Today's News-Saturday, January 7, 2012

Man That Hit Ringtown Cyclist Now Charged

According to the Republican Herald, Laguna Pueblo police filed charges Thursday against the driver of the vehicle that hit and killed a 19-year-old cyclist from Ringtown, three months after the U.S. attorney in New Mexico announced they lacked evidence to pursue charges. John Anczarski was cycling cross-country with friends to raise money for breast cancer research when he was struck by a vehicle June 21, 2010, that was driven by Gilbert Waconda along State Road 124 - a stretch of Old Route 66 - in New Laguna on the Laguna Pueblo, an Indian reservation about 45 miles west of Albuquerque. Laguna Pueblo police charged Waconda with vehicular homicide and reckless driving. However, since tribal governments can only prosecute crimes as misdemeanors, the maximum Waconda could face is up to one year in prison for each charge.

Farm Show Set to Begin

Agriculture Secretary George Greig invites Pennsylvanians to celebrate agriculture - from farm gate to dinner plate - during the 96th Pennsylvania Farm Show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. The eight-day show, the largest indoor agricultural exhibition. The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs Jan. 7-13 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Jan. 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and parking is $10. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center is easily accessed from nearby Interstate 81. For a complete schedule of Farm Show visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us and select the tab for "2012 Show."

Legislator Wants Stop On Court-Ordered Reassessments

As the new county executive in Allegheny County defies a court ordered property tax reassessment, a Pittsburgh lawmaker is again calling on the state legislature to approve his measure that would place a moratorium on court-ordered reassessments. Howard Ondick has this report.

ONDICK

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Archdiocese of Philadelphia plans to
shutter about a quarter of its Roman Catholic high schools and
close or combine nearly 30 percent of its elementary schools mainly
because of rising costs and low enrollment. The moves will displace
almost 24,000 students and leave the region with four fewer high
schools and 44 fewer elementary schools at the beginning of the
next academic year.

LANGHORNE, Pa. (AP) - Teachers in a southeastern Pennsylvania
school district have given notice to district officials that they
will go on strike. The Neshaminy School District teachers said the
strike will begin on Monday. School district officials say if the
strike does happen, some special education and athletic activities
will continue.

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a 16-year-old girl was
struck and killed by a passing train in Beaver Falls, about 40
miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The Beaver County Times reports that
Taylor Elizabeth Donnadio, a junior at Beaver Falls High School,
was struck by a Norfolk Southern train early yesterday afternoon.

BALTIMORE (AP) - Maryland lottery officials say a Pennsylvania
couple has claimed a $128.8 million Powerball prize in Maryland.
The couple, who chose to stay anonymous, claimed the prize
yesterday at lottery headquarters in Baltimore.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says in his weekly
media message that one way of putting people back to work is to
bring jobs back to the U.S. The White House is holding a forum next
week. For the Republicans, New York Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-N.Y., says
a focus on small business and reducing regulations is the way to
go.

WASHINGTON (AP) - An overhauled definition of rape will count
men for the first time and drop a requirement that the victim must
have fought back. The change will increase the number of people
counted as rape victims -- an important shift because lawmakers and
policymakers use crime statistics to allocate money and other
resources.

BEIRUT (AP) - Activists say there's been more deadly violence in
Syria. They say Syrian troops opened fire on demonstrators holding
sit-ins in two parts of the country, killing one and wounding at
least 20.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Residents of a northeastern Pennsylvania
village say the Environmental Protection Agency is promising to
deliver fresh water. Dimock township homeowners have been without a
reliable supply since a Houston-based natural gas driller stopped
making deliveries more than a month ago. Cabot has been accused of
tainting water wells.

HOUSTON (AP) - The National Weather Service says 2011 was Texas'
driest year on record as well as its second hottest. The average
rainfall for the drought-stricken state last year was just 14.88
inches. The summer was the hottest in U.S. history with an average
temperature of 86.8.