Friday, July 2, 2010
3-alarm fire strikes Milton structures
MILTON -- Union County Communications says all occupants are apparently safely out of three burning buildings along South Front Street, Milton. First reports of the fire were at about 3:40 p.m., and a third alarm was called at 4:10 p.m.
The fire centers on Vogel's Cleaners, and includes an as yet undermined number of residential units. It is across the street from the Milton Moose.
There is a big emergency response underway and caution is advised along South Front Street near Race Street in Milton. (Matt Farrand)
Wolfgang enters no contest plea
SUNBURY -- The Mount Carmel man, who dumped his bride in a creek, could spend up to 40 years in prison. That's the ruling today by Northumberland County President Judge Robert Sacavage, after a plea was entered by Steven Wolfgang. According to the News-Item, Wolfgang pled no contest to third degree murder. He is accused of killing his wife Sherry Wolfgang in 2007.
CSVT gets boost in House
WASHINGTON – The long planned Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation project is getting a legislative boost. So says Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock), who tells us the House passed a measure late Thursday that makes it possible for the 13-mile highway bypass to be eligible for Appalachian Regional Commission money. Carney added language to the bill that now goes to the Senate, which that removes the corridor designation from a proposed project in Centre County. (Matt Farrand)
Lack of rain affecting local farmer
UNDATED -- Although our area is not technically in a 'drought,' rain gauges are virtually dry. Local farmer, Bill Geise, of Geise's Sweet Corn Farm in Northumberland, says they have picked and begun selling corn already. It's earlier than in year's passed because of the weather. He says they have been irrigating, but are praying for rain. Geise says the corn needs between one and one-and-a-half inches of rain a week to grow healthy.
Last month, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, our area had about a two-and-a-half inch rainfall deficit, and so far this year, our area has experienced about a six inch rainfall deficit. Pydynowski says we could see a shower later next week, but until that time, and through the holiday weekend it will remain hot and dry. Geise says they have picked enough corn to be fully stocked through next week, and he expects to have a very busy 4th of July weekend.
Boat rental business seeing lots of action this holiday weekend
SUNBURY -- With perfect weather forecast for the 4th of July weekend, one local business expects to be extra busy. Angela Troutman, owner of Lake Augusta Outfitters at the Shikellamy Marina, says she's seen a lot of interest already in rental equipment, and the pontoon boats are sold out. But, Troutman says there are still plenty of water rentals available, along with single and tandem bikes.
Troutman says since the business opened last month, the turnout and feedback have been great. She says the community has been very supportive of the business, and she has been getting a lot of spontaneous renters who have come to the park for the day.
In addition to rentals, the shop offers refreshments, as well as fishing and boat equipment. They also have a gas pump, where all boaters are welcome to fill up. (Sara Bartlett)
Roundtable this weekend is an update on the CSVT
SUNBURY – This weekend on our Roundtable program, you’ll find out why some of the people pushing for the CSVT are optimistic the highway will be built. Joe McGranaghan—the mayor Shamokin Dam and the chair of the CSVT task force tells us, the project has many allies at the local, state and federal level. He said he is optimistic because the US House and Senate have pledged support.
Joe McGranaghan, along with Charlie Ross of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Ryan Unger of SEDA-COG, are on Roundtable this weekend talking about the so-called Routes 11 & 15 bypass. You can hear Roundtable (Sunday) on, Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m., 100.9 (100.9FM), The Valley, at 6a.m., Newsradio 1070 WKOK (1070AM) at 9a.m., Talkradio 1380 WMLP (1380AM), 11a.m., 94KX WQKX (94.1FM) at 11p.m. and anytime, at www.wkok.com.
Open lewdness charges against Montandon man
MONTANDON -- A Montandon man is being charged with open lewdness after watching pornographic material in front of an open window. Police say 28-year-old Shawn Kelson intentionally positioned a large screen television in his home so that it was visible to the public from the main roadway. On June 20th, Kelson was observed watching pornographic material at the home along Atlantic Avenue in Montandon. Kelson was charged by District Judge William Kear on counts of open lewdness and viewing obscene and sexual material. (Sara Bartlett)
Northumberland County democratic committee names officials
SUNBURY -- The Northumberland County Democratic Party held a reorganization meeting Thursday, and new officials were named. The new Democratic Chairman is Rodger Babnew of Sunbury. He replaces Paul Niglio of Kulpmont. The Vice Chairperson is Peggy Ferrari of Shamokin. Debbie Howe was named as secretary and Norm Gessner was named as treasurer. They are both from Sunbury.
