TODAY'S NEWS, AUGUST 26, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

EMPIRE GROUP TO EXPAND HEADQUARTERS

EMPIRE EDUCATION GROUP HAS SECURED MORE THAN $7M IN FUNDING TO EXPAND ITS CURRENT HEADQUARTERS ALONG RT. 61 IN EAST NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP. CONSTRUCTION IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY ON THE 30,000SQ FT, 2-STORY ADDITION, WHICH WILL ALLOW EMPIRE TO BRING ITS HOME OFFICE WORKFORCE CLOSE TO 400 EMPLOYEES. THE 18 MONTH PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH A VARIETY OF SOURCES, THE LARGEST OF WHICH TAX EXEMPT IS FINANCING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND FUNDED BY M&T BANK. ALONG WITH THE NEW BUILDING, THE PROJECT INCLUDES PLANS FOR AN EXTENSION OF NEARBY TUNNEL ROAD. THE EXTENSION WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR U-TURNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF TUNNEL ROAD AND RT. 61 JUST SOUTH OF EMPIRE, AS WELL AS U-TURNS AT RT 61 AND ANN ST TO THE NORTH. EMPIRE EDUCATION GROUP CURRENTLY HAS 100 BEAUTY SCHOOLS LOCATED IN 21 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EMPIRE IS THE LARGEST, CENTRALLY OWNED AND OPERATED BEAUTY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN NORTH AMERICA.


CRACKER BARREL BREAKFAST WINS TOP SPOT IN ZAGAT COSTUMER SURVEY

THE CRACKER BARREL IN FRACKVILLE ADJACENT TO THE SCHUYLKILL MALL HAS A BREAKFAST THAT IS TOPPING OTHERS RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA. OVER 6,500 REGULAR CHAIN RESTAURANT DINERS SHARED THEIR OPINIONS ON 39 FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANTS IN A ZAGAT FAST FOOD SURVEY, AND THEY SELECTED CRACKER BARREL AS HAVING THE BEST BREAKFAST. THE FRACKVILLE RESTAURANT CAME IN SECOND LAST YEAR, BUT MADE IT TO THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR 2010. THE ZAGAT SURVEY IS THE THIRD NATIONAL RESEARCH STUDY IN WHICH CRACKER BARREL HAS RECEIVED TOP SCORES THIS SUMMER. IN A JULY STUDY BY THE CONSUMER BRAND METRICS PROGRAM, CONSUMERS RATED THE RESTAURANT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST AMONG 10 FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANTS IN THE CASUAL AND FAMILY DINING SEGMENTS. IN AUGUST CRACKER BARREL WAS RANKED AS THE NUMBER ONE FAMILY DINING RESTAURANT IN 5 MARKETS NATIONALLY, BY THE RESEARCH FIRM J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES.

DEVICE RESEMBLING BOMB FOUND IN UNOCCUPIED BUILDING IN TOWER CITY

A DEVICE RESEMBLING A BOMB WAS FOUND IN AN UNOCCUPIED BUILDING IN TOWER CITY YESTERDAY. THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AT 159 WEST GRANDE AVE WAS PERFORMING A CHECK OF THE BUILDING AROUND 2PM WHEN HE STUMBLED UPON THE DEVICE ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THE PSP HAZARDOUS DEVICE AND EXPLOSIVES SECTION WAS SUMMONED TO THE SCENE AS WELL AS STATE AND LOCAL POLICE. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE DEVICE WAS NOT A BOMB, AND ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION.

TWO CAR CRASH IN WORK ZONE ON STATE ROAD 125

A CAR SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER DURING A WORK ZONE STOP YESTERDAY AFTERNOON NEAR TREMONT. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 7:30 YESTERDAY MORNING ON STATE ROAD 125, CLOSE TO STATE HWY 4011. LARRY SMALLWORD, 77, FAILED TO STOP HIS 1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND STRUCK THE REAR OF ALLEN WOLF, 34, 2000 CHEVY SILVERADO. WOLF WAS STOPPED, BY A FLAG MAN HOLDING A STOP SIGN, BEHIND SEVERAL CARS WAITING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WORK ZONE. BOTH MEN WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELT AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.


STATE NEWS

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY PENNSYLVANIA
HAS RECORDED ITS FIRST HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS THIS YEAR. THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS A 69-YEAR-OLD PHILADELPHIA MAN HAS BEEN
FOUND TO HAVE THE VIRUS. WEST NILE IS SPREAD TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS
BY INFECTED MOSQUITOES.

WASHINGTON, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN
ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL IN A MURDER ALMOST NINE YEARS AGO. IN A
PRELIMINARY HEARING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, RONALD CURRAN OF
ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP WAS ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL ON CHARGES OF
HOMICIDE AND CONSPIRACY IN THE OCTOBER 2001 DISAPPEARANCE OF
29-YEAR-OLD JERRY LEE CUSHEY JR.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S HIGH COURT IS CLARIFYING
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF GUARDIANS TO SEEK LIFE-PRESERVING TREATMENT
FOR THE PEOPLE UNDER THEIR CARE. THE SUPREME COURT SAYS THAT WHEN
INCOMPETENT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T IN A COMA OR IN AN "END-STAGE
CONDITION" ALSO HAVEN'T NAMED A HEALTH CARE AGENT, THEY'RE
ENTITLED TO MEDICAL HELP THAT WILL PRESERVE THEIR LIVES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A JAPANESE MAN ON A QUEST TO WALK AROUND THE
WORLD HAS STOPPED IN PHILADELPHIA TO GET HIS CART REPAIRED. THE
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS MASAHITO YOSHIDA'S CROSS-CONTINENT
TREK IS ON HOLD WHILE A SOUTH PHILLY BIKE SHOP REPAIRS THE CART
CARRYING HIS TENT AND OTHER POSSESSIONS ON A 3,000-MILE JOURNEY TO
VANCOUVER.


NATIONAL NEWS

NORTH KOREA-KIM JONG IL
NEW: NORTH KOREAN LEADER MAKES SURPRISE TRIP TO CHINA

BEIJING (AP) - TWO TEACHERS IN NORTHEASTERN CHINA SAY NORTH
KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG IL VISITED THEIR SCHOOL IN HIS SECOND TRIP
THIS YEAR TO HIS COUNTRY'S BIGGEST SOURCE OF DIPLOMATIC AND
FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
THE TEACHERS AT THE YUWEN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN JILIN PROVINCE SAID
KIM VISITED THE SCHOOL THURSDAY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
HIS FATHER KIM IL SUNG ATTENDED THE SCHOOL FROM 1927 TO 1930,
ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITE. AT THE TIME, YUWEN ATTRACTED A
COHORT OF SOCIALIST-LEANING TEACHERS.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT COMMENTED ON THE VISIT BY THE
RECLUSIVE LEADER WHO RARELY TRAVELS ABROAD.
THE SURPRISE TRIP ABROAD COMES AS FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JIMMY
CARTER MAKES A RARE TRIP TO NORTH KOREA ON A PRIVATE MISSION TO
SECURE THE FREEDOM OF AN IMPRISONED AMERICAN.

