TODAY'S NEWS : SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

DRUG BUST IN POTTSVILLE WORTH $4K

A MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED YESTERDAY FOR ALLEGEDLY POSSESSING $4K WORTH OF NARCOTICS. JOSE A RIVERA JR, 31, WAS ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER COCAINE AND POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER HEROIN AS WELL AS MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES OF POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. HE WAS COMMITTED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON AND WAS UNABLE TO POST BAIL. POLICE SAID THAT ABOUT 11:30PM A DRUG INVESTIGATION OFFICER ENCOUNTERED RIVERA IN A SECLUDED AREA OF A PARKING LOT TO THE REAR OF 512 N CENTER STREET, WHERE HE ADMITTED BEING IN THE AREA TO SELL CRACK COCAINE AS WELL AS HEROIN. THE POTTSVILLE POLICE CHIEF SAID WEDNESDAY THAT THE ARREST IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ONGOING, AGGRESSIVE EFFORT TO CRACK DOWN ON THE SALE OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS IN THE CITY . HE CREDITED THE UNIT’S WORK ALONG WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE AND INFORMATION RECEIVED FORM RESIDENTS ABOUT ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.


JUDGE CONTINUES CASESES OF TWO MEN CHARGED WITH MURDER

A JUDGE CONTINUES THE CASES OF 2 SUSPECTS CHARGED WITH KILLING A SHENANDOAH MAN IN MARCH. FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY KAREN NOON DID NOT OPPOSE EITHER MAN’S REQUEST YESTERDAY TO CONTINUE THE CASE FROM THE SEPTEMBER TERM OF CRIMINAL COURT. THE TRIAL IS SET TO BEGIN TUESDAY AND RUN THROUGH SEPT 17TH. DAMON ENNET, 30 OF FREELAND, AND JAHMAL OLLIVERRE, 19 OF READING, WILL NOT GO ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF BRUCE FORKER UNTIL AT LEAST DECEMBER AS A RESULT OF JUDGE JACQUELINE L. RUSSEL’S CONTINUANCE. THE TWO MEN ARE CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, BURGLARY, THEFT, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, SIMPLE ASSAULT, RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON, AND CONSPIRACY. PROSECUTORS ARE ALSO SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST THE THIRD DEFENDANT, JULIUS ENOE, 32 OF READING, WHO THEY SAY FIRED THE FATAL SHOT EARLIER THIS YEAR. STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE ALLEGE THE TREE MEN KILLED BRUCE FORKER ON MARCH 16TH IN HIS HOME.


MOTORCYCLIST INJURED AT ENTRANCE TO LAKESIDE BALLROOM

A 75 YEAR OLD MAN IS INJURED AFTER CRASHING HIS MOTORCYCLE AT THE ENTRANCE TO LAKESIDE BALLROOM. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 12:40 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ON ROUTE 54 IN BARNESVILLE. CLARENCE NEUIN WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL AND IS CRITICAL CONDITION. NEUIN LOST CONTROL OF HIS 1992 KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE AND TRAVELED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, ROLLED OVER AND CRASHED OFF THE RIGHT BERM OF THE HIGHWAY. HE WAS FOUND A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. ROUTE 54 WAS SHUT DOWN TO ONE LANE FOR A WHILE THE ACCIDENT WAS BEING ASSESSED.


STATE NEWS

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - CONGRESSMAN JOE SESTAK SAYS HE'S REVOKED
A REQUEST HE MADE FOR A TAXPAYER-PAID GRANT THAT RAISED QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHETHER IT COMPLIES WITH HOUSE RULES. SESTAK PULLED THE
REQUEST FOR MONEY TO HELP DEVELOP A WIND ENERGY TURBINE AFTER THE
MORNING CALL REPORTED THAT THE MAN WHO HEADS THE NONPROFIT
APPLICANT ALSO HEADS THE FOR-PROFIT COMPANY THAT WOULD MANUFACTURE
THE TURBINE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - SUPPORTERS OF REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL
CANDIDATE PAT MEEHAN HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR COURT CHALLENGE OVER
SIGNATURES COLLECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN A HOTLY
CONTESTED HOUSE RACE IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA. MEEHAN'S CAMPAIGN
SAYS THE CHALLENGE OVER JIM SCHNELLER'S CANDIDACY IS BEING
WITHDRAWN AFTER A STATE COURT RULED AGAINST THEM ON NEARLY 3,400
SIGNATURES.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS
CHIEF HAS BEEN FIRED FOR FALSELY CLAIMING TO BE A FORMER POLICE
OFFICER. THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW REPORTS THOMAS LEICHT'S
CLAIM CAME AS HE TESTIFIED ABOUT AN FBI KILLING SUSPECT'S RECORDED
JAILHOUSE PHONE CALLS.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - KAITLIN OLSON AND ROB MCELHENNEY
(MAK'-UH-LAY-NEE) OF "IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA" HIT A
HOME RUN WITH THEIR NEW BABY BOY. A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE COUPLE SAYS
OLSON GAVE BIRTH TO ALEX LEE MCELHENNEY AT HOME IN THE LOS ANGELES
AREA WEDNESDAY. OLSON SAYS SHE WENT INTO LABOR AT THE
DODGERS-PHILLIES GAME TUESDAY NIGHT IN L.A., BUT STAYED UNTIL THE
PHILLIES' RYAN HOWARD HIT A HOMER.


NATIONAL NEWS

EARL
UPDATE: EARL'S EFFECTS FELT INTO VIRGINIA

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) - HURRICANE EARL'S POWERFUL GUSTS AND DRIVING
RAINS ARE CHURNING OVER THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND
STARTING TO BE FELT IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEROLOGIST JEREMY SCHULZ SAID EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING THAT RAIN BANDS STRETCHED ABOUT 140 MILES INLAND IN
NORTH CAROLINA AND UP TO THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IN
VIRGINIA.
SUSTAINED WINDS OF ABOUT 30 MPH WERE WHIPPING THE NORTH CAROLINA
COAST. THE U.S. COAST GUARD STATION AT HATTERAS REPORTED A GUST OF
67 MPH JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
ONE PORTION OF N.C. HIGHWAY 12 IN RODANTHE WAS CLOSED BECAUSE OF
OCEAN OVERWASH. LOCAL OFFICIALS HOPED TO HAVE IT CLEAR BY DAYBREAK.
EARL HAD WEAKENED THURSDAY BUT EVEN ITS EDGES WERE PACKING
POWERFUL WINDS AS IT HEADS UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD FRIDAY.

ECONOMY
JOBS REPORT MAY SHOW RISE IN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

WASHINGTON (AP) - ECONOMISTS ARE BRACING FOR A WEAK SHOWING IN
THE AUGUST EMPLOYMENT REPORT, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED
FRIDAY WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR FORECAST TO ADD A NET TOTAL OF ONLY
41,000 JOBS, THE FEWEST SINCE JANUARY.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH POPULATION GROWTH. THE JOBLESS
RATE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 9.6 PERCENT FROM 9.5 PERCENT, THE
FIRST RISE SINCE APRIL.
THE ANEMIC ECONOMY IS CAUSING COMPANIES TO CONSERVE CASH AND
HOLD BACK ON HIRING. WHILE MOST ECONOMISTS EXPECT THE NATION TO
AVOID ANOTHER RECESSION, THEY SAY GROWTH WILL LIKELY BE SO WEAK FOR
THE REST OF THIS YEAR THAT THE JOBLESS RATE COULD MOVE BACK ABOVE
10 PERCENT BY EARLY NEXT YEAR. THAT WOULD RAISE PRESSURE ON THE
FEDERAL RESERVE TO DO MORE TO JUMP START THE ECONOMY.
ECONOMISTS WONDER IF THE ECONOMY CAN KEEP GROWING AFTER
GOVERNMENT STIMULUS PROGRAMS END.

GULF OIL SPILL-BP
BP SAYS COST OF GULF OF MEXICO SPILL HITS $8 BLN

LONDON (AP) - BP SAYS IT HAS SO FAR SPENT $8 BILLION RESPONDING
TO THE DISASTROUS OIL WELL BLOWOUT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
THE COMPANY SAID FRIDAY THAT THE TOTAL INCLUDED $399 MILLION
PAID TO SETTLE 127,000 CLAIMS FROM BUSINESSES AND OTHER AFFECTED BY
THE OIL SPILL.
THE OIL COMPANY SAID MORE THAN 28,000 PEOPLE AND 4,000 VESSELS
ARE STILL ENGAGED IN RESPONDING TO THE SPILL. BP SAYS NO OIL HAS
FLOWED FROM THE WELL SINCE JULY 15.

