TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2011

2011 AGENDA

THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH IS THE MAIN PRIORITY FOR 2011 AS FAR AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE CONCERNED. OFFICIALS PROJECT A $3.5 MILLION DEFICIT THIS YEAR WHICH WILL BE PAID FROM THE $10 MILLION SURPLUS ACCOUNT. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE PRERELEASE CENTER TO BE BUILT IN RYAN TOWNSHIP IS ALSO A MAIN PRIORITY. THAT CENTER HAS A PRICE TAG OF AT LEAST $3.2 MILLION.
　
FRACVILLE FIRE STILL UNDETERMINED

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED SEVEN ROW HOMES ON THE 500 BLOCK OF WEST HOWARD STREET IN FRACVILLE IS STILL UNDETERMINED. THE SUNDAY MORNING BLAZE WAS SO INTENSE, LITTLE WAS LEFT TO WORK WITH. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, EIGHT TO TEN PEOPLE WERE LEFT HOMELESS AND THE RED CROSS OF POTTSVILLE IS OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO THOSE VICTIMS.
　
POTTSVILLE MAN MAY FACE CHARGES

AFTER CRASHING HIS PICKUP TRUCK AND THEN FLEEING THE SCENE, A POTTSVILLE MAN COULD NOW FACE CHARGES. ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, 42-YEAR-OLD BRIAN HAMMER OF YORK FARM ROAD CRASHED HIS TRUCK ON HIGH PARK MANOR ROAD. THE TRUCK WAS PARTIALLY OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND HANGING ON GUIDERAIL POSTS. HAMMER FLED THE SCENE ON FOOT, BUT WAS LOCATED JUST MINUTES LATER AND TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER-SOUTH JACKSON STREET FOR INJURIES AND ADMINISTRATION OF A BLOOD-ALCOHOL TEST. HAMMER'S TRUCK WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. NO CHARGES HAVE BEN FILED AT THIS TIME.
　
HOLIDAY CRASHES

ELEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 220 OTHERS WERE INJURED IN THE 693 CRASHES INVESTIGATED BY PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE DURING THE FOUR-DAY NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY DRIVING PERIOD. 76 OF THE CRASHES WERE ALCOHOL RELATED AND SIX OUT OF ELEVEN PEOPLE WHO DIED WERE NOT WEARING SEATBELTS. THE NUMBER OF DEATHS INCREASED FROM LAST YEAR, BUT CRASHES DECREASED AS WELL AS INJURIES. THE CRASH NUMBERS COVER ONLY THOSE INCIDENTS INVESTIGATED BY STATE POLICE.
　
STATE NEWS:

EASTON, PA. (AP) - A NEW JERSEY WOMAN WHO BOUGHT A HANDGUN USED IN THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE TROOPER WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO A FEDERAL CHARGE, ACCORDING TO HER ATTORNEY. ERIC BRESLIN TOLD THE EXPRESS-TIMES OF EASTON ON MONDAY THAT EMILY JOY GROSS WILL ENTER A PLEA ON FEBRUARY 2 IN FEDERAL COURT IN PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TWO FAMILY CASEWORKERS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AFTER A 2-MONTH-OLD BOY STARVED TO DEATH AT A PHILADELPHIA HOMELESS SHELTER. POLICE HAVE CHARGED TANYA WILLIAMS WITH MURDER IN THE DECEMBER 23 DEATH OF HER SON, BUT THEY ARE EXPLORING POSSIBLE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST OTHERS. QUASIR ALEXANDER WEIGHED LESS WHEN HE DIED THAN HE DID AT BIRTH.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 25 TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON IN THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO WAS SHOT OUTSIDE AN AFTER-HOURS CLUB DURING A BACHELOR PARTY TO CELEBRATE HIS UPCOMING WEDDING. GARRET SAINIAK OF WEST MIFFLIN PLEADED GUILTY MONDAY TO THIRD-DEGREE MURDER, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND FIREARMS COUNTS IN THE APRIL 25 SHOOTING DEATH OF JAMES HOOVER.

JAMISON, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE TO BECOME ILL DURING A SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE AT A BUCKS COUNTY CHURCH. OFFICIALS SAY SOME PARISHIONERS BECAME DIZZY DURING THE SERVICE AT ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM IN WARWICK TOWNSHIP, AND SOME ARRIVING EMERGENCY WORKERS ALSO REPORTED FEELING UNWELL.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE NEW CONGRESS CONVENES TOMORROW AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS PLAN TO VOTE IN JUST A WEEK TO REPEAL THE HEALTH CARE LAW. THEY SAY IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE AND A JOB KILLER. SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE PROMISING TO BLOCK ANY REPEAL EFFORT. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID AND OTHERS SAY THE GOP SHOULD CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF TRYING TO REPEAL A LAW CONTAINING POPULAR CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A BILL THAT OVERHAULS THE FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM BY GIVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEW POWERS OVER INSPECTIONS BECOMES LAW TODAY. CONGRESS PASSED THE BILL TO RESPOND TO SEVERAL OUTBREAKS OF E. COLI AND SALMONELLA POISONING IN PEANUTS, EGGS AND PRODUCE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL SIGN IT.

ROCKHAMPTON, AUSTRALIA (AP) - SWOLLEN RIVERS AND THE RESULTING FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA HAVE KILLED AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE IN QUEENSLAND STATE, AND THE WATER HAS INUNDATED MORE THAN 20 CITIES AND TOWNS. RESIDENTS OF ROCKHAMPTON ARE BEING WARNED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER DUE TO DEBRIS, SNAKES AND CROCODILES LURKING UNDER THE SURFACE. THE RAINS THAT TRIGGERED THE FLOODING HAVE EASED, BUT MANY RIVERS ARE STILL OVERFLOWING.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - IRAN IS INVITING WORLD POWERS AND ITS FRIENDS ON A TOUR OF ITS NUCLEAR FACILITIES. A FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THAT INCLUDES "THE E.U, THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM 5+1 COUNTRIES." "5+1" COUNTRIES ARE THE SIX WORLD POWERS ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE U.S. THE WEST SUSPECTS IRAN WANTS TO PRODUCE WEAPONS.

NORFOLK, VA. (AP) - A NAVY CAPTAIN'S COMMAND OF AN NUCLEAR-POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER IS UNDER REVIEW AFTER RAUNCHY COMEDY VIDEOS HE MADE YEARS AGO SURFACED. THE MOVIES WERE SHOWN TO THE CREW OF THE USS ENTERPRISE. CAPT. OWEN HONORS WAS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - OR SECOND IN COMMAND AT THE TIME.