TODAY'S NEWS - TUESDAY AUGUST 17, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

BEAUTY SCHOOL RAISES MONEY FOR FALLEN RINGTOWN CYCLIST

EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOL’S POTTSVILLE CAMPUS HAS RAISED MORE THAN $1,000 IN MEMORY OF JOHN ROBERT ANCZARSKI, THE RINGTOWN MAN KILLED WHILE CYCLING CROSS COUNTRY AS PART OF A BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER. THE MONEY WILL BE USED TOWARDS A SCHOLARSHIP AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL IN HIS NAME. LINDSEY SHEELER, ANCZARSKI’S COUSIN AND A STUDENT AT EMPIRE, SAYS THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF THE WORK HER FELLOW EMPIRE STUDENTS ARE DOING. AND THAT IT IS JUST WHAT HER COUSIN WOULD HAVE WANTED. SHEELER WILL ACCEPT THE DONATION ON BEHALF OF HIS FAMILY. ANCZARSKI WAS LAID TO REST IN JUNE AFTER DYING FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED AFTER A VEHICLE HIT HIM IN NEW LAGUNA, NEW MEXICO . HE AND A TEAM OF FOUR OTHERS WERE PART OF THE PINK PEDAL. THE STUDENTS RAISED MONEY THROUGH BAKE SALES AND REACHED OUT TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY FOR DONATIONS

READING MAN HAS BANK ROBBERY CHARGES DROPPED

CHARGES OF A READING MAN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED IN THE ROBBERY OF THE SUSQUEHANNA BANK ON ROUTE 61 IN ORWIGSBURG HAVE BEEN DROPPED. RADDY TORIBIO WAS ARRESTED AUGUST 10 ON CHARGES OF ROBBERY, TERRORISTIC THREATS, THEFT, RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. HE WAS IDENTIFIED VIA PHOTO LINE UP, BY AN EMPLOYEE AT THE BANK. HOWEVER, AN ADDITIONAL ARREST OVER THE WEEKEND IN BERKS COUNTY HAS NOW IDENTIFIED ANOTHER MAN AS THE “PROMISING SUSPECT”. ALDIS DIAZ, 24, WAS ARRESTED ON UNRELATED CHARGES AFTER A FOOT CHASE THROUGHOUT THE BERKSHIRE MALL IN WYOMISSING. DIAZ IS SUSPECTED OF ROBBING THE SUSQUEHANNA BANK ON AUG 6TH, AS WELL AS OTHER BANKS IN BERKS AND LANCASTER COUNTIES, THOUGH CHARGES RELATED TO THOSE BURGLARIES HAS NOT YET BEEN FILED.

SCHUYLKILL PRODUCTS CEO PEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL FRAUD CHARGES

THE FORMER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF SCHUYLKILL PRODUCTS INC, IN CRESSONA, HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO FRAUD CHARGES IN FEDERAL COURT. THE PLEA COULD GIVE ERNEST FINK JR, OF ORWIGSBURG, A FIVE YEAR FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE. FINK HAS ADMITTED TO BEING A CO-CONSPIRATOR IN A 15YEAR US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDS FRAUD AS WELL AS WIRE AND MAIL FRAUD. FINK AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNER, JOSEPH NAGLE, SCHEMED TO TAP INTO THE FEDERAL FUNDS PROVIDED FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS AND MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS. THOS OF WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE FOR BUSINESSES OWNED AND OPERATED BY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS. SCHUYLKILL PRODUCTS EXECUTIVES DIVERTED MORE THAN 300 PENNDOT AND SEPTA CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS TOTALING MORE THAN $136 MILLION. FINK IS THE 4TH EXECUTIVE TO ENTER A GUILTY PLEA IN FEDERAL COURT. SCHUYLKILL PRODUCTS IS NOW KNOWN AS NORTHEAST PRESTRESSED PRODUCTS LLC AND IS UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP.

HEGINS MAN SAYS A METORITE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOME ROOF DAMAGE

A HEGINS MAN IS CLAIMING THAT A METEORITE HIT HIS HOME CAUSING DAMAGE TO HIS ROOF. RALPH LUCHT, WHO LIVES IN A WOODED MOUNTAINOUS REGION OF HIGGINS TOWNSHIP, BELIEVES THAT THE METEOR STRUCK HIS HOME SOMETIME AT THE END OF JULY OR BEGINNING OF AUGUST. A CABLE TO A LIGHTING ROD ON HIS ROOF WAS SEVERED BY THE OBJECT, AND IT LEFT A ONE INCH BY ONE INCH INDENTATION IN THE CONCRETE A HALF INCH DEEP ON HIS PATIO. INSIDE THE HOLE WAS RUST COLORED FLECKS OF MATERIAL, AND AFTER FURTHER MAGNETIZATION, LUCHT SAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE A PROJECTILE EVEN THOUGH HE CAN’T SEEM TO LOCATE THE MATTER THAT FELL. LUCHT LIVES ISOLATED WITH LITTLE HOMES NEARBY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO NOTE REPORTS OF OTHER DAMAGES IN THE AREA. HIS FAMILY DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT, BUT NOTICED THE DAMAGE RECENTLY. LUCHT DOES NOT THINK THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A STRAY BULLET.


STATE NEWS

NARBERTH, PA. (AP) - A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
ACCUSED OF SPYING ON STUDENTS THROUGH CAMERAS IN SCHOOL-ISSUED
LAPTOP COMPUTERS HAS ADOPTED A NEW LAPTOP POLICY. THE PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER REPORTS THE RULES APPROVED BY THE LOWER MERION SCHOOL
BOARD SAY THE DISTRICT WILL REMOTELY ACCESS STUDENT LAPTOPS ONLY
WITH WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE STUDENTS AND/OR THEIR PARENTS OR
GUARDIANS.

ERIE, PA. (AP) - AN ERIE COUNTY PROSECUTOR HAS CLEARED A POLICE
OFFICER IN THE SHOOTING OF A TEENAGE ROBBERY SUSPECT LAST WEEK.
ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACK DANERI TELLS THE ERIE TIMES-NEWS
LIEUTENANT STEVE GOOZDICH ACTED APPROPRIATELY WHEN HE SHOT
17-YEAR-OLD JOSE DIAZ AFTER THE TEEN JUMPED FROM THE WINDOW OF A
FIRST-FLOOR APARTMENT WHERE POLICE WERE ANSWERING A HOME INVASION
CALL LAST WEEK.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A FIRE MARSHAL SAYS FLAMMABLE FUMES FROM A
SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL STILL IN AN ABOVE-GROUND STORAGE TANK EXPLODED
WHEN THE TANK WAS BEING WELDED, KILLING TWO WORKERS AND CATCHING A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA NATURAL GAS WELL ON FIRE LAST MONTH. THE BLAST TOOK PLACE AT THE HUNTLEY & HUNTLEY WELL NEAR PITTSBURGH ON JULY
23RD.

PITTSBURGH(AP) - A PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCILMAN SAYS HE WANTS TO
BAN MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING IN THE CITY. COUNCILMAN DOUG SHIELDS
SAYS THAT HE WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO BAN SUCH DRILLING IN
PITTSBURGH. SHIELDS SAID THAT PITTSBURGH'S COMMUNITY PROTECTION
FROM NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION ORDINANCE WILL BE INTRODUCED TODAY.



NATIONAL NEWS

GULF OIL SPILL
NEW: LA. SHRIMPERS REPORTING CLEAN 1ST DAY CATCH

GRAND ISLE, LA. (AP) - COMMERCIAL SHRIMPERS WHO SPENT MUCH OF
THE SUMMER MOPPING UP OIL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO SAY THE FIRST DAY
BACK TO DOING WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO WAS A GOOD ONE.
SHRIMPERS INDICATE THE FIRST CATCH SINCE BP'S DISASTROUS SPILL
WAS PLENTIFUL AND, JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, FREE OF OIL.
THE NEW SEASON OPENED AMID ANXIETY OVER WHETHER THE CATCH WILL
BE TAINTED BY CRUDE AND WHETHER ANYONE WILL BUY IT EVEN IF IT IS
CLEAN.
LOUISIANA RANKS FIRST IN THE NATION IN SHRIMP, BLUE CRAB,
CRAWFISH AND OYSTERS, AND THE STATE'S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY OVERALL
GENERATES AN ESTIMATED $2.4 BILLION A YEAR.
THE SHRIMPERS' OPTIMISM COMES AS FIVE GEORGIA SCIENTISTS
QUESTION THE GOVERNMENT CLAIM THAT MOST OF THE OIL IS GONE. THE
SCIENTISTS SAY AROUND 80 PERCENT OF THE OIL IS STILL THERE, NOT 26
PERCENT.

CIA VIDEOTAPES
NEW: TERRORIST TAPES FOUND UNDER CIA DESK

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE CIA HAS VIDEOTAPES OF 9/11 PLOTTER RAMZI
BINALSHIBH BEING INTERROGATED IN A SECRET OVERSEAS PRISON.
THE RECORDINGS, DISCOVERED UNDER A DESK, COULD PROVIDE AN
UNPARALLELED LOOK AT HOW FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AIDED THE U.S. IN
HOLDING AND QUESTIONING SUSPECTED TERRORISTS.
SEVERAL CURRENT AND FORMER U.S. OFFICIALS TOLD THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS THAT THE TAPES DEPICT BINALSHIBH'S INTERROGATION SESSIONS AT
A MOROCCAN-RUN FACILITY THE CIA USED NEAR RABAT IN 2002. THE
OFFICIALS SPOKE ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE THE VIDEOS
REMAIN A CLOSELY GUARDED SECRET.
THE TAPES COULD COMPLICATE U.S. EFFORTS TO PROSECUTE BINALSHIBH,
WHO HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A "KEY FACILITATOR" IN THE SEPT. 11,
2001, ATTACKS.

IRAQ
BAGHDAD SUICIDE BOMB HITS ARMY RECRUITS, KILLS 51

BAGHDAD (AP) - IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY 51 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED
AND 119 WOUNDED IN A SUICIDE BOMBING STRIKE AGAINST IRAQI ARMY
RECRUITS IN BAGHDAD.
THE TUESDAY MORNING BLAST TARGETED RECRUITS LINED UP OUTSIDE AN
IRAQI ARMY DIVISION HEADQUARTERS IN THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL.
TWO POLICE OFFICIALS SAID AT LEAST TWO SOLDIERS WERE AMONG THE
DEAD AND EIGHT AMONG THE WOUNDED.
OFFICIALS AT FOUR BAGHDAD HOSPITALS CONFIRMED THE CASUALTIES.
THE OFFICIALS SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE THEY WERE
NOT AUTHORIZED TO TALK TO THE MEDIA.

AFGHANISTAN
BOMBS KILL 3 US SERVICE MEMBERS, 2 AFGHANS

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY THREE U.S. SERVICE
MEMBERS AND TWO CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY BOMBS IN AFGHANISTAN.
THE DEATHS TUESDAY - IN EASTERN AND WESTERN AFGHANISTAN - WERE A
REMINDER THAT THE AFGHAN WAR CONTINUES TO BE VIOLENT FAR FROM THE
SOUTHERN TALIBAN STRONGHOLDS CURRENTLY TARGETED BY A U.S. TROOP
SURGE. RECENT MONTHS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY DEADLY FOR BOTH NATO
FORCES AND AFGHAN CIVILIANS.
NATO SAYS TWO OF THE AMERICANS WERE KILLED IN A BOMBING IN THE
EAST, WHILE THE THIRD WAS KILLED IN THE WEST.
INCLUDING THESE DEATHS, 15 U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN KILLED
SO FAR THIS MONTH.
MEANWHILE, A BOMB HIDDEN ON A MOTORBIKE KILLED TWO AFGHAN STREET
CLEANERS EARLY TUESDAY IN EASTERN GHAZNI PROVINCE.
THE BOMB, WHICH WAS REMOTE-DETONATED, APPEARED TO BE TARGETING A
POLICE TRUCK THAT WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET.

OBAMA
NEW: OBAMA RALLIES FOR SEN. MURRAY AS VOTERS HIT POLLS

LOS ANGELES (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS GIVING A BLAST OF
ATTENTION TO SEN. PATTY MURRAY AND HER RE-ELECTION BID ON PRIMARY
DAY, STEPPING INTO ANOTHER COMPETITIVE RACE AS DEMOCRATS TRY TO
RETAIN THEIR GRIP ON CONGRESS.
IN THE MIDDLE OF A THREE-DAY CAMPAIGN TRIP, OBAMA HEADS NORTH
TUESDAY FROM LOS ANGELES TO SEATTLE. HE WILL MEET WITH LOCAL
BUSINESS OWNERS, WITH MURRAY AT HIS SIDE, AND THEN HEADLINE TWO
FUNDRAISERS FOR HER.
OBAMA IS APPEARING ON THE DAY OF THE WASHINGTON PRIMARY, IN
WHICH THE TOP TWO SENATE VOTE-GETTERS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, ADVANCE
TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.
MURRAY AND HER CHIEF REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, DINO ROSSI, ARE BOTH
FAVORED TO ADVANCE. MURRAY'S RE-ELECTION BID IS ONE OF THE MOST
CLOSELY WATCHED IN THE NATION.

MORTGAGE DELINQUENCIES-TRANSUNION
LATE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS SPIKE AGAIN IN 2ND QUARTER

NEW YORK (AP) - THE RATE AT WHICH U.S. HOMEOWNERS FELL BEHIND ON
THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS REMAINED STUBBORNLY ELEVATED IN THE SECOND
QUARTER.
CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY TRANSUNION SAYS ITS DATA SHOWS THAT IN
THE THREE MONTHS THAT ENDED ON JUNE 30, THE NUMBER OF MORTGAGE
HOLDERS 60 DAYS OR MORE BEHIND ON PAYMENTS WAS 6.67 PERCENT. THAT'S
UP FROM 5.81 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR, AND WELL ABOVE THE HISTORICAL
NORM OF 1.5 TO 2 PERCENT.
IT WAS A MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT FROM THE FIRST-QUARTER'S RATE OF
6.77 PERCENT, AND BELOW THE 6.89 PERCENT RECORD REACHED IN 2009'S
FOURTH QUARTER.
TRANSUNION EXPECTS THE MORTGAGE DELINQUENCY RATE TO DRIFT DOWN,
NEARING 6.4 PERCENT BY THE END OF 2010.

MORTGAGE GIANTS
GOV'T STARTS TALKS ABOUT NEW MORTGAGE SYSTEM

WASHINGTON (AP) - IT WON'T HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON, BUT A
CONFERENCE TUESDAY AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT IS THE FIRST OF MANY
STEPS TOWARD RESTRUCTURING THE NEARLY $11 TRILLION MORTGAGE MARKET.
IT'S PART OF A GROWING CONVERSATION ABOUT SHRINKING THE
GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE MORTGAGE MARKET.
SO FAR, RESCUING MORTGAGE GIANTS FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC HAS
COST THE GOVERNMENT MORE THAN $148 BILLION AND COUNTING.
TREASURY SECRETARY TIMOTHY GEITHNER WILL ADDRESS THE CONFERENCE
BUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO OFFER AN EXIT STRATEGY. THE ADMINISTRATION
HAS SAID IT WON'T OFFER ITS PLAN UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
EXECUTIVES AND MORTGAGE EXPERTS ARE PREPARED TO TELL THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST STAY IN THE BUSINESS OF
BACKING U.S. MORTGAGES EVEN IF FANNIE AND FREDDIE DISAPPEAR
SOMEDAY.

LAWMAKER TRAVEL
TEXAS LAWMAKER ADMITS DOUBLE-BILLING FOR TRAVEL

AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) - A TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE KNOWN FOR
RAILING AGAINST RUNAWAY GOVERNMENT SPENDING HAS ACKNOWLEDGED
POCKETING MORE THAN $17,000 IN TAXPAYER MONEY FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES
THAT HIS CAMPAIGN HAD ALREADY FUNDED.
REPUBLICAN STATE REP. JOE DRIVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE DOUBLE-BILLING
WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE FINDINGS OF AN ASSOCIATED PRESS
INVESTIGATION. IN AN INTERVIEW, DRIVER TOLD THE AP THAT HE
ROUTINELY PAYS HOTELS AND AIRLINES WITH DONATED POLITICAL FUNDS AND
THEN SUBMITS THE SAME EXPENSES TO THE STATE. HE HAS ALSO BEEN
COLLECTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR
TRAVEL IN VEHICLES FOR WHICH HIS CAMPAIGN HAS SHELLED OUT MORE THAN
$100,000.
IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, DRIVER SAYS HE'S CONSULTED WHAT HE
DESCRIBES AS "ETHICS SPECIALISTS" IN THE HOUSE AND DETERMINED HE
HAD MADE ERRORS IN HIS CAMPAIGN REPORTS. BUT HE DENIES EVER
MISUSING STATE TAX DOLLARS. DRIVER VOWS TO PAY BACK ANY DOLLARS
THAT HE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE.
DEMOCRATS, MEANWHILE, ARE ASKING FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
INTO DRIVER'S TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS.

COLLEGE RANKINGS
HARVARD REGAINS SPOT ATOP U.S. NEWS RANKINGS

HARVARD TOPS IVY LEAGUE RIVAL PRINCETON IN THE LATEST EDITION OF
THE INFLUENTIAL U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT UNIVERSITY RANKINGS, WHILE
A STRONGER EMPHASIS ON GRADUATION RATES DRIVES OTHER CHANGES IN THE
TOP 10.
HARVARD HAS TOPPED THE LIST TWO OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND
TIED WITH PRINCETON A YEAR AGO.
YALE WAS THE NO. 3-RANKED UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR, FOLLOWED BY
COLUMBIA, AND STANFORD AND PENN TIED AT NO. 5.
WILLIAMS COLLEGE IN MASSACHUSETTS WAS RANKED THE NATION'S TOP
LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL, REPEATING ITS FEAT OF LAST YEAR.
THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED OF A GROWING NUMBER OF COLLEGE
RANKINGS, THE U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT OFFERING IS BOTH CREDITED
FOR HELPING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES MAKE COLLEGE CHOICES AND
CRITICIZED BY THOSE WHO SAY IT'S TOO ARBITRARY.

PAKISTAN
NEW: UN SAYS MILLIONS WITHOUT HELP IN PAKISTAN FLOODS

SUKKUR, PAKISTAN (AP) - THE U.N. SAYS MALNUTRITION IS NOW A RISK
IN FLOOD-RAVAGED PAKISTAN.
THE WORLD BODY SAYS ABOUT 20 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE
FLOODING HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE DESPITE A GROWING
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF EFFORT.
MEANWHILE, AUTHORITIES WARNED THAT THE SWOLLEN INDUS RIVER MAY
BURST ITS BANKS AGAIN IN COMING DAYS.
PAKISTAN IS REELING UNDER ONE OF ITS WORST-EVER NATURAL
DISASTERS. ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN AFFECTED SINCE THE
FLOODS BEGAN THREE WEEKS AGO.
LOCAL CHARITIES AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES HAVE RUSHED FOOD,
WATER, SHELTER AND MEDICAL TREATMENT TO THE WORST-HIT AREAS BUT
COMPLAIN THAT THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE HAS NOT BEEN GENEROUS
ENOUGH.
THE FLOODS HAVE KILLED ABOUT 1,500 PEOPLE AND INUNDATED 1.7
MILLION ACRES OF CROPS.

HEAD INJURIES-ALS
NEW: REPORT: SCIENTISTS LINK ALS, ATHLETE HEAD INJURIES

NEW YORK (AP) - HBO'S "REAL SPORTS" IS REPORTING THAT
SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE CONNECTING HEAD INJURIES IN ATHLETES
TO LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE.
DR. ANN MCKEE SAYS IN AN INTERVIEW TO AIR TUESDAY NIGHT THAT SHE
FOUND TOXIC PROTEINS IN THE SPINAL CORDS OF THREE ATHLETES WHO HAD
SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES AND THEN LATER DIED OF LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE,
OR ALS. THOSE SAME PROTEINS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE BRAINS OF
ATHLETES WHO HAVE A DISEASE LINKED TO HEAD INJURIES THAT CAUSES
COGNITIVE DECLINE, ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND DEMENTIA.
LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE ATTACKS NERVE CELLS IN THE BRAIN AND SPINAL
CORD, AND DESTROYS THE ABILITY TO MOVE AND SPEAK.
MCKEE'S FINDINGS ARE TO BE BE PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF
NEUROPATHOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY.