TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2011

HAZ-MAT LEAK TEMPORARILY CLOSES I-81

INTERSTATE 81 SOUTHBOUND LANES NEAR DELANO WERE CLOSED FOR NEARLY THREE HOURS TUESDAY. STATE POLICE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT TEAM WAS PERFORMING TRUCK INSPECTIONS AT A WEIGH STATION AT MILE MARKER 132 WHEN A FED-EX DOUBLE TRAILER PULLED IN TO ALERT AUTHORITIES ABOUT A SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM THE REAR TRAILER. UPON INSPECTION, THE TEAM DISCOVERED THE LIQUID AND A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL PLACARD. THE SUBSTANCE WAS PHOSPHORIC ACID, A CORROSIVE, LOW-HAZARD MATERIAL THAT CAN CAUSE EYE, SKIN AND RESPIRATORY IRRITATION. THE INVESTIGATING TEAM WAS TREATED AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER AND RELEASED. TRAFFIC RESUMED THROUGH THE AFFECTED AREA BY 530 TUESDAY EVENING AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND A HAZ-MAT COMPANY DEEMED THE ROADWAY SAFE.

SPCA WILL TURN IN LICENSE

AFTER A FIRE DESTROYED ITS DOG SHELTER BUILDING IN JANUARY, THE RUTH STEINERT MEMORIAL SPCA IS TURNING IN ITS STATE LICENSE TO OPERATE AS A KENNEL. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE SPCA MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REBUILD UNTIL 2012, BUT A VARIETY OF FUNDRAISERS ARE SCHEDULED TO HELP GET THE SHELTER UP AND RUNNING IN THE FUTURE. UNTIL RUTH STEINERT MEMORIAL CAN BUILD A NEW SHELTER, HILLSIDE SPCA IN POTTSVILLE WILL BE THE ONLY OPERATING SPCA IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

HAZLETON HOMICIDE

A HAZLETON MAN'S DEATH WAS RULED A HOMICIDE AFTER HE WAS FOUND SHOT IN A HOME EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. POLICE REPORT 20-YEAR-OLD EMMANUEL J. FELIX DIED FROM A SINGLE GUNSHOT TO HIS HEAD. AN AUTOPSY ON FELIX WAS PERFORMED AT 1PM AT WILKES-BARRE GENERAL HOSPITAL. HAZLETON POLICE HAVE NOT RELEASED MUCH INFORMATION AND ARE STILL INVESTIGATING.

FORMER JUDGE ADMITS TO LESS SERIOUS CHARGES

(AP)A FORMER LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE SAYS HE TOOK A FINDER'S FEE FROM THE BUILDER OF TWO PRIVATELY-OWNED JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES BUT NEVER EXTORTED MONEY FROM THEIR OWNER. FORMER JUDGE MARK CIAVARELLA SAYS DEVELOPER ROBERT MERICLE PAID A FINDER'S FEE FOR INTRODUCING HIM TO THE MAN WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY CO-OWN THE TWO PRIVATE FACILITIES. CIAVARELLA SAID MERICLE TOLD HIM THE PAYMENT WAS LEGAL. BUT CIAVARELLA ON TUESDAY DENIED EXTORTING THE OWNER, ROBERT POWELL. POWELL HAS TESTIFIED THAT CIAVARELLA AND ANOTHER FORMER JUDGE FORCED HIM TO PAY THEM MORE THAN $725,000, SOME IN BOXES STUFFED WITH CASH AND MORE DISGUISED AS RENT ON A FLORIDA CONDO. CIAVARELLA SAID THE OTHER JUDGE HANDLED THE PAYMENTS FROM POWELL AND THAT, AS FAR AS HE KNEW, THEY WERE LEGITIMATE.

BATH SALTS BAN

THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSED THE THREE BILLS DESIGNED TO BAN SPECIFIC TYPES OF BATH SALTS, SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA AND SALVIA ON TUESDAY. THE BILLS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME LAW AS SOON AS LATE MARCH. IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, THE ABUSE OF BATH SALTS WAS HEIGHTENED WITH THE CASE OF JUSTIN BOYLES WHO WAS FOUND DEAD IN A WOODED AREA OF COAL TOWNSHIP SATURDAY. BOYLES MOTHER SAID HE WAS FIGHTING AN ADDICITION BATH SALTS WHEN HE WENT MISSING FEBRUARY 3.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE FALLOUT FROM A PROBE INTO A PHILADELPHIA ABORTION CLINIC HAS COST SEVERAL STATE WORKERS THEIR JOBS. GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT SAYS THE EMPLOYEES INVOLVED WORKED FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENTS THAT LICENSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS. A GRAND JURY PROBING THE CLINIC WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF STATE REGULATORS FOR ALLOWING THE CONDITIONS AT THE CLINIC TO GO ON, UNCHECKED, FOR YEARS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - IN A COST-CUTTING MOVE, THE STATE SUPREME COURT SAYS EIGHT MAGISTRATE POSTS ARE BEING ELIMINATED ACROSS THE STATE. THE STATE HAS ABOUT 550 MAGISTRATE JUDGES BUT THE COURT SYSTEM HAS BEEN WORKING TO CUT THE TOTAL BY 10 PERCENT. THE POSTS BEING CUT ARE EITHER ALREADY VACANT OR SET TO BECOME OPEN THIS YEAR. THE MOVE WILL SAVE AN ESTIMATED $1 MILLION.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A ONE-TIME LAW STUDENT HAS BEEN ACQUITTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE SHOOTING OF A MAN LAST YEAR DURING AN AFTER-HOURS ARGUMENT IN DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA. GERALD UNG TESTIFIED THAT HE SHOT EDWARD DIDONATO JR. IN SELF-DEFENSE AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY THE VICTIM AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE. THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS REPORTS DIDONATO WAS CRITICALLY WOUNDED BUT SURVIVED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AS PHILADELPHIA'S SCHOOLS DEAL WITH A POTENTIAL BUDGET GAP OF $500 MILLION NEXT YEAR, SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ARLENE ACKERMAN SAYS SHE WILL DO HER PART TO PERSONALLY CUT BACK BY TAKING 20 UNPAID FURLOUGH DAYS. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS ACKERMAN'S TOP STAFF WILL ALSO TAKE ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO 10 UNPAID DAYS.

NATIONAL NEWS:
WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA MEETS WITH SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS TODAY AND HIS 2012 BUDGET PROPOSAL IS HIGH ON THE AGENDA. SO IS THE EFFORT BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO MAKE DRASTIC CUTS HALFWAY THROUGH THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR. OBAMA SAYS SUCH CUTS COULD TIE FEDERAL AGENCIES IN KNOTS AND FORCE STATES TO LAY OFF MORE WORKERS, CRIMPING THE FRAGILE RECOVERY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SOME OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S STAUNCHEST ALLIES ARE RANKLED OVER ONE OF THE BUDGET CUTS HE'S PROPOSING. OBAMA WANTS TO CUT A $5.1 BILLION HOME HEATING AID PROGRAM FOR THE POOR NEARLY IN HALF. THAT'S NOT SITTING WELL WITH NORTHEASTERN DEMOCRATS IN A REGION THAT'S SUFFERING THROUGH ONE OF ITS HARSHEST WINTERS IN YEARS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THERE HASN'T BEEN AN IMPACT YET, BUT THE U.S. MILITARY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF UNREST SURGING THROUGH THE ARAB WORLD. ONE KEY COUNTRY IS BAHRAIN, WHERE DISCONTENT HAS SPILLED INTO THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL. THERE'S BEEN NO ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT YET, BUT BAHRAIN IS THE LONGTIME HOME TO THE U.S. NAVY'S MIGHTY 5TH FLEET AND ARGUABLY THE MIDDLE EAST ANCHOR OF U.S. DEFENSE STRATEGY.

TRIPOLI, LIBYA (AP) - ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS IN THE ARAB WORLD ARE REACHING INTO LIBYA. HUNDREDS OF LIBYAN PROTESTERS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN THE COUNTRY'S SECOND LARGEST CITY TO DEMAND THE GOVERNMENT'S OUSTER. WITNESSES SAY PROTESTERS IN THE PORT CITY OF BENGHAZI DID NOT APPEAR TO DIRECT THEIR ANGER AT MOAMMAR GADHAFI, WHO HAS RULED THE NATION FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

CAMP SPRINGS, MD. (AP) - IT'S MOSTLY RAIN BUT AN AREA FROM CALIFORNIA TO WASHINGTON STATE, AND EASTWARD TO MONTANA IS GETTING BELTED BY ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM. THE NATIONAL FORECAST DESK IN CAMP SPRINGS, MARYLAND, SAYS THE SIERRA NEVADA WILL BE MEASURING SNOW BY THE FOOT. THE STORM WILL THEN MOVE INTO THE GREAT BASIN AND UPPER PLAINS, BRINGING MORE WINTER WEATHER TO THAT SECTION OF THE COUNTRY.