TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2011

NEW PHILLY FIRE LEAVES MAN CRITICALLY INJURED

A LATE SATURDAY FIRE IN NEW PHILADELPHIA DESTROYED A HOME AND CRITICALLY INJURED A MAN. 51-YEAR-OLD JOHN MARCAVAGE SUFFERED BURNS ON ABOUT 90-PERCENT OF HIS BODY. HE REMAINED IN CRITICAL CONDITION SUNDAY NIGHT. POLICE HAVE NOW RECOVERED FIREARMS WITH AMMUNITION AND CASH FROM THE VALLEY STREET HOME. THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ONGOING.

LOCAL BOOK STORE ANNOUNCES SECOND LOCATION

A LOCAL BOOK STORE HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL OPEN ITS' SECOND LOCATION AT THE HOMETOWN FARMERS MARKET. THE SAINT CLAIR BOOK NOOK, LOCATED ON NORTH SECOND STREET, SELLS NEW AND USED BOOKS AT DISCOUNT PRICES. THE NEW LOCATION WILL BE OPEN ON WEDNESDAY’S IN HOMETOWN.

CANCER PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE TO GROUPS

THANKS TO A GRANT PROVIDED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER WILL BE PROVIDING FREE PRESENTATIONS ON A VARIETY OF CANCER INCLUDING PROSTATE, OVARIAN, COLORECTAL AND SKIN. TO LEARN MORE OR SCHEDULE A PRESENTATION FOR YOUR GROUP CALL ARMENTA WASHINGTON AT 215-214-3984.

IF YOU REGISTERED WITH AMERICAN RED CROSS OR OTHER DISASTER-AID ORGANIZATIONS, YOU STILL MUST REGISTER WITH FEMA SEPARATELY

PENNSYLVANIANS WHO REGISTERED WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR DISASTER AID MUST ALSO REGISTER WITH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL AND COMMONWEALTH DISASTER AID. FOR HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IRENE, TROPICAL STORM LEE, OR BOTH, THERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO REGISTER:

1.CALL 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). OPERATORS ASSIST CALLERS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M. HELP IS AVAILABLE IN MOST LANGUAGES. IF YOU HAVE A SPEECH DISABILITY OR HEARING LOSS AND USE A TTY, CALL 1-800-462-7585.
2.REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV
3.REGISTER USING A TABLET OR SMARTPHONE BY VISITING M.FEMA.GOV
4.IF YOU USE 711 OR VIDEO RELAY SERVICE (VRS), CALL 1-800-621-3362

NOVEMBER 14 IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE.IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY AND NEED HELP REGISTERING, DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT FEMA TO ASK FOR HELP.

LEGAL NON-CITIZENS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR DISASTER RECOVERY AID

THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IRENE AND TROPICAL STORM LEE WHO ARE NOT U.S. CITIZENS BUT ARE IN THE UNITED STATES LEGALLY CAN APPLY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL DISASTER
ASSISTANCE.

INDIVIDUALS ISSUED A LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS "A GREEN CARD" MAY APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE IF THEY HAVE DISASTER-RELATED LOSSES. OTHER NONCITIZENS WHO CAN REGISTER WITH FEMA INCLUDE THOSE WITH LEGAL RESIDENT STATUS BECAUSE OF ASYLUM, REFUGEE STATUS, PAROLE STATUS, SUSPENSION OF DEPORTATION STATUS OR STATUS AS VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.IN ADDITION, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF A CHILD WHO IS A CITIZEN, NONCITIZEN NATIONAL OR QUALIFIED ALIEN MAY APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD. APPLICANTS SHOULD REGISTER BY CALLING 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) OR TTY 1-800-462-7585 TO REGISTER FOR FEDERAL DISASTER AID IF THEY HAD DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE IRENE OR TROPICAL STORM LEE AND LIVE IN ONE OF THE COUNTIES DESIGNATED UNDER THE DISASTER DECLARATIONS. IF THEY USE 711 OR VIDEO RELAY SERVICE (VRS), THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 1-800-621-3362. OPERATORS ARE MULTILINGUAL AND CALLS ARE ANSWERED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M. APPLICANTS CAN ALSO REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THREE SUSPECTS WHO POLICE SAY HELD FOUR MENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS CAPTIVE IN A FILTHY PHILADELPHIA BASEMENT AS PART OF A SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD SCHEME MAKE THEIR FIRST COURT APPEARANCES TODAY. LINDA ANN WESTON, EDDIE WRIGHT AND GREGORY THOMAS ARE CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING, ASSAULT, FALSE IMPRISONMENT AND OTHER CHARGES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A NEWSPAPER SAYS SCORES OF CAPITAL MURDER CONVICTIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE BEEN REVERSED OR SENT BACK FOR NEW HEARINGS DUE TO ERRORS MADE BY OFTEN LOW-PAID DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS COURTS CITED DEFENSE ERRORS IN REVERSING OR ORDERING NEW HEARINGS IN MORE THAN 125 CAPITAL MURDER TRIALS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE ARRESTED MORE THAN A DOZEN PROTESTERS WHO CAMPED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ACROSS FROM POLICE HEADQUARTERS OVERNIGHT SATURDAY. THEY WERE PART OF A GROUP MARCHING TO PROTEST POLICE BRUTALITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

ERCIS, TURKEY (AP) - RESCUERS IN EASTERN TURKEY SEARCHING AMONG BUILDINGS PANCAKED BY A 7.2-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HAVE FOUND FOUR SURVIVORS. NEWS REPORTS SAY THEY WERE PULLED FROM A COLLAPSED SIX-STORY BUILDING AFTER A MAN MANAGED TO CALL POLICE ON HIS CELL PHONE. AT LEAST 239 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

YOKOTA AIR BASE, JAPAN (AP) - DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA SAYS WASHINGTON AND TOKYO SHARE COMMON CHALLENGES, ONE BEING NORTH KOREA. PANETTA SAYS NORTH KOREA CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN "RECKLESS AND PROVOCATIVE BEHAVIOR." HE ALSO SAYS THE U.S. AND JAPAN SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE CHINA "TO PLAY A RESPONSIBLE ROLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY."

MIAMI (AP) - TROPICAL STORM RINA IS CHURNING IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA OFF THE COASTS OF HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA. FORECASTERS SAY IT COULD BECOME A HURRICANE BY THE END OF THE WEEK. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COAST OF HONDURAS FROM PUNTA CASTILLA EASTWARD TO THE NICARAGUAN BORDER.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TAKES HIS PUSH FOR HIS JOBS CREATION BILL TO LAS VEGAS TODAY. NEVADA HAS THE NATION'S HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, 13.4 PERCENT. HE'LL LATER ATTEND CAMPAIGN EVENTS IN CALIFORNIA.

CHICAGO (AP) - A NEW STUDY CONCLUDES THAT EXPOSURE TO BPA BEFORE BIRTH COULD AFFECT GIRLS' BEHAVIOR AT AGE 3. WHILE THE RESULTS ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE, IT FOUND HIGH URINE LEVELS OF BPA DURING PREGNANCY WERE LINKED WITH INCREASINGLY WORSE BEHAVIOR IN DAUGHTERS. BOYS' BEHAVIOR DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTED.