TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2011

RIDE FOR AUTISM

THIRTY-FOUR MOTORCYCLISTS PARTICIPATED IN THE 9TH ANNUAL RIDE FOR AUTISM SUNDAY MORNING IN TREMONT. THE CHARITY EVENT BENEFITS ST. JOSEPH CENTER FOR SPECIAL LEARNING TO HELP FIGHT AUTISM. THE 50-MILE EXCURSION HAD A LOWER TURNOUT THAN LAST YEAR, BUT STILL RAISED OVER $1,000.

NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL RELAY FOR LIFE

MAHANOY AREA ALUMNI FIELD WAS BUSY THIS WEEKEND HOSTING THE 7TH ANNUAL RELAY FOR LIFE. BRAVING THE ELEMENTS TO INCLUDE SUN, RAIN, LIGHTNING AND HUMIDITY, THE AREA TEAMS FORMED OF CITY SHIRT TAILS, MA BEARS AND FRIENDS AND TRINITY MISSION DOVES OF LOVE WERE ABLE TO RAISE OVER 44 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE SCHUYLKILL UNIT OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.


REBATE PROGRAM TARGETS PROPERTY TAXES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

OVER 120,000 SENIOR CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOMES WILL HAVE THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX BILL ELIMINATED THIS SUMMER. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX RELIEF FROM TWO SOURCES, THE GENERAL SLOTS REVENUE EARMARKED FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE SENIOR-ORIENTED PROPERTY TAX AND RENT REBATE PROGRAM. THE REBATE PROGRAM STARTED WHEN THE PENNSYLVANIA LOTTERY WAS CREATED TO PAY FOR A VARIETY OF SENIOR CITIZEN BENEFITS.

ACTION CALLED TO FIX SIRENS IN LIGHT OF RECENT STORMS

IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TORNADOS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT ROLLED THROUGH THE AREA A FEW WEEKS AGO, ONE AREA COMMUNITY IS LOOKING TO IMPROVE ITS POOR WARNING SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTS. AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE HEGINS TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS DISCUSSED THE BROKEN SIRENS AT THE HEGINS AND VALLEY VIEW FIRE COMPANIES SUPERVISOR CHAD RICHARDS SAYS HE WILL INVESTIGATE THE WORKING ORDER OF THE SIRENS AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO WARN THE RESIDENTS OF IMPENDING STORMS.

STATE NEWS:

ERIE, PA. (AP) — JURY SELECTION IS SCHEDULED TO START TODAY IN ERIE FOR THE TRIAL OF A MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING AND KILLING A WOMAN IN A CITY PARK. AUTHORITIES SAY DNA EVIDENCE LINKED JEFFREY NORRIS TO THE DEATH OF MINDY ACOSTA IN NOVEMBER 2005. ACOSTA WAS BEATEN, SMOTHERED, RAPED AND STRANGLED.

HARRIBSURG, PA. (AP) — THE STATE SENATE IS EXPECTED IN THE COMING WEEK TO VOTE ON A BILL THAT WOULD SUBJECT ABORTION CLINICS TO THE SAME REGULATORY STANDARDS REQUIRED OF AMBULATORY SURGICAL FACILITIES. A GRAND JURY REPORT THIS YEAR FOUND UNSANITARY AND ALLEGEDLY CRIMINAL CONDITIONS AT A WEST PHILADELPHIA ABORTION CLINIC.

MONROEVILLE, PA. (AP) — FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING A SMALL PLANE CRASH AT PITTSBURGH-AREA AIRPORT THAT RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES. POLICE IN MONROEVILLE SAY A WIND GUST APPARENTLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL AND THE PLANE TO VEER OFF THE RUNWAY AT PITTSBURGH-MONROEVILLE AIRPORT YESTERDAY. THE CRASH SPARKED A SMALL FIRE.

ATLANTA (AP) — EDYTHE SCOTT BAGLEY, THE OLDER SISTER OF CORETTA SCOTT KING, HAS DIED AT AGE 86. MARTIN LUTHER KING III SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT BAGLEY DIED SATURDAY AT HER HOME IN CHENEY, PENNSYLVANIA. BAGLEY WAS A RETIRED PROFESSOR OF THEATRE ARTS AT CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY. HER FUNERAL IS FRIDAY IN WEST CHESTER.

NATIONAL NEWS:

EAGAR, ARIZ. (AP) — THE ROUGHLY 7,000 RESIDENTS OF EAGER AND SPRINGERVILLE, ARIZ. ARE RETURNING HOME, BUT THE 693-SQUARE-MILE FOREST FIRE IS STILL KEEPING AWAY SOME 2,700 IN SEVERAL RESORT COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE. AND OFFICIALS SAY CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY AND THOSE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS SHOULD STILL STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA BECAUSE OF POOR AIR QUALITY.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (AP) — ONE OF THE FEW BUILDINGS LEFT STANDING DOWNTOWN FOLLOWING FEBRUARY'S EARTHQUAKE IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND HAS NOW TOPPLED TO THE GROUND. A 5.2-MAGNITUDE QUAKE FOLLOWED BY A 6.0 TREMOR TODAY SENT DOZENS OF PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES AND CUT ELECTRICITY TO THOUSANDS OF HOMES. RESIDENTS SAY SEVERAL BUILDINGS IN THE SUBURBS WERE ALSO DAMAGED.

WASHINGTON (AP) — CONGRESS RETURNS TO WORK TODAY, BUT NEW YORK'S REP. ANTHONY WEINER STARTS HIS WEEK IN TREATMENT AND ON A TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE. THE MARRIED DEMOCRAT REQUESTED THE TIME OFF AFTER ADMITTING SENDING LEWD PHOTOS TO SEVERAL WOMEN ONLINE AND THEN LYING ABOUT IT.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — TONIGHT IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TO INCLUDE FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY. ROMNEY AND SIX OF HIS RIVALS WILL MEET AT ST. ANSELM'S COLLEGE IN MANCHESTER. HE'S CURRENTLY SEEN AS THE REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNER.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A NEW STUDY SAYS MANY SENIORS WILL HAVE TO PAY ASTRONOMICAL PRICES IF THEY WANT ACCESS TO NEW CANCER DRUGS. THAT'S BECAUSE THE MEDICATIONS COME IN PILL FORM AND DON'T HAVE TO BE ADMINISTERED AT A CLINIC. RESEARCHERS SAY 46 PERCENT OF MEDICARE RECIPIENTS FACE A CO-PAY OF MORE THAN $500 AND 1 IN 6 SENIORS CAN'T AFFORD TO FILL THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS.