TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011

CITY STREET WORKER INJURED IN PLOW ACCIDENT

A STREET WORKER FOR THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY WAS RUSHED TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL TUESDAY AFTER SUFFERING A LEG INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A SNOW PLOW. POLICE TELL THE REPUBLICAN HERALD, 64-YEAR OLD RICHARD MABERRY WAS TAKEN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL TUESDAY AFTER FIRST BEING TRANSPORTED TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER-SOUTH AND WAS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION TUESDAY NIGHT. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JUST AFTER 9:30 TUESDAY MORNING MABERRY STOPPED THE PLOW ON A HILL ON NORTH SEVENTH STREET TO CHECK THE LOAD OF SALT. HE WALKED TO THE BACK TO CHECK THE TRUCK BED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING EAST, DOWN THE HILL. MABERRY WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND AND THE VEHICLE DRAGGED HIM MORE THAN 30 FEET, INJURING HIS LEFT LEG. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST AGAINST THE BACK OF A HOUSE AT 635 HARRISON STREET WHICH SUSTAINED LIGHT DAMAGE. THE TRUCK BED ON THE PLOW SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. SEVENTH AND HARRISON STREET REOPENED WITHIN AN HOUR AFTER INVESTIGATION

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL SET FOR 125TH ANNUAL FORECAST

THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS GROUNDHOG IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HIS 125TH ANNUAL WEATHER FORECAST IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF REVELERS ON A TINY HILL IN PENNSYLVANIA. PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL IS SCHEDULED TO EMERGE ABOUT DAWN TODAY WHEN HIS HANDLERS WILL ANNOUNCE WHETHER THE ANIMAL HAS "SEEN" HIS SHADOW AND IS THEREFORE PREDICTING SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTRY WEATHER, OR HAS FAILED TO SEE IT, SIGNALING AN EARLY SPRING. THE FORECASTS ARE CONCOCTED BY PHIL'S HANDLERS, THE PUNXSUTAWNEY GROUNDHOG CLUB'S INNER CIRCLE. SINCE 1887, PHIL HAS SEEN HIS SHADOW 98 TIMES AND HASN'T SEEN IT 15 TIMES. THERE ARE NO RECORDS FOR THE REMAINING YEARS, THOUGH THE GROUP HAS NEVER FAILED TO ISSUE A FORECAST. THE TRADITION TRACES ITS ORIGINS TO A GERMAN SUPERSTITION.

STORM PROMPTS 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON PA. HIGHWAYS

THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS TEMPORARILY REDUCED SPEED LIMITS TO 45 MPH ON ALL INTERSTATES AND OTHER EXPRESSWAYS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AS A MAJOR ICE STORM APPROACHES. PENNDOT IS URGING MOTORISTS TO AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL DURING THE STORM AND URGES ANYONE WHO HAS TO DRIVE TO USE CAUTION. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED AN ICE STORM WARNING FOR MUCH OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA NORTH AND WEST OF PHILADELPHIA. THE WORST OF THE GLAZING IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 3 A.M. AND 9 A.M. WEDNESDAY. FORECASTERS SAY POWER OUTAGES ARE EXPECTED DUE TO ICE BREAKING OFF TREE LIMBS AND WIRES, AND THE OUTAGES COULD BE SEVERE IF THE GLAZE EXCEEDS THREE-QUARTERS OF AN INCH.

YOUTH WEEK

THE PENNSYLVANIA AMERICAN LEGION IS LOOKING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AN INTEREST IN ONE DAY WORKING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE MILITARY SERVICE. “STATE POLICE YOUTH WEEK” IS AN ANNUAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT IS OPEN TO PENNSYLVANIA YOUTHS WHO ARE 17 OR YOUNGER AND WILL HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, OR SENIOR YEAR BY JUNE 12. THE PROGRAM WILL BE HELD JUNE 12-18 AT YORK COLLEGE IN YORK COUNTY. THOSE SELECTED AS CADETS WILL ENGAGE IN TEAM-BUILDING AND SELF-ESTEEM EXERCISES AND LEARN ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE, PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD, TRAFFIC AND CRIMINAL LAWS, AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT-RELATED TOPICS. CADETS WILL MARCH TO THEIR CLASSES IN PLATOON FORMATION AND HAVE DRILL COMPETITION. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE PENNSYLVANIA AMERICAN LEGION WEBSITE AT PA-LEGION.COM.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - SENTENCING IS SET FOR TODAY FOR HERBERT AND CATHERINE SCHAIBLE. THE FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN COUPLE WAS CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN THE 2009 PNEUMONIA DEATH OF THEIR TODDLER SON BY FAILING TO GET HIM MEDICAL CARE. THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS REPORTS THE SCHAIBLE'S ATTORNEYS ARGUED THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW SICK THEIR SON WAS.

LEBANON, PA. (AP) - A SOUS CHEF AT THE GOVERNOR'S HARRISBURG RESIDENCE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY AFTER STATE POLICE SAY HE PAWNED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FLATWARE AND OTHER SILVER ITEMS FROM HIS WORKPLACE. MICHAEL DAVID YANCEY FACES NINE COUNTS OF RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

CHICAGO (AP) - CITIES ACROSS MIDDLE AMERICA ARE VIRTUALLY SHUT DOWN AS A MEGA-BLIZZARD WREAKS HAVOC ACROSS A THIRD OF THE COUNTRY FROM THE HEARTLAND TO NEW ENGLAND. SCORES OF SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES CANCELED ACTIVITIES OR DECIDED NOT TO OPEN AT ALL. THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED ACROSS THE NATION. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS HAVE MADE MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE AND SENT AUTHORITIES LOOKING FOR STRANDED MOTORISTS.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA (AP) - SOME PEOPLE ARE STAYING PUT EVEN IN THE FACE OF DIRE OFFICIAL WARNINGS OF POTENTIAL DEVASTATION FOR CITIES AND TOWNS ALONG A STRETCH OF THE COAST IN WATERLOGGED NORTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA. A FEW HOURS BEFORE CYCLONE YASI WAS DUE TO HIT, OFFICIALS SAID IT WAS TOO LATE FOR PEOPLE TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES AND ANNOUNCED THAT SHELTERS WERE CLOSED, IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS. YASI, WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 186 MPH IS BEING DESCRIBED AS A SAVAGE STORM.

CAIRO (AP) - AN EFFORT COULD BE STARTING BY SUPPORTERS OF EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK TO RETAKE MOMENTUM FROM PROTESTERS DEMANDING THE COUNTRY'S NEARLY 30-YEAR RULER STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCHED IN SUPPORT OF MUBARAK TODAY, HOURS AFTER HE MADE A DEFIANT SPEECH PROMISING TO SERVE OUT THE LAST MONTHS OF HIS TERM AND "DIE ON EGYPTIAN SOIL." THE MEDITERRANEAN CITY OF ALEXANDRIA SAW CLASHES ERUPT BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS.

SANAA, YEMEN (AP) - ANOTHER LONGTIME MIDDLE EAST RULER SAYS THE NEXT ELECTION WILL GO ON WITHOUT HIM. YEMEN'S PRESIDENT TOLD PARLIAMENT TODAY HE WILL NOT SEEK ANOTHER TERM AFTER 32 YEARS IN OFFICE, OR HAND POWER TO HIS SON. THE U.S.-ALLIED ALI ABDULLAH SALEH'S STATEMENT COMES IN APPARENT REACTION TO PROTESTS IN HIS IMPOVERISHED NATION THAT HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY TUNISIA'S REVOLT AND THE TURMOIL IN EGYPT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE REPUBLICANS COULD TRY TODAY TO FORCE A VOTE ON THE HOUSE-PASSED REPEAL OF THE HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL BUT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP SAYS NO DICE. REPUBLICANS WOULD NEED 13 DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO OVERCOME A PROCEDURAL MATTER. THE BILL'S SUPPORTERS AND CRITICS AGREE ON ONE POINT: THE SUPREME COURT RATHER THAN POLITICIANS WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE THE LAW'S FATE. FOUR FEDERAL JUDGES HAVE SPLIT RULINGS ON THE LAW'S CONSTITUTIONALITY.