LOCAL NEWS: THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011

NORTH SCHUYLKILL CUTS EXPANSION PROJECT

NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THE PLAN TO COUNTER STATE AND DISTRICT BUDGET CUTS FOR THE 2011-2012 FISCAL YEAR. AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE EFFECTS OF THE CUTS ON THE DISTRICT, NORTH SCHUYLKILL SUPERINTENDENT, ANDREW SMARKANIC, SAID EFFECTED AREAS OUTLINED IN THE BUDGET WILL HAVE BOTH IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND OTHERS WILL BE PHASED IN. IN ADDITION, THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPANSION PROJECT HAS ALSO BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO THE UNCLEAR FINANCIAL FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SMARKANIC ASSURED THE COMMUNITY THAT ALL FISCAL DECISIONS ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN AND THE DISTRICTS MISSION OF MAKING EVERY CHILD COUNT WILL NOT BE LOST.

CHAIRMAN SELECTION BEGINS FOR REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER MIKE TURZAI SAYS THE REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A CHAIRMAN. MIKE DAVIES HAS MORE:

REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION

PRERELEASE BIDS OPEN AT COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING

BIDS FOR A PROPOSED PRISON PRERELEASE CENTER WERE OPENED WEDNESDAY AT THE COMMISSIONERS’ WORK SESSION. TWENTY-TWO COMPANIES OFFERED BIDS WHICH WERE DIVIDED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES: HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING, PLUMPING AND ELECTRICAL WORK AND GENERAL CONSTUCTION. PERFORMANCE CONSTRUCTION IN HARRISBURG PRESENTED THE LOWEST BASE BID FOR THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION. THE PRERELEASE CENTER IS MEANT TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING AT THE COUNTY PRISON. THE PLAN IS TO BUILD BESIDE THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION/FRACKVILLE.

HILLKIRK TO LEAD BERKS CAMPUS

PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL IS SAYING GOODBYE TO ITS’ CHANCELLOR R. KEITH HILLKIRK. BEGINNING JULY 1 HILLKIRK WILL BECOME THE NEW CHANCELLOR OF PENN STATE BERKS, A CAMPUS TWICE THE SIZE OF SCHUYLKILL. HILLKIRK HAS SERVED AS CHANCELLOR SINCE 2005, LEADING THE CAMPUS IN A POSITIVE WAY BY FOCUSING ON ENROLLMENT GROWTH. STEPHEN COUCH, DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL, WILL SERVE AS THE INTERIM CHANCELLOR OF THE CAMPUS.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY A POSSIBLE TORNADO HAS CAUSED ROOF DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM A SPRINGTIME STORM THAT ALSO DUMPED SNOW ON PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH. FORECASTERS SAY A TORNADO WARNING PRECEDED REPORTS OF SEVERAL ROOFS BLOWING OFF ALONG ROUTE 136 IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY'S HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A JAILED PHILADELPHIA ABORTION DOCTOR WILL SELL HIS $900,000 BEACH HOME IF HE NEEDS MONEY FOR LAWYERS DEFENDING HIM ON MURDER CHARGES. A DEFENSE LAWYER VOWS THAT DR. KERMIT GOSNELL AND HIS WIFE WILL NOT SELL ANY OF THE SEVEN PROPERTIES THEY OWN IN PHILADELPHIA. LAWYER JACK MCMAHON SAYS THE GOSNELLS HAVE AGREED TO FREEZE THOSE ASSETS AT THE REQUEST OF A VIRGINIA FAMILY SUING GOSNELL OVER THEIR MOTHER'S DEATH FROM A BOTCHED ABORTION.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT SAYS HE CONTINUES TO OPPOSE A TAX ON DRILLING FOR NATURAL GAS IN PENNSYLVANIA. BUT HE SAYS THAT HE'S NOT OPPOSED TO PROPOSALS THAT WOULD ALLOW COMMUNITIES OR COUNTIES TO IMPOSE FEES TO DEAL WITH THE IMPACT FROM THE BOOMING INDUSTRY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PAIR OF RED-TAILED HAWKS IS APPARENTLY FEELING THE BROTHERLY LOVE IN PHILADELPHIA. THE MATING COUPLE HAS RETURNED TO ITS UNUSUAL URBAN NEST ON A LEDGE AT THE CITY'S SCIENCE MUSEUM FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR. THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE HAS A WEBCAM THAT ALLOWS THOUSANDS OF BIRD LOVERS TO WATCH AS THE HAWKS
RAISE THEIR YOUNG.

NATIONAL NEWS:

TOKYO (AP) - A RUN ON BOTTLED WATER COUPLED WITH DELIVERY DISRUPTIONS HAS PROMPTED SHOPS ACROSS TOKYO TO BEGIN RATIONING GOODS LIKE MILK, TOILET PAPER, RICE AND WATER. ANXIETY OVER FOOD AND WATER REMAINS HIGH A DAY AFTER TOKYO OFFICIALS REPORTED HIGHER RADIOACTIVE IODINE IN THE CITY'S TAP. THE LEVELS HAVE SINCE
DROPPED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE FLOWERING TREES THAT SYMBOLIZE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN WILL BE THE BACKDROP THIS EVENING FOR A FUNDRAISING WALK FOR VICTIMS OF JAPAN'S MARCH 11 EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI. THE ANNUAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BEGINS SATURDAY WITH PEAK BLOOM PREDICTED NEXT WEEK.

MIAMI (AP) - THE FIRE IN AN AREA WHERE FUEL IS KEPT AT THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS OUT. THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AROUND 11 P.M. WEDNESDAY AND WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AROUND 1 A.M. TODAY. A SPOKESMAN FOR MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE SAYS THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ONLY ONE FLIGHT WAS DELAYED. THE CAUSE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

GOLDEN, COLO. (AP) - CALMER WINDS AND MULTIPLE WATER DROPS HAVE RAISED OPTIMISM ABOUT A NEARLY 2-SQUARE-MILE WILDFIRE IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER. THE FIRE BURNING WEST OF GOLDEN AND ABOUT 15 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN DENVER IS ABOUT 25 PERCENT CONTAINED. FIRE MANAGERS SAY IT COULD BE 80 PERCENT CONTAINED BY FRIDAY. NONE OF
THE SEVERAL HUNDRED HOMES IN THE AREA HAS BURNED.

ANKARA, TURKEY (AP) - TURKEY'S MILITARY SAYS NATO'S TOP MILITARY COMMANDER IS INVOLVED IN TALKS WITH THE TURKISH GENERAL STAFF. ANKARA HAS BEEN SEEN AS HOLDING UP AGREEMENT ON A NATO COMMAND STRUCTURE FOR A NO-FLY ZONE OVER LIBYA. TURKEY WANTS RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD EXCLUDE ANY FURTHER AIR STRIKES AGAINST LIBYAN LEADER
MOAMMAR GADHAFI'S GROUND FORCES.