TODAY'S NEWS - THURSDAY, AIGUST 19 2010

LOCAL NEWS
PUBLIC MEETING FOR PA ROUTE 61 SAFETY AND CONGESTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

IT WAS A FULL HOUSE LAST NIGHT AT THE PENN STATE MORGAN AUDITORIUM WHERE THE PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA ROUTE SIXTY-ONE SAFETY AND CONGESTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WAS HELD. THE PROJECT WILL CONSIST OF WIDENING ROUTE SIXTY-ONE IN THE BOROUGH OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FROM TWO LANES TO FOUR BY RECONSTRUCTING SOME OF THE ADJACENT WALLS, STEPS AND SIDEWALKS. TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE AT THE ROUTE ONE-EIGHTY-THREE, DOCK STREET AND UNIVERSITY DRIVE INTERSECTIONS.
THIS ESTIMATED FOUR-POINT-FIVE MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED BY TWO-THOUSAND-TWELVE AND CONSTRUCTED BY TWO-THOUSAND-FOURTEEN.

POTTSVILLE MAN IS ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING BROTHER

A POTTSVILLE MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND IS NOW FREE ON BAIL AFTER SHOOTING HIS BROTHER IN THE LEG AROUND 4AM WEDNESDAY MONING. TRAVIS KESSOCK, 23, IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AFTER GETTING INTO A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION WITH HIS BROTHER, VINCENT MEYER, 22. KESSOCK ALLEGEDLY FIRED 2 SHOTS FROM A .40 CALIBER HANDGUN INTO THE LEG OF HIS BROTHER. MEYER WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE BY POTTSVILLE EMS AND TRANSPORTED TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE WAS LATER TRANSFERRED TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL FOR ADDITIONAL TREATMENT.

SOMEONE USED FIRE HYDRANT TO FILL SWIMMING POOL IN MECHANCISVILLE.

AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY AS TO WHY A FIRE HYDRANT WAS USED TO FILL A SWIMMING POOL IN MECHANICSVILLE EARLIER LAST WEEK. CINDY BOHR ASKED FIREFIGHTERS FROM PORT CARBON TO HOOK UP A FIRE HOSE TO A HYDRANT IN ORDER TO FILL HER POOL. SHE CLAIMS THAT SHE HAD PERMISSION FROM BOROUGH AUTHORITY TO DO SO. HER PROOF INCLUDES A CELL PHONE BILL STATEMENT, WHICH LISTS HER DAUGHTER, JANELLE, CALLING THE AUTHORITY AND ASKING PERMISSION. HOWEVER, AUTHORITIES ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL BUT SAID THAT THEY TOLD BOHN NO WHEN SHE ASKED TO USE THE HYDRANT. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PATRICK CAULFIELD, THE SCMA RULES AND REGULATIONS CLEARLY INDICATE THE FIRE HYDRANTS ARE ONLY TO BE USED FOR FIRE PURPOSES AND ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED TO BE USED FOR ANYTHING WITHOUT PERMISSION. IN THE END, BOHR WAS UNABLE TO FILL HER POOL WITH THE WATER FROM THE HYDRANT AND ENDED UP USING A GARDEN HOSE TO COMPLETE THE FILL. BOHR ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THE HYDRANTS ARE UNMETERED, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO CHARGE HER FOR THE WATER SHE USED AND SHE WOULD QUESTION ANY AUTHORITY BILLED TO HER.

STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE FBI HAS RAIDED PHILADELPHIA PROPERTIES
LINKED TO A TRAFFIC COURT JUDGE, A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND A
SPORTING GOODS STORE. FBI SPOKESMAN J.J. KLAVER SAYS THE FBI AND
IRS SEARCHED THE OFFICE OF DEMOCRATIC STATE REP. WILLIAM KELLER AND
THE HOME OR OFFICE OF TRAFFIC COURT JUDGE ROBERT MULGREW.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR ED RENDELL NOW SAYS ONLY ABOUT
100 PENNSYLVANIA STATE EMPLOYEES - OUT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS ON THE
PAYROLL - WILL HAVE TO BE LAID OFF THIS YEAR. RENDELL'S
ADMINISTRATION ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES WOULD
NEED TO BE LET GO TO BALANCE THIS YEAR'S $28 BILLION BUDGET AND
MAKE UP FOR A SMALLER-THAN-EXPECTED CHUNK OF FEDERAL STIMULUS
MONEY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY AN 87-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT AND
KILLED OUTSIDE HIS NORTH PHILADELPHIA HOME. POLICE SAY THE SHOOTING
IN WEST OAK LANE WAS REPORTED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. INVESTIGATORS
BELIEVE THE SHOOTING MAY HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A ROBBERY THAT
OCCURRED BLOCKS AWAY ONLY MINUTES EARLIER.

STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - PENN STATE HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER DEVOTED TO NATURAL GAS DRILLING IN
THE MARCELLUS SHALE. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT GRAHAM SPANIER SAYS THE
MARCELLUS CENTER FOR OUTREACH AND RESEARCH WILL ADVOCATE FOR A
SCIENCE-BASED AND RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO HANDLING
POTENTIALLY-LUCRATIVE NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS DEEP UNDERGROUND MUCH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

NATIONAL NEWS

IRAQ-AMERICANS HEAD HOME
LAST US COMBAT BRIGADE LEAVES IRAQ THROUGH KUWAIT

KHABARI CROSSING, KUWAIT (AP) - THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS
HAVE JUST CROSSED OVER FROM IRAQ TO KUWAIT AND SOME OF THEM HAVE
BEEN TAKING PHOTOS TO RECORD THE MOMENT.
THE 4TH STRYKER BRIGADE, 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION IS THE LAST FULL
ARMY COMBAT BRIGADE IN IRAQ. THEY DROVE OUT IN THEIR ARMORED
VEHICLES EARLY THURSDAY, WELL AHEAD OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S
AUG. 31 DEADLINE FOR ENDING U.S. COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ. A FEW
HUNDRED MEMBERS STAYED BEHIND TO FINISH ADMINISTRATIVE AND
LOGISTICAL DUTIES BUT WILL FLY OUT OF BAGHDAD LATER THURSDAY.
ALL REMAINING COMBAT FORCES ARE DUE OUT BY AUG. 31.
BUT SOME 50,000 NONCOMBAT TROOPS WILL REMAIN THROUGH THE END OF
NEXT YEAR.

AFGHANISTAN
US SERVICE MEMBER KILLED IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - NATO FORCES SAY A US SERVICE MEMBER
HAS DIED FROM A BOMB ATTACK IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN.
A STATEMENT THURSDAY FROM THE MILITARY ALLIANCE SAID THE SERVICE
MEMBER DIED WEDNESDAY. IT DID NOT PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
INCLUDING THE LATEST DEATH, AT LEAST 17 AMERICAN TROOPS HAVE
BEEN KILLED SO FAR THIS MONTH. JULY WAS THE DEADLIEST MONTH FOR
AMERICAN FORCES IN THE NEARLY NINE-YEAR WAR, WITH 66 KILLED.

BORDER TROOPS-CALIF
NATIONAL GUARD HEADING TO CALIF-MEXICO BORDER

SAN DIEGO (AP) - GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER SAYS THE FIRST OF
224 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS HAVE COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING AND ARE
EXPECTED TO BE DEPLOYED TO CALIFORNIA'S BORDER WITH MEXICO ON SEPT.
1.
SCHWARZENEGGER MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WEDNESDAY IN SAN DIEGO
WHILE VISITING WITH THE TROOPS.
LAST MONTH, THE GOVERNOR DIRECTED THE NATIONAL GUARD TO
TEMPORARILY SUPPORT FEDERAL EFFORTS TO SECURE THE U.S.-MEXICO
BORDER.
THE MOVE IS IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S PROPOSAL TO
DEPLOY 1,200 NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL ALONG THE SOUTHWEST BORDER OF
THE U.S.
THE DEPLOYMENT WILL LAST UP TO ONE YEAR IN SUPPORT OF
COUNTER-NARCOTICS AND BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS.

MOSQUE-DIVIDED DEMOCRATS
NEW: MOSQUE DEBATE DIVIDES DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY IN NY

NEW YORK (AP) - SEVERAL NEW YORK HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE SCRAMBLING
AWAY FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S CLAIM THAT MUSLIMS HAVE THE
RIGHT TO BUILD A MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO.
AS MANY AS EIGHT NEW YORK HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE BELIEVED TO BE
VULNERABLE IN THE NEXT ELECTION. SEVERAL HAVE BROKEN PUBLICLY WITH
OBAMA ON THE MOSQUE.
THE LATEST IS REP. JOHN HALL, WHO REPRESENTS A SUBURBAN DISTRICT
NORTH OF THE CITY. HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE MOSQUE SHOULD BE MOVED
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THE MATTER HAS EVEN QUIETED THE NORMALLY LOQUACIOUS SEN. CHUCK
SCHUMER. HE IS SEEKING RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR AND HAS YET TO WEIGH
IN ON THE CONTROVERSY.
SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND IS ALSO FACING VOTERS THIS FALL. SHE
SAYS SHE SUPPORTS THE CENTER BUT WOULD ALSO BACK EFFORTS TO MOVE IT
IF COMMUNITY MEMBERS DECIDE TO TRY TO DO SO.

POLL-OBAMA'S RELIGION
POLL: GROWING NUMBER INCORRECTLY CALL OBAMA MUSLIM

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS A CHRISTIAN, BUT A
NEW POLL FINDS AND INCREASING NUMBER OF AMERICANS ARE CONVINCED
THAT HE IS A MUSLIM.
EIGHTEEN PERCENT OF THOSE RESPONDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER
SURVEY SAID THEY BELIEVE OBAMA IS MUSLIM, UP FROM 11 PERCENT IN
MARCH. JUST 34 PERCENT CORRECTLY SAY HE IS A CHRISTIAN, WHILE 43
PERCENT SAID THEY DON'T KNOW HIS RELIGION.
THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER AND ITS
AFFILIATED PEW FORUM ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE. INTERVIEWS TOOK
PLACE BEFORE THE CONTROVERSY ERUPTED OVER WHETHER MUSLIMS SHOULD BE
PERMITTED TO CONSTRUCT A MOSQUE NEAR THE WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE.

DRUG WAR-MEXICO
UPDATE: MEXICAN MAYOR FOUND DEAD 3 DAYS AFTER KIDNAPPING

MONTERREY, MEXICO (AP) - THE BODY OF THE MAYOR OF A NORTHERN
MEXICAN TOWN HAS BEEN FOUND, THREE DAYS AFTER HE WAS KIDNAPPED IN
AN AREA BESIEGED BY DRUG CARTELS.
THE BODY OF SANTIAGO MAYOR EDELMIRO CAVAZOS (EH-DEHL-MEE'-ROH
KAH-VAH'-SOHS) WAS FOUND NEAR A WATERFALL OUTSIDE HIS TOWN
WEDNESDAY. HIS HANDS WERE BOUND AND HIS HEAD WAS WRAPPED IN TAPE.
POLICE HAVEN'T DETERMINED A MOTIVE IN THE KILLING, BUT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NUEVO LEON STATE SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS A DRUG
HIT BECAUSE CAVAZOS HAD ATTENDED STATE SECURITY MEETINGS AND WAS
"SHOWING HIS FACE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME."
CAVAZOS WAS KIDNAPPED FROM HIS HOME SUNDAY NIGHT BY 15 ARMED MEN
WEARING UNIFORMS FROM A DEFUNCT FEDERAL POLICE FORCE, A TACTIC
FREQUENTLY USED BY MEXICO'S DRUG GANGS.

BLAGOJEVICH TRIAL
NEW: SOME JURORS GLAD BLAGOJEVICH WILL BE TRIED AGAIN

CHICAGO (AP) - FEDERAL PROSECUTORS AREN'T ALONE IN WANTING A
RETRIAL OF FORMER ILLINOIS GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH'S CORRUPTION TRIAL.
AT LEAST SOME JURORS ALSO WANT TO SEE THE IMPEACHED DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR BACK IN COURT AFTER THEY DEADLOCKED ON ALL BUT ONE COUNT
AGAINST BLAGOJEVICH.
JUROR CYNTHIA PARKER SAYS SHE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE CASE IS
FINISHED.
THE 60-YEAR-OLD SUBURBAN CHICAGO WOMAN SAYS SHE JOINED MOST
OTHER JURORS IN VOTING TO CONVICT BLAGOJEVICH OF ALLEGATIONS THAT
HE TRIED TO SELL PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S OLD SENATE SEAT. SEVERAL
JURORS HAVE SAID THEY WERE JUST ONE VOTE SHY OF A CONVICTION.

RUSSIA-FIRES
NEW: COLD FRONT ENDS HEAT SPELL OVER WESTERN RUSSIA

MOSCOW (AP) - A COLD FRONT HAS HIT WESTERN RUSSIA,ENDING THE
EXHAUSTING TWO-MONTH HEAT SPELL AND CLEARING SKIES OVER MOSCOW FROM
SUFFOCATING SMOG.
COLDER TEMPERATURES AND RAINS ARE EXPECTED TO HELP FIREFIGHTERS
PUT DOWN THE WILDFIRES THAT HAVE BEDEVILED RUSSIA THROUGH THE
SUMMER.
RUSSIA'S EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY ON THURSDAY SAID THE
AMOUNT OF LAND ON FIRE HAS BEEN HALVED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. IT
SAID THE AREA COVERED BY BLAZES IS NOW JUST ABOUT A 20TH OF THE
TERRITORY THEY COVERED EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN WILDFIRES WERE AT
THEIR PEAK.
THE HEAT WAVE UNSEEN IN 130 YEARS ON RECORD HAS TRIGGERED
THOUSANDS OF WILDFIRES IN RUSSIA. DROUGHT HAS COST RUSSIA A THIRD
OF ITS WHEAT CROP, PROMPTING THE GOVERNMENT TO BAN WHEAT EXPORTS
THROUGH THE YEAR'S END.

OBAMA
NEW: R&R TIME FOR OBAMAS ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS HEADING TO MARTHA'S
VINEYARD FOR A 10-DAY VACATION WITH HIS FAMILY.
DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY BILL BURTON SAYS OBAMA HOPES FOR A
PLEASANTLY UNEVENTFUL 10 DAYS TO RECHARGE HIS BATTERIES WITH HIS
WIFE MICHELLE, DAUGHTERS SASHA AND MALIA AND PET DOG BO.
THE LONG-AWAITED VACATION COMES AFTER A HECTIC THREE-DAY
FUNDRAISING AND SPEECHMAKING SPRINT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OBAMA IS
THE THIRD SITTING PRESIDENT TO SPEND TIME ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD, AN
IDYLLIC ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS. BILL CLINTON
VACATIONED THERE OFTEN, AND LONG BEFORE THAT, SO DID ULYSSES S.
GRANT.

INMATE-SON CAMP
SUMMER CAMP IN PRISON HELPS KIDS KNOW INMATE DADS

CUMBERLAND, MD. (AP) - SEVERAL CHILDREN OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS
RECENTLY GOT TO SPEND SUMMER CAMP WITH THEIR FATHERS AT A
MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON IN WESTERN MARYLAND.
THE PROGRAM AT THE NORTH BRANCH CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN
CUMBERLAND RECONNECTS KIDS WITH THEIR INMATE DADS. ORGANIZERS SAY
IT'S A BONUS FOR INMATES WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR. BUT ITS MAIN GOAL IS
TO KEEP CHILDREN FROM MAKING THE SAME KINDS OF MISTAKES THEIR
PARENTS MADE.
SIMILAR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN HELD FOR YEARS AT OTHER PRISONS IN
MARYLAND, NORTH CAROLINA AND OHIO. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ONE HAS
BEEN HELD AT A MAXIMUM-SECURITY FACILITY.
ABOUT 1.7 MILLION CHILDREN IN THE U.S. HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT
IN JAIL.

CELEBRITIES-INTERNET DANGERS
CAMERON DIAZ TOPS LIST OF RISKIEST CELEB SEARCHES

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR CAMERON DIAZ, JULIA
ROBERTS OR JESSICA BIEL ONLINE, LOOK OUT!
THE MOVIE STARS TOP THE LATEST LIST OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
CELEBRITIES TO SEARCH FOR ONLINE, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH BY
COMPUTER-SECURITY SOFTWARE MAKER MCAFEE INC.
IT'S FAR FROM AN OSCAR, BUT LANDING ATOP MCAFEE'S ANNUAL LIST
CARRIES A DISTINCTION ALL ITS OWN: IT MEANS THAT CRIMINALS BELIEVE
THOSE CELEBS ARE THE PERFECT LURES TO SUCKER PEOPLE INTO VISITING
MALICIOUS WEBSITES.
CLICKING ONTO STRANGE SITES IS SKETCHY TO BEGIN WITH. BUT MANY
PEOPLE DO, AND THEIR COMPUTERS GET INFECTED. ONCE A COMPUTER IS
INFECTED, CRIMINALS CAN STEAL VICTIMS' ONLINE BANKING PASSWORDS,
E-MAIL PASSWORDS, AND DO OTHER KINDS OF NASTY DEEDS.