TODAY'S NEWS: SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

SELINGSGROVE MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING 2 YOUNG GIRLS WHILE BABYSITTING THEM

A SELINGSGROVE MAN IS IN CUSTODY AFTER CHARGES OF RAPING TWO GIRLS HE WAS BABYSITTING. DAVID MILLER JR, 21, IS CHARGED WITH 10 COUNTS EACH OF RAPING A 9 AND A 10 YR OLD BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND AUGUST OF 2009, 12 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED INDECENT ASSAULT OF A CHILD, ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND CORRUPTION OF MINORS AND SEVERAL OTHER ACCOUNTS. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE TAMAQUA VICTIM’S HOME ON JUNE 29, FOR A REPORT OF THE RAPES. MILLER HAS AGREED TO THE CHARGES, THOUGH STATES THAT HE ONLY ASSAULTED THE GIRLS A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. HE IS CURRENTLY INCARCERATED IN SNYDER COUNTY PRISON ON SIMILAR CHARGES INVOLVING ANOTHER YOUNG FEMALE VICTIM.



ZERBY AIRPORT OFFERING FOLIAGE AIR TOURS

WANT TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FOLIAGE THIS YEAR? THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JOE ZERBY AIRPORT IS OFFERING TO TAKE UP ABOVE THE TREES FOR BETTER LOOK. THE FALL FOLIAGE FLIGHT TOURS ARE AMONG THE NEWEST THINGS THE AIRPORT IS OFFERING IN A PLAN IT HAS TO EXPOSE THE AIRPORT TO THE PUBLIC. THE FLIGHT COST $50 AND CAN ACCOMMODATE ONE TO THREE PASSENGERS. THIS THE SECOND YEAR THE AIRPORT HAS OFFERED THE FALL FLIGHTS. EACH ARE ABOUT 25-35 MINS AND THE AIRPORT SAYS IF YOU LIVE CLOSE BY, THEY WILL FLY YOU OVER YOUR HOME. RAINY WEEKENDS DAMPENED THE EXPECTED FLIGHTS LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR THE FOLIAGE TOURS WILL RUN NOW THROUGH MID-NOVEMBER, AND TOURS ARE AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND. NO RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.

DROUGHT WARNING IN THE COUNTY

LAST WEEK SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, ALONG WITH 23 OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE WERE GIVEN A DROUGHT WARNING BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. YESTERDAY, THE BOROUGH OF ASHLAND ISSUED ITS OWN WARNING. THE ASHLAND AREA MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OWNS THE RESERVOIR AND WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN ASHLAND AND PART OF BUTLER TOWNSHIP AND SAYS OUT OF THE 110 MILLION GALLON CAPACITY, THE RESERVOIR NOW HAS ONLY ABOUT 72.6 MILLION GALLONS IN STORAGE. THE DEP HAS THREE TYPES OF DROUGHT DECLARATIONS; WATCH, WHICH ASKS CUSTOMERS TO VOLUNTARY REDUCE USAGE BY 5%, WARNING, WHICH ASKS FOR VOLUNTARY RESTRICTIONS OF 10-15% AND DROUGHT EMERGENCE, WHICH REQUIRED MANDATORY NONESSENTIAL WATER USE. CURRENTLY THE BOROUGH OF ASHLAND IS ASKING ALL OF THEIR WATER CUSTOMERS TO REDUCE THEIR CONSUMPTION BY 10-15% IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEP’S REQUEST.


STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS DEMOCRATS CAN'T
JUST WAIT FOR HIM TO COME TO THEIR CITIES AND STATES TO RALLY
SUPPORT FOR THEIR CANDIDATES. OBAMA WAS SPEAKING AT A PHILADELPHIA
FUNDRAISER YESTERDAY FOR SENATE CANDIDATE JOE SESTAK. THE PRESIDENT
SAYS ELECTIONS ARE NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA CHARTER SCHOOL IS GETTING
SOME BIG PRAISE FROM OPRAH WINFREY - AND A $1 MILLION CHECK, TOO.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS MASTERY CHARTER SCHOOLS IS ONE OF
SIX EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED KUDOS, AND CASH, FROM
THE DAYTIME TV HOST AND PHILANTHROPIST ON YESTERDAY'S SHOW.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE RENDELL ADMINISTRATION IS LAYING OFF
50 EMPLOYEES TO BALANCE THE RECESSION-RIDDLED STATE BUDGET.
RENDELL'S OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE LAYOFFS BEGAN YESTERDAY
AND INCLUDE 19 FROM THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND 15 FROM THE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (AP) - A SOLDIER FROM EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HAS
DIED IN AFGHANISTAN IN AN AMBUSH AS HIS PLATOON WAS ON ITS WAY BACK
FROM PATROL. THE MOTHER OF 23-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA HARTON, OF BETHLEHEM,
TELLS THE ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL THAT HER SON WAS THE ONLY CASUALTY
IN THE AMBUSH SATURDAY.



NATIONAL NEWS

GAYS-MILITARY
NEW: MILITARY GAY BAN BECOMES ELECTION-YEAR HOT BUTTON

WASHINGTON (AP) - IT'S JOHN MCCAIN VERSUS LADY GAGA AS THE
SENATE TAKES UP REPEAL OF THE BAN ON GAYS SERVING OPENLY IN THE
MILITARY.
SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE ATTACHED A MEASURE ENDING "DON'T ASK,
DON'T TELL" TO A BILL AUTHORIZING $726 BILLION IN MILITARY
SPENDING NEXT YEAR. THEY SAY THE LAW DEPRIVES THE ARMED FORCES OF
CAPABLE SOLDIERS AND VIOLATES CIVIL RIGHTS.
SEN. MCCAIN, AN ARIZONA REPUBLICAN, OPPOSES LIFTING THE BAN
PENDING COMPLETION OF A PENTAGON STUDY OF THE PROPOSAL'S IMPACT.
GOP CRITICS OF ENDING THE POLICY SAY SCRAPPING THE LAW WHILE U.S.
TROOPS ARE FIGHTING TWO WARS WOULD HURT MORALE.
LADY GAGA HAS URGED THE SENATE TO VOTE FOR REPEAL ON A YOUTUBE
VIDEO. SHE WAS AT A MONDAY RALLY IN MAINE TO URGE THAT STATE'S
SENATORS TO VOTE TO LIFT THE BAN.

AFGHANISTAN
NATO SAYS 9 SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN CRASH

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - NATO SAYS NINE COALITION SERVICE
MEMBERS HAVE DIED AFTER THEIR HELICOPTER CRASHED IN THE VOLATILE
SOUTH.
ONE OTHER COALITION SERVICE MEMBER, AN AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
SOLDIER AND A U.S. CIVILIAN WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH AND HAVE BEEN
TRANSPORTED TO A MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT.
A NATO OFFICIAL SAYS THE CRASH TOOK PLACE IN ZABUL PROVINCE. IN
A STATEMENT, THE COALITION SAYS THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF ENEMY FIRE
IN THE AREA.
HELICOPTERS ARE USED EXTENSIVELY BY BOTH NATO AND THE AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT FORCES TO TRANSPORT AND SUPPLY TROOPS SPREAD OUT ACROSS
A MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY WITH FEW ROADS. WHILE THEY MORE REGULARLY
CRASH BECAUSE OF MECHANICAL ISSUES IN AFGHANISTAN, SOME HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT DOWN BY INSURGENT FIRE.
LOSSES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY LIGHT, DESPITE INSURGENT FIRE AND
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.

IRAN-MISSILE
NEW: IRAN'S PARAMILITARY FORCE GETS NEW MISSILE

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - IRAN'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS THE COUNTRY'S
POWERFUL REVOLUTIONARY GUARD HAS RECEIVED ITS FIRST BATCH OF NEW
MISSILES WITH ENHANCED GUIDANCE SYSTEMS TO HIT GROUND TARGETS.
GEN. AHMAD VAHIDI SAYS THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SUPPLIED THE GUARD
WITH THE UPGRADED SURFACE-TO-SURFACE FATEH-110 MISSILE, WHICH WAS
SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED LAST MONTH. THE WEAPON WAS DEVELOPED BY
IRAN'S AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ORGANIZATION.
IRAN HAS BEEN PUSHING TO UPGRADE ITS MISSILE ARSENAL, WHICH
ALREADY CAN TARGET ISRAEL AND OTHER PARTS OF THE REGION.
VAHIDI SAYS IRAN WILL FURTHER DEVELOP THE FATEH-110. HE GAVE NO
DETAILS OF THE MISSILE'S CAPABILITIES BUT EARLIER VERSIONS COULD
STRIKE TARGETS UP TO 120 MILES (193 KILOMETERS) AWAY.
VAHIDI'S REMARKS WERE PUBLISHED TUESDAY ON THE STATE TV'S
WEBSITE.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS
NEW: PM WANTS ISRAELI TROOPS AT PALESTINIAN BORDER

JERUSALEM (AP) - PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS ISRAEL
WANTS TO KEEP ITS TROOPS ON THE EASTERN BORDER OF A FUTURE
PALESTINIAN STATE.
PALESTINIANS REJECT THE IDEA AND HAVE PROPOSED AN INTERNATIONAL
FORCE ALONG THE WEST BANK'S BORDER WITH JORDAN AS PART OF A PEACE
DEAL.
NETANYAHU TOLD U.S. JEWISH LEADERS IN A CONFERENCE CALL ON
MONDAY THAT "THE ONLY FORCE THAT CAN BE RELIED ON TO DEFEND THE
JEWISH PEOPLE IS THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE."
NETANYAHU SAYS AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE CAN'T ENSURE ISRAEL'S
SECURITY. HE FEARS PALESTINIAN MILITANTS WILL ATTACK ISRAEL FROM
WITHIN A PALESTINIAN STATE IF ISRAELI TROOPS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM THE
WEST BANK-JORDAN BORDER.
PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS MAINTAINS THAT AN ISRAELI
TROOP PRESENCE WOULD INFRINGE UPON PALESTINIAN SOVEREIGNTY.

IRAQ
NEW: BLAST KILLS 2 IRAQI SOLDIERS IN COUNTRY'S NORTH

BAGHDAD (AP) - AN IRAQI POLICE OFFICIAL SAYS A ROADSIDE BOMB IN
A RESTIVE NORTHERN CITY HAS KILLED TWO IRAQI SOLDIERS.
COL. SHERZAD MURFALI SAYS THE BLAST ON TUESDAY TARGETED AN ARMY
PATROL ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF KIRKUK, WHICH IS THE CENTER OF A POWER
STRUGGLE BETWEEN IRAQI KURDS AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD.
KIRKUK IS ALSO THE MAIN OIL HUB IN NORTHERN IRAQ. IT'S BEEN THE
SCENE OF SPORADIC INSURGENT VIOLENCE AND ONGOING TENSIONS BETWEEN
THE REGION'S THREE MAIN GROUPS - KURDS, ARABS AND TURKOMEN.
KIRKUK IS 180 MILES (290 KILOMETERS) NORTH OF BAGHDAD.

PAKISTAN
NEW: VAN CARRYING 30 SCHOOLCHIDREN PLUNGES INTO PAKISTANI RIVER

MUZAFFARABAD, PAKISTAN (AP) - A VAN CARRYING ABOUT 30
SCHOOLCHILDREN HAS PLUNGED INTO A RIVER IN PAKISTAN-HELD KASHMIR.
THE LOCAL POLICE CHIEF SAYS FOUR INJURED CHILDREN AND THE DRIVER
HAVE BEEN RESCUED, BUT MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE CONFIRMED OR FEARED
DEAD.
A SCHOOL TEACHER AT THE SCENE SAYS RESCUE WORKERS ARRIVED MORE
THAN AN HOUR AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND IT WAS LOCAL VILLAGERS WHO
PLUCKED THE FOUR CHILDREN FROM THE WATER.
POLICE SAY 11 BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM VARIOUS POINTS IN
THE RIVER. THE OTHER CHILDREN REMAIN MISSING. THE TEACHER ADDS THAT
RESCUE WORKERS MANAGED TO REMOVED THE VAN FROM THE RIVER BUT DIDN'T
FIND ANY CHILDREN INSIDE.
POLICE SAY THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN AS HE WAS DRIVING
ALONG AN ELEVATED ROAD. THE VAN PLUNGED 50 FEET INTO THE RIVER.
THE AREA WAS AFFECTED BY PAKISTAN'S DEVASTATING FLOODS THAT
STARTED IN JULY, BUT THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN
THE CRASH.

CHICAGO BOMB ARREST
NEW: FBI SAYS IT SUPPLIED FAKE BOMB IN CHICAGO PLOT

CHICAGO (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY
PLACING A BACKPACK HE THOUGHT CONTAINED A BOMB NEAR CHICAGO'S
WRIGLEY FIELD GOT THE FAKE EXPLOSIVE FROM AN FBI UNDERCOVER AGENT.
IT'S A TACTIC THAT'S BEEN USED IN OTHER U.S. TERRORISM CASES IN
RECENT YEARS.
SAMI SAMIR HASSOUN WAS CHARGED MONDAY WITH ONE COUNT EACH OF
ATTEMPTED USE OF A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND ATTEMPTED USE OF
AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE. THE 22-YEAR-OLD IS A LEBANESE CITIZEN WHO HAS
LIVED IN CHICAGO FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME FBI AGENTS HAVE POSED AS TERROR
OPERATIVES AND SUPPLIED SUSPECTS WITH BOGUS EXPLOSIVES. FOR
EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR AUTHORITIES ARRESTED A JORDANIAN NATIONAL AFTER
HE ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO DETONATE A FAKE BOMB OUTSIDE A DALLAS
SKYSCRAPER.

WISCONSIN PROSECUTOR-SEXTING
NEW: WIS. GOVERNOR SAYS HE'S TROUBLED BY 'SEXTING' DA

MADISON, WIS. (AP) - WISCONSIN GOV. JIM DOYLE MADE A LONG
POLITICAL CAREER AS A NO-NONSENSE PROSECUTOR STANDING UP FOR
VICTIMS.
NOW, THE LAME-DUCK GOVERNOR NOW MUST DEAL WITH WHAT TO DO ABOUT
A DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO SENT RACY TEXT MESSAGE TO A DOMESTIC ABUSE
VICTIM.
AN OUTRAGED DOYLE SAID MONDAY HE WOULD START THE PROCESS TO
CONSIDER REMOVING CALUMET COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEN KRATZ AND
THAT HE HOPES TO MAKE A DECISION IN A MONTH.
DOYLE IS A FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO
LEAVES THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN JANUARY.
KRATZ HAS ACKNOWLEDGED SENDING 30 TEXT MESSAGES IN THREE DAYS
LAST YEAR TO A WOMAN WHILE HE WAS PROSECUTING HER EX-BOYFRIEND IN
AN ABUSE CASE.
DOYLE SAYS HE'S DEEPLY TROUBLED BY WHAT HAPPENED.

CALIFORNIA PENSIONS-PAY HIKES
NEW: AP INVESTIGATION: CALPERS BUMPED PAY AS FUND DIVED

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (AP) - THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST PUBLIC PENSION
FUND DOLED OUT SIX-FIGURE BONUSES AND SUBSTANTIAL RAISES TO ITS TOP
EMPLOYEES AS ITS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO LOST NEARLY A QUARTER OF ITS
VALUE.
BOARD MEMBER TONY OLIVERA SAID THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM TRIED TO REDUCE THE BONUSES BUT WAS UNDER
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO PAY THEM.
CALPERS' PLUNGING VALUE CAME AS STOCK VALUES TUMBLED AROUND THE
WORLD. CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY SUFFERED ITS WORST DECLINE IN DECADES
AND BASIC STATE SERVICES FACED SEVERE BUDGET CUTS.
VIRTUALLY ALL OF CALPERS' INVESTMENT MANAGERS WERE AWARDED
BONUSES OF MORE THAN $10,000 EACH, WITH SEVERAL EARNING BONUSES OF
MORE THAN $100,000 DURING THE 2008-09 FISCAL YEAR. THE CASH AWARDS
WERE DISTRIBUTED AS THE FUND LOST $59 BILLION.

OBESITY COSTS
NEW: REPORT: OBESITY HURTS YOUR WALLET AND YOUR HEALTH

WASHINGTON (AP) - RESEARCHERS ARE PUTTING A PRICE TAG ON
OBESITY.
DOCTORS HAVE LONG KNOWN THAT MEDICAL BILLS ARE HIGHER FOR THE
OBESE, BUT A REPORT FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY FINDS THAT'S
ONLY A PORTION OF THE REAL-LIFE COSTS.
THE RESEARCHERS ADDED IN THINGS LIKE EMPLOYEE SICK DAYS, LOST
PRODUCTIVITY, EVEN THE NEED FOR EXTRA GASOLINE - AND FOUND THE
ANNUAL COST OF BEING OBESE IS $4,879 FOR A WOMAN AND $2,646 FOR A
MAN.
THAT'S FAR MORE THAN THE COST OF BEING MERELY OVERWEIGHT - $524
FOR WOMEN AND $432 FOR MEN.
THE STUDY'S CO-AUTHOR CHRISTINE FERGUSON SAYS THE DIFFERENCE
FOUND BETWEEN THE SEXES SUGGEST THAT LARGER WOMEN EARN LESS THAN
SKINNIER WOMEN, WHILE WAGES DON'T DIFFER WHEN MEN PACK ON THE
POUNDS.
TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS ARE EITHER OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, AND
CHILDHOOD OBESITY HAS TRIPLED IN THE PAST THREE DECADES.