TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011

THE 50-50 RULE

YOU MAY NOT HAVE MUCH IN COMMON WITH YOUR SIBLINGS NOW THAT YOU'RE GROWN, BUT THERE'S STILL ONE THING YOU SHARE: YOUR PARENTS! THE 50-50 RULE IS A NEW LOCAL PROGRAM THAT OFFERS STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING SIBLING DIFFERENCES TO HELP FAMILIES PROVIDE THE BEST CARE FOR ELDERLY PARENTS. THE 50-50 RULE REFERS TO THE AVERAGE AGE WHEN SIBLINGS ARE CARING FOR THEIR PARENTS AS WELL AS THE NEED FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO SHARE IN THE PLANS FOR CARE. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE ADVICE TO HELP FAMILIES COMMUNICATE AND HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT SOLVINGFAMILYCONFLICT.COM

PUBLIC MEETINGS TO BE HELD ABOUT RIVER

THE PENNSYLVANIA FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION HAS SCHEDULED SEVEN PUBLIC MEETINGS TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE COMMISSION'S DRAFT RIVER MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION BIOLOGISTS WILL DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE HISTORY OF FISH MANAGEMENT ON THE SUSQUEHANNA AND IDENTIFY THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER WHILE PRIORITIZING THE FUTURE NEEDS AND DISCUSSING FUTURE PLANS. THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER. A SUMMARY OF THE DRAFT RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE PENNSYLVANIA FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION'S WEBSITE. THE PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE LANGONE CENTER FORUM ROOM AT BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY IN LEWISBURG ON WEDNESDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 16TH FROM 6:30 UNTIL NINE .

A SECOND THEFT IN VALLEY VIEW

STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SECOND THEFT FROM A VEHICLE IN VALLEY VIEW. POLICE SAID ANOTHER THEFT OCCURED AT 1447 WEST MAIN STREET SOMETIME OVERNIGHT SATURDAY WHEN A GPS SYSTEM AND STUN GUN WERE REMOVED FROM A TOYOTA PRIUS. DURING THE SAME TIME ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS ROBBED OF ITEMS RANGING FROM A GAMING SYSTEM TO CIGARETTES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.

PA NEAR TOP IN JOB GROWTH

TWO-THOUSAND-TEN WAS NOTHING CLOSE TO A BANNER YEAR FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S ECONOMY, BUT THE STATE DID MANAGE TO CREATE MORE JOBS THAN MOST, ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT. TOM JOSEPH REPORTS:

PA JOBS


JURY SELECTED IN JUDGE'S CORRUPTION TRIAL

(AP)OPENING STATEMENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TODAY IN THE TRIAL OF A FORMER LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE CHARGED IN A $2.8 MILLION SCHEME TO SEND JUVENILE OFFENDERS TO PRIVATELY RUN DETENTION FACILITIES. JURY SELECTION WRAPPED UP YESTERDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE TRIAL OF FOR JUDGE MARK CIAVARELLA. THE STATE SUPREME COURT THREW OUT THOUSANDS OF JUVENILE CASES AFTER CHARGES WERE BROUGHT IN JANUARY 2009 AGAINST CIAVARELLA AND ANOTHER FORMER COUNTY JUDGE, MICHAEL CONAHAN. ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, CONAHAN FORCED THE COUNTY-RUN JUVENILE FACILITY TO CLOSE, AND THEN ARRANGED FOR A FRIEND TO BUILD THE PRIVATE FACILITY. CIAVARELLA SENT JUVENILE OFFENDERS TO THE LOCKUP AND TO A SISTER FACILITY WHILE HE WAS TAKING PAYMENTS. CONAHAN PLEADED GUILTY TO A SINGLE COUNT OF RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY AND AWAITS SENTENCING.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THREE WEEKS AFTER STEPPING DOWN AS GOVERNOR, ED RENDELL IS SEPARATING FROM FEDERAL JUDGE MARJORIE RENDELL AFTER 40 YEARS OF MARRIAGE. IN AN E-MAIL TO FRIENDS OBTAINED BY THE AP, THE COUPLE SAYS IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION BUT THEY DECIDED IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE COUPLE DESCRIBES THE BREAKUP AS "AMICABLE."

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - JURY SELECTION KICKS OFF TODAY IN THE TRIAL OF JOHAN PUJOLS, WHO'S ACCUSED OF SHOOTING ONE MAN TO DEATH AND WOUNDING TWO OTHERS OUTSIDE A HAZLETON NIGHTCLUB IN 2009. COURT OFFICIALS SAY JURORS WILL BE TAKEN TO THE SCENE OF THE SHOOTING. IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT PROSECUTORS WILL CALL WITNESSES WHO WILL TESTIFY ABOUT AN ARGUMENT THAT BEGAN IN THE CLUB AND SPILLED OUTSIDE INTO THE PARKING LOT.

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN NOW FACES CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND OTHER CHARGES IN AN APRIL 2009 FIRE THAT KILLED HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER. INVESTIGATORS ALLEGE IN COURT DOCUMENTS THAT JOSEPH WALTER DERHAMMER WAS ANGRY THAT NANCY KOSTELNICK HAD THROWN HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE EARLIER IN THE MONTH.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY ONE PERSON IS IN CUSTODY AFTER AN ASSAULT OUTSIDE THE CITY'S TRAFFIC COURT BUILDING LEFT A WOMAN DEAD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL. INVESTIGATORS SAY IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE VICTIM OR THE SUSPECT HAD BUSINESS AT THE COURT.

NATIONAL NEWS:

CAIRO (AP) - EGYPTIAN PROTESTERS ARE AGAIN CALLING FOR ONE MILLION PEOPLE TO FILL A CENTRAL CAIRO SQUARE TODAY AS THEY TRY TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF THEIR MASS PROTEST. THE PROTESTS ALREADY HAVE BROUGHT THE MOST SWEEPING CHANGES SINCE PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK TOOK POWER NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO, BUT ACTIVISTS ARE INSISTING MUBARAK STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY. MANY PROTESTERS WANT A RECENTLY RELEASED GOOGLE EXECUTIVE TO BE THEIR LEADER. HE SAYS HE USED THE INTERNET TO ORGANIZE THE UPRISING.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT IS CRITICAL OF U.S. AID TO PAKISTAN. THE REPORT SAYS THE U.S. HAS FAILED TO SHOW PROGRESS FROM BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT. THE REPORT SAYS THERE'S NO WAY TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AID.

PHOENIX (AP) - ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD BAN THE SALE OF LARGE-CAPACITY GUN MAGAZINES, LIKE THE ONE USED IN THE TUCSON SHOOTING THAT INJURED U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS. BUT THE DEMOCRAT-SPONSORED BILL HAS A TOUGH ROAD TO PASSAGE IN A REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE, WHICH HAS A STRONG RECORD ON GUN RIGHTS. ONE MONTH AGO TODAY, GIFFORDS AND 18 OTHERS WERE SHOT IN THE RAMPAGE. SIX PEOPLE DIED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - MORE WEALTHY PEOPLE ARE OWNING REGISTERED HANDGUNS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE RECORDS SHOW THAT SINCE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE DISTRICT'S HANDGUN BAN MORE THAN 2 1/2 YEARS AGO, MORE RESIDENTS IN WASHINGTON'S SAFEST AND WEALTHIEST AREAS ARE REGISTERING HANDGUNS THAN THOSE IN POOR AREAS WITH HIGHER CRIME.

DELANO, CALIF. (AP) - AN ILLEGAL COCKFIGHT HAS LEFT A CENTRAL CALIFORNIA MAN DEAD AFTER HE WAS STABBED BY A ROOSTER WITH A KNIFE ATTACHED TO ITS LEG. JOSE LUIS OCHOA (OH-CHOH'-UH) WAS DECLARED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER HE WAS INJURED JAN. 30. THE KERN COUNTY CORONER CONCLUDED OCHOA DIED OF AN ACCIDENTAL "SHARP FORCE INJURY" TO HIS RIGHT CALF. OFFICIALS SAY IT'S UNCLEAR IF A DELAY IN GETTING MEDICAL ATTENTION CONTRIBUTED TO OCHOA'S DEATH.