TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

FLAMES ENGULF HOME SENDING THREE TO HOSPITAL

A STRUCTURE FIRE IN NORTH MAHIEM TOWNSHIP MONDAY MORNING SENT A MOTHER AND HER THREE CHILDREN TO THE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION. THE FIRE AT 2417 PANTHER VALLEY ROAD, HOME OF DAVID WILDERMUTH, BROKE OUT JUST AFTER 8AM. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE LIVING QUARTERS AND QUICKLY SPREAD, ENGULFING THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE. THE ROOF OF THAT HOME COLLAPSED MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR FIRE CREWS TO GET INSIDE. CRESSONA FIRE CHIEF MIKE MANSELL SAID THERE WERE PROBLEMS ACCESSING WATER.IT TOOK FIREFIGHTERS FROM BERKS AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES ABOUT THREE HOURS TO BRING THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS WILL OFFER ASSISTANCE TO THAT FAMILY.

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR HAZLETON

A TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT MONDAY MORNING KILLED A MCADOO MAN. STATE POLICE AT HAZLETON REPORT 77-YEAR-OLD MARTIN CICHOWIC COLLIDED WITH A PICKUP TRUCK ALONG THE AIRPORT BELTWAY IN HAZLE TOWNSHIP. CICHOWIC WAS TAKEN TO HAZLETON GENERAL HOSPITAL AND THEN TRANSPORTED TO WYOMING VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE DIED FROM MULTIPLE TRAUMATIC INJURIES.

POTTSVILLE MAN WINS HGTV COMPETITION

AFTER COMPETING AGAINST 19 OTHER NON-PROFESSIONAL HANDYMEN AND WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A POTTSVILLE MAN HAS BEEN NAMED HGTV’S NEWEST "ALL AMERICAN HANDYMAN". 39-YEAR-OLD JARED POLSTON IS A WATER-BASED PAINTS MAN WHO COMPETED FOR THE TITLE IN APRIL IN THE NAVY SHIPYARDS IN THE BRONX. POLSTON AND HIS FAMILY KEPT THE NEWS A SECRET UNTIL THE FINAL EPISODE AIRED SUNDAY NIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THE FLATTERING TITLE, POLSTON WON A $10,000 SEARS SHOPPING SPREE AND AN HGTV TALENT DEVELOPMENT DEAL.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A PENNSYLVANIA CASE THAT RAISED DOUBTS
ABOUT WHETHER THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY HAS THE RIGHT TO EXTRACT GAS
FROM THE MARCELLUS SHALE HAS BEEN APPEALED. A SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY
COUPLE IS ASKING THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER A
NEARLY 130-YEAR-OLD RULING DETERMINES WHO HAS RIGHTS TO THE METHANE
IN THE UNDERGROUND FORMATION.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE CONTINUING TO
PROTEST IN DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA AS PART OF AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN
AGAINST CORPORATE POWER IN POLITICS. "OCCUPY PHILADELPHIA"
PARTICIPANTS SAID POLICE AND CITY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN AGREEABLE.
THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO LEAVE AND ARE PREPARING FOR RAIN
EXPECTED LATER THIS WEEK.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED AID FOR
THREE NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES TO HELP REPAIR ROADS AND
BRIDGES DAMAGED BY TROPICAL STORM LEE LAST MONTH. THE WHITE HOUSE
SAYS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA APPROVED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR LUZERNE,
SUSQUEHANNA AND WYOMING COUNTIES.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A FORMER SOLDIER'S DEATH PENALTY TRIAL FOR A
DOUBLE-MURDER PROSECUTORS SAY OCCURRED DURING AN ALTOONA SANDWICH
SHOP ROBBERY HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL JANUARY. LAWYERS FOR
31-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS HORNER HOPE TO ARGUE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER CONTRIBUTED TO HIS ALLEGED CRIMES. A CLERK AND A BYSTANDER
WERE KILLED IN THE 2009 ROBBERY.


NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HEADS FOR THE KEY
REELECTION STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA TODAY. IN PITTSBURGH, HIS COUNCIL
ON JOBS AND COMPETITIVENESS IS UNVEILING A REPORT THAT CALLS FOR
CHANGES RANGING FROM LIBERALIZED IMMIGRATION AND FEWER REGULATIONS
TO BUSINESS-FRIENDLY TAXES AND GREATER INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING. THE
WHITE HOUSE ALSO IS ANNOUNCING STEPS TO SPEED UP PERMITS FOR 14
PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - NEW HAMPSHIRE PROVIDES THE SETTING FOR THE
LATEST DEBATE AMONG REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS. NEW ENGLAND
IS THE HOME TURF OF MITT ROMNEY AND THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE
SIGNALING THAT THEY ARE READY WITH DIRECT CRITICISM OF HIM AND HIS
RECORD. THE ECONOMY IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - JURORS IN THE TRIAL OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S
DOCTOR GET TO HEAR THE REST OF HIS INTERVIEW WITH POLICE TODAY. DR.
CONRAD MURRAY IS CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. THE
PROSECUTION MAY ALSO CALL AN EXPERT TODAY TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE
POWER SEDATIVE MURRAY ADMINISTERED TO THE POP SINGER.

SANTA ANA, CALIF. (AP) - THE FIGHT OVER THE FASHION DOLL MARKET
ISN'T OVER YET. MGA IS USING A RECENT VERDICT IN ITS FAVOR OVER
BRATZ DOLLS AS AMMUNITION IN A LAWSUIT THAT CLAIMS MATTEL IS TRYING
TO KILL THE SMALLER COMPANY BY LITIGATING IT TO DEATH. MATTEL,
WHICH ORIGINALLY SUED MGA OVER THE BRATZ COPYRIGHT, IS APPEALING
THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BRATZ VERDICT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE HOUSE WHERE PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIED
ACROSS THE STREET FROM FORD'S THEATRE HAS REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC
AFTER A YEARLONG RENOVATION. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SAYS THE
REHABILITATION OF PETERSEN HOUSE INCLUDED REPAIRS TO THE EXTERIOR,
A NEW CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.