TODAY'S NEWS: FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011

HEAT WARNING

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY. EXPECT TODAY'S HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES TO FEEL MORE LIKE 100 TO 105 DEGREES. HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES HAVE PROMPTED A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOMS. VARIOUS COOLING STATIONS WILL BE OPEN TODAY TO HELP RESIDENTS BEAT THE HEAT.

RANDOM DRUG TESTING WILL BE GIVEN TO SOME STUDENTS FROM TAMAQUA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. MITCHELL HECKMAN HAS MORE:

CARGO AIRPORT SETBACK

CHALLENGES TO EAST UNION TOWNSHIP'S PLANNING COMMISSION, ZONING ORDINANCE AND MAP BY THE PARTNERSHIP SEEKING TO DEVELOP A CARGO AIRPORT NEAR HUMBOLDT INDUSTRIAL PARK HAVE BEEN REJECTED THURSDAY BY A THREE-JUDGE COMMONWEALTH PANEL. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE PANEL RULED GLADSTONE PARTNERS LP OF PITTSBURG FILED ITS CHALLENGE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EAST UNION'S PLANNING COMMISSION TOO LATE AND DID NOT PROVE THAT THE TOWNSHIP FAILED TO FOLLOW STATE LAW IN ENACTING THE ZONING ORDINANCE. THE DECISION, WHICH IS A SETBACK FOR GLADSTONE, UPHELD IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT.

CHARTER SCHOOL TO APPOINT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

A PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE HELD FOR THE GILLINGHAM CHARTER SCHOOL COLLABORATIVE IN ORDER TO APPOINT ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE HISTORIC ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL BUILDING IN POTTSVILLE TUESDAY AT 7PM. THE PLANNING BOARD WILL APPOINT “SEVEN TO NINE” PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD TRUSTEES. EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL SERVE FOR TWO YEARS.

IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS

THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON THE CORNERS OF 12TH AND WEST MARKET ST COULD SEE AN UPGRADE BY THE FALL, ACCORDING TO CITY ADMINISTRATOR TOM PALAMAR. CITY OFFICIALS PLAN TO MEET WITH PENN-DOT ON TUESDAY AND TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE GRANT TO HELP PAY FOR THE NEW TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THE INTERSECTION UPGRADE WILL INCLUDE FOUR NEW TRAFFIC POLES WITH OVERHEAD SIGNAL LIGHTS, FOUR PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS AND CURB CUTS FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS.

THE SCHUYLKILL UNIT OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR ITS ROAD TO RECOVERY PROGRAM. VOLUNTEERS WILL TRANSPORT PATIENTS WEEKDAYS FOR MORNING AND AFTERNOON APPOINTMENTS. VOLUNTEERS NEED A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD AND PROPER INSURANCE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL JUDY HOPPES 1-888-227-5445.

CANCER SURVIVORS CELEBRATE LIFE

THE SIMON KRAMER INSTITUTE IN NEW PHILADELPHIA WILL BE HOLDING AN EVENT FOR CANCER SURVIVORS THIS SUNDAY, JULY 24, FROM NOON UNTIL 5:30. THIS CELEBRATION OF LIFE IS A UNIQUE FAMILY EVENT OPEN TO EVERYONE INCLUDING SURVIVORS, PATIENTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, CAREGIVERS, AND SUPPORTERS. THE EVENT WILL FEATURE A PIG ROAST, HEALTH AND WELLNESS INFORMATION, MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT, BINGO, AND FUN AND GAMES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT VISIT WWW.SIMONKRAMER.COM OR CALL 570-277-6218 TO REGISTER

STATE NEWS:

DOYLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - BUCKS COUNTY IS RETHINKING A PROGRAM WHERE OFFICIALS CUT BACK AIR CONDITIONING IN COUNTY BUILDINGS TO SAVE MONEY ON ENERGY COSTS, OFFICIALS HAD BEEN CUTTING THE AC LATE IN THE AFTERNOON ON SELECT HOT DAYS. BUT THE BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMES REPORTS OFFICIALS ARE LEANING TOWARD SCRAPPING THE PROGRAM. THIS COMES AS MUCH OF THE REGION IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAT WAVE.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY GROUP IS ALLEGING IN A LAWSUIT, ENERGY COMPANY ULTRA RESOURCES IS VIOLATING FEDERAL AND STATE AIR POLLUTION LAWS AT ITS MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING SITES IN NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA. PENNFUTURE CLAIMS
HOUSTON-BASED ULTRA DOESN'T HAVE REQUIRED PERMITS AND IS POLLUTING THE AIR IN TIOGA AND POTTER COUNTIES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY CASH TOLLS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE WILL GO UP 10 PERCENT IN 2012. BUT DRIVERS USING E-ZPASS WON'T SEE AN INCREASE. THE TURNPIKE COMMISSION APPROVED THE CHANGE TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $23 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE NEXT YEAR.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'S DRIVE TO SELL OFF PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE-CONTROLLED LIQUOR SYSTEM COULD FACE TOUGH ODDS IN THE SENATE WHERE THE CHAMBER'S TOP LAWMAKER SAYS HE'S NOT READY TO TAKE THAT STEP. JOE SCARNATI GAVE A LIST OF REASONS THE TIME ISN'T RIPE TO SELL THE SYSTEM. FOR ONE, HE SAYS THE AGENCY THAT CONTROLS THE STORES NEEDS THE CHANCE TO MAXIMIZE SALES.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED SENATE TODAY IS EXPECTED TO DOOM A HOUSE-PASSED MEASURE THAT WOULD RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT ON THE CONDITION THAT CONGRESS PASS A CONSTITUTIONAL BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. MEANWHILE, DIFFERENCES REMAIN AS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER SEARCH FOR AN AMBITIOUS $4 TRILLION GRAND BARGAIN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS TAKING HIS DEFICIT CUTTING CASE TO THE PUBLIC TODAY, HOLDING A TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK CAMPUS. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN OCCUPIED WITH NEAR-DAILY NEGOTIATIONS, TRYING TO AVOID AN AUG. 2 GOVERNMENT DEFAULT.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE NAACP KICKS OFF ITS 102ND CONVENTION THIS WEEKEND IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. IT'S REMADE ITSELF INTO AN ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL MINORITIES. JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HOUSING ARE THE DRIVING ISSUES NOW, MUCH LIKE THE CONCERNS OF MOST AMERICANS.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (AP) - DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WILL CALL THEIR FIRST WITNESSES TODAY IN THE TRIAL OF A MAN WHO HAS CONFESSED TO SHOOTING TWO SOLDIERS OUTSIDE A MILITARY RECRUITING STATION IN ARKANSAS, KILLING ONE. JURORS ARE LIKELY TO HEAR EXPERTS PORTRAY HIM AS MENTALLY UNSTABLE.

NEW YORK (AP) - THE HEAT WAVE OVER WIDE SWATHS OF THE COUNTRY DOESN'T JUST PRESENT A DANGER IN THE SEARING SUNSHINE. EXPERTS WARN THE REAL DANGER MAY LURK AT NIGHT. THAT'S BECAUSE THE NIGHTTIME AIR MAY NOT COOL ENOUGH TO GIVE THE BODY A VITAL CHANCE TO RECOVER FROM THE DAY.