TODAY'S NEWS:WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2010

9:00AM TRAFFIC UPDATE

A DISABLED TRACTOR-TRAILER IN THE INTERSECTION OF W MARKET STREET & THE GORDON NAGLE TRAIL IS DISRUPTING THE TRAFFIC FLOW. ONE LANE IS OPEN, BUT THE TRAFFIC IS SLOW MOVING CROSSING W MARKET STREET.

LEGISLATORS WON’T TAKE PAY RAISES

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WILL RECEIVE AN AUTOMATIC 1.7 PERCENT PAY RAISE TODAY. REPRESENTATIVES NEAL GOODMAN, JERRY KNOWLES, REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT MIKE TOBASH AND SENATOR DAVE ARGALL BELIEVE THEY NEED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR PAY RAISES WHILE MANY AMERICANS STILL STRUGGLE. THE STATE OFFICIALS WILL RECEIVE THE RAISES IN THEIR CHECKS, BUT PLAN TO RETURN THE INCREASE TO THE TREASURY OR DONATE IT TO CHARITY. GOV.-ELECT TOM CORBETT ALSO SAYS HE'LL FORGO A PORTION OF THE NEW SALARY HE'LL RECEIVE, WHILE STATE AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER IS CALLING FOR A MORATORIUM ON STATE OFFICIALS' AUTOMATIC PAY RAISES. CORBETT AND WAGNER SPOKE TUESDAY, HOURS BEFORE THE 1.7 PERCENT COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES WENT INTO EFFECT FOR STATE LEGISLATORS. HUNDREDS OF TOP EXECUTIVE-BRANCH OFFICIALS AND JUDGES WILL GET THEIR INCREASES ON JAN. 1. SOME LEGISLATORS SAY THEY'LL GIVE THE MONEY TO CHARITY OR BACK TO THE TREASURY.


QUINTO LOTTERY PRIZE STILL AVAILABLE FOR CLAIM

NEARLY A YEAR HAS PASSED AND STILL NO CLAIM ON THE $50,000 PRIZE FROM THE QUINTO LOTTERY GAME ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2009. WINNERS HAVE ONE YEAR TO CLAIM THEIR PRIZE BEFORE IT EXPIRES AND REMAINS IN THE LOTTERY FUND WHERE IT CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS BENEFITING OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, JEAN KOSTICK,THE OWNER OF THE STAND WHERE THE TICKET WAS PURCHASED, DOES NOT THINK ANYONE WILL CLAIM IT BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO PURCHASED IT MOST LIKELY PASSED AWAY. THE PENNSYLVANIA LOTTERY ENCOURAGES THE WINNER TO CLAIM THEIR PRIZE, IN THE UPCOMING DAYS BEFORE EXPIRATION, IN ONE OF THEIR SEVEN AREA OFFICES.

TRACTOR TRAILER COLLISION

THE RIGHT LANE OF I-78 WAS SHUT DOWN FOR NEARLY 10 HOURS TUESDAY EVENING AFTER A TRACTOR TRAILER TRAVELED OVER A GUARDRAIL AND DOWN A 30 FOOT EMBANKMENT. THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A STOP ON IT'S SIDE. THANKFULLY THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED, BUT 30-YEAR-OLD CARLOS GONZALES OF MEMPHIS TENNESSEE WILL BE CITED FOR CARELESS DRIVING, ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, AND ACCIDENTS INVOLVING OVERTURNED VEHICLES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS WEIGHING WHETHER A MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING 13 PEOPLE IS COMPETENT TO FACE EXECUTION. THE CITIZENS' VOICE OF WILKES-BARRE SAYS AN ATTORNEY FOR 68-YEAR-OLD MASS MURDERER GEORGE BANKS TOLD THE HIGH COURT THAT THE DEFENDANT IS COMPLETELY PSYCHOTIC. PROSECUTORS WANT THE HIGH COURT TO OVERTURN A LOWER COURT DECISION THAT BANKS IS UNFIT FOR EXECUTION.

YORK, PA. (AP) - A PREGNANT CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN CONVICTED IN THE DEATH OF A POLICE OFFICER WILL BEGIN HER PRISON SENTENCE A MONTH AFTER SHE GIVES BIRTH. A JUDGE HAS RULED THAT JOANNA SEIBERT WILL SERVE ONE-TO-FIVE YEARS FOR VEHICULAR HOMICIDE AND EVIDENCE TAMPERING IN THE 2008 DEATH OF NORTHERN YORK REGIONAL POLICE OFFICER DAVID TOME.

QUAKERTOWN, PA. (AP) - THE DEATH OF A PENNSYLVANIA HUNTER FOUND SHOT TO DEATH ON THE FIRST DAY OF DEER SEASON HAS BEEN RULED A HOMICIDE. THE BUCKS COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE SAYS 52-YEAR-OLD BARRY GROH DIED OF A SINGLE GUN SHOT WOUND MONDAY WHILE HUNTING OUTSIDE QUAKERTOWN. WPVI-TV REPORTS AN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY NEAR PHILADELPHIA HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR FOR CONDUCTING UNAUTHORIZED TESTS OF ITS BONE CEMENT ON SPINAL SURGERY PATIENTS. SYNTHES UNCORPORATED AND ITS NORIAN SUBSIDIARY TESTED THE CEMENT FROM 2002 TO 2004 ON 200 PATIENTS, THREE OF WHOM DIED ON THE OPERATING TABLE. THE WEST CHESTER-BASED COMPANIES WILL PAY $23 MILLION IN FINES.

WASHINGTON (AP) - IT'S LIKELY TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND MEMBERS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S DEFICIT COMMISSION AS THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFICIALLY MADE PUBLIC TODAY. TOUGH SLEDDING IS LIKELY FOR SOME POLITICALLY EXPLOSIVE BUDGET CUTS, INCLUDING PROPOSALS TO LOWER SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, IN A REVISED PLAN TO WRESTLE THE NATIONAL DEBT UNDER CONTROL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW REPORT ISN'T VERY ENCOURAGING FOR STATE LEGISLATURES AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT SAYS THEY MAY HAVE TO MAKE EVEN MORE SPENDING CUTS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE OF DWINDLING HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND A SLOW RECOVERY IN TAX REVENUE. THE REPORT COMES FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BUDGET OFFICERS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - DEMOCRATS WILL BE USING THEIR LAST WEEKS IN CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS TO STROKE IMPORTANT VOTING BLOCS: HISPANICS, GAY-RIGHTS GROUPS AND LIBERAL ACTIVISTS. IT'S UNLIKELY THEY'LL MUSTER ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PASS BILLS GRANTING LEGAL STATUS TO YOUNG ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO JOIN THE MILITARY OR ATTEND COLLEGE, OR LIFT A BAN ON OPENLY GAY SOLDIERS. BUT TRYING SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE CORE VOTERS DEMOCRATS NEED IN 2012 TO RECAPTURE THE MAJORITY.

MARINETTE, WIS. (AP) - A WISCONSIN HIGH SCHOOL REOPENS TODAY, TWO DAYS AFTER AN ARMED STUDENT HELD HIS SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS HOSTAGE FOR SIX HOURS. THE TWO DOZEN STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHER ESCAPED UNHARMED AFTER THE 15-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE SHOT HIMSELF. HE DIED A DAY LATER.

FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO. (AP) - THE U.S. ARMY UNVEILS A REVAMPED APPROACH TO BASIC TRAINING TODAY AT FORT LEONARD WOOD IN MISSOURI. INSTEAD OF FIVE-MILE RUNS AND BAYONET DRILLS, NEW RECRUITS WILL WORK ON CORE STRENGTH, INJURY PREVENTION AND HEALTHY EATING. IN THE MESS HALLS, MILK AND JUICE DISPENSERS WILL REPLACE SODA FOUNTAINS AND WHOLE GRAINS WILL BE SUBSTITUTED FOR WHITE BREAD AND PASTA.