TODAY'S NEWS - AUGUST 18,2010

LOCAL NEWS


SCHUYLKILL COUNTY: PUBLIC MEETING FOR PA 61 SAFETY AND CONGESTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (PENNDOT) WILL HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, TO UPDATE BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED PA 61 SAFETY AND CONGESTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BOROUGH AND NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

THE PUBLIC MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 6 P.M. AT THE PENN STATE MORGAN AUDITORIUM, 200 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, PA. 17972. RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND MOTORISTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

AT THE MEETING, PENNDOT AND DESIGN CONSULTANT ENGINEERS WILL PRESENT PLANS, TRAFFIC IMPACTS, AND EXPLAIN THE DESIGN PROCESS AND PRELIMINARY ALIGNMENT OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS ON PA 61 BETWEEN UNIVERSITY DRIVE AND THE ENTRANCE TO CRESSONA MALL.

THE PROJECT IS BEING DESIGNED TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND REDUCE CONGESTION ON THIS SECTION OF PA 61 THAT HAS AN AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC VOLUME VARYING BETWEEN 19,194 AND 31,904 VEHICLES.


SINGLE CAR CRASH NEAR STATE ROAD 443 IN PINE GROVE FLIPS CAR

A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH THAT OCCURRED AROUND 5PM YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, LEFT A VEHICLE OVERTURNED. DENNIS GEHMAN, 59, WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AND WAS UNINJURED WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE ON WATERFALL ROAD, ABOUT ¼ MILE NORTH OF STATE ROAD 443 IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP. GEHMAN’S 1986 DODGE ARIES SLID ON THE WET ROADWAY AND WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED.

ROAD MAY BE CLOSED THAT SERVES THE FRACKVILLE INDUSTRIAL PARK.

THE MILE-LONG STRETCH OF ROAD THAT SERVES THE FRACKVILLE INDUSTRIAL PARK MAY SOON BE CLOSED. WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AS CONSIDERING ABANDONING THE ROAD BECAUSE IT IS IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS AND THE TOWNSHIP CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT. THE ESTIMATED COST IS CLOSE TO $750,000 FOR UPGRADING THE ROAD, AND THE TOWNSHIP IS CURRENTLY SPENDING BETWEEN $8,000 - $10,000 TO FILL JUST THE POTHOLES EACH YEAR. REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE BUSINESSES ALONG THE ROADWAY SHOWED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CLOSURE AT LAST NIGHT’S MEETING. THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO TRY TO TURN THE ROAD OVER TO THE STATE. TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS ARE SEEKING HELP FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEIL GOODMAN, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT 123. PREVIOUSLY GOODMAN PROMISED TO TRY AND HELP THE CAUSE. THE INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD WAS DESTROYED YEARS AGO WHEN THE STATE ALLOWED LARGE CEMENT TRUCKS AND OTHER OVER SIZED VEHICLES TO USE IT HEAVILY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STATE PRISON.


STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TWO MEN CONVICTED IN THE MURDER OF A
PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER HAVE BEEN SPARED THE DEATH PENALTY
AFTER JURORS DEADLOCKED OVER WHETHER THEY DESERVED CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT OR LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE. LEVON WARNER AND ERIC
FLOYD WERE CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER LAST MONTH IN THE MAY
2008 DEATH OF SERGEANT STEPHEN LICZBINSKI (LIZ-BIN'-SKEE) FOLLOWING
A BANK ROBBERY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE IN PHILADELPHIA SAY AN OFFICER WAS
INJURED IN A STRUGGLE WITH A SHOPLIFTING SUSPECT IN A DRUGSTORE.
POLICE TELL THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT LIEUTENANT DOUGLAS
STANFORD BROKE THREE RIBS AND POSSIBLY SUFFERED A BRUISED LUNG
DURING A SCUFFLE WITH A SUSPECT SHOPLIFTER OUTSIDE A SOUTH
PHILADELPHIA RITE AID.

BELLEFONTE, PA. (AP) - CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS AND LOCAL LEADERS
SAY A NEW PRISON BEING BUILT IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WILL BRING
2,000 INMATES AND AT LEAST 600 EMPLOYEES TO THE AREA. WJAC-TV
REPORTS A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY WAS HELD YESTERDAY FOR THE $176
MILLION STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT BENNER IN CENTRE COUNTY.
IT'S ONE OF FOUR NEW PRISONS INTENDED TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE PRESIDENT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY IN
PITTSBURGH SAYS HE'LL STEP DOWN AT THE END OF THE 2012-2013
ACADEMIC YEAR. PRESIDENT JARED COHON CAME TO CMU IN 1997 AND HAS
THE THIRD-LONGEST TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL.


NATIONAL NEWS

OBAMA-POLL
NEW: AP POLL: OBAMA AT NEW LOW FOR HANDLING ECONOMY

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW ASSOCIATED PRESS-GFK POLL IS GIVING
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HIS LOWEST MARKS EVER ON HOW HE'S HANDLING
THE ECONOMY.
THE SAME POLL FINDS THAT AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF AMERICANS
NOW DESCRIBE THE NATION'S FINANCIAL OUTLOOK AS POOR. IF THIS SOUR
OUTLOOK LASTS UNTIL THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, FRUSTRATED VOTERS COULD
TAKE IT OUT ON THE PARTY IN POWER, WHICH MEANS OBAMA'S DEMOCRATS.
JUST 41 PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED APPROVE OF THE PRESIDENT'S
PERFORMANCE ON THE ECONOMY - DOWN FROM 44 PERCENT IN APRIL - WHILE
56 PERCENT DISAPPROVE. AND 61 PERCENT NOW SAY THE ECONOMY HAS
GOTTEN WORSE OR STAYED THE SAME ON OBAMA'S WATCH.
EVEN SO, THREE-QUARTERS ALSO SAY IT'S UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT
NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN OBAMA'S FIRST 18 MONTHS.
THE PRESIDENT'S OVERALL APPROVAL RATING REMAINS AT 49 PERCENT.

OBAMA
NEW: OBAMA ENGAGING IN KITCHEN-TABLE POLITICS IN OHIO

COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS TURNING FROM
MILLION-DOLLAR FUNDRAISERS ON THE WEST COAST TO SOME KITCHEN-TABLE
POLITICS IN OHIO.
OBAMA PLANS TO MEET WEDNESDAY WITH A COLUMBUS FAMILY THAT HAS
BENEFITED FROM HIS ECONOMIC POLICIES. HE'LL THEN EXTEND THE
CONVERSATION WITH OTHER FAMILIES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE EVENTS ARE DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE OBAMA'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE
JOB GROWTH. THE OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES ALSO ALLOW OBAMA'S
ADMINISTRATION TO BILL TAXPAYERS FOR MOST OF THE COST OF A TRIP
THAT HAS BEEN BUILT AROUND FUNDRAISING, INCLUDING EVENTS IN LOS
ANGELES AND SEATTLE.
ON WEDNESDAY, OBAMA IS ATTENDING A FUNDRAISER FOR OHIO GOV. TED
STRICKLAND, THEN HEADING TO FLORIDA TO RALLY FOR STATE DEMOCRATS.

MOSQUE-POLITICS
GOP CALLS OBAMA INSENSITIVE OVER STAND ON MOSQUE

WASHINGTON (AP) - REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE
USING THE DEBATE OVER A MANHATTAN MOSQUE TO HAMMER PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA.
THEY'RE CHARGING HIM WITH BEING AN ELITIST WHO IS INSENSITIVE TO
THE FAMILIES OF THE SEPT. 11 VICTIMS. HE'S COMING UNDER FIRE FOR
HIS SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHT OF MUSLIMS TO BUILD A MOSQUE NEAR GROUND
ZERO.
OBAMA HAS SAID THAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SHOULD REMAIN AN
UNSHAKABLE AMERICAN PRINCIPLE. BUT OPPONENTS SAY HIS POSITION IS
COLD AND ACADEMIC -- LACKING EMPATHY FOR THE FAMILIES.
AS FOR HOW DEMOCRATS RESPOND, THEY'RE BEING ADVISED FROM
WASHINGTON TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR CAMPAIGNS. DEMOCRATS ARE
TRYING TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION FOCUSED ON JOB CREATION. IT'S THE
PARTY'S MAIN MESSAGE AS VOTERS WHO ARE FACING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
LOOK TO UNLEASH THEIR ANGER ON THE PARTY IN POWER.

ACT SCORES
NEW: ACT SCORES DIP, BUT MORE STUDENTS COLLEGE-READY

UNDATED (AP) - THERE'S MIXED NEWS ON THE LATEST ACT COLLEGE
ENTRANCE EXAMS.
A REPORT OUT TODAY SAYS AVERAGE ACT SCORES INCHED DOWNWARD THIS
YEAR, BUT MORE STUDENTS WHO TOOK THE TEST PROVED READY FOR COLLEGE.
WHILE THE FINDINGS APPEAR CONTRADICTORY, THE EXAM'S AUTHORS
POINT TO A GROWING AND MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF TEST-TAKERS.
LAST SPRING'S HIGH-SCHOOL SENIORS AVERAGED A COMPOSITE SCORE OF
21.0 ON THE TEST'S SCALE OF 1 TO 36. THAT'S DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM 21.1
LAST YEAR AND THE LOWEST SCORE OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AT THE SAME TIME, 24 PERCENT OF ACT-TESTED STUDENTS MET OR
SURPASSED ALL FOUR OF THE TEST'S BENCHMARKS MEASURING THEIR
PREPAREDNESS FOR COLLEGE ENGLISH, READING, MATH AND SCIENCE. THAT
IS UP FROM 23 PERCENT LAST YEAR AND 21 PERCENT IN 2006.
THAT SHOWS THREE IN FOUR TEST-TAKERS WILL LIKELY NEED REMEDIAL
HELP IN AT LEAST ONE SUBJECT TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE, BUT ACT
OFFICIALS CALL IT PROGESS, ALBEIT SLOW, AS STUDENTS TAKE THE EXAM
IN LARGER NUMBERS.

ARIZONA SHERIFF-PROBE
ARIZ. SHERIFF HASN'T TURNED OVER RECORDS IN PROBE

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS THREATENED TO SUE THE MARICOPA COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE IF IT DIDN'T HAND OVER THE RECORDS BY TUESDAY.
ROBERT DRISCOLL, A LAWYER FOR SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO, SAID TUESDAY
HE DOESN'T EXPECT SUCH A LAWSUIT TO BE FILED BEFORE HE MEETS NEXT
WEEK WITH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.
THE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING ARPAIO'S OFFICE FOR ALLEGED
DISCRIMINATION, UNCONSTITUTIONAL SEARCHES AND SEIZURES, AND HAVING
ENGLISH-ONLY POLICIES IN HIS JAILS THAT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST
PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH SKILLS.
ARPAIO BELIEVES THE INQUIRY IS FOCUSED ON HIS IMMIGRATION
EFFORTS IN THE PHOENIX AREA.

WASHINGTON SENATE
DEMOCRAT MURRAY, GOP'S ROSSI ADVANCE IN WA PRIMARY

OLYMPIA, WASH. (AP) - DEMOCRATIC U.S. SEN. PATTY MURRAY OF
WASHINGTON WILL FACE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER DINO ROSSI IN NOVEMBER.
MURRAY AND ROSSI ADVANCED TUESDAY THROUGH WASHINGTON'S "TOP
TWO" PRIMARY, AN UNUSUAL SYSTEM THAT LISTS ALL CANDIDATES ON THE
SAME NONPARTISAN BALLOT AND SENDS THE TWO HIGHEST VOTE-GETTERS TO
THE FALL BALLOT.
MURRAY IS CONSIDERED VULNERABLE IN HER BID FOR A FOURTH TERM.
SHE WELCOMED A PRIMARY-DAY VISIT FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TO
BOOST HER MOMENTUM AND CAMPAIGN CHECKBOOK.
ROSSI IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO LOST TWO CLOSE BIDS FOR
GOVERNOR.

MILITARY MEDALS-IMPOSTERS
APPEALS COURT: STOLEN VALOR ACT UNCONSTITUTIONAL

PASADENA, CALIF. (AP) - A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT PANEL IN
CALIFORNIA SAYS PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO LIE ABOUT RECEIVING MILITARY
MEDALS.
THE TUESDAY RULING INVOLVES THE CASE OF XAVIER ALVAREZ, WHO
FALSELY CLAIMED IN 2007 TO HAVE WON A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR.
HE WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING THE FEDERAL STOLEN VALOR ACT, WHICH
MAKES IT A CRIME TO FALSELY CLAIM TO HAVE WON A MILITARY MEDAL.
ALVAREZ CHALLENGED THE LAW ON APPEAL AS A VIOLATION OF HIS
FREE-SPEECH RIGHTS.
A PANEL OF THE 9TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS SIDED WITH HIM
IN A 2-1 DECISION. THE MAJORITY SAID THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH
LIES HARM ANYBODY, AND THERE'S NO COMPELLING REASON FOR THE
GOVERNMENT TO BAN SUCH LIES.
THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN LOS ANGELES IS DECIDING WHETHER TO
APPEAL THE RULING.

AFGHANISTAN
ANTI-US PROTEST BLOCKS HIGHWAY IN EAST AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - HUNDREDS OF DEMONSTRATORS ARE BLOCKING
A MAIN HIGHWAY BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN'S CAPITAL, KABUL AND THE EASTERN
CITY OF JALALABAD TO PROTEST TWO DEATHS IN A NIGHT RAID.
THE PROTESTERS SAY THE TWO MEN KILLED WERE INNOCENT CIVILIANS,
WHILE NATO SAYS ITS FORCES KILLED TWO INSURGENTS.
GHAFOR KHAN, CHIEF OF THE DISTRICT OF SURKH ROD, SAID WEDNESDAY
THAT A FATHER AND HIS SON WERE KILLED IN THE TUESDAY NIGHT
OPERATION IN HIS DISTRICT. HE SAYS POLICE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE
DEMONSTRATION PEACEFUL.
NATO SAYS AFGHAN AND COALITION TROOPS KILLED TWO INSURGENTS AND
DETAINED SEVERAL OTHERS WHILE PURSUING A BOMB-MAKING EXPERT WHO WAS
MAKING SOPHISTICATED EXPLOSIVES FOR THE TALIBAN. THE COALITION SAYS
THE JOINT FORCE TOOK ENEMY FIRE BEFORE FATALLY SHOOTING TWO MEN.

PAKISTAN-FLOODS
INSURGENTS, POLICE CLASH AMID PAKISTAN FLOODING

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (AP) - TWO CIVILIANS ACTIVE IN AN
ANTI-TALIBAN MILITIA DIED WHEN ISLAMIST MILITANTS ATTACKED POLICE
POSTS IN FLOOD-PLAGUED PAKISTAN'S NORTHWEST.
THE ATTACKS ARE SEEN AS CHALLENGING A SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT
STRAINING UNDER PAKISTAN'S WORST RECORDED FLOODING.
OFFICIALS SAY A GROUP OF MILITANTS FIRST KILLED TWO MEMBERS OF A
MILITIA AS THEY HEADED TO PRAY AT A MOSQUE LATE TUESDAY. THEN,
DOZENS OF MILITANTS FROM THE KHYBER TRIBAL REGION, WHICH LIES NEAR
PESHAWAR AND ALONG THE AFGHAN BORDER, ATTACKED POLICE POSTS IN
PESHAWAR. THE TWO SIDES EXCHANGED FIRE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. OFFICIALS
SAY SEVERAL MILITANTS WERE KILLED, BUT THERE WERE NO POLICE
CASUALTIES.
THE CLASHES SUGGEST ISLAMIST INSURGENTS ARE NOT ABANDONING THEIR
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE STATE DESPITE THE FLOODING THAT HAS AFFECTED
SOME 20 MILLION PEOPLE.

PHILIPPINES-BUS CRASH
BUS CRASH IN PHILIPPINES KILLS 35, BUT 8 SURVIVE

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (AP) - A CONDUCTOR WHO SURVIVED THE CRASH
SAYS A PACKED PASSENGER BUS LOST ITS BRAKES BUT WAS NOT SPEEDING
WHEN IT PLUNGED OFF A PHILIPPINE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY INTO A 100-FOOT
RAVINE.
AT LEAST 35 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND POLICE SAY EIGHT, INCLUDING A
10-YEAR-OLD BOY, WERE RESCUED.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE BUS WAS NEGOTIATING A DOWNHILL CURVE.
CONDUCTOR JOHN PATRICK FLORES TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE
DRIVER WAS AIMING TO HIT A LAMP POST TO STOP THE BUS FROM FALLING
BUT MISSED AND IT JUMPED OVER A SMALL ROAD BARRIER.
FLORES SAYS HE JUMPED JUST IN TIME AND WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO
REACH THE BUS. HE SAYS HE CARRIED THE 10-YEAR-OLD BOY WITH A BROKEN
LEG UP THE RAVINE. LATER, LOCAL RESIDENTS HELPED RESCUE OTHER
PASSENGERS.
ACCIDENTS IN THE AREA ARE COMMON BECAUSE OF POORLY MAINTAINED
VEHICLES.

CHINA-TOBACCO
CHINA ANTI-TOBACCO EFFORTS FAILING, OFFICIALS SAY

BEIJING (AP) - CHINESE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE COUNTRY
CONTINUES TO PUFF AWAY DESPITE EFFORTS TO CURB TOBACCO USE.
A REPORT FROM CHINA'S CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS AN
ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN IN THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS NATION HAS HAD
NO REAL IMPACT AND 301 MILLION CHINESE ARE STILL SMOKING.
CHINA HAS PLEDGED TO MAKE INDOOR PUBLIC PLACES, WORKPLACES AND
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SMOKE-FREE BY EARLY NEXT YEAR. BUT 63 PERCENT OF
THOSE SURVEYED SAID THEY HAD SEEN PEOPLE SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES
OR AT WORK IN THE 30 DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE INTERVIEWED.
THE SURVEY CONCLUDES THERE'S ALSO BEEN NO MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN
EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE.