TODAY'S NEWS: FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

TWO FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS WERE ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES AGAINST THEM THURSDAY NIGHT IN FEDERAL COURT. J MATTHEWS REPORTS FROM WILKES BARRE:

TAMAQUA AREA CONSIDERS LONGER SCHOOL DAY

A LONGER SCHOOL DAY COULD BE IN THE FUTURE FOR THE TAMAQUA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS CERTAIN SCHOOL DAYS MAY BE LENGTHENED SO OTHER DAYS CAN BE CUT FROM THE SCHEDULE. THE DISTRICT WON'T ADD MORE THAN A HALF-HOUR TO THE DAY AND ULTIMATELY THEY WILL SAVE MONEY TO BRIDGE THE $1.76 MILLION GAP IN THE BUDGET.THE SUBJECT WAS DISCUSSED WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

DEP GRANT FOR REILLY TOWNSHIP

SENATOR DAVID ARGALL AND REPRESENTATIVE NEAL GOODMAN ANNOUNCED A GRANT WORTH OVER SEVEN-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR REILLY TOWNSHIP'S ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION PROJECT: NEWTOWN SOUTH 2.SENATOR ARGALL SAYS DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY, AND HE PLEASED TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ASSISTING REILLY TOWNSHIP TO CLEAN UP THE EYESORES AND SAFETY HAZARDS FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THE GRANT WILL HELP PROVIDE FOR MOBILIZATION AND DEMOBILIZATION, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EROSION AND SEDIMENT POLLUTION CONTROL PLAN, GRADING, DRAINAGE EXCAVATION, ROCK LINING AND SEEDING.THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON MAY 31, 2011 AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MAY 5, 2012.

MARCELLUS SHALE TASK FORCE

A MARCELLUS SHALE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN ORGANIZED HERE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TO IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES, DO RESEARCH, GENERATE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND REVIEW AND RECOMMEND PUBLIC POLICY REGARDING MARCELLUS SHALE ACTIVITIES. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS SUSAN SMITH WILL SERVE AS TASK FORCE FACILITATOR ON THE 15-MEMBER TEAM WHO WERE ALL CHOSEN BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.THE FIRST MEETING WILL BE JUNE 15.

CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN

PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE WILL OFFER FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTIONS STATEWIDE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S "CLICK IT OR TICKET" CAMPAIGN STARTING MAY 23. DURING THE CAMPAIGN, TROOPERS ALSO WILL CONDUCT TRAFFIC SAFETY CHECKPOINTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT TRAFFIC LAWS. ACCORDING TO THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, OUR STATE'S SEAT BELT USAGE RATE IS JUST UNDER 88 PERCENT, WHICH MEANS ABOUT 12 OF EVERY 100 PEOPLE TRAVELING ARE TAKING A RISK.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE UTILITY REGULATORS SAY A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT MEETS THE DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC UTILITY. BUT REGULATORS SAY THEY WANT TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S NECESSARY TO GRANT THAT STATUS. LASER NORTHEAST IS SEEKING PUBLIC UTILITY STATUS FOR A PIPELINE IT'S BUILDING IN SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, WHERE HEAVY MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING IS UNDER WAY.

TARENTUM, PA. (AP) - FEDERAL AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING A SMALL PLANE CRASH THAT INJURED FOUR PEOPLE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY THE AIRCRAFT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ISSUED A PRELIMINARY REPORT WEDNESDAY ON THE ACCIDENT NEAR TARENTUM THAT SERIOUSLY HURT THE PILOT, TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHER.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A LAWYER FOR A PHILADELPHIA-AREA MAN CHARGED WITH RAPING AND KILLING HIS 9-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR SAYS HIS CLIENT IS "CONFUSED" AND "SAD" OVER HIS ARREST IN THE GIRL'S DEATH. CRAIG PENGLASE SAYS HE PLANS TO EXPLORE JAMES TROUTMAN'S MENTAL-HEALTH ISSUES.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN WHO HOSTED MALE FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN HIS HOME HAS ADMITTED TO SECRETLY FILMING THEM AND OTHER TEENS. THE MORNING CALL OF ALLENTOWN REPORTS MICHAEL SCHEELER PLEADED GUILTY YESTERDAY TO POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND INVASION OF PRIVACY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

TOKYO (AP) - THE PRESIDENT OF THE JAPANESE UTILITY OVERSEEING THE CRIPPLED NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SAYS HE'S STEPPING DOWN. TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER HAS REPORTED MASSIVE LOSSES RELATED TO THE PLANT DAMAGED BY THE MARCH EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI.

NEW YORK (AP) - A LAWYER FOR DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN SAYS THE FORMER IMF CHIEF WILL PROBABLY BE RELEASED FROM JAIL LATER TODAY. A JUDGE IN NEW YORK SET HIS BAIL AT $1 MILLION YESTERDAY, BUT WHEN FREED HE'LL BE RESTRICTED TO A CITY APARTMENT UNDER ARMED GUARD. STRAUSS-KAHN FACES CHARGES THAT HE TRIED TO RAPE A HOTEL MAID.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA MEETS TODAY WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AT THE WHITE HOUSE. OBAMA IS TRYING TO SALVAGE STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS, BUT THE TWO MEN HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT A PALESTINIAN STATE.

TOKYO (AP) - JAPAN'S CABINET HAS APPROVED A PLAN TO JOIN A GLOBAL CHILD CUSTODY TREATY, THAT WOULD BRING THE COUNTRY IN LINE WITH THE HAGUE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL ABDUCTION. PARLIAMENT STILL HAS TO GIVE ITS APPROVAL. RIGHT NOW IN JAPAN, CUSTODY IN DIVORCE CASES IS ONLY GIVEN TO ONE PARENT, AND SOMETIMES THAT HAS KEPT THE KIDS AWAY FROM THE FOREIGN PARENT FOR YEARS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - HIGH GASOLINE PRICES ARE PUSHING A LOT OF AMERICANS TO MAKE TOUGH FINANCIAL CHOICES. FORTY PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO ANSWERED AN ASSOCIATED PRESS-GFK POLL SAY INCREASES IN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE WILL CAUSE SERIOUS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILY IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. AND 29 PERCENT SAY THERE'S BEEN NO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FAMILY.