TODAY'S NEWS - AUGUST 27, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

PA HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION APPROVES $5.2M IN NURSING EDUCATION GRANTS FOR 2010-2011

THE PA HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS APPROVED $5.2M IN FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR ITS NURSING EDUCATION GRANTS FOR THE 2010-2011 ACADEMIC YEAR. THE GRANTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO QUALIFYING NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH TO ASSIST IN THE CREATION AND RETENTION OF NEW NURSING STUDENTS. THE GRANT IS PRIMARILY FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THE $5.2M WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO 124 ELIGIBLE REGISTERED NURSING AND PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT PA TO BE USED AS TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NURSING STUDENTS. THE PHEF NURSING EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES NON-TAXPAYER SUPPORTED FUNDING TO PA’S SCHOOL OF NURSING.


PPL AGREES TO LOWER RATES IN 2011

A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FILED YESTERDAY WITH THE PA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION WOULD INCREASE PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES OVERALL ANNUAL REVENUES BY ABOUT $77.5 M OR 1.6%, BEGINNING JAN 1, 2011. THE INCREASE WILL ALLOW THE COMPANY TO BEGIN RECOVERING THE COST OF NEARLY THREE YEARS OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS. IN ADDITION, IT WILL IMPROVE THE COMPANY’S ABILITY TO ATTRACT CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ONGOING EFFORTS TO REPLACE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENT RELIABILITY FOR CUSTOMERS. THE INCREASE WOULD ONLY AFFECT THE DISTRIBUTION PORTION OF CUSTOMERS’ ELECTRIC BILLS. DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT ¼ OF THE TYPICAL ELECTRIC BILL. THERE’S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT LOWER ELECTRICITY SUPPLY PRICES FOR 2011 COULD MORE THAN OFFSET THE PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION RATE INCREASE FOR MANY CUSTOMERS. PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES HAS INVESTED MORE THAN $960M IN ITS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. IT PLANS TO SPEND MORE THAN $1.5B ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.


CHILD SAFETY SEAT FITTING EVENT

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL “CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK” SAFETY CAMPAIGN, PSP SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WILL BE CONDUCTING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK IN LATE SEPTEMBER. CHILD SAFETY TECHNICIANS WILL BE AT THE PERCEPTION TRAINING CENTER ON 1265 W. LAUREL BOULEVARD IN POTTSVILLE. THEY WILL BE INSPECTING THE SAFETY SEATS, MAKING SURE THE THEY ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED. THEY WILL BE AT THE TRAINING CENTER FROM 2-5PM ON SEPT 21 AND 7:30-10:30AM SEPT 22.



STATE NEWS

HERSHEY, PA. (AP) - ORGANIZERS ARE EXPECTING MORE THAN 1,000
PEOPLE AT A SPEECH BY FORMER VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SARAH
PALIN IN HERSHEY. PALIN IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA FAMILY INSTITUTE, AN EVENT THAT
RAISES FUNDS FOR THE 21-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA HOUSING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR CARL
GREENE IS ON LEAVE AFTER REVELATIONS THAT THE AGENCY SECRETLY
SETTLED AT LEAST FOUR SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST
HIM. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE ALSO AUDITING THE AGENCY AND ITS USE
OF PUBLIC MONEY.

MCCANDLESS, PA. (AP) - ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE SAY A SUBURBAN
PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICER HAS SHOT AND KILLED AN ARMED MAN AFTER
THEY RESPONDED TO A CALL THAT SOMEONE FIRED A SHOT THROUGH A
RESTAURANT'S WINDOW. AN OFFICIAL SAYS POLICE ENCOUNTERED THE MAN
AND ORDERED HIM TO DROP HIS WEAPON. MORTON SAYS THE MAN DIDN'T AND
BEGAN SHOOTING AT AN OFFICER, WHO RETURNED FIRE.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING
PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN'S VACCINATIONS ARE UP-TO-DATE
AS SCHOOL STARTS AMID AN INCREASE IN WHOOPING COUGH CASES.
OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE
PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS.

NATIONAL NEWS

ECONOMY
SNAPSHOT OF ECONOMY ABOUT TO GET A LOT BLEAKER

WASHINGTON (AP) - A REVISION OF U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH IS DUE
FRIDAY AND IT'S EXPECTED TO SHOW A SERIOUS STUMBLE.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT WILL REVISE ITS ESTIMATE FOR ECONOMIC
GROWTH IN THE APRIL-TO-JUNE PERIOD AND WALL STREET ECONOMISTS
FORECAST IT WILL BE CUT ALMOST IN HALF, TO A 1.4 PERCENT ANNUAL
RATE FROM 2.4 PERCENT.
THAT'S A SHARP SLOWDOWN FROM THE FIRST QUARTER, WHEN THE ECONOMY
GREW AT A 3.7 PERCENT ANNUAL RATE. THE CURRENT QUARTER ISN'T
EXPECTED TO BE MUCH BETTER, WITH MANY ECONOMISTS FORECASTING GROWTH
OF ONLY 1.7 PERCENT.
SOME ECONOMISTS BELIEVE THE ECONOMY COULD SLIP BACK INTO
RECESSION.
MANY TEMPORARY FACTORS THAT BOOSTED THE ECONOMY EARLIER THIS
YEAR ARE FADING, INCLUDING THE IMPACT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S $862
BILLION FISCAL STIMULUS PROGRAM.
THAT LEAVES THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PICK UP THE SLACK, BUT
BUSINESSES ARE CUTTING BACK.

GULF OIL SPILL-ECONOMY
OIL CLEANUP BOTH BONANZA AND BUST

UNDATED (AP) - AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ANALYSIS FINDS SOME PLACES
HAVE DONE PRETTY WELL SINCE THE GULF OIL SPILL WHILE OTHERS HAVE
BEEN HIT BY A DOUBLE-WHAMMY.
THE WORST OFFSHORE OIL SPILL IN U.S. HISTORY HAS SPURRED
SOMETHING OF AN ECONOMIC BOOM IN SOME COMMUNITIES WHERE CLEANUP
OPERATIONS ARE BASED.
BUT OTHER AREA'S HAVEN'T BEEN AS LUCKY. THEY'RE TOO FAR AWAY
FROM THE CLEANUP TO SERVE AS A STAGING GROUND FOR MASSES OF
WORKERS, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE LOSSES IN TOURISM,
FISHING AND DRILLING.
SALES TAX REVENUE IN GULF STATES SHOWED A STARK DIFFERENCE, UP
80 PERCENT IN JUNE IN FRONT-LINE CLEANUP TOWNS, BUT DOWN 45 PERCENT
IN TOWNS THAT LOST OUT ON BOTH THE CLEANUP AND TOURIST TRADES.
THE CLEANUP HAS BECOME ITS OWN INDUSTRY, ACCORDING TO SOME
BUSINESS OWNERS IN SOME FRONT-LINE PLACES.

NKOREA-CARTER-PRISONER
BOSTON MAN HELD IN NKOREA DUE BACK HOME TODAY

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - AN AMERICAN RELEASED FROM A NORTH
KOREAN PRISON IS DUE BACK IN BOSTON TODAY, ACCOMPANIED BY FORMER
PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, WHO SECURED HIS RELEASE.
CARTER FLEW TO THE NORTH KOREAN CAPITAL, PYONGYANG, THIS WEEK ON
A PRIVATE MISSION TO SECURE A PARDON FOR 31-YEAR-OLD AIJALON MAHLI
GOMES (EYE'-JAH-LAHN MAH'-LEE GOHMS).
THE OFFICIAL KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY REPORTS NORTH KOREAN
LEADER KIM JONG IL GRANTED CARTER'S REQUEST TO "LENIENTLY
FORGIVE" GOMES.
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT KIM - WHO WAS MAKING A SURPRISE
TRIP TO CHINA THIS WEEK - MET WITH CARTER AS WIDELY ANTICIPATED.
GOMES WAS THE FOURTH AMERICAN IN A YEAR ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING
IN NORTH KOREA, A COMMUNIST NATION THAT FOUGHT AGAINST THE U.S.
DURING THE 1950-53 KOREAN WAR AND DOES NOT HAVE DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS WITH WASHINGTON.

TROPICAL WEATHER
UPDATE: HURRICANE DANIELLE NOW A MAJOR STORM

MIAMI (AP) - FORECASTS SAY HURRICANE DANIELLE HAS REACHED MAJOR
HURRICANE STATUS AND KEEPS GETTING MORE DANGEROUS.
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER FORECASTERS SAY DANIELLE IS NOW A
CATEGORY 4 STORM WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 135 MPH.
FORECASTERS SAY SWELLS CHURNED UP BY DANIELLE COULD REACH PARTS
OF THE U.S. EAST COAST BY THE WEEKEND AND THAT DANGEROUS SURF
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN BERMUDA, THOUGH THE EYE WILL LIKELY MOVE
WELL EAST OF THE ISLAND.
FARTHER EAST, TROPICAL STORM EARL IS RACING WEST OVER THE
ATLANTIC WITH WINDS NEAR 45 MPH. FORECASTERS EXPECT EARL TO BECOME
A HURRICANE BY EARLY SATURDAY. ANOTHER SYSTEM IS FOLLOWING EARL'S
TRACK AND COULD BECOME A DEPRESSION SOON.
IN THE PACIFIC OFF MEXICO'S COAST, HURRICANE FRANK HAS WINDS OF
85 MPH.

KATRINA-FLOOD PROTECTION
FIVE YEARS AFTER KATRINA SKEPTICISM REMAINS ABOUT FLOOD
PROTECTION IN NEW ORLEANS

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - IN THE FIVE YEARS SINCE HURRICANE KATRINA,
NEW ORLEANS HAS BECOME A LABORATORY FOR DEVELOPING A NEW,
STATE-OF-THE-ART FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM.
NEW ORLEANS MAYOR MITCH LANDRIEU SAYS THE CITY'S VERY EXISTENCE
MAY BE THREATENED OVER THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
PUMPS INSTALLED AT THE MOUTH OF THE 17TH STREET CANAL HAVE
RAISED THE IRE OF GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGS. CRITICS SAY THEY'LL FAIL IN
A MAJOR STORM.
THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ADMITS THE PUMPS NEED TO BE REPLACED
BUT THAT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL 2014.
SANDY ROSENTHAL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LEVEES.ORG SAYS THAT
WITHOUT THEM, WATER WILL RISE TO THE TOP OF THE LEVEES, "AND VERY
LIKELY THOSE LEVEES WILL FAIL LIKE THEY DID DURING KATRINA."
SHE ALSO NOTES THAT THE CORPS IS PROTECTED FROM FINANCIAL
LIABILITY SHOULD IT'S FLOOD PROTECTION FAIL.

CAMPAIGN ADS
POLITICAL ADS SURPASS 2006 LEVELS AS ATTACKS MOUNT

WASHINGTON (AP) - SPENDING ON POLITICAL ADS IS ON THE RISE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND ATTACK ADS ARE LEADING THE WAY. CANDIDATES
WHO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD DO SO AT THEIR PERIL.
AS OF THURSDAY, CANDIDATES FOR STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICE HAD
SPENT $395 MILLION ON ADS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. THAT'S
COMPARED WITH $286 MILLION AT THIS POINT IN THE 2006 MIDTERMS. MORE
THAN HALF THE ADS HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE.
POLITICAL PARTIES AND OUTSIDE GROUPS BUYING ADS HAVE GONE
NEGATIVE 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME.
THOSE NUMBERS WERE COMPILED BY EVAN TRACEY, WHO TRACKS POLITICAL
ADS AS PRESIDENT OF CMAG, A DIVISION OF KANTAR MEDIA.

PAKISTAN-FLOODS
NEW: U.N.: 1 MILLION MORE DISPLACED IN PAKISTAN FLOODS

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AP) - A U.N. SPOKESMAN SAYS THE FLOODING
SITUATION IN PAKISTAN IS GOING "FROM BAD TO WORSE."
HE SAYS AID IS BEING DELIVERED FASTER AND FASTER, BUT THE FLOODS
SEEM DETERMINED TO OUTRUN THE RESPONSE.
THE LATEST AREA AFFECTED IS A PART OF SOUTHERN PAKISTAN WHERE A
BLOATED RIVER HAS CRUSHED A LEVEE, DISPLACING AS MANY AS A MILLION
PEOPLE. THE AREA HAS MANY HISTORIC GRAVES, TOMBS AND OTHER SITES
LINKED TO THE MUGHAL EMPIRE THAT ONCE RULED THE SUBCONTINENT.
ACROSS PAKISTAN, THE U.N. SAYS MORE THAN 17 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY FLOODS AND ABOUT 1.2 MILLION HOMES
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED OR BADLY DAMAGED. MORE THAN 8 MILLION PEOPLE
NEED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
THE PAKISTANI TALIBAN HINTED YESTERDAY THAT THEY MIGHT ATTACK
FOREIGN AID WORKERS, WHO HAVE BEEN POURING IN TO HELP.

AUSTRIA-SUPERBUG
NEW: AUSTRIA REPORTS 2 CASES OF SUPERBUG GENE

VIENNA (AP) - AUSTRIA'S HEALTH MINISTRY IS REPORTING TWO CASES
OF A NEW GENE THAT ALLOWS BACTERIA TO BECOME A SUPERBUG.
THE MINISTRY SAYS EXPERTS AT THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN THE
SOUTHERN CITY OF GRAZ DETECTED THE GENE, KNOWN AS NDM-1, IN TWO
PEOPLE, BOTH OF WHOM ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INFECTED IN
HOSPITALS ABROAD.
A STATEMENT FRIDAY SAID A PERSON FROM PAKISTAN WAS RELEASED IN
GOOD HEALTH FROM GRAZ'S UNIVERSITY CLINIC LAST YEAR AFTER
SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT. IT SAID ANOTHER PERSON FROM KOSOVO IS STILL
UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION THERE.
RESEARCHERS SAY THE GENE - WHICH APPEARS TO BE CIRCULATING
WIDELY IN INDIA - ALTERS BACTERIA, MAKING THEM RESISTANT TO NEARLY
ALL KNOWN ANTIBIOTICS.

CHILE-MINE COLLAPSE VIDEO
NEW VIDEO GIVES TOUR OF TRAPPED MINERS' REFUGE

COPIAPO, CHILE (AP) - A NEW VIDEO OF THE 33 MINERS TRAPPED A
HALF-MILE UNDERGROUND PROVIDES THE BEST IMAGES YET OF THE
CONDITIONS IN THE MINE IN NORTHERN CHILE.
THE MEN ARE SHIRTLESS, SOME SITTING AND OTHERS STANDING, AND
APPEAR TO BE SWEATING. MOST ARE SKINNY, SPORT THICK AND UNGROOMED
FACIAL HAIR, AND SHOW PUFFINESS UNDER THEIR EYES.
THE FOOTAGE, RELEASED LATE THURSDAY BY NATIONAL TELEVISION VIA
THE CHILEAN GOVERNMENT, ALSO SHOWS SOME OF THE MEN SPEAKING
INDIVIDUALLY INTO THE CAMERA, THOUGH THE MUFFLED SOUNDS MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.
ONE MAN GIVES A GUIDED TOUR, SHOWING WHERE THE MEN MEET AND PRAY
DAILY. HE POINTS OUT THE "LITTLE CUP TO BRUSH OUR TEETH."
AT ONE POINT, THE MINERS ARE SEEN ARM-IN-ARM, SINGING CHILE'S
NATIONAL ANTHEM AND YELLING "LONG LIVE CHILE, AND LONG LIVE THE
MINERS."

BLAGOJEVICH TRIAL
ROD BLAGOJEVICH HEADED FOR RETRIAL WITHOUT BROTHER

CHICAGO (AP) - FORMER ILLINOIS GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH'S OLDER
BROTHER DREADED HIS LAWYER'S PHONE CALL.
ROBERT BLAGOJEVICH EXPECTED TO LEARN WHEN HE'D AGAIN STAND TRIAL
ALONGSIDE HIS SIBLING. A JURY DEADLOCKED LAST WEEK ON ALL FOUR
CORRUPTION CHARGES AGAINST HIM AND 23 OF 24 CHARGES AGAINST THE
FORMER GOVERNOR.
INSTEAD, HE WAS TOLD PROSECUTORS WERE DROPPING CORRUPTION
CHARGES AGAINST HIM EVEN AS THEY PREPARED TO RETRY HIS BROTHER ON
ALLEGATIONS THAT INCLUDE SCHEMING TO SELL OR TRADE AN APPOINTMENT
TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S OLD SENATE SEAT.
SO ROBERT BLAGOJEVICH IS TAKING HIS LIFE BACK. AND FEDERAL
PROSECUTORS ARE SHARPENING THEIR FOCUS ON THE IMPEACHED ILLINOIS
GOVERNOR.
JUDGE JAMES ZAGEL SAYS ROD BLAGOJEVICH'S RETRIAL WILL START THE
WEEK OF JAN. 4.

BRITAIN-WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES IN ENGLAND JUMP TENFOLD

LONDON (AP) - A NEW STUDY SAYS THE NUMBER OF WEIGHT-LOSS
SURGERIES IN ENGLAND JUMPED MORE THAN TENFOLD FROM 2000 TO 2007.
DR. OMAR FAIZ, A CONSULTANT SURGEON AT ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL IN
LONDON JOINED COLLEAGUES IN MONITORING THE NUMBER OF WEIGHT-LOSS
SURGERIES DONE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS FROM 2000 TO 2008.
IN 2000, THERE WERE 238 WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES, BUT BY 2007 THERE
WERE 2,543 SUCH OPERATIONS. THE STUDY WAS PAID FOR BY BRITAIN'S
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH RESEARCH.
FAIZ DESCRIBED THE INCREASE IN SURGERIES AS "EXPONENTIAL," BUT
WAS UNSURE IF IT WOULD CONTINUE.
THE STUDY WAS PUBLISHED FRIDAY IN THE MEDICAL JOURNAL, BMJ.
SOME EXPERTS WEREN'T SURPRISED BY THE FIGURES AND SAID THE
OBESITY EPIDEMIC WAS LIKELY TO ACCELERATE THE DEMAND FOR SUCH
STOMACH-SHRINKING SURGERIES IN THE FUTURE.