TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

A $1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET CUT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS SWAYED SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONVERT THEIR ENERGY TO SAVE MONEY. JASMINE BROOKS REPORTS.

WITH A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS OVER THE AGE OF 65, PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS ARE TARGET FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF CRIME. JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE.

FIRE IN PINE GROVE, NO INJURIES

NO INJURIES ARE BEING REPORTED DURING A FIRE THAT BROKE OUT IN PINE GROVE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 6 FIRE COMPANIES RESPONDED TO THE HOUSE LOCATED ON OAK ROAD. FIRE OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL AND BEGAN IN THE BASEMENT. TOWNSHIP FIRE CHIEF GREG PIJAR PLANS TO INVESTIGATE THE BLAZE LATER THIS WEEK
SENATE ADOPTS BUDGET


SCHUYLKILL COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE IN MAY FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE MONTH. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS DESPITE THE INCREASE IN THE MONTHLY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THE COUNTY REPORTED AN INCREASE OF 700 JOBS FROM APRIL TO MAY. THE INCREASE LEAVES THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT NINE PERCENT.

PIT BULL ATTACK IS 3RD IN WEEK

AFTER TWO PIT BULL ATTACKS IN POTTSVILLE LAST WEEK, ANOTHER PIT BULL CRASHED THROUGH A SCREEN DOOR AND ATTACKED A TOWER CITY WOMAN TUESDAY AFTERNOON. POLICE TELL US THE VICTIM IS A 47-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES.

CAR THEFTS

BETWEEN SATURDAY AND TUESDAY, A TOTAL OF 7 THEFTS FROM VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN TOWER CITY AND PORTER TOWNSHIP. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN POLICE ARE NOW WARNING THE PUBLIC TO LOCK THEIR CAR DOORS WHEN THEY ARE NOT ATTENDING THEIR VEHICLE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE THEFTS IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT 593-2000.

STATE NEWS:

A $27.15 BILLION REPUBLICAN BUDGET BILL HAS APPROVAL FROM THE STATE SENATE AFTER A SHARP PARTISAN DEBATE OVER A PLAN TO LOWER BUSINESS TAXES, PUT MONEY IN RESERVE AND MAKE DEEP CUTS IN EDUCATION AID. THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE APPROVED IT ALONG PARTY LINES TUESDAY AND SENT IT TO THE HOUSE. REPUBLICANS THERE AND GOV. TOM CORBETT ARE EXPECTED TO APPROVE IT BEFORE PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS FRIDAY. THE BUDGET WOULD REDUCE STATE SPENDING BY ABOUT 3 PERCENT, THANKS LARGELY TO ABOUT $1.1 BILLION IN CUTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. REPUBLICANS DESIGNED IT TO AVOID RAISING TAXES WHILE COPING WITH A DISAPPEARANCE OF TEMPORARY FEDERAL BUDGET AID. BUT DEMOCRATS SAY IT FAVORS BUSINESSES WHILE FORCING UNIVERSITIES TO RAISE TUITION AND SCHOOL BOARDS TO RAISE TAXES AND LAY OFF EMPLOYEES. COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RISE AGAIN


HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A SENIOR HOUSE REPUBLICAN SAYS THERE WON'T BE A VOTE ON A TAX OR FEE ON PENNSYLVANIA'S MARCELLUS SHALE NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION UNTIL THE FALL AT LEAST. MAJORITY WHIP STAN SAYLOR OF YORK COUNTY SAYS THE DECISION WAS MADE YESTERDAY.

ELKINS PARK, PA. (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA-AREA MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH KILLING THE MOTHER OF HIS TWO CHILDREN. POLICE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SAY CLIVE THOMPSON STABBED OLIVIA THOMPSON AT AN APARTMENT IN ELKINS PARK EARLY MONDAY. SHE WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE LATEST STEP IN TALKS WITH CONGRESS OVER SPENDING CUTS AND INCREASING THE GOVERNMENT'S BORROWING AUTHORITY COMES TODAY WHEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MEET WITH SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID WILL JOIN SENS. DICK DURBIN OF ILLINOIS, CHUCK SCHUMER OF NEW YORK AND PATTY MURRAY OF WASHINGTON. OBAMA ALSO PLANS A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY AND WILL LIKELY ADDRESS THE NEGOTIATIONS.

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) - GREECE'S PARLIAMENT IS POISED TODAY TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL $40 BILLION AUSTERITY PROGRAM TO GAIN ACCESS TO A SECOND INSTALLMENT OF EUROPEAN UNION LOANS. A DEPUTY WITH THE GOVERNING SOCIALISTS HAS TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HE WILL LIKELY BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE PARTY TO VOTE NO.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A NEW SUIT IS BEING FILED TODAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE NEW JERSEY TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGES. SUPPORTERS SAY NEW JERSEY'S CIVIL UNION LAW HAS ACTUALLY CREATED AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL SEPARATE DESIGNATION. SEVERAL GAY COUPLES SAY THEIR DIGNITY AND FINANCES HAVE BEEN HURT.

MIAMI (AP) - FORECASTERS SAY THE FIRST NAMED STORM IN THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON IS HEADED TOWARD MEXICO. TROPICAL STORM ARLENE IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN IN THE GULF OF MEXICO TODAY. THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS FOR PARTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN COAST. THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE BRACING FOR HEAVY RAIN.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (AP) - A WAYWARD EMPEROR PENGUIN AFFECTIONATELY DUBBED HAPPY FEET IS BEGINNING TO RECOVER AFTER TURNING UP ON A NEW ZEALAND BEACH 2,000 MILES FROM ITS ANTARCTIC HOME. OFFICIALS HAVE DECIDED AGAINST A FREE RIDE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE ANTARCTIC, BUT ONCE THE BIRD IS HEALTHY THEY WILL RELEASE IT INTO THE SOUTHERN OCEAN, SOUTHEAST OF NEW ZEALAND. THE REST WILL BE UP TO THE PENGUIN.