TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011

SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER EAST NORWEGIAN STREET AND SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH JACKSON STREET HAVE BEEN ONCE AGAIN BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PATIENT CARE. JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:


STEPS TAKEN TO BAN SYNTHETIC DRUGS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

ANOTHER STEP WAS TAKEN YESTERDAY IN EFFORT TO BAN THE USE OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS IN OUR AREA. IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT JUDGE JACQUELINE RUSSELL ISSUED AN INJUNCTION TO BAN FOUR STORES NIRVANA'S CLOSET IN THE SCHUYLKILL MALL, DRAGON CHASERS EMPORIUM IN THE FAIRLANE VILLAGE MALL, EMPIRE FUEL STOP IN PINE GROVE AND THE GASWAY IN DARKWATER, NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP FROM SELLING THE DRUG COMMONLY KNOWN AS BATH SALTS. A HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY MORNING IN JUDGE RUSSELL'S COURT TO CONTINUE OR EXPAND THE INJUNCTION BASED ON THE PETITION FILED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JIM GOODMAN. GOODMAN FILED THE PETITION STATING THAT THE SALE OF BATH SALTS THREATEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH ,SAFETY, WELFARE AND IS A DANGER TO ALL OUR COMMUNITIES IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. GOODMAN ADDED THAT ANYONE DISOBEYING THE INJUNCTION BE SUBJECT TO A $1,000 CIVIL PENALTY FOR EACH VIOLATION.

POLICE TASE COMBATIVE MAN ON BATH SALTS

A CRESSONA MAN, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BATH SALTS, FLED FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM TUESDAY. POTTSVILLE POLICE SAY 36-YEAR-OLD ALLEN HOWELL JR. ESCAPED FROM THE SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH JACKSON STREET EMERGENCY ROOM WITH AN ACTIVE 302 PSYCHIATRIC WARRANT OF ARREST. WHEN POLICE LOCATED HOWELL HE BECAME AGGRESSIVE AND POLICE DEPLOYED A TASER X26 ON HIM. HOWELL WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND CHARGES OF PERSISTENT DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RESISTING ARREST WILL BE FILED.

EX-SHENANDOAH POLICE CONVICTION UPHELD

TWO EX SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS HAD THEIR CONVICTIONS UPHELD IN U.S DISTRICT COURT WEDNESDAY. U.S DISTRICT COURT JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO RULED THE EVIDENCE WAS ENOUGH TO PROVE MATTHEW NESTOR WAS GUILTY OF FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT AND WILLIAM MOYER WAS GUILTY OF LYING TO F-B-I AGENTS. CAPUTO WILL ISSUE SENTENCE ON JUNE 1ST FOR NESTOR AND MOYER IN U.S DISTRICT COURT IN WILKES BARRE. NESTOR AND MOYER WERE CONVICTED IN JANUARY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR ROLES IN OBSTRUCTING THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FATAL BEATING OF AN ILLEGAL MEXICAN IMMIGRANT IN JULY 2008. NESTOR FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIS ACTIONS WHILE MOYER COULD SEE UP TO FIVE YEARS.


WOMAN HURT IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH

A TAMAQUA WOMAN SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER MOTORCYCLE. POLICE SAY 29-YEAR-OLD MOLLY PETRO WAS DRIVING ON SR209 WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF A MOTORCYCLE SHE WAS DRIVING WITHOUT THE PROPER CLASS OF LICENSE. PETRO WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH JACKSON STREET AND WILL BE CITED FOR CAUSING THE CRASH.

BUDGET APPROVED FOR NORTH SCHUYLKILL SD

IN THEIR REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE PROPOSED 24 MILLION DOLLAR FINAL BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE THE SCHOOL THE BUDGET SHOWS A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION DOLLAR DECREASE IN ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES FROM THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET THAT PASSED IN JANUARY. TO MAKE UP THOSE DEDUCTIONS ONE OF THE CHANGES NOTEED WAS THE MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION DOLLAR DEDUCTION IN WAGES AND BENEFITS. OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE A PAY-TO-PLAY FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AND A $25 PARKING PERMIT FOR STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO DRIVE THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLE TO SCHOOL.

STATE NEWS:

THE STATE HOUSE HAS APPROVED A BILL INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JIM COX (R-BERKS) THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR RESIDENTS TO RE-APPLY EVERY FIVE YEARS TO HAVE THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBERS ON THE STATE'S DO-NOT-CALL LIST. UNDER COX'S BILL, ONCE A PERSON REGISTERS HIS OR HER PHONE NUMBER ON THE STATE'S DO-NOT-CALL LIST, IT WOULD REMAIN ON THE LIST UNTIL THE NUMBER WAS NO LONGER VALID FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. COX AGREED TO AN AMENDMENT PUT FORTH BY REPRESENTATIVE KATHY WATSON (R-BUCKS), WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT ALL TELEMARKETING CALLS ON STANDARD FEDERAL HOLIDAYS. THE BILL NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE FAILED TO FORCE CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSAL TO TAX DRILLING FOR NATURAL GAS IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE FORMATION. THE ISSUE CAME UP YESTERDAY IN THE FORM OF PROCEDURAL VOTES REGARDING A BILL SPONSORED BY DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE GREG VITALI OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

ERIE, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A BABY GIRL FOUND STUFFED INTO A SUITCASE ON A NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA STREET IS THE VICTIM OF A HOMICIDE. ERIE COUNTY CORONER LYELL COOK TELLS THE ERIE TIMES-NEWS THE CHILD MOST LIKELY DIED OF "NUTRITIONAL NEGLECT."

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - RESCUE CREWS IN PHILADELPHIA SEARCHED THE DELAWARE RIVER LAST NIGHT FOR A TEENAGE BOY WHO JUMPED INTO THE WATER AND DISAPPEARED. WITNESSES SAY A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE WERE JUMPING INTO THE RIVER FROM A PIER. WITNESSES SAY ONE YOUTH JUMPED IN TO HELP OUT A FRIEND AND DISAPPEARED.

READING, PA. (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY DNA EVIDENCE LINKS A MAN TO THE STABBING DEATH OF A CO-WORKER THREE YEARS AGO. THE READING EAGLE REPORTS PROSECUTORS SAY THE EVIDENCE LINKS GLENN LYONS TO THE DEATH OF KATHY LEIBIG. LEIBIG'S BODY WAS FOUND IN MAY OF 2008 AT WERNERSVILLE STATE HOSPITAL.

STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - BEAVER STADIUM IS GOING WIRELESS. PENN STATE ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR GREG MYFORD TELLS THE PATRIOT-NEWS OF HARRISBURG THE SCHOOL HOPES TO MAKE THE NITTANY LIONS' HOME FIELD THE LARGEST COLLEGIATE VENUE TO BE WIRELESS ACCESSIBLE. FANS WILL BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD APPS AND VIEW REPLAYS.


NATIONAL NEWS:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - FORECLOSURE LISTING FIRM REALTYTRAC SAYS SALES OF HOMES IN SOME STAGE OF FORECLOSURE ARE A CONTINUING SIGN OF WEAKNESS IN THE HOUSING SECTOR. THOUGH THEY'RE LOWER THAN THE FIRST QUARTER LAST YEAR, REALTYTRAC SAYS SUCH SALES STILL ACCOUNTED FOR 28 PERCENT OF ALL HOME SALES. THE NUMBER SHOULD BE BELOW FIVE PERCENT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE ECONOMY HIT A SOFT PATCH IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, CAUSED BY A BIG JUMP IN OIL PRICES, AND ANALYSTS SAY THEY EXPECT THAT TO WEIGH ON GROWTH FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT IS SCHEDULED TO REVISE FIRST QUARTER GROWTH UPWARD TODAY FROM 1.8 PERCENT TO 2.2 PERCENT, BUT ANALYSTS SAY IT'S STILL A LACKLUSTER PACE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE VOTES ARE SET TO BEGIN TODAY TO EXTEND KEY PATRIOT ACT PROVISIONS BEFORE THEY EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT. FINAL PASSAGE TODAY WOULD SEND THE LEGISLATION TO THE HOUSE FOR QUICK APPROVAL AND THEN ON TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IN EUROPE FOR HIS SIGNATURE. THE PROVISIONS INCLUDE ROVING WIRETAPS, COURT-APPROVED ACCESS TO BUSINESS RECORDS AND SURVEILLANCE OF "LONE WOLF" SUSPECTS.

NEW YORK (AP) - IT HAS A HOME THEATER, GYM, JAPANESE PAPER WALLS, FIREPLACE AND VARIOUS RENOVATIONS -- AND IT'S CONSIDERED A JAIL CELL. THE FOUR-BEDROOM BRICK TOWN HOUSE IN A TONY NEW YORK CITY NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHERE FORMER INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND LEADER DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN HAS BEEN MOVED. HE'S UNDER HOUSE ARREST AWAITING TRIAL ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES.

MORELIA, MEXICO (AP) - DISPLACED VILLAGERS AND 28 DEAD BODIES ON A WESTERN HIGHWAY ARE THE LATEST SNAPSHOTS OF MEXICO'S VIOLENT DRUG WAR. POLICE RESPONDING TO A CITIZEN COMPLAINT FOUND 28 MEN LYING DEAD AND FOUR OTHERS WOUNDED ON A ROAD LITTERED WITH BULLET CASINGS. EARLIER, AN OFFICIAL IN A NEARBY WESTERN STATE SAID HUNDREDS OF FRIGHTENED VILLAGERS HAD TAKEN REFUGE AT SHELTERS.