TODAY'S NEWS - Wednesday July, 28 2010

LOCAL NEWS

COUNTY’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS UNCHANGED

THE COUNTY’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR JUNE REMAINED AT 11%, THE SAME AS IS WAS IN MAY. THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY. THAT IS STILL HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE OF 9.2% AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF 9.5%. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF IT NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CARBON COUNTY WHICH IS AT 11.3%. CLOSE TO 1000 JOBS WERE CREATED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, AND THE COUNTY’S WORKFORCE DECLINED FROM 75,500 TO 75,100 DURING THE SAME PERIOD. THE NUMBER OF COUNTY JOBS ROSE FROM 51,600 TO 51,800 LAST MONTH, DESPITE LOSING 100 FEDERAL JOBS TO THE ENDING OF THE U.S. CENSUS WORKERS. LOCAL OFFICIALS AGREE THIS IS SIGNS OF STABILITY; HOWEVER THE COUNTY IS STILL NOT OUT OF THE CLEAR YET, FACING A $3.5 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT AND AN EVEN MORE UNCERTAIN BUDGET OUTLOOK FOR NEXT YEAR.

STATE REFUSES APPEAL ADDITIONAL APPEAL FOR MURDERER

A THREE-PANEL JUDGE STATE SUPERIOR COURT PANEL HAS DENIED A MOREA MAN ANOTHER APPEAL IN THE CASE OF A QUADRUPLE HOMICIDE. MICHAEL H. BECHTEL, 34 OF MOREA, PLEADED GUILTY ON JAN 21, 2004 TO MURDERING HIS WIFE, SON AND TO OTHERS AT HIS HOME AT 19 LOWER STREET IN MOREA IN 2002. BECHTEL CLAIMED INCOMPETENCE IN THE SHOOTING DEATHS THEN ALLEGED HE MADE THE PLEA BECAUSE HE WAS FORCED TO BY HIS LAWYERS. HE DID NOT SUBMIT HIS PETITION IN DUE TIME UNDER THE STATE POST CONVICTION RELIEF ACT, WHICH STATES THAT DEFENDANT’S MUST FILE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF SENTENCING. BECHTEL IS SENTENCED TO SERVE FOUR CONSECUTIVE TERM LIFE SENTENCES AND IS BEHIND BARS AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION/GREENE.

WOMAN ROBBED AT KNIFE-POINT

POLICE IN CASS-FOSTER TOWNSHIP ARE STILL LOOKING FOR A MAN WHO ROBBED A WOMAN AT KNIFE-POINT YESTERDAY MORNING. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 7:30 ON 346 HIGH STREET. THE WOMAN, WHO REMAINS ANONYMOUS, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TREATED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL. THE SUSPECT IS DESCRIBED AS BEING A HUSKY 6 FOOT TALL MALE WITH A TATTOO ON ONE OF HIS FOREARMS AND HAVING SHORT, LIGHT BROWN HAIR. HE WAS WEARING A DARK SHIRT AND BLUE JEANS AT THE TIME OF THE ASSAULT. HE MADE OFF WITH THE VICTIMS WALLET AND HOME JEWELRY. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT IS TO CONTACT THE POLICE AT 544-5631.

TAPING OF HATE CRIME TRIAL DENIED

SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO DENIED TAPING OF THE HATE CRIME TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH THE BEATING DEATH OF LUIZ EDUARDO RAMIREZ ZAVALA ON JULY 12, 2008. THE JUDGE CITED THREE-REASONS FOR THE DENIAL: THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE BAR PHOTOGRAPHY DURING JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS, A LOCAL COURT RULE BANS TAPING OR RECORDING IN A COURTROOM DURING THOSE PROCEEDINGS AND “THE POLICY OF THE JUDICIAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES IS THAT BROADCASTING, TELEVISING, RECORDING OR PHOTOGRAPHING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURTROOM PROCEEDINGS IS NOT PERMITTED”. DERRICK DONCHAK AND BRANDON PIEKARSKY ARE SCHEDULED TO GO ON TRIAL AT 9:30AM OCTOBER 4TH IN WILKES-BARRE. BOTH DEFENDANTS FACE POSSIBLE LIFE SENTENCES IF CONVICTED.



