LOCAL NEWS: TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011

COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO CROP

FIGURES RELEASED MONDAY BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY SHOW A CONTINUED DROP IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. FIGURES DROPPED OVER A HALF PERCENT TO 9.6 IN JANUARY, AND SHOW OVER A ONE-PERCENT DECREASE FROM 10.9 IN JANUARY 2010. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS NEARLY 1,300 JOBS LOST, BUT THAT NUMBER REFLECTING SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY, HOURLY EMPLOYEES OUT OF WORK OVER THE WINTER BREAK. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CURRENTLY RANKS 58TH IN UNEMPLOYMENT OUT OF THE 67 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES.

CORBETT’S EDUCATION CUTS RAISE DEBATE

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS AND BOARD MEMBERS JOINED FIVE STATE LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT’S PROPOSED $27.3 BILLION BUDGET MONDAY AT THE SCHUYLKILL I.U 29’S ANNUAL CONVENTION. STATE REPRESENTATIVES NEAL GOODMAN, JERRY KNOWLES AND MIKE TOBASH ALONG WITH STATE SENATORS DAVE ARGALL AND JEFFREY PICCOLA LEAD THE DISCUSSION. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS IN THEIR OPENING REMARKS, EACH LEGISLATOR ACKNOWLEDGED THE “CHALLENGING” ECONOMIC TIMES THAT 2011 PRESENTS. THE ISSUE ON SENATE BILL 1, WHICH WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES TO USE STATE FUNDS TO ENROLL IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, WAS A MAIN TOPIC. GOV. CORBETT’S PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES DRASTIC CUTS TO PUBLIC AND STATE HIGHER EDUCATION.


DUI CHECKPOINTS THROUGH MARCH

THE NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DUI TASK FORCE ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS AND ROVING DUI PATROLS WILL BE PRESENT ON MANY ROUTES IN OUR AREA THROUGHOUT MARCH 21ST. THE NORTH CENTRAL HIGHWAY SAFETY NETWORK WANTS TO REMIND DRIVERS IF THEY SUSPECT A DRUNK DRIVER TO DIAL 911 AND TO REPORT UNDERAGE DRINKING TO 1-888-UNDER 21.

STATE NEWS:

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - POLICE SAY A PHILADELPHIA-BOUND BUS OPERATED BY A PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY HAS CRASHED ON A HIGHWAY IN NEW JERSEY, KILLING TWO PEOPLE. STATE POLICE SAY THE LUXURY BUS HIT A GUARD RAIL AND A CONCRETE ABUTMENT. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED.

YORK, PA. (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN YORK SAY A DEFENDANT ACCUSED OF KILLING ANOTHER MAN ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO INTENDED TO KILL SOMEONE WITH A SIMILAR NICKNAME BUT FIRED AN ASSAULT RIFLE AT THE WRONG MAN. WILFREDO RODRIGUEZ JR. IS CHARGED WITH MURDER AND CONSPIRACY IN THE KILLING OF OMAR "BIG O" DOWLING.

WASHINGTON, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN CONVICTED IN THE BLUDGEONING DEATH OF HIS LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. THE OBSERVER-REPORTER SAYS JURORS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY DELIBERATED FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE CONVICTING LARRY BOYD JR.OF THIRD-DEGREE MURDER AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT LAST NIGHT.

WELLSVILLE, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY A DEER CRASHED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF A SCHOOL BUS, INJURING THE DRIVER BUT LEAVING MORE THAN TWO DOZEN STUDENTS UNHARMED. POLICE IN YORK COUNTY SAY ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEER, SENDING IT AIRBORNE AND THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF THE KAUFFMAN BUS SERVICES VEHICLE YESTERDAY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

SOMA, JAPAN (AP) - THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY SAYS RADIOACTIVITY FROM JAPAN'S EARTHQUAKE-CRIPPLED NUCLEAR PLANT "IS BEING RELEASED DIRECTLY INTO THE ATMOSPHERE." THE AGENCY SAYS JAPANESE OFFICIALS TOLD IT THAT THE REACTOR FIRE WAS IN A POND WHERE USED NUCLEAR FUEL IS KEPT COOL.

TOKYO (AP) -FIRST CAME THE EARTHQUAKE, THEN THE TSUNAMI, A NUCLEAR CRISIS AND NOW -- PANIC-BUYING. CANNED GOODS, BATTERIES, BREAD AND BOTTLED WATER HAVE VANISHED FROM STORE SHELVES IN JAPAN. OFFICIALS FEAR THAT HOARDING MAY KEEP EMERGENCY FOOD AID FROM THOSE WHO REALLY NEED IT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SEN. JOHN MCCAIN SAYS THE TOP U.S. COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN WILL PROBABLY FACE TOUGH QUESTIONS AT TODAY'S SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING. GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS (PEH-TRAY'-UHS) IS EXPECTED TO TELL LAWMAKERS THAT FORCES CAN BEGIN TO WITHDRAW THIS SUMMER AS PLANNED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW REPORT SAYS ALMOST 15 MILLION PEOPLE ARE PROVIDING BILLION OF HOURS OF UNPAID CARE FOR AN ESTIMATED 5.4 MILLION ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS. MEANWHILE, HEALTH AND NURSING HOME EXPENDITURES FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS WILL REACH $183BILLION THIS YEAR, MUCH OF IT PAID BY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - ALASKA AUTHORITIES SAY A MOOSE ATTACKED A 6-YEAR-OLD ANCHORAGE BOY AS HE WALKED HOME AFTER GETTING OFF A SCHOOL BUS. MICHAEL BARNES' GRANDFATHER SAYS THE BOY HAS BEEN SEDATED AND HIS FAMILY WON'T KNOW HIS CONDITION UNTIL HE AWAKENS.