TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010

TRIAL UPDATE

THE JURY SUBMITTED TWO QUESTIONS AT 3:30PM. THE FIRST RELATING TO DONCHAK'S CONSPIRACY CHARGE ASKING IF DONCHAK KNEW OF A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. JUDGE CAPUTO RESPONDED WITH INSTRUCTION RELATING TO THE CHARGE AND AN EXPLANATION OF "KNOWING." THE SECOND QUESTION WAS A REQUEST FOR A PORTION OF JUDGE CAPUTO'S RECORDED INSTRUCTION THAT WAS MISSING FROM THE TAPE.

JUDGE CAPUTO INSTRUCTED THE JURY AND SENT THEM TO BEGIN DELIBERATION AT 10:30AM. THE JURY CONSISTS OF SIX MEN AND SIX WOMEN. BOTH ALTERNATES HAVE BEEN EXCUSED.

FEDERAL HATE CRIME TRIAL NEARS VERDICT

THE FEDERAL HATE CRIME TRIAL INVOLVING BRANDON PIEKARSKY AND DERRICK DONCHAK NEARS A VERDICT AS THE JURY IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN DELIBERATION TODAY. THE DEFENSE RESTED SHORTLY BEFORE 10:00AM WEDNESDAY MORNING AFTER CALLING THEIR FINAL WITNESS. OFFICER ROBERT SENAPE, OF WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, TESTIFIED THAT ARIELLE GARCIA NAMED BRIAN SCULLY AS THE KICKER DURING HER STATEMENT. THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE DELIVERED THEIR CLOSING STATEMENTS TO THE JURY LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. JUDGE CAPUTO WILL BEGIN INSTRUCTING THE JURY AFTER 9:00AM THIS MORNING. THEN THE JURY, OF SIX MEN AND SIX WOMEN, WILL BEGIN DELIBERATING.

BOILER EXPLOSION

A BOILER EXPLODED IN THE BASEMENT OF A HOME ON WEDNESDAY JUST AFTER 6:00PM. THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED AT 1180 BUNTING STREET ON ROUTE 209. HENREY AND WINIFRED LEMKE WERE EATING INSIDE THIER HOME WHEN THE EXPLOSION BLEW OFF THE REAR INCLOSED PORCH. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT.

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE

THE POPULAR SHOW "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE" WILL FEATURE A FAMILIAR FACE. FIFTY-THREE YEAR OLD, DANIEL KELLY OF GIRARDVILLE WILL BE ON THE NEWEST SEASON SHOWING OFF HIS TRIVIA SKILLS. THE SHOW WILL AIR TODAY AT 4:30PM ON WNEP-16.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

HAMBURG STATE POLICE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING A DOMESTIC ASSAULT THAT OCCURRED THURSDAY AROUND ONE IN THE MORNING. THIRTY-ONE YEAR OLD, SHANE OXENREIDER OF BERKS COUNTY IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVED ASSAULT, SIMPLE ASSAULT, AND HARASSMENT AFTER ALLEGEDLY PUSHING AND KICKING A TWENTY-NINE YEAR OLD FEMALE. THE VICTIM LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAS SEVERE SWELLING AND BRUISING TO HER HEAD. OXENREIDER'S WHEREABOUTS ARE CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL HAMBURG STATE POLICE AT 610-562-6885.

DUI CHECK POINT

THE FRACKVILLE STATION WILL BE CONDUCTING A DUI CHECK POINT IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DURING THE WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 15-17. MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE PAT TOOMEY SAYS CONGRESS COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE HOUSING MARKET COLLAPSE IF IT HAD HEEDED HIS WARNINGS TO INCREASE REGULATION OF MORTGAGE GIANTS FANNI MAE AND FREDDIE MAC BACK IN 2003. TOOMEY IS CRITICIZING SESTAK FOR VOTING TO BAIL OUT FANNIE AND FREDDIE. THE SESTAK CAMP CALLS TOOMEY'S ATTACKS UNFOUNDED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON IN THE DEATH OF A FATHER OF THREE STRIPPED NAKED ON A STREET CORNER AND SHOT TO DEATH OVER WHAT AUTHORITIES SAID WAS A $500 TO $1,000 DEBT. THE POTTSTOWN MERCURY REPORTS GEORGE WILLIAMS WAS SENTENCED TO THE MANDATORY TERM IMMEDIATELY AFTER A JURY CONVICTED HIM YESTERDAY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND OTHER COUNTS.

BRIDGEVILLE, PA. (AP) - A TEENAGER WHO JUST PASSED HIS DRIVING TEST CRASHED INTO A STATE DRIVER LICENSE CENTER IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AS THE TEEN WAS TRYING TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT OF A DRIVER LICENSE CENTER IN THE PITTSBURGH SUBURB OF BRIDGEVILLE.

GENEVA (AP) - THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES THAT NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES LIKE DENGUE (DEN'-GHEE), RABIES AND LEPROSY AFFECT SOME ONE BILLION PEOPLE. IT SAYS MOST OF THE VICTIMS ARE IN REMOTE RURAL AREAS AND URBAN SLUMS. WHO IS BEGINNING A CAMPAIGN TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM.

HAVANA (AP) - HURRICANE PAULA HAS DIMINISHED TO A CATEGORY 1 LEVEL AS IT NEARS WESTERN CUBA, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE LITTLE MORE THAN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION BY THE TIME IT REACHES HAVANA. BUT IN BETWEEN, IT'S DUMPING A LOT OF RAIN, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE INTENSE IN SOME AREAS. CUBAN OFFICIALS ARE TAKING NO CHANCES.

SAN JOSE MINE, CHILE (AP) - THE 33 MEN PULLED FROM A CHILEAN MINE AFTER 69 DAYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO A NEW REALITY. THEY ARE NOW CELEBRITIES, AND HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PRESIDENTIAL PALACES, OFFERED VACATIONS, AND COURTED FOR TV SHOWS. DOCTORS ARE TRYING TO HELP THEM WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL READJUSTMENT.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AN IED, OR IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, IS BLAMED FOR THE DEATHS OF THREE MORE NATO TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. OFFICIALS SAY IT HAPPENED TODAY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY, BUT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RELEASE THE NATIONALITIES. MEANWHILE, EFFORTS CONTINUE TOWARD TALKS WITH THE TALIBAN.

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) - TOURISTS TRYING TO VISIT THE ACROPOLIS IN ATHENS TODAY FOUND IT BARRICADED BY SOME 100 WORKERS DEMANDING NEARLY TWO YEARS' WORTH OF BACK PAY. THEY PADLOCKED THE ENTRANCE GATES. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR BROKE INTO A SIDE ENTRANCE, AND USED PEPPER SPRAY TO BREAK UP THE PROTESTERS.