TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2011

KNOWLES SUPPORTS BILL TO BAN BATH SALTS

A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORTS THE BILL TO BAN SYNTHETIC BATH SALTS. REPRESENTATIVE JERRY KNOWLES SAID THESE SPECIALLY CONCENTRATED BATH SALTS WHICH ARE SOLD IN SPECIALTY SHOPS ARE BEING MISUSED BY DRUG USERS AND CAN BE DEADLY. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNANIMOUSLY PASSED HOUSE BILL 365 MONDAY, WHICH WILL ADD SOME CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS REFERRED TO BY USERS AS “FAKE COCAINE” AND COMMONLY FOUND IN CERTAIN BATH SALTS TO THE STATE’S CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE LIST. KNOWLES ENCOURAGES LOCAL BUSINESSES TO STOP SELLING THESE PRODUCTS IMMEDIATELY.


A LEGENDARY PERFORMER WILL GRACE THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE THIS FRIDAY. WPPA/T102’S BRITTANY HAS MORE:

RONAN TYNAN

FRACKVILLE CAR THEFTS

STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE ARE INVESTIGATING MULTIPLE CAR THEFTS IN MIDDLEPORT BOROUGH AND THE VILLAGE OF BROCKTON, IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THE THIEVES ARE ENTERING THROUGH UNLOCKED DOORS AND REMOVING VARIOUS ITEMS. CITIZENS ARE BEING URGED TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLES LOCKED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE AT 570-874-5300.

TOBASH ANNOUNCES SATELLITE OFFICES

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TOBASH ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL HOLD OFFICE HOURS EACH MONTH IN TOWER CITY AND VALLEY VIEW. TOBASH SAYS HE IS TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS SERVICES EASILY. THE TOWER CITY OFFICE HOURS WILL BE HELD AT THE TOWER CITY MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON THE THIRD SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH. THE VALLEY VIEW OFFICE HOURS WILL BE HELD AT A BUSINESS OFFICE AT 102 WEST MAIN STREET ON THE FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH BEGINNING TOMORROW, APRIL 6.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER SAYS HE AGREES WITH THE BOTTOM-LINE FIGURE IN GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'S BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CUT STATE SPENDING, BUT HE SAYS GOP LEGISLATORS WOULD TRY TO ERASE SOME OF CORBETT'S PROPOSED CUTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER MIKE TURZAI SAYS
WELFARE SPENDING IN CORBETT'S PROPOSAL IS TOO HIGH, AND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CUTS FOR STATE-SUPPORTED UNIVERSITIES ARE TOO DEEP.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY FIVE TODDLERS AND THREE ADULTS WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT OF CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES AT A PITTSBURGH DAY CARE. EMERGENCY WORKERS SAY EMPLOYEES AT THE COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL AND NURSERY IN THE NORTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED 911 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER SEVERAL
PEOPLE COMPLAINED OF DIZZINESS, HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. AN EMS OFFICIAL SAYS THE FURNACE IN THE BUILDING WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FUMES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A FORMER OFFICIAL WITH THE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR CHARITY THAT CONTROLS THE HERSHEY CANDY COMPANY IS WITHDRAWING A COURT FILING THAT CLAIMED WIDESPREAD FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES AT THE CHARITY. ROBERT REESE SAYS HIS DETERIORATING VISION WILL MAKE IT PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE THE CASE, AND
THAT HE BELIEVES THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WILL ACTIVELY REVIEW THE MATTERS HE RAISED.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A BILL TO BAN CHEMICALS IN BATH SALTS, SALVIA DIVINORUM AND SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA IS ON ITS WAY TO THE STATE SENATE AFTER UNANIMOUS PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE. THE MEASURE WOULD EXPAND THE LIST OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES TO INCLUDE THE DRUGS THAT ARE BEING CONSUMED RECREATIONALLY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS HOPING HE CAN MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD AVOIDING A FRIDAY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. HE'S EXPECTED TO MEET WITH THE TOP HOUSE REPUBLICAN, JOHN BOEHNER, TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS CAN'T SEEM TO WORK OUT THE SPENDING CUTS AND THERE COULD BE ANOTHER STOPGAP BILL COMING.

OAK BEACH, N.Y. (AP) - INVESTIGATORS WILL RETURN TO A REMOTE BEACH ROAD ON LONG ISLAND TODAY TO CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH FOR BODIES. EIGHT CORPSES HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN RECENT MONTHS AND POLICE BELIEVE AT LEAST SOME WERE VICTIMS OF A SERIAL KILLER, THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY SUSPECTS. THREE BODIES WERE FOUND YESTERDAY.

GENEVA (AP) - THE U.N. WEATHER AGENCY SAYS THE SEASONAL DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER OVER THE ARCTIC HAS BEEN WORSE THIS YEAR. THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION SAYS THE EARTH'S FRAGILE OZONE LAYER IN THE ARCTIC REGION HAS SUFFERED A LOSS OF
ABOUT 40 PERCENT. THE WORST PREVIOUS LOSS WAS ABOUT 30 PERCENT. THE GENEVA-BASED AGENCY BLAMES THE LOSS ON A BUILDUP OF OZONE-EATING CHEMICALS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE 5-FOOT-LONG HOLE THAT OPENED IN A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PLANE LAST WEEK IS PROMPTING AN EMERGENCY SAFETY ORDER. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WILL ORDER THAT SOME OLDER BOEING 737S UNDERGO ELECTROMAGNETIC TESTING FOR HIDDEN METAL FATIGUE. TODAY'S ORDER WILL APPLY TO ABOUT 175 AIRCRAFT WORLDWIDE,80 REGISTERED IN THE U.S. SOUTHWEST OWNS MOST OF THEM.

HOUSTON (AP) - CONNECTICUT HAS WON THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP, IN A 53-41 DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE AGAINST BUTLER. BUTLER WAS HELD TO 12-FOR-64 SHOOTING. THE WIN WAS THE HUSKIES' 11TH STRAIGHT SINCE CLOSING THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A 9-9 BIG EAST RECORD.