Today's News-Wednesday, July 7, 2010

HEAT

The heatwave continues today, with temperatures expected at or near 100 degrees. As the day wears on, the humidity and bright sunshine will make it oppressive outside. Please stay hydrated, stay indoors if you don't have to go outside and find a cool spot if you can. The Pottsville and Mahanoy City Senior Centers are extending their hours of operation to provide a refuge for the elderly from the oppressive heat.

THEFT BY DECEPTION

A city woman is charged with theft by deception for allegedly defrauding the Pottsville Housing Authority. The investigation between police, the Housing Authority and the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 44 year old Bridgette Zweizig received funds to subsidize her rent in the amount of $750 dollars while she had unauthorized people living in her place, collecting rents from them. The charges against Zweizig were filed in the office of District Judge James Reiley.

NESTOR HEADED TO TRIAL

A federal judge has ruled that the former Shenandoah police chief will stand trial on charges of conspiracy and falsifying records relating to the investigation into the death of a Mexican illegal two years ago. The Republicand Herald reports that Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo ruled enough evidence exists against Matthew Nestor to take his case to trial. Nestor and two other officers are charged with conspiracy to falsify reports in the death of Luis Ramirez on July 12, 2008. Two Shenandoah teens are also facing federal charges relating to the case. Nestor is still on home confinement, awaiting his trial.

GUNS TAKEN

A Kempton home was burglarized during the daytime hours Tuesday. Unknown thieves entered the home of Kurt Minnich on Kistler Valley Road in Albany Township through an unlocked basement door. Several shotguns and rifles were taken from the unlocked gun safe. Total value of items taken exceeds $4 thousand dollars. State police at Hamburg are investigating.

GIVE BLOOD

There are several cool reasons to give blood today. One, because the need for blood never takes a break from the heat. Second, because by giving blood, you can receive a coupon for a carton of Friendly's Ice Cream. WPPA/T102 are partnering with the American Red Cross at today's blood drive at Fairlane Village from 11:30am till 6:30pm. Your gift of life saving blood can help several people at once, and during the hour that it takes to donate, you can cool off in air conditioned comfort. Stop by the mall today and donate blood, or make an appointment by calling 800-RED-CROSS.

A/C TAKEN

State police are looking for the bandit who wanted to stay cool. Troopers say that an air conditioner was taken from the window of Rebecca Kroh's home on Sweet Arrow Lake Road, then fled. The investigation continues.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The scorching heat wave is being blamed for the death of a 92-year-old woman in Philadelphia. The National Weather Service says the mercury hit 102 yesterday in Philadelphia. An excessive heat warning remains in effect until tonight.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Officials are reporting near-record demand for electricity in the Philadelphia area amid the heat wave. PECO says the company's unofficial peak demand yesterday was more than 8,800 megawatts. That's the third-highest usage in the company's
history.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Governor Ed Rendell will be signing legislation today that will raise the state's ceiling on a portion of its debt. The move is part of a deal that would boost state
borrowing by as much as $600 million to pay for construction projects.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The military says two soldiers from the Philadelphia area have been killed in Afghanistan. Specialist Louis Fastuca, of West Chester, died Monday after insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Private First Class David Jefferson, of Philadelphia, died July 2nd in Kandahar also after an insurgent attack using an IED.

NEW YORK (AP) - Forecasters say humidity today might make things even more uncomfortable in the Eastern U.S. Temperatures in the 90s to 100 degrees or more are predicted in some places but even if it's not as hot, increased humidity may take its toll. Forecasters say a system coming in off the Atlantic Ocean in a couple of days could cool things off.

UNDATED (AP) - The gushing BP oil well may be just a visible example of what potentially lurks in the Gulf of Mexico. An Associated Press investigation shows there are more than 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in the Gulf and neither the industry nor the government are checking to see if they are leaking.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman has condemned a NATO airstrike that mistakenly killed five Afghan army allies while they were on patrol in the country's east. The spokesman says it's not the first time Afghan troops have died in "friendly fire." NATO spokesman Josef Blotz says a joint investigation has been launched.

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) - Two al-Qaida militants have been sentenced to death in Yemen after their conviction for killing senior police and army officers. Today's swift trial was held in the capital and took place without attorneys for the defendants, who were arrested in December.

PHOENIX (AP) - A Phoenix man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a fatal hit-and-run involving a bicyclist. Maricopa County prosecutors say 24-year-old Timothy M. Kissida tried to use the government's Cash for Clunkers program to ditch his BMW after the crash last year. Police say he told a dealer he hit a javelina, a pig-like desert mammal.