Testing for tree-killing insect in Union County
UNDATED -- The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is working to stop the spread of a tree-killing beetle after a suspect sample of the bug was found in Union County. A sample from Gregg Township is being tested for confirmation of the emerald ash borer beetle. The invasive beetle can kill an ash tree within three years of infestation. The Ag Department says they pose a serious threat to the hardwoods industry. The beetle has now been found in 15 Pennsylvania counties.
Fire call in Montour County
WASHINGTONVILLE -- A fire call was reported in Montour County overnight. A wood shop was heavily damaged by the midnight fire in Anthony Township, along Fairview Road. Washingtonville, Warrior Run and Millville fire companies responded. The crews were on the scene of that Montour County fire for about two hours. (Mark Lawrence)
State representative candidate brings up personal past
PAXINOS – Surrounded by his ex-wife, son and other family Thursday night, Northumberland County Commissioner and Republican candidate for state representative in the 107th district, Kurt Masser, brought up a part of his personal life he hopes is avoided during his campaign run.
Masser told of a domestic incident he and his now ex-wife were involved in 19 years ago. The incident, which Masser emotionally admitted he regrets, involved a protection from abuse order requested by his ex-wife. Court documents say that Paula Masser accused her husband of grabbing her by the neck and kicking her.
Masser says he is a changed person from that time, and believes he is the best candidate for the position. He says the issue has been brought up in other campaigns, and he called on his Democratic opponent, George Zalar, to refrain from using negative attacks in this campaign.
One killed after motorcycle crash
MONTOUR TWP – A Columbia County man died after he crashed his motorcycle Thursday night on Route 42 between Catawissa and Bloomsburg. 51-year-old Raymond Kressler, of Scott Township, was riding his motorcycle around 5:30p.m.
Police say that is when he lost control and went down an embankment. Kressler was thrown from the motorcycle after it became airborne and rolled several times. Police say Kressler was not wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene. (Sara Bartlett)
New cuts expected at libraries
LEWISBURG – Budget bills passed the state house and senate prior to the expiration of the fiscal year; but that is little consolation to local public libraries. Library directors expect a 9% cut in state funding, following the 20% cuts they endured during the fiscal year that just ended.
Interim Director Melanie Weber of the Public Library for Union County expects budget adjustments similar to those put in place for the current year. She says employees have virtually no paid days off when the library is closed, such as during the upcoming holiday weekend.
Other reductions are expected, including acquisition of fewer books. Weber says there could be a point where service is cut below the level that the public expects.
Library trustees will start to prepare their budget in the weeks ahead. Weber notes the Library for Union County is lucky due to the support it receives from volunteers, and the library tax that’s levied by county government. (Matt Farrand)
Allenwood teen charged with aggravated assault
ALLENWOOD -- 16-year-old Martin Pertusio of Allenwood will face charges that include aggravated assault and burglary, after allegedly attacking his parents Wednesday night. State troopers say he chased 36-year olds Keith and Heidi Pertusio with a butcher knife at their home on Bridge Avenue in Allenwood.
The criminal complaint against Pertusio says he struck his mother several times, then threatened to kill both his parents by slitting their throats. He is also being charged with resisting arrest for putting up a struggle when troopers arrived.
Papers also say Martin is being charged with burglary after allegedly trying to break into what was described as a designated safe room, where Keith and Heidi hid. The locked room was used on other occasions when their son became violent.
Pertusio was charged as an adult, and was arraigned before on-call District Judge Jeffery Mensch. He was taken to the Union County Prison on $50,000 bail; and his next court appearance is scheduled for July 15th before District Justice Leo Armbruster. (Sara Bartlett)
Marlin Persing remembered
SUNBURY – Two Sunbury Police cars sat in front of the Shikellamy High School, as family, friends and others who knew Marlin Persing came out to pay their respect Thursday evening. A number of local law enforcement, both current and retired, were also there. Nearly 40 people were waiting, lined up when doors opened to the auditorium, and people waited to show their respects.
A white casket sat at the front of the auditorium, surrounded by pictures of Persing with his family and from his service days. Persing, who served with the Sunbury Police Department for 20 years and retired as a lieutenant, died last Friday at the age of 76. A funeral will be held today at the high school, with burial in Northumberland Memorial Park in Stonington.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Persing’s memory to Northumberland County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, Northumberland County Big Brothers, Big Sisters or SUN Home Health Services. (Sara Bartlett)
Join the Mifflinburg community for family fun this holiday weekend
MIFFLINBURG -- Members of the planning committee for Mifflinburg's 4th of July celebration are excited to see the community come together for good old fashion fun this weekend.
The 5k run Saturday morning has become one of the more popular races in our area, as we hear from race chairman Don Bowman. He says they had no idea the race would become as big as it has. He adds that many people call it a 'reunion' race because they see people they know before, after and during the events.
A number of other games, children's events, a chicken BBQ, and music will all happen in Mifflinburg's Community Park, and the night will end with fireworks. You can hear Mensch and Bowman by downloading our Leaders & Lawmakers program at www.wkok.com. A full list of events is online at www.mifflinburg5k.com. (Katie Kirchner)
PennDOT lifts I-80 lane restriction following crash
UNDATED -- Traffic was back up at least ten miles at one point following a crash on I-80 westbound in Columbia County Thursday. The accident happened just after 10:00a.m. on the Susquehanna River bridge between the Mifflinville and Lime Ridge/Berwick exits. Traffic was detoured for about two hours, but lengthy backups were reported for hours after the detour was lifted.
Construction work in the area and a lane restriction didn't help the flow of traffic, but PennDOT did lift the lane restriction and says now, both westbound lanes in that are area open to traffic through the holiday weekend. No word yet on who was involved in the accident, injuries reported or the cause. (Sara Bartlett)
Gordner says budget is reflective of the times
HARRISBURG -- For the first time in eight years, Pennsylvania's state budget has been passed on time. State Senator John Gordner (R-27th, Berwick) says the $28 billion budget is reflective of the times. This year's budget is less than a 1% increase over last year's budget.
Gordner says it contains no tax increases and there are many challenging tough cuts. He says libraries do not make out well with this budget. $250 million more was budgeted to basic education and Gordner says school districts in our area will see 3%-6% in state funding.
Gordner says this budget relies on $850 million in federal funding that the state hasn't received yet. He says if the state doesn't receive the money, there will be $850 million worth of cuts in the budget between now and January. The deal includes an agreement to enact a tax on gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale formation by October 1st. (Sara Bartlett)
State Senator talks about cuts made in state budget
HARRISBURG -- Although there were tough decision in this budget process, according to State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23rd, Williamsport), passing it on time was the right thing to do because of the economy. Yaw says he knows not everyone is pleased with cuts that were made to form the $28 billion budget, but they key was to look at what programs that need to be funded are critical to government.
The recently passed state budget includes an agreement to enact a tax on Marcellus Shale gas extraction by October 1st, but Yaw says there is nothing planned for what that tax will look like. He says the big question is, who will benefit?
He says his concern is that Pennsylvania is just adding one more tax on top of other taxes already in place. He also says he is concerned about what benefits, if any, local municipalities will see. Yaw says the drilling industry is expecting that there will be some sort of severance tax in Pennsylvania.
He says it will be a challenge to work out the benefits to the tax. Yaw says the budget isn't something that was agreed on in the last few weeks; it took months and months of negotiations. He says this year it was truly a cooperative effort between the caucuses and the governor.
One in serious condition after crash
NEW BERLIN -- Three injuries were reported after a crash in New Berlin Saturday. Police say around 10:15a.m., 64-year-old Patricia Long, of Shamokin, was driving on Vine Street when she lost control of her vehicle and struck an utility pole.
Long and an 8-year-old male passenger from Trevorton sustained a minor injury and were taken to Geisinger Medical Center by ambulance. 58-year-old Deborah Domanski of Coal Township sustained injuries and was taken by Life Flight to Geisinger. She is listed in serious condition. (Sara Bartlett)
Sellersville man hurt in Montour County, I-80 crash
VALLEY TWP -- A Bucks County man sustained major injuries after a crash along I-80 in Valley Township, Montour County Wednesday night. Around 6:30p.m. 39-year-old Dean Alderfer of Sellersville was driving eastbound on I-80 when police say he apparently blacked out due to a medical condition. He struck an embankment and a tree. He was taken to Geisinger Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. (Sara Bartlett)
Legislature
passes $28 billion budget bill
Most area lawmakers voted for the budget.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A belt-tightening $28 billion budget bill is on its way to Gov. Ed Rendell's desk following passage by the state House. The 117-to-84 vote on the appropriations bill in the waning hours of the fiscal year Wednesday means the state is poised to enact the first on-time budget of Rendell's eight years in office.
The bill passed the state Senate earlier by a vote of 37 to 13. The deal boosts spending over 2009-10 by less than 1 percent. It wasn't immediately known how soon the Democratic governor would sign the legislation. Most area lawmakers voted for the budget (Russ Fairchild [R-85th, Lewisburg] did not).
Budget agreement leaves unanswered questions
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's state budget agreement may be a prelude to a protracted debate over the state's finances that drag well into the fall. The deal making its way to Gov. Ed Rendell's desk Wednesday postpones decisions on how to tax the state's growing natural gas industry and how to respond if a huge chunk of federal funding falls through.
The $28 billion spending plan is built on nearly $3 billion in federal stimulus aid, but $850 million of that has failed to get through Congress. Plus, the deal requires the enactment of a natural gas tax by Oct. 1, but there is broad disagreement in the Legislature over how to structure it. The House and Senate approved the general appropriations bill, but those unanswered questions prompted some votes against it.
Yaw says budget bill a fair one
HARRISBURG – The budget bill passed by the State Senate Wednesday keeps core government services intact, while holding the line on spending and broad based tax increases. That’s the view of State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23rd, Williamsport), who voted in favor of the measure that now goes to the governor’s desk, along with a companion spending bill passed by the House.
Yaw notes the senate bill is $1 billion dollars less than what the governor requested in February, and was passed on time. He also says the senate bill reduced state spending to below what it was two years ago. (Matt Farrand)
Weekend patrols to look for boating, driving under the influence
SUNBURY – Police will be looking for impaired boaters as well as motorists this holiday weekend. Waterways Conservation Officer Steven Boughter of the Fish and Boat Commission says piloting a motorboat requires good judgment, which is the first thing that suffers when a person is under the influence.
Boughter says officers will be on patrol on Lake Augusta and elsewhere this weekend, pulling boaters over for safety inspections as needed. They also caution against driving a motor vehicle under the influence with a boat trailer, once they’ve come ashore. A similar safety effort will be underway on local highways, according to Officer Tim Bremigen of the Shamokin Dam Police Department.
He says their efforts will be focused on the Routes 11& 15 strip, where there is a lot more traffic, and where pulling someone over can serve as a safety reminder for a greater number of other drivers. PennDOT says there were 17 traffic fatalities during last year’s Fourth of July Holiday period. 33 died on state roads as a result of impaired drivers during the same time period in 2008. (Matt Farrand)
Ground broken for National Beef expansion
HUMMELS WHARF -- Ground was broken Wednesday for an 11,000 foot expansion at a Hummels Wharf facility. The expansion at National Beef, along the Old Trail, will help increase production, as well as provide additional storage and office space.
New jobs will be created as well as construction at the site will begin soon. National Beef if the 4th larges beef provider in the nation. They opened the Hummels Wharf facility in 2001. (Sara Bartlett)
Winds capsize Lake Augusta sailboat
SHAMOKIN DAM – A Shamokin Dam man swam nearly 50 feet to shore after his sailboat overturned in the Susquehanna River near the Northumberland Boat Club Wednesday. A first emergency responder on the scene says 63-year old Bill Abers was able to make it out of the water himself. The river response was dispatched at about around 2p.m.
Abers was sailing when the wind toppled his boat. He was able to swim to shore and sustained a minor injury to his foot and treated at the scene. Rescue crews from Upper Augusta Township, Sunbury, and Shamokin Dam, along with local ambulance, and a rescue boat responded to the scene.
Pine-o-topia comes to Pineknotter Days
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Pineknotter Days in Northumberland starts Monday, and a new event will help kick off the weeklong activities. It's called Pine-o-topia and Gretchen Walberg, who helped organize the event, says it lets people be part of the art. It is an outdoor, family fun art show. Walberg says all of the displays will be interactive so people can touch them, climb on them or take pictures with them.
For example? The Statue of Liberty holding a pinecone. People will be able to put their face into the statue and 'becoming' the statue. Or, to represent the Priestley-Forsyth Library, there will be big books on display where people can act as bookends. More information here
Art is still being accepted and anyone interested in submitting an entry can call 473-3003. There are prizes for artists. Pine-o-topia will be held July 5th at the corner of King Street Park and will kick off at 10:00a.m. with a painted pinecone hunt for kids. There will also be pinecone crafts. Pineknotter Days in King Street Park begins the 5th and will continue through July 9th. (Sara Bartlett)
More charges for man accused of molesting young girls
MIDDLEBURG -- A New Berlin man accused of molesting young girls on a school bus is facing additional charges. 53-year-old Harry Miller Jr. is accused of inappropriately touching four young girls over a five-year period on his bus route for the Midd-West School District.
Miller now faces charges of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment in addition to the assault charges. He was scheduled for a hearing this week, but it was postponed. Miller had been employed as a bus driver in the district for 15 years. (Ali Stevens)
Bake-off during this year's River Festival in Sunbury
SUNBURY –The Sunbury Elm Street Neighborhood Group is sponsoring the first annual Sunbury Neighborhood Bake-Off at Sunbury River Festival in August, where area neighborhoods will compete in two baking competitions.
There will be an apple pie competition and a fan favorite cookie competition. Neighborhoods in Sunbury will pick someone to bake a pie for their entry and judges will choose the best pie. In the cookie competition, those who attend River Festival can pay a dollar to try submitted cookies and choose their favorite. She hopes these competitions will become a special tradition and an annual event.
Prizes include a $25 cash prize for the winning baker and $10 dollars for the two runners up. Also the winning neighborhood will get a $100 gift certificate to a local nursery for a beautification project. Find out more about all the events at Sunbury River Festival Saturday August 21st at www.sunburyriverfestival.com. (Ali Stevens)
More than 500 new parking spaces added at Geisinger Medical Center
DANVILLE – Parking just might be a little easier July 7th at Geisinger Medical Center. They will open a new 5-story parking garage which will have more than 500 parking spaces. The parking addition is a result of the 32 percent increase in patients and visitors at Geisinger.
Robert Davies, Vice President, System Services says this one-year, $14.75 million project is all part of the goal to continue to expand and provide accessible and convenient parking to help the overcrowding that exists in their parking lots today.
The garage will be open 24-hours and connected to the Hospital for Advanced Medicine with a glass enclosed walkway, elevator, and lobby to ensure safety. Patients will be able to park in the garage for free with a receipt from their appointment and visitors will be charged $1 an hour or $10 maximum per day. (Stephanie Klock)
People concerned about identity theft can do some free shredding
LEWISBURG -- It is a day to celebrate getting rid of the clutter in file cabinets around the valley coming up in Lewisburg. A community shredding party is taking place Friday, July 16. Keystone Mobile Shredding will be there with a portable unit to shred old personal and financial documents free of charge. The location is the Home Instead Senior Care parking lot on 130 Buffalo Road in Lewisburg.
Karen Metz, a Certified Identity Theft Management Specialist, will be there to provide the community with more ways to prevent these scams. She says shredding old documents is important to prevent identity theft. For more information on this event call 522-6533. They say this is for people without shredders, no businesses please.
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - It appears Pennsylvania lawmakers are resolving a last-minute dispute over a nonpartisan fiscal oversight office that's been threatening to blow up the state budget deal. House Democratic Appropriations spokeswoman Johnna Pro said Friday the plan is to put a sentence into one of the budget bills that says leaders are committed to trying to pass legislation authorizing the legislative fiscal office in the fall. The apparent breakthrough comes a day after the disagreement stalled progress on passing all elements of the state budget. A senior Senate Republican had put a hold on a capital borrowing bill as leverage in hopes of getting the office up and running, but that bill passed out of his committee Friday. The main budget bill was sent to Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's desk on Wednesday, but he won't sign it until companion bills are passed.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pittsburgh-area man who denied he was driving during a fatal crash has been jailed on vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter and other charges now that police say they found his DNA on the car's air bag. Pittsburgh police say 22-year-old Timothy Lesko was driving drunk when he crossed the center line and hit another car head-on, killing 24-year-old Jessica Trail and injuring three other people on Sept. 26. Police say Lesko initially acknowledged driving, but later said another man was driving. The other man denied involvement and police say DNA from blood and saliva found in the car show that Lesko was driving and the other man wasn't in the car. Lesko faces a preliminary hearing July 9. Online court records do not list an attorney for him.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Library of Congress officials say Thomas Jefferson made a Freudian slip while penning a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence. In an early draft of the document Jefferson referred to the American population as "subjects," replacing that term with the word "citizens," which he then used frequently throughout the final draft. The document is normally kept under lock and key in one of the Library's vaults. On Friday morning, the first time officials revealed the wording glitch, it traveled under police escort for an additional round of high-tech imaging. It was the first time in 15 years that the document was unveiled outside of its oxygen-free safe.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania state budget deal is in real jeopardy after talks among Legislative leaders broke down over the creation of an independent fiscal office. House Democratic leaders told The Associated Press late Thursday that Senate Republicans had broken off negotiations, creating doubt that the full set of budget bills will make it out of the General Assembly any time soon. The main budget bill, an appropriations bill, is sitting on Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's desk as he awaits the companion legislation. But a key Republican state senator has put a hold on a capital borrowing bill as leverage to get the legislative fiscal office authorized. House Democratic leaders say they're willing to wait in their offices all night to resume negotiations.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says he hopes to sign Pennsylvania's new state budget into law on Tuesday, but he may have to veto it if lawmakers can't settle disputes over companion legislation. Rendell said Thursday provisions in the pending bills include about $1 billion in revenues that are required in order for the budget to be balanced as required under the state constitution. The General Assembly passed the major budget bill Wednesday, but members aren't in agreement about authorizing a new legislative budget oversight office. The governor also says June state revenues came in $58 million higher than estimates last month, thanks largely to better-than-expected returns from a tax amnesty program.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - The state agriculture department has quarantined 28 head of cattle at a central Pennsylvania farm after officials say the animals potentially consumed wastewater that leaked from a holding pond for a natural gas well on the property. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding says uncertainty over how much water the cows drank warranted the quarantine to protect the public from eating potentially contaminated beef. The quarantine covered the 28 cows, plus their unborn calves on the farm in Wellsboro. East Resources was drilling the well. An East spokesman said agriculture officials may have overreacted, and that tests done at the request of state environmental officials found no reason for adverse impact on the cattle, or on public health.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State officials misfired in a bid to catalog chemicals used by the drilling industry to extract natural gas from the rich Marcellus Shale reserve underneath Pennsylvania. A Department of Environmental Protection spokesman says a list of chemicals provided to The Associated Press included all
chemicals used at well sites, not just those injected into wells. The AP wrote about the list of chemicals earlier this week. Department spokesman Tom Rathbun now says the list includes chemicals that have other purposes, such as cleaning drilling equipment. Environmental advocates worry the chemicals are poisoning underground drinking water sources. However, department officials say they know of no examples in Pennsylvania or elsewhere. Industry officials say many of the chemicals are present in consumer products and are heavily diluted by water.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Another Penn State University review has cleared a leading climate scientist of a research misconduct allegation stemming from leaked e-mails about global warming. The report says professor Michael Mann did not seriously deviate from accepted academic practices for proposing, conducting or reporting research. A university inquiry in February dismissed three related allegations and recommended further investigation on a fourth. A five-member panel of professors dismissed that allegation outright in the report yesterday. Mann has long been criticized by skeptics of man-made global warming theories. The review came after computer hackers obtained messages between U.S. and British scientists in November.
BALTIMORE (AP) - An Environmental Protection Agency official says the agency realizes Chesapeake Bay watershed states will have to make tough decisions to meet new pollution limits. EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin made the comments Thursday as the federal agency issued limits for two nitrogen and phosphorus. The EPA set annual limits of 187.4 million pounds of nitrogen and 12.5 million pounds of phosphorus for the six-state bay watershed. That's down from 247.5 million pounds of nitrogen and 16.62 million pounds of phosphorus last year. Pennsylvania, the source of about half of the bay's fresh water, received the biggest allocations. Nitrogen and phosphorus spur oxygen-robbing algae blooms and come from sources including fertilizer, sewage, and detergents.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Update on the latest in business:
Dow: - 34.09 (9,698.44)
S&P 500: - 0.33 (1,027.44)
NASDAQ: - 0.50 (2,100.86)
Abercrombie closes NY stores due to bed bugs
NEW YORK (AP) - Preppy teen clothing seller Abercrombie & Fitch Co. says it closed a second store on Friday in New York due to a bed bug infestation. The preppy teen clothing seller says it closed a Hollister store on Thursday in the SoHo neighborhood of New York. That location is expected to open at 10 a.m. on Saturday. It closed a second location, an Abercrombie & Fitch store in the South Street Seaport, on Friday for the same reason. Abercrombie's flagship New York store on Fifth Avenue has been tested and is not affected by bed bugs, the New Albany, Ohio, company says. Abercrombie says it asked New York City's Mayor's office how it should deal with the problem. Shares fell 64 cents, or 2 percent, to $31.27 during afternoon trading.
American Air parent claims worker data compromised
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - The parent company of American Airlines says the personal information of about 79,000 retirees, former and current employees that was held by the company's pension department has been compromised. No customer data was affected. AMR says the breach happened when a hard drive was stolen from its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. The data spans a period from 1960 to 1995. The drive contained images of historical microfilm files, which included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and possibly some bank account information. Some health insurance information may have also been included. AMR is offering one year of free credit monitoring for those affected.
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Friday:
Midday Big 4
2-3-9-8
Midday Number
4-3-9
Midday Quinto
7-4-4-4-5
Treasure Hunt
09-10-20-22-30
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Travolta thanks Fla. fans for demanding 'Grease'
OCALA, Fla. (AP) - John Travolta is thanking his adopted Florida hometown, Ocala, after residents waged an online campaign to bring a limited rerelease of his hit "Grease" to the area. The 1978 classic is being shown in select theaters nationwide as the "Grease Sing-A-Long," with karaoke-style subtitles for the songs. Ocala wasn't on the distribution list. So residents swamped an online poll that allowed the city with the most voting fans to get the film. Ocala topped the poll by hundreds of votes. Travolta released a statement through JTP Films thanking residents and promising to buy free snacks. "Wish I could be there with you," he said. Travolta and wife Kelly Preston bought an $8 million home in Ocala in 2003 with a landing strip so Travolta, an avid pilot, can fly.
Richard Avedon photos headed to Paris auction
NEW YORK (AP) - More than 60 images by the late fashion photographer Richard Avedon are going on the auction block in the fall. They're estimated to bring up to $6 million. Avedon is known for his lively images of couture-attired models leaping and dancing across the page. He is also famous for his minimalist portraits of everyday people, politicians and celebrities, including Malcolm X, Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles. Christie's auction house says the sale will be in Paris on Nov. 20. Avedon had a lifelong connection to the City of Lights. He covered the collections of Dior and other designers for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. The photographs are being sold by the New York-based Avedon Foundation. The proceeds will be used for an endowment to support photographic education. Avedon died in 2004 at the age of 81.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)