IRAQ
NEW: IRAQI POLICE SAY 6 GUARDS KILLED IN AMBUSH

BAGHDAD (AP) - IRAQI POLICE SAY SIX MEMBERS OF A
GOVERNMENT-ALLIED SUNNI MILITIA HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN AMBUSH BY
INSURGENTS IN EASTERN IRAQ.
THE KILLINGS EARLY THURSDAY IN DIYALA PROVINCE COME A DAY AFTER
A SPATE OF NATIONWIDE BOMBINGS AND SHOOTINGS MOSTLY TARGETING IRAQI
SECURITY FORCES LEFT AT LEAST 56 PEOPLE DEAD.
DIYALA POLICE SPOKESMAN MAJ. GHALIB AL-KARKHI SAID THE
GOVERNMENT-ALLIED FIGHTERS, KNOWN AS SAHWA OR AWAKENING COUNCILS,
WERE DRIVING NEAR THE TOWN OF MUQDADIYAH, ABOUT 60 MILES (90
KILOMETERS) NORTH OF BAGHDAD, WHEN THEIR CAR HIT A ROADSIDE BOMB.
AL-KARKHI SAID FOUR OF THE GUARDS WERE KILLED IMMEDIATELY. HE
SAID GUNMEN THEN SHOT THE SURVIVORS.
THE AWAKENING COUNCILS JOINED WITH U.S. FORCES AGAINST AL-QAIDA
IN 2006 AND HELPED TURN THE TIDE OF THE WAR.

OBAMA-IRAQ
OBAMA TO ADDRESS NATION TO MARK END OF IRAQ COMBAT

VINEYARD HAVEN, MASS. (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL ADDRESS
THE NATION FROM THE OVAL OFFICE AND ALSO VISIT TROOPS AT FORT BLISS
IN TEXAS ON TUESDAY TO MARK THE END OF U.S. COMBAT OPERATIONS IN
IRAQ.
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT
WEDNESDAY.
OBAMA PROMISED IN 2009 TO END THE FORMAL COMBAT MISSION BY AUG.
31, AND EARLIER THIS WEEK THE WHITE HOUSE SAID THE NUMBER OF U.S.
TROOPS STAGED IN IRAQ HAD FALLEN BELOW 50,000.
IRAQ IS SCHEDULED TO ASSUME SECURITY FOR ITS OWN TERRITORY AFTER
NEXT TUESDAY, WITH THE U.S. FALLING INTO AN ADVISORY AND BACKUP
ROLE.
U.S.-LED FORCES ATTACKED IRAQ IN MARCH 2003. MORE THAN 4,400
U.S. TROOPS HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DIED IN THE FIGHTING.

JAPAN-HIROSHIMA-OBAMA
NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES CALL ON OBAMA TO VISIT HIROSHIMA

TOKYO (AP) - FIVE NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES ARE CALLING ON PRESIDENT
BARACK OBAMA TO VISIT HIROSHIMA LATER THIS YEAR TO RE-ENERGIZE HIS
CALL FOR A WORLD WITHOUT NUCLEAR ARMS.
THE INVITATION CAME IN A LETTER TO OBAMA SIGNED BY FORMER SOVIET
PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, LECH WALESA (LEHK VAH-WEHN'-SAH) OF
POLAND, FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT FREDERIK WILLEM DE KLERK,
THE PRESIDENT OF EAST TIMOR, JOSE RAMOS-HORTA (ZHAW'-ZEE HAH'-MOHS
HOHR'-TUH), AND FORMER COSTA RICAN PRESIDENT OSCAR ARIAS SANCHEZ.
HIROSHIMA WILL HOST THE 11TH WORLD SUMMIT OF NOBEL PEACE
LAUREATES IN NOVEMBER. OBAMA WAS AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN
2009.
A VISIT TO THE SITE OF THE U.S. ATOMIC BOMB ATTACK WOULD BE
UNPRECEDENTED FOR A SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT AND HIGHLY
CONTROVERSIAL.
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SAID OBAMA CURRENTLY HAS NO PLANS TO VISIT
HIROSHIMA, BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO BE IN JAPAN AT AROUND THAT TIME TO
ATTEND ANOTHER SUMMIT MEETING IN YOKOHAMA, JUST OUTSIDE TOKYO.

CABBIE STABBED
FORMER VOLUNTEER IN AFGHANISTAN HELD IN CABBIE ATTACK

NEW YORK (AP) - A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO DID VOLUNTEER WORK IN
AFGHANISTAN IS CHARGED WITH SLASHING A NEW YORK CITY CAB DRIVER
AFTER ASKING HIM WHETHER HE WAS MUSLIM.
A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT ALLEGES MICHAEL ENRIGHT UTTERED AN ARABIC
GREETING AND TOLD THE DRIVER, "CONSIDER THIS A CHECKPOINT,"
BEFORE THE ATTACK TUESDAY NIGHT. POLICE SAY ENRIGHT WAS DRUNK AT
THE TIME.
A JUDGE ORDERED THE 21-YEAR-OLD HELD WITHOUT BAIL ON CHARGES OF
ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULT AS HATE CRIMES, AS WELL AS POSSESSION
OF A WEAPON.
THE DRIVER, A BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANT, SUFFERED A SERIOUS NECK
WOUND AND CUTS TO HIS FOREARMS, HIS FACE AND ONE HAND.
ENRIGHT'S LAWYER TOLD THE JUDGE HIS CLIENT WAS AN HONORS STUDENT
AT THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS WHO LIVES WITH HIS PARENTS IN SUBURBAN
BREWSTER, N.Y.
ENRIGHT VOLUNTEERED FOR INTERSECTIONS INTERNATIONAL, A GROUP
THAT PROMOTES INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AND HAS SUPPORTED PLANS FOR AN
ISLAMIC CENTER AND MOSQUE TWO BLOCKS FROM GROUND ZERO.

DC RALLY-GLENN BECK
NEW: BECK PLANS RALLY ON ANNIVERSARY OF KING'S 'DREAM' SPEECH

WASHINGTON (AP) - GLENN BECK'S RALLY ON THE ANNIVERSARY AND AT
THE SITE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S FAMOUS "I HAVE A DREAM"
SPEECH IS DRAWING CRITICISM, PROTESTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS
INTENTIONS.
BECK INSISTS THE EVENT SATURDAY AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL IS NOT
ABOUT POLITICS, EVEN THOUGH BECK AND FORMER ALASKA GOV. SARAH PALIN
WILL ATTEND.
BECK IS A POPULAR FIGURE AMONG TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS AND A
POLARIZING FOX NEWS CHANNEL PERSONALITY. THE EVENT'S WEBSITE SAYS
THE RALLY IS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S MILITARY PERSONNEL AND
OTHERS "WHO EMBODY OUR NATION'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRITY,
TRUTH AND HONOR."
IT URGES CITIZENS TO ATTEND AND "HELP US RESTORE THE VALUES
THAT FOUNDED THIS GREAT NATION."
BECK SAYS THE TIMING OF THE EVENT IS MERELY A COINCIDENCE.

ALASKA SENATE
RACE WILL COME DOWN TO ABSENTEE BALLOTS

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - ALASKA'S REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY
APPARENTLY WILL BE DECIDED BY ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
WITH ALL PRECINCTS REPORTING RESULTS FROM TUESDAY'S VOTING, SEN.
LISA MURKOWSKI TRAILS HER LESSER-KNOWN RIVAL JOE MILLER BY 1,668
VOTES.
BUT THOUSANDS OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS HAVE YET TO BE COUNTED.
THE STATE SENT OUT ABOUT 16,000 OF THEM, AND NEARLY HALF THAT
MANY HAD BEEN RETURNED BY MONDAY. BUT ABSENTEE BALLOTS POSTMARKED
BY ELECTION DAY CAN BE RECEIVED FOR UP TO 10 DAYS AFTER THE
ELECTION, SO THE COUNT OF OUTSTANDING MAIL-IN VOTES WON'T BEGIN FOR
SEVERAL DAYS.
MURKOWSKI IS THE DAUGHTER OF FORMER ALASKA SEN. FRANK MURKOWSKI,
WHO APPOINTED HER TO THE SENATE WHEN HE BECAME GOVERNOR IN 2002.
MILLER IS A WEST POINT GRADUATE WHO SERVED IN THE GULF WAR. HE
WAS ENDORSED BY FORMER ALASKA GOV. SARAH PALIN, CONSERVATIVE TALK
SHOW HOSTS AND THE CALIFORNIA-BASED TEA PARTY EXPRESS.
PALIN TOLD FOX BUSINESS NETWORK THAT ALASKANS "ARE READY FOR
SOME NEW BLOOD."

AFGHANISTAN
MILITANTS KILL 8 POLICEMAN IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - POLICE SAY INSURGENTS HAVE KILLED
EIGHT AFGHAN POLICEMEN IN A RAID ON A CHECKPOINT OUTSIDE THE
NORTHERN CITY OF KUNDUZ.
KUNDUZ PROVINCE POLICE CHIEF ABDUL RAZIQ YAQOUBI SAYS FIGHTERS
FROM CHECHNYA WHO ARE ACTIVE IN THE PROVINCE WERE SUSPECTED OF
CARRYING OUT THURSDAY'S ATTACK.
MORE THAN 10 MILITANTS TOOK PART IN THE AMBUSH, TWO OR THREE OF
WHOM WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED WHEN THE POLICE FOUGHT
BACK, YAQOUBI SAID.
THE MILITANTS APPARENTLY HOPED TO STEAL THE POLICEMEN'S WEAPONS
BUT WERE BEATEN BACK BEFORE THEY COULD DO SO, HE SAID.
KUNDUZ HAS SEEN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF ATTACKS ON AFGHAN AND
FOREIGN COALITION FORCES WHO RELY ON A SUPPLY LINE RUNNING SOUTH
THROUGH THE PROVINCE FROM NEIGHBORING TAJIKISTAN.

PAKISTAN-FLOODS
PAKISTAN FLOODS THREATEN 3 TOWNS AS LEVEE FAILS

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AP) - FLOODING IS NOW ENDANGERING PARTS OF
PAKISTAN THAT HAVE SO FAR BEEN UNTOUCHED BY THE ALMOST MONTHLONG
DISASTER. PAKISTANI OFFICIALS ARE URGING ANYONE LEFT IN THREE
SOUTHERN TOWNS TO EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER FLOODWATERS BROKE
THROUGH A LEVEE.
MOST OF THE 400,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA ARE THOUGHT TO
HAVE EVACUATED ALREADY, BUT THOSE REMAINING WERE WARNED TO FLEE.
THE FLOODS THAT BEGAN ALMOST A MONTH AGO WITH THE ONSET OF THE
MONSOON AND HAVE RAVAGED A MASSIVE SWATH OF PAKISTAN, FROM THE
MOUNTAINOUS NORTH THROUGH TO ITS AGRICULTURAL HEARTLAND.

TROPICAL WEATHER
DANIELLE IN ATLANTIC BECOMES A STRONGER HURRICANE

MIAMI (AP) - HURRICANE DANIELLE IN THE OPEN ATLANTIC HAS GROWN
TO A CATEGORY 2 STORM WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF MORE THAN 100
MPH (160 KPH).
IT IS MOVING NORTHWEST AND THE FORECAST TRACK HAS IT HEADING
TOWARD BERMUDA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
ALSO, TROPICAL STORM EARL HAS FORMED IN THE OPEN ATLANTIC OCEAN,
BUT THE SYSTEM IS FAR FROM LAND. EARL HAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS
OF 40 MPH (65 KPH) AND IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE BY LATE
FRIDAY.
IN THE PACIFIC, HURRICANE FRANK OFF MEXICO'S COAST HAS MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 80 MPH (130 KPH). THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER IN MIAMI SAID FRANK LIKELY WILL WEAKEN AS IT MOVES AWAY FROM
MEXICO'S SOUTHWESTERN COAST. FRANK IS LOCATED ABOUT 250 MILES (405
KILOMETERS) SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CABO CORRIENTES, MEXICO, AND IS
MOVING WEST-NORTHWEST.