STATE NEWS

ATLANTA (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA HAS BEEN NAMED A FINALIST IN THE
SECOND ROUND OF THE FEDERAL "RACE TO THE TOP" SCHOOL REFORM GRANT
COMPETITION. IN ALL, 18 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARE
GETTING A CHANCE TO RECEIVE A SHARE OF $3 BILLION.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - WATER AUTHORITIES ARE MONITORING THE
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER FOR FUEL THAT SPILLED FROM AN OVERTURNED TANKER
TRUCK ON A SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HIGHWAY. DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPOKESMAN JOHN REPETZ SAYS, SO FAR, THE
AGENCY HADN'T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FUEL FLOATING DOWN
THE RIVER.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - CREWS HAVE FINISHED CLEANING UP A FUEL TRUCK
SPILL AT PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AND A SPOKESWOMAN SAYS
EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL. THE SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THE TRUCK
APPARENTLY TIPPED OVER ON A SERVICE ROAD NEAR TERMINAL F YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON, SPILLING ABOUT 200 GALLONS OF FUEL.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - QUEEN OF SOUL ARETHA FRANKLIN AND FORMER
SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZA RICE TEAMED UP FOR A RARE JOINT
CONCERT IN PHILADELPHIA TO RAISE MONEY FOR INNER-CITY YOUTH. LAST
NIGHT'S PERFORMANCE FEATURED RICE ON THE PIANO ACCOMPANYING
FRANKLIN'S "I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER" AND "MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF
THEE."


NATIONAL NEWS

PAKISTAN
PLANE CARRYING 152 CRASHES IN PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD (AP) - A DOMESTIC PASSENGER JET CARRYING 152 PEOPLE
CRASHED INTO THE HILLS SURROUNDING PAKISTAN'S CAPITAL TODAY,
KILLING SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH MANY MORE FEARED DEAD.
OFFICIALS REPORT AT LEAST FIVE INJURED.
CIVIL AVIATION OFFICIAL PERVEZ GEORGE SAYS THE PLANE WAS FLYING
FROM KARACHI TO ISLAMABAD AND WAS TRYING TO LAND DURING DIFFICULT
WEATHER. AIRBLUE IS PRIVATE SERVICE BASED IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN'S
LARGEST CITY.
GUARDS WITH THE FORESTRY SERVICE SAID THEY HAD FOUND SOME
WRECKAGE AND SEEN AT LEAST FIVE DEAD BODIES. FEDERAL INTERIOR
MINISTER REHMAN MALIK SAID AT LEAST FIVE INJURED SURVIVORS HAD BEEN
RESCUED.
PAKISTANI NEWS CHANNELS SHOWED WHAT APPEARED TO BE WRECKAGE OF
THE PLANE AS A HELICOPTER HOVERED ABOVE THE HEAVILY FORESTED HILLS.
FIRE WAS VISIBLE AND SMOKE WAS BLOWING UP FROM THE SCENE.

CONGRESS-WAR FUNDING
HOUSE BACKS FINANCING FOR AFGHAN TROOP BUILD UP

WASHINGTON (AP) - BY A COMFORTABLE MARGIN, THE HOUSE HAS PASSED
LEGISLATION FUNDING THE AFGHAN TROOP BUILD UP THAT PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA ORDERED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
ACTION ON THE WAR FUNDING BILL HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR WEEKS, AS
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FOUGHT OVER ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR DOMESTIC
PROGRAMS. THE HOUSE HAS ENDED UP PASSING A PARED-BACK, $59 BILLION
MEASURE ON A 308 TO 114 VOTE.
EVEN THOUGH OBAMA FINALLY GOT THE FINANCING HE SOUGHT FOR
AFGHANISTAN, THERE WERE TROUBLE SIGNS AHEAD FOR THE PRESIDENT, AS
SCORES OF FELLOW DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST THE BILL.
PENTAGON LEADERS HAD WARNED LAWMAKERS THAT MONEY TO FUND THE
TROOPS COULD RUN OUT AS EARLY AS AUG. 7. THAT PROMPTED THE HOUSE,
WHICH IS LEAVING AT THE END OF THE WEEK FOR ITS AUGUST RECESS, TO
ACCEPT THE SENATE VERSION OF THE LEGISLATION.

OKLAHOMA PRIMARY
EDMONDSON CONCEDES IN OKLA. DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - THE RACE FOR OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR WILL FEATURE
TWO WOMEN AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.
LT. GOV. JARI ASKINS DEFEATED ATTORNEY GENERAL DREW EDMONSON ON
TUESDAY. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCEDED IN A LATE-NIGHT SPEECH THAT
HE WOULD NOT MAKE UP THE SLIM MARGIN ASKINS HELD AS THE FINAL VOTES
WERE BEING COUNTED.
ASKINS WILL FACE REPUBLICAN U.S. REP. MARY FALLIN IN THE NOV. 2
GENERAL ELECTION.
ASKINS AND EDMONDSON EACH GAVE UP RELATIVELY SAFE SEATS IN AN
EFFORT TO KEEP THE GOVERNOR'S SEAT IN DEMOCRATIC HANDS. GOV. BRAD
HENRY IS TERM-LIMITED AND CANNOT SEEK A THIRD TERM.

CYBER BUST
FBI SAYS MASTERMIND OF BOTNET NABBED

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE FBI SAYS INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED THE COMPUTER HACKER RESPONSIBLE FOR
CREATING THE MALICIOUS COMPUTER CODE THAT INFECTED ABOUT 12 MILLION
COMPUTERS AND INVADED MAJOR CORPORATIONS WORLDWIDE.
THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND IS A 23-YEAR-OLD SLOVENIAN WHOSE INTERNET
NICKNAME IS ISERDO. THE FBI SAYS HE WAS ARRESTED IN SLOVENIA AFTER
A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION BY POLICE THERE, ALONG WITH FBI AND SPANISH
AUTHORITIES.
HIS ARREST COMES ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AFTER SPANISH POLICE ARRESTED
THREE HACKERS IN THE CYBER SCAM WHO OPERATED THE SO-CALLED MARIPOSA
BOTNET, STEALING CREDIT CARDS AND ONLINE BANKING CREDENTIALS.
A BOTNET IS A NETWORK OF INFECTED COMPUTERS. THE MARIPOSA BOTNET
APPEARED IN DECEMBER 2008.

FAILED DRUG WAR-MEXICAN JUSTICE
NEW: AP IMPACT: MEXICO JUSTICE MEANS CATCH AND RELEASE

CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO (AP) - RECORDS OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS SUGGEST THAT ARRESTS TOUTED BY MEXICO IN ITS WAR AGAINST DRUG
CARTELS FREQUENTLY UNRAVEL FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE, AND SUSPECTS ARE
RELEASED.
THE RECORDS SHOW 226,667 ARRESTS BETWEEN DECEMBER 2006 AND
SEPTEMBER 2009. LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THAT NUMBER WERE CHARGED AND
ONLY 15 PERCENT SAW A VERDICT. THE MEXICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE WON'T SAY HOW MANY WERE FOUND GUILTY.
IN WHAT'S PRACTICALLY A DAILY RITUAL, ACCUSED DRUG TRAFFICKERS
AND ASSASSINS, SHACKLED AND BRUISED FROM BEATINGS, ARE PARADED
BEFORE THE NEWS MEDIA TO SHOW THAT MEXICO IS WINNING ITS DRUG WAR.
ONCE THE TELEVISION LIGHTS DIM, HOWEVER, ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF
THEM ARE LET GO.
SOMETIMES, THE DRUG CARTELS DECIDE WHO GETS ARRESTED.

CHINA EXPLOSION
DEADLY FACTORY BLAST IN CHINA

BEIJING (AP) - STATE MEDIA REPORT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
KILLED AND HUNDREDS INJURED IN A POWERFUL BLAST THAT ROCKED A
PLASTICS FACTORY IN EASTERN CHINA.
THE OFFICIAL XINHUA (SHIN-WAH) NEWS AGENCY SAYS A GAS LEAK IS
SUSPECTED AND THAT ITS REPORTERS SAW BURNED BODIES BEING CARRIED
OUT OF THE PLANT. BUILDINGS AND VEHICLES NEAR THE BLAST WERE BADLY
DAMAGED.
ACCIDENTS ARE COMMON IN CHINA'S SAFETY-LAX FACTORIES, WITH
FIRES, EXPLOSIONS AND OTHER PROBLEMS KILLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
EACH YEAR.

OBAMA
NEW: AHEAD OF ELECTIONS, OBAMA RAMPS UP HIS FUNDRAISING

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS STEPPING UP HIS
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS AS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS DRAW CLOSER.
OBAMA WILL TOUT A LENDING INITIATIVE AIMED AT SMALL BUSINESSES
DURING REMARKS WEDNESDAY AT A SANDWICH SHOP IN EDISON, N.J.
THE SENATE COULD VOTE LATER THAT NIGHT ON THE MEASURE TO CREATE
A NEW LENDING FUND TO HELP COMMUNITY BANKS OFFER LOANS.
OBAMA ALSO IS SET TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK TO TAPE AN APPEARANCE ON
THE DAYTIME TALK SHOW "THE VIEW" AND TO ATTEND TWO DEMOCRATIC
FUNDRAISERS.
THE PRESIDENT IS HEADLINING EIGHT FUNDRAISING EVENTS DURING THE
NEXT TWO WEEKS.

FBI-CHEATING
NEW: FBI SCRUTINIZED OVER TEST CHEATING

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING
WHETHER HUNDREDS OF FBI AGENTS CHEATED ON A TEST OF NEW RULES
ALLOWING THE BUREAU TO CONDUCT SURVEILLANCE AND OPEN CASES WITHOUT
EVIDENCE THAT A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED.
IN SOME INSTANCES, AGENTS TOOK THE OPEN-BOOK TEST TOGETHER,
VIOLATING RULES THAT THEY TAKE IT ALONE. OTHERS FINISHED THE
LENGTHY EXAM UNUSUALLY QUICKLY, CURRENT AND FORMER OFFICIALS SAID.
DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION, AGENTS COULD BE
DISCIPLINED OR EVEN FIRED.

BOYS FOUND DEAD
CA SHERIFF: 2 YOUNG BROTHERS FOUND SHOT TO DEATH

CHINO HILLS, CALIF. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY TWO YOUNG BROTHERS
HAVE BEEN FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN A RAVINE NEAR A SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA RANCH.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S SPOKESWOMAN CINDY BACHMAN SAYS A
FAMILY MEMBER DISCOVERED THE BODIES OF 12-YEAR-OLD BRYAN GONZALEZ
AND HIS 10-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ, SHORTLY BEFORE
NOON TUESDAY NEAR A CHINO HILLS RANCH.
DETAILS ABOUT THE DEATHS HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED, BUT BACHMAN SAYS
IT'S BELIEVED ONLY THE TWO BOYS WERE INVOLVED AND THERE IS NO
OUTSTANDING SUSPECT. SHE SAYS FOUL PLAY HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY
RULED OUT.
BACHMAN SAYS DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AFTER NEIGHBORS
HEARD GUNSHOTS.
SHE SAYS THE FAMILY IS COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATORS.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
DESERT WILDFIRE CONTINUES TO GROW UNCHECKED

TEHACHAPI, CALIF. (AP) - A WILDFIRE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT ABOUT
70 MILES NORTH OF LOS ANGELES HAS DESTROYED UP TO 40 HOMES, AND
REMAINS OUT OF CONTROL.
ANOTHER 150 STRUCTURES ARE THREATENED.
THE FIRE, ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TEHACHAPI
(TUH-HATCH'-UH-PEE), CA., HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 500 ACRES. A SMALL
HILL COMMUNITY KNOWN AS OLD WEST RANCH HAS BEEN EVACUATED.
ABOUT 200 FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE, ALONG WITH
WATERDROPPING AIRCRAFT. A COUNTY FIRE OFFICIAL SAYS THE WIND HAS
BEEN A BIG FACTOR BECAUSE IT KEEPS CHANGING.
ONE MAN WHO LIVES IN TEHACHAPI TOLD A LOCAL NEWSPAPER
(BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN) THAT HE'S LIVED IN THE AREA FOR A DECADE
AND HAS NEVER SEEN A FIRE AS BAD AS THIS. THE CAUSE IS UNDER
INVESTIGATION.

AFGHANISTAN
AFGHAN GOVT: BUS HITS BOMB, KILLING 25

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AFGHAN OFFICIALS SAY A PACKED BUS HAS
HIT A ROADSIDE BOMB IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, KILLING 25 PASSENGERS
AND WOUNDING 20.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NIMROZ PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, NAZIR AHMAD,
SAYS THE PACKED BUS WAS TRAVELING WEDNESDAY MORNING ON A MAIN
HIGHWAY HEADED TOWARD THE CAPITAL OF KABUL WHEN IT STRUCK THE
EXPLOSIVE AROUND DELARAM - A VOLATILE AREA NEAR THE BORDERS OF
HELMAND AND FARAH PROVINCES.

ARETHA AND CONDOLEEZZA
ARETHA AND RICE MAKE MUSIC AT PHILLY CONERT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE QUEEN OF SOUL AND A FORMER U.S.
SECRETARY OF STATE HAVE TEAMED UP IN A RARE JOINT CONCERT IN
PHILADELPHIA TO RAISE MONEY FOR INNER-CITY YOUTH.
THE ARETHA FRANKLIN-CONDOLEEZZA RICE EXTRAVAGANZA TUESDAY NIGHT
FEATURED RICE ON THE PIANO ACCOMPANYING FRANKLIN'S "I SAY A LITTLE
PRAYER" AND "MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE." RICE, WHO IS TRAINED AS A
CLASSICAL PIANIST, ALSO PERFORMED MOZART'S PIANO CONCERTO IN D
MINOR WITH THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA.
FRANKLIN ALSO INCLUDED SONGS FROM HER NEW ALBUM "A WOMAN
FALLING OUT OF LOVE," TO BE RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR.
THEIR AIM WAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHILDREN FROM DETROIT AND
PHILADELPHIA, AS WELL AS AWARENESS FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS.