TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2011

MISSING PERSONS FOUND

POLICE HAVE LOCATED A FATHER AND HIS 16 MONTH OLD CHILD THAT WENT MISSING THURSDAY MORNING. ERIC AND LOGAN MYERS OF PALO ALTO WERE LOCATED SAFE AND UNHARMED BY MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.

DUI/TEXTING LEADS TO CRASH

A PINE GROVE MAN ESCAPED INJURIES AFTER HE STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND TEXTING ON HIS CELL PHONE. POLICE REPORT 24-YEAR OLD CHAD MAIDENFORD DROVE OFF MEXICO ROAD IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP THROUGH 70 FEET OF SNOW BEFORE HITTING A UTILITY POLE JUST BEFORE 2AM SUNDAY. MAIDENFORD'S TRUCK SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED. DUI CHARGES AND SUMMARY TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS WILL BE FILED.

ITEMS STOLEN FROM TEENS CAR

STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE THEFT OF ITEMS FROM A VALLEY VIEW TEENAGER’S VEHICLE. POLICE SAID THE THEFT OCCURRED AT 1447 WEST MAIN STREET SOMETME OVERNIGHT SATURDAY. A GAMING SYSTEM, IPOD, PURSE, AND OTHER ITEMS WERE REMOVED FROM THE UNLOCKED BUICK LASABRE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT STATE POLCE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.

CIAVARELLA TRIAL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN

(AP)-A FORMER LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE IS SCHEDULED TO STAND TRIAL THIS WEEK IN AN ALLEGED COURTROOM KICKBACK SCHEME. MARK CIAVARELLA (SHIV-UH-REL'-UH), ALONG WITH ANOTHER FORMER JUDGE, ALLEGEDLY TOOK $2.8 MILLION IN KICKBACKS FROM THE OWNER AND BUILDER OF TWO PRIVATE YOUTH DETENTION FACILITIES IN RETURN FOR SENDING YOUTHS TO THE FACILITIES. THE OTHER JUDGE HAS ALREADY PLEADED GUILTY.

STATE REP. INTRODUCES A BILL TO SAVE LOW-COST INSURANCE

REP. TONY DELUCA HAS A SOLUTION TO THE ADULTBASIC FUNDING CRISIS. ROSEANN CADAU HAS MORE:

ADULT BASIC

STATE NEWS:
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. (AP) - THE GREAT LAKES ARE THE WORLD'S LARGEST SYSTEM OF FRESH WATER, BUT A NEW FEDERAL REPORT SAYS THE REGION COULD STILL EXPERIENCE SPOTTY WATER SHORTAGES BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SURGING DEMAND. THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORT DUE OUT TODAY SAYS GROUNDWATER LEVELS HAVE DROPPED SHARPLY IN SOME AREAS AND COULD FALL EVEN FURTHER IN COMING DECADES.

SMETHPORT, PA. (AP) - A MCKEAN COUNTY COURT IS WEIGHING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE NO SHOWS WHEN THEY'RE SUMMONED FOR JURY DUTY. JUDGE JOHN PAYLOCK TELLS THE BRADFORD ERA THE COUNTY HAS HAD TO INCREASE THE SUMMONSES IT SENDS OUT TO BOOST THE JURY POOL AND MAKE UP FOR THOSE WHO DON'T ANSWER A JURY DUTY REQUEST.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - STEELERS FANS WERE PREPARED TO PARTY BUT POLICE SAY THEY HAVE SEEN FEW PROBLEMS AFTER PITTSBURGH LOST THE SUPER BOWL LAST NIGHT TO THE GREEN BAY PACKERS. POLICE HAD PUT EXTRA OFFICERS INTO SOME PITTSBURGH NEIGHBORHOODS BUT SAY THE CROWDS WERE SUBDUED AND WELL BEHAVED FOLLOWING THE LOSS.

NATIONAL NEWS:
WASHINGTON (AP) - THE RECESSION'S DEEP JOB CUTS SEEM TO HAVE ENDED. THE OUTPLACEMENT FIRM CHALLENGER, GRAY & CHRISTMAS SAYS IN JANUARY, COMPANIES ANNOUNCED PLANS TO TRIM FEWER THAN 39,000 JOBS. THAT'S 46 PERCENT FEWER THAN A YEAR EARLIER AND IT'S THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE THE FIRM BEGAN KEEPING TRACK IN 1993. FINDING A JOB IS STILL A STRUGGLE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AS BUSINESSES LIKELY WON'T HIRE UNTIL THEY FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TAKES A MESSAGE OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. HE'S GIVING HIS FIRST SPEECH THERE AFTER TWO YEARS OF CONFLICT OVER HEALTH CARE AND FINANCIAL REGULATIONS. LATELY OBAMA HAS BEEN MORE CONCILIATORY. BUT HE SAYS BUSINESS HAS AN OBLIGATION TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES, HIRE AMERICAN WORKERS AND INVEST IN THE NATION'S FUTURE.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - A SPACE PROGRAM THAT'S WORRYING OTHER NATIONS CONTINUES TO CAUSE CONCERN WITH IRAN, SAYING IT HAS BUILT FOUR NEW RESEARCH SATELLITES. STATE TV SHOWED PRESIDENT MAHMOUDA HMADINEJAD UNVEILING THE SATELLITES TODAY IN TEHRAN. MANY NATIONS WORRY IRAN'S SPACE PROGRAM COULD BOLSTER ITS BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAM AND ITS ABILITY TO CONDUCT SPACE-BASED SURVEILLANCE.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (AP) - THE PACK IS BACK, BUT THE FUTURE OF NFL FOOTBALL IS LESS CERTAIN. LED BY QUARTERBACK AARON RODGERS, THE GREEN BAY PACKERS EARNED A 31-25 VICTORY OVER THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS IN YESTERDAY'S SUPER BOWL. BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THE PLAYERS WILL BE BACK NEXT FALL. A LABOR WAR THAT PITS RICH ATHLETES AGAINST RICHER OWNERS COULD SHUT DOWN THE GAME.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PEOPLE WHO SAY WEATHER AFFECTS THEIR MOOD ARE FAR FROM ALONE. AN ASSOCIATED PRESS-WEATHER UNDERGROUND POLL SAYS THAT 4 IN 10 AMERICANS ASSOCIATE WEATHER AND MOOD, AND WINTER IS THE SEASON MOST LIKELY TO LEAVE THEM FEELING DOWN. BUT NOT EVERYONE GETS THE WINTER BLUES. FIFTEEN PERCENT OF AMERICANS REPORT HAVING MORE SEX THAN USUAL IN WINTER. JUST AS MANY SAY IT'S LESS, AND TWO-THIRDS SAY THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE.