LOCAL NEWS: SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2011

RED CROSS AIDS IN FLOODING

FIRE AND FLOODING HAS IMPACTED SCHUYLKILL COUNTY IN RECENT DAYS AND WEEKS. AS ALWAYS, THE RED CROSS WAS ON SCENE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. WPPA'S JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

RED CROSS

MIDDLEPORT WOMAN FACES THEFT CHARGES

STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE ARE INVESTIGATING THE LEFT OF A SUMP PUMP AND COPPER PIPES FROM A MIDDLEPORT APARTMENT BASEMENT THAT WERE REPORTED MISSING TUESDAY. 47-YEAR-OLD KAREN BORIS FACES CHARGES OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING AFTER HER LANDLORD DISCOVERED THE STOLEN ITEMS IN HER APARTMENT DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. A HIDDEN ENTRANCE BETWEEN THE BASEMENT AND BORIS'S APARTMENT WAS DISCOVERED. THE INCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AND ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE.

MUSIC HOPEFULS CAN LEARN IN ONE CLASS

HOPELESSLY BUSY PEOPLE NOW HAVE AN OPTION TO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT IN JUST ONE CLASS SESSION. BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY IS OFFERING A BEGINNER CLASS IN CHORD PIANO WHERE STUDENTS OF ALL AGES WILL LEARN THE PROPER CHORDS NEEDED TO PLAY. THE CLASS FOCUSES ON READING GUITAR CHORD SYMBOLS AS OPPOSED TO NOTES. STUDENTS WILL ALSO LEARN SECRETS THAT THE PROFESSIONALS USE TO EMBELLISH SONGS. THE CLASS WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY EVENING MARCH 30TH FROM 6:00 UNTIL 9:30 AND THOSE INTERESTED CAN REGISTER BY CALLING (570) 389-4420.

LUZERNE COUNTY AMMONIA LEAK

(AP) - SOME RESIDENTS OF HAZLETON WERE EVACUATED OR TOLD TO STAY INSIDE WITH THE DOORS AND WINDOWS CLOSED WHILE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WORKED STOP AN AMMONIA LEAK. FIRE CHIEF DONALD LESHKO TELLS THE STANDARD-SPEAKER OF HAZLETON THAT THREE WORKERS AT A BAKERY CALLED 911 AROUND 12:30 P.M. FRIDAY AFTER THEY SMELLED AN ODOR IN THE BUILDING. LESHKO SAID CREWS WERE WORKING TO STOP THE LEAK AND RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN A TWO-BLOCK AREA HAD BEEN ASKED EITHER TO EVACUATE OR STAY INSIDE WITH THE WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED. THE ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS USED IN REFRIGERATION APPLICATIONS AND CAN BE DANGEROUS IF INHALED, BUT LESHKO SAYS THE THREE BAKERY EMPLOYEES WEREN'T HURT.


STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - U.S. CENSUS FIGURES SHOW THAT PHILADELPHIA HAS GROWN IN POPULATION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS. THE FIGURES ALSO CONFIRM THAT THE CITY IS STILL THE NATION'S FIFTH-LARGEST. EARLIER GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES HAD PHOENIX SURPASSING PHILADELPHIA IN POPULATION.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - A FORMER BANGOR AREA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING COACH HAS BEEN ORDERED TO SPEND AT LEAST NINE MONTHS IN PRISON UNDER A PLEA AGREEMENT INVOLVING ALLEGATIONS HE DID DRUGS AND SWAPPED PRESCRIPTION PILLS WITH MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM. THIRTY-YEAR-OLD BRAD WASHBURN HAD PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF CORRUPTION OF MINORS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - POLICE HAVE CHARGED A SWATARA TOWNSHIP MAN IN THE DEATH OF HIS SON. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN DIXON WAS ARRESTED ON HOMICIDE AND OTHER CHARGES IN THE DEATH LAST YEAR OF 3-YEAR-OLD JAYAHN COX-PHOENIX. THE CORONER SAYS THE BOY SUFFERED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND DROWNED.

NATIONAL:

IWAKI, JAPAN (AP) - A BUILDING HOUSING A REACTOR HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY AN EXPLOSION AT A POWER PLANT IN JAPAN'S EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI-STRICKEN REGION. OFFICIALS FEAR A MELTDOWN AT THE REACTOR, WHICH LOST ITS COOLING SYSTEM. YESTERDAY'S DOUBLE DISASTER
HAS LEFT HUNDREDS DEAD OR MISSING.

SENDAI, JAPAN (AP) - JAPAN IS SENDING SOME 50,000 TROOPS IN TO HELP WITH EARTHQUAKE RESCUE AND RECOVERY AFTER THE 8.9 MAGNITUDE TEMBLOR AND 23-FOOT KILLER TSUNAMI. THE DISASTER LEFT HUNDREDS DEAD OR MISSING AND A NUCLEAR PLANT IN DANGER OF A MELTDOWN AFTER ITS COOLING SYSTEM FAILED.

AJDABIYA, LIBYA (AP) - MOAMMAR GADHAFI'S REGIME IS SHOWING GROWING BATTLEFIELD STRENGTH. POCKETS OF REBEL FIGHTERS WHO WERE KEEPING A TENUOUS HOLD AROUND OIL FACILITIES IN A KEY PORT CITY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT AFTER DAYS OF RELENTLESS SHELLING. MEANWHILE, A NO-FLY ZONE OVER LIBYA IS ON THE AGENDA AT TODAY'S ARAB LEAGUE
MEETING IN CAIRO, WHICH WILL ALSO HEAR FROM A EUROPEAN UNION REPRESENTATIVE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - NFL OWNERS HAVE LOCKED OUT THE PLAYERS, SIGNALING THE START OF THE LEAGUE'S FIRST WORK STOPPAGE SINCE 1987. SOURCES TELL THE AP THAT THE OWNERS MADE THE MOVE AT MIDNIGHT. THE DISPUTE IS OVER THE DIVISION OF UP TO $9 BILLION A YEAR. TEN PLAYERS HAVE SUED, ASKING A COURT TO BLOCK THE LOCKOUT.

COVINGTON, KY. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY 83 PEOPLE AT A WATERFRONT RESTAURANT GO AN UNSCHEDULED RIVER RIDE WHEN THE BARGE BROKE ITS MOORINGS ON THE OHIO RIVER. OFFICIALS SAY ALL WERE SAFELY RESCUED FROM JEFF RUBY'S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT, INCLUDING FORMER CINCINNATI BENGALS STAR WIDE RECEIVER, CRIS COLLINSWORTH.