AGAINST COALITION PARTNERS HAVE
OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY.

FALLEN OFFICERS
STUDY: US POLICE FATALITIES INCREASE 43 PERCENT

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NONPROFIT GROUP IN WASHINGTON SAYS THE
NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IS UP
43 PERCENT SO FAR THIS YEAR.
THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL FUND RELEASED
PRELIMINARY DATA WEDNESDAY. IT SHOWS THAT 87 OFFICERS DIED IN THE
LINE OF DUTY BETWEEN JAN. 1 AND JUNE 30. THAT'S COMPARED WITH 61
OFFICERS DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LAST YEAR.
THE DEATHS WERE SPREAD ACROSS 36 STATES AND PUERTO RICO - WITH
CALIFORNIA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA SHOWING THE MOST FATALITIES. OTHER
STATES INCLUDED VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND, WHERE A STATE TROOPER WAS
FATALLY SHOT JUNE 11.
AMONG THE CAUSES OF DEATH WERE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND SHOOTINGS.
IF THE TREND CONTINUES, 2010 COULD BECOME ONE OF THE DEADLIEST
YEARS FOR U.S. POLICE AGENCIES IN TWO DECADES.

GEORGIA GOVERNOR
DEAL, HANDEL TO FACE OFF IN GOP RUNOFF FOR GA. GOV

ATLANTA (AP) - A FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE WILL FACE AN
EX-CONGRESSMAN IN A REPUBLICAN RUNOFF IN THE RACE FOR GEORGIA
GOVERNOR.
WITH 80 PERCENT OF PRECINCTS REPORTING, UNOFFICIAL RETURNS SHOW
KAREN HANDEL HAD 33 PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND NATHAN DEAL HAD 24
PERCENT.
BOTH HAVE BIG NAMES IN THEIR CORNERS.
DEAL HAD BEEN A CONGRESSMAN FROM GAINESVILLE AND HAS THE BACKING
OF FORMER U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH.
HANDEL USED TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE AND HER CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN
BUOYED BY THE BACKING OF FORMER ALASKA GOV. SARAH PALIN.
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, FORMER GEORGIA GOV. ROY BARNES HAS WON
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IN HIS COMEBACK BID FOR THAT OFFICE.
BARNES AVOIDED A RUNOFF BY TROUNCING SIX OPPONENTS.
BARNES LOST A RE-ELECTION BID FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN 2002
AND JUMPED BACK INTO THE FRAY LAST YEAR, DOMINATING THE DEMOCRATIC
CONTEST.

USDA-RACISM-RESIGNATION
AGRICULTURE DEPT. TO RECONSIDER OUSTER

WASHINGTON (AP) - AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK SAYS HE WILL
RECONSIDER THE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION TO OUST A BLACK EMPLOYEE OVER
RACIALLY TINGED REMARKS AFTER LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID.
VILSACK SAID IN A STATEMENT EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING THAT HE WILL
"CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW AND CONSIDER ADDITIONAL FACTS" ABOUT
HIS DECISION TO ASK SHIRLEY SHERROD TO RESIGN.
SHERROD, WHO WAS THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTOR OF RURAL
DEVELOPMENT IN GEORGIA, CRITICIZED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR PUSHING
HER TO RESIGN MONDAY AFTER A BLOGGER POSTED AN EDITED VIDEO OF HER
SAYING THAT SHE DIDN'T GIVE A WHITE FARMER AS MUCH HELP AS SHE
COULD HAVE 24 YEARS AGO.
SHERROD SAYS HER REMARKS WERE PART OF A STORY ABOUT RACIAL
RECONCILIATION, NOT RACISM.

DRUG WAR-MEXICO FUNDING
GAO REPORT: MEXICO DRUG AID NEEDS BETTER OVERSIGHT

MEXICO CITY (AP) - A CONGRESSIONAL REPORT SAYS THE
BILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM TO HELP MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA FIGHT
DRUG TRAFFICKERS LACKS ANY METHOD TO JUDGE ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE, THE INVESTIGATIVE ARM OF
CONGRESS, SAYS THREE YEARS AFTER IT WAS LAUNCHED, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT HAS NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
NINE PERCENT OF THE $1.6 BILLION PROMISED HAS BEEN SPENT.

TURBULENCE INJURIES
UNITED FLIGHT HITS TURBULENCE, INJURING 30

DENVER (AP) - THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION SAYS 30 PEOPLE
WERE INJURED - ONE CRITICALLY - AFTER A UNITED AIRLINES JETLINER
HEADED FOR LOS ANGELES HIT HEAVY TURBULENCE AND WAS DIVERTED TO
DENVER.
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEAR
WASHINGTON, D.C. IT LANDED SAFELY AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
AROUND 7:45 P.M. TUESDAY, AND WAS MET BY MEDICAL CREWS.
FAA SPOKESMAN IAN GREGOR IN LOS ANGELES SAYS 26 PASSENGERS AND
FOUR CREW MEMBERS WERE INJURED. HE SAYS ONE PERSON WAS CRITICALLY
HURT, BUT RELEASED NO FURTHER DETAILS.
DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER SPOKESWOMAN DEE MARTINEZ SAYS 21
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO FIVE AREA HOSPITALS. MOST OF THEM
HAVE MODERATE INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK OR BACK.
UNITED AIRLINES SPOKESWOMAN MEGAN MCCARTHY SAYS FLIGHT 967 WAS
CARRYING 255 PASSENGERS AND 10 CREW MEMBERS. SHE SAYS THE CREW
DECIDED TO BE SAFE AND LAND IN DENVER TO TEND TO THE INJURED.ERS.

AIRPORT TERROR PLOT
SUSPECT DENIES ROLE IN JFK AIRPORT PLOT IN NYC

NEW YORK (AP) - A FORMER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN GUYANA HAS
TESTIFIED THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A 2007 PLOT TO BLOW UP NEW
YORK'S JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
FORMER GUYANESE OFFICIAL ABDUL KADIR AND CO-DEFENDANT RUSSELL
DEFREITAS ARE ON TRIAL IN FEDERAL COURT IN BROOKLYN.
PROSECUTORS SAY THE MEN WERE OUT TO CAUSE A CATASTROPHE THAT
WOULD DWARF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK.
KADIR TOOK THE STAND ON TUESDAY AND DECLARED HIS INNOCENCE.
PROSECUTORS SAY DEFREITAS AND INFORMANT STEVEN FRANCIS SHOWED
KADIR A VIDEOTAPE OF AIRPORT FUEL TANKS AND HE EXPRESSED INTEREST
IN A PLOT TO BLOW THEM UP.
KADIR TESTIFIED THAT HE DID NOT SAY NO RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE HE WAS
HOPING THAT DEFREITAS AND FRANCIS WOULD INTRODUCE HIM TO RICH
AMERICAN MUSLIMS WHO MIGHT HELP FINANCE A MOSQUE IN GUYANA.