Today's News Friday January 27, 2012

Local News Friday January 27, 2012

Penn State Schuylkill May Get Health Center

The CEO of Rural Health Association of Luzerne County spoke to a group of about twenty five people during a public meeting at Penn State Schuylkill Campus on Thursday. Ed Michael was there to discuss the creation of a Federally Qualified Health Center for Schuylkill County. He talked about the Black Creek Health Center that serves Wyoming and Luzerne counties, and what a clinic in Schuylkill County could provide for residents. These clinics primarily provide medical and dental services for people who do not have health insurance, but are available to people of all income levels. The effort to establish the clinic is spearheaded by Schuylkill County's VISION, and the public meetings are being held to allow people to learn and ask questions.

Spring Glen Man Will Go To Trial After Slashing Incident

Twenty five year old Joshua Thurman, of Spring Glen, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges that he attacked Natalie Barr. Thurman appeared before Magisterial District Judge Carol Pankake of Tremont on Thursday, and was sent back to Schuylkill County prison where he has been held since he was arrested on January 18 to await trial. He is being held on $250,000 straight cash bail. Thurman is accused of slashing Barr's throat with a box cutter knife, then knocking her down and beating her during an argument on the porch of the apartment building where they lived.

Mahanoy City Receives Grant For Downtown Improvement

A grant will help Mahanoy City make improvements to the downtown area. Reporter Sibrena Stowe has more:

MAHANOY CITY

Bill To Shrink Size Of State Legislature Passes Committee

Speaker of the Pennsylvania House Sam Smith has introduced legislation that would reduce the size of the House of Representatives. WPPA/T102 reporter Joe Oliver filed this story:

SMITHBILL

Small games Of Chance Bill heads To Governor's Desk

Legislation to amend the current Small Games of Chance law, allowing for non-profit associations to raise revenues to support their community and maintain their organizations, was approved in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and has been sent to the governor to be signed into law, said rep. Mike Tobash (R-125), who voted in favor of the bill. House Bill 169 will update the Local Options Small Games of Chance Act and allow for increased limits for prize payouts. The update to the Small Games of Chance was needed, as the limits have not been changed since 1988. Rep. Tobash was quoted as saying "This legislation will go a long way when it comes to helping nonprofit organizations, such as volunteer fire and ambulance groups, and other civic associations raise the money that they need to keep doing the great work they do in our communities." Small games of chance are used by charitable organizations to raise funds to pay for equipment, training, or to assist those in the local community.

State and National News Friday January 27, 2012

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Former Penn State football stars and others paid tribute to Joe Paterno in a huge campus memorial service that exposed a strong undercurrent of anger over his
firing. Paterno's son Jay received a standing ovation when he declared: "Joe Paterno left this world with a clear conscience."

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Ukrainian hockey coach charged with fondling a teen player in Philadelphia is due in court today. Federal authorities will seek to detain 48-year-old Ivan Pravilov. They say he threatened a teenage witness and has no local ties. An indictment charges Pravilov with taking a 14-year-old Ukrainian boy from Delaware to the coach's Philadelphia apartment this month and fondling him. His public defender isn't commenting on the charges.

READING, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania say a 65-year-old man was justified in shooting two teenagers - one fatally - who tried to rob him as he rode his bike along a popular river trail. Berks County District Attorney John Adams says the bicyclist acted in self-defense after three teens knocked him off his bicycle in Cumru Township on Wednesday. Police say two of the teens were assaulting the man when he pulled out a gun and shot them.

CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) - The longtime president of Dickinson College says he is going to retire. William Durden announced yesterday that the next academic year will be his last at the central Pennsylvania college. He'll step down on June 30, 2013. The 62-year-old Durden has been president of Dickinson since 1999.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Last year was a weak one for the economy, but it likely ended on a hopeful note. A survey by FactSet says the economy likely grew at an annual rate of 3 percent in the
October-December quarter. The gain would represent modest improvement from this summer, when the economy grew just 1.8 percent.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The two Republican presidential candidates who've each won one primary apiece are sparring over Florida. At the last GOP debate before next Tuesday's Florida contest, frontrunners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich repeatedly clashed over issues such as immigration and spending. Rick Santorum got an applause when he told them to stop attacking one another.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - President Barack Obama is wrapping up a three-day tour to boost proposals he made during this week's State of the Union address. He'll visit the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor today and is expected to talk about college affordability. The head of the Republican party in Michigan says the visit is "a taxpayer funded campaign stop."

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is making it clear she wants to step aside if President Barack Obama is re-elected. Clinton says she would stay on just long enough for a replacement to be named. Clinton told State Department staffers Thursday that two decades of service is enough, and that she's tired and is paying no attention to the GOP presidential debates.

KINGSTON, Ontario (AP) - A jury in Ontario, Canada soon will start deliberating the fate of a couple and their adult son, accused of drowning four family members. Prosecutors say the three
teenage daughters of Afghan-born Mohammad Shafia were killed because they dishonored the family by defying rules on dress and socializing. The fourth victim was Shafia's first wife, who was
living with him and his second wife.