TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2011

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ENDANGERING CHILDREN

A PINE GROVE WOMAN IS NOW BEHIND BARS FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT LAST WEEK IN WAYNE COUNTY. 31-YEAR-OLD MELANIE BEUCHLER IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN. POLICE ARRIVED AT THE HOME ALONG ROUTE 443 AFTER SEVERAL NEIGHBORS CALLED SAYING TWO YOUNG BOYS WERE RUNNING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC AND NOT WEARING SOCKS, SHOES OR COATS. UPON ARRIVAL A STATE TROOPER WAS ASSAULTED BY BEUCHLER, WHO WAS TAKEN TO POTTSVILLE MEDICAL CENTER. BEUCHLER WAS ARRESTED MONDAY AND PLACED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON ON $20,000 BAIL. THE CHILDREN WERE TAKEN TO BE WITH RELATIVES AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE NOW INVESTIGATING.

EXAMINATION ON BODY FOUND

OFFICIALS SAY THE BODY FOUND IN A WOODED AREA IN RYAN TOWNSHIP SATURDAY IS NOT KEVIN LUCAS, A GORDON MAN MISSING SINCE MARCH 7. THIS CONCLUSION CAME AFTER THE BODY WAS EXAMINED BY A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST ON SUNDAY. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE CORPSE MAY TAKE WEEKS TO IDENTIFY. POLICE CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR LUCAS.

PADCO AND MAHANOY TOWNSHIP RECEIVE FUNDING

THE POTTSVILLE AREA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE MAHANOY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECEIVED FUNDING MONDAY THAT WAS PRESENTED BY U.S REP TIM HOLDEN AND JACK HOFFMAN OF THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS PADCO RECEIVED A $12,000 USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT AND A $200,000 USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN. MAHANOY TOWNSHIP WAS PRESENTED WITH A $13,990 RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT. MAHANOY TOWNSHIP WILL USE THE MONEY TO HELP OFFSET THE PURCHASE OF A NEW DUMP TRUCK AND SNOW PLOW.

FORMAL ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR DANVILLE KILLER

THE FORMAL ARRAIGNMENT OF A DANVILLE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND WILL BE HELD APRIL 11TH AT THE MONTOUR COUNTY COURTHOUSE. AN OPEN COUNT OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AGAINST 32-YEAR-OLD WESTLEY WISE OF DANVILLE WAS ORDERED BOUND TO COURT LAST MONTH BY DISTRICT JUDGE MARVIN SHRAWDER. WISE WAS CHARGED BY POLICE WITH THE DEATH OF 25-YEAR-OLD JESSICA FREDERICK ON JANUARY 24TH. (WGRC)

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TWO MEN HAVE PLEADED GUILTY IN AN ARMORED CAR ROBBERY, HIGH-SPEED CHASE AND SHOOTOUT THAT LEFT A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER WOUNDED. UNDER PLEA AGREEMENTS, ANTHONY REID AND BRIAN WILLIAMS BOTH FACE 25- TO 50-YEAR PRISON TERMS. AUTHORITIES SAID THE TWO ROBBED AN ARMORED CAR GUARD OF $100,000 AT A WEST PHILADELPHIA GAS STATION IN SEPTEMBER 2009 AND LED POLICE ON A 10-MILE CHASE THAT ENDED IN A SHOOTOUT IN SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS ARE TAKING ACTION AGAINST A PAIR OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESSES RUN BY A MAN ACCUSED OF DUMPING GAS DRILLING WASTE AND SLUDGE ILLEGALLY. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS ISSUED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS AGAINST ALLAN SHIPMAN, TRI COUNTY WASTE WATER SERVICE INC. AND ALLAN'S WASTE WATER SERVICE INCORPORATED.

PITTSTON, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY THE BODY OF A WOMAN FOUND ON THE BANKS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THAT OF A WOMAN REPORTED MISSING EARLIER THIS MONTH. LUZERNE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACKIE MUSTO CARROLL CONFIRMED THAT THE BODY FOUND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ON THE RIVERBANK IN WILKES-BARRE IS THAT LILLIAN CALABRO OF PITTSTON. AN AUTOPSY HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THIS MORNING.

STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - A PENN STATE GRADUATE AND HIS WIFE ARE DONATING $10 MILLION FOR TWO ENDOWMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY'S LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE. DOUG AND JULIE ROCK HAVE OFFERED TWO GIFTS OF $5 MILLION EACH. ONE OF THE DONATIONS WILL CREATE AN ENDOWED DEAN'S CHAIR IN THE COLLEGE. THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE OTHER $5 MILLION DONATION WILL SUPPORT AN ENDOWED DIRECTORSHIP AT THE ROCK ETHICS INSTITUTE.

NATIONAL NEWS:

FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN (AP) - WEARINESS AND ANXIETY ARE SETTING IN FOR EVACUEES WHO LEFT HOMES NEAR JAPAN'S DAMAGED NUCLEAR COMPLEX. ONE MAN WONDERED WHETHER THE TRIP HOME WILL TAKE DAYS, DECADES, OR NEVER HAPPEN. WORKERS PULLED FROM THE COMPLEX YESTERDAY HAVE RESUMED THE WORK OF HOOKING UP ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND TRYING TO REPAIR DAMAGED BUT CRITICAL COOLING UNITS.

BEIJING (AP) - CHINA IS CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN LIBYA AND TALKS TO END THE VIOLENCE. CHINA WAS ONE OF FIVE COUNTRIES THAT ABSTAINED FROM LAST WEEK'S VOTE ON THE U.N. RESOLUTION TO LAUNCH PUNISHING AIRSTRIKES TO ENFORCE A NO-FLY ZONE.

DETROIT (AP) - THE HEATED NATIONAL DEBATE OVER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS IS THE BACKDROP THIS WEEK AS THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION MEETS IN DETROIT STARTING TODAY. MORE THAN 1,200 DELEGATES ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE THREE-DAY CONVENTION. AMONG
THE ITEMS ON THEIR AGENDA IS SETTING GOALS FOR CONTRACT TALKS WITH U.S. AUTOMAKERS. THE CONTRACTS EXPIRE SEPT. 14.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - CALIFORNIANS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DRYING OUT A BIT TODAY. THE POURING RAIN THAT PROMPTED MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN LOS ANGELES OVER THE WEEKEND WAS PREDICTED TO GIVE WAY TO A SUNNY SKY, WHILE SNOWBOUND CAMPSITES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK EXPECTED A FEW FLURRIES AT MOST. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK OFFICIALS SAID ROADS INTO THE PARK WOULD REMAIN CLOSED TUESDAY AS CREWS REPAIR DOWNED POWER LINES AND CLEAR FALLEN TREES.

NEW CITY, N.Y. (AP) - FORMER NFL STAR LAWRENCE TAYLOR VENTURES BACK INTO THE LEGAL ARENA TODAY. HE'S SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED IN A SUBURBAN NEW YORK COURT FOR HAVING SEX WITH AN UNDERAGE GIRL. THE 51-YEAR-OLD EX-LINEBACKER ALREADY HAS WORKED OUT A PLEA DEAL OF SIX YEARS' PROBATION. HE'LL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER. TAYLOR SAYS HE THOUGHT SHE WAS 19.