LOCAL NEWS: WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2011

BREAKING NEWS:
STATE POLICE SHOOT AND KILL WAYNE TOWNSHIP MAN AFTER METH BUST

A WAYNE TOWNSHIP MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY STATE POLICE EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING JUST AFTER SIX WHEN THEY VISITED HIS HOME WITH A SEARCH WARRENT TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF A METHAMPHETAMINE LAB. TROOPER BERNARD WALASAVAGE OF THE SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATION SAID TROOPERS WERE MET BY A MAN BRANDISHING A LONG GUN AND THREATENING THEM WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE 6 BLUE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS HOME. WALASAVAGE SAID THE MAN WAS SHOT BY TROOPERS, AFTER WHICH A TACTICAL MEDIC WHO ACCOMPANIES THE STATE POLICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM WAS CALLED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL AID. THE MAN, WHO HAS NOT YET BEEN IDENTIFIED, DIED FROM HIS INJURIES AT THE SCENE.INSIDE THE HOME TROOPERS FOUND A WORKING METHAMPHETAMINE LAB AND CONTACTED THE STATE POLICE CLANDESTINE LABORATORY RESPONSE TEAM TO ASSISTING IN SAFELY DISMANTLING THE LAB AND COLLECTING ITEMS FOR EVIDENCE.

JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL

IN THE 7TH DAY OF THE CAPITAL MURDER TRIL OF JULIUS ENOE AFTER 3 DAYS OF DELIBERATION BY THE JURY THEY COULD NOT REACH A VERDICT ON ANY OF THE 12 CHARGES ENOE WAS FACING AND JUDGE JACQUELINE RUSSEL, WHO HAS BEEN PRESIDING OVER THE CASE, DECLARED A MISTRIAL. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEIR WAS NO VEDICT PROSECUTORS CAN RETRY ENOE WITHOUT VIOLATING DOUBLE JEOPARDY. DISTRICT ATTORNEY JAMES P. GOODMAN SAYS THAT HE WILL CONSULT WITH THE FORKER FAMILY AND STATE POLICE BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO AGAIN SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ENOE WHO WAS ACCUSED OF THE SHOOTING DEATH OF BRUCE FORKER OF SHENANDOAH IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS TRIAL PUSHED BACK

THE TRIAL OF FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS MATTHEW NESTOR AND JAMIE GENNARINI HAS BEEN DELAYED BY A U.S DISTRICT COURT JUDGE. JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO ORDERED JURY SELECTION TO BEGIN ON MAY 12TH. THE ORIGINAL DATE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MAY 10TH . BOTH FORMER OFFICERS ARE CHARGED BY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WITH RUNNING AN ALLEGED EXTORTION RING FROM 2004 TO SEPTEMBER OF 2007. NESTOR IS ALSO FACING SENTENCING ON A SEPARATE CHARGE OF FALSIFYING POLICE RECORDS THAT DATE IS SET FOR JUNE 1ST.

MOST SERIOUS CHARGE DROPPED IN HAVEN SUICIDE CASE

PROSECUTORS DROPPED A MORE SERIOUS CHARGE TUESDAY IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT AGAINST A MINERSVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH HELPING A FRIEND COMMIT SUICIDE. AFTER WAIVING HIS RIGHT TO A PRELIMINARY HEARING, 26-YEAR-OLD DAVID FITTING NOW FACES ONLY A CHARGE OF RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS PROSECUTORS DROPPED A CHARGE OF AIDING SUICIDE AGAINST FITTING WHO REMAINS FREE ON $10,000 UNSECURED BAIL PENDING FURTHER COURT ACTION.

MINERSVILLE COUPLE CHARGED WITH ENDANGERING CHILDREN

A MINERSVILLE COUPLE IS CHARGED WITH ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF THEIR SIX CHILDREN AFTER POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE HOME FOR A REPORT OF TWO UNDRESSED CHILDREN IN THE STREET. 30-YEAR-OLD BRUCE HEIN AND 26-YEAR-OLD KELLY AYRES-HEIN WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH SIX FELONY COUNTS OF ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS POLICE ARRIVED AT THE HOME TO FIND UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A CODE OFFICER ORDERING THE COUPLE TO VACATE UNTIL THE RESIDENCE PASSES A CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTION. THE COUPLE HAS BEEN RELEASED ON $10,000 UNSECURED BAIL EACH. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES TOOK EMERGENCY CUSTODY OF ALL SIX CHILDREN AND PLACED FIVE WITH THEIR MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER AND ONE WITH A PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER.


STATE NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) FORMER SENATOR RICK SANTORUM IS TAKING THE NEXT STEP TOWARD A PRESIDENTIAL BID. SANTORUM SAYS HE ESTABLISHED A PRESIDENTIAL EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN TOMORROWS DEBATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE REPUBLICAN PREVIOUSLY HAD FILED A PRELIMINARY COMMITTEE WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

PITTSBURGH (AP) A WYOMING COUPLE IS SUING THE AARONS FURNITURE RENTAL CHAIN, SAYING IT RENTS COMPUTERS LOADED WITH SOFTWARE THAT CAN TRACK KEYSTROKES, SCREENSHOTS AND EVEN WEBCAM IMAGES OF CUSTOMERS AT HOME. IN A LAWSUIT FILED IN ERIE CRYSTAL AND BRIAN
BYRD SAY THEY DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT THE PC RENTAL AGENT SOFTWARE MADE BY ERIE-AREA COMPANY DESIGNERWARE UNTIL AN AARON'S EMPLOYEE WRONGLY ACCUSED THEM OF NOT PAYING FOR THE COMPUTER AND TRIED TO REPOSSESS IT LAST YEAR.

PITTSBURGH (AP) THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SAYS A COAL-FILLED BARGE THAT HAD BEEN LODGED AGAINST A LOCK AND DAM NEAR PITTSBURGH SINCE IT BROKE AWAY AND FLOATED DOWN THE OHIO RIVER LAST WEEK HAS BEEN SAFELY TOWED AWAY. ARMY CORPS OFFICIALS INITIALLY SAID THE BARGE WAS OWNED BY MARATHON PETROLEUM, BUT NOW SAY IT WAS OWNED BY AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES. ACL HIRED A CONTRACTOR TO TOW THE BARGE FROM THE EMSWORTH LOCKS AND DAMS, JUST DOWNRIVER FROM PITTSBURGH.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICIALS SAY TWO DOZEN DOGS AND SIX CATS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA HOME. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CHESTER COUNTY SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS TELLS THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER MANY OF THE ANIMALS AT THE COATESVILLE-AREA HOME SHOWED SIGNS OF FLEA INFESTATION, SKIN DISEASE AND MALNUTRITION.

THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED SENATE BILL 468 MONDAY TO PROVIDE SPECIAL VEHICLE PLATES FOR RECIPIENTS OF THE SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR AND BRONZE STAR WITH VALOR. THIS LEGISLATION WAS SUGGESTED IN AN EFFORT TO RECOGNIZE MORE VETERANS THAT SERVED IN THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN THEATERS. RECIPIENTS MAY APPLY FOR THE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES BY PAYING A $20 FEE IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE AND BY PROVIDING SUCH DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE REGISTRATION PLATES MAY ONLY BE USED ON A PASSENGER CAR OR TRUCK WITH A REGISTERED GROSS WEIGHT OF NOT MORE THAN 10,000 POUNDS

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - THERE'S STILL AN INTERNAL DEBATE GOING ON BUT CIA DIRECTOR LEON PANETTA SAYS A PICTURE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN'S CORPSE WILL PROBABLY BE RELEASED. THE IMAGES ARE DESCRIBED AS GRUESOME AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO BALANCE EFFORTS TO PROVE BIN LADEN IS DEAD AGAINST THE RISK OF PROVOKING ANTI-U.S. SENTIMENT.

NEW YORK (AP) - THE DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN HAS FOCUSED ATTENTION ON THE NEED FOR INCREASED VIGILANCE, BUT IT'S BEEN A FACT OF LIFE FOR NEW YORK CITY POLICE SINCE THE FAILED TIMES SQUARE BOMBING. THE NYPD SAYS FALSE ALARMS HAVE BECOME A FREQUENT NECESSARY ANNOYANCE. AS OF TUESDAY, THE NUMBER WAS 2,775 THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 2,477 THROUGH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

NEW YORK (AP) - A FIRM THAT MONITORS CONSUMER SPENDING SAYS A LATE EASTER HELPED APRIL SALES. MASTERCARD ADVISORS' SPENDINGPULSE DATA DUE OUT TODAY SHOW THAT CLOTHING SALES ROSE MORE THAN 10 PERCENT COMPARED WITH APRIL 2010. LUXURY GOODS ALSO ROSE BUT ELECTRONICS AND APPLIANCE RETAILERS LAGGED.

JERUSALEM (AP) - AN AIDE TO PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS' WESTERN-BACKED FATAH SAYS THE WEST SHOULD DROP A DEMAND THAT RIVAL HAMAS RECOGNIZE ISRAEL. THE TWO SIDES ARE SET TO SIGN A RECONCILIATION AGREEMENT IN WHAT ISRAEL SAYS AMOUNTS TO A
RENUNCIATION OF PEACEMAKING. THE DEAL TO BE SIGNED TODAY DOESN'T RESOLVE MANY KEY ISSUES AND MANY EXPECT IT TO QUICKLY CRUMBLE.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - NEW HAMPSHIRE'S SENATE TODAY RECONSIDERS THE EXPANSION OF THE STATE'S 10-YEAR-OLD ANTI-BULLYING LAW. LAST YEAR, THE LAW WAS MADE TO APPLY TO ELECTRONIC BULLYING AND ACTIONS THAT INTERFERE WITH SCHOOL OPERATIONS, EVEN OFF CAMPUS. SOME LAWMAKERS SAY THAT GOES TOO FAR AND OFF-CAMPUS BULLYING IS A PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY PASSED THE BILL.