TODAY'S NEWS: TUEDAY JULY 12, 2011

ANIMAL LAW RE-WRITTEN

WITH THE RECENT ATTACK FROM PIT BULLS IN POTTSVILLE, CITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO HOLD OWNERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PETS. THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES PAYMENT OF $250 AND REGISTRATION WITH POTTSVILLE HEALTH DEPT AND FINES RANGING FROM $600 FOR FIRST OFFENSE AND EUTHANASIA OF THE ANIMAL FOR A THIRD OFFENSE. OTHER REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED PROVIDING PROOF OF INSURANCE TO HOUSE A DANGEROUS DOG, VACCINATION STATUS. IF A DOG IS RULED TO BE DANGEROUS OWNERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE THE DOG SPAYED OR NEUTERED.

MORE INFORMATION ON FALL VICTIM

MORE INFORMATION IS COMING OUT ABOUT THE PERSON WHO FELL TO THEIR DEATH SUNDAY IN AN AREA KNOWN AS NEWTOWN FALLS. AUTHORITIES SAY THAT 21 YEAR OLD JAMES KRUSS OF PORT CARBON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD BY COUNTY CORONER JOSEPH LIPSETT, LISTING THE DEATH AS ACCIDENTAL. LIPSETT SAYS AN AUTOPSY IS PENDING BUT AT THIS POINT SURMISES THAT KRUSS LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL AND SUCCUMB TO INJURIES.


MOTORCYCLE SPEEDER IDENTIFIED

THE OPERATOR OF A SPEEDING MOTORCYCLE THAT CRASHED AND DIED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. AUTHORITIES SAY NOW THAT 20 YEAR OLD CHARLES AGYEI- KYEREMEH OF LEBANON DIED IN THE FIERY CRASH NEAR GOOD SPRING CREEK SUNDAY. REPORTS HAVE KYEREMEH LISTED AS AN HONOR STUDENT AND A RUNNING BACK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AND A GRADUATE OF CEDAR CREST HIGH SCHOOL IN LEBANON.

MINERSVILLE WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPLE

THE MINERSVILLE AREA SCHOOL BOARD HAS APPOINTED JAMES YACOBACCI AS ITS NEW ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THE APPROVAL CAME AT YESTERDAY'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. YACOBACCI REPLACES JUDITH MCGRORY WHO RETIRED AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED A $.10 RAISE TO THE CURRENT CAFETERIA PRICES.

BLOOD SHORTAGE DIRE

THE NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA REGION OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ISSUED AN APPEAL MONDAY FOR BLOOD DONORS OF ALL TYPES DUE TO A CRITICAL NATIONAL BLOOD SHORTAGE. DEMAND FOR BLOOD PRODUCTS IS STEADY, BUT DONATIONS TO THE RED CROSS THIS SUMMER ARE THE LOWEST SEEN IN OVER A DECADE. ALL BLOOD TYPES ARE NEEDED, BUT ESPECIALLY O NEGATIVE. ELIGIBLE DONORS ARE ASKED TO PLEASE CALL 800-RED-CROSS NOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE NEAREST BLOOD DRIVE. EVERYONE WHO COMES IN TO DONATE THIS MONTH WILL RECEIVE A COUPON FOR A FREE CARTON OF ICE CREAM.

MOTORISTS SURVEY

PENNSYLVANIA MOTORISTS CAN NOW HELP PENNDOT PRIORITIZE ITS HIGHWAY SAFETY EFFORTS BY SHARING THEIR OPINIONS ON ENFORCEMENT AND DRIVING BEHAVIORS THROUGH AN ONLINE SURVEY AVAILABLE THROUGH JULY 30TH AT DRIVESAFEPA-DOT-ORG. THE SURVEY CONSISTS OF 19 QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON HIGHWAY SAFETY, INCLUDING SEAT BELTS, IMPAIRED AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. THE SURVEY IS ANONYMOUS. PENNDOT OFFICIALS SAY THE SURVEY WORKS, WITH MORE THAN 38-HUNDRED PEOPLE RESPONDING TO 2010'S QUESTIONNAIRE. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REQUIRES STATES TO CONDUCT THIS SURVEY NATIONALLY.

REP MIKE TOBASH TO MEET WITH RESIDENTS

THE OFFICE OF REP. MIKE TOBASH HAVE ISSUED A RELEASE NOTIFYING RESIDENTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY THAT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE AT HIS PINE GROVE OFFICE THIS THURSDAY JULY 14, FROM 3PM-6PM. TOBASH ADDS HE WELCOMES ALL TO COME AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS. TOBASH'S OFFICE IN PINE GROVE IS LOCATED AT THE AMERICAN LEGION BUILDING ON TULPEHOCKEN ST.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A NEWSPAPER REPORTS THE PAYCHECKS OF 13,600 NONUNION AND MANAGEMENT STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE REMAINED VIRTUALLY FROZEN SINCE RIGHT AFTER THE RECESSION BEGAN, AND SOME NOW EARN LESS THAN THEIR UNIONIZED SUBORDINATES. BUT A SPOKESMAN FOR GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'S ADMINISTRATION TELLS THE PATRIOT-NEWS OF
HARRISBURG THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A MANAGEMENT PAY RAISE IN A YEAR IN WHICH UNIONIZED EMPLOYEES ARE ACCEPTING A WAGE FREEZE.

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY ONE MAN IS DEAD AND TWO OTHER PEOPLE WOUNDED IN A SHOOTING IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. PROSECUTORS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SAY POLICE WERE CALLED TO HAWKS ALLEY IN NORRISTOWN EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING. PROSECUTORS SAY ALL THREE VICTIMS ARE NORRISTOWN RESIDENTS.

WEST CHESTER, PA. (AP) - POLICE SAY A MAN IS DEAD AND HIS WIFE INJURED IN A SHOOTING IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA. WEST GOSHEN POLICE TELL THE DAILY LOCAL NEWS OF WEST CHESTER IT APPEARS A DOMESTIC DISPUTE BROKE OUT EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING. POLICE SAY MICHAEL TAKACS DIED AND HIS WIFE MARY TAKACS WAS INJURED.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 20 TO 40 YEARS BEHIND BARS IN A HOME INVASION MURDER FOR WHICH HER SON WAS CONVICTED. TERRIE COLLOPY PLEADED GUILTY TO THIRD-DEGREE MURDER IN THE 2008 KILLING OF DAVID WALTERICK IN ALLENTOWN. POLICE SAY SHE DROVE HER SON AND ANOTHER MAN TO WALTERICK'S HOME.


NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND GOP LAWMAKERS REMAIN HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHORT OF THEIR GOAL, AS THEY STRUGGLE FOR AGREEMENT ON CUTTING TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL BUDGET. LAWMAKERS WERE ASKED TO RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR TALKS THIS AFTERNOON AFTER A 90-MINUTE MONDAY SESSION PRODUCED
NO PROGRESS OTHER THAN TO IDENTIFY THE SIZE OF THE GAP BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND OBAMA. REPUBLICANS AGAIN TOOK A FIRM STAND AGAINST REVENUE INCREASES WHILE OBAMA AND HIS DEMOCRATIC ALLIES INSISTED THAT TAXES BE PART OF ANY EQUATION THAT CUTS PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICARE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE HOUSE IS TAKING UP ONE OF THE MORE UNCOMMON QUESTIONS OF THIS LEGISLATIVE YEAR: WHETHER AMERICANS ARE BEING FORCED TO SACRIFICE PERSONAL FREEDOMS FOR A BETTER LIGHT BULB. HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD OVERTURN MEASURES IN A 2007 ENERGY ACT REQUIRING THE ADOPTION OF MORE EFFICIENT VERSIONS OF THE INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULB INVENTED BY THOMAS EDISON IN 1879. REPUBLICANS SAY PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUY TRADITIONAL, CHEAP AND RELIABLE INCANDESCENT BULBS. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY NEW BULBS ON THE MARKET WILL SAVE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ENERGY COSTS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE JUDGE IS NEARLY READY TO SEAT A JURY IN BASEBALL STAR ROGER CLEMENS' PERJURY TRIAL. ATTORNEYS FOR BOTH SIDES SPENT THREE DAYS INTENSELY QUESTIONING 50 WASHINGTONIANS TO WEED OUT ANY WHO MAY HAVE BIASES AGAINST CLEMENS OR CONGRESS FOR INVESTIGATING WHETHER HE OR OTHER BASEBALL PLAYERS USED PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS. CLEMENS IS CHARGED WITH LYING UNDER OATH WHEN HE SAID HE NEVER USED STEROIDS OR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD IS SET TO RENDER ITS VERDICT ON WHAT CAUSED A COAST GUARD VESSEL TO CRASH INTO A PLEASURE BOAT DURING A HOLIDAY PARADE IN SAN DIEGO BAY, KILLING AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY AND SERIOUSLY INJURING FOUR OTHERS. THE PANEL MEETS TODAY IN WASHINGTON TO CONSIDER THE FINDINGS OF A STAFF
INVESTIGATION INTO THE DECEMBER 2009 COLLISION. THE COAST GUARD WAS RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF A GROUNDED BOAT ON THE CROWDED BAY. CREW MEMBERS TOLD INVESTIGATORS THEY DIDN'T SEE THE BOAT.

LONDON (AP) - A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IS QUESTIONING SENIOR LONDON POLICE OFFICERS ABOUT WHY THEY DIDN'T PURSUE A PHONE HACKING INVESTIGATION AT THE TABLOID NEWS OF THE WORLD TWO YEARS AGO. THE NEWSPAPER WAS SHUT AMID A FLURRY OF PUBLIC OUTRAGE OVER ALLEGATIONS IT HACKED INTO PHONES, INCLUDING THAT OF A MURDERED 13-YEAR-OLD.