TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY JULY13, 2011

AUTOPSY SCHEDULED FOR TODAY

AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED TODAY FOR A WOMAN WHO WAS FOUND DEAD ON HER FATHER'S GRAVESITE INSIDE SKY-VIEW MEMORIAL PARK IN HOMETOWN. COUNTY CORONER JOSEPH LIPSETT SAYS THAT 36 YEAR OLD BETH JOY DAILY OF LANSFORD WAS FOUND LATE SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE CEMETERY AND THAT CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH WILL BE DETERMINED AFTER RECEIVING TOXICOLOGY TESTS.

TAMAQUA SD GOES GEOTHERMAL

STATE EDUCATION SECRETARY RON TOMALIS WAS IN OUR AREA ON TUESDAY. HE JOINED OFFICIALS OF THE TAMAQUA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TALK ABOUT THE SECOND PHASE OF A GEOTHERMAL ENERGY UPGRADE THAT HAS SAVED THE DISTRICT MONEY. THE GEOTHERMAL PROJECT REPLACES AN OLD HEATING SYSTEM WITH ONE THAT HEATS AND COOLS BUILDINGS WITH LIQUID FROM UNDERGROUND.


DEPT ENERGY EASES MORATORIUM

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS EASED UP ON THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE'S EFFORTS TO COMPLETE A STORMWATER AND SEWER SEPARATION PROJECT. OFFERING RELIEF FROM A MORATORIUM ON SEWER CONNECTIONS. THAT BEING SAID, IT COULD ALSO GIVE THE POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT A CHANCE TO INSTALL NEW RESTROOMS AT ALUMNI FIELD. THE D-E-P HAS AUTHORIZED THE CITY TO ALLOW UP 3,000 GALLONS OF NEW SANITARY SEWAGE PER DAY FROM NEW CONNECTIONS.

RINGTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL

AFTER MONDAY'S RINGTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR, SPEEDERS BEWARE! DURING THE MEETING BOROUGH POLICE AGREED TO ENFORCE LIMITING SPEEDERS AND CONTROLLING LOUD MUSIC. COUNCIL MEMBERS REMINDED RESIDENTS THAT THERE ARE LAWS IN THE BOOKS AND THE POLICE DEPT WILL DO THEIR BEST TO ENFORCE IT. COUNCIL ALSO ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES SOLICITORS TO HAVE A PERMIT THAT WILL REQUIRE A 30 DAY NOTICE TO POLICE.

TV RATES COULD BE ON THE RISE

COMCAST CABLE SUBSCRIBERS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COULD SEE THEIR CABLE BILL ON THE RISE BY THE END OF THE MONTH. A COMPANY SPOKESMAN FOR COMCAST SAYS THAT CUSTOMERS WILL SEE AN AVERAGE OF 3% INCREASE TO THEIR MONTHLY BILL BUT ADDS THAT WHILE SOME WILL GO UP OTHERS WILL STAY THE SAME OR DECREASE BASED ON SERVICE PACKAGE. THE LAST CABLE INCREASE CAME ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN SUBSCRIBERS SAW A 3.5% INCREASE

PHEAA EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR GRANTS

PHEAA IS REMINDING FIRST TIME AND NON RENEWAL PA STATE GRANT APPLICANTS PLANNING TO ATTEND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT THE PHEAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR STATE GRANT TO AUGUST 1ST. THE MAXIMUM STATE GRANT AWARD IN 2011-2012 FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECIPIENTS WILL BE UPTO $2400.


STATE NEWS:

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT ISN'T ENDORSING A PROPOSAL FROM THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN FLOOR LEADER TO PRIVATIZE LIQUOR SALES, AND HE ISN'T SAYING HOW HE WOULD PURSUE THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE STATE-OWNED SYSTEM, EITHER. WHEN HE WAS ASKED YESTERDAY WHETHER HE SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL, CORBETT SAID HE HASN'T SEEN IT.

WEST CHESTER, PA. (AP) - A FORMER DAIRY FARM LABORER HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATH OF THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS JURORS IN CHESTER COUNTY DELIBERATED FOR 3 1/2 HOURS YESTERDAY BEFORE REJECTING MAURICIO JOSE BEDOLLA-CAMACHO'S CONTENTION THAT HE WAS OVERCOME BY PASSION WHEN
HE STRANGLED DAICY VASQUEZ-BEDOLLA IN APRIL OF 2008 AND DUMPED HER BODY.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A NORTH VERSAILLES WOMAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE IN THE DEATHS OF HER TWO YOUNG SONS IN A FIRE THAT SWEPT THROUGH THEIR APARTMENT NEAR PITTSBURGH. KIAIRA POLLARD WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND TAMPERING WITH A FIRE APPARATUS IN THE JUNE 30TH BLAZE.

CHESTER, PA. (AP) - NURSES AT A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL HAVE RATIFIED A NEW THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT. A UNION SPOKESWOMAN SAYS NEGOTIATORS FOR THE UNION AND CROZER CHESTER MEDICAL CENTER REACHED AN AGREEMENT SUNDAY NIGHT ON A PROPOSAL FOR THE 700 REGISTERED NURSES. SHE SAYS MEMBERS VOTED 343 TO 89 YESTERDAY IN FAVOR OF THE
CONTRACT.

NATIONAL NEWS:


WASHINGTON (AP) - NEITHER THE WHITE HOUSE NOR HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER ARE DISMISSING A BACKUP PLAN TO RAISE THE GOVERNMENT'S BORROWING AUTHORITY AS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS GOP RIVALS HEAD INTO ANOTHER DEFICIT-CUTTING MEETING TODAY. SENATE GOP LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL OFFERED A BACKUP PLAN THAT WOULD, IN EFFECT,
GUARANTEE OBAMA REQUESTS FOR NEW GOVERNMENT BORROWING AUTHORITY UNLESS CONGRESS MUSTERS VETO-PROOF MAJORITIES TO DENY HIM. THERE'S STIFF OPPOSITION AMONG TEA PARTY CONSERVATIVES.

WASHINGTON (AP) - OPENING ARGUMENTS ARE SCHEDULED TODAY IN THE TRIAL OF BASEBALL'S ROGER CLEMENS FOR ALLEGEDLY LYING TO CONGRESS ABOUT USING PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS. A FEMALE-DOMINATED JURY OF 10 WOMEN AND TWO MEN IS IN PLACE TO BEGIN HEARING THE EVIDENCE.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - THE FOCUS TODAY TURNS TO STOCKPILING THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WITH THE YEAR'S WORTH OF SUPPLIES BROUGHT BY ATLANTIS IN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM'S FINAL MISSION. WHEN THE SUPPLIES ARE STOWED, BOTH CREWS WILL FILL A CARGO CARRIER WITH SPACE STATION TRASH AND DISCARDED EQUIPMENT FOR RETURN TO EARTH NEXT WEEK.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW POLL OF BABY BOOMERS SAYS THEY THINK "OLD" DOESN'T BEGIN UNTIL AT LEAST AGE 70. THE AP-LIFEGOESSTRONG.COM POLL SHOWS BABY BOOMERS FEEL MOSTLY UPBEAT ABOUT THEIR FUTURES. THE POST-WORLD WAR II GROUP IS TURNING 47 THROUGH 65 THIS YEAR, AND THE VAST MAJORITY STILL CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE MIDDLE-AGED.

LONDON (AP) - BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF COMMONS IS POISED TO PROVIDE A POWERFUL EXPRESSION TODAY OF THE TIDE RUNNING AGAINST RUPERT MURDOCH'S MEDIA EMPIRE. LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO DEMAND THAT MURDOCH GIVE UP HIS AMBITION OF TAKING OVER A LUCRATIVE BROADCASTER IN THE WAKE OF THE PHONE HACKING SCANDAL.