TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

POTTSVILLE MAN IN CRITICAL CONDITION

A POTTSVILLE MAN IS NOW IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER HE WAS FOUND WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD AT ABOUT 2AM ON SUNDAY IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. 27-YEAR-OLD ANDREW MULLINS WAS FOUND BY SCHUYLKILL HAVEN POLICE INSIDE THE RESIDENCE OF 306 SOUTH GARFIELD AVENUE. MULLINS WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE BEFORE BEING TRANSPORTED TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER AND LATER TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL IN ALLENTOWN. MULLINS WAS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION. POLICE TELL US THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT AND ARE UNSURE AT THIS TIME IF THE GUNSHOT WOUND WAS SELF-INFLICTED OR IF FOUL PLAY WAS INVOLVED.

NEW PHILADELPHIA FIRE

THE FATAL FIRE THAT KILLED A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER IN NEW PHILADELPHIA EARLY THURSDAY MORNING IS STILL BEING PIECED TOGETHER BY POLICE, BUT AUTOPSY RESULTS SAY SMOKE INHALATION IS TO BLAME FOR THE DEATHS OF 56-YEAR-OLD MAUREEN WALLACE AND HER DAUGHTER 34-YEAR-OLD MARIETTA WALLACE. THE TWO WOMEN WERE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOME AT 78 WATER STREET FROM THE BLAZE THAT DESTOYED SEVEN HOMES.

OFFICIALS MEET OVER LOANS

CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN AND OTHER OFFICIALS WILL MEET TODAY TO DISCUSS LOANS THAT WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THREE CRANES AT 9:30AM AT NORTHEAST PRESTRESSED PRODUCTS, 121 RIVER STREET IN CRESSONA. HOLDEN WILL BE IN MAHANOY CITY LATER THIS MORNING TO PRESENT A LOAN CHECK TO THE MAHANOY CITY SEWER AUTHORITY.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT PERIOD

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EXTRA ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WILL BE USED DURING THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY. TROOPERS WILL BE WATCHING FOR SPEEDERS, AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS AND INTOXICATED DRIVERS. THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT EFFORT WILL RUN FROM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH THRU SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28TH. MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO GIVE THEMSELVES EXTRA TRAVEL TIME AND WEAR THEIR SEATBELTS.

WAYNESBORO, PA. (AP) - RESIDENTS OF A SLAIN PENNSYLVANIA GAME WARDEN'S HOME TOWN LINED ITS MAIN STREET YESTERDAY TO PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS AS HIS BODY WAS TAKEN FOR BURIAL AFTER A FUNERAL. THE FUNERAL FOR DAVID GROVE AT WAYNESBORO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DREW WELL OVER 1,000 MOURNERS.
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS OF A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN ARE DEFENDING COSTLY ADJACENT LAND PURCHASES, SAYING THEY WERE PART OF A LONGTERM EXPANSION PROGRAM. SOME CRITICS HAVE SAID TRUSTEES OF THE MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL WERE WATEFUL IN SPENDING $24 MILLION TO BUY SOME 238 IN SOUTH HANOVER TOWNSHIP FROM 2003 TO 2007.

BENEZETTE, PA. (AP) - STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS HOPE MASSIVE ELK AND A NEW VISITORS CENTER WILL HELP DRAW TOURISTS TO RURAL NORTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE ELK COUNTRY VISITORS CENTER OPENED THIS FALL IN ELK COUNTY, IN THE MIDDLE OF A DESOLATE REGION THAT HAS LONG STRUGGLED FINANCIALLY.

SARVER, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY TWO MEN HAVE DIED IN A ONE-CAR CRASH. POLICE IN BUTLER COUNTY SAY THE MEN WERE IN A CAR HEADING NORTHEAST ON SILVERVILLE ROAD IN BUFFALO TOWNSHIP FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN IT VEERED OFF THE OFF THE ROAD ANC CRASHED. TWO OTHERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

MOAB, UTAH (AP) - DAWN WILL BRING RENEWED INTENSITY ON DAY THREE OF THE SEARCH FOR A GUNMAN SUSPECTED OF CRITICALLY WOUNDING A UTAH STATE PARK RANGER. THE SEARCH IS GOING ON IN A RUGGED CANYON ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF MOAB. LATE LAST NIGHT, AUTHORITIES IDENTIFIED A PERSON OF INTEREST, WHO OWNS A CAR BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN USED IN THE CRIME.

WASHINGTON (AP) - AIRPORT PASSENGER SCREENING HAS SOME PASSENGERS SCREAMING ABOUT THE INVASIVENESS BUT ANY CHANGES WON'T HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY. THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR AIRPORT SECURITY SAYS, HOWEVER, THAT THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WILL WORK TO MAKE SCREENING METHODS "AS MINIMALLY INVASIVE AS POSSIBLE." JOHN PISTOLE IS FACING PROTESTS FROM TRAVELERS AND PRESSURE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) - JURY DELIBERATIONS COULD BEGIN LATER TODAY IN THE MONEY LAUNDERING TRIAL OF FORMER U.S. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER TOM DELAY. BUT FIRST, LAWYERS WILL DELIVER CLOSING ARGUMENTS PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BOTH EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LEGAL POSITIONS.

UNDATED (AP) - STATE MEDIA SAYS 12 OUT OF 29 MINERS TRAPPED FOR NEARLY A DAY IN A FLOODED CHINESE COAL MINE HAVE BEEN LIFTED TO SAFETY AND THE REST HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED ALIVE. MEANWHILE THE NEWS IN NEW ZEALAND IS LESS OPTIMISTIC. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'RE PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT 29 MINERS MISSING IN A COAL MINE EXPLOSION MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW POLL ON SEX FINDS MOST BABY BOOMERS THINK THEY PRETTY MUCH KNOW IT ALL. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS-LIFEGOESSTRONG.COM POLL FINDS MORE WOMEN THAN MEN ARE CONFIDENT OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE. AMONG PEOPLE AGED 45 TO 65, 59 PERCENT OF WOMEN AND 48 PERCENT OF MEN THINK THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT SEX. FAR MORE MEN THAN WOMEN FEEL THEIR PARTNERS DON'T WANT TO HAVE SEX AS OFTEN AS THEY DO.

UNDATED (AP) - STATE MEDIA SAYS 12 OUT OF 29 MINERS TRAPPED FOR NEARLY A DAY IN A FLOODED CHINESE COAL MINE HAVE BEEN LIFTED TO SAFETY AND THE REST HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED ALIVE. MEANWHILE THE NEWS IN NEW ZEALAND IS LESS OPTIMISTIC. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'RE PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT 29 MINERS MISSING IN A COAL MINE EXPLOSION MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED.