TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2011

GIRARDVILLE FIRE DESTROYS 5 HOMES

DURAFLAME LOGS IN A WOOD BURNER ARE TO BLAME FOR THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED FIVE HOMES IN GIRARDVILLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO 112 WEST MAIN STREET AT ABOUT 6PM FOR SMOKE IN THE BASEMENT OF A HOME, BUT WHEN FIRE CREWS ARRIVED THE SMOKE WAS ALREADY COMING THROUGH THE ROOF. POLICE REPORT THE FIRE IGNITED WHEN A RESIDENT PLACED LOGS INTO A BURNER IN THE BASEMENT. PROPERTIES AT 116, 114, 112, 110 AND 109 ALONG WEST MAIN STREET WERE RUINED AND ONE COLLAPSED ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER THE BLAZE STARTED. GIRARDVILLE POLICE WERE STILL ON SCENE AS OF EARLY THIS MORNING.

SHENANDOAH MEN SENTENCED FOR HATE CRIME

THE TWO SHENANDOAH MEN CONVICTED OF VIOLATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF LUIS RAMIREZ IN A JULY 2008 FATAL FIGHT FACED SENTENCING WEDNESDAY MORNING. WPPA'S BRITTANY HAS MORE:

SENTENCING

ANNUAL Y DINNER

THE ANNUAL Y DINNER AND AUCTION IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND THIS YEAR ITS BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER. T102'S JASMINE BROOKS REPORTS:

ANNUAL Y DINNER

DANVILLE MURDER

A DANVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING HIS GIRLFRIEND WILL GO TO TRIAL. 33-YEAR-OLD WESTLEY WISE WILL STAND TRIAL IN MONTOUR COUNTY COURT ON CHARGES HE STABBED AND KILLED HIS 26-YEAR OLD LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND. AFTER AN ARGUMENT ON JANUARY 24TH, 26-YEAR OLD JESSICA FREDRICK WAS MURDERED IN THEIR DANVILLE HOME. WISE WAS HELD FOR TRIAL ON AN OPEN COUNT OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE FOLLOWING A PRELIMINARY HEARING. WISE NOW SITS IN THE COUNTY PRISON WITHOUT BAIL.

MEGANS LAW WEBSITE UPDATED TO IMPROVE SAFETY

STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER, FRANK NOONAN, ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT THE PENNSYLVANIA'S MEGAN'S LAW WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR THE PUBLIC TO FIND INFORMATION EASIER. THE SITE PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION ABOUT REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND NEW FEATURES WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO LOCATE AN OFFENDER IN NEIGHBORHOODS. USERS CAN SEARCH BY RADIUS, ADDRESS AND NAME WHICH HAS A FEATURE TO FIND NAMES THAT MAY BE ENTERED INCORRECTLY. THE STATE POLICE HOPE TO ADD A FUTURE FEATURE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS USING THE STATE'S ALERT-PA SYSTEM, BUT HAS YET TO BE APPROVED.

REP. GOODMAN BILLS TO ASSIST VETERANS

A THREE BILL PACKAGE INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE NEAL GOODMAN WOULD ALLOW STATE VETERANS TO GAIN QUALIFICATION FOR STATE PROGRAMS AND NOT BE EXCLUDED DUE TO MILITARY BENEFITS AND PENSIONS THEY RECEIVE. THE THREE BILLS WOULD EXEMPTED VETERAN BENEFITS FROM BEING CALCULATED AS INCOME SPECIFICALLY FOR PACE/PACE-NET PROGRAMS, PROPERTY TAX/RENT REBATE PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROGRAMS. GOODMAN STATED HIS LEGISLATION WOULD RIGHT A WRONG BY ENSURING NO VETERANS' BENEFIT IS COUNTED AS INCOME FOR STATE PROGRAM.

STATE NEWS:

INDEPENDENCE, PA. (AP) - AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE LAST NIGHT AT A GAS WELL IN THE TOWN OF AVELLA SENT THREE WORKERS TO HOSPITALS. A STATE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIAL SAYS WORKERS WERE TRANSFERRING WATER USED IN THE HYDRAULIC FRACTURING PROCESS -- KNOWN AS FRACKING -- INTO TANKS AT THE TIME OF THE BLAST AND SEVERAL OF THE TANKS CAUGHT FIRE. THE EXTENT OF THE WORKERS' INJURIES ISN'T KNOWN.

BEAVER, PA. (AP) - POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A FACEBOOK PAGE THAT THEY SAY INCLUDES PHOTOS OF HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WITH FICTITIOUS SEXUAL BIOGRAPHIES. STATE POLICE SAY THE "BEAVER COUNTY HOEZ" PAGE HAS PHOTOS OF STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS 14 TAKEN FROM ACTUAL FACEBOOK PAGES. THEY'RE INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT AS A CYBER-BULLYING AND HARASSMENT CASE.

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL IN A SHOOTING DEATH THAT HAPPENED MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. THE (LANCASTER) INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL AND LANCASTER NEW ERA REPORT THAT THE VICTIM'S FORMER ROOMMATE TESTIFIED THIS WEEK THAT JAMES MALAVE SHOT HECTOR CORNEIL AFTER AN ARGUMENT OVER A BORROWED MATTRESS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A HEARING IS SET FOR THIS MORNING IN PHILADELPHIA ON A CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL TO PRIVATIZE STATE LIQUOR AND WINE STORES. STATE LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD CEO JOE CONTI IS AMONG THOSE SCHEDULED TO TESTIFY. GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT SUPPORTS THE MEASURE, WITH PROPONENTS SAYING IT COULD HELP CLOSE THE STATE'S BUDGET DEFICIT.

NATIONAL NEWS:

MARMARIS, TURKEY (AP) - TURKS WHO MADE IT OUT OF LIBYA ON TWO FERRIES ARE TELLING HORROR STORIES ABOUT THE PRO-DEMOCRACY REBELLION. THEY SAY THEY SAW LOOTING, BODIES HANGING FROM ELECTRIC POLLS AND MILITIAS DRIVING VANS FILLED WITH BODIES. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FOREIGNERS ARE STILL STRANDED IN LIBYA. HUNDREDS OF AMERICANS BOARDED A 600-PASSENGER FERRY AT A PORT IN TRIPOLI, BUT THEIR DEPARTURE FOR MALTA HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO HIGH SEAS.

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND (AP) - TWO INFANT BOYS ARE AMONG THE LATEST EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS PULLED FROM TOPPLED BUILDINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND. THE DEATH TOLL IS 98, BUT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INCREASE. OFFICIALS ARE HOLDING LITTLE HOPE FOR MANY OF THE MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE STILL MISSING SINCE TUESDAY'S QUAKE.

MADISON, WIS. (AP) - OHIO REPUBLICANS ARE OFFERING MODEST CONCESSIONS ON A PLAN TO STRIP PUBLIC WORKERS OF THEIR UNION RIGHTS. BUT ONE DEMOCRAT CALLS IT WINDOW DRESSING. IN WISCONSIN, REPUBLICANS ARE FORGING AHEAD WITH A SIMILAR PROPOSAL. DEMOCRATS IN THE WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY ARE FORCING A GRUELING DEBATE INTO ITS THIRD DAY.

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A MILWAUKEE MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING SEVEN WOMEN OVER 21 YEARS IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED TODAY IN MILWAUKEE. WALTER ELLIS FACES A MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE. THE JUDGE WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF GRANTING THE POSSIBILITY FOR PAROLE, BUT HE'S NOT LIKELY TO DO SO.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY IS POISED TO MAKE ITS LAST FLIGHT. THE LAUNCH COUNTDOWN IS IN ITS FINAL HOURS, WITH FUELING SET TO BEGIN THIS MORNING. NASA SAYS IT IS CONFIDENT NO HYDROGEN GAS WILL LEAK AND NO CRACKS WILL DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK. BOTH THOSE PROBLEMS CROPPED UP DURING THE INITIAL COUNTDOWN IN NOVEMBER. THE REPAIRS TOOK ALMOST FOUR MONTHS.