TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011

SHARP CUTS IN EDUCATION IS PART OF GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'SFIRST BUDGET AND THAT PROPOSAL IS MAKING ONE LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE SOME CUTS OF HIS OWN. T102/ WPPA'S BRITTANY HAS THE STORY:

SCHOOL CUTS

COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' WORK SESSION WEDNESDAY APPROVED A VARIETY OF CONTRACTS. BRENDA ZECHMAN FROM THE VETERAN'S AFFAIRS OFFICE REQUESTED APPROVAL TO PURCHASE FLAGS USED TO DECORATE THE GRAVES OF OUR DECEASED VETERANS ON MEMORIAL DAY. ZECHMAN ALSO STATED A TOTAL OF 900 VETERANS FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PASSED AWAY IN 2010. APPROVAL ON A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY WAS ALSO REQUESTED. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL PURCHASE TWO NEW VEHICLES FOR A TOTAL COST OF $63,612.60. THE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE ON THE ROAD NEXT WEEK, HOLDING THEIR MEETING AT GIRARDVILLE BOROUGH HALL.

SHENANDOAH MAN ARRESTED FOR RITE AID ROBBERY

POLICE OBTAINED AN ARREST WARRANT WEDNESDAY FOR A SHENANDOAH MAN, CHARGING HIM WITH ROBBING THE RITE AID PHARMACY ON FEBRUARY 18. 32-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL GARVEY IS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF FELONY ROBBERY AND ONE MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE EACH OF THEFT, RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY, POSSESSING INSTRUMENTS OF CRIME AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS AS OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT OFFICERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE GARVEY.

POPULATION DROPS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

THE U.S CENSUS BUREAU DATA WAS RELEASED TUESDAY AFTERNOON; SHOWING SCHUYLKILL COUNTY IS NO LONGER IN THE TOP THIRD OF POPULATED COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS THE COUNTY HAS LOST OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS SCHUYLKILL COUNTY IS NOW THE 24TH MOST HEAVILY POPULATED OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S 67 COUNTIES.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - WEATHER ADVISORIES AND FLOOD WATCHES ARE POSTED FOR MUCH OF PENNSYLVANIA WITH THE APPROACH OF A STORM EXPECTED TO BRING HEAVY RAIN TO MANY AREAS AND SNOW TO SOME OF THEM. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED BEGINNING TODAY IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA TOTALING ONE AND ONE-HALF TO THREE AND ONE-HALF INCHES WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS IN SOME AREAS, ESPECIALLY ON HIGHER TERRAIN.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AFTER SUSPENDING 21 PRIESTS NAMED BY A GRAND JURY ASCHILD MOLESTATION SUSPECTS, PHILADELPHIA CARDINAL JUSTIN RIGALI (RIH-GAH'-LEE) IS CALLING ON THE FAITHFUL TO PRAY FOR HEALING IN THE CHURCH AND FOR SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS. RIGALI SPOKE TO HUNDREDS OF ROMAN CATHOLICS ATTENDING A LUNCHTIME MASS AT THE CITY'S BASILICA ON ASH WEDNESDAY, WHICH MARKS THE BEGINNING OF LENT.

KITTANING, PA. (AP) - STATE POLICE AND ANIMAL WELFARE AUTHORITIES IN KITTANNING IN ARMSTRONG COUNTY SAY DEAD AND SEVERELY MALNOURISHED DOGS WERE FOUND INSIDE A HOME OVER THE WEEKEND. HUMANE OFFICER PENNY DEWOERHEL SAYS SHE SEIZED A DOZEN GREAT DANES, THREE OF WHICH WERE DEAD. STATE POLICE SAID CHARGES WERE PENDING AGAINST THE OWNER, WHOSE NAME WAS NOT RELEASED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 60 YEARS, CENSUS FIGURES INDICATE PHILADELPHIA'S POPULATION HAS RISEN. ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DATA ON PENNSYLVANIA, ALLENTOWN AND READING HAVE ALSO SHOWN MAJOR GROWTH SINCE THE 2000 CENSUS. PHILADELPHIA WENT UP BY 0.6 PERCENT. PITTSBURGH'S POPULATION DECREASED 8.6 PERCENT AND ERIE LOST 1.9 PERCENT.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A HEARING THAT HAS ATTRACTED A HIGH-LEVEL OF ADVANCE CONTROVERSY, CONDEMNATION AND SUPPORT TAKES PLACE ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY UNDER INCREASED SECURITY. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN PETER KING PLANS TO TAKE TESTIMONY FOCUSED ON THE U.S. MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO HELP PREVENT RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM. KING SAYS THE SECURITY IS BECAUSE OF AN OVERSEAS THREAT RELAYED TO HIM IN DECEMBER.

MADISON, WIS. (AP) - IT LOOKS LIKE AN ABRUPT END TODAY TO A NEARLY MONTH-LONG STANDOFF IN THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE OVER UNION RIGHTS LEGISLATION. THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATE ASSEMBLY VOTES ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD STRIP MOST PUBLIC WORKERS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS. SENATE REPUBLICANS OUTMANEUVERED DEMOCRATS BY STRIPPING THE MEASURE FROM THE FUNDING PART OF THE BILL AND VOTING IT SEPARATELY.

LIMON, COLO. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A POLICE OFFICER IS DEAD AND THE ALLEGED GUNMAN HAS KILLED HIMSELF DURING A STANDOFF AT A MOBILE HOME PARK IN COLORADO. OFFICIALS SAY THE SHOOTINGS OCCURRED LAST NIGHT IN LIMON, ABOUT 90 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DENVER. LIMON POLICE OFFICER JAY SHERIDAN WAS SHOT AS OFFICERS TRIED TO SERVE A FUGITIVE WARRANT.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A STORM SYSTEM MOVING UP FROM THE SOUTHEAST IS HEADED FOR PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST TODAY, AS THE REGION DEALS WITH RISING WATERWAYS AND SATURATED SOIL FROM A LATE-WINTER WALLOP A FEW DAYS AGO. AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION HAS ALLOWED THE NATIONAL GUARD AND STATE POLICE TO MOBILIZE IN NEW JERSEY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNS OF POSSIBLE FLOODING IN NEW YORK'S LOWER HUDSON VALLEY AND IN SEVERAL NEW JERSEY COUNTIES.

BEIJING (AP) - WITNESSES REPORT PEOPLE BURIED UNDER DEBRIS FROM BUILDINGS DAMAGED BY AN EARTHQUAKE IN EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CHINA THAT KILLED NEARLY 20. THE OFFICIAL XINHUA (SHIN-WAH) NEWS AGENCY REPORTS THE EARTHQUAKE TOPPLED HOUSES AND DAMAGED A HOTEL AND
SUPERMARKET NEAR THE BORDER WITH MYANMAR. MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE WERE
INJURED.