TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011

STUDENT ATHLETES FROM GRADES SEVEN THROUGH TWELVE WHO WANT TO CONTINUE PLAYING SPORTS IN COLLEGE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO GET SOME ADVICE TONIGHT. JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

NEW PHILLY FIRE NOT ARSON

AUTHORITIES BELIEVE A FIRE IN NEW PHILADELPHIA SATURDAY WAS NOT A CASE OF ARSON NOR WAS FOUL PLAY INVOLVED. THE BLAZE ON VALLEY STREET DESTROYED THE HOME, LEAVING WHAT WAS LEFT TO BE TORN DOWN SUNDAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDERMINED AT THIS TIME, BUT APPEARS TO BE ACCIDENTAL. AUTHORITIES FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF FIREARMS IN THAT HOME, BUT SAY NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WAS INVOLVED.

DANCE SENDS DIABETIC CHILDREN SENT TO CAMP

SOME DIABETIC CHILDREN WILL AGAIN BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO GO TO CAMP SETEBAID THIS SUMMER THANKS TO AN ANNUAL DANCE. THE DANCE HELD AT THE POTTSVILLE ZONE WILL HONOR THE LATE FOUNDER OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DIABETES ORGANIZATION, JOANIE ALBO. THE ORGANIZATION PLANS ON SENDING TWO CHILDREN TO THE GROUNDS OF CAMP LOUISE IN JULY. THE DANCE WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 4.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS CONTACT 570-628-3827

GOVERNOR CORBETT DECLARES FISCAL EMERGENCY IN HARRISBURG

IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE, GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT HAS DECLARED A FISCAL EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF HARRISBURG, AND HAS BEGUN THE PROCESS OF TAKING CONTROL OF THE CITY'S FINANCES. CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY FILED FOR CHAPTER 9 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION FOR THE CASH STRAPPED CITY, BUT THE CASE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY A JUDGE YET. THE GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY, THROUGH A RECENTLY ENACTED LAW, TO DECIDE HOW HARRISBURG’S REVENUES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

APPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS MUST BE IN SOON

SCHOOLS, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS WHO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 16 TO COMPLETE APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS TO HELP THEM IN THEIR WORK. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MAKES FUNDS AVAILABLE TO HELP THESE ORGANIZATIONS SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT TOPICS LIKE AIR QUALITY, WATER CONSERVATION, MINE RUNOFF, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SUBJECTS. INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS CAN APPLY FOR THE GRANTS ONLINE AT WWW.DEP.STATE.PA.US, OR BY CALLING 717-772-1828.

FUNDING MAY BE DIVERTED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO FUND CHARTERS

A BILL CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION IN HARRISBURG WOULD CREATE A SCHOOL VOUCHER SYSTEM, WHERE MONEY WOULD BE TAKEN FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL COFFERS TO FUND STUDENTS WHO ENROLL IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THE BILL IS IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AWAITING ACTION, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE ON THE FAST TRACK FOR APPROVAL. IF IT IS PASSED INTO LAW, THE BILL COULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION BY CAUSING FINANCIAL SHORTFALLS.


STATE NEWS:

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANDGOOD-GOVERNMENT GROUPS IS RECOMMENDING MORE STRINGENT OVERSIGHT OF THE STATE'S NATURAL-GAS DRILLING INDUSTRY. THE CITIZENS COMMISSION SAYS THE MARCELLUS SHALE DEPOSITS ARE A VALUABLE RESOURCE BUT SAYS PENNSYLVANIA NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MINIMIZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DRILLING.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - A MAN ACCUSED IN THE AUGUST SHOOTING DEATH OF A FREEMANSBURG POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL. GEORGE HITCHO JR. ALLEGEDLY KILLED ROBERT LASSO WITH A SHOTGUN AS LASSO WAS STRUGGLING WITH TWO OF HITCHO'S DOGS IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

MISRATA, LIBYA (AP) - A JAILED CONFIDANT DESCRIBES THE FINAL DAYS OF MOAMMAR GADHAFI AS SHIFTING BETWEEN RAGE AND MELANCHOLY AND TOTALLY WITHDRAWN FROM LEADING THE BATTLE. MANSOUR DAO SAYS GADHAFI, HIS SON AND AN ENTOURAGE OF TWO DOZEN DIE-HARD LOYALISTS WERE LARGELY CUT OFF FROM THE WORLD, LIVING IN ABANDONED HOMES.

ERCIS, TURKEY (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY THE DEATH TOLL IN THE POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE THAT HIT EASTERN TURKEY IS NOW 366. THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE ALSO SAYS MORE THAN 2,000 BUILDINGS COLLAPSED IN SUNDAY'S 7.2-MAGNITUDE QUAKE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE SPENT A
SECOND NIGHT OUTDOORS, AFRAID TO GO HOME AMID NUMEROUS AFTERSHOCKS.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A NURSE WHO TREATED MICHAEL JACKSON RESUMES TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENSE TODAY IN THE INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S DOCTOR. SHE'S EXPECTED TO DETAIL THE SINGER'S REQUESTS FOR A POWERFUL ANESTHETIC. CHERILYN LEE HAS SAID SHE REPEATEDLY WARNED JACKSON THAT USING PROPOFOL COULD KILL HIM.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS RAISING MONEY IN CALIFORNIA, TAPPING A RELIABLE DONOR BASE THAT'S HEAVY ON HOLLYWOOD PERSONALITIES. THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO TO TAPE AN APPEARANCE ON "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO." A FUNDRAISER IN SAN FRANCISCO WILL FEATURE A PERFORMANCE BY FOLK ROCK SINGER-SONGWRITER JACK JOHNSON.

TOLEDO, OHIO (AP) - JOE THE PLUMBER IS SET TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY ABOUT WHETHER HE'LL TRY TO BECOME JOE THE CONGRESSMAN. SAMUEL "JOE" WURZELBACHER (WUR'-ZUHL-BAH-KUR) ALREADY HAS FILED THE PAPERWORK AND SET UP A CAMPAIGN WEBSITE TO RAISE MONEY. WURZELBACHER ROSE OUT OF OBSCURITY IN 2008 TO BECOME AN ICON FOR MANY ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT CONSERVATIVES.