TODAY'S NEWS: SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

NATIONAL NEWS

BROCTON MAN KILLED IN ROUTE 209 CRASH

ROUTE 209 IN WALKER TOWNSHIP WAS CLOSED FOR 7 HOURS YESTERDAY AFTER A MAN AND ONE OF HIS DOGS WERE KILL IN A 2 VEHICLE CRASH YESTERDAY MORNING. CHARLES D STROUSE JR, 37, WAS DRIVING HIS 1964 DODGE 8880 SOUTHBOUND, AND WAS STRUCK BY A BOX TRUCK THAT CROSSED THE DOUBLE LINE AND CAME INTO HIS LANE WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK, RUBEN A RODRIGUEZ, 30 OF PENNSAUKEN NJ, SUFFERERED MINOR INJURED AND WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE BY EMS CREWS AND THEN LATER TAKEN AND RELEASED FROM ST. LUKE’S MINERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN COALDALE. ONE OF THREE DOGS IN STROUSE’S CAR WERE KILLED. THE TWO SURVIVING DOGS ARE OK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH IS ONGOING.


OBAMA AWARDS POSTHUMOUS MEDAL OF HONOR TO PA MAN

AN AIRMAN KILLED DURING COMBAT IN LAOS IN 1968
IS BEING HONORED WITH THE NATION'S HIGHEST MILITARY AWARD.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR ON TUESDAY TO
CHIEF MASTER SGT. RICHARD ETCHBERGER. THE AIRMAN'S THREE SONS
JOINED OBAMA IN SALUTING THEIR FATHER'S HEROISM DURING A CEREMONY
IN THE EAST ROOM OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
A NATIVE OF HAMBURG, PA., ETCHBERGER WAS AN ELECTRONICS EXPERT
WITHOUT FORMAL COMBAT TRAINING WHEN HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY KEPT THE
NORTH VIETNAMESE ENEMY AT BAY WHILE HELPING TO EVACUATE WOUNDED
COMRADES. ETCHBERGER MANAGED TO GET THREE OF HIS WOUNDED COMRADES
INTO RESCUE SLINGS BUT WAS FATALLY WOUNDED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY
GROUND FIRE AS A HELICOPTER LIFTED HIM TO SAFETY.



STATE NEWS

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - REPUBLICAN TOM CORBETT IS STILL LEADING
THE MONEY CHASE IN PENNSYLVANIA'S GUBERNATORIAL RACE. CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REPORTS FILED YESTERDAY SHOWED CORBETT'S CAMPAIGN WITH $7.7
MILLION ON HAND. THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE THE $3.4 MILLION REPORTED
BY DEMOCRAT DAN ONORATO'S CAMPAIGN.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - FRESHMAN SENATOR SCOTT BROWN OF
MASSACHUSETTS IS HEADLINING A FUNDRAISER FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR SENATE. PAT TOOMEY'S CAMPAIGN SAYS THE
PHILADELPHIA FUNDRAISER WITH BROWN IS FRIDAY. THAT MAKES BROWN THE
SECOND NEW ENGLAND SENATOR IN TWO MONTHS TO RAISE MONEY FOR TOOMEY
IN PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT HAS SCUTTLED
A PLAN TO ABOLISH A CONTROVERSIAL BOARD THAT HELPED DETERMINE THE
REAL ESTATE VALUES ON EVERY PROPERTY IN PHILADELPHIA. THE COURT HAS
RULED THAT THE CITY'S BOARD OF REVISION OF TAXES CAN CONTINUE TO
EXIST AND HEAR PROPERTY TAX APPEALS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - AN AIRMAN KILLED DURING COMBAT IN LAOS IN 1968
IS BEING HONORED WITH THE NATION'S HIGHEST MILITARY AWARD.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO CHIEF
MASTER SERGEANT RICHARD ETCHBERGER. THE AIRMAN'S THREE SONS JOINED
OBAMA IN SALUTING THEIR FATHER'S HEROISM DURING A CEREMONY IN THE
EAST ROOM OF THE WHITE HOUSE YESTERDAY.



NATIONAL NEWS


OBAMA-HEALTH OVERHAUL
NEW: WHITE HOUSE LOOKS TO BOOST HEALTH LAW AT 6 MONTHS

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ONCE TOLD DEMOCRATIC
LAWMAKERS THEY'D BE PROUD TO CAMPAIGN ON HISTORIC HEALTH CARE
LEGISLATION. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE ONLY DEMOCRATS RUNNING ADS ABOUT
IT ARE THE ONES WHO VOTED "NO."
NOW, WITH CRUCIAL MIDTERM ELECTIONS APPROACHING, THE WHITE HOUSE
IS PREPARING TO USE THE LAW'S SIX-MONTH ANNIVERSARY TO REINTRODUCE
IT TO SKEPTICAL VOTERS AND TRUMPET NEW REFORMS THAT ARE TAKING
EFFECT.
THOSE CHANGES INCLUDE NEW COVERAGE FOR PREVENTIVE CARE AND YOUNG
ADULTS, AND A BAN ON CANCELING INSURANCE FOR SOMEONE WHO FALLS ILL.
DEMOCRATS ARE PACKAGING THE PROVISIONS, WHICH KICK IN THURSDAY,
AS A "PATIENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS," AND OBAMA IS ADVERTISING THEM
WEDNESDAY AT AN EVENT IN VIRGINIA WITH BENEFICIARIES.

UN-WORLD SUMMIT
NEW: UN ANTI-POVERTY GOALS GET NEW FINANCIAL PLEDGES

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - CURRENT ECONOMIC CONCERNS ARE CREATING
UNCERTAINTY AS NATIONS WRAP UP A THREE-DAY SUMMIT TO PUSH GLOBAL
LEADERS TO MEET U.N. GOALS TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE POVERTY BY 2015.
NEW FINANCIAL PLEDGES ARE EXPECTED TODAY BUT IT'S UNKNOWN
WHETHER THERE WILL BE ENOUGH MONEY AND POLITICAL COMMITMENT TO MEET
THE TARGETS.
DESPITE THE EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS,
SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON HAS REPEATEDLY URGED GOVERNMENTS NOT
TO ABANDON THE 1 BILLION PEOPLE LIVING ON LESS THAN $1.25 A DAY.
BRITAIN'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NICK CLEGG, PLANS TO URGE THE
SUMMIT COUNTRIES TO SHOW THE SAME RESOLVE AS BRITAIN IN MEETING
THEIR AID COMMITMENTS, DESPITE THE FALLOUT FROM THE FINANCIAL
MELTDOWN.

OBAMA
NEW: FOR OBAMA, TIME TO REMIND THE WORLD OF HIS AGENDA

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS TURNING FROM A
TROUBLED DOMESTIC ECONOMY TO THE WORLD STAGE THIS WEEK AS HE RECAPS
HIS EFFORTS TO RESHAPE THE IMAGE AND DIPLOMACY OF THE UNITED
STATES.
OBAMA'S TRIP TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK BEGINS WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON. LAST SEPTEMBER, IN HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HE DEFINED HIS NEW BRAND OF U.S. ENGAGEMENT. THIS
TIME, HE IS EXPECTED TO DEFEND IT.
ON WEDNESDAY, OBAMA WILL OFFER HIS VISION OF U.S. AID TO
IMPOVERISHED PARTS OF THE WORLD, SPEAKING AT AN ANTI-POVERTY
CONFERENCE.
IN HIS CENTERPIECE SPEECH TO WORLD LEADERS ON THURSDAY, OBAMA IS
EXPECTED TO RECOUNT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO KEEP IRAN IN LINE,
SLOW THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND REVIVE PLODDING ECONOMIES.

WORLD SUMMIT-MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
UN PROMOTES HEALTH CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - A GLOBAL CAMPAIGN THAT AIMS TO SAVE THE
LIVES OF 16 MILLION MOTHERS AND CHILDREN OVER FIVE YEARS IS BEING
LAUNCHED BY U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON WITH AS MUCH AS $40
BILLION IN COMMITMENTS FROM GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE AID GROUPS.
BAN'S OFFICE SAYS THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S
HEALTH IS BEING ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY AT THE END OF A THREE-DAY WORLD
ANTI-POVERTY SUMMIT.
THE WORLD LEADERS ARE REVIEWING EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT MILLENNIUM
DEVELOPMENT GOALS ADOPTED AT A SUMMIT IN 2000. THESE INCLUDE
CUTTING EXTREME POVERTY BY HALF, ENSURING UNIVERSAL PRIMARY
EDUCATION, HALTING AND REVERSING THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC, AND CUTTING
CHILD AND MATERNAL MORTALITY - ALL BY 2015.

OBAMA-ECONOMIC ADVISER
NEW: OBAMA'S TOP ECONOMIC ADVISER LEAVING WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE DEPARTURE OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S TOP
ECONOMIC ADVISER AT THE END OF THE YEAR COULD PROVIDE THE WHITE
HOUSE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVAMP ITS ECONOMIC TEAM AFTER THE
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, WHEN VOTERS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE OUT THEIR
ANXIETIES ON DEMOCRATS.
THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS LAWRENCE SUMMERS WILL LEAVE THE
ADMINISTRATION AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO RETURN TO HARVARD
UNIVERSITY. NEWS OF HIS DEPARTURE COMES AMID DEEP CONCERN OVER THE
SLUGGISH PACE OF THE RECOVERY, AS WELL AS CRITICISM OF OBAMA'S
ECONOMIC POLICY TEAM.
TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THAT TEAM ALREADY HAVE DEPARTED: BUDGET
DIRECTOR PETER ORSZAG (OHR'-ZAG) AND CHRISTINA ROMER (ROH'-MUR),
CHIEF OF THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS. A FOURTH TOP ECONOMIC
ADVISER, TREASURY SECRETARY TIMOTHY GEITHNER (GYT'-NUR), REMAINS.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS
NEW: PALESTINIAN LEADER HINTS AT SETTLEMENT COMPROMISE

JERUSALEM (AP) - THE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT IS LEAVING THE DOOR
OPEN TO CONTINUING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL - EVEN IF THE
JEWISH STATE RESUMES SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION IN THE WEST BANK.
MAHMOUD ABBAS HAS REPEATEDLY THREATENED TO WALK AWAY FROM NEWLY
RELAUNCHED TALKS IF ISRAEL BEGINS BUILDING IN THE SETTLEMENTS AFTER
A 10-MONTH MORATORIUM EXPIRES ON SUNDAY.
ISRAEL HAS SAID THE SLOWDOWN WILL NOT BE EXTENDED.
ABBAS TOLD AMERICAN JEWISH LEADERS IN NEW YORK LATE TUESDAY IT
WOULD BE "VERY DIFFICULT" TO CONTINUE THE TALKS IF BUILDING
RESUMES BUT ADDED THAT HE "CANNOT SAY" DEFINITIVELY THAT HE WOULD
WALK AWAY.
HIS COMMENTS APPEAR TO SOFTEN HIS PREVIOUS ULTIMATUM TO DO SO,
OFFERING A GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT A COMPROMISE WILL BE REACHED.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-VIOLENCE
NEW: ISRAEL SECURITY GUARD KILLS PROTESTER IN JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM (AP) - POLICE SAY PALESTINIAN RESIDENTS ARE RIOTING IN
A CONTESTED EAST JERUSALEM NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER AN ISRAELI SECURITY
GUARD FATALLY SHOT A PALESTINIAN PROTESTER.
POLICE SAY AN ISRAELI SECURITY GUARD WAS PELTED WITH STONES,
AFTER WHICH HE DREW HIS WEAPON AND FIRED, KILLING A 32-YEAR-OLD
PALESTINIAN. RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED THE MAN AS SAMER SARHAN.
POLICE SPOKESMAN SHMUEL BEN RUBY SAYS PROTESTERS ARE HURLING
STONES AT POLICE TROOPS IN SILWAN. HE SAYS THE DEAD MAN HAD A
CRIMINAL RECORD.
ABOUT 50,000 PALESTINIANS AND 70 JEWISH FAMILIES LIVE IN SILWAN
AND TENSIONS HAVE BEEN HIGH OVER A MUNICIPAL PLAN THAT INCLUDES
DEMOLITION OF PALESTINIAN HOMES. CLASHES HAVE BEEN COMMON IN RECENT
WEEKS.
ISRAEL CAPTURED AND ANNEXED EAST JERUSALEM IN THE 1967 MIDEAST
WAR.

UTAH WILDFIRES
UPDATE: CREWS HOPE TO CONTINUE GAINING GROUND ON UTAH FIRE

HERRIMAN, UTAH (AP) - EVACUATION ORDERS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
ABOUT 250 HOMES NEAR THE WESTERN FLANK OF A UTAH WILDFIRE NEAR SALT
LAKE CITY AS FIREFIGHTERS LOOK TO MAINTAIN THEIR MOMENTUM TODAY.
THE FIRE WAS SPARKED BY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS DURING
WEEKEND MACHINE-GUN TRAINING.
NEARLY HALF THE EVACUATION ORDERS STILL IN EFFECT FOR THE SALT
LAKE CITY SUBURB OF HERRIMAN WERE LIFTED YESTERDAY EVENING AFTER
FIRE OFFICIALS REPORTED THE 6-SQUARE-MILE BLAZE WAS 50 PERCENT
CONTAINED.
THE FIRE BROKE OUT SUNDAY AT CAMP WILLIAMS, WITH RESIDENTS OF
MORE THAN 1,600 HOMES ORIGINALLY FORCED TO FLEE. THREE HOUSES WERE
DESTROYED AND A FOURTH WAS DAMAGED IN NEARBY HERRIMAN.
UTAH ARMY GUARD GEN. BRIAN TARBET HAS APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HE
CALLED A "SYSTEMATIC FAILURE" THAT ALLOWED THE EXERCISE TO GO ON
DESPITE HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS.

TAINTED EGGS
NEW: EGG COMPANIES TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONGRESS IS PLANNING TO HEAR FROM THE HEADS OF
TWO IOWA EGG FARMS LINKED TO A SALMONELLA OUTBREAK THAT HAS
SICKENED UP TO 1,600 PEOPLE.
AUSTIN "JACK" DECOSTER OF WRIGHT COUNTY EGG AND ORLAND BETHEL
OF HILLANDALE FARMS ARE SCHEDULED TO TESTIFY BEFORE A HOUSE ENERGY
AND COMMERCE SUBCOMMITTEE WEDNESDAY. MEMBERS OF THE PANEL HAVE
ASKED THE TWO MEN TO COME PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE FILTHY CONDITIONS
FOUND AT THEIR FARMS.
AN FDA INVESTIGATION FOUND TOWERS OF MANURE AND BUG AND RODENT
INFESTATIONS AT THE FARMS, AND AN ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE COMPANIES HAD RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF
POSITIVE RESULTS FOR SALMONELLA IN THE TWO YEARS BEFORE THE
OUTBREAK THIS SUMMER.

BELL SALARIES
NEW: 8 BELL OFFICIALS TO FACE JUDGE IN CORRUPTION CASE

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE MAYOR, THE EX-CITY MANAGER AND SIX
CURRENT AND FORMER OFFICIALS OF THE BLUE-COLLAR SUBURB OF BELL ARE
EXPECTED TO HEAD FROM JAIL TO COURT A DAY AFTER RESIDENTS OF THE
MODEST CITY NEAR LOS ANGELES CELEBRATED THEIR ARREST.
THE EIGHT WERE SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED IN COURT WEDNESDAY ON
CHARGES OF MISAPPROPRIATING MORE THAN $5.5 MILLION IN PUBLIC FUNDS.
FORMER CITY MANAGER ROBERT RIZZO, MAYOR OSCAR HERNANDEZ AND THE
OTHERS WERE ROUNDED UP DURING TUESDAY MORNING RAIDS ON THEIR HOMES.
RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY HONKED THEIR CAR HORNS, BURST INTO CHEERS
AND STAGED IMPROMPTU CELEBRATIONS.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEVE COOLEY TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE SOON AFTER
THE ARRESTS THAT THE OFFICIALS USED TAX DOLLARS COLLECTED FROM
HARDWORKING CITIZENS AS THEIR OWN PIGGY BANK.

PEOPLE-PARIS HILTON
UPDATE: PARIS HILTON DENIED ENTRY INTO JAPAN

NARITA, JAPAN (AP) - PARIS HILTON HAS BEEN DENIED ENTRANCE INTO
JAPAN AND IS RETURNING HOME TO THE U.S.
AN IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL SAID WEDNESDAY THAT HILTON WAS NOT
ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTRY.
THE 29-YEAR-OLD CELEBRITY ON MONDAY PLEADED GUILTY TO A
MISDEMEANOR DRUG CHARGE IN LAS VEGAS.
UNDER JAPANESE LAW, IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES CAN DENY ENTRY TO
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES.
HILTON HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO PROMOTE HER FASHION AND FRAGRANCE
LINES AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN TOKYO ON WEDNESDAY.

NEW ZEALAND-WHALES STRANDED
74 PILOT WHALES STRANDED ON NEW ZEALAND BEACH

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (AP) - CONSERVATION OFFICIALS SAY 74
PILOT WHALES HAVE STRANDED THEMSELVES ON A REMOTE BEACH IN NORTHERN
NEW ZEALAND.
TWENTY-FIVE WERE ALREADY DEAD WHEN OFFICIALS ARRIVED AT SPIRITS
BAY BEACH. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AREA MANAGER JONATHAN MAXWELL
SAYS 49 ARE STILL ALIVE BUT STUCK, AND ANOTHER 50 HAVE BEEN SPOTTED
OFFSHORE.
OFFICIALS ARE ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP REFLOAT THE STRANDED
WHALES. BUT MAXWELL SAYS, IT'LL BE AT LEAST THURSDAY BEFORE THAT
CAN BE DONE AND, IN THE MEANTIME, THE VOLUNTEERS ARE PREPARING TO
STAY AT THE BEACH OVERNIGHT TO HELP KEEP THE WHALES ALIVE.
IT'S THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH THAT A MASS BEACHING HAS
HAPPENED IN THE REGION. IN MID-AUGUST AT NEARBY KARIKARI BEACH, A
POD OF 58 PILOT WHALES STRANDED. DESPITE HUNDREDS OF HELPERS
FIGHTING TO SAVE THEM, JUST NINE WERE EVENTUALLY FLOATED OFF THE
BEACH AND RETURNED TO THE SEA.