TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

TRIAL RESUMES AFTER HOLIDAY

THE TRIAL OF THREE FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS IS SCHUEDLED TO RESUME THIS MORNING, AFTER 9:00, AT THE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE IN WILKES-BARRE. TESTIMONY WILL CONTINUE WITH THE SIXTH WITNESS TO BE CALLED BY PROSECUTION. COURT WAS NOT IN SESSION MONDAY IN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY.

GREATER POTTSVILLE WINTER CARNIVAL

THIS YEAR THE GREATER POTTSVILLE WINTER CARNIVAL IS GIVING LOCAL GIRLS THE CHANCE TO DINE WITH ROYALTY. ON SATURDAY JANUARY 22ND, SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES' LITTLE PRINCESSES WILL BE DRESSED TO THE NINES, AWAITING THEIR PERSONAL AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN OF THE SNOW, LAURA ROBINSON. CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE INVITED TO THIS TRULY ENCHANTING AFTERNOON, BUT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. THERE WILL BE TWO SEATINGS FOR THIS EVENT; 11AM AND 2PM. TICKETS ARE LIMITED AND AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FOR JUST $5 AT MURPHY'S JEWELERS IN POTTSVILLE. BE SURE TO BE DRESSED IN YOUR FAVORITE PRINCESS ATTIRE AND REMEMBER YOUR TEA CUP!

FAMILIES OF VICTIMS MOURN

THE BRUTAL BEATING, STABBING, AND SHOOTING OF VLADIMIR RUIZ AND JUDA HOPE SUNDAY IN HAZLETON LEFT LOVED ONES MOURNING. A MEMORIAL WAS SET AT THE CRIME SCENE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED MONDAY TO CONSOLE MIGUEL RUIZ AND HIS WIFE ON THE DEATH OF THEIR 22-YEAR-OLD SON, VLADIMIR. ANGEL SANCHEZ IS CHARGED IN RELATION TO THE KILLINGS, BUT RODOLFO HIRALDO-PEREZ IS STILL ON THE RUN.

TOM CORBETT INAUGURATION

GOV-ELECT TOM CORBETT'S INAUGURATION WILL TAKE PLACE TODAY IN HARRISBURG FOLLOWED BY THE INAUGURAL BALL. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN, JOSEPH STERN ALONG WITH HIS WIFE GRETCHEN WILL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, SEVERAL OTHER SCHUYLKILL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL ALSO ATTEND THE INAUGURAL BALL AT THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW COMPLEX AND EXPO CENTER.

PA WOMAN TESTIFIES ON CAPITOL HILL

A PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN WHOSE FAMILY WAS DRIVEN TO BANKRUPTCY AFTER HER TWIN DAUGHTERS WERE DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA, IS TESTIFYING ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY. STACI RITTER SAYS MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND THE BILLS PILED UP WHEN AN INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY FOR SOME OF IT. THE U-S HOUSE IS GEARING UP TO VOTE ON A REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT, AND RITTER SAYS IT NEEDS TO STAY INTACT TO PROTECT FAMILIES LIKE HERS. RITTER SAYS HER STORY TURNS OUT BETTER THAN SOME BECAUSE SHE ATTACKED THE COMPANY PUBLICLY IN HER DAUGHTERS' CASE. RITTER WAS ABLE TO COME TO A SETTLEMENT.

POLICE CHASE

AFTER LEADING STATE POLICE FROM LYKENS ON A CHASE FRIDAY EVENING, A SACRAMENTO MAN WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED. JOSHUA LENTZ WAS CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS FLEEING AND ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE POLICE AND DRUG CHARGES. LENTZ TOOK POLICE ON A CHASE ON ROUTES 209 AND 225 FROM ELIZABETHVILLE TO LUZEMBURG ROAD IN DAUPHIN COUNTY. TROOPERS REPORT, LENTZ FLED AFTER THEY INITIATED A TRAFFIC STOP.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)-PHILADELPHIA POLICE HAVE ANNOUNCED THE ARREST OF A MAN THEY SAY HAS BEEN LINKED BY DNA TO THE STRANGLING DEATHS OF THREE WOMEN IN THE CITY'S KENSINGTON SECTION. ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON AN UNRELATED BENCH WARRANT AFTER A CALLER PHONED IN A TIP.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)-A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PARTS OF PENNSYLVANIA EXPECTED TO GET SNOW FOLLOWED BY FREEZING RAIN INTO TUESDAY. CARBON, MONROE, BERKS, LEHIGH, AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES ARE EXPECTED TO GET 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW FOLLOWED BY SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA IS EXPECTED TO GET 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW FOLLOWED BY SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.

MANHEIM, PA. (AP)-A PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF FOUR TEENAGERS KILLED IN A TWO-CAR ACCIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND. A PRAYER VIGIL WAS SCHEDULED MONDAY NIGHT IN MANHEIM, LANCASTER COUNTY, IN MEMORY OF FRESHMAN DEVAUGHN LEE, SOPHOMORES NICOLAS BRYSON AND CODY HOLLINGER AND JUNIOR JOHN GRIFFITH. ALL WERE MEMBERS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)-AN ADVISORY PANEL APPOINTED BY OUTGOING GOVERNOR ED RENDELL ISSUED A REPORT MONDAY ON IMPLEMENTING CHANGES MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LAW, BUT IT WAS UNCLEAR WHAT EFFECT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD HAVE ON THE NEW ADMINISTRATION TAKING OFFICE TUESDAY. THE HEALTH CARE REFORM ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS CREATED IN JUNE BY THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

NEW YORK (AP)-FORECASTERS SAY THE NORTHEAST IS IN FOR ANOTHER WINTRY BLAST IN THE FORM OF SNOW, SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN. UP TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW, RAIN AND ICE THREATEN TO RUIN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAVEL IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY AND CONNECTICUT. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS BOSTON COULD RECEIVE 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW BEGINNING EARLY TODAY.

TUCSON, ARIZ. (AP)-THE HUSBAND OF REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS SAYS THE
PARENTS OF THE MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY SHOT HER MUST BE "HURTING IN THIS SITUATION AS MUCH AS ANYBODY." ASTRONAUT MARK KELLY MADE THE COMMENT IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ABC'S DIANE SAWYER TO BE AIRED TODAY. HE SAYS HE'D BE WILLING TO MEET WITH THEM. GIFFORDS CONTINUES TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT.

WASHINGTON (AP)-CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO IS DUE IN WASHINGTON LATER TODAY AND PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS EXPECTED TO LEAD A WARM WELCOME, INCLUDING TOMORROW'S STATE DINNER. THE CARE AND ATTENTION BEING LAVISHED ON THIS VISIT REFLECT HOPES FOR CLOSER COOPERATION WITH THE CHINESE IN DEALING WITH ROGUE REGIMES IN NORTH KOREA AND IRAN, EVEN AS THEY PRESS BEIJING ON TRADE AND MONETARY POLICY.

BAGHDAD (AP)-IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY A SUICIDE BOMBER HAS ATTACKED A POLICE STATION WHERE RECRUITS HAD GATHERED TO APPLY FOR JOBS, KILLING AT LEAST 40 PEOPLE AND WOUNDING AT LEAST 75. A POLICEMAN IN TIKRIT SAY THE BOMBER JOINED A CROWD OF ABOUT 100 RECRUITS OUTSIDE THE STATION ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY, LOCATED SOME 80 MILES NORTH OF BAGHDAD. POLICE OFFICERS ARE AMONG THE DEAD.

TOKYO (AP)-DWINDLING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN JAPAN ARE REFLECTED IN A RECORD ONE-THIRD OF JAPANESE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SET TO GRADUATE THIS SPRING WITHOUT HAVING A JOB LINED UP. THE LATEST NUMBERS RELEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT TODAY ARE SO BAD, THEY PROMPTED OFFICIALS TO COUPLE THE REPORT WITH NEW MEASURES TO HELP JOBSEEKERS. DESPITE THAT, COMPANIES ARE POSTING ROBUST PROFITS.