TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011

MAHANOY CITY FIRE LEAVES 14 HOMELESS

FOURTEEN PEOPLE ARE NOW HOMELESS AFTER A FIRE IN MAHANOY CITY SPREAD THROUGH EIGHT HOMES EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. FIRE CREWS FROM MAHANOY CITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES RESPONDED TO THE BLAZE THAT OFFICIALS BELIEVE STARTED IN THE REAR OF 915 EAST PINE STREET, HOME OF KIM AND THOMAS BLACKWELL. THREE PEOPLE WERE WERE TRANSPORTED TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT AND HAVE BEEN RELEASED. IT IS BELIEVED THREE PET CATS MAY HAVE DIED IN THE FIRE THAT TOOK ABOUT THREE HOURS TO BRING UNDER CONTROL. PP&L RESPONDED TO DISCONNECT POWER TO THE AREA AND THE RED CROSS WAS ON-SCENE TO PROVIDE HELP. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.

FAMILIES OPEN HOME & HEARTS TO HOST STUDENTS

A NON-PROFIT PROGRAM IS SEEKING LOCAL FAMILIES TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. WPPA/T102'S JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

PEACE PROGRAM

RIGHTS WAIVED IN TAMAQUA ROBBERY

TWO MEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH A JANUARY 26 ROBBERY AND ASSAULT IN TAMAQUA WAIVED THEIR RIGHTS TO PRELIMINARY HEARINGS TUESDAY. 18-YEAR-OLD CORY WHITLEY OF TAMAQUA AND 20-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA GAUGLER OF NORTHAMPTON WERE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INCIDENT THAT BEGAN IN A PARKING LOT, WHERE A STOLEN VEHICLE WAS REPORTED. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS GAUGLER WAS RETURNED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON ON $2,500 BAIL. WHITLEY REMAINS FREE AFTER HE POSTED BAIL OF THE SAME AMOUNT.

TWO LIFE-FLIGHTED IN PORTER TOWNSHIP CRASH

TWO PEOPLE WERE LIFE-FLIGHTED FRIDAY AFTERNOON AFTER A TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN PORTER TOWNSHIP. 34-YEAR-OLD MELISSA KARPULK ATTEMPTED TO PASS A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY MARY SALADA, OF TOWER CITY, AT THE BOTTOM OF KEFFERS MOUNTAIN IN A NO-PASSING ZONE. KARPULK WAS MET BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AND TRIED TO PULL BACK BEHIND SALADAS VEHICLE SIDESWIPING IT AND SENDING IT SPINNING INTO AN EMBANKMENT. SALADA AND HER PASSENGER, HOWELL BADDORF, WERE BOTH FLOWN TO GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER WITH SEVERE INJURIES. KARPULK WILL BE CITED FOR UNSAFE PASSING AND DRIVING WITH AN EXPIRED INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION.

LPNS TO BE PHASED OUT AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL SOUTH

SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER-SOUTH JACKSON STREET IS PLANNING TO ADD MORE REGISTERED NURSES AND NURSING AIDS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A NEW HEALTH CARE DELIVERY MODEL. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE 51 LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES WILL BE PHASED OUT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THE LPN'S MUST TAKE A PAY CUT BY BECOMING NURSING AIDES OR BECOME RN'S AND REAPPLY.

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION WANTS WASHINGTON, D.C, TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE EFFECTS THAT MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING HAS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND FIVE OTHER BAY WATERSHED STATES. TOM JOSEPH REPORTS:

MARCELLUS SHALE

STATE NEWS:

STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 21 TO 41 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR THE RAPE OF A 12-YEAR-OLD AND FOR BURYING A BABY'S BODY AFTER THE GIRL PERFORMED A HOME ABORTION. MICHAEL LISK OF POLK TOWNSHIP WAS SENTENCED
YESTERDAY AFTER PLEADING GUILTY.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE SAY ONE SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY, AND THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO IDENTIFY AND ARREST A SECOND, IN THE CRITICAL WOUNDING OF A PITTSBURGH-AREA POLICE OFFICER. CLAIRTON POLICE OFFICER JAMES KUZAK WAS SHOT THREE TIMES, THE MOST SERIOUS WOUND BEING ONE THAT MISSED HIS BULLETPROOF VEST AND
TRAVELED THROUGH HIS ARMPIT.

SWARTHMORE, PA. (AP) - SWARTHMORE COLLEGE OFFICIALS SAY A STUDENT AND HIS FRIEND WERE PUNCHED, KICKED AND STOMPED BY A GROUP OF TEENS IN A CAMPUS ATTACK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SPURRED BY HOMOPHOBIA. DEAN LIZ BRAUN WROTE A LETTER TO THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY SAYING BOTH VICTIMS ARE OK AFTER BEING TREATED FOR THEIR INJURIES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY PHILADELPHIA FIREFIGHTERS HAVE RESCUED A 93-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN STUCK ON THE TOILET FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE WOMAN'S NORTH PHILADELPHIA HOME
YESTERDAY. THEY WENT THERE AFTER GETTING A 911 CALL FROM SOMEONE REPORTING THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN SEEN IN SEVERAL DAYS.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE INTENSIFYING TALKS TO AGREE ON FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH SEPTEMBER AND PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THEM. IF THEY CAN'T AGREE, HE SAYS HE'LL KEEP HAVING THEM BACK AT THE WHITE HOUSE. THE LATEST TEMPORARY FUNDING MEASURE EXPIRES FRIDAY AT MIDNIGHT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - BUDGET EXPERTS SAY THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN SPENDING PROPOSAL FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WILL COST RETIREES MORE MONEY FOR HEALTH CARE. THE PLAN WOULD PUT PEOPLE NOW 54 AND YOUNGER IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF PROGRAM -- A FEDERAL PAYMENT TO BUY PRIVATE INSURANCE FROM A CHOICE OF GOVERNMENT-REGULATED PLANS. THE ANALYSISCOMES FROM THE NON-PARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNREST THAT THREATENS TO TOPPLE THE COUNTRY'S U.S.-BACKED LEADER HAVE LEFT YEMEN OUT OF AN INITIAL PENTAGON PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE MORE THAN $43 MILLION IN MILITARY AID. A PENTAGON SPOKESMAN SAYS THE TERROR THREAT COMING FROM YEMEN REMAINS A CONCERN AND THE U.S. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE UPHEAVAL THERE.

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (AP) - IVORY COAST'S STRONGMAN LAURENT GBAGBO (LOH-RAHN' BAHG-BOH') IS HIDING OUT IN A BUNKER, TRYING TO HANG ON TO POWER WHILE SURROUNDED BY TROOPS LOYAL TO HIS ELECTED SUCCESSOR. DIPLOMATS SAY HE HAS REJECTED ALL OFFERS GIVEN HIM BY EMISSARIES HE SENT TO NEGOTIATE. FORCES LOYAL TO THE ELECTED PRESIDENT SAY THEY HAVE INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO HARM GBAGBO, MAKING HIS REMOVAL MORE DIFFICULT.

BERLIN (AP) - GERMANY'S GOVERNING COALITION SAYS IT'S TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO FIGHTING CHILD PORN ON THE INTERNET. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BLOCK SUCH SITES, THE GOVERNMENT NOW SAYS IT WILL DELETE THEM ENTIRELY. CRITICS ARGUED THAT BLOCKING THE SITES WAS INEFFECTUAL AND RAISED CONCERNS OVER INTERNET CENSORSHIP.