TODAY'S NEWS: SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

TAMAQUA MAN ARRESTED ON SEX CHARGES

A 32-YEAR OLD TAMAQUA MAN WAS JAILED THURSDAY AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH HAVING INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL CONTACT WITH AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY INSIDE THE TAMAQUA ABC HIGH RISE OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN AND HERALD, JOSEPH DELANEY, WHO LIVES IN APARTMENT 401 OF THE BUILDING WAS ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF FORCIBLE COMPULSION, INVOLUNTARY DEVIATE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, INDECENT ASSAULT, CORRUPTION OF MINORS AND INDECENT EXPOSURE. HE WAS COMMITTED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF A ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND STRAIGHT CASH BAIL.

ILLEGALS APPREHENDED AT LOCAL WORKSITE

FOUR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ARRESTED THURSDAY WHILE WORKING AT THE EMPIRE EDUCATION GROUP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ALONE ROUTE 61. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN AND HERALD, EMPIRE CHAIRMAN AND CEO FRANKLIN SHOENEMAN SAID FRIDAY THE SUBCONTRACTOR RESPONSIBLE WILL BE FIRED. AN ANONYMOUS CALL PLACED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES LEAD TO THE 11:15 A.M. ROUND UP. THREE OF THE FOUR WERE TURNED OVER TO IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT WHILE A FOURTH IS IN CUSTODY ON AN OUTSTANDING BENCH WARRANT IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AS WELL AS BEING WANTED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR DEPORTATION.

GIRARDVILLE MAN ON THE LAMB APPREHENDED

THE GIRARDVILLE MAN WHO ESCAPED FROM POLICE FOLLOWING AN ARRAIGNMENT IN FRACKVILLE LAST WEEK WAS APPREHENDED YESTERDAY IN THE BOROUGH. 33-YEAR OLD CRAIG BRENNAN WAS HOLED UP AT A FRIENDS HOUSE ON NORTH RAILROAD STREET IN FRACKVILLE. BRENNAN WAS CHARGED WITH ESCAPE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND RESISTING ARREST IN THE INCIDENT ON JANUARY 6TH. DURING HIS GETAWAY BRENNAN PUSHED ASHLAND POLICE CHIEF ADAM BERNARDYN INTO A WALL CAUSING INJURY. HE IS BEING HELD ON ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS STRAIGHT CASH BAIL. IT IS UNCLEAR AT THIS TIME IF THE FRIEND, SHAWN DANIELS, WILL BE CHARGED WITH ANY CRIME IN AIDING A FUGITIVE.

EARLY MORNING CRASH IN CASS TOWNSHIP

A POTTSVILLE MAN WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOLLOWING A CRASH FRIDAY MORNING IN CASS TOWNSHIP. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 5:30 IN THE MORNING FRIDAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGH RIDGE ROAD AND KEYSTONE BOULEVARD. POLICE SAY 29-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER VALOSIN OF POTTSVILLE PULLED INTO THE PATH OF A PICK UP DRIVEN BY 43-YEAR-OLD TIMOTHY STANITIS OF ASHLAND. VALOSIN’S CAR WAS HIT BROADSIDE BY THE TRUCK. VALOSIN WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH.

STATE NEWS

LAWMAKER URGES COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR MLK DAY

AS PENNSYLVANIA PREPARES TO OBSERVE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY ON MONDAY, A PHILADELPHIA LAWMAKER SAYS A GOOD WAY TO HONOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER IS BY PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. HOWARD ONDICK HAS THIS REPORT.

ONDICK

GET YOUR SUBSIDENCE INSURANCE

ALTHOUGH AS MANY AS ONE-MILLION HOMES IN PENNSYLVANIA SIT ABOVE ABANDONED COAL MINES, VERY FEW HOMEOWNERS HAVE PURCHASED INSURANCE COVERAGE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST DAMAGE CAUSED BY MINE SUBSIDENCE. AS HOWARD ONDICK TELLS US, ONE STATE LAWMAKER IS URGING HOMEOWNERS TO BE SAFE RATHER THAN SORRY.

ONDICK

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state Supreme Court is upholding the removal of Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta, rejecting her claims that include a request for a new hearing because of misconduct by other judges. A judicial ethics panel said Lokuta mistreated courthouse employees, failed to perform her duties and sent county workers on her personal errands.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania judge has declared a mistrial on some counts in the case of a man accused of causing the death of his girlfriend's 1-year-old daughter. A judge halted deliberations Friday in the capital murder trial of Lamont Cherry after learning that one juror did online research about an injury suffered by Zalayia McCloe in May 2009.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Senator Bob Casey is asking for the National Drug Intelligence Center to conduct a threat assessment on drug crime and gang activity in Pennsylvania. Casey says drug dealers are settling in smaller cities in Pennsylvania, and that drug dealers from the New York City area are targeting the northeastern part of the state.

SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania tire shop owner has come forward to claim a record-breaking jackpot in the state lottery. Somerset resident Ronald Flickinger won $1.57 million in the January 9th Cash 5 drawing. It is the largest single jackpot-winning ticket sold in the game's 19-year history.

NATIONAL NEWS

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama and Republicans say the government must move forward in the aftermath of the Arizona shootings that left six dead and a congresswoman critically wounded. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says there are "great challenges for us to solve." For the GOP, Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona took note that Gabrielle Giffords was shot during an outreach event -- "a fundamental duty of a lawmaker."

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP) - A massive manhunt continues today for a man who fled on foot after shooting and killing a police officer in Lakewood, N.J. The State Policeman's Benevolent Association is offering a $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and
prosecution of the suspect. Authorities say the officer was conducting a routine pedestrian stop when the man suddenly pulled a gun and opened fire.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - NATO says a dispute between a U.S. Marine and an Afghan policeman turned deadly when the Marine shot the officer in southern Afghanistan. NATO says that after the dispute, the Afghan policeman reportedly made threats which the Marine reported to his superiors. NATO says the policeman later pointed his gun at the Marine, and was shot when he refused to put the weapon down.

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) - The head of Tunisia's Constitutional Council says the country's new leader has up to 60 days to organize elections. The council head says the departure of the country's autocratic president is permanent. He fled to Saudi Arabia, touching off a wave of violence. The capital's main train station was burned to the ground, and shops have been looted

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - Authorities in Pakistan say the shattered body of a young man found on the roof of a home apparently fell from the wheel well of a passenger plane as it flew to Dubai from Lahore. A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman says the young man had apparently hidden in the plane's landing gear. Accidents involving such stowaways have happened before and often
involve would-be economic migrants.