TODAY'S NEWS - MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH 2010

LOCAL NEWS

ROBBERY AT MASONIC TEMPLE IN CRESSONA

THREE MEN WERE ARRESTED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER A DRUG DEAL GONE BAD. JOSEPH KRASINSKY, 23 OF CRESSONA, MET THE MEN AT THE MASONIC TEMPLE PARKING LOT, ON ASH & 4TH STREET IN CRESSONA, SOMETIME BETWEEN 10 -10:30PM. THE THREE MEN ARRIVED IN A SEPARATE VEHICLE AND ONE OF THE MEN, WILLIAM MILLER, 20 OF CRESSONA, ENTERED KRASINSKY’S VEHICLE TO DO THE TRANSACTION. AS THEY PROCEEDED, JUSTIN GREEN, 23 OF NEW RINGOLD, LEFT KYLE LOMEL, 18 OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, BEHIND IN THE VEHICLE AND STEPPED UP TO KRASINSKY’S DRIVER’S SIDE DOOR WITH A GUN. GREEN, WEARING A BLACK SKI MASK, JABBED THE WEAPON INTO KRASINSKY’S NECK DEMANDING THAT HE HAND OVER ALL OF HIS MONEY. KRASINSKY DID AND THE THREE MEN THEN FLED THE SCENE. MILLER AND LOMBEL WERE CHARGED AND RELEASED ON BAIL. THERE IS STILL AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT FOR GREEN.

THEFT AT CABELLAS

THERE WAS A RETAIL THEFT AT CABELLAS OVER THE WEEKEND. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY NIGHT AROUND 7:30. YURI CHARLES NOWICKI, OF LINDEN NJ, WAS OBSERVED REMOVING 2 DUBRO DOWNRIGGER RELEASE CLIPS FROM THEIR PACKAGES, A TOTAL VALUE OF $19.98. NOWICKI WAS THEN SEEN SWITCHING PRICE TAGS FROM 2 INEXPENSIVE FISHING RODS AND REPLACING THEM WITH THE $355.00 TAGS. AFTER PAYING ONLY $79.98 AT THE CASH REGISTER AND ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE, MOWICKI WAS APPROACHED BY ASSET PROTECTION AND TROOPERS OF THE PSP OF HAMBURG. HE WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST AND WAS RELEASED ON BAIL.

POTTSVILLE APPROVES DEMOLITION OF OLD HOMES FOR CRIMSON COURT

THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE HAS APPROVED THE DEMOLITION OF 2 HOMES AND A FORMER PUB ON TERRY REILEY WAY, TO START CONSTRUCTION ON CRIMSON COURT. THE FANELLI GROUP, A DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION FIRM IN POTTSVILLE, WILL DO THE DEMOLITION AND WITHIN SIX MONTHS, CONSTRUCTION THE 6000 SQ FT MINI MALL. CRIMSON COURT WILL HOUSE UP TO FOUR BUSINESSES AND HAVE 35 PARKING SPACES. FIREFIGHTERS DID DRILLS OVER THE WEEKEND ON THE PROPERTIES. THE DEMOLITION IS SET TO START SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.



STATE NEWS

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - A LANCASTER MAN KILLED WHILE ON A MEDICAL
MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN WAS REMEMBERED YESTERDAY FOR HIS HUMOR, HIS
ZEST FOR LIFE AND HIS COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER
PLACE. ALMOST 900 PEOPLE PACKED BRIGHT SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH FOR A
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR GLEN LAPP. HE WAS KILLED ALONG WITH NINE OTHER
RELIEF WORKERS ON AUGUST 5TH.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - STATE CONSERVATION OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO
DETERMINE WHERE PENNSYLVANIA DOESN'T OWN MINERAL RIGHTS BELOW STATE
PARKS, MEANING RULES AGAINST NATURAL GAS DRILLING ON PARK LANDS
DON'T APPLY. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
SECRETARY JOHN QUIGLEY TELLS THE SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE THE STATE
DOESN'T OWN THE RIGHTS TO ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE LAND UNDERNEATH
STATE PARKS.

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - LANCASTER POLICE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT
WHO STOLE FROM A GRAVE THE BODY OF A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO DIED
ALMOST HALF A CENTURY AGO. INVESTIGATORS TELL THE LANCASTER
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL THAT THE BODY OF PAULA REAM, WHO DIED IN
AUGUST 1962, WAS STOLEN RECENTLY FROM RIVERVIEW CEMETERY.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - SEVERAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED
AGAINST A PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF ATTACKING TWO LIFEGUARDS AT
AN ATLANTIC CITY BEACH. AUTHORITIES SAY TRAVIS BEASTON OF LEWISTON
PUNCHED ONE LIFEGUARD AND THEN HIT THE OTHER BEFORE FLEEING
SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE LIFEGUARDS HAD TOLD HIM TO COME DOWN FROM A
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ROCK PILE.

NATIONAL NEWS

GULF OIL SPILL
UPDATE: SHRIMPERS CROSS FINGERS AS THEY HEAD INTO THE GULF

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - LOUISIANA SHRIMPERS HAVE MORE THAN THE USUAL
WORRIES AS THEY HIT THE WATER TODAY FOR THE OPENING OF SHRIMP
SEASON.
BESIDES CONCERNS OVER HOW MUCH THEY'LL CATCH AND WHAT THEY'LL
GET FOR IT, THERE'S ANXIETY ABOUT HOW MUCH DAMAGE THE SHRIMP
POPULATION HAS TRULY SUFFERED FROM THE LENGTHY OIL SPILL, AND HOW
OTHER SHRIMPERS MIGHT REACT.
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT SOME FISHERMAN MIGHT TRY TO
SELL OIL-CONTAMINATED SHRIMP.
ONE SHRIMPER SAYS THEY'VE GOT ENOUGH TROUBLE NOW WITHOUT SOMEONE
PUTTING TAINTED PRODUCT ON THE MARKET. BUT HE BELIEVES MOST OF HIS
FELLOW SHRIMPERS KNOW BETTER.
EVEN AS THE SEASON BEGINS, SHRIMPING REMAINS FORBIDDEN IN
FEDERAL WATERS OFF LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. A FEDERAL
FISHERIES OFFICIAL SAYS MOST OF THE CATCHES HAVE COME OFF TEXAS AND
FLORIDA.

HEALTHBEAT-SEAFOOD SAFETY
NEW: GULF SEAFOOD GETS INTENSE SAFETY TESTING

WASHINGTON (AP) - HEALTH OFFICIALS WILL BE PUTTING SEAFOOD FROM
THE GULF OF MEXICO UNDER THE MICROSCOPE LIKE NEVER BEFORE AS
LOUISIANA SHRIMPERS BEGIN A NEW SEASON AND OTHER COMMERCIAL
OPERATIONS RESTART.
FISH, SHRIMP AND OTHER CATCHES WILL BE GROUND UP AND ANALYZED TO
HUNT FOR MINUTE TRACES OF OIL - FAR MORE REASSURING THAN THAT SNIFF
TEST THAT MADE ALL THE HEADLINES.
AND WHILE THE DISPERSANT THAT WAS DUMPED INTO THE MASSIVE OIL
SPILL HAS CONSUMERS NERVOUS, HEALTH REGULATORS CONTEND THERE'S NO
EVIDENCE IT BUILDS UP IN SEAFOOD. THEY'RE WORKING TO CREATE A TEST
FOR IT, JUST IN CASE.
MORE GULF WATERS ARE REOPENING TO COMMERCIAL HAULS AS TESTS SHOW
LITTLE HAZARD FROM SPILLED OIL. EXPERTS SAY IT'S TOO SOON TO KNOW
WHAT SAFETY TESTING WILL SATISFY A PUBLIC SO SKEPTICAL OF
GOVERNMENT REASSURANCES THAT EVEN LOCAL FISHERMEN VOICE CONCERN.

SPACE STATION
NEW: SPACEWALK 3: MORE REPAIR WORK FOR STATION CREW

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS HAVE ONE
MORE BIG SPACEWALKING CHORE BEFORE THEY CAN DECLARE SUCCESS.
ASTRONAUTS DOUGLAS WHEELOCK AND TRACY CALDWELL DYSON WILL TACKLE
THE LAST OF THEIR COOLING-SYSTEM REPAIR WORK MONDAY MORNING. IT
WILL BE THEIR THIRD SPACEWALK IN JUST OVER A WEEK.
THIS TIME, THEY WILL TRY TO INSTALL A NEW AMMONIA COOLANT PUMP
IN AN URGENT EFFORT TO RESTORE FULL COOLING TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THE ORBITING LAB HAS BEEN FORCED TO OPERATE ON HALF ITS NORMAL
COOLING CAPABILITY EVER SINCE A CRUCIAL PUMP FAILED ON JULY 31. IT
TOOK TWO SPACEWALKS, BUT WHEELOCK AND DYSON FINALLY REMOVED THE
BROKEN PUMP LAST WEEK.
THE BATHTUB-SIZE PUMPS ARE NEEDED TO DRIVE AMMONIA THROUGH
COOLING LOOPS AND KEEP EQUIPMENT FROM OVERHEATING.

JUDICIAL ELECTIONS
REPORT: JUDICIAL SPENDING DOUBLES IN LAST DECADE

UNDATED (AP) - A NEW NATIONAL REPORT SHOWS CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING
FOR ELECTIONS TO THE NATION'S TOP STATE COURTS HAS DOUBLED TO MORE
THAN $200 MILLION OVER THE LAST DECADE.
THE REPORT BY THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT THE NEW YORK
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW AND TWO OTHER GROUPS ALSO CONCLUDES THE
SURGE IS PARTLY FUELED BY "SUPER SPENDERS" WHO INVESTED HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO INFLUENCE DOWN-TICKET RACES.
A HANDFUL OF STATES HAVE TAKEN SMALL STEPS TOWARD REFORMS.
WISCONSIN LAWMAKERS ENACTED PUBLIC FINANCING FOR JUDICIAL RACES,
AND THE MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT ALSO ADOPTED TOUGH NEW RECUSAL
RULES.
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR WRITES IN THE
FOREWARD TO THE REPORT THAT SUCH SPENDING LEADS TO THE PERCEPTION
THAT "JUSTICE IS FOR SALE" AND CAN UNDERMINE THE RULE OF LAW.

KOREAS TENSION
US, SOUTH KOREA STAGE MORE MILITARY EXERCISES

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - THE U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA ARE HOLDING
MORE MILITARY DRILLS DESPITE NORTH KOREA'S WARNING THAT THEY'RE A
"GRAVE MILITARY PROVOCATION" THAT WILL SPARK RETALIATION.
WASHINGTON AND SEOUL SAY THE EXERCISES ARE ANNUAL, ROUTINE, AND
PURELY DEFENSIVE. BUT BOTH COUNTRIES SAID AFTER HUGE NAVAL DRILLS
LAST MONTH THAT THEY WERE A SHOW OF UNITY FOLLOWING THE SINKING OF
A SOUTH KOREAN WARSHIP IN MARCH.
SOME 86,000 TROOPS ARE INVOLVED IN THE LATEST GAMES, WHICH ARE
COMPUTER-SIMULATED. ABOUT 30,000 OF THOSE TROOPS ARE AMERICAN.
ON SUNDAY, SOUTH KOREA'S PRESIDENT MARKED THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
COUNTRY'S LIBERATION FROM JAPAN BY URGING THE NORTH TO ABANDON
MILITARY PROVOCATION, AND MAKE A "COURAGEOUS CHANGE" TOWARD
PEACE. NORTH KOREANS MARKED LIBERATION DAY BY PAYING RESPECT TO A
HUGE STATUE OF THE LATE FOUNDER OF THEIR COUNTRY, KIM IL SUNG.

PAKISTAN-FLOODS
NEW: PAKISTAN WARNS OF MORE FLOODS AS MILLIONS AFFECTED

SUKKUR, PAKISTAN (AP) - HEAVY RAIN IS AGAIN SOAKING VICTIMS
LIVING IN MAKESHIFT CAMPS, ADDING TO THE URGENCY OF A MASSIVE
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF EFFORT UNDER WAY IN PAKISTAN.
AUTHORITIES HAVE WARNED OF MORE FLOODING THIS WEEK IN A COUNTRY
ALREADY SUFFERING FROM THE WORST FLOODS IN RECORDED HISTORY.
THE SCALE OF THE DISASTER HAS RAISED CONCERNS IT COULD LEAD TO
POLITICAL INSTABILITY. PAKISTAN IS PIVOTAL TO U.S. HOPES OF
DEFEATING AL-QAIDA AND THE TALIBAN, BUT IT HAS A WEAK AND UNPOPULAR
GOVERNMENT, AND AN ANEMIC ECONOMY PROPPED UP BY INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE.
U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON FLEW OVER THE FLOOD-HIT AREA
SUNDAY AND SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A DISASTER ON SUCH A SCALE.
ONCE THE FLOODS RECEDE, BILLIONS MORE WILL BE NEEDED FOR
RECONSTRUCTION AND GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

OBAMA
NEW: OBAMA DOING SOME POLITICKING

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA LAUNCHES A FIVE-STATE
POLITICAL BLITZ TODAY, BEGINNING IN WISCONSIN.
THE PRESIDENT'S STOPPING AT AN ELECTRIC BATTERY PLANT IN THE
MILWAUKEE AREA TO HIGHLIGHT ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO SPARK
CLEAN-ENERGY JOB-CREATION. THAT'S FOLLOWED BY DEMOCRATIC
FUND-RAISERS IN WISCONSIN AND CALIFORNIA.
IN SIMILAR FASHION, OBAMA WILL COMBINE ECONOMIC AND DONOR EVENTS
IN WASHINGTON STATE TOMORROW AND OHIO AND FLORIDA WEDNESDAY.
WITH DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF CONGRESS IN DANGER, OBAMA'S HITTING
THE TRAIL EARLY -- AHEAD OF A 10-DAY VACATION IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT
STARTS THURSDAY.
THE PRESIDENT WILL HEAD TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD WITH HIS FAMILY FOR
THE BALANCE OF AUGUST.

TIMES SQUARE SPILL
FDNY RESPONDS TO SPILL IN TIMES SQUARE TOWER

NEW YORK (AP) - A SPILL OF ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF CLEANING FLUIDS
INSIDE A TIMES SQUARE SKYSCRAPER PROMPTED A LARGE RESPONSE FROM NEW
YORK CITY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT.
TRAFFIC WAS BRIEFLY DETOURED ON 7TH AVENUE SUNDAY NIGHT WHILE
PART OF A CITY BLOCK WAS TAKEN UP BY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CREWS AND
FIRE TRUCKS.
A FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS THE MISHAP INVOLVED HYDROGEN
PEROXIDE SPILLED BY CLEANERS ON A BUILDING'S 53RD FLOOR.
THE SQUARE REMAINED OPEN TO TOURISTS THROUGHOUT THE CLEANUP
EFFORT.

GAS PRICES
SURVEY: GAS PRICES UP ABOUT 4 CENTS IN 3-WEEK SPAN

CAMARILLO, CALIF. (AP) - A NEW SURVEY FINDS THE AVERAGE PRICE OF
REGULAR GASOLINE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS GONE UP 3.86 CENTS IN THE
LAST THREE WEEKS.
THE LUNDBERG SURVEY OF FUEL PRICES RELEASED SUNDAY SAYS THE
PRICE OF A GALLON OF REGULAR ROSE TO $2.77.
ANALYST TRILBY LUNDBERG SAYS THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A GALLON OF
MID-GRADE WAS $2.91, AND PREMIUM WAS AT $3.02.
JACKSON, MISS., HAD THE LOWEST AVERAGE PRICE AMONG CITIES
SURVEYED AT $2.54 A GALLON FOR REGULAR. SAN FRANCISCO WAS HIGHEST
AMONG SURVEYED CITIES AT $3.21.
IN CALIFORNIA, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR WAS
$3.13.
BAKERSFIELD HAD THE STATE'S LEAST EXPENSIVE GAS AT $3.06 A
GALLON.

HARLEM SHOOTOUT
POLICE ARREST MAN HURT IN NYC BLOCK PARTY SHOOTOUT

NEW YORK (AP) - NEW YORK CITY POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A MAN AT THE
CENTER OF A DEADLY POLICE SHOOTOUT AT A HARLEM BLOCK PARTY LAST
WEEK.
ANGEL ALVAREZ WAS WOUNDED AT LEAST 20 TIMES DURING THE EXCHANGE
OF GUNFIRE ON AUG. 8.
POLICE ANNOUNCED SUNDAY THAT HE WAS ARRESTED SATURDAY FOLLOWING
HIS DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL. THEY WERE SEEKING CHARGES
INCLUDING ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULT.
POLICE OFFICIALS SAY ALVAREZ GOT INTO A FIGHT AS THE PARTY BROKE
UP, THEN WRESTLED A GUN AWAY FROM THE MAN HE WAS BRAWLING WITH, AND
FIRED AS MANY AS FOUR SHOTS AT OFFICERS.
POLICE FIRED SHOTS THAT KILLED THE OTHER MAN, WOUNDED THREE
INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, AND HIT ONE OFFICER IN THE HAND AND ANOTHER IN
THE CHEST.
ALVAREZ'S LAWYER, MATTHEW GALLUZZO, CONFIRMED ON HIS LAW FIRM'S
TWITTER PAGE SUNDAY THAT HIS CLIENT HAD BEEN ARRESTED. GALLUZO HAS
CALLED HIS CLIENT'S SHOOTING "WRONGFUL," AND SAID HE IS CONFIDENT
HE WILL BE VINDICATED.