TODAY'S NEWS - FRIDAY AUGUST 6, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

JOULWAN PARK INSTALLS BANDSHELL

THE BANDSHELL FOR JOULWAN PARK STARTED BEING INSTALLED ON WEDNESDAY. A KEY FEATURE OF THE POTTSVILLE LIONS AMPHITHEATER, THE BANDSHELL COST $30,000 AND WAS PAID FOR BY DONATIONS BY THE POTTSVILLE LIONS CLUB. IT’S 44 FEET LONG, 24 FEET HIGH AND 36 FEET WIDE, SAID THOMAS PALAMAR, THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR. HE SAYS HE’S HOPING TO SCHEDULE THE FIRST CONCERT AT THE AMPHITHEATRE FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND, THOUGH NO PLANS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED. THE BANDSHELL IS BEING INSTALLED BY PIONEER POLE BUILDINGS INC. OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, AND IS EXPECTED TO FINISH IT’S PART OF THE INSTALLATION THIS MORNING. GEN GEORGE A JOULWAN PARK WAS FINANCED BY A $300,000 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AND PARTNERSHIP GRANT, WHICH THE CITY RECEIVED IN 2005 THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.


AMERICAN’S WANT HOME-GROWN FOODS

AMERICAN’S WANT THEIR FOOD TO BE RED, WHITE AND BLUE. THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW HARRIS INTERACTIVE POLL THAT FOUND 94 % OF PEOPLE BELIEVE IT’S IMPORTANT TO GROW FOOD DOMESTICALLY INSTEAD OF RELYING ON FOREIGN SUPPLIERS. AMERICAN SUGAR ALLIANCE CHAIRMAN, JIM JOHNSON SAYS THIS IS BAD NEW FOR OPPONENTS OF U.S. SUGAR POLICY. HE SAYS FOR YEARS LARGE FOOD MANUFACTURERS HAVE LOBBIED TO LET SUBSIDIZED FOREIGN SUGAR CASCADE ONTO THE MARKET AND DISPLACE U.S. SUGAR AND THE 146,000 JOBS THE INDUSTRY SUPPORTS. CONGRESS IS POISED TO BEGIN DEBATE OF THE COUNTRY’S FARM BILL NEXT YEAR AND JOHNSON THINKS AMERICA’S SENSE OF NATIONAL PRIDE WILL ENSURE THAT FARM POLICY REMAINS INTACT.


FACEBOOK HARRASSMENT

A GIRARDVILLE MAN WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK BY FRACKVILLE POLICE FOR USING THE WEBSITE FACEBOOK TO THREATEN A WOMAN. ANDREW C BAKEROFSKIE, 19 OF 7. W. ODGEN ST, WAS CHARGED WITH TERRORISTIC THREATS, HARASSMENT BY COMMUNICATION, HARASSMENT AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. BAKEROFSKIE THREATENED PATRICIA YAGLIENISKI AND HER SON BY POSTING COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK STATING THAT THEY WERE “SCUMBAGS”. POLICE SAID BAKEROFSKIE ADMITTED TO POSTING THE MESSAGES AND KNEW THEY WERE WRONG, BUT HE SAID HE WAS ANGRY WHEN HE FOUND OUT YAGLIENISKI WROTE ABOUT HIM TO ANOTHER FACEBOOK USER.


STATE NEWS

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A JUDGE HAS RULED THAT FORMER PENNSYLVANIA
CASINO OWNER LOUIS DENAPLES OWES MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN FEDERAL
TAXES ON INCOME HE RECEIVED FROM A $40 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH
PENNDOT IN 2001. DENAPLES' BROTHER, DOMINICK, MUST ALSO PAY $2.3
MILLION. THE BROTHERS SETTLED WITH PENNDOT AFTER THE AGENCY SEIZED
MORE THAN 100 ACRES OF THEIR LAND IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY TO BUILD A
HIGHWAY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIALS ARE CLOSING A
RESIDENCE BUILDING AND BANNING NEW ADMISSIONS AT A SUBURBAN
PHILADELPHIA FACILITY FOR THE DISABLED FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF AN
AUTISTIC MAN LEFT IN A HOT VAN. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE
SAYS EIGHT CLIENTS MUST BE RELOCATED FROM THE BUILDING AT WOODS
SERVICES IN LANGHORNE.

WEST CHESTER, PA. (AP) - A FIRST-GRADE TEACHER IN A PHILADELPHIA
SUBURB IS FACING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES. THE DELAWARE COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TELLS THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER DAVID
DEVINE OF MEDIA HAD MORE THAN 500 PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ON HIS COMPUTER.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - CRAYOLA CRAYONS ARE GOING TO BE A LOT
GREENER. WFMZ-TV REPORTS THE EASTON COMPANY UNVEILED ITS 15-ACRE
SOLAR PANEL FARM YESTERDAY. IT'S LOCATED IN A FIELD BEHIND THE
COMPANY'S HEADQUARTERS. CRAYOLA SAYS ITS 26,000 SOLAR PANELS WILL
ANNUALLY PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE A THIRD OF THE THREE BILLION
CRAYONS CRAYOLA MAKES EACH YEAR.




NATIONAL NEWS

KAGAN-SUPREME COURT 0400
NEW: KAGAN TO CELEBRATE WITH OBAMA, BE SWORN SATURDAY

WASHINGTON (AP) - IT'S ALL OVER BUT THE CELEBRATING AND
OATH-TAKING FOR SOON-TO-BE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ELENA KAGAN.
KAGAN IS JOINING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON
FRIDAY TO MARK HER CONFIRMATION AS THE NATION'S 112TH JUSTICE. ON
SATURDAY, SHE'LL BE SWORN IN AT THE SUPREME COURT BY CHIEF JUSTICE
JOHN ROBERTS AS THE SUCCESSOR TO RETIRED JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS.
SHE WON'T BE FORMALLY INSTALLED AS A JUSTICE UNTIL OCT. 1 AT THE
START OF THE COURT'S NEW TERM.
KAGAN WON CONFIRMATION THURSDAY.

PENTAGON-WIKILEAKS
PENTAGON DEMANDS WEBSITE STOP POSTING CLASSIFIED MILITARY
DOCUMENTS

WASHINGTON (AP) - A WEBSITE THAT SOLICITS LEAKED GOVERNMENT
SECRETS HASN'T REPLIED TO CALLS AND E-MAILS SEEKING COMMENT ON THE
PENTAGON'S DEMAND THAT IT CANCEL ANY PLAN TO PUBLISH MORE
CLASSIFIED MILITARY DOCUMENTS.
THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOLD THE WEBSITE WIKILEAKS TO PULL
BACK TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SECRET AFGHAN WAR LONGS ALREADY POSTED ON
THE INTERNET.
THE PENTAGON HAS NO INDEPENDENT POWER TO ENFORCE IT'S DEMAND.
ITS DEMAND WAS PRIMARILY AIMED AT PREVENTING RELEASE OF
APPROXIMATELY 15,000 SECRET DOCUMENTS THAT WIKILEAKS HAS SAID IT IS
HOLDING.
THE PENTAGON ALSO HOPES TO STOP THE WEBSITE FROM MAKING PUBLIC
THE CONTENTS OF A MAMMOTH ENCRYPTED FILE RECENTLY ADDED TO THE
SITE. THE CONTENTS OF THAT FILE REMAIN A MYSTERY.
WIKILEAKS POSTED MORE THAN 76,900 CLASSIFIED MILITARY AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS FROM AFGHANISTAN ON ITS WEBSITE ON JULY 25TH.

HEALTH OVERHAUL-LAWSUIT
STATES RESPOND TO FEDS' MOTION TO DISMISS LAWSUIT

PENSACOLA, FLA. (AP) - TWENTY STATES AND THE NATION'S MOST
INFLUENTIAL SMALL BUSINESS LOBBY ARE ABOUT TO RESPOND TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPT TO DISMISS THEIR LAWSUIT CHALLENGING
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL.
THE STATES, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS AND
SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS WILL FILE THEIR RESPONSE FRIDAY.
A KEY ISSUE RAISED IN THE LAWSUIT IS WHETHER THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CAN REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS TO PURCHASE HEALTH CARE
INSURANCE AND FINE THOSE WHO FAIL TO DO SO.
FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL MCCOLLUM, A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR, IS LEADING THE LEGAL CHALLENGE. THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT IN JUNE ASKED A FEDERAL JUDGE TO DIMISS THE LAWSUIT,
SAYING PENSACOLA'S FEDERAL COURT LACKS SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION
OVER SOME OF ITS CLAIMS.

COLORADO PLANE CRASH
SHERIFF: 3 DEAD AFTER SMALL PLANE CRASHES IN COLO.

CENTRAL CITY, COLO. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A SMALL PLANE CRASHED
AND BURNED IN THE NORTHERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS, KILLING ALL THREE
PEOPLE ON BOARD.
THE GILPIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS THE SINGLE-ENGINE PLANE
WAS FLYING FROM BOULDER TO CALIFORNIA WHEN IT CRASHED WEDNESDAY
NEAR ROLLINS PASS. THE VICTIMS' NAMES HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PREVIOUSLY SAID IT WAS BELIEVED ONLY ONE
PERSON WAS IN THE PLANE. A SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THE PLANE WAS SO
SEVERELY BURNED AND MANGLED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TELL HOW MANY
PEOPLE WERE INSIDE.
INVESTIGATORS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THE
CRASH SITE FRIDAY.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
NEV. BOARD SLASHES STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, COSTS

CARSON CITY, NEV. (AP) - A STATE PANEL HAS VOTED TO SLASH
BENEFITS FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEVADA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, RETIREES
AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, INCLUDING ELIMINATING SOME BENEFITS AND
DRASTICALLY REDUCING OTHERS.
THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' BENEFIT PROGRAM BOARD ON THURSDAY CUT
NEARLY $81 MILLION IN SUBSIDIZED SERVICES FOR 70,000 PARTICIPANTS.
THAT'S ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF A $111 MILLION SHORTFALL FACED BY THE
PROGRAM FOR THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET CYCLE THAT BEGINS JULY 1.
THE REMAINING $30 MILLION WILL BE MADE UP IN HIGHER PREMIUMS
PAID BY WORKERS AND RETIREES. THE BOARD WILL TACKLE THOSE OPTIONS
WHEN IT MEETS NEXT MONTH.
THE CUTS PASSED THURSDAY WON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL NEXT JULY. SOME
OF THEM MUST BE APPROVED BY THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF RETIREES AND EMPLOYEE GROUPS SAY THE CHANGES
ARE DRASTIC AND COULD HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

RUSSIA-FIRES
NEW: WORST SMOG YET HITS MOSCOW, SEEPS INTO HOMES

MOSCOW (AP) - THE CITY OF MOSCOW IS SHROUDED BY SMOG THAT IS
SEEPING INTO BUILDINGS AND CAUSING FLIGHT DIVERSIONS AT A MAJOR
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AS WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO BURN.
VISIBILITY EARLY FRIDAY IN PARTS OF THE CITY IS DOWN TO A FEW
DOZEN YARDS (METERS) DUE TO THE SMOG, WHICH CARRIES A STRONG
BURNING SMELL AND CAUSES COUGHING. THE SMOG IS THE WORST SEEN TO
DATE IN THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL AND HAS SEEPED INTO OFFICES AND HOMES.
YELENA GOLANOVA, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR DOMODEDOVO AIRPORT, SAID SIX
FLIGHTS WERE DIVERTED TO OTHER AIRPORTS OVERNIGHT. RUSSIAN NEWS
AGENCIES REPORTED VISIBILITY ON THE RUNWAY WAS DOWN TO 400 METERS,
LESS THAN HALF THE AVERAGE, AND THAT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ARE
OFFERING ALL INCOMING FLIGHTS AN OPTION TO DIVERT.

TERRORISM-US-SOMALIA
NEW: 2 MINN. WOMEN AMONG 14 CHARGED IN TERROR PROBE

ST. PAUL, MINN. (AP) - PROSECUTORS CLAIM A WOMAN IN SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA WHO COLLECTED DONATIONS FOR SOMALI REFUGEES WAS ACTUALLY
SUPPORTING A TERRORIST GROUP.
AMINA FARAH ALI WAS KNOWN AS THE GO-TO PERSON FOR SOMALIS IN
ROCHESTER TO DONATE CLOTHES AND OTHER ITEMS FOR REFUGEES.
ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL INDICTMENT UNSEALED THURSDAY, ALI AND
HAWO MOHAMED HASSAN WERE CLAIMING TO COLLECT FOR CHARITY BUT WERE
SENDING MONEY TO THE TERRORIST GROUP AL-SHABAB.
BOTH WOMEN SAY THEY ARE INNOCENT.
THEY WERE ARE AMONG 14 PEOPLE NAMED IN INDICTMENTS UNSEALED
THURSDAY IN MINNEAPOLIS, SAN DIEGO, AND MOBILE, ALA. THEY'RE
ACCUSED OF BEING PART OF WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CALLED "A DEADLY
PIPELINE" THAT ROUTED MONEY AND FIGHTERS FROM THE U.S. TO
AL-SHABAB.

SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT
NEW: MO. FAMILIES GRIEVE 2 SLAIN IN SCHOOL BUSES WRECK

GRAY SUMMIT, MO. (AP) - WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN A DAY OF
FUN FOR A MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND TURNED INTO A DAY OF
CHAOS AND TRAGEDY.
TWO BUSES TAKING BAND MEMBERS TO AN AMUSEMENT PARK THURSDAY
MORNING SLAMMED INTO A HIGHWAY WRECK, KILLING A 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT
AND THE DRIVER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE.
THE CRASH HAPPENED NEAR GRAY SUMMIT, ABOUT 40 MILES WEST OF ST.
LOUIS. IT SENT DOZENS OF CHILDREN FROM ST. JAMES' JOHN F. HODGE
HIGH SCHOOL TO HOSPITALS, WHERE MOST WERE TREATED FOR MINOR
INJURIES AND RELEASED.
BUT THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL SAID STUDENT JESSICA
BRINKER WAS KILLED. SHE WAS SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE FIRST BUS TO
HIT THE WRECK.
THE STUDENTS WERE TRAVELING TO A SIX FLAGS AMUSEMENT PARK ABOUT
10 MILES FROM THE CRASH SITE.

CROSSBOW KILLING
CALIF. MAN SENTENCED IN CROSSBOW SLAYING

LANCASTER, CALIF. (AP) - AN EX-CONVICT HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 64
YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR KILLING A MAN WITH A CROSSBOW IN
CALIFORNIA.
A JURY CONVICTED 39-YEAR-OLD CURTIS SCOTT OF KILLING 62-YEAR-OLD
ANGEL MARTINEZ IN MARCH 2008. MARTINEZ'S BODY WAS FOUND IN
LANCASTER WITH AN ARROW STICKING OUT OF HIS CHEST. SCOTT WAS
SENTENCED THURSDAY.
PROSECUTORS SAY THE CRIME WAS A RANDOM ATTACK THAT SCOTT
INTENDED TO SHOW HIS STEPDAUGHTER HE WAS SOMEONE NOT TO BE MESSED
WITH.
MARTINEZ WAS A RETIRED EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS
OUT FOR A LATE-NIGHT WALK WHEN HE WAS STRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN
INTERSECTION.

GIRLS STABBED
CALIF. TEEN CHARGED WITH KILLING FEMALE COUSIN, 11

LANCASTER, CALIF. (AP) - A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY IS BEING HELD WITHOUT
BAIL FOR FATALLY STABBING HIS 11-YEAR-OLD COUSIN AND WOUNDING HER
14-YEAR-OLD SISTER OUTSIDE THEIR DESERT HOME NORTH OF LOS ANGELES.
THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THURSDAY
CHARGED LONNIE LINER AS AN ADULT WITH MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ARRESTED HIM TUESDAY IN A NEARBY JUNKYARD.
OFFICIALS SAY LINER SLASHED THE 11-YEAR-OLD'S THROAT AND THE
GIRL DIED IN HER LITTLEROCK HOME. THE VICTIM'S SISTER SUFFERED
MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS BUT ESCAPED AND IS EXPECTED TO SURVIVE.
A MOTIVE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.
LINER FACES UP TO TWO LIFE TERMS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED. IT WAS
UNKNOWN IF HE HAD AN ATTORNEY.

GRAND CANYON FALL
FRENCH MAN SURVIVES 75-FOOT FALL AT GRAND CANYON

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, ARIZ. (AP) - A FRENCH TOURIST HAS
SURVIVED A 75-FOOT FALL OFF THE SOUTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON.
WITNESSES SAY THE 18-YEAR-OLD MAN REPORTEDLY SLIPPED THURSDAY
AFTERNOON WHILE TAKING PICTURES NEAR THE RIM. PARK RANGERS RECEIVED
A REPORT OF A MAN FALLING OVER THE EDGE OF MATHER POINT, WHICH IS A
SHORT WALK BEHIND THE SOUTH RIM'S VISITOR CENTER.
PARAMEDICS RAPPELLED DOWN TO THE MAN'S LOCATION, FOUND HIM
CONSCIOUS AND STABILIZED HIM SO HE COULD BE AIRLIFTED OUT OF THE
CANYON AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO FLAGSTAFF MEDICAL CENTER.
PARK OFFICIALS SAY THE MAN - WHOSE NAME AND HOMETOWN HAVE NOT
BEEN RELEASED - WAS TREATED FOR WRIST, ANKLE AND NECK INJURIES.

DODGER STADIUM DEATH
NEW: FAN DIES ON FIELD BEFORE DODGERS GAME

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A BASEBALL FAN PARTICIPATING IN MORMON
COMMUNITY NIGHT AT DODGER STADIUM HAS DIED AFTER COLLAPSING ON THE
FIELD DURING BATTING PRACTICE.
OFFICIALS SAY DON HAWKINS WAS STANDING NEAR THE THIRD-BASE
COACH'S BOX THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN HE FELL ILL. HE WAS ONE OF ABOUT
4,000 MORMONS ON HAND FOR THE ANNUAL EVENT, WHICH INCLUDED HIS WIFE
AND GRANDSON.
HAWKINS WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AT AFTER PARAMEDICS PERFORMED
CPR, BUT WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. THERE WAS NO WORD ON THE CAUSE OF
DEATH.
TWO PEOPLE SCHEDULED FOR A CEREMONIAL FIRST-PITCH EVENT
ACCOMPANIED HAWKINS TO THE HOSPITAL, AND OTHERS TOOK THEIR PLACE AS
REQUESTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS.