TODAY'S NEWS - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

PLANNED WATER SHUTOFF

SOME WATER CUSTOMERS IN DOWNTOWN POTTSVILLE WILL HAVE THEIR WATER SHUT OFF FOR REPAIRS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, A VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NEAR THE RAMADA HOTEL, BEGINNING AROUND 10PM THIS EVENING. CUSTOMERS ON CENTRE STREET, BETWEEN UNION AND NORWEGIAN STREETS WILL HAVE NO WATER SERVICE FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHILE THE WORK IS BEING COMPLETED. A WATER BOIL ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THREE DAYS FOLLOWING THE REPAIRS. SHOULD YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AT 622-8240.



LAWYERS IN SHENANDOAH HATE CRIME SUIT OBJECT TO JUROR QUESTIONS

THE LAWYERS FOR TWO SHENANDOAH TEENS CHARGED IN THE HATE CRIME SUIT OF AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HAVE OBJECTED TO THE 21 QUESTIONS BEING ASKED TO POTENTIAL JURORS.
WILLIAM FETTERHOFF AND JAMES SWETZ, WHO REPRESENT DERRICK DONCHAK AND BRANDON PIEKARSKY, SAY THE QUESTIONS IMPROPERLY TRY TO INJECT RACE, WEALTH AND POLITICS INTO THE TRIAL. THEY HAVE ASKED SENIOR U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE A RICHARD CAPUTO, WHO WILL PRESIDE OVER THE TRIAL, TO DROP THOSE QUESTION FROM THE QUESTIONNAIRE, WHICH PROSECUTORS SUBMITTED LAST FRIDAY. DONCHAK AND PIEKARSKY’S TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO START AT 9:30AM ON OCTOBER 4TH IN THE MAX ROSENN U.S. COURTHOUSE IN WILKES-BARRE. THE TWO MEN ARE CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF LUIS EDUARDO RAMIREZ ZAVALA FROM SHENANDOAH, WHO DIED OF HEAD INJURIES TWO DAYS AFTER BEING ASSAULTED ON JULY 12, 2008.


MINERSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TEMPORARILY BANNED A CHEERLEADING FUNDRAISER

THE MINERSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TEMPORARILY BANNED THE CHEERLEADING BOOSTERS FUNDRAISER. THIS HAPPENED ON MONDAY NIGHT’S, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. THE BOARD SAYS THE BOOSTERS CLUB NEEDS TO COMPLETE A FINANCIAL REPORT BEFORE THEY CAN RESUME BUSINESS. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT M. JOSEPH BRADY SAID YESTERDAY THAT THE DISTRICT REQUIRES EACH BOOSTER CLUB TO SUBMIT ONE FINANCIAL REPORT EACH YEAR. THE MINERSVILLE AREA CHEERLEADING BOOSTER CLUB HAS YET TO DO SO. BRADY STATED THAT THE CLUB HAS BEEN NOTIFIED TWICE ALREADY ABOUT THE REPORT SUBMISSION. ONCE THE FINANCIAL REPORT HAS BEEN FILED, THE CLUB’S SUSPENSION WILL BE LIFTED.



STATE NEWS

HONESDALE, PA. (AP) - JURORS IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE
ACQUITTED A VIRGINIA MAN ON ALL COUNTS IN THE MURDER OF A CAMP
COUNSELOR ALMOST TWO DECADES AGO. THE SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE
REPORTS THE PANEL DELIBERATED FOR ABOUT 3 1/2 HOURS LAST NIGHT BEFORE
FINDING JEFFREY PLISHKA NOT GUILTY IN THE 1991 SLAYING OF LAURA
RONNING IN A REMOTE PART OF WAYNE COUNTY.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - AN ALLENTOWN MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO
LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO KILLING HIS
SISTER-IN-LAW LAST SPRING. KEVIN RAMOS OF ALLENTOWN WAS SENTENCED
YESTERDAY BY LEHIGH COUNTY JUDGE JAMES ANTHONY MOMENTS AFTER
PLEADING GUILTY TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN THE STRANGULATION OF
JENNY FLORES-HERNANDEZ.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE LARGEST UNION REPRESENTING WORKERS AT
PHILADELPHIA'S TWO MAJOR DAILY NEWSPAPERS HAS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY
TO ACCEPT WAGE CONCESSIONS TOTALING ABOUT 6 PERCENT. THE
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS THE PACKAGE ACCEPTED BY THE NEWSPAPER
GUILD PREVENTS LAYOFFS FOR THE NEXT YEAR BUT INCLUDES A 2 PERCENT
PAY CUT AND TWO WEEKS OF UNPAID FURLOUGH.

BETHEL PARK, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S OLDEST RESIDENT HAS DIED
AT THE AGE OF 110. AGNES WETZEL DIED SATURDAY. SHE LIVED IN THE
PITTSBURGH SUBURB OF BETHEL PARK WITH HER DAUGHTER. WETZEL WAS THE
56TH OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO THE AGE-TRACKING
GERONTOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP.


NATIONAL NEWS

ALASKA SENATE
MURKOWSKI IN CLOSE RACE; MCADAMS WINS DEMOCRATS' CONTEST

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - REPUBLICAN SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI IS
LOCKED IN A TIGHT RACE TO HOLD ON TO HER SEAT AMID A SURPRISINGLY
TOUGH CHALLENGE FROM A SARAH PALIN-BACKED CONSERVATIVE.
JOE MILLER HELD ABOUT A 1,000-VOTE LEAD WITH APPROXIMATELY
ONE-THIRD OF PRECINCTS REPORTING AS THE DECORATED GULF WAR VETERAN
LOOKS TO PULL OFF ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLITICAL UPSETS OF THE YEAR.
MILLER HAD 51.2 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, COMPARED WITH 48.8 PERCENT
FOR MURKOWSKI.
MILLER SOUGHT TO CAST MURKOWSKI AS BEING TOO LIBERAL AND PART OF
THE PROBLEM IN AN OUT-OF-CONTROL WASHINGTON.
SCOTT MCADAMS, MAYOR OF THE SMALL TOWN OF SITKA, HAS WON THE
DEMOCRATIC SENATE RACE.
ALASKA'S GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY WAS WON BY GOV. SEAN PARNELL,
WHO INHERITED THE JOB FROM PALIN AND WAS CREDITED WITH RESTORING
CALM AFTER HER TUMULTUOUS TENURE.

QUAYLE'S QUEST
NEW: DAN QUAYLE'S SON WINS

PHOENIX (AP) - THE SON OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DAN QUAYLE HAS
WON THE GOP NOMINATION IN AN ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
BEN QUAYLE LED THE FIELD OF 10 REPUBLICANS BY NEARLY 5
PERCENTAGE POINTS LATE ON ELECTION NIGHT. HE HAD 23 PERCENT OF THE
VOTE, AND HIS NEAREST COMPETITOR, BUSINESSMAN STEVE MOAK, HAD JUST
UNDER 18 PERCENT.
GOP REP. JOHN SHADEGG IS RETIRING IN THE REPUBLICAN-LEANING
DISTRICT.
THE 33-YEAR-OLD QUAYLE MADE HEADLINES DURING THE CAMPAIGN FOR
HIS RACY POSTS ON A WEBSITE AND HIS AD CALLING PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA THE WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.
HE DREW ON HIS FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND RAISED LARGE AMOUNTS OF
MONEY.

ARIZONA SENATE
MCCAIN TO FACE GLASSMAN IN NOVEMBER

PHOENIX (AP) - FORMER TUCSON, ARIZ., CITY COUNCILMAN RODNEY
GLASSMAN HAS WON ARIZONA'S DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR U.S. SENATE,
AND NEXT FACES A MUCH TOUGHER CHALLENGE AGAINST INCUMBENT SEN. JOHN
MCCAIN IN NOVEMBER.
DEMOCRATS CHOSE GLASSMAN ON TUESDAY FROM A FIELD OF FOUR
RELATIVELY UNKNOWN CANDIDATES. GLASSMAN, 32, WAS CONSIDERED THE
FRONT-RUNNER AFTER RAISING MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR THE RACE,
INCLUDING $500,000 OF HIS OWN FORTUNE.
HE FACES AN UPHILL FIGHT AGAINST MCCAIN, WHO EASILY WON THE GOP
NOMINATION AFTER BEING CHALLENGED FROM THE RIGHT.
MCCAIN FACED AN AGGRESSIVE CHALLENGE FROM J.D. HAYWORTH, TWO
YEARS AFTER HIS TOUGH LOSS IN PURSUIT OF THE WHITE HOUSE. HAYWORTH
ATTEMPTED TO TAP INTO ANTI-INCUMBENT RAGE THAT HAS TAKEN DOWN OTHER
LAWMAKERS THIS YEAR WHILE HAMMERING THE LONGTIME SENATOR ON
IMMIGRATION.

MEDICARE DRUG PLANS
NEW: MORE THAN 3M SENIORS MAY HAVE TO SWITCH DRUG PLANS

WASHINGTON (AP) - AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS SAYS 3 MILLION SENIORS
MAY HAVE TO SWITCH MEDICARE DRUG PLANS NEXT YEAR WHETHER THEY LIKE
IT OR NOT.
THE REASON: A NEW EFFORT BY MEDICARE TO TRY TO MAKE IT SIMPLER
FOR CONSUMERS TO PICK PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE.
IT COULD BE AN UNWELCOME SURPRISE FOR SENIORS WHO HADN'T
INTENDED TO MAKE A CHANGE DURING MEDICARE'S OPEN ENROLLMENT SEASON
THIS FALL.
AND IT RISKS UNDERCUTTING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S PROMISE THAT
PEOPLE CAN KEEP THEIR HEALTH PLANS IF THEY LIKE THEM.
THE ANALYSIS BY LEADING RESEARCHERS AT AVALERE HEALTH ESTIMATED
THAT MORE THAN 3 MILLION SENIORS WILL SEE THEIR PRESCRIPTION PLANS
ELIMINATED AS PART OF MEDICARE'S EFFORT TO WINNOW DOWN DUPLICATIVE
COVERAGE AND OFFER CONSUMERS MEANINGFUL CHOICES.

IRAQ
NEW: ATTACKS ON SECURITY FORCES LEAVE 13 DEAD

BAGHDAD (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY A STRING OF ATTACKS TARGETING IRAQI
SECURITY FORCES HAVE LEFT 13 PEOPLE DEAD.
POLICE AND HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY THE DEADLIEST ATTACK OCCURRED
IN NORTHERN BAGHDAD WHEN A SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATED AN
EXPLOSIVES-LADEN CAR IN A PARKING LOT BEHIND A POLICE STATION,
KILLING 11 PEOPLE, INCLUDING FOUR POLICEMEN AND SEVEN CIVILIANS.
TWENTY-ONE PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK.
OFFICIALS SAY TWO MORE POLICEMEN ALSO WERE KILLED WEDNESDAY, ONE
IN A CAR BOMBING IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF KIRKUK AND ANOTHER IN A
DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IN WESTERN BAGHDAD.
THE OFFICIALS SPOKE ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE THEY WERE
NOT AUTHORIZED TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA.
THE ATTACKS COME AS THE U.S. ENDS COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ.

AFGHANISTAN
NEW: 2 SPANISH POLICE KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

MADRID (AP) - SPAIN'S INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS AN AFGHAN POLICEMAN
TAKING PART IN A TRAINING COURSE HAS OPENED FIRE ON HIS
INSTRUCTORS, KILLING TWO SPANISH POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR
INTERPRETER.
ALFREDO PEREZ RUBALCABA SAYS THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WEDNESDAY
NEAR A SPANISH MILITARY BASE IN WESTERN BADGHIS PROVINCE.
HE SAID SPANISH POLICE RETURNED FIRE AND KILLED THE STUDENT.

IRAN-MISSILE TEST
NEW: IRAN SAYS IT SUCCESSFULLY TESTS MISSILE

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - IRAN SAYS IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED A
NEW GENERATION OF A SHORT-RANGE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE.
IRANIAN STATE TELEVISION SAYS THE THIRD GENERATION FATEH-110
MISSILE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TESTED WEDNESDAY.
STATE TV BROADCAST FOOTAGE OF THE MISSILE BEING FIRED AND THEN
HITTING A TARGET ON THE GROUND.
THE SOLID-FUEL FATEH CAN STRIKE TARGETS UP TO 120 MILES (193
KILOMETERS) AWAY. IRAN HAS HAD THE MISSILE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. FATEH
MEANS "CONQUEROR" IN BOTH FARSI AND ARABIC.
THE REPORT DID NOT ELABORATE ON THE ADVANCES OF THE NEW
GENERATION OF THE MISSILE.

LEBANON-CLASH
NEW: LEBANESE ARMY DEPLOYS IN BEIRUT AFTER CLASHES

BEIRUT (AP) - LEBANESE SOLDIERS AND TANKS HAVE DEPLOYED IN
CENTRAL BEIRUT TO HELP RESTORE CALM TO THE CAPITAL AFTER MEMBERS OF
THE SHIITE HEZBOLLAH GROUP AND A SMALL SUNNI FACTION FOUGHT DEADLY
STREET BATTLES THAT LEFT FOUR PEOPLE DEAD.
ARMY TROOPS STAKED OUT POSITIONS IN TANKS AND CONDUCTED FOOT
PATROLS IN THE BOURJ ABU HAIDER DISTRICT WEDNESDAY, A DAY AFTER
DEADLY GUNBATTLES IN THE STREETS BETWEEN HEZBOLLAH AND THE
CONSERVATIVE AL-AHBASH GROUP.
SECURITY OFFICIALS RAISED THE DEATH TOLL IN THE VIOLENCE TO FOUR
- THREE HEZBOLLAH MEMBERS AND A MEMBER OF AL-AHBASH.
BOTH SIDES SAID IT WAS A PERSONAL DISPUTE THAT ESCALATED INTO A
FIREFIGHT.
RESIDENTS IN THE AREA STEPPED OVER BROKEN GLASS WEDNESDAY AS
WORKERS SWEPT UP GLASS AND BULLET CASINGS.
IT WAS THE WORST CLASHES IN BEIRUT SINCE MAY 2008.

AUSTRALIA-SCHOOL TERROR ASSIGNMENT
TEACHER ASSIGNS STUDENTS TO PLAN TERRORIST ATTACK

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA (AP) - A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN AUSTRALIA SAYS
A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WHO ASSIGNED HER CLASS TO PLAN A TERRORIST
ATTACK WAS NOT TRYING TO PROMOTE TERRORISM.
THE YEAR 10 STUDENTS AT KALGOORLIE-BOULDER COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
IN THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA WERE GIVEN THE ASSIGNMENT LAST
WEEK IN A CLASS ON CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT AND TERRORISM.
PRINCIPAL TERRY MARTINO SAID HE WITHDREW THE ASSIGNMENT AS SOON
AS HE HEARD OF IT.
HE SAYS THE TEACHER "IS RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED" AND CALLED
THE ASSIGNMENT "WELL-INTENTIONED BUT MISGUIDED."
MARTINO SAYS THE HIGHLY REGARDED TEACHER JUST MADE A MISTAKE AND
UNDERSTANDS THE TOPIC WAS INAPPROPRIATE.
THE SCHOOL DECLINED TO IDENTIFY THE TEACHER, CITING HER PRIVACY,
AND HER NAME ALSO WAS NOT GIVEN IN THE NEWSPAPER REPORT.

TOYOTA-STALLING ENGINES
US AGENCY STEPS UP PROBE OF STALLING COROLLAS

WASHINGTON (AP) - COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE STALLING ON TOYOTA
COROLLA SEDANS AND MATRIX HATCHBACKS HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF
U.S. SAFETY REGULATORS.
THEY'RE STEPPING UP THEIR INVESTIGATION BUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
STOPPED SHORT OF ANNOUNCING A RECALL.
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT
TWO POSSIBLE CAUSES: IMPROPER COATING ON CIRCUIT BOARDS AND A CRACK
IN THE SURFACE OF A GLASS COATING. BOTH COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING
PRODUCTION OF THE CARS.
THE NEW PROBE, CALLED AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, COVERS 1.8
MILLION COROLLA AND MATRIX CARS FROM MODEL YEARS 2005 TO 2007.
NHTSA SAID IT HAS RECEIVED 163 COMPLAINTS OF STALLING ENGINES IN
THE CARS AS OF LAST WEEK.
A PROBLEM WITH THE COROLLA, ONE OF TOYOTA'S TOP-SELLING MODELS,
WOULD FURTHER EMBARRASS THE JAPANESE AUTOMAKER, WHICH HAS LONG
PRIDED ITSELF ON ITS QUALITY CONTROLS.