Today's News Wednesday January 18, 2012

Local News Wednesday January 18, 2012

Truck Driver Injured In Rollover On I-81

The driver of a tractor trailer was injured when her rig drifted off the side of Interstate 81 in Butler Township and rolled down an embankment. State Police report that Lorisa Feltner, of Carlisle, was traveling southbound near mile marker 122 when she lost control of her truck, which took out 170 feet of guardrail, went 200 feet down a steep embankment, and rolled onto its roof. Feltner was able to climb up the bank on her own, but was transported to Geisinger Medical Center by Frackville Ambulance. She has been cited for failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic. State Police were assisted at the scene by Frackville EMS, Shenandoah EMS, Goodwill Fire Company, Altamont Fire Company, and Englewood Fire Company.

Blue Mountain School District Affected By Supreme Court Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court decided not to rule on three cases involving students who posted parodies of school officials and other students from their home computers. That means that lower court rulings are allowed to stand in those cases. The implications of this decision will be felt by Blue Mountain School District, as they took action to suspend a student who created a fake profile of a school principal describing him as a pedophile. The district suspended the student for ten days at the time, but the high court decision will allow the student to seek damages from the district for their actions. Blue Mountain Superintendent Robert Urzillo said the decision is "disappointing, unfortunate, and wrong". He said this decision could have a domino effect on schools nationwide.

Four Men Accused In Penn State Beating Will Stand Trial

Four men accused in the beatings of Penn State students in Schuylkill Haven waived their right to preliminary hearings, and will stand trial in Schuylkill County court. Alfred Booker, Jr., Christopher Cheese, and Leonard Stubbs, all from Philadelphia, and Christopher Scott of University Drive in Schuylkill Haven, all went before Magisterial District Judge James Ferrier yesterday. After negotiations between prosecutors and defense attorneys, some charges were withdrawn, but the defendants still faces charges of conspiracy, recklessly endangering another person, and criminal trespass. Bail for Booker, Scott, and Stubbs was kept at $100,000 straight cash, and $250,000 straight cash for Cheese. Scott posted bail, and was released, but the others were returned to Schuylkill County prison.


State and National News Wednesday January 18, 2012

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Education officials in Philadelphia are pledging more accurate reporting of school violence and better support for victims as part of a plan to make the district safer. The district's Blue Ribbon Commission released a report yesterday outlining several strategies for reducing truancy, suspensions and violent incidents.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A cash-strapped school district in suburban Philadelphia will continue operating with a $3.2 million infusion of state money. A federal judge approved the payment to the Chester Upland School District yesterday. The district had said it wouldn't meet this week's payroll without the funds.

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania car salesman has pleaded guilty in the death of a man he was taking on a test drive more than a year ago. Michael Hershey of Landisville pleaded guilty yesterday in Lancaster County Court to homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, and reckless endangerment. Authorities say he had been drinking and was speeding when he hit an embankment in East Hempfield Township, killing customer Jon Jensen and injuring the victim's son.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State University plans to post online the compensation for a Washington attorney serving as a legal adviser to the university's president, along with fees for others hired to help with crisis management at the school. Former White House counsel Lanny Davis was hired last month to advise university President Rodney Erickson. Davis now heads a law and crisis management firm.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is providing law enforcement throughout the country with an analysis on homegrown terror, including things to look for when identifying violent extremists. Nearly 50 senior federal, state and local law enforcement officials will attend a conference today at the White House to discuss the report by Homeland Security.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican-led House is expected today to approve a measure to block raising the government's borrowing cap by $1.2 trillion. Under a bipartisan agreement reached this past summer, the debt ceiling is automatically raised 15 days after the president notifies lawmakers that the government is close to its $15.2 trillion cap - unless Congress says no.

ROME (AP) - An Italian Coast Guard officer tells the captain of a cruise ship that he must return to the capsizing vessel to save frantic passengers. The captain refuses to leave the safety of his lifeboat. Italian officials have released a recording of the conversation that happened after the ship rammed into a reef off the Tuscan coast. The captain now faces criminal charges, including manslaughter.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Officials in Ethiopia are now saying that four people were kidnapped in an attack by gunmen on a group of European tourists. Ethiopia's communications minister says the gunmen also killed five other tourists and wounded two. The incident early Tuesday happened near the border with Eritrea.

NEW YORK (AP) - A man who admitted killing four people in a rampage of stabbings, carjackings and other crimes will appear in a New York City court today for sentencing. Maksim Gelman pleaded guilty to murder, assault and attempted murder in the February 2011 crimes that spanned two days. He could get up to 100 years in prison.