LAYOFFS AND SERVICE CUTS ARE PART OF LEHIGH VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S 2013 BUDGET. THE $19.6 MILLION BUDGET WILL ELIMINATE A DOZEN JOBS AND THE AIRPORT'S VALET PARKING AND PARKING SHUTTLE. SEVEN GROUNDS-CREW AND TICKET-COUNTER WORKERS, A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AND THE AIRPORT'S TRAVEL AGENT ARE AMONG THE JOB CASUALITIES. THE LAYOFFS AND SERVICE CUTS ARE PART OF $1.5 MILLION IN BUDGET CUTS TO OFFSET DEBT PAYMENTS AND A 20 PERCENT DROP IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT LVIA.
A STUDENT AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY IS BEING TREATED FOR BURNS AFTER AN EARLY MORNING FIRE TORE THROUGH AN OFF-CAMPUS HOUSE. FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE 2-ALARM FIRE IN SOUTH BETHLEHEM AROUND 2 A.M. TUESDAY. DEPUTY FIRE COMMISSIONER ROBERT NOVATNACK SAID THE BLAZE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FIRST-FLOOR BEDROOM BELONGING TO LEHIGH STUDENT ANDREW DOUGLAS. HE SAID DOUGLAS SUFFERED BURNS ON VARIOUS PARTS OF HIS BODY AND IS BEING TREATED AT A BURN UNIT FOR NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. FIRE CAPT. RAYMOND BUTTILLO SAID ONE FIREFIGHTER SUFFERED A BACK STRAIN BUT DIDN'T REQUIRE TREATMENT. A TOTAL OF 15 RESIDENTS IN THE AREA WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF THE FIRE.
EASTON CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS OK'D DOUBLING PARKING METER RATES NEXT YEAR. THE CITY WILL CHARGE $1 AN HOUR AT METERED SPOTS ON THE STREET OR IN THE THREE CITY LOTS AND CUT GARAGE RATES TO 50 CENTS AN HOUR AFTER 5PM. METER ENFORCEMENT EXPANDS TO 8PM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER