TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY AUGUST, 30 2010

LOCAL NEWS

BIKERS COME OUT TO POTTSVILLE FOR A GOOD CAUSE

MORE THAN 100 BIKES WERE PARKED ON NORTH CENTRE STREET IN POTTSVILLE YESTERDAY FOR THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ROAD HAWGS 3RD ANNUAL BIKE NIGHT. THE EVENT IS A FUNDRAISER, AND EVERY YEAR THE BIKE CLUB CHOOSES A DIFFERENT RECIPIENT. THIS YEAR IT IS HELPING THE 2 YEAR OLD SON OF DOUG AND JILL MURPHY WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MALIGNANT INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOR EARLIER THIS YEAR. OVER 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE EVENT, WHICH WAS RESCHEDULED FROM LAST WEEKEND DUE TO RAIN. IT IS THE 2ND TIME THE EVEN WAS HELD IN FRONT OF THE YMCA, M&M BAR AND MAROONS. THE BIKE CLUB, NOW WITH 23 ACTIVE MEMBERS, HELD THE EVENT AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS LAST SUMMER. IT RECEIVED A LESS THAN ANTICIPATED TURNOUT.

COUNTY STUDENT START HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE

WITH THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR THIS WEEK AND LAST, SOME SENIORS ACROSS OUR AREA ARE ALSO STARTING COLLEGE. THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM OFFERED BY PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL GIVES 22 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FROM 11 DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE COLLEGE COURSES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS SEMESTER HAS SEEN THE HIGHEST ENROLLMENT INTO PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. STUDENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM PAY ONLY 50% OF THE TUITION AS WELL AS THE STANDARD FEES AND BOOK PRICES. PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL CAMPUS REGISTRAR, ELYCE LYKINS, SAYS THE ECONOMY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE INCREASE OF ENROLLMENT. THERE IS ALSO A GUARANTEED SCHOLARSHIP THAT IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM. THE COLLEGE ALSO ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN COURSES THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED AND COUNTED TOWARDS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS NOT ONLY AT PENN STATE BUT ACROSS THE NATION.

10 HOMES WILL GET A FACELIFT IN GILBERTON AFTER OBTAINING A STATE GRANT

TEN HOMES WILL GET A FACELIFT IN GILBERTON, THANKS TO A STATE GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OVER THE NEXT YEAR, THE $350,000 GRANT WILL BE USED TO REPAIR AND GIVE A NEW LIFE TO HOMES OWNED BY THOSE WITH LOW TO MODERATE INCOMES. THE FUNDS WILL NOT BE USED FOR ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION; ONLY REPAIRS TO EXISTING STRUCTURES CAN BE PAID FOR THRU THE GRANT. THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR. THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME GILBERTON HAS OBTAINED THE GRANT, THEY RECEIVE IT EVERY FEW YEARS AND IT HAS HELPED OUT A LOT OF HOUSES THAT WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN UPGRADED OTHERWISE. THERE IS A WAITING LIST ON THE FUNDS, AND ONLY RESIDENTS THAT HAVE LIVED IN THE BOROUGH FOR OVER TWO YEARS CAN APPLY.


STATE NEWS

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - THE VICIOUS BEATING OF A PENNSYLVANIA
INMATE AWAITING SENTENCING ON A CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE HAS RAISED
TROUBLING QUESTIONS ABOUT PRISON JUSTICE INSIDE A SCRANTON LOCKUP.
NICHOLAS PINTO KEPT A DIARY IN WHICH HE CLAIMED TO HAVE ENDURED
MONTHS OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL AND MENTAL ABUSE AT LACKAWANNA COUNTY
PRISON.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A HEAD-ON COLLISION
IN SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE. TRAFFIC OFFICERS
SAY A SEDAN AND A SMALL SUV WERE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH THAT
HAPPENED YESTERDAY MORNING ON SOUTH 61ST STREET. THEY SAY THE SUV
ROLLED OVER AFTER THE CRASH, AND THE DRIVER OF BOTH VEHICLES WERE
PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

KARTHAUS, PA. (AP) - RESCUERS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY TWO
MISSING CANOEISTS HAVE BEEN FOUND. AUTHORITIES TELL WJAC-TV THAT
SEARCH AND RESCUE CREWS IN RURAL CLEARFIELD COUNTY LOCATED THE MAN
AND WOMAN YESTERDAY MORNING AND BOTH WERE REPORTEDLY UNHARMED.
POLICE HAD SAID THE TWO WERE LAST SEEN SATURDAY NIGHT ALONG THE
WEST BRANCH OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IN A RURAL AREA NEAR THE
CENTRE COUNTY LINE.

PITTSBURGH PA. (AP) - A BLIZZARD BABY BOOM COULD BE COMING TO A
HOSPITAL NEAR YOU. THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW REPORTS MANY
HOSPITALS IN THE REGION ARE EXPECTING A JUMP IN THE NUMBER OF
BIRTHS IN LATE OCTOBER AND THE FIRST HALF OF NOVEMBER. LAST
WINTER'S RECORD SNOWFALL LEFT MANY COUPLES STUCK IN THE HOUSE AND A
WESTMORELAND REGIONAL HOSPITAL SPOKESWOMAN SAYS "PEOPLE TEND TO
COCOON" DURING SUCH TIMES.


NATIONAL NEWS

OBAMA
NEW: WAR AND PEACE: OBAMA NEARS PIVOTAL MIDEAST MOMENT

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE MIDDLE EAST WILL CONSUME MUCH OF PRESIDENT
BARACK OBAMA'S TIME THIS WEEK.
OBAMA IS ABOUT TO FORMALLY END THE DIVISIVE U.S. COMBAT ROLE IN
IRAQ AND RESTART TALKS BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS.
OBAMA WILL TELL THE NATION TUESDAY NIGHT FROM THE OVAL OFFICE
THAT THE U.S. ROLE IN IRAQ HAS CHANGED FOR GOOD, WITH THE REMAINING
U.S. TROOPS TO PLAY A SUPPORTING ROLE TO IRAQI FORCES.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, OBAMA WILL MAKE HIS LARGEST INVESTMENT OF
POLITICAL CAPITAL TO DATE IN THE DIFFICULT MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS.
HE WILL WELCOME ISRAELI'S PRIME MINISTER AND THE PALESTINIAN
PRESIDENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR INDIVIDUAL TALKS AND A JOINT
DINNER. DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE LEADERS BEGIN THURSDAY.

CLEMENS
NEW: CLEMENS ARRAIGNMENT SET FOR TODAY

WASHINGTON (AP) - SEVEN-TIME CY YOUNG WINNER ROGER CLEMENS WILL
BE ARRAIGNED ON THIS AFTERNOON IN FEDERAL COURT IN WASHINGTON.
THE FORMER PITCHER WILL APPEAR BEFORE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE REGGIE
WALTON FOR ALLEGEDLY LYING TO CONGRESS ABOUT HIS USE OF STEROIDS.
THE SIX-COUNT FEDERAL INDICTMENT ACCUSES CLEMENS OF OBSTRUCTING
A CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY WITH 15 DIFFERENT STATEMENTS MADE UNDER
OATH, INCLUDING DENIALS THAT HE HAD EVER USED STEROIDS OR HUMAN
GROWTH HORMONE.
CLEMENS HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING.
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE REGGIE WALTON HAS ISSUED A GAG ORDER
PROHIBITING PUBLIC COMMENTS BY THE PRINCIPLES IN THE CASE THAT
COULD AFFECT THE JURY POOL FOR A POSSIBLE TRIAL.

TROPICAL WEATHER
GROWING HURRICANE EARL THREATENS NORTH CARIBBEAN

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (AP) - HURRICANE EARL, NOW A CATEGORY 2
STORM, SENT HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG WINDS ONTO THE NORTHERN LEEWARD
ISLANDS MONDAY.
HOTELS ARE SHUT TIGHTLY AS TOURISTS SEEK SHELTER INSIDE THEIR
ROOMS.
THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI SAYS EARL COULD BECOME A
MAJOR HURRICANE DURING THE DAY, PROBABLY WHILE NORTH OF PUERTO RICO
AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
EARL BECAME A HURRICANE SUNDAY MORNING AND HAS CONTINUED TO GROW
RAPIDLY IN STRENGTH, FUELED BY WARM OCEAN TEMPERATURES OF 86
DEGREES.
FORECASTERS SAY THERE IS A CHANCE THE HURRICANE COULD BRUSH THE
U.S. MID-ATLANTIC REGION TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK, WITH ITS
CLOSEST APPROACH TO NORTH CAROLINA ON THURSDAY.
IN ANY CASE, THE U.S. EAST COAST IS LIKELY TO SEE POUNDING SURF.
HURRICANE DANIELLE IS GRADUALLY WEAKENING BUT IS STILL BRINGING
DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS TO THE U.S. EAST COAST.

VETERANS-SLEEP DRUG QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS LOOM OVER DRUG GIVEN TO SLEEPLESS VETS

WASHINGTON (AP) - SOME MILITARY FAMILIES ARE CALLING ON CONGRESS
TO INVESTIGATE SEVERAL DEATHS OF SOLDIERS AND VETERANS WHO WERE
TAKING A POTENT ANTI-PYSCHOTIC CALLED SEROQUEL.
THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS SUFFERING FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER (PTSD) HAVE RECEIVED THE SAME MEDICATION OVER THE LAST
NINE YEARS.
IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY SOLDIERS HAVE DIED WHILE TAKING SEROQUEL,
OR IF THE DRUG DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEATHS. BUT THE DRUG'S
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING DIABETES, WEIGHT GAIN AND
UNCONTROLLABLE MUSCLE SPASMS, HAVE RESULTED IN THOUSANDS OF
LAWSUITS.
THE FATHER OF 23-YEAR-OLD MARINE ANDREW WHITE BLAMES SEROQUEL.
WHITE'S FATHER SAYS HIS SON WAS PRESCRIBED MORE THAN 1,600
MILLIGRAMS PER DAY - MORE THAN DOUBLE THE MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED DOSE.
AN INVESTIGATION BY THE VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED THAT
WHITE RECEIVED THE PROPER "STANDARD OF CARE."
THE SUCCESS OF ASTRAZENECA'S SECOND-BEST-SELLING PRODUCT HAS
BEEN MARRED BY ALLEGATIONS THAT THE COMPANY ILLEGALLY MARKETED THE
DRUG AND MINIMIZED ITS RISKS.

MED-KIDS' CONCUSSIONS
ER VISITS FOR CONCUSSIONS SOAR AMONG KID ATHLETES

CHICAGO (AP) - EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR TEEN ATHLETES WITH
CONCUSSIONS HAVE TRIPLED IN RECENT YEARS IN A TREND THAT DOCTORS
ARE CALLING DISTURBING.
THE FINDINGS COME IN A STUDY OF 10 YEARS OF NATIONAL DATA.
EXPERTS SAY INCREASING AWARENESS OF HEAD INJURIES IS ONE REASON ER
CONCUSSION REPORTS ARE UP. BUT THE INCREASING INTENSITY OF KIDS'
SPORTS PROBABLY PLAYS A ROLE, TOO.
THE STUDY WAS PUBLISHED ONLINE MONDAY IN THE JOURNAL PEDIATRICS.
THE AUTHORS SAY KIDS WHO SUFFER A HEAD INJURY SHOULD GET MEDICAL
ATTENTION AND NEVER RETURN TO PLAY UNTIL ALL SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS
HEADACHE AND TROUBLE CONCENTRATING, ARE GONE.

ALASKA-OFFICERS KILLED
2 POLICE OFFICERS FATALLY SHOT IN ALASKA VILLAGE

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - THE ACTING CITY ADMINISTRATOR IN A TINY
SOUTHEAST ALASKA VILLAGE SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE A STANDOFF WITH A MAN
WHO ALLEGEDLY KILLED TWO POLICE OFFICERS WON'T END QUICKLY.
BOB PRUNELLA SAYS AUTHORITIES REALLY WANT TO TAKE 45-YEAR-OLD
SUSPECT JOHN MARVIN JR. ALIVE. HE'S BARRICADED INSIDE HIS HOME IN
HOONAH AFTER ALLEGEDLY KILLING TWO OF THE TOWN'S FOUR POLICE
OFFICERS.
OFFICERS TONY WALLACE AND MATT TOKUOKA DIED AFTER THE SHOOTING
LATE SATURDAY. PRUNELLA DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LED TO THE SHOOTING BUT
SAID IT WAS WITNESSED BY WALLACE'S MOTHER, WHO WAS VISITING FROM
FLORIDA, AND TOKUOKA'S WIFE AND CHILDREN.
STATE TROOPERS HAVE URGED RESIDENTS IN THE SHORELINE COMMUNITY
OF ABOUT 800 TO STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA.

AFGHANISTAN
AFGHAN PRESIDENT CRITICIZES ANTI-TERROR STRATEGY

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI IS CALLING FOR
REVISIONS IN COALITION MILITARY STRATEGY, SAYING THE FIGHT AGAINST
INSURGENTS IS PRODUCING LITTLE MORE THAN CIVILIAN DEATHS.
KARZAI'S SHARP COMMENTS DELIVERED SUNDAY FIT A PATTERN OF
GREATER OUTSPOKENNESS BY THE AFGHAN LEADER AS HE APPEALS FOR
SUPPORT AMONG THE BELEAGUERED AFGHAN PUBLIC.
KARZAI'S STATEMENTS COME AT A TIME WHEN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
IS RATCHETING UP PRESSURE ON THE AFGHAN LEADER TO DO MORE TO STAMP
OUT CORRUPTION.
MEANWHILE, OFFICIALS SAY A DISTRICT CHIEF FROM EASTERN
AFGHANISTAN WAS KILLED MONDAY BY A BOMB PLACED IN HIS CAR. IT
EXPLODED AS HE WAS ENTERING A GOVERNMENT COMPOUND TO ATTEND A
MEETING OF PROVINCIAL SECURITY AND POLITICAL LEADERS.
OFFICIALS SAY THEY THINK INSURGENTS HAD APPARENTLY PLANNED FOR
THE BOMB TO EXPLODE INSIDE THE GOVERNOR'S COMPOUND.

RUSSIA-NURSING HOME FIRE
9 DEAD IN RUSSIAN NURSING HOME FIRE

MOSCOW (AP) - RUSSIAN EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SAY NINE ELDERLY
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A BLAZE IN A NURSING HOME THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN STARTED BY A RESIDENT SETTING HIMSELF ON FIRE.
A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE REGIONAL EMERGENCIES MINISTRY, DARIA
KOROVINA, SAYS THE FIRE AT THE FACILITY IN TVER INJURED TWO OTHERS
AND FORCED THE EVACUATION OF SOME 480 PEOPLE EARLY MONDAY.
TVER IS ABOUT 120 MILES NORTH OF MOSCOW.
KOROVINA SAID INVESTIGATORS FOUND A CANISTER OF FLAMMABLE LIQUID
IN THE ROOM WHERE THE FIRE STARTED, LEADING TO SPECULATION THE
RESIDENT SET HIMSELF ABLAZE.

INDONESIA
INDONESIAN VOLCANO ERUPTS AGAIN, SPEWING HOT ASH

TANAH KARO, INDONESIA (AP) - AN INDONESIAN VOLCANO HAS ENDED A
400-YEAR BREAK, ERUPTING FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW MONDAY,
SPEWING OUT TOWERING CLOUDS OF ASH AND FORCING THE EVACUATION OF
MORE THAN 21,000 PEOPLE.
SOME AIRPLANES HAD TO BE DIVERTED BECAUSE OF POOR VISIBILITY.
VILLAGERS LIVING ALONG THE SLOPES OF MOUNT SINABUNG IN NORTH
SUMATRA PROVINCE HAVE PACKED UP THEIR BELONGINGS AND HEADED TO
EMERGENCY SHELTERS, MOSQUES AND CHURCHES.
OFFICIALS SAY THEIR ABANDONED HOMES AND CROPS WERE BLANKETED IN
HEAVY, GRAY SOOT, AND THE AIR WAS THICK WITH THE SMELL OF SULFUR.
MOUNT SINABUNG LAST ERUPTED IN 1600, SO OBSERVERS DON'T KNOW ITS
ERUPTION PATTERN AND ARE MONITORING IT CLOSELY FOR MORE ACTIVITY.

TV-EMMYS
EMMY'S HANDED OUT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "MODERN FAMILY" HAS WON THE EMMY FOR BEST
COMEDY SERIES AND "MAD MEN" WON THE EMMY FOR BEST DRAMA SERIES.
OTHER WINNERS: BRYAN CRANSTON'S PORTRAYAL OF A METH DEALER IN
"BREAKING BAD" AND KYRA SEDGWICK'S ROLE AS A BRASSY DEPUTY POLICE
CHIEF IN "THE CLOSER" HAS EARNED THE PAIR TOP DRAMA SERIES ACTING
EMMY AWARDS.
CRANSTON'S CO-STAR, AARON PAUL, EARNED BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR FOR
THE SERIES.
ARCHIE PANJABI OF "THE GOOD WIFE" WAS HONORED AS BEST
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA.
EDIE FALCO OF "NURSE JACKIE" AND JIM PARSONS OF "THE BIG BANG
THEORY" WERE HONORED FOR THEIR COMEDY SERIES LEAD ROLES.
ERIC STONESTREET OF "MODERN FAMILY" AND JANE LYNCH OF "GLEE"
WERE HONORED FOR THEIR COMEDY-SERIES SUPPORTING ROLES.
"TOP CHEF" WON BEST REALITY SERIES.
JON STEWART'S "THE DAILY SHOW" WON ITS EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE EMMY
AWARD FOR BEST VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES.
JIMMY FALLON HOSTED THE 62ND PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS IN LOS
ANGELES.

FARMER'S ALMANAC
NEW: FARMERS' ALMANAC: KINDER, GENTLER WINTER ON TAP

LEWISTON, MAINE (AP) - FOLKS HAMMERED BY RECORD SNOWFALL IN THE
MID-ATLANTIC AND FREAKISHLY COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE SOUTH CAN WARM
UP TO THE LATEST FORECAST BY THE FARMERS' ALMANAC.
THE 194-YEAR-OLD PUBLICATION IS PREDICTING A "KINDER AND
GENTLER" WINTER SEASON FOR MUCH OF THE NATION.
THE MAINE-BASED ALMANAC, WHICH CLAIMS IT CORRECTLY FORECAST THE
MIDDLE ATLANTIC'S MEGA SNOWSTORMS, SAYS IN ITS 2011 EDITION THAT
GOES ON SALE MONDAY THAT IT'LL BE PLENTY COLD BUT NOTHING LIKE LAST
WINTER, WHEN STUNNED IGUANAS FELL FROM TREES IN FLORIDA AND 49
STATES SAW SNOWFALL.
THE FORECAST IS AT ODDS WITH NOAA'S CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER,
WHICH PROJECTS WARMER-THAN-NORMAL WINTER FOR THE MID-ATLANTIC AND
SOUTHEAST, AND COLDER-THAN-NORMAL WEATHER IN THE NORTHWEST.