TODAY'S NEWS - TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

SCHUYLKILL YMCA UNVEILS AND HONORS AT LUNCHEON

IT WAS AN EXCITING AFTERNOON AT THE SCHUYLKILL YMCA YESTERDAY WHERE THE BRAND NEW DAY LUNCHEON WAS HELD. AN UNVEILING OF THE NEW LOOK, BRAND AND ATTITUDE OF THE YMCA WAS THE FOCUS. PART OF THIS PROJECT IS THE RECENTLY CONVERTED ROOM THAT HOUSES NEW CHILDREN'S FURNITURE, TWO COMPUTERS, MATS, AND A GAME CONSOLE AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS WILL BE THE NEW ‘Y DISCOVERY’ EDUCATION CENTER. THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN REVAMPED TO INCLUDE NEW INSTRUCTORS AND CURRICULUM.

YESTERDAYS EVENT WAS NOT ONLY AN UNVEILING, BUT AND HONORING OF WAYNE PACE, MCDONALDS OWNER, AND RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA FOR THEIR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE Y-DISCOVERY CENTER. PACE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES BY SPONSORING THIS “Y DISCOVERY’ CENTER PROJECT.

THE GRANT TOTALED $10,000 TOWARD THE ‘ Y DISCOVERY’ CENTER AT SCHUYLKILL Y-M-C-A. THE NEWLY RENOVATED PROGRAM WILL OFFER THE YOUTH MEMBERS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY, LEARN AND GROW.


SCHUYLKILL MALL THEATER TO CLOSE AFTER 30 YEARS

THE MOVIE THEATER IN THE SCHUYLKILL MALL IS CLOSING, ENDING IT’S 30 YEAR RUN IN THE FRACKVILLE LOCATION. THE REGAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP TOLD MALL MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES LAST FRIDAY THAT THEY ARE CLOSING NEXT MONTH. THE 4-THEATER COMPLEX OPENED IT’S CURTAINS IN 1980, AND WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE MALL FOR THE LAST 3 DECADES. THE REGAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP’S THEATER SPACE LEASE WAS UP FOR RENEWAL, AND FAMECO MANAGEMENT SERVICES, WHICH OPERATES THE MALL, ENCOURAGED THE RENEWAL TO THE COMPANY. THEY ARE ALSO STILL UNCLEAR AS TO WHY THE THEATER DECIDED TO PULL OUT, SPECULATING THERE MAY BE SEVERAL REASONS WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE. THE REGAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP OPERATES A 10-THEATER MODERN MULTI-PLEX IN WEST HAZELTON, AS WELL AS HAS THEATERS IN HARRISBURG.


CHINESE COME TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TO LEARN ABOUT MINE SAFETY

TWENTY-TWO PEOPLE FROM CHINA’S GOVERNMENT AND COMPANIES THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY DEAL WITH THE MINING INDUSTRY VISITED ANTHRACITE UNDERGROUND RESCUE INC IN TREMONT YESTERDAY TO LEARN ABOUT MINE SAFETY. CHINA IS THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF COAL IN THE WORLD, CAME TO THE UNITED STATES TO LEARN ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE IN MINE RESCUE, RESCUE TRAINING AND THE WAY TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THEIR MINES. THEY DISCUSSED THE TYPE OF MINING DONE IN THE AREA AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANTHRACITE AND BITUMINOUS COAL MINING PRACTICES. THE CHINESE ASKED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT MINE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING PROFITABILITY AND THE PERCENT OF MINE INCOME PUT INTO SAFETY MEASURES. THEY ESPECIALLY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE MEN THAT WORK IN THE MINES, THE TRAINING OF MINE RESCUE WORKERS, HOW THE TREMONT MINE TRAINS ITS EMPLOYEES AND THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT USED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MINE DISASTERS IN OUR AREA FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS; HOWEVER IN ONE OF CHINA’S MOST DANGEROUS INDUSTRIES, DISASTERS ARE NOT ALL THAT UNCOMMON.


STATE NEWS

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PLANS TO TELL THE
NATION'S STUDENTS THAT NOTHING IS BEYOND THEIR REACH IF THEY'RE
WILLING TO WORK HARD AND FOCUS ON EDUCATION. THAT'S THE MESSAGE
OBAMA WILL DELIVER TODAY IN A BACK-TO-SCHOOL ADDRESS AT A
PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS
RECEIVED THE 2010 LIBERTY MEDAL FOR HIS GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORK
AND COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION. BLAIR WAS
GIVEN THE MEDAL BY FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AT THE NATIONAL
CONSTITUTION CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE FINANCIALLY TROUBLED CITY OF
HARRISBURG IS BEING SUED OVER A MASSIVE DEBT THAT THREATENS TO DRAG
IT INTO BANKRUPTCY. THE HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS REPORTS THE TWO
LAWSUITS WERE FILED YESTERDAY IN AN EFFORT TO FORCE THE CITY TO
MAKE PAYMENTS ON DEBT TIED TO THE PROBLEM-PLAGUED RENOVATION OF ITS
TRASH INCINERATOR.

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA HAS ITS SECOND CASE OF WEST
NILE VIRUS FOR THE YEAR. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
SAYS A 30-YEAR-OLD BRIDGEPORT MAN WAS FOUND TO BE INFECTED WITH THE
VIRUS. LAST MONTH, OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT A 69-YEAR-OLD
PHILADELPHIA MAN HAD BEEN FOUND TO HAVE THE VIRUS.


NATIONAL NEWS

OBAMA-BACK TO SCHOOL
OBAMA: STUDENTS SHOULD WORK HARD, FOCUS ON SCHOOL

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS TAKING TO THE
NATION'S AIRWAVES ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR AN ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S
SCHOOLCHILDREN IN WHICH HE WILL TELL THEM NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE AS
LONG AS THEY DREAM BIG, WORK HARD AND FOCUS ON LEARNING.
OBAMA WILL MAKE THAT POINT TUESDAY AT A PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL WHEN
HE DELIVERS HIS SECOND BACK-TO-SCHOOL PEP TALK.
THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED THE TEXT A DAY EARLY SO PEOPLE COULD
READ THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS BEFOREHAND AND JUDGE THE CONTENTS FOR
THEMSELVES. SCHOOLS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO AIR THE SPEECH.
BEFORE LAST YEAR'S ADDRESS, SOME CONSERVATIVES ACCUSED OBAMA OF
TRYING TO FOIST HIS POLITICAL AGENDA ON CHILDREN. BUT THAT TYPE OF
OUTCRY HAS LARGELY BEEN MISSING THIS YEAR.

HEALTH OVERHAUL-LAWSUIT
FLA. JUDGE TO HEAR LEGAL ARGUMENTS IN HEALTH PLAN SUIT

PENSACOLA, FLA. (AP) - THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HOPES A FEDERAL
JUDGE IN FLORIDA WILL TOSS A LAWSUIT BY THAT STATE AND 19 OTHERS
CLAIMING THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE ROGER VINSON WILL HOLD A HEARING IN THE CASE
TUESDAY MORNING IN PENSACOLA.
THE STATES AND THE GOVERNMENT DISAGREE OVER SECTIONS OF THE LAW
THAT WILL REQUIRE PEOPLE TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR FACE TAX
PENALTIES. THEY ALSO DISAGREE OVER WHETHER STATES SHOULD PAY
ADDITIONAL MEDICAID COSTS NOT COVERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE LAWSUIT IS LIKELY TO WIND UP BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.
FLORIDA'S REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL MCCOLLUM FILED THE
LAWSUIT JUST MINUTES AFTER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SIGNED THE HEALTH
CARE BILL INTO LAW.

AP-CNBC POLL-INVESTORS
AMERICANS NOT SURE STOCK MARKET IS A FAIR PLACE TO PUT THEIR
MONEY

WASHINGTON (AP) - AMERICANS USED TO SEE WALL STREET AS A PRETTY
SAFE PLACE TO INVEST FOR THEIR RETIREMENT.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE NO LONGER SEE IT THAT WAY, WHICH COULD
EXPLAIN WHY INVESTORS HAVE BEEN MOVING THEIR MONEY AWAY FROM STOCKS
AND INTO BONDS.
ABOUT THREE OUT OF FIVE PEOPLE SURVEYED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AND CNBC SAY THE MARKET'S RECENT SWINGS HAVE MADE THEM LESS
CONFIDENT ABOUT BUYING AND SELLING INDIVIDUAL STOCKS. AND 55
PERCENT SAY THE MARKET IS FAIR ONLY TO SOME INVESTORS.
ONE RETIRED COUPLE IN UTAH SAY THEY SHIFTED MOST OF THEIR
PORTFOLIO INTO BONDS AFTER THE MARKET NOSE-DIVED TWO YEARS AGO.
LOUISE POLLARD SAYS IT'S JUST A "GUT FEELING," BUT SHE DOESN'T
HAVE "ANY CONFIDENCE IN THE STOCK MARKET."
OTHERS ARE MAKING SIMILAR MOVES. THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
INSTITUTE SAYS OVER THE PAST TWO AND A-HALF YEARS, INVESTORS PULLED
A NET $244 BILLION OUT OF STOCK MUTUAL FUNDS, WHILE PUTTING MORE
THAN TWICE THAT AMOUNT INTO BOND FUNDS.

TAX CUTS
REPUBLICANS NOW SAID TO BE UNITED AGAINST MIDDLE-CLASS-ONLY TAX
BREAK

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S PLAN TO RAISE TAXES
ON THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS WHILE PRESERVING THE TAX CUTS FOR
EVERYONE ELSE APPEARS TO BE IN TROUBLE. SENATE GOP LEADERS SAY
REPUBLICANS ARE UNITED AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXTEND TAX
RELIEF ONLY FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS. OVER THE WEEKEND, HOUSE GOP
LEADER JOHN BOEHNER (BAY'-NUR) HAD SAID HE MIGHT SUPPORT OBAMA'S
PLAN IF IT ENDS UP AS THE ONLY OPTION.

PIPELINE EXPLOSION
EXPERTS SAY AGING PIPELINES ARE IN PLACE BELOW POPULATED AREAS

SAN BRUNO, CALIF. (AP) - LAST WEEK'S EXPLOSION OF A GAS PIPELINE
IN A SAN FRANCISCO SUBURB HAS SHED LIGHT ON A SITUATION THAT
EXPERTS SAY EXISTS IN MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE SECTION OF PIPELINE THAT RUPTURED IN SAN BRUNO WAS BUILT IN
1956 -- WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTAINED JUST A HANDFUL OF HOMES.
SINCE THEN, AN EXPANDED COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BUILT ABOVE THAT
PIPELINE.
THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD,
CHRISTOPHER HART, SAYS IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE
ADDRESSED ELSEWHERE -- AGING PIPELINES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE
SINCE BEFORE DENSE POPULATIONS ARRIVED. HE'S HOPING OTHER STATES
WILL SEE THE SAN BRUNO TRAGEDY AS A WAKE-UP CALL.
ALTHOUGH UTILITIES HAVE BEEN UNDER PRESSURE TO INSPECT AND
REPLACE AGING GAS PIPES, CRITICS SAY THE GOVERNMENT HAS LARGELY
LEFT IT TO THE COMPANIES TO DO THE INSPECTIONS -- AND THE COMPANIES
AREN'T WILLING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX AND REPLACE THE PIPELINES.

COLORADO WILDFIRES
CHARGES MAY BE FILED IN COLO. WILDFIRES

BOULDER, COLO. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL
FILE CHARGES IN EITHER OF THE TWO WILDFIRES IN COLORADO.
THE ONE NEAR BOULDER, WHICH DESTROYED MORE THAN 160 HOMES, IS
NOW CONTAINED. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE IT WAS SPARKED BY A FIRE THAT
A RESIDENT HAD SET DAYS EARLIER IN A FIRE PIT. A DENVER TV STATION
(KUSA) SAYS THE RESIDENT IS A LONGTIME VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.
A FIRE NEAR LOVELAND, WHICH HAS DESTROYED TWO HOMES, WAS STARTED
BY A RESIDENT BURNING A BRUSH PILE.
THE BOULDER FIRE, WHICH STARTED ON LABOR DAY, DROVE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES WHEN IT SWEPT THROUGH CANYONS AND UP STEEP
MOUNTAINSIDES. AT LEAST 2,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CLEARED TO RETURN.
THE ONE NEAR LOVELAND IS NOW 20 TO 25 PERCENT CONTAINED.

TROPICAL WEATHER
JULIA NOW A HURRICANE

MIAMI (AP) - HURRICANE JULIA HAS FORMED FAR OUT OVER THE
ATLANTIC, BECOMING THE FIFTH HURRICANE OF THE SEASON.
JULIA HAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS TUESDAY NEAR 75 MPH (120 KPH)
WITH SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR
SO.
THE HURRICANE IS LOCATED ABOUT 330 MILES (535 KILOMETERS) WEST
OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS AND IS MOVING WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH
(19 KPH).
MEANWHILE, POWERFUL HURRICANE IGOR IS MOVING WEST-NORTHWEST IN
THE ATLANTIC ON A TRACK THAT COULD TAKE THE CATEGORY 4 STORM TOWARD
BERMUDA.
THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI SAYS SWELLS FROM IGOR
WILL BEGIN AFFECTING THE LEEWARD ISLANDS ON TUESDAY AND REACH INTO
PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

CLINTON-MIDEAST
CLINTON IN EGYPT FOR NEW ROUND OF MIDEAST TALKS

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT (AP) - THE SECOND ROUND OF THE LATEST
MIDEAST PEACE EFFORT GETS UNDER WAY TODAY IN EGYPT, WHERE ISRAELI
PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD
ABBAS ARE SET TO MEET.
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS THERE AS WELL. SHE
SAYS THE U.S. WANTS ISRAEL TO EXTEND A MORATORIUM ON NEW SETTLEMENT
CONSTRUCTION IN THE WEST BANK, BUT THAT BOTH SIDES NEED TO TRY TO
FIND A WAY AROUND THE PROBLEM.
CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS FLYING WITH HER FROM WASHINGTON THAT SHE
BELIEVES "THE TIME IS RIPE" FOR ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS TO
MAKE A PERMANENT PEACE.

IRAN-NUCLEAR
IRAN: IAEA IN ERROR OVER TEHRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - IRAN'S NUCLEAR CHIEF HAS CALLED REMARKS BY
THE HEAD OF THE U.N.'S ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY A DANGEROUS MISTAKE.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE NEWS AGENCY TUESDAY, ALI AKBAR SALEHI
SAID "IF MR. AMANO HAS EXPRESSED THE REMARKS KNOWINGLY, HE HAS
COMMITTED A BIG MISTAKE."
SALEHI SAID THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT MEANT THE
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY WAS RESPONDING TO EXTERNAL
PRESSURE.
AMANO SAID SUNDAY THE AGENCY CANNOT CONFIRM THAT ALL OF IRAN'S
ATOMIC ACTIVITIES ARE PEACEFUL BECAUSE OF TEHRAN'S SELECTIVE
COOPERATION WITH NUCLEAR INSPECTORS CHIDING IRAN FOR BARRING SOME
OF THOSE INSPECTORS.
SALEHI REITERATED THAT IRAN HAS RIGHT TO CHOOSE INSPECTORS.
THE WEST SUSPECTS IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS COVERTLY PRODUCING
WEAPONS, A CHARGE TEHRAN DENIES.

PRIMARY RDP
SEVEN STATES HOLDING PRIMARIES AS SEASON WRAPS UP

WASHINGTON (AP) - IT'S BEEN A FAMILIAR SCENE IN PRIMARY CONTESTS
THIS YEAR, AND IT PLAYS OUT AGAIN TODAY AS THE PRIMARY SEASON COMES
TO AN END WITH VOTING IN SEVEN STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
IN STATE AFTER STATE, CANDIDATES BACKED BY THE REPUBLICAN
ESTABLISHMENT HAVE BEEN FACING CHALLENGES FROM TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS.
IN DELAWARE TODAY, VETERAN GOP MODERATE MIKE CASTLE IS FACING
CHRISTINE O'DONNELL FOR THE NOMINATION FOR A SENATE SEAT. SHE HAS
THE SUPPORT OF SARAH PALIN AND TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS. NEW HAMPSHIRE
HAS A SIMILAR GOP SENATE CONTEST. IN NEW YORK, THE TEA PARTY
CHALLENGE COMES IN A GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, SEVEN INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS - FOUR
REPUBLICANS AND THREE DEMOCRATS - HAVE BEEN DEFEATED IN PRIMARIES.
CANDIDATES BACKED BY THE PARTY HAVE BEEN DEFEATED IN REPUBLICAN
CONTESTS IN NEVADA, COLORADO, SOUTH CAROLINA, KENTUCKY AND
ELSEWHERE.