Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Port Trevorton woman injured when her bike is struck by a car

PORT TREVORTON – A Port Trevorton woman was taken to Geisinger Medical Center with moderate injuries after a car while riding her bicycle struck her. State police say 23-year-old Christie Martin was riding her bike down a driveway and tried to turn onto Routes 11 and 15 near Ferry Hill Road.

Troopers say a passing motorists struck her Monday morning. Martin was transported to Geisinger Medical Center with moderate injuries, but her condition is not known. The driver from Port Trevorton was not injured and will not be charged for the incident. (Ali Stevens)

Unofficial candidate list outlines races to watch

HARRISBURG – Candidates running for the State House or the US Congress had until Tuesday afternoon to file petitions with the Department of State. An unofficial candidates list was revised late in the day. Local election officials stress that petitions filed have yet to be evaluated and certified, a task that won’t be completed until the 29th of the month.

Two Republicans and four Democrats are among candidates who are looking to succeed retiring Democrat Bob Belfanti (D-107th, Mount Carmel). Kurt Masser of Ralpho Township and Sam Scicchitano will vie for the GOP nomination.

Democrats in search of their party’s 107th District nomination include Myron Turlis of Kulpmont, George Zalar of Coal Township, Ted Yeager of Ralpho Township and alternative energy promoter Steve Bartos. The Mount Carmel Democrat is on Belfanti’s staff. Republican Michael Engle was among names heard early, but apparently did not file.

There will likely be a Republican primary to see who will succeed the retiring Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury). His legislative aide Lynda Schlegel-Culver is on the candidate list, as is Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman, and former county commissioner Sam Deitrick.

Stanley Geiswhite of Sunbury and Ken Snyder were names talked of earlier, but were not on the list supplied late Tuesday by the Department of State. Antonio Michetti of Jordan Township remains the lone Democrat.

Meantime, Three Republicans are vying for the nomination that they hope will see them win the state house seat held for years by the retiring Russ Fairchild (R-85th, Winfield). Maurice Brubaker and Betsy Snook of East Buffalo Township, as well as Fred Keller of Middlecreek Township have filed. Trey Casimir of Lewisburg is the lone Democrat.

And a couple of republicans whose names were mentioned early for the 10th District GOP congressional nomination did not apparently have enough support to file. Steven Solieri of Lake Ariel and Pike County’s Ted Yale were not on the candidates list.

However, Republicans Malcolm Derk, Tom Marino and David Madeira were. They will likely be in a May primary, and the winner among them will face incumbent Democrat Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock), who is running without a challenge from his party. (Matt Farrand)

Big mare still missing from Sunbury area

SUNBURY – The owner of a horse missing since Monday night from the Sunbury area believes someone nearby may have taken the 1,800-pound mare in. If so, she hopes that person does the right thing, contacts State Police at Stonington and turns the animal over.

The woman who chooses to remain anonymous says her horse bolted through an electric fence Monday at about 8:30 p.m. at a farm along Mile Run Road, south of Sunbury. The owner has joined police in a search for the horse that answers to the name John Quill, and is part draft horse.

State troopers at Stonington are asking anyone with information to call them. John Quill is a 6’ tall red mare with a white blaze on her head. She was wearing a red halter when she escaped Monday night. (Matt Farrand)

Woman who hired hitman seeks shorter sentence

SUNBURY – A woman expected to serve up to 17 ½ years behind bars for trying to hire someone to kill her ex-boyfriend will not be granted a lesser sentence. 30-year-old Christeen Smith filed a post-sentence motion in Northumberland County for a reduced sentence from the one she received several weeks ago.

President Judge Robert Sacavage denied the request and also will not allow her to withdraw her guilty plea to aggravated assault. Smith pleaded guilty in exchange for charges of criminal solicitation of homicide and terroristic threats being dropped against her. Smith was arrested in April of 2008 when police say she tried to hire an undercover state trooper to kill Donald Ellis of Sunbury. (Ali Stevens)

Local attorney kicks off campaign for 108th seat

HERNDON – Local Attorney Antonio Michetti has kicked off his campaign for the 108th State House Seat currently held by State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury). The Democrat says he has received hundreds of signatures from supporters in Snyder and Northumberland counties. Petitions are due today (Tuesday) for those interested in running.

Michetti is the lone Democrat in the race. Republicans running include Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman, former Northumberland County Commissioner Sam Deitrick, Wood-Mode employee Stanley Geiswhite, Representative Phillip’s legislative aide Lynda Schlegel-Culver and Riverside resident Ken Snyder.

Safety changes in Winfield will improve Rt. 15

SUNBURY – Road projects to enhance safety along Route 15 near Winfield will get underway this summer. Union Township Supervisor Billy Allred says they have committed to PennDOT that two intersections with Route 15, at Seven Kitchens Road and Reitz Avenue, will be reconfigured.

He says the two roads will be combined into a new road in between the original roads. They are also purchasing a small plot of lane along the railroad to construct the road. Allred says it will make a much safer driving area. Allred says the reconfiguration is consistent with the planned bridge in the CSVT project and will be paid for through safety funds issued by the federal government.

Other road projects in that area include road widening, creating a turning lane and adding shoulders to the area of Route 15 near the Route 304 intersection. Construction is expected to begin this summer. Traffic will be able to get through during the work, with only one lane being closed at a time. (Sara Bartlett)

Bucknell volunteers fight local hunger

LEWISBURG – Bucknell University hosted their annual Empty Bowls program Tuesday. The program is a fundraiser, with proceeds going to Community Harvest; a free meal served to community members in need each weekday in the Milton area.

Poppy Goforth, Director Community Service at Bucknell, says Empty Bowls is their biggest fundraiser, with each participant giving $10.00. They get a bowl; made by Bucknell students, and can eat from a soup buffet. Gretchen Heuges, Director of the Craft Center at Bucknell, oversaw the making of over 300 bowls for the event.

She says Empty Bowls merges art and creativity with the great cause of fighting local hunger. Bucknell volunteers serve the free Community Harvest meal every Monday at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Milton from 4:30-7:30p.m. Goforth says they generally serve about 200 people each week. (Sara Bartlett)

Centralia residents claim fraud

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The few remaining residents of Centralia claim in court papers that a “massive fraud” is being perpetrated against the town by parties seeking to grab the mineral rights to millions of dollars worth of coal.

In a filing Monday, four property owners and the borough asked a state appeals court to block Pennsylvania officials from seizing their homes. The state condemned the homes in the early 1990’s but only recently moved to oust the remaining holdouts.

Centralia all but ceased to exist in the 1980’s as the 48-year-old underground mine fire spread underneath homes and businesses. More than 1,000 people moved out. The holdouts say they have evidence that the fire isn't a threat and may never have endangered the town.

More theft charges against Norry woman

NORTHUMBERLAND – Point Township police have filed more charges against a woman already facing charges of felony burglary and theft. 40-year-old Kristin Bowersox was arraigned last week after she was accused of stealing $180 from a client while working as a personal care attendant for the Visiting Nursing Association.

Bowersox was suspended for also stealing $400 from another client two months ago. Bowersox apparently admitted to keeping the $400 given to her by the client. Bowersox was released on bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Bolton on Wednesday. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The man who was the top-ranking Democrat in the state House of Representatives until a little more than a year ago will not be testifying in the Harrisburg public-corruption trial. Attorney Bill Costopoulos declined to say whether Rep. Bill DeWeese had invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. he said only that DeWeese will not be a witness in the trial of three former legislative aides and Mike Veon – the No. 2 ranking leader until late 2006. DeWeese was himself charged in December as a result of the same investigation. His name has arisen repeatedly during the trial of Veon and the others. Bryan Walk, attorney for defendant Brett Cott, said DeWeese had been at the top of the defense's witness wish list.

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa (AP) - Former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum is telling Iowa evangelicals that he was once a "pro-life fraud" who only gave lip service to the abortion issue. Now he's calling himself a national anti-abortion leader. The former Pennsylvania lawmaker told the Iowa Christian Alliance on Tuesday night that he's come to welcome attacks on his conservative views on abortion. Santorum says conservatives must be rallied by the Obama administration. He argues that liberals have already launched attacks on religious and social conservatives. The speech is part of Santorum's second swing through Iowa. Religious conservatives play a key role in the Iowa precinct caucuses that traditionally launch the presidential nominating season.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A suburban Philadelphia woman who called herself JihadJane online has been charged with using the Internet to recruit jihadist fighters and help terrorists overseas. Authorities say the case shows how terror groups are looking to recruit Americans to help carry out their goals. A federal indictment charges Colleen LaRose with agreeing to kill a Swedish citizen on orders from the terrorists and traveling to Europe to carry out the killing. It doesn't say whether the Swede was killed. A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity says LaRose targeted a Swedish cartoonist and discussed her plans with at least one person apprehended in Ireland today. The official wasn't authorized to discuss details of the investigation. LaRose has been in custody since Oct. 15. She was in court the next day but didn't enter a plea. Her federal public defender won't comment.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A state conduct board has conceded that it never investigated any of the complaints made against a disgraced former judge accused of taking kickbacks to place juveniles in for-profit detention centers. The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board says it received four complaints about former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan in 2004, 2006 and 2008, but failed to conduct interviews or review any documents related to the complaints. The Legal Intelligencer of Philadelphia reports that the board made the admission in response to questions posed by a state panel investigating the so-called "kids for cash" scandal. Conahan and another former Luzerne County judge are charged in federal court with racketeering.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is no longer a two-man race. Nominating petitions that were due today revealed a third contestant -- Joseph Vodvarka, a spring manufacturer from western Pennsylvania. Like his primary opponents - Sen. Arlen Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak - Vodvarka had to gather the signatures of at least 2,000 Democratic voters to qualify for the May 18 primary ballot. Vodvarka has not held public office before. He advocates smaller government, lower taxes and making English the national language. On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey and Johnstown activist Peg Luksik both filed petitions. The gubernatorial race produced no surprises. Filing petitions on time were Democrats Jack Wagner, Dan Onorato, Joe Hoeffel and Anthony Williams and Republicans Tom Corbett and Sam Rohrer.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) - A woman charged in a central Pennsylvania boat crash on the Susquehanna River that killed a teenage girl last summer has pleaded guilty to charges in the case and agreed to testify against her co-defendant. Barbara Hummer pleaded guilty Monday in Clinton County to criminal conspiracy to make false statements to police and obstruction of the administration of law. Authorities said she will testify against 51-year-old John Englert II, who faces charges including involuntary manslaughter and homicide by watercraft. Twelve-year-old Valerie Heidt of Howard was killed July 10 when two boats collided near Lock Haven. Authorities allege that Hummer and Englert conspired before police arrived to say Hummer was operating the boat. Englert was granted a delay in his trial Monday to allow the defense to line up expert witnesses.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Federal economic stimulus money soon will start providing rebates to Pennsylvanians on the purchase of new, Energy Star-rated hot-water heaters, furnaces and boilers. Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday that applications for rebates are expected to become available in April on the state's stimulus Web site, www.recovery.pa.gov. Rendell says the $11 million rebate program could benefit more than 30,000 Pennsylvania households and provide long-term energy savings. The rebates will be worth $100 to $500. The higher the equipment's efficiency rating, the larger the rebate. The rebates only apply to non-electric residential heating equipment. Rebates on electrical appliances may be available through regulated electric utility companies.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Update on the latest in business

WALL STREET Stocks see modest gains

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street celebrated the first anniversary of soaring gains from 12-year lows with a modest rally. The Dow added about a dozen points to 10,564. The S&P rose 2 points to 1,140. And the Nasdaq gained 8 and a-half to 2,341. From the bear market lows of a year ago, the Dow is up 61.4 percent.

