TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2011

LATE TUESDAY EVENING, AFTER FEDERAL PROSECUTORS RESTED THEIR CASE, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S FOR MATTHEW NESTOR AND JAMIE GENNARINI PUSHED FOR A DISMISSAL ON THE EXTORTION CHARGE FOR THEIR CLIENTS...WEDNESDAY THEY GOT THE DECISION...FROM WILKES BARRE HERE'S J MATTHEWS
VERDICT ON THIS TRIAL COULD COME LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY FRIDAY. WPPA WILL BRING YOU LIVE COVERAGE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

FORMER FIREFIGHTER SENTENCED FOR ARSONS

A FORMER VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER WAS SENTENCED WEDNESDAY TO 12 TO 24 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR HIS ROLE IN A SERIES OF SOUTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ARSONS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS 22-YEAR-OLD SHAWN HOY OF PINE GROVE ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA AGREEMENT WHICH INCLUDED THAT HE PAY OVER SEVEN-HUNDRED-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION. ALL SIX MEN INVOLVED IN THE ARSON RING HAVE BEEN SENTENCED A TOTAL OF 25 TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON AND NEARLY TWO-MILLION DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION.

MAHANOY CITY MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

A MAHANOY CITY MAN IS NOW BEHIND BARS AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH CRITICALLY INJURING ANOTHER MAN DURING AN ASSAULT MAY 8. POLICE SAY 37-YEAR-OLD TODD FORKER WAS JAILED WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING MICHAEL RITSKO WHO WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS WITH INJURIES TO THE HEAD. RITSKO REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER WHILE FORKER IS UNABLE TO POST 10 PERCENT OF $50,000 BAIL.

LIFESHARING PROGRAM A SUCCESS

DOZENS OF PEOPLE ATTENDED AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE TAMAQUA LIFE CENTER HOSTED BY ACCESS SERVICES ON TUESDAY. THE OPEN HOUSE DISCUSSED THE LIFESHARING PROGRAM ALONG WITH OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WILLING TO OPEN THEIR HOMES TO DISABLED PERSONS. ACCESS SERVICES PROVIDES LIFESHARING THROUGHOUT 12 COUNTIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THERE IS CURRENTLY IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO SHARE THEIR HOME AND TIME. FOR INFORMATION ON LIFESHARING, FOSTER CARE, OR RESPITE CARE PROGRAMS CONTACT ACCESS SERVICES.

PENNDOT WARNS YOUNG DRIVERS

WITH GRADUATION AND PROM SEASON UNDERWAY AND SUMMER VACATION FAST APPROACHING, PENNDOT REMINDS YOUNG DRIVERS TO AVOID DISTRACTIONS AND FOCUS THEIR FULL ATTENTION ON THE ROAD. FROM 2006 TO 2010, THERE WERE OVER ONE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND CRASHES IN PENNSYLVANIA INVOLVING 16- TO 19-YEAR-OLD DRIVERS. TRAGICALLY, THOSE CRASHES RESULTED IN 952 DEATHS. FROM 2006 THROUGH 2010 OVER THREE THOUSAND CRASHES INVOLVED A TEEN DRIVER WHO HAD CONSUMED ALCOHOL. PENNSYLVANIA’S ZERO TOLERANCE LAW CARRIES SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE UNDER 21 WHO CONSUME ANY AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL. THE LAW SETS THE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT (BAC) AT .02 FOR MINORS TO BE CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI). IF UNDER AGE 21, A PERSON CONVICTED OF DUI WILL FACE A JAIL TERM OF TWO DAYS TO SIX MONTHS, HAVE THEIR LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR AND PAY A FINE OF $500 TO $5,000.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - WEATHER OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED IT WAS A TORNADO THAT RIPPED THROUGH A NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA BLOCK YESTERDAY. IT TORE PART OF THE ROOF OFF A BEEF DISTRIBUTOR, BAR AND RESTAURANT AND DEMOLISHED A CAR REPAIR SHOP. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY AN EF-0 TORNADO.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO KILL SIX PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICERS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH KILLING ANOTHER MAN. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS INVESTIGATORS SAY NASUIL MARTINEZ FATALLY SHOT CARLOS FERNANDEZ ON DECEMBER 21ST. A DAY LATER HE ALLEGEDLY SHOT AND WOUNDED TWO PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICERS DURING A STANDOFF.

NATIONAL NEWS:

ISLAMABAD (AP) - TWO HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS FROM WASHINGTON CONTINUE TO WORK ON DAMAGE CONTROL IN PAKISTAN FOLLOWING THE OSAMA BIN LADEN RAID. SPECIAL ENVOY MARC GROSSMAN AND MICHAEL MORELL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CIA, ARE IN ISLAMABAD FOR MEETINGS. A PEW RESEARCH CENTER SURVEY SUGGESTS ONLY 11 PERCENT OF PAKISTANIS VIEW THE U.S. FAVORABLY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PLANS TO WIELD BOTH CARROT AND STICK TODAY IN HIS FIRST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO REVOLTS ACROSS THE ARAB WORLD. HE'LL CRITICIZE SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR ASSAD FOR ATTACKING HIS PEOPLE AND DEFEND SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIA. HE'LL ALSO PROMISE FRESH U.S. AID TO NATIONS THAT SUPPORT DEMOCRACY.

SULAIMANIYAH, IRAQ (AP) - AT LEAST 17 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN TWIN BOMBINGS IN THE NORTHERN IRAQI CITY OF KIRKUK. THE BOMBS APPEARED TIMED TO LURE POLICEMEN FROM THEIR PROTECTED COMPOUND. A KIRKUK POLICE OFFICIAL SAYS 53 PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED. THE SECOND BLAST EXPLODED AS POLICE OFFICERS RUSHED OUTSIDE TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRST ONE. MOST OF THE DEAD ARE POLICE OFFICERS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN FACES A BAIL HEARING TODAY IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE HE'S CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A HOTEL MAID. HE'S RESIGNED AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, SAYING HE WANTED TO DEVOTE "ALL HIS ENERGY" TO THE LEGAL BATTLE. HE SAYS HE'S INNOCENT.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - SCIENTISTS SAY THERE'S AN INVISIBLE UNIVERSE OF ANTIMATTER AND DARK MATTER OUT THERE AND SPACE SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS TODAY UNPACKED A DEVICE MEANT TO STUDY IT. THE $2 BILLION ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER IS BEING ATTACHED TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. IT'S SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR'S NUMBER 1 PRIORITY ON ITS FINAL MISSION. THE ANALYSIS CONTINUES ON EARTH OF SOME POTENTIALLY DAMAGED THERMAL TILES.