GULF RIG EXPLOSION
OIL PLATFORM CATCHES FIRE IN GULF; WORKERS OK

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A COMPANY OFFICIAL SAYS THE INCIDENT ABOARD A
MARINER ENERGY OIL PLATFORM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IS CONSIDERED A
FIRE, NOT AN EXPLOSION.
THE COAST GUARD SAYS THERE WAS NO LEAK, AND NO ONE WAS KILLED.
THE COAST GUARD INITIALLY REPORTED THAT AN OIL SHEEN A MILE LONG
AND 100 FEET WIDE HAD BEGUN TO SPREAD FROM THE SITE, ABOUT 200
MILES WEST OF THE SOURCE OF BP'S MASSIVE SPILL. BUT HOURS LATER,
THE COAST GUARD SAID CREWS WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY SPILL.
HOUSTON-BASED MARINER ENERGY SAYS THE CAUSE IS STILL
UNDETERMINED. WORKERS WHO WERE PULLED FROM THE WATER TOLD RESCUERS
THAT THERE WAS A BLAST ON BOARD, BUT MARINER ENERGY'S PATRICK
CASSIDY SAYS ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE PLATFORM IS BURNED AND
IT'S STILL INTACT.
MARINER SAYS SEVEN ACTIVE PRODUCTION WELLS ON THE PLATFORM HAD
BEEN SHUT DOWN SHORTLY BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT.

GATES-AFGHANISTAN
GATES VISITS US FORCES IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES
IS IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN GETTING A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT OPERATIONS
IN AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THE TALIBAN HAS THE MOST INFLUENCE.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN GEOFF MORRELL SAID FRIDAY THAT GATES WANTED
TO GET A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT KANDAHAR WHERE U.S. AND NATO FORCES ARE
RAMPING UP SECURITY IN AN EFFORT TO ROUT INSURGENTS FROM THEIR
STRONGHOLDS AND BOLSTER GOVERNANCE.
ON THURSDAY, GATES MET WITH AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI AND
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, THE TOP COMMANDER OF U.S. AND NATO TROOPS IN
AFGHANISTAN. PETRAEUS SAYS THAT AS JOINT FORCES PUSH INTO
TALIBAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY, THE INSURGENTS ARE FIGHTING BACK AND
WAGING A FEAR AND INTIMIDATION CAMPAIGN TO KEEP LOCAL AFGHANS FROM
SIDING WITH INTERNATIONAL FORCES AND THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT.

BONE DRUGS-THROAT CANCER
BONE DRUGS MAY RAISE RISK OF THROAT CANCER

LONDON (AP) - A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE WHO TAKE
BONE-STRENGTHENING DRUGS FOR SEVERAL YEARS MAY HAVE A SLIGHTLY
HIGHER RISK OF THROAT CANCER.
THE FINDINGS CONTRADICT ANOTHER RECENT STUDY THAT USED THE SAME
DATABASE OF 80,000 PATIENTS. IT CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO LINK
BETWEEN DRUGS TO PREVENT OR TREAT OSTEOPOROSIS AND CANCER OF THE
ESOPHAGUS. THAT STUDY WAS PUBLISHED LAST MONTH IN THE JOURNAL OF
THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
IN THE NEW STUDY, BRITISH RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT NEARLY 3,000
PEOPLE WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER AND MATCHED EACH ONE TO FIVE SIMILAR
PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE DISEASE. NINETY OF THE CANCER PATIENTS
AND 345 PEOPLE IN THE COMPARISON GROUP HAD BEEN TAKING DRUGS SUCH
AS FOSAMAX (FAH'-ZUH-MAX), ACTONEL (AK'-TUH-NEHL), BONIVA
(BOH-NEE'-VUH) AND OTHER BRANDS.
NORMALLY, THE RISK OF DEVELOPING THROAT CANCER IN PEOPLE 60 TO
79 YEARS OLD IS 1 IN 1,000. RESEARCHERS SAY AFTER USING THE DRUGS
FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS, THE RISK IS 2 IN 1,000.
THE STUDY IS IN FRIDAY'S ISSUE OF THE MEDICAL JOURNAL, BMJ.

INDONESIA-VOLCANO ERUPTS
NEW: INDONESIAN VOLCANO SPEWS NEW BURST OF ASH

TANAH KARO, INDONESIA (AP) - AN INDONESIAN VOLCANO IS SHOWING NO
SIGNS OF QUIETING DOWN AFTER AWAKENING FROM 400 YEARS OF SILENCE.
THE VOLCANO TODAY SHOT A NEW, POWERFUL BURST OF HOT ASH MORE
THAN 10,000 FEET IN THE AIR TODAY, SENDING FRIGHTENED RESIDENTS
FLEEING TO SAFETY FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK.
THE TREMOR FROM THE ERUPTION - THE STRONGEST SO FAR - COULD BE
FELT FIVE MILES AWAY.
THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT SINABUNG ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY - WHICH
CAUGHT MANY SCIENTISTS OFF GUARD - FORCED 30,000 PEOPLE LIVING
ALONG ITS FERTILE SLOPES IN NORTH SUMATRA PROVINCE TO EVACUATE TO
CRAMPED EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
MANY STARTED RETURNING TO THEIR MOUNTAINSIDE HOMES AS ACTIVITY
STARTED TO WANE, SAYING THEY WANTED TO TEND TO THEIR VEGETABLE
FARMS AND RICE FIELDS AND TO REOPEN SMALL BUSINESSES.
A NEW ALERT WAS ISSUED SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE TODAY'S BLAST.

KIDNAPPED GIRL-SETTLEMENT
COURTS COULD GET CLAIM IN JAYCEE DUGARD KIDNAPPING

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (AP) - THE BOARD THAT CONSIDERS COMPENSATION
FOR CALIFORNIA CRIME VICTIMS IS BEING ADVISED TO REJECT A CLAIM BY
THE MOTHER OF JAYCEE DUGARD, WHO AUTHORITIES SAY WAS HELD CAPTIVE
FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES BY A PAROLED RAPIST.
LYNN MARGHERITA, SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE VICTIM COMPENSATION AND
GOVERNMENT CLAIMS BOARD, SAID THURSDAY THE BOARD'S STAFF IS
RECOMMENDING THE CLAIM BY TERRY PROBYN BE HANDLED BY THE COURTS.
PROBYN'S CLAIM WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STATE'S $20 MILLION
SETTLEMENT WITH DUGARD AND THE TWO DAUGHTERS SHE BORE TO HER
ALLEGED KIDNAPPER.
THEY CLAIMED PAROLE AGENTS SUPERVISING PHILLIP GARRIDO SHOULD
HAVE DISCOVERED THEM.
PROBYN SAYS SHE SUFFERED PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL INJURY FROM
HER DAUGHTER'S KIDNAPPING.
HER LAWYER, DALE KINSELLA, COULD NOT BE REACHED.
THE BOARD WILL MEET SEPT. 16.

KOREAS-US MILITARY DRILLS
US, SKOREA TO HOLD FURTHER NAVAL DRILLS

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - ANOTHER SHOW OF FORCE AGAINST NORTH
KOREA BEGINS THIS WEEKEND AS SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES HOLD
JOINT ANTI-SUBMARINE EXERCISES.
THE EXERCISES WILL BE THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF JOINT MANEUVERS
THE ALLIES PLANNED TO CONDUCT IN RESPONSE TO THE DEADLY SINKING OF
A SOUTH KOREAN WARSHIP IN MARCH THAT THEY BLAME ON THE NORTH. THE
TWO SIDES STAGED LARGE-SCALE JOINT NAVAL DRILLS IN JULY FOLLOWED BY
SOUTH KOREA'S OWN NAVAL DRILLS LAST MONTH.
MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE DRILLS, SET TO RUN FROM SUNDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY OFF THE KOREAN PENINSULA'S WEST COAST, WILL
INVOLVE ABOUT 17,000 U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN TROOPS, AIRCRAFT, SEVEN
SHIPS AND TWO SUBMARINES.
NORTH KOREA, WHICH DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE SINKING, HAS
THREATENED TO RETALIATE AGAINST SOUTH KOREA AND THE U.S. OVER THE
DRILLS, WHICH PYONGYANG SEES AS A REHEARSAL FOR AN INVASION.

JAPAN-IRAN-UN
JAPAN APPROVES ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

TOKYO (AP) - IRAN IS FACING FRESH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS OVER ITS
CONTROVERSIAL NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.
JAPAN HAS IMPOSED NEW RESTRICTIONS AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNITED
NATIONS.
THE MEASURES INCLUDE AN ASSET FREEZE ON 88 ENTITIES, 15 BANKS
AND 24 INDIVIDUALS. AN OFFICIALS SAYS THE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO
BARRED FROM ENTERING JAPAN.
THE UNITED NATIONS APPROVED A FOURTH ROUND OF SANCTIONS AGAINST
IRAN IN EARLY JUNE. THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPEAN UNION RECENTLY
IMPOSED SEPARATE PENALTIES AGAINST IRAN. IRAN DENIES ITS NUCLEAR
PROGRAM IS MILITARISTIC IN NATURE AND SAYS IT HAS A RIGHT TO
CONDUCT URANIUM ENRICHMENT FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES.
JAPAN'S MEASURES STOPPED SHORT OF CURTAILING TOKYO'S CRUDE OIL
IMPORTS FROM IRAN. IRAN IS THE THIRD-BIGGEST CRUDE OIL SUPPLIER TO
JAPAN.