WORLD MARKETS Asian markets largely mixed

HONG KONG (AP) - Asian stock markets were little changed Wednesday even as surging Chinese exports pointed to a pickup in global trade. The region's major indexes were largely mixed as many markets fluctuated for the second day in a row. News that Chinese exports soared nearly 46 percent in February from a year earlier highlighted recovering demand as the world economy shakes off last year's recession.

ECONOMY-DAY AHEAD Reports due on inventories, federal budget

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Commerce Department this morning is to release figures on wholesale inventories and sales for January. Both figures are expected to show gains. Later today, the Treasury reports on the federal budget deficit for February. That's expected to come in above $220 billion.

OIL PRICES Crude above $81

SINGAPORE (AP) - Oil prices in Asia hovered above $81 a barrel Wednesday after a report showed mixed evidence about U.S. crude demand. Oil has jumped about 17 percent since early last month on increased investor confidence in this year's global economic growth. But crude demand from the U.S. has remained sluggish. Crude inventories jumped last week by 6.5 million barrels. However, analysts expected the cold weather spell in much of the U.S. this month to shrink the stockpile. Instead, inventories of gasoline and distillates fell more than analysts expected. The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration is scheduled to announce its supply report later Wednesday.

TOYOTA RECALL Toyota to expand recall of Tundra pickups for rust

WASHINGTON (AP) - Toyota says it will expand a recall announced last year to fix Tundra pickup trucks with frames that could rust. Toyota says the recall will cover Tundra pickups from the 2000-2003 model years. It expands upon a recall announced in November that covered 110,000 trucks registered in 20 "cold weather" states and the District of Columbia. The company says it will provide more details on how many trucks are covered by the recall.

TOYOTA-SALES Toyota exec says sales rise 50 percent from March 2009

ERLANGER, Ky. (AP) - A high-ranking Toyota executive says their North American sales spiked around 50 percent the first eight days of March as incentives helped lure customers after a series of embarrassing safety recalls. The spokesman says the early numbers surpassed the company's expectations. He says there's pent-up demand from buyers who didn't shop for cars during last year's economic downturn. Toyota also credits new sales incentives enacted this month, including 0 percent financing offers for eight models.

OVERDRAFT FEES-BANK OF AMERICA Bank of America ends overdraft fees on debit cards

NEW YORK (AP) - Bank of America customers will soon be unable to spend more than they have in the accounts linked to their debit cards. It's a step that may become a common move ahead of new regulations limiting overdraft fees. Rules set by the Federal Reserve that will ban banks from charging such fees, without first getting permission from the customer, are set to take effect July 1. But Bank of America is going a step further than the regulations require. It will simply no longer allow debit card purchases to go through if there isn't enough money in the account. For ATM transactions, customers who try to withdraw more than their balance will have to agree to pay a $35 overdraft fee before they can get the money.

GOOGLE APPS STORE Google opens Web store for business applications

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google will sell the online services of other business software makers in an effort to fill its own product gaps and persuade more companies to rely on applications piped over the Internet. The online store announced last night marks another step in Google's crusade to convert the world to "cloud computing," the idea of running applications in Web browsers instead of installing them on individual hard drives. The information entered in the programs also is stored in data centers run by third parties such as Google. More than 50 software makers have agreed to sell their Internet programs through Google, which will keep 20 percent of the sales. The prices are expected to range from $50 annually to several hundred dollars annually per user.

CHINA TRADE China's February exports jump 45.7 percent

BEIJING (AP) - China says its exports grew strongly in February in a new sign of a rebound in global demand. The Chinese customs agency says exports were up almost 46 percent over a year earlier, beating forecasts by private sector analysts of 35 to 40 percent growth. Imports also were up strongly, rising by almost 45 percent in February from a year earlier. Combining data from the two months, which analysts say produces a more accurate picture of trade conditions, shows exports surged more than 31 percent in the January-February period over the same time last year.

EU-BAILOUT FUND EU urges US to join in action against speculators

BRUSSELS (AP) - European officials are urging the U.S. to join a crackdown on speculators who bet against Europe's currency union, warning they might ban some credit default swaps - opaque financial instruments blamed for worsening the world financial crisis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says "quick action is needed." She's calling on the U.S. to "make a gesture" and curb the trades. The European Commission threatened to ban "purely speculative naked sales on credit default swaps of sovereign debt" and said it would ask for a similar move globally at the Group of 20 summit of leading and emerging economies in June.

LIFELOCK SUIT LifeLock to pay $12M to settle false claims case

NEW YORK (AP) - The Federal Trade Commission says LifeLock - an identity theft protection company that backed its guarantees by putting its chief executive's Social Security number on the side of its trucks - will pay $12 million to settle claims it misrepresented its services. LifeLock will pay $11 million to the FTC to cover the cost of customer refunds, and another $1 million to the attorneys general of 35 states. The FTC says LifeLock made false claims about its ability to prevent identity theft, as the services provide no protection against misuse of existing accounts, which is the most common type of identity theft, or medical or employment identity theft. The agency described the agreement as one of the largest FTC-state coordinated settlements on record.

ENERGY OUTLOOK Gas price rises seen gentler on consumer wallets

As the economy recovers, energy prices are rising, and that's placing extra strain on families' budgets. Each spring brings a familiar ritual in gasoline markets - rising prices - and this year won't be an exception. But motorists aren't likely to pay much more than $3 a gallon, on average, during the peak summer driving season. Lingering effects of the recession, such as high unemployment, reduced shipping and limited business travel, are keeping a lid on energy demand in America. And global oil supplies are on the rise. For now, these trends are providing energy markets with enough of a cushion to prevent geopolitical tensions from causing severe price volatility.

ABBOTT-FACET-ACQUISITION Abbott to pay $450 million for Facet Biotech

NEW YORK (AP) - Abbott Laboratories says it will buy Facet Biotech for about $450 million in cash, expanding the company's access to biotechnology drugs, including a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis. Abbott will pay $27 per share, marking a 67 percent premium to Facet's closing price of $16.21 yesterday. Both companies' boards of directors have already approved the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter.

AIRLINE SECURITY Travelers will need to continue removing their shoes

ATLANTA (AP) - There's no end in sight to taking off your shoes for airport security in the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says there's no good technology available to allow screeners to see what's inside someone's shoes while the person is wearing them. The shoe-removal requirement was put in place after Richard Reid tried and failed to ignite a shoe bomb on a U.S.-bound trans-Atlantic jetliner in 2001.

JOBLESS AID-TAXES Senate expected to take final vote on jobless aid

WASHINGTON (AP) - Legislation to give additional months of unemployment benefits to people who have been out of a job for more than half a year cleared a key hurdle yesterday. And it's expected to soon pass the Senate. The measure would prevent doctors from being hit with a big cut in Medicare payments and extends health insurance subsidies for the unemployed through December. It would add $132 billion to the budget deficit over the next year and a half. Eight Republicans voted with Democrats to defeat a GOP filibuster of the measure, setting up today's expected final vote. Democrats also hope this week to finish work on a smaller job-creation measure. It blends additional highway spending with new tax breaks for companies that hire the unemployed. The Senate could clear the measure for President Barack Obama's signature by Friday.

BOEING-787 Boeing says 787 testing going well

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Boeing is putting its new 787 through an aggressive flight-testing schedule, with the fourth of six planes set to begin test flights on Sunday. Boeing is aiming to deliver the plane to its first customer by the end of this year. A company executive says by midyear, they're planning to fly six planes a total of 90 hours per week.

VERMONT-YANKEE Anti-nuke groups want Vermont plant closed now

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Two weeks after lawmakers voted to close Vermont Yankee in 2012, state regulators are being pressed to shut it down immediately because of leaking tritium (TRIHT'-ee-um) that environmental groups say is polluting the environment. Today, the state Public Service Board opens an investigation sought by the Conservation Law Foundation and the New England Coalition. The groups say the nuclear power plant in southeastern Vermont should stop operating until the source of the leak is found and fixed. The leak was first reported two months ago. Tritium is a radioactive isotope that can cause cancer in humans when ingested in large amounts.

CELL PHONE WARNINGS-MAINE Maine panel nixes cell phone warnings proposal

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - A committee in the Maine legislature has rejected a proposal to require health warnings on cellular phones in Maine. The action all but dooms the proposal for this year. None of the 13 voting members of the Health and Human Services Committee supported the proposal to require manufacturers to put warning labels on phones and packaging. The warnings would recommend that users keep the devices away from their head and body. But committee members were cool to the idea of warnings, reasoning that studies so far are inconclusive.

3D TVs Samsung, Panasonic start selling 3-D TVs this week

NEW YORK (AP) - Want to be the first on your block with a 3-D television? It will cost you about $3,000. Samsung and Panasonic will start selling 3-D TVs in U.S. stores this week. But the sets require bulky glasses, and there's little to watch in the enhanced format so far. It will take at least a few years for the technology to become mainstream.

FINAL FOUR-3-D Final Four to be shown in 3-D

NEW YORK (AP) - College basketball's Final Four will be shown in 3-D in movie theaters around the country. CBS announced that the men's basketball national semifinals on April 3 and the championship game two days later will be broadcast in 3-D in up to 100 theaters. TV networks have been experimenting with airing sports events in 3-D in theaters, and ESPN is planning to launch an entire 3-D channel. The special 3-D Final Four broadcast will be called by CBS College Sports Network announcers Dave Ryan and Steve Lappas.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

3-D TV come to you soon

NEW YORK (AP) - Want 3-D? That will be 3-Gs, please. If you are looking to be the first to get your hands on the new line of 3-D TV sets - be prepared to pay dearly for those bragging rights. Samsung and Panasonic say the 3-D units will be in stores this week - and the cost will be about three grand. Samsung is offering two 3-D sets - a 46-inch model comes with two pairs of special glasses to provide the effect and a 3-D Blu-ray layer. Panasonic will have its units in stores today. While moviegoers have been embracing the recent releases of 3-D films like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Avatar," it's unclear whether TV viewers will be as smitten with the technology. For now, there are few programming options for the added dimension of depth - and there is still the problem of having to don those goofy glasses to watch a 3-D set.

Final Four to be shown in 3-D

NEW YORK (AP) - College basketball's Final Four will be shown in 3-D in movie theaters around the country. CBS announced that the men's basketball national semifinals on April 3 and the championship game two days later will be broadcast in 3-D in up to 100 theaters. TV networks have been experimenting with airing sports events in 3-D in theaters, and ESPN is planning to launch an entire 3-D channel. CBS College Sports Network announcers Dave Ryan and Steve Lappas will call the special 3-D Final Four broadcast.

Restaurant serves up...human breast milk

NEW YORK (AP) - How's this for a gourmet treat? It's cheese made from human breast milk. Manhattan chef Daniel Angerer posted his recipe for "mommy milk cheese" on his blog. He owns the Klee Brasserie with his wife, Lori Mason. The breast milk cheese is encrusted with maple caramelized pumpkin and Concord grapes. Angerer says they had an overabundance of milk for their newborn, Arabella Caroline. So, when the couple ran out of room in their small freezer, Angerer decided to experiment.

Barker donates $2.5 million to create PETA offices

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Bob Barker has donated $2.5 million to help the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals open a new location in Los Angeles. The retired game show host and spay and neuter champion will cut the ribbon Wednesday at the Bob Barker Building on Sunset Boulevard and Alvarado Street. PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk says Barker could have just given the group a refrigerator but instead he paid for an entire building to be renovated. The building will be home to the group's media, marketing, youth outreach and campaign departments. The 86-year-old Barker delivered his spay and neuter message on "The Price Is Right" for a quarter century. Since he retired in June of 2008, he has taken his activism on the road, promoting freedom for whales, an end to the fur trade and other causes.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)