TODAY'S NEWS - AUGUST 10, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

FEMALE WITH BASEBALL BAT THREATENS NEIGHBORS ON W. MARKET STREET

A WOMAN WITH A BASEBALL BAT WAS THREATENING NEIGHBORS SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE 1000 BLOCK OF WEST MARKET STREET IN POTTSVILLE. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AROUND 9:30PM TO FIND MICHELLE DAVIS, 36 OF 1001 W. MARKET STREET, SCREAMING AND YELLING THAT SOMEONE TOOK HER SON. DAVIS WAS HIGHLY INTOXICATED AND FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT SHE FORGOT HER SON HAD GONE FOR A WALK. DAVIS HAD ALSO GONE INTO THE HOME OF STEVEN KANE WITH THE BAT, ACCUSING HIM OF HAVING INFORMATION ON HER SON’S UNKNOWN WHEREABOUTS. DAVIS WAS TAKEN UNTO CUSTODY ON SEVERAL CHARGES.

THEFT AT ROMA PIZZA

EARLY SUNDAY MORNING POLICE WERE DISPATCHED TO ROMA PIZZA IN POTTSVILLE FOR AN ACTIVATED SECOND FLOOR MOTION DETECTOR. UPON ARRIVAL, THEY FOUND THAT AN AIR-CONDITIONER HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM A SECOND FLOOR WINDOW AND ALCOHOL WAS TAKEN FROM THE RESTAURANT. REVIEW OF THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO TAPE REVEALED TWO SUSPECTS, ERIC SHAPPEL, 25 OF SELTZER AND MAX WALLS, 27 OF POTTSVILLE ENTERING THE PROPERTY. BOTH WERE APPREHENDED 2 HOURS LATER AT 5AM ON THE 500 BLOCK OF HOWARD AVENUE.

TIRE BLOWOUT CAUSES A CAR TO OVERTURN IN RINGTOWN

A TIRE BLOWOUT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN RINGTOWN YESTERDAY MORNING. DEVON EVANOUSKY, 19 OF RINGTOWN, WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON STATE ROAD 4037 WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS 2000 FORD EXPLORER AND OVERTURNED ON THE ROADWAY. EVANOUSKY’S VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE ON S. 4TH STREET NEAR APPLE STREET IN THE BOROUGH.. HE SUSTAINED NO INJURIES AND WAS USING HIS SEATBELT.

SERIAL ARSONIST BACK IN MINERSVILLE AREA

AGAIN THE CORNER OF THE FORMER WYNN-ANN RESTAURANT IN MINERSVILLE HAS BEEN SET ON FIRE. SOMEONE SET FIRE TO A COUCH IN AN ALREADY BURNED OUT BUILDING ON THE 100 BLOCK OF SUNBURY STREET. THE ARSONIST ENTERED THROUGH THE PLYWOOD COVERING AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE BUILDING ROUND 1:40 YESTERDAY MORNING. A NEIGHBOR FROM ACROSS THE STREET CALLED THE FIRE IN WHEN THEY WAS A GLOW COMING FROM INSIDE THE ABANDONED BUILDING. THE BUILDING WAS PART OF AN ONGOING DEMOLITION PROJECT TO REMOVE DEBRIS FROM EARLIER FIRES IN APRIL 24TH AND APRIL 26TH OF THIS YEAR. OFFICIALS THINK THESE FIRES ALONG WITH SEVERAL TRASH FIRES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS IN THE MINERSVILLE AREA ARE RELATED.



STATE NEWS

NEW YORK (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A JETBLUE FLIGHT ATTENDANT HAS
BEEN ARRESTED AFTER GETTING IN AN ALTERCATION WITH A PASSENGER ON A
JETLINER ARRIVING IN NEW YORK FROM PITTSBURGH. AUTHORITIES SAY
STEVEN SLATER GOT INTO A HEATED ARGUMENT WITH THE PASSENGER ABOUT
CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. AFTER LANDING AT JFK AIRPORT, THEY SAY HE
ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY SLIDE, SLID DOWN AND WENT TO HIS CAR.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - ALL THE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES IN
PENNSYLVANIA WHO ARE SEEKING TO BE LISTED ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S. SENATE ARE BEING CHALLENGED. THE CHALLENGES
WERE FILED IN COMMONWEALTH COURT YESTERDAY - THE DEADLINE FOR
CONTESTING CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WILL BE IN
SCRANTON TODAY TO STUMP FOR DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE JOE SESTAK.
IN ADDITION TO THE SESTAK RALLY AT SCRANTON HIGH SCHOOL, THE
SCRANTON TIMES REPORTS CLINTON IS DUE TO ATTEND A FUNDRAISER FOR
CONGRESSIONAL HOPEFUL JOHN CALLAHAN IN SALISBURY TOWNSHIP.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN BETHLEHEM (PENNSYLVANIA)
SAY A WOMAN ACCUSED OF ROBBING A BANK WHILE WEARING A CLOWN COSTUME
HAS TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE WAS FORCED TO BY AN UNKNOWN MAN WHO
THREATENED HER CHILDREN. THE MORNING CALL REPORTS CAROLYN WILLIAMS
WAS ARRESTED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER POLICE SAY A WOMAN FLED WITH
MORE THAN $7,100. POLICE SAY THEY CAUGHT HER CHANGING OUT OF THE
CLOWN SUIT.



NATIONAL NEWS

AFGHANISTAN
UN: NUMBER OF AFGHAN CIVILIANS KILLED AND INJURED RISING SHARPLY

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THE NUMBER OF
AFGHAN CIVILIANS KILLED OR WOUNDED ROSE 31 PERCENT IN THE FIRST SIX
MONTHS OF THIS YEAR COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
THE U.N. IN AFGHANISTAN SAID TUESDAY THAT ANTI-GOVERNMENT FORCES
WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR 76 PERCENT OF THE CASUALTIES - UP FROM 53
PERCENT LAST YEAR.
STAFFAN DE MISTURA, THE TOP U.N. ENVOY IN AFGHANISTAN,
INTRODUCED THE WORLD BODY'S LATEST CIVILIAN CASUALTY REPORT, SAYING
"THE HUMAN COST" OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN IS "INCREASING
SUBSTANTIALLY."
ACCORDING TO THE U.N. REPORT, 1,271 AFGHANS DIED AND 1,997 WERE
INJURED IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

GUANTANAMO-MILITARY TRIALS
YOUNG DETAINEE FACES TRIAL

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, CUBA (AP) - IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS
SINCE HE WAS CAPTURED AS A TEENAGER ON A BATTLEFIELD IN
AFGHANISTAN. AND NOW, A TRIAL IS BEGINNING TODAY FOR THE YOUNGEST
DETAINEE AT GUANTANAMO. A U.S. MILITARY JUDGE RULED YESTERDAY THAT
THE CONFESSIONS THAT PURPORTEDLY CAME FROM CANADIAN DETAINEE OMAR
KHADR CAN BE USED AGAINST HIM. KHADR WAS JUST 15 WHEN HE WAS
CAPTURED IN 2002.

US-RUSSIA-HIJACK EXERCISE
NORAD: HIJACK DRILL WITH RUSSIA MAKES TRAVEL SAFER

OVER THE PACIFIC (AP) - A CANADIAN OFFICER SAYS A GROUNDBREAKING
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING EXERCISE WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR
TERRORISTS TO PULL OFF A HIJACKING AGAINST THE U.S., CANADA OR
RUSSIA BY "HARDENING" THE AIR TRAVEL SYSTEM AGAINST ATTACKS.
THE EXERCISE IS SCHEDULED TO WRAP UP TUESDAY IN ALASKA, AFTER
FIGHTER JETS FROM RUSSIA AND THE NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE
COMMAND CHASE A CHARTERED JET PLAYING THE ROLE OF A HIJACKED
COMMERCIAL AIRLINER FLYING EAST ACROSS THE PACIFIC.
THE EXERCISE IS DESIGNED TO TEST HOW WELL AUTHORITIES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE OCEAN CAN COORDINATE THEIR RESPONSE. OF SPECIAL
INTEREST IS THE CRITICAL HANDOFF STAGE WHEN THE COMMANDEERED PLANE
MOVES FROM RUSSIA'S AIRSPACE TO NORAD'S TERRITORY.
NORAD IS A JOINT-U.S.-CANADA COMMAND.

INMATE ESCAPE
MARSHALS SEARCH AREA EAST OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYO. (AP) - THERE'S STILL ANOTHER
ESCAPED PRISON INMATE FROM ARIZONA ON THE LOOSE -- ALONG WITH A
WOMAN BELIEVED TO BE HIS ACCOMPLICE. AND AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'RE
RECEIVING TIPS FROM AN AREA EAST OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK IN
MONTANA.
YESTERDAY, A SECOND ESCAPED CONVICT -- WHO'D BEEN SERVING A LIFE
TERM IN ARIZONA FOR MURDER -- WAS CAUGHT IN WYOMING. TRACY PROVINCE
HAD A HANDGUN AND A HITCHHIKING SIGN WHEN HE WAS PICKED UP.
THE SEARCH FOR JOHN MCCLUSKEY AND HIS COUSIN AND FIANCEE,
CASSLYN WELCH, FOCUSED FOR A TIME ON YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.
PROVINCE, MCCLUSKEY AND DANIEL RENWICK ESCAPED FROM AN ARIZONA
PRISON NEAR KINGMAN ON JULY 30. AUTHORITIES SAY WELCH THREW WIRE
CUTTERS OVER THE PERIMETER FENCE. RENWICK WAS CAPTURED IN COLORADO.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT-ARREST
JETBLUE FLIGHT ATTENDANT ARRESTED AFTER NYC RUCKUS

NEW YORK (AP) - JETBLUE SAYS IT'S WORKING WITH POLICE AND THE
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO INVESTIGATE AN INCIDENT AT NEW
YORK'S KENNEDY AIRPORT YESTERDAY.
POLICE SAY FLIGHT ATTENDANT STEVEN SLATER, WHO HAD GOTTEN INTO
AN ARGUMENT WITH A PASSENGER, DEPLOYED AN EMERGENCY EXIT SLIDE
AFTER THE PLANE LANDED AND FLED THE PLANE -- AFTER FIRST GRABBING A
BEER FROM THE GALLEY.
THEY SAY SLATER HAD USED THE PLANE'S P-A SYSTEM TO BERATE THE
PASSENGER AFTER A CONFRONTATION OVER A BAG.
SLATER WAS ARRESTED AT HIS HOME IN QUEENS ON CHARGES INCLUDING
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT.

VANUATU-EARTHQUAKE
PACIFIC QUAKE GENERATES SMALL TSUNAMI

SYDNEY (AP) - RESIDENTS OF THE PACIFIC ISLAND NATION OF VANUATU
(VAH-NOO-AH'-TOO) HAVE BEEN FLEEING TO HIGHER GROUND AFTER A
POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE.
IT GENERATED A SMALL TSUNAMI OF ABOUT 9 INCHES. BUT POLICE SAY
THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF MAJOR DAMAGE OR INJURIES FROM THE WAVE OR
FROM THE 7.5 MAGNITUDE QUAKE.
IT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO SHAKE BUILDINGS IN THE CAPITAL AND BRING
DOWN POWER LINES. AN OFFICIAL WITH THE NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSION
IN VANUATU'S CAPITAL REPORTS A NUMBER OF AFTERSHOCKS.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN DESCRIBES THE QUAKE AS "VERY SHARP" -- AND
SAYS IT WAS THE WORST ONE HE'S EVER FELT. HE SAYS MANY PEOPLE LEFT
THE CENTER OF THE CAPITAL AND WENT TO HIGHER GROUND BECAUSE OF
FEARS OF A TSUNAMI.
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS COMMUNICATIONS WERE KNOCKED OUT, BUT THAT
THEY ARE COMING BACK NOW.

GULF OIL SPILL
FINAL 100 FEET OF RELIEF WELL DRILLING IS UNDER WAY

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - THERE'S JUST 100 FEET TO GO, BUT DRILLING THE
FINAL STRETCH OF A RELIEF WELL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IS A CAREFUL
AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS.
A DRILL THAT'S MORE THAN TWO MILES BENEATH THE SEA FLOOR IS
BEING STEERED TOWARD A TARGET LESS THAN HALF THE SIZE OF A
DARTBOARD -- PART OF THE EFFORT TO PERMANENTLY SEAL A BLOWN-OUT
WELL.
BUT THE MAN WHO'S GUIDING IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN EACH OF THE
OTHER 40 TIMES HE'S DRILLED RELIEF WELLS.
IF JOHN WRIGHT MISSES THIS TIME, BP ENGINEERS WILL PULL THE
DRILL BIT UP, POUR CONCRETE IN THE OFF-TRACK HOLE AND THEN TRY
AGAIN.

JOBS BILL
NEW: HOUSE MOVES TO HELP TEACHERS, PUBLIC WORKERS

WASHINGTON (AP) - HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE CONVENING AN EMERGENCY
SESSION TO PASS A BILL AIMED AT SAVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
TEACHERS AND OTHER PUBLIC WORKERS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT.
THE ONE-DAY SESSION TUESDAY ALSO MAY ADDRESS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT
WILL BE ON VOTERS' MINDS THIS NOVEMBER - LAX BORDER SECURITY - WITH
PASSAGE OF A $600 MILLION BILL TO INCREASE SURVEILLANCE ALONG THE
U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER.
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI TOOK THE UNUSUAL STEP OF SUMMONING
REPRESENTATIVES BACK TO WASHINGTON BECAUSE THE SENATE PASSED BOTH
THE $26 BILLION JOBS BILL AND THE BORDER SECURITY BILL THURSDAY
AFTER THE HOUSE HAD DEPARTED FOR ITS SIX-WEEK SUMMER BREAK.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ON TUESDAY WILL URGE THE HOUSE TO MOVE
SWIFTLY ON THE TEACHER RELIEF PACKAGE.

IMMIGRATION-LOCAL ENFORCEMENT
NEW: FINGERPRINT SHARING LED TO DEPORTATION OF 47,000

WASHINGTON (AP) - RECORDS SHOW THAT ABOUT 47,000 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN REMOVED OR DEPORTED FROM THE U.S. AFTER THE HOMELAND SECURITY
DEPARTMENT SIFTED THROUGH 3 MILLION SETS OF FINGERPRINTS TAKEN FROM
BOOKINGS AT LOCAL JAILS.
ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF THOSE KICKED OUT OF THE COUNTRY DID NOT
HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS, ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT DATA OBTAINED BY
IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT.
THEY WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH A FINGERPRINT SHARING PROGRAM KNOWN
AS SECURE COMMUNITIES THAT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IS FOCUSED ON
GETTING RID OF THE "WORST OF THE WORST" CRIMINAL IMMIGRANTS FROM
THE U.S.
IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES SAY THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS TOO MUCH TIME ON
LOWER-LEVEL CRIMINALS OR NON-CRIMINALS.

CALIFORNIA-FATAL CRASH
NEW: FIERY CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY CRASH KILLS 6

BISHOP, CALIF. (AP) - THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS AN SUV
SWERVED INTO A HIGHWAY MEDIAN IN THE EASTERN SIERRA NEVADA AND
COLLIDED WITH TWO VEHICLES, KILLING SIX PEOPLE, INCLUDING A MEMBER
OF A UNIVERSITY CROSS COUNTRY TEAM.
CHP OFFICER DENNIS CLELAND SAYS THE SOUTHBOUND SUV DRIFTED OFF
THE SHOULDER THEN TRAVELED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN MONDAY NIGHT
WHERE IT STRUCK A VAN CARRYING MEMBERS OF CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
UNIVERSITY'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM AND BURST INTO FLAMES.
TWO OTHER UNIVERSITY VANS WERE NOT STRUCK IN THE CRASH ON U.S.
HIGHWAY 395 NEAR THE TOWN OF BISHOP, BUT A VEHICLE BEHIND ONE OF
THE VANS CRASHED INTO THE BURNING SUV.
CLELAND SAYS FIVE OF THE DEAD WERE IN THE SUV.
A CALL TO A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE UNIVERSITY IN RIVERSIDE WAS NOT
RETURNED.