LOCAL NEWS: THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

TODAY MARKS THE SIXTH ANNUAL DUMP THE PUMP DAY HELD ACROSS THE COUNTRY, J MATTHEWS HAS THE STORY

CALL TO RE-ESTABLISH DEFUNCT HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR THOUSANDS IN PA. TOM JOSEPH REPORTS

PASD CONSIDERS RANDOM DRUG TESTING POLICY

IF YOU'RE A POTTSVILLE AREA STUDENT ENROLLED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, YOU COULD BE SUBJECT TO RANDOM DRUG TESTING NEXT YEAR. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS ON WEDNESDAY THE POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL BOARD ANNOUNCED ITS INTENT TO ADOPT A RANDOM DRUG TESTING POLICY THAT WOULD APPLY TO JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ALREADY HAVE SUCH POLICIES IN EFFECT.

ASSAILANT DESCRIPTION RELEASED

THE DESCRIPTION OF A MAN WHO ASSAULTED A MOTORIST MONDAY ALONG ROUTE 61 IN DEER LAKE HAS BEEN RELEASED BY STATE POLICE. THE MAN IS ABOUT 5-FEET 11 INCHES TALL, IN HIS 30S WITH SHORT RED HAIR. HE WAS WEARING BLACK WORK GLOVES AND A BLACK NASCAR SHIRT, JEANS AND A RED BANDANA. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL POLICE AT 593-2000.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES

DESPITE SOME SETBACKS CONSTRUCTION ON ROUTE 61 IN DEER LAKE CONTINUES. THE 35 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT WILL SPAN FROM WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP TO PARTS OF ROUTE 895. PENNDOT HAS SEIZED OVER 100 PROPERTIES NEAR ROTE 61 FOR THE PROJECT. ON WEDNESDAY, ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES WAS DEMOLISHED. ROAD CONSTRUCTION TO INCLUDE ADDING JUG HANDLES AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS COULD BEGIN BY NEXT SPRING WITH A COMPLETION SET FOR 2014.

COUNTY LOOKING TO BOOST REVENUE

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES AND HAVE HIRED A FIRM FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO DO SO. PALMETTO POSTINGS INC. HAS BEEN HIRED BY SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TO POST PROPERTIES ON BEHALF OF THE TAX CLAIM BUREAU WHOSE OWNERS HAVE NOT PAID THEIR TAXES. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THE HIRING AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MARCELLUS TASK FORCE MEETING

MEMBERS OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MARCELLUS SHALE TASK FORCE MET YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. 11 OF THE 15 MEMBERS MET TO DISCUSS LEADERSHIP AND BEGIN DEVELOPING PLANS TO LEARN ABOUT MARCELLUS SHALE , WHICH HAS BEEN A POPULAR TOPIC IN PENNSYLVANIA. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CREATED THE TASK FORCE BACK IN MAY MAKING SCHUYLKILL COUNTY THE 16TH COUNTY TO DO SO IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

UNION STATION TO START BUS SERVICE

SCHUYLKILL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HAS SET A DATE TO OPEN BUS SERVICE AT UNION STATION. JUNE 27 THE FIRST BUS WILL GO INTO SERVICE AT THE NEW 17 MILLION DOLLAR BUILDING. SCHUYLKILL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY IS STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS FOR BIEBER TOURWAYS OF KUTZTOWN TO BEGIN CHARTER BUS SERVICES BUT NO DATE ON THAT HAS BEEN SET. THE INTERMODAL STATION OPENED LAST WEEK WITH A FORMAL DEDICATION.


NEW BILL PASSED IN REACTION TO "CASH FOR KIDS"

THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A NEW BILL THIS WEEK IN REACTION TO THE RECENT "CASH FOR KIDS" CORRUPTION CASE IN LUZERNE COUNTY. THE LEGISLATION WILL MANDATE THE IMMEDIATE FORFEITURE OF PENSION BENEFITS WHEN A PUBLIC OFFICIAL ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY OR NO CONTEST TO CORRUPTION CHARGES. THE BILL WAS PART OF A PACKAGE OF ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION AND WILL NOW GO TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION.

TOBASH APPLAUDS MOVEMENT ON MARCELLUS SHALE IMPACT FEE PROPOSALS

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TOBASH SAID WEDNESDAY HE IS ENCOURAGED BY RECENT ACTIONS ON A PROPOSED IMPACT FEE ON NATURAL GAS DRILLING IN THE COMMONWEALTH. THE SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY COMMITTEE APPROVED AN IMPACT FEE PROPOSAL ON TUESDAY AND BY WEDNESDAY TOBASH STOOD WITH SEVERAL HOUSE LAWMAKERS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A PLAN. TOBASH ADDED THAT DRILLING IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE REGION IS GROWING IN "LEAPS AND BOUNDS" AND THINKS THE TIME TO ASSESS AN IMPACT FEE IS NOW.

STATE NEWS:
THE PENNSYLVANIA LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD HAS VOTED NO TO PRICE INCREASES FOR WINES AND LIQUOR. THE THREE MEMBER PANEL REJECTED SUPPLIERS REQUESTS FOR AN INCREASE ON ABOUT 400 PRODUCTS SOLD IN STATE STORES. MOST OF THE ITEMS WOULD HAVE SEEN ABOUT A DOLLAR INCREASE PER BOTTLE. THIS COMES AS THE P-L-C-B AND STATE EMPLOYEE UNIONS CONTINUE TO FIGHT OVER WHETHER LIQUOR STORES SHOULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE STATE.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE ANNOUNCED A DEAL TO AVOID LETTING 45,000 PENNSYLVANIANS LOSE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS. IT PUTS LIMITS ON THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF BENEFIT CHECKS AND REQUIRES RECIPIENTS TO LOOK FOR WORK. THE COMPROMISE AMENDMENT WOULD CAP THE LARGEST BENEFIT AT $573 FOR NEXT
YEAR.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE AGREED ON A BILL TO BAN THE SYNTHETICALLY PRODUCED CHEMICALS KNOWN AS "BATH SALTS" THAT ARE LEGAL EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN PACK AS MUCH OF A PUNCH AS COCAINE OR METHAMPHETAMINES. THE SENATE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY YESTERDAY TO SEND THE BILL TO GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT, WHO PLANS TO SIGN IT. THE HOUSE APPROVED IT MONDAY.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A US AIRWAYS EMPLOYEE WAS STOPPED IN PITTSBURGH AFTER ALLEGEDLY STOWING AWAY ON AN EARLIER FLIGHT FROM FLORIDA TO NORTH CAROLINA. ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE SUPERINTENDENT CHARLES MOFFATT TELLS THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW THE EMPLOYEE WAS STOPPED ON TUESDAY AFTER GETTING OFF A FLIGHT AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

ENOLA, PA. (AP) - POLICE SAY THEY LEARNED OF THE FATAL SHOOTINGS OF A MAN AND WOMAN IN A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HOME AFTER THE KILLER CALLED 911 TO REPORT THAT ONE VICTIM'S YOUNG SON WAS ALONE IN THE HOUSE. AUTHORITIES SAY ROBERT LIDDICK APPARENTLY KILLED HIMSELF YESTERDAY; HOURS AFTER INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE HE FATALLY SHOT HIS
EX-GIRLFRIEND AND ANOTHER MAN IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

SPRINGERVILLE, ARIZ. (AP) - THE RETURN OF HIGH WINDS TODAY COULD GIVE FIREFIGHTERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY AGAINST THE LARGEST WILDFIRE IN ARIZONA HISTORY. THEY'VE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS BUT THE WINDS COULD LAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE WINDS WILL ALSO MOVE INTO NEW MEXICO, WHERE CREWS ARE TRYING TO GAIN ON GROWING FIRES.

HAMBURG, IOWA (AP) - FLOODWATERS THAT BREACHED A MISSOURI RIVER LEVEE NEAR THE MISSOURI-IOWA BORDER ARE EXPECTED TO REACH A MAKESHIFT BARRIER TODAY THAT WAS HURRIEDLY BUILT TO PROTECT THE SMALL IOWA TOWN OF HAMBURG. THE NEW LEVEE WAS FINISHED WEDNESDAY, AND MOST OF THOSE LIVING IN THE THREATENED PARTS OF TOWN HAVE
CLEARED OUT.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - JOHN EDWARDS IS TRYING TO DELAY GIVING A DEPOSITION IN A LAWSUIT. A JUDGE IN NORTH CAROLINA WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS TODAY OVER WHETHER THE FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SHOULD HAVE TO TESTIFY THIS MONTH IN A CASE INVOLVING A PURPORTED SEX TAPE. THE FORMER SENATOR SAYS HIS DEPOSITION SHOULD WAIT UNTIL
THE RESOLUTION OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WANTS PEOPLE TO DEVELOP HEALTHIER HABITS. IT'S RELEASING A PLAN TODAY CALLING FOR PREVENTING DISEASE AND INJURY, WITH A GREATER EMPHASIS ON CREATING HEALTHIER HOMES, COMMUNITIES, FOODS, ROADS AND WORKPLACES. WHILE U.S. LIFE EXPECTANCY IS AROUND 78 YEARS, A NEW REPORT SAYS ONLY 69
OF THOSE YEARS TEND TO BE HEALTHY ONES.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY (AP) - A EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK OFFICIAL SAYS A GREEK DEFAULT ON DEBT WOULD MEAN THE EU'S CRISIS BAILOUT FUND WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE TO $2.1 TRILLION. A DEFAULT WOULD SPREAD FINANCIAL TURMOIL TO OTHER COUNTRIES. THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE BIGGER FUND WOULD BE NEEDED TO BACKSTOP THE ADDED RISKS TO PORTUGAL AND IRELAND, WHO ARE ALSO IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE.