Today's News-Friday, September 10, 2010

FIRE CLAIMS LIFE

A fast moving fire Thursday morning in Ashland claimed the life of an Ashland man. Crews responded to 1800 Centre Street, which housed two apartments. A family in the upper floors escaped safely, but a father and son on the first floor were not as fortunate. Ashland Fire Chief Phil Groody explains:

GROODY 1

69 year old John Feeney died in the blaze. Groody credits firefighters with making quick work of the fire, containing it to one property:

GROODY 2

The state police fire marshal is investigating.

PA. MAYOR: WE'LL TAKE TOWN'S IMMIGRATION LAW TO SC

HAZLETON, PA. (AP) - MAYOR LOU BARLETTA IS PLEDGING TO GO TO THE SUPREME COURT AFTER A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULED HIS TOWN CANNOT ENFORCE A CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, THE LATEST BLOW TO 4-YEAR-OLD REGULATIONS THAT INSPIRED SIMILAR MEASURES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
"HAZLETON WAS THE FIRST, AND BECAME THE SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR MANY AROUND THE COUNTRY," HE SAID THURSDAY OF THE CITY'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION RELIEF ACT WHICH HAD SOUGHT TO FINE LANDLORDS WHO RENT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND DENY BUSINESS PERMITS TO COMPANIES THAT GIVE THEM JOBS. A COMPANION MEASURE REQUIRED PROSPECTIVE TENANTS TO REGISTER WITH CITY HALL AND PAY FOR A RENTAL PERMIT.
BARLETTA CALLED THE 3RD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN PHILADELPHIA THE COUNTRY'S MOST LIBERAL ON IMMIGRATION ON ISSUES.


MOTORCYCLIST INJURED IN RT 901 CRASH

A MINERSVILLE MAN IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS HIT ON RT 901 YESTERDAY MORNING. THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 8AM WHEN SHARON V. MOYER, 44 OF PINE GROVE, DROVE HER 2005 DODGE NEON INTO THE PATH BRYAN A FLANNERY’S GN400X SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE AS SHE WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO 901 FROM BECKVILLE RD. FLANNERY, 31 OF MINERSVILLE, WHO WASN’T WEARING A HELMET, WAS THROWN FROM HIS MOTORCYCLE 40FT. FLANNERY WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL IN ALLENTOWN AFTER SUFFERING SEVERE INJURIES. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. MOYER WAS CHARGED WITH FAILING TO YIELD AT A STOP SIGN AND FLANNERY CHARGED WITH THE INCORRECT CLASS OF LICENSE.

FOUR-WHEELERS STOLEN FROM CRESSONA HOME

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A THEFT IN CRESSONA INVOLVING TWO FOUR-WHEELERS. VALUED AT $1500, SOMEONE STOLE THE GAS POWERED VEHICLES FROM A FRONT SIDE PORCH AT THE HOME OF JAMES HARTZ, OF 151 RAILROAD STREET. ONE OF THE FOUR-WHEELERS IS A SUNL BRAND ATV THE ID PINK AND WHITE, AND THE OTHER IS A RED POWER WHEEL. THE IGNITION KEYS FOR THE VEHICLES WERE NOT WITH THEM AND NEITHER WERE THE BATTERIES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS THEFT IS TO CONTACT THE PSP OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.



STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
SHOT DEAD BY A SUSPENDED EMPLOYEE INSIDE A KRAFT FOODS FACILITY.
ONE PERSON HAS BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED. POLICE SAY THE SHOOTER WAS
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY LAST NIGHT INSIDE THE PLANT. INVESTIGATORS SAY
THE WOMAN WAS SUSPENDED YESTERDAY AND ESCORTED FROM THE PLANT
BEFORE SHE RETURNED AND OPENING FIRE.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNDOT IS TEARING DOWN 146 SHEDS USED TO
STORE SALT AND OTHER ITEMS AFTER A MANUFACTURER RAISED SAFETY
CONCERNS. THE AGENCY SAYS THE DECISION WAS MADE AFTER A STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER CONCLUDED THE BUILDINGS WERE AT RISK OF COLLAPSING UNDER
HEAVY SNOWS AND HIGH WINDS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR ED RENDELL SAYS HE DOUBTS THAT
HE AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL MEET THE OCTOBER 1ST DEADLINE
THEY SET TO ENACT A TAX ON MARCELLUS SHALE NATURAL-GAS PRODUCTION.
RENDELL TELLS THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT HE WILL INSIST ON
SOMETHING CLOSE TO A PLAN THAT PLAN CALLS FOR A 5 PERCENT TAX ON
SALES, PLUS 4.7 CENTS FOR EVERY 1,000 CUBIC FEET OF GAS EXTRACTED.

TULLYTOWN, PA. (AP) - A WOMAN HAS BEEN CITED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY
AFTER POLICE SAY SHE LOCKED HER DOG IN THE TRUNK OF HER CAR WHILE
SHE SHOPPED AT A STORE IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA. THE BUCKS COUNTY
COURIER TIMES REPORTS EMILIA SZYMBORSKA SAYS SHE LOCKED THE DOG IN
THE TRUNK FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE SHE WENT SHOPPING AT A
WAL-MART IN TULLYTOWN ON SUNDAY.


NATIONAL NEWS

LARGE EXPLOSION
1 DEATH CONFIRMED IN FIRE SOUTH OF SAN FRANCISCO

SAN BRUNO, CALIF. (AP) - A NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRE CHIEF SAYS
ONE FATALITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN A MASSIVE BLAST AND FIRE IN A
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SOUTH OF SAN FRANCISCO.
SAN BRUNO FIRE CHIEF DENNIS HAAG SAYS IT WILL TAKE FIRE CREWS
UNTIL AT LEAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO DO A FULL SEARCH FOR MORE
VICTIMS OF THE BLAZE THAT ERUPTED THURSDAY EVENING. A CALIFORNIA
EMERGENCY OFFICIAL SAYS 53 HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND 120
DAMAGED.
HAAG SAID MORE THAN 100 RESIDENTS SENT FLEEING BY THE FLAMES
WERE BEING CARED FOR AT NEARBY EVACUATION CENTERS. HE HAD NO
ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MISSING OR INJURED.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE STILL BATTLING THE BLAZE, WHICH HAAG SAYS IS 50
PERCENT CONTAINED.

SEVERE FLOODING
UPDATE: 4 DEAD, 3 STILL MISSING AFTER HERMINE FLOODING

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AFTER
FLOODING CAUSED BY THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM HERMINE
(HUR-MEEN').
THE SEARCH IS EXPECTED TO RESUME IN TEXAS AFTER DAYLIGHT FRIDAY
FOR A MISSING SWIMMER AND TWO MOTORISTS.
THE CONFIRMED DEATH TOLL NOW STANDS AT FOUR, INCLUDING ONE
PERSON IN OKLAHOMA.
HERMINE CAUSED RELATIVELY FEW PROBLEMS WHEN IT MADE LANDFALL AS
A TROPICAL STORM MONDAY NIGHT. BUT AS THE REMNANTS MOVED NORTH INTO
TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA, THE FLOODING CAUGHT SOME PEOPLE OFF GUARD.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS EVEN WHEN TROPICAL STORMS LOSE
THEIR POWER OVER OPEN WATER, THEY CAN STILL CARRY TREMENDOUS
AMOUNTS OF RAIN ACROSS LAND.

COLORADO WILDFIRES
UPDATE: SOME BOULDER RESIDENTS URGED TO BE READY TO FLEE
WILDFIRE

BOULDER, COLO. (AP) - A COLORADO WILDFIRE THAT'S DESTROYED 170
HOMES SHOWS NO SIGNS OF RELENTING AS WIND GUSTS FUEL FEARS THAT
FLAMES COULD MOVE EAST FROM THE FOOTHILLS INTO THE HEART OF
BOULDER.
SOME PEOPLE ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE HAVE BEEN WARNED TO BE READY
TO FLEE. THEY'RE BEING URGED TO REMOVE LAWN FURNITURE, BRUSH AND
PROPANE TANKS THAT COULD FUEL THE FIRE. AUTHORITIES ALSO WANT THEM
TO WET DOWN YARDS AND VEGETATION, AND PACK UP IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
AND MEDICATION.
THE BLAZE, WHICH IS 30 PERCENT CONTAINED, COVERS 10 SQUARE
MILES. ABOUT 1,000 OF THE ROUGHLY 3,500 EVACUEES WERE ALLOWED BACK
IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THURSDAY TO CHECK ON THEIR HOMES. ABOUT 25
REFUSED TO LEAVE WHEN THE WINDS PICKED UP.

FATAL POLICE SHOOTING
4TH NIGHT OF POLICE PROTESTS IN LA; NO VIOLENCE

LOS ANGELES (AP) - RESIDENTS OF THE LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE A MAN WAS KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER HAVE TAKEN TO THE
STREETS FOR A FOURTH NIGHT IN A ROW TO MOURN AND PROTEST, BUT NO
VIOLENCE HAS ERUPTED.
THE WESTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD REMAINED CALM THURSDAY NIGHT, AS
RESIDENTS REMEMBERED GUATEMALAN DAY LABORER MANUEL JAMINEZ ON THE
STREET CORNER WHERE HE DIED.
HUNDREDS LIT PRAYER CANDLES, JEERED AT PATROL CARS AND DROPPED
MONEY IN A COLLECTION BOX TO HELP JAMINEZ'S FAMILY IN GUATEMALA.
POLICE OFFICIALS SAY JAMINEZ LUNGED AT OFFICERS WITH A KNIFE,
BUT MANY RESIDENTS DISPUTE THE OFFICIAL REPORTS AND SAY THE MAN WAS
DRUNK BUT NOT A THREAT.
POLICE OFFICIALS HAVE PROMISED A THOROUGH AND INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING.

FOOD PLANT SHOOTING
POLICE: 2 SHOT DEAD AT KRAFT PLANT IN PA., 1 HURT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD BY
A SUSPENDED EMPLOYEE INSIDE A KRAFT FOODS FACILITY IN NORTHEAST
PHILADELPHIA. ONE PERSON HAS BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED.
LT. FRANK VANORE (VUH-NOR') SAYS THE SHOOTER WAS TAKEN INTO
CUSTODY THURSDAY NIGHT INSIDE THE PLANT. HE SAYS THE WOMAN HAD BEEN
SUSPENDED THURSDAY AND ESCORTED FROM THE PLANT BEFORE RETURNING IN
A CAR.
HE SAYS SHE WALKED INTO THE BUILDING WITH A HANDGUN AND STARTED
SHOOTING. TELEVISION FOOTAGE SHOWED WORKERS LEAVING THE PLANT.

QURAN BURNING
IMAM: PASTOR MISREPRESENTED QURAN-BURNING DEAL

GAINESVILLE, FLA. (AP) - AN IMAM SAYS THE LEADER OF A SMALL
FLORIDA CHURCH TOLD HIM HE WOULD CALL OFF A PLAN TO BURN THE QURAN
(KU-RAHN') BECAUSE IT WOULD ENDANGER TROOPS, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD A
DEAL TO MOVE THE LOCATION OF A MOSQUE PLANNED NEAR GROUND ZERO.
IMAM MUHAMMAD MUSRI SAID LATE THURSDAY THAT HE AND THE REV.
TERRY JONES AGREED TO HAVE A MEETING IN NEW YORK ABOUT THE
LOCATION. HE SAYS JONES TOLD HIM HE WOULD CANCEL THE BURNING AFTER
A CALL FROM THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND BECAUSE OTHER RELIGIOUS
AND POLITICAL LEADERS INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT ALL CAME OUT AGAINST
IT.
WHEN THEY SPOKE TO THE MEDIA AFTER THE MEETING, MUSRI SAYS JONES
"STRETCHED MY WORDS" ABOUT WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT THE MOSQUE.
JONES SAID AT THAT NEWS CONFERENCE THAT HE'D CANCEL THE EVENT
SATURDAY. LATER HE SAID HE WAS RETHINKING THAT AND THAT MUSRI
"CLEARLY, CLEARLY LIED TO US."
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL LEADERS ACROSS THE MUSLIM WORLD ARE
WELCOMING NEWS OF THE SUSPENSION, BUT SOME SAY THE DAMAGE ALREADY
HAS BEEN DONE. A CLERIC IN INDONESIA TOLD 1,000 WORSHIPPERS ON
FRIDAY THAT JONES HAS ALREADY "HURT THE HEART OF THE MUSLIM
WORLD."

GAYS IN MILITARY
JUDGE: MILITARY'S BAN ON GAYS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
CORRECTS: JUDGE WILL GRANT INJUNCTION, STED GRANTED.

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. (AP) - A FEDERAL JUDGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
HAS DECLARED THE U.S. MILITARY'S BAN ON OPENLY GAY SERVICE MEMBERS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE VIRGINIA PHILLIPS ON THURSDAY SAID SHE WILL
GRANT A REQUEST FOR AN INJUNCTION HALTING THE GOVERNMENT'S "DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL" POLICY FOR GAYS IN THE MILITARY.
PHILLIPS SAYS THE POLICY DOESN'T HELP MILITARY READINESS AND
INSTEAD HAS A "DIRECT AND DELETERIOUS EFFECT" ON THE ARMED
SERVICES.
THE LAWSUIT WAS THE BIGGEST LEGAL TEST OF THE LAW IN RECENT
YEARS AND CAME AMID PROMISES BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA THAT HE WILL
WORK TO REPEAL THE POLICY.
GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ARGUED PHILLIPS LACKED THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE
A NATIONWIDE INJUNCTION AND THE ISSUE SHOULD BE DECIDED BY
CONGRESS.
THE INJUNCTION WAS SOUGHT BY THE LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS, A
19,000-MEMBER GROUP THAT INCLUDES CURRENT AND FORMER MILITARY
MEMBERS.

CLINTON-DEMOCRATS
CLINTON: ANGER, APATHY, AMNESIA THREATEN DEMOCRATS

ATLANTA (AP) - FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IS WARNING
DEMOCRATS THAT ANGER, APATHY AND AMNESIA COULD BE THE KEYS TO
DEFEAT IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
CLINTON SPOKE AT A FUNDRAISER IN ATLANTA THURSDAY NIGHT FOR
GEORGIA DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE MIKE THURMOND, WHO IS SEEKING
TO UNSEAT GOP INCUMBENT JOHNNY ISAKSON.
CLINTON SAYS THAT AMERICANS ARE ANGRY WITH REASON, BUT HE ADDS
THAT DECISIONS MADE IN ANGER ARE OFTEN MISTAKES.
CALLING THE CURRENT NATIONAL MOOD "A CRAZY TIME," CLINTON SAYS
REPUBLICANS THINK DEMOCRATS ARE APATHETIC AND CONFUSED, AND ADDS
THAT AMERICANS ARE EAGER TO HEAR A MESSAGE THAT MAKES SENSE.
CLINTON SAYS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT GET CREDIT FOR
ITS WORK ON HEALTH CARE, FINANCIAL REFORM AND THE ECONOMY UNTIL
PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK.

SEX SLAVE
MO. MAN ACCUSED OF KEEPING WOMAN AS SEX SLAVE

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (AP) - FIVE MISSOURI MEN ARE ACCUSED OF
TAKING PART IN THE SEXUAL TORTURE OF A YOUNG WOMAN ALLEGEDLY FORCED
TO WORK AS A STRIPPER.
PROSECUTORS SAY ONE OF THE MEN KEPT THE YOUNG WOMAN AS HIS SEX
SLAVE. THEY DESCRIBE THE WOMAN, NOW 24, AS MENTALLY DEFICIENT.
THE MEN RANGE IN AGE FROM 31 THROUGH 62.
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ANNOUNCED THE INDICTMENTS THURSDAY. U.S.
ATTORNEY BETH PHILLIPS CALLS THE ALLEGATIONS "HIGHLY DISTURBING."
AUTHORITIES SAY THE WOMAN WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD RUNAWAY WHEN ONE
SUSPECT COERCED HER TO MOVE INTO HIS HOME IN SOUTHERN MISSOURI,
WHERE SHE LIVED FROM 2002 UNTIL CARDIAC ARREST SENT HER TO A
HOSPITAL LAST YEAR.

VIKINGS-SAINTS
SAINTS SURVIVE TOUGH OPENER AGAINST VIKINGS FOR 14-9 WIN

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - DREW BREES AND THE SAINTS EXTENDED NEW
ORLEANS' POST-SUPER BOWL EUPHORIA FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK AND
HANDED BRETT FAVRE A SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS IN THE LOUISIANA
SUPERDOME.
BREES COMPLETED 27 OF 36 PASSES FOR 237 YARDS AND ONE TOUCHDOWN,
AND THE SAINTS SURVIVED A HARD-FOUGHT SEASON OPENER FOR A 14-9
VICTORY THURSDAY NIGHT.
IT WASN'T THE MOST SPECTACULAR WAY TO OPEN A TITLE DEFENSE,
CONSIDERING IT WAS A REMATCH OF THE RIVETING 2009 NFC TITLE GAME
LAST JANUARY, IN WHICH THE SAINTS TOOK AN OVERTIME WIN TO ADVANCE
TO THEIR FIRST SUPER BOWL.
IT WAS THE LOWEST-SCORING VICTORY OF THE SEAN PAYTON ERA, WHICH
BEGAN IN 2006. STILL, THE SAINTS WILL TAKE IT, CONSIDERING THEIR
DEFENSE LIMITED FAVRE TO 171 YARDS PASSING AND ONE SCORE.