SAYING HE WANTS HIS HOCKEY TEAM TO BY THE REGION'S HOCKEY TEAM, PHANTOMS CO-OWNER ROB BROOKS SAYS THE TEAM WILL BE KNOWN AS THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS WHEN THEY BEGIN PLAY IN ALLENTOWN'S NEW ARENA IN 2014. THE TEAM SAYS IT HAD FIVE NAMES TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT ONLY SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS AND ALLENTOWN PHANTOMS.
AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER SAYS PENN STATE MUST BECOME MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. AS PART OF HIS REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS, WAGNER SAYS THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NO LONGER HAVE VOTING RIGHTS ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND PENN STATE'S PRESIDENT' HAS WAY TOO MUCH POWER. "OUT OF ALL THE UNIVERSITIES WE LOOKED AT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ONE WHERE THE PRESIDENT HAS THIS KIND OF POWER," WAGNER SAYS. WAGNER BELIEVES THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT AS A VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. HE ALSO SAYS THE 32-MEMBER BOARD IS TOO LARGE.
LEHIGH COUNTY COMMISSIONER SCOTT OTT IS DISAPPOINTED COMMISSIONERS FAILED TO OVERRIDE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BILL HANSELL'S VETO OF A COMMISSIONER-PASSED BUDGET. OTT BLAMES FELLOW REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONERS BRAD OSBORNE AND PERCY DOUGHERTY FOR PREVENTING A VETO OVERRIDE. "WE LEARNED THAT WHEN WE THINK WE HAVE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO PUBLICALLY STAND UP AND SAY 'I'M CONSERVATIVE AND I'M FOR SPENDING CUTS", WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE THOSE SPENDING CUTS THEY LACK THE COURAGE TO DO SO," OTT SAYS. THE OVERRIDE FAILURE MEAN $3.5 MILLION IN SPENDING CUTS AND A $3 MILLION TAX CUT ARE COMING IN 2013. OTT AND FOUR OTHER COMMISSIONERS WANTED BIGGER CUTS IN SPENDING AND TAXES.
THE LATEST VOTE COUNT IN THE 131ST DISTRICT HOUSE RACE SHOWS INCUMBENT JUSTIN SIMMONS WINNING BY 446 VOTES OVER DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER KEVIN DEELY. THE RESULTS ARE NOT YET CERTIFIED AND DEELY SAYS HE'S NOT YET PREPARED TO CONCEDE THE RACE AND HASN'T RULED OUT REQUESTING A RECOUNT.
NAHEEM ADAMS HAS BEEN ARRAIGNED AND SENT TO NORTHAMPTON COUNTY PRISON WITHOUT BAIL ON CHARGES HE SHOT AND KILLED GEORGE JETER IN AN EASTON ALLEY ON JULY 27. POLICE SAY ADAMS KILLED JETER AFTER A LENGTHY GRUDGE AND AFTER JETER DROPPED OFF CRACK COCAINE TO A WEST WARD HOME. ADAMS WAS ARRESTED ON HALLOWEEN NEAR HIS MOTHER'S APARTMENT IN BROOKLYN.
A SURE SIGN OF THE SEASON IS NOW VISIBLE IN DOWNTOWN EASTON. AS IT HAS BEEN ALMOST EVERY YEAR SINCE 1951, THE CITY'S PEACE CANDLE HAS BEEN ERECTED OVER THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT IN EASTON'S CENTRE SQUARE. THE PEACE CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT FRIDAY.
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATE WILL EMBARK ON A NEW SESSION IN JANUARY WITH THE NARROWEST REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN NEARLY TWO DECADES. WEDNESDAY WAS THE SENATE'S LAST SESSION DAY UNTIL SENATORS ARE SWORN IN NEXT YEAR. GOP SENATORS ENJOYED A LARGE MAJORITY THAT HELPED THEM PUSH THROUGH SEVERAL PARTISAN BILLS UNDER REPUBLICAN GOV. TOM CORBETT. BUT DEMOCRATS CLOSED THE GAP BY WINNING THREE OF FOUR SEATS LEFT VACANT BY DEPARTING REPUBLICANS. THE PARTISAN SPLIT IS NOW 27 TO 23. SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE JOE SCARNATI SAYS DIVISIVE ISSUES ARE THE EXCEPTION, AND THAT REPUBLICANS OFTEN ATTRACT VOTES FROM DEMOCRATS ON HIGH-PROFILE BILLS. SCARNATI INSISTS THE DEMOCRATIC GAINS ARE NOT A REPUDIATION OF REPUBLICAN POLICIES, BUT ACKNOWLEDGES HIS PARTY WILL HAVE LESS OF A CUSHION ON BILLS THAT LACK SOLID GOP SUPPORT.
SIX PENNSYLVANIA JUDGES ARE SUING OVER THE STATE'S MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE OF 70 FOR JUDGES. THE JUDGES FILED THE LEGAL CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY IN COMMONWEALTH COURT IN HARRISBURG. THEY ARGUE THE RETIREMENT AGE IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION VIOLATES THEIR RIGHTS TO EQUAL PROTECTION AND DUE PROCESS OF LAW. THE DEFENDANTS ARE GOV. TOM CORBETT AND HIS SECRETARY OF STATE, STATE TREASURER ROB MCCORD AND ZYGMONT PINES, THE STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR. THE LAWSUIT SAYS THE SIX JUDGES ARE ALL VETERAN JURISTS IN GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND CAN PERFORM THEIR JOB DUTIES. AMONG THE JUDGES SUING IS NORTHAMPTON COUNTY JUDGE LEONARD ZITO.
A PANEL INCLUDING TOP PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OFFICIALS RECOMMENDS SETTING UP PERFORMANCE TARGETS HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS WOULD NEED TO MEET IN ORDER TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM WEDNESDAY'S FINAL REPORT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION HAS THE SUPPORT OF UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS AT PENN STATE, TEMPLE, THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA AND THE CHANCELLOR OF PENNSYLVANIA'S 14 STATE-RUN UNIVERSITIES. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS MAINTAINING $1.67 BILLION IN BASE FUNDING AND CREATING A PERFORMANCE FUND OF $256 MILLION FOR SCHOOLS THAT MEET GOALS INCLUDING CONTROLLING TUITION COSTS AND TAILORING PROGRAMS TO THE NEEDS OF THE WORKFORCE.
WE'RE JUST A FEW DAYS PAST VETERANS DAY AND PENNSYLVANIA'S SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH SAYS THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DONATE TO A CHARITY HELPING AMERICA'S VETERANS. CAROL AICHELE SAYS YOU SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION. "IT SEEMS EVERY YEAR AROUND VETERANS DAY, SOLICITATIONS FOR CHARITIES TEND TO TREND UPWARD AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS," AICHELE SAYS. IF YOU FEEL PRESSURED TO CONTRIBUTE TO A CHARITY ON THE SPOT AICHELE SAYS YOU SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT DONATING AT ALL. IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A CHARITY AICHELE SAYS YOU SHOULD ASK FOR A BROCHURE, CHECK A WEB SITE, OR GET A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL TO VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF A CHARITY.
NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WHO BORE THE BRUNT OF SUPERSTORM SANDY KNOW THAT SCORES OF UTILITY POLES CAME CRASHING DOWN. NOW THE UTILITIES ARE REPORTING JUST HOW MANY WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC & GAS, JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT, AND ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC REPORT THAT MORE THAN 5,600, AND COUNTING, WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. THAT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER SNAPPED OR DAMAGED LAST YEAR BY TROPICAL STORM IRENE AND THE HALLOWEEN SNOWSTORM COMBINED.
EAGLES QUARTERBACK MICHAEL VICK DID NOT PRACTICE ON WEDNESDAY, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN RULED OUT OF SUNDAY'S GAME VS. THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS. VICK SUFFERED A CONCUSSION IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF A 38-23 LOSS TO THE DALLAS COWBOYS FOUR DAYS AGO. BACKUP NICK FOLES, A ROOKIE, TOOK THE FIRST-TEAM SNAPS AT WEDNESDAY'S PRACTICE AND WOULD MAKE HIS FIRST CAREER START SHOULD VICK NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY. VICK'S HEADACHES ARE SUBSIDING, REID SAYS, BUT THE VETERAN STILL NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE MANDATED CONCUSSION TESTING THIS WEEK.
