TODAY'S NEWS: JUNE 11, 2011

RIDE FOR AUTISM

THE 9TH ANNUAL RIDE FOR AUTISM IS SCHEDULED AND JASMINE BROOKS IS HERE TO PROVIDE US WITH THE INFORMATION.

RIDE

GOODMAN OPPOSED TO VOTER ID LEGISLATION

STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEAL GOODMAN IS OPPOSED TO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE VOTERS TO SHOW VALID PHOTO IDENTIFICATION EACH TIME THEY VOTE. HE SAYS IT WOULD WASTE $10 MILLION AND COULD PREVENT SOME SENIOR CITIZENS FROM VOTING. THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN FOUR CASES OF VOTER FRAUD IN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 2004 AND NONE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. GOODMAN SAYS THE $10 MILLION IT WOULD COST TO IMPLEMENT THE LEGISLATION WOULD BE BETTER OFF USED TO RESTORE ALL THE STATE FUNDING CUTS PROPOSED FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY SCHOOLS OR EVEN TO RESTORE SOME OF THE $72 MILLION IN CUTS TO PROGRAMS MEANT TO HELP SENIORS LIVE IN THEIR HOMES.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AIRPORT BUSY TRAINING GROUND

THE JOE ZERBE AIRPORT IS PLAYING HOST TO SOME OF OUR NATION'S DEFENDERS. JAY MATTHEWS HAS THIS REPORT.

ZERBE

LATE MARKET'S START TO BLOOM

THE LOCAL GROWING SEASON HAS BEEN AFFECTING AREA FARMER’S MARKETS. JASMINE BROOKS HAS THE STORY.

FARMER'S MARKETS

FOR A LIST OF OUR AREA FARMER'S MARKETS CHECK OUT WPPARADIO.COM.

POTTSVILLE FARMERS MARKET - SATURDAY 8AM-12PM
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FARMERS MARKET - THURSDAY 3PM-6PM
HOMETOWN FARMERS MARKET - WEDNESDAY 8AM-8PM
FRACKVILLE FARMERS MARKET - THURSDAY 8AM-12PM
SHENANDOAH FARMERS MARKET - THURSDAY 9AM-7PM
RENNINGER'S MARKET - SATURDAY & SUNDAY 8AM-5PM

SENATORS INFORMED OF BUDGET THOUGHTS

EARLIER THIS WEEK A PETITION WITH MORE THAN 15,000 SIGNATURES WAS DELIVERED TO EVERY STATE SENATORS’ OFFICE IN OPPOSITION OF THE LARGE CUTS TO EDUCATION FUNDING IN THE STATE. IF THE SENATE ADOPTS EITHER THE GOVERNOR'S ORIGINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL OR THE VERSION THAT PASSED THE HOUSE IN LATE MAY, MANY PENNSYLVANIA FAMILIES WILL FACE HIGHER LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES, TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE LAID OFF, AND MANY PROGRAMS SUCH AS FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN AND TUTORING WILL BE CUT.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Department of Health says
it does not formally keep track of citizens' health complaints
about gas drilling and hasn't, as a result, linked drilling to any
health consequences. Agency spokeswoman Brandi Hunter-Davenport
says in response to an AP inquiry that the department takes citizen
complaints about drilling seriously.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A female teacher in southeastern
Pennsylvania was arrested after authorities said she had sexually
explicit conversations with a female student in person and by text
message and gave the underage girl a sex device on school property.
Forty-year-old Upper Dublin High School teacher Cheryl Bremble was
arrested yesterday. She's been released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

YORK, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania woman is charged with
intentionally burning a 2-year-old in her care. Police say Amanda
Marguerite Coeyman told investigators the child burned his hand in
a bucket she was filling with hot water. But they say the account
was inconsistent with the boy's injuries and a doctor determined
the burn couldn't have been accidental.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Two Philadelphia high school seniors are
each receiving $5,000 college scholarships from Eagles quarterback
Michael Vick. The NFL star made the announcement today during a
commencement speech to 450 graduates of the Camelot schools for
at-risk youth.

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona health officials say they're
now worried about air quality because of smoke from a massive
wildfire. Calmer winds have helped firefighters gain some ground,
but also concentrated the sooty air, keeping it stagnant and
raising pollution to levels officials hadn't seen yet.

BERLIN (AP) - Germany's health minister says he's hoping the
worst of the European E. coli outbreak is over but he's warning
that the number of deaths could still rise. The world's deadliest
E. coli outbreak, which officials have traced to German-grown
sprouts, has so far killed 33 people and sickened nearly 3,100.

TOKYO (AP) - Residents in Tokyo are demonstrating against
nuclear power to mark the three-month anniversary of Japan's March
earthquake and tsunami that triggered one of the world's worst
nuclear disasters. The disasters have renewed a national debate on
the use of nuclear power in Japan. Crowds banged drums and shouted
anti-nuclear slogans.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - CIA chief Leon Panetta is in Pakistan as
efforts continue to heal fractures relations since the Osama bin
Laden raid. An official says talks today between Panetta and senior
Pakistani officials will focus on the size and scope of U.S.
intelligence activities in Pakistan as well as a new joint
intelligence team.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Attacks in Afghanistan have killed at
least 21 people. In southern Afghanistan authorities say a roadside
bomb hit a bus, killing 16 people including eight children. In
eastern Afghanistan, a suicide bomber killed four people, including
a child and three policemen. In central Afghanistan, a suicide
bomber killed one child.