TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011

JURY SELECTION IN THE TRIAL OF THREE FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF IMPEDING THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF A MEXICAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN 2008 WILL CONTINUE TODAY, BUT ON A DELAYED START. FEDERAL JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO HAS DECIDED TO RESUME JURY SELECTION AT 1PM TODAY. THIRTY MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE JURY POOL SO FAR, AND FIVE MORE ARE EXPECTED TO BE PUT IN TODAY BEFORE LAWYERS BEGIN THEIR PRE-EMPTORY CHALLENGES. FOLLOW THE PROCEEDINGS ONLINE ON OUR NEWS WEBSITE.

FUNDING FOR MAHANOY CITY DOWNTOWN

A NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMUNITY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM PENN DOT TO REVITALIZE ITS DOWNTOWN AND IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. STATE SENATOR DAVE ARGALL AND REPRESENTATIVE NEAL GOODMAN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TUESDAY:

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THE FUNDING IS PART OF THE SMART TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS PROGRAM, WHICH CHANNELS FEDERAL MONIES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. BOROUGH OFFICIALS SAY DESIGN OF THE PROJECT IS ALMOST COMPLETED. ARGALL AND GOODMAN SAY COMPETITION FOR THE GRANT MONEY WAS BRISK, AND THE BENEFITS LONG-LASTING:

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WOMAN HIT BY CAR

A MAHANOY CITY WOMAN DIED AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR TUESDAY. 79-YEAR-OLD ELEANOR CLOVER WAS HIT AT MAIN AND CENTRE STREETS WHILE SHE WAS CROSSING. POLICE REPORT 82-YEAR-OLD FRANK SOUCHACK, ALSO OF MAHANOY CITY, WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN HE HIT CLOVER. JUST FEET AWAY, BOROUGH AND STATE OFFICIALS ALONG WITH VOLUNTEERS WERE MEETING TO ANNOUNCE THE RECEIPT OF $1.02 MILLION IN PENNDOT FUNDING TO BE USED FOR THE THIRD PHASE OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROJECTS. CLOVER WAS FLOWN TO GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER IN DANVILLE WITH SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA. THE HOSPITAL CONFIRMED HER DEATH THIS MORNING.

MCADOO MAN WANTS PFA REVOKED

A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER WAS FILED AGAINST A MCADOO MAN LAST YEAR FOR ALLEGEDLY STALKING SARAH PALIN AND HE WANTS IT GONE. 18-YEAR-OLD SHAWN CHRISTY FILED A SECOND MOTION TO HAVE THAT ORDER REVOKED, BUT AS OF TUESDAY THE COURT HAD NOT RULED ON THAT REQUEST. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE LONG-TERM PROTECTIVE ORDER IS FOR A SIX-MONTH PERIOD AND DOES NOT ALLOW CHRISTY TO BE IN ONE MILE OF PALIN, HER FRIEND, KRISTAN COLE, THEIR FAMILIES AND SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN ALASKA.

ROADWAY CONDITION AS OF 4:11AM

ROADWAYS ARE CURRENTLY SNOW AND SLUSH COVERED. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE MOTORISTS TO STAY OFF THE ROADWAYS WHILE CREWS CLEAR THEM.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HAS DECLARED A SNOW EMERGENCY AS OF 9 P.M. TUESDAY AS ANOTHER WINTER STORM DESCENDS ON THE CITY. THE PHILADELPHIA AREA IS EXPECTED TO GET 4 TO 8 INCHES, ALLENTOWN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY 5 INCHES, AND PARTS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 6 INCHES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY A MAN WHO STABBED ONE MAN TO DEATH AND CRITICALLY INJURED ANOTHER A FEW BLOCKS AWAY APPARENTLY CHOSE HIS VICTIMS AT RANDOM. A MAN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AFTER BEING STABBED IN THE CHEST IN THE NORTHERN LIBERTIES AREA AND A TEMPLE UNIVERSITY LAW STUDENT WHO WAS STABBED IN THE NECK NEARBY WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

SHANKSVILLE, PA. (AP) - THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS NAMED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, INCLUDING THE FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL. KEITH NEWLIN HAS BEEN THE REGION'S DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT SINCE 2007. HE WILL TAKE THE JOB FOR A YEAR BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR ED RENDELL SAYS THE STATE IS PREPARED TO OFFER THE FINANCIALLY TROUBLED MANUFACTURER OF SNACK FOODS LINE TASTYKAKES A $1 MILLION LOAN. RENDELL SAID AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY THAT PHILADELPHIA-BASED TASTY BAKING CO. HASN'T YET TAKEN HIM UP ON THE OFFER BECAUSE IT'S A PORTION OF WHAT THEY WILL NEED.

NATIONAL NEWS:

TUCSON, ARIZ. (AP) - LAST NIGHT, HUNDREDS OF MOURNERS FILLED A TUCSON CHURCH TO REMEMBER THE SIX PEOPLE KILLED IN SATURDAY'S MASS SHOOTING AND PRAY FOR THE INJURED, INCLUDING THE ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN WHO AUTHORITIES SAY WAS THE TARGET OF AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HONORS THE VICTIMS AT A MEMORIAL.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA (AP) - EMERGENCY SIRENS ARE SOUNDING ACROSS AUSTRALIA'S THIRD-LARGEST CITY TODAY. THE FLOODWATERS THAT HAVE CUT A DEADLY PATH ACROSS THE NORTHEAST ARE NOW POURING INTO BRISBANE, SWAMPING NEIGHBORHOODS. THE MUDDY WATERS HAVE REACHED THE TOPS OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY AND THE MAYOR SAYS AT LEAST 20,000 HOMES ARE IN DANGER OF BEING INUNDATED.

NEW YORK (AP) - SNOW IS FALLING ACROSS THE NORTHEAST THIS
MORNING. ROAD CREWS HAVE BEEN READY WITH PLOWS AND SALT SPREADERS,
BUT TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE STILL URGING
RESIDENTS TO AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL. PHILADELPHIA ALREADY HAS
FIVE INCHES OF SNOW AND THE CITY HAS DECLARED A SNOW EMERGENCY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - HOLIDAY SEASON COMPROMISES APPEAR TO HAVE BOOSTED PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S POLL NUMBERS. THE LATEST ASSOCIATED PRESS-GFK POLL FINDS 53 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS APPROVE OF THE JOB HE'S DOING. CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS' NUMBERS WERE ALSO UP, FROM 29 PERCENT LAST FALL TO 36 PERCENT. HOWEVER, THE INCREASE CAME ENTIRELY FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE REPUBLICANS. SUPPORT AMONG INDEPENDENTS DID NOT CHANGE.

NEW YORK (AP) - SNOOKI SAYS SHE'S TIRED OF BEING KNOWN AS "SNOOKI." THE REALITY TV STAR'S REAL NAME IS NICOLE POLIZZI, AND SHE SAYS SHE MISSES PEOPLE CALLING HER NICOLE. HER FULL NAME AND THE NICKNAME APPEAR ON THE COVER OF HER NEW NOVEL, "A SHORE THING." MEANWHILE, THE LASTEST EPISODE OF HER SHOW, "JERSEY SHORE," HAS SET A RECORD FOR MTV WITH 8.45 MILLION VIEWERS. THAT'S MTV'S MOST-WATCHED SHOW EVER.