TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011

AFER BEING REJECTED TWICE THE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL APPEAL BOARD HAS GIVEN THE GO AHEAD TO FORM THE FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL IN POTTSVILLE. J MATTHEWS HAS MORE

THE MARTIN LUTHER KING FAMILY ENRICHMENT CENTER IS HOSTING ITS 11TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT MLKPA.ORG


FIRE AT ELDERLY APARTMENTS IN MAHANOY CITY

FIRE TORCHED THROUGH THE 10TH FLOOR OF THE MAHANOY ELDERLY APARTMENTS ON TUESDAY FORCING THE EVACUATION OF ALL 128 RESIDENTS. THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY CONTAINED AND ACCORDING TO MAHANOY CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT SAFETY OFFICER ANTHONY BLACKWELL ONE MAN NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR SMOKE RELATED RESPITORY PROBLEMS. 76 YEAR OLD RICHARD GETTER WAS ADMITTED TO ST CATHERINE MEDICAL CENTER IN FOUNTAIN SPRINGS. STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL JOHN BURNS SAYS THE FIRE IS RULED ACCIDENTAL THAT THE BLAZE STARTED WHEN GETTER EMPTIED AN ASHTRAY INTO A PAPERBAG.





NY PAROLEE TAKES POLICE ON FOOT CHASE

A NEW YORK STATE PAROLEE TOOK POLICE ON A FORTY-MINUTE FOOT CHASE AROUND SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MONDAY NIGHT. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN POLICE TELL US 26-YEAR-OLD JEFFREY MARCHUCK TOOK OFF DURING A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP, RUNNING THROUGH YARDS, STREETS AND EVEN DIVING INTO THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER. SEVERAL POLICE AGENCIES, ALONG WITH THE HELP OF PRIVATE CITIZENS, WORKED TOGETHER TO CAPTURE MARCHUCK. POLICE SAY MARCHUCK, WHO RECENTLY JUMPED PAROLE, DID HAVE A HAND GUN ON HIM. SEVERAL CHARGES WERE FILED AGAINST MARCHUCK WHO REMAINS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON ON $50,000 CASH BAIL.


TWO INJURED IN CRASH NEAR FRACKVILLE

TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN A CRASH ON STATE ROUTE 81 NEAR FRACKVILLE MONDAY NIGHT. POLICE TELL US 32-YEAR-OLD FREDERICK PETRITSCH OF DELANO RAN INTO THE BACK OF A CAR, CAUSING HIS BLAZER TO BECOME STUCK IN ANOTHER LANE. PETRITSCH'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR-TRAILER AND FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE TRACTOR-TRAILER DROVE OVER AN EMBANKMENT. BOTH DRIVERS WILL BE CITED FOR CARELESS DRIVING.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR PART TO REDUCE TEACHER STRIKES IN PENNSYLVANIA CHUCK NICHOLS REPORTS

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - SCORCHING TEMPERATURES HAVE THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT DISMISSING CLASSES EARLY TODAY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THE DISTRICT IS TAKING THE WARNING SERIOUSLY BY CLOSING SCHOOLS EARLY.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE SENATE IS ADVANCING A BILL TO BAN ABORTION COVERAGE FROM POLICIES OBTAINED THROUGH HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES SET TO BEGIN IN 2014 UNDER LAST YEAR'S LANDMARK FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LAW. SENATORS VOTED YESTERDAY TO SEND THE BILL TO THE HOUSE.

DOYLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN THE TRIAL OF A HOMELESS WOMAN ACCUSED OF BEATING HER MOTHER TO DEATH AND SETTING HER BODY ON FIRE AT THE WOODED ENCAMPMENT THEY SHARED. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS, REBECCA OLENCHOCK IS CHARGED IN BUCKS COUNTY COURT WITH HOMICIDE, ARSON AND OTHER COUNTS IN THE OCTOBER DEATH OF KIMBERLY VENOSE.

NATIONAL NEWS:

SPRINGERVILLE, ARIZ. (AP) - OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THEIR EFFORTS OVERNIGHT WILL GIVE THEM THE UPPER HAND AGAINST THE SECOND LARGEST WILDFIRE IN ARIZONA HISTORY. CREWS ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE MAMMOTH WALLOW FIRE FROM CRESTING A RIDGE AND RACING INTO TWO EASTERN ARIZONA TOWNS. ABOUT HALF OF THE 4,000 RESIDENTS WHO CALL EAGAR HOME HAVE EVACUATED.

BERLIN (AP) - GERMANY'S HEALTH MINISTER SAYS THERE'S HOPE THE EUROPEAN E. COLI OUTBREAK IS WANING. DANIEL BAHR SAYS THERE'S A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW INFECTIONS THOUGH IT'S TOO EARLY FOR AN ALL CLEAR. HE SPOKE BEFORE AN E.COLI CRISIS MEETING WITH EU AND GERMAN HEALTH OFFICIALS IN BERLIN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A BATTLE OVER FEES THAT STORES PAY BANKS EVERY TIME A SHOPPER SWIPES A DEBIT CARD HAS CONSUMERS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MERCHANTS. THE SENATE HAS A SHOWDOWN VOTE TODAY OVER WHETHER TO BLOCK THE FEDERAL RESERVE FROM CAPPING THE FEES. THE FED SAYS THE FEES AVERAGING ABOUT 44 CENTS PER SWIPE WOULD BE CAPPED AT 12 CENTS.

VIENNA (AP) - TODAY'S MEETING OF OPEC OIL MINISTERS COULD GENERATE SOME FIREWORKS THANKS TO MIDEAST TURMOIL, A FALTERING WORLD ECONOMY AND DIVISIONS ON WHETHER TO RAISE CRUDE PRODUCTION. THE 12-NATION GROUP WILL PROBABLY OPT TO INCREASE OUTPUT LEVELS TO REDUCE INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE HIGH PRICE OF OIL. BUT SOME
INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS WANT HIGHER CRUDE PRICES.

HARDIN, TEXAS (AP) - LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENTS ARE NOW FOCUSING ATTENTION ON A TIPSTER AFTER FINDING NO SIGNS OF BODIES REPORTED BY A PERSON CLAIMING TO BE A PSYCHIC. THEY UNSUCCESSFULLY SEARCHED A SOUTHEAST TEXAS FARM HOUSE YESTERDAY. OFFICIALS SAY THE TIP WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THE CALLER HAD DETAILS ABOUT THE INSIDE OF THE HOME, ABOUT 70 MILES NORTHEAST OF HOUSTON.