TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2010

UPDATE: COP TRIAL 11:20am

JURY SELECTION BEGAN AFTER 9:30am AT THE MAX ROSENN UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE, WILKES-BARRE. JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO ADRESSED THE PROSPECTIVE JURORS, AND BEGAN INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONING.



HOLDEN SPEAKS ABOUT ARIZONA SHOOTINGS

ON SUNDAY U.S REP. TIM HOLDEN DISCUSSED HIS CONCERN FOR GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, THE ARIZONA LEGISLATOR THAT WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD WHILE HOSTING A PUBLIC RALLY. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, HOLDEN SAID SHE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON, HARD WORKER, AND WAS ALWAYS ON TOP OF HER ISSUES. GIFFORDS WAS SHOT SATURDAY BY ALLEGED GUNMAN, 22-YEAR-OLD JARED LOUGHNER. SHE REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
　
WINTER BLUES

WINTER SO FAR IN PENNSYLVANIA HAS BEEN COLDER THAN USUAL, NOT TO MENTION THE BACK TO BACK SNOWSTORMS PARTS OF THE STATE HAD TO ENDURE. WITH LESS SUNLIGHT, IT'S A TIME THAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL THE WINTER BLUES. MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS ARE NOW CALLING IT SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER OR "SAD". EXPERTS SAY 10-MILLION AMERICANS EXPERIENCE SAD. A GENERAL PHYSICIAN CAN HELP SCREEN FOR SYMTOMS. TREATMENTS INCLUDE LIGHT THERAPY, TALK AND GROUP THERAPY, AND MEDICATIONS.
STATE NEWS:


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA TEENAGER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SHOOTING ANOTHER MAN TO DEATH IN A DRUG DISPUTE SHORTLY AFTER THE TWO WATCHED A NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL GAME LAST SUMMER. TIMOTHY ERIC BAKER II IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL IN THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF JIMMY SCHMIDT OF PHILADELPHIA.

HAMBURG, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY AUTOPSIES ARE BEING DONE ON THE BODIES OF A MAN AND WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN A HAMBURG HOME AFTER A DOMESTIC DISPUTE LED TO A SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE. THE READING EAGLE REPORTS THAT MORE THAN A DOZEN OFFICERS FROM ACROSS BERKS COUNTY RESPONDED TO THE SCENE.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL KILLED BY A GUNMAN WHO OPENED FIRE AT AN ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN'S EVENT IS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF FORMER PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES MANAGER DALLAS GREEN. CHRISTINA-TAYLOR GREEN WAS SHOT OUTSIDE A TUCSON GROCERY STORY WHEN SHE WENT TO SEE REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, WHO WAS MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS THERE.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A FACTORY IN PENNSYLVANIA'S LEHIGH VALLEY THAT WAS HELD UP AS A SYMBOL OF HOPE IN THE FORMER MANUFACTURING STRONGHOLD IS SET TO CLOSE AT THE END OF THE WEEK. ALLENTOWN METAL WORKS IS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE JANUARY 15, LEAVING THE FATE OF THE PLANT IN LIMBO AND CREDITORS WAITING TO COLLECT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON DEBTS DATING BACK AS FAR AS 2006.

NATIONAL NEWS:

TUCSON, ARIZ. (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL LEAD A MOMENT OF SILENCE TODAY TO HONOR CRITICALLY WOUNDED ARIZONA REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS THE OTHER WOUNDED AND THE SIX PEOPLE SHOT AND KILLED IN ARIZONA. A COURT APPEARANCE IS SCHEDULED TODAY FOR THE MAN ACCUSED OF CARRYING OUT SATURDAY'S MASS AS GIFFORDS MET WITH CONSTITUENTS. HE'S 22-YEAR-OLD JARED LOUGHNER (LAWF'-NUR).

ATLANTA (AP) - VENTURING OUT IN PARTS OF THE DEEP SOUTH TODAY COULD BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE AFTER A WINTER BLAST LEFT ROADS AND BRIDGES COATED WITH SNOW AND ICE. IN ATLANTA, THE WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT CANCELED THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS. THE GOVERNORS OF LOUISIANA, ALABAMA, GEORGIA AND TENNESSEE HAVE DECLARED EMERGENCIES AND SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES HAVE CALLED OFF CLASSES.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA (AP) - A WOMAN SWEPT AWAY BY FLOODWATERS HAS BECOME THE 11TH PERSON TO DIE SINCE RELENTLESS RAINS BEGAN IN LATE NOVEMBER IN AUSTRALIA'S QUEENSLAND STATE. POLICE SAY A RAGING TORRENT OF WATER GUSHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF TOOWOOMBA TODAY, OVERTURNING CARS, FLOODING BUILDINGS AND LEAVING SOME PEOPLE CLINGING TO TREES AND POWER POLES. QUEENSLAND'S BIG EXPORTING COAL MINE INDUSTRY HAS VIRTUALLY SHUT DOWN.

BEIJING (AP) - DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES AND HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART HAVE AGREED AFTER A MORNING OF TALKS TODAY TO SET UP A WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE A DIALOGUE ON STRATEGIC ISSUES. GATES IS IN CHINA TO DO SOME FENCE MENDING AFTER A ROCKY YEAR OF FRAYED RELATIONS WITH THE PACIFIC SUPERPOWER.

CHICAGO (AP) - A PRELIMINARY STUDY SAYS CHILDREN BORN LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THEIR SIBLINGS ARE CONSIDERABLY MORE LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM COMPARED TO THOSE BORN AFTER AT LEAST THREE YEARS. RESEARCHERS SAY THEY TOOK OTHER RISK FACTORS FOR AUTISM INTO ACCOUNT AND STILL SAW THE EFFECT. THE STUDY APPEARS IN THE JOURNAL PEDIATRICS.