TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

BUS STATION DELAYED

UNION STATION ON SOUTH CENTRE STREET IN POTTSVILLE WAS PREDICTED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE CHRISTMAS, BUT SHIPMENT OF MATERIALS AND WEATHER HAVE PUT THE PROJECT BEHIND SCHEDULE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS. THE 18,000-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY WILL HOUSE A BUS STATION, TRAIN STATION, POLICE STATION, VISITORS BUREAU, AND COMMERCIAL SPACE.THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE $17 MILLION PROJECT IS NOW SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE BY MARCH 11.

FIRE LEAVES FAMILY HOMELESS

FOUR PEOPLE ARE NOW HOMELESS AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT WEDNESDAY EVENING AT THEIR HOME IN VALLEY VIEW. THE BLAZE STARTED JUST BEFORE 7PM AT THE HOME OF SARA WEHRY WHO LIVED IN THE SINGLE HOME WITH TWO CHILDREN AND AN UNIDENTIFIED MALE. THE BLAZE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN AN UPSTAIRS ROOM. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND THE RED CROSS IS AIDING THE FAMILY.

COMMISSIONERS ADVERTISE FOR PRE-RELEASE CENTER BIDS

AFTER A UNANIMOUS BID WEDNESDAY, THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SET TO SEEK BIDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PRE-RELEASE CENTER IN RYAN TOWNSHIP. THE COUNTY RECEIVED A LOAN FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND SET ASIDE PRISONERS FINES AND FEES TO MAKE UP OVER $3 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD, THE COMMISSIONS PLAN TO BUDGET WITHIN THE CURRENT FUNDING RANGE THAT WOULD NOT INCLUDE LOCAL TAX DOLLARS, BUT A CAP HAS NOT BEEN SET ON SPENDING. THE FACILITY WILL HOUSE NONVIOLENT CRIMINALS TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING IN THE COUNTY PRISON. BIDDING IS SET TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 2ND.

1 IN 10 PA CHILDREN LIVE WITH JOBLESS PARENT

A NEW REPORT SAYS ONE IN TEN CHILDREN IN PENNSYLVANIA LIVES WITH AN ADULT WHO DOESN’T HAVE A JOB, AND THAT CARRIES WITH IT A HOST OF LIFE-CHANGING ISSUES. TOM JOSEPH REPORTS..

CHILDREN

MAN SUSPECTED OF DUI

A POTTSVILLE MAN FLED THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT HE CAUSED AT THE TURKEY HILL IN NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP. 39-YEAR-OLD JEFFREY TELLEZ STRUCK THE VEHICLE OF 52-YEAR-OLD DOROTHY REICHERT OF MINERSVILLE AS SHE WAS TRYING TO PULL INTO THE MARKET, THEN DROVE OFF. POLICE CAUGHT UP WITH TELLEZ A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE CRASH AND TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY. TELLEZ SHOWED SIGNS OF BEING INTOXICATED. CHARGES TO BE FILED PENDING B.A.C. RESULTS.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY THE BODY OF A YOUNG WOMAN HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA WHERE TWO OTHER WOMEN HAVE BEEN STRANGLED RECENTLY, BUT IT'S MUCH TOO EARLY TO SAY WHETHER THE CASES MIGHT BE CONNECTED. AUTHORITIES SAY THE PARTIALLY NAKED BODY OF A WOMAN WHO APPEARED TO BE IN HER 20S WAS FOUND AT ABOUT 5 P.M. YESTERDAY IN A VACANT LOT IN THE KENSINGTON SECTION OF THE CITY.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS DROPPED ITS PLAN TO FORCE A HOUSTON-BASED DRILLING COMPANY TO PAY NEARLY $12 MILLION TO EXTEND A PUBLIC WATER LINE TO RESIDENTS WHOSE WELLS HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH METHANE GAS. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS SAY CABOT OIL & GAS INSTEAD WILL PAY RESIDENTS A TOTAL OF $4.1 MILLION UNDER A SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN EASTON SAY THEY PLAN TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST TWO NEW JERSEY MEN ACCUSED OF THE 2007 EXECUTION-STYLE SHOOTING DEATHS OF THREE MEN. AUTHORITIES WILL SEEK CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IF OLAYIWOLA HOLLIST AND DEMAR EDWARDS ARE CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. THEY'RE CHARGED IN THE KILLINGS OF CHANEL ARMOUR AND ALEAH HAMLIN.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THREE RETIRED UNION PRINTERS ARE ACCUSING THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE AND ITS PUBLISHING COMPANY OF RENEGING ON A PROMISE OF "NO COST" LIFETIME MEDICAL BENEFITS THE RETIREES GOT FOR ACCEPTING COMPANY BUYOUTS. THE PRINTERS FILED SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT ON BEHALF OF OTHER RETIREES, OR THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSES.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - HOUSE DEMOCRATS EXPECT TO FOLLOW THE SENATE TODAY AND PASS THE TAX CUT EXTENSION, BUT NOT BEFORE SOME TRY TO TINKER WITH ESTATE TAX CHANGES THEY SAY GIVE THE WEALTHY TOO BIG A BREAK. BUT EVEN CRITICS SAY PASSING THE SENATE VERSION UNCHANGED WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE DEBATE HAS BEGUN OVER THE NEW U.S.-RUSSIA NUCLEAR PACT. RATIFICATION OF THE NEW START TREATY, ALONG WITH A TAX DEAL NEARING APPROVAL, WOULD REPRESENT VICTORIES FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ON TOP FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. SOME REPUBLICANS OBJECT TO CONSIDERING THE TREATY IN THE WANING DAYS OF CONGRESS' LAME-DUCK SESSION.

TOKYO (AP) - JAPAN'S CABINET IS GIVING THE OK FOR A CORPORATE TAX CUT OF FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS IN A BID TO STIMULATE A SLUGGISH ECONOMY. THE CORPORATE TAX CUT IS PART OF TAX REFORM PACKAGE THAT STILL REQUIRES PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL. JAPAN'S CORPORATE TAX RATE NOW STANDS AT 40 PERCENT. THE GLOBAL AVERAGE IS 25 PERCENT TO 30 PERCENT.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - THE SOUTH KOREAN ISLAND SHELLED BY A NORTH KOREAN ARTILLERY BARRAGE LAST MONTH WILL SOON BE THE SCENE OF A WEEKEND MILITARY EXERCISE. A MILITARY OFFICIAL SAYS THERE WILL BE A DAY OF LIVE-FIRE DRILLS FROM THE ISLAND NEAR THE TENSE KOREAN SEA BORDER SOME TIME BETWEEN SATURDAY AND TUESDAY. LAST MONTH NORTH KOREA RESPONDED TO SIMILAR DRILLS WITH A RAIN OF SHELLS THAT KILLED FOUR PEOPLE.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AN AFGHAN MILITARY OFFICIAL SAYS THERE'S BEEN A FRIENDLY FIRE INCIDENT IN THE COUNTRY'S SOUTH. THE OFFICIAL SAYS A NATO AIRSTRIKE KILLED FOUR AFGHAN SOLDIERS ON PATROL AFTER THEY WERE MISTAKEN FOR MILITANTS.