TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2010

ILLEGAL GAMBLING INVESTIGATION

AN ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATION IN NORTHEAST, PENNSYLVANIA IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE SCHUYLKILL ICE RING MADE MONEY OFF THIS ILLEGAL OPERATION AND USED THAT MONEY TO BUY AND SELL METHAMPHETAMINE ALSO KNOWN AS "ICE". THE RING LEADER OF THIS OPERATION, MICHAEL STOCKUNAS, ALONG WITH OTHER THE INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED DURING THE INVESTIGATION WERE CHARGED WITH VARIOUS DRUG CHARGES, MONEY LAUNDERING, TAX CRIMES AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES. APPROXIMATELY $400,000 OF ASSETS WERE SEIZED REPRESENTING PROCEEDS FROM ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND THE SALE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. THAT MONEY HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO BUTLER TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, HAZELTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE, THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE WILKES-BARRE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. NINETEEN INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN CHARGED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND TWENTY HAVE BEEN CHARGED AT THE STATE LEVEL. THESE CHARGES HAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT SENTENCES. DISTRICT ATTORNEY GOODMAN SAID THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING TOGETHER AT ALL LEVELS AND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKS TOGETHER WE RECEIVE GREAT RESULTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER.

VICTORY FOR REPUBLICANS

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CLAIMED VICTORY WEDNESDAY IN THE RACE FOR CONTROL OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY WINNING A STRONG MAJORITY OF SEATS IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION. THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN GROUP NOW HOLDS 112 OF 203 SEATS, MAKING IT THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2007 THAT REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE.

FIGHTING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PLANNING TO FORM A COMMISSION- A TEAM OF TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS IN ORDER TO COMBAT DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AMONG ITS STUDENTS. POTTSVILLE AREA ADMINISTRATORS HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO DIANE ROWLAND, PREVENTION SERVICES COORDINATOR FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM ABOUT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION FOR MONTHS. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO LEARN MORE AT THE COMMISSION'S FIRST MEETING TUESDAY AT 7PM AT MARTZ HALL.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA JURY IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TODAY TO CONTINUE DELIBERATIONS IN THE CASE OF RASHEED SCRUGS, WHO'S PLEADED GUILTY TO THE FEBRUARY 2009 SHOOTING OF OFFICER JOHN PAWLOWSKI. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS A JUROR'S ILLNESS FORCED THE SUSPENSION OF A HEARING TO DECIDE IF SCRUGS SHOULD SPEND LIFE IN PRISON OR FACE THE DEATH PENALTY.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HAVE ARRANGED A LOAN TO COVER THE DEBT PAYMENT FOR THE COSTLY INCINERATOR IN HARRISBURG. THE HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS REPORTS DAUPHIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE AUTHORIZED PROCUREMENT OFA TWO YEAR LOAN TO MAKE THE $34.7 MILLION PAYMENT DUE NEXT MONTH.

DOWNINGTOWN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SAY THEY BELIEVE TWO PEOPLE FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN A HOME PERISHED IN A MURDER-SUICIDE. POLICE IN DOWNINGTOWN TELL DAILY LOCAL NEWS THE BODIES OF 22-YEAR-OLD KEVIN SMITH AND 20-YEAR-OLD MARY ELIZABETH RECK WERE FOUND TUESDAY NIGHT.

CLAIRTON, PA. (AP) - POLICE SAY A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO ALLEGEDLY POINTED TWO FAKE GUNS AT A PITTSBURGH-AREA SCHOOL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT BEING LOCKED DOWN AND NOW FACES JUVENILE CHARGES. THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE REPORTS ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE RUSHED TO THE CLAIRTON EDUCATION CENTER YESTERDAY AFTER A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE REPORTED SEEING SOMEONE IN A HOODED SWEAT SHIRT POINTING GUNS AT THE SCHOOL.

SINGAPORE (AP) - A PASSENGER ON THE QANTAS FLIGHT THAT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING TODAY SAYS SHE HEARD TWO BANGS AND SAW FROM HER WINDOW THAT YELLOW FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT. THE AIRBUS A380 JETLINER LANDED SAFELY IN SINGAPORE SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM THE CITY. QANTAS HAS NOW GROUNDED ALL OF ITS A380S UNTIL THE AIRLINE CAN BE SURE THEY'RE SAFE. QANTAS SAYS NO ONE WAS INJURED.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - LIFTOFF FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S FINAL MISSION IS SET FOR THIS AFTERNOON, BUT WEATHER COULD FORCE A DELAY. FORECASTERS WARN THERE'S AN 80 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. DISCOVERY HAS UNTIL SUNDAY TO LAUNCH OR NASA WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER.

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THE MILITARY IS PROPOSING AS MUCH AS $250 MILLION IN AID TO HELP YEMEN'S MILITARY. THE MONEY WOULD GO TOWARD EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING. THE INCREASE IN FUNDING WAS RECOMMENDED WELL BEFORE LAST WEEK'S INTERCEPTED MAIL BOMBINGS, WHICH U.S. OFFICIALS BELIEVE ARE LINKED TO YEMEN'S BRANCH OF AL-QAIDA. MILITARY AID TO YEMEN IN 2010 WAS $155 MILLION.

BANGKOK (AP) - THE DEATH TOLL FROM FLOODING THROUGHOUT THAILAND HAS RISEN TO 120. TWELVE MORE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN SOUTHERN THAILAND WHEN FLOODWATERS SWAMPED THE REGION, INCLUDING BANGKOK, THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST CITY. DISASTER OFFICIALS SAY NEARLY 6 MILLION PEOPLE IN 39 PROVINCES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY TWO WEEKS OF HEAVY FLOODS.

BEIJING (AP) - CHINA IS ASKING EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS TO AVOID THE NOBEL PEACE PRICE CEREMONY FOR IMPRISONED DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST LIU XIAOBO (LEE-OO' SHOW-BOH') AND TO NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF HIM. SEVERAL EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS IN BEIJING SAY THE CHINESE EMBASSY HAS SENT OFFICIAL LETTERS TO A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN EMBASSIES IN OSLO, ASKING THEM NOT TO ATTEND THE DEC. 10 CEREMONY. LIU IS SERVING AN 11-YEAR PRISON TERM FOR CALLING FOR SWEEPING POLITICAL REFORMS. HIS WIFE IS UNDER HOUSE ARREST.