TODAY'S NEWS: FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2011

ASHLAND MAN SENTENCED ON DRUG AND GAMBLING CHARGES

AN ASHLAND MAN WILL SPEND MORE THAN THREE YEARS BEHIND BARS IN FEDERAL PRISON AFTER LEADING A GAMBLING AND DRUG RING IN AND AROUND SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 49-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL STOCKUNAS, WHO WAS THE BOOKMAKING RINGLEADER IN THE ICE INVESTIGATION, WAS SENTENCED THURSDAY TO 41 MONTHS IN A FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. STOCKUNAS PLEADED GUILTY IN FEBRUARY TO GAMBLING, DRUG AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS STOCKUNAS MUST ALSO PAY $116,000 RESTITUTION TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, FORFEIT TO THE GOVERNMENT $32,000 AND REAL ESTATE HE OWNS IN HAZLETON, PAY A $300 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND SERVE THREE YEARS ON SUPERVISED RELEASE AFTER HIS PRISON TERM.

WANTED FUGITIVE BELIEVED TO BE IN COUNTY

STATE POLICE AND THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS NEED THE PUBLIC'S HELP IN FINDING A FUGITIVE WHO IS WANTED FOR ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER. POLICE SAY ON MARCH 4TH 26-YEAR-OLD MARQUES REAVES STRUCK A POTTSVILLE POLICE OFFICER WITH HIS CAR FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC STOP. ON SUNDAY REAVES WAS PULLED OVER ON INTERSTATE 81 BUT GOT AWAY FROM POLICE AFTER TAKING OFF ON FOOT NEAR FRACKVILLE. POLICE SAY REAVES IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS AND IS BELIEVED TO STILL BE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. A CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED TO ANYONE WHO PROVIDES INFORMATION TO POLICE ON REAVES WHEREABOUTS. (WGRC)

DRUG COSTS REFUNDED TO COUNTY

OVER $200,000 IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG REIMBURSEMENTS WILL BE PAID TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ACCORDING TO A SETTLEMENT WITH THE BENECON GROUP INC. IN LITITZ. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL REIMBURSE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FOR DRUG COVERAGE COSTS FOR RETIRED COUNTY EMPLOYEES UNDER THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM. THE HEALTH PLAN FOR THE COUNTY COVERS PRESCRIPTIONS AND THE MONEY IS THEN REFUNDED TO THE COUNTY.

PENNDOT DRIVER'S LICENSE CENTERS TEMPORARILY LIMITED

LIMITED SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE SATURDAY, MARCH 26TH AT SOME PENNDOT DRIVERS LICENSE CENTERS. AN UPGRADE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S PROBLEM DRIVER POINTER SYSTEM WHICH IS USED TO DETERMINE IS APPLICANTS HAVE OUTSTANDING DRIVER SANCTIONS IN OTHER STATES. UNAVAILABLE SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, LEARNERS PERMITS, REPLACEMENTS LICENSES AND COMMERCIAL OR OUT OF STATE LICENSES. PENNDOT ISSUED AN APOLOGY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND REMINDS CUSTOMERS OF AVAILABLE SERVICES ON THE DMV WEBSITE.

5th ANNUAL LES BROWN WEEKEND

IN HONOR OF THE BIG BAND ICON LES BROWN, THIS WEEKEND TOWER CITY WILL HOLD THE 5TH ANNUAL LES BROWN WEEKEND. JASMINE BROOKS HAS THE STORY:

LES BROWN WEEKEND

PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL CHEF AWARDED

A LOCAL CHEF WAS AWARDED THE 2011 ACHIEVING WOMEN AWARD. PENNY SHADE FROM PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL WORKS IN THE CAMPUS'S HIDDEN STREAM CAFE AND ALSO OVERSEES SCHUYLKILL'S CATERING SERVICE. SHADE WAS PRESENTED THIS AWARD BY THE UNIVERSITY'S COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES, JONATHAN KUKTA SAID SHADE PROVIDES STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY WITH INCREDIBLE SERVICE, CONTINUOUSLY DISPLAYING THE "WOW" FACTOR. SHADE WILL BE HONORED AT A CEREMONY APRIL 15TH AT THE PENN STATER CONFERENCE CENTER HOTEL AT UNIVERSITY PARK.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - U.S. CATHOLIC BISHOPS ARE RENEWING THEIR VOW TO OUST PREDATOR PRIESTS, WEEKS AFTER A GRAND JURY ACCUSED THE PHILADELPHIA ARCHDIOCESE OF KEEPING 37 PROBLEM PRIESTS ON THE JOB. THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS SAYS REFORMS ADOPTED BY THE U.S. BISHOPS IN 2002 MUST NOT BE "DERAILED."

GREENSBURG, PA. (AP) - THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A TORNADO THAT DAMAGED ABOUT 90 HOMES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WAS A CATEGORY 2 TWISTER WITH WINDS UP TO 120 MPH. THE WORST DAMAGE FROM WEDNESDAY'S STORM APPEARED TO BE IN HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY, ABOUT 25 MILES EAST OF PITTSBURGH.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE STATE COURT SYSTEM SAYS IT COLLECTED $480 MILLION LAST YEAR IN FINES, FEES AND RESTITUTION IN CRIMINAL CASES. THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COURTS SAYS THE FIGURE WAS 4.3 PERCENT LARGER THAN IN 2009, THANKS PARTLY TO BETTER USE OF COMPUTER AUTOMATION.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TALK-SHOW HOST MAURY POVICH IS DONATING $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT JOURNALISM PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, HIS ALMA MATER. THE GIFT ESTABLISHES THE POVICH FUND FOR JOURNALISM PROGRAMS, WHICH WILL FUND SEMINARS AND OTHER EVENTS AT PENN'S KELLY WRITERS HOUSE. POVICH GRADUATED FROM PENN IN 1

NATIONAL NEWS:

TOKYO (AP) - A SUSPECTED BREACH IN THE REACTOR CORE AT ONE UNIT OF A STRICKEN NUCLEAR COMPLEX IN JAPAN MAY PROVE A MAJOR SETBACK IN THE MISSION TO BRING THE LEAKING PLANT UNDER CONTROL. IT COULD MEAN MORE SERIOUS RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION. THE UNCERTAIN SITUATION HALTED WORK TODAY AT THE FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICHI NUCLEAR COMPLEX, WHERE DOZENS HAD BEEN WORKING FEVERISHLY TO STOP THE OVERHEATED PLANT
FROM LEAKING RADIATION.

BRUSSELS (AP) - NATO HAS AGREED TO TAKE OVER PART OF THE MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST LIBYA. THE 28-NATION ALLIANCE WILL HELP WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE NO-FLY ZONE, BUT ATTACKS ON GROUND FORCES WILL STILL BE LED BY THE U.S.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - TARGET'S SUIT AGAINST A PRO-GAY MARRIAGE GROUP BEGINS TODAY. TARGET WANTS THE GROUP TO STOP SOLICITING SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF GAY MARRIAGE OUTSIDE ITS SAN DIEGO COUNTY STORES. TARGET ALLEGES THE GROUP'S ACTIVISTS HARASS CUSTOMERS AND HURT BUSINESS. THE GROUP SAYS TARGET WANTS TO SILENCE IT.

NEW YORK (AP) - A DISASTER THAT BECAME A TOUCHSTONE FOR THE ORGANIZED LABOR MOVEMENT AND IMPROVING WORKPLACE SAFETY HAPPENED 100 YEARS AGO TODAY. THE BLAZE AT THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY IN NEW YORK RACED THROUGH THE BUILDING AS HUNDREDS OF MOSTLY JEWISH AND ITALIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN AND GIRLS TRIED TO ESCAPE. A CRUCIAL EXIT DOOR APPARENTLY WAS LOCKED. THE FIRE KILLED 146 PEOPLE.

GLENDALE, CALIF. (AP) - ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST STARS HAS BEEN LAID TO REST IN A SIMPLE CEREMONY THAT STARTED AFTER A 15 MINUTE DELAY. HER PUBLICIST SAYS ELIZABETH TAYLOR WANTED TO BE LATE TO HER OWN FUNERAL. THERE WAS NO PROCESSION TO THE FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, JUST LIMOUSINES CARRYING FAMILY MEMBERS. TAYLOR DIED WEDNESDAY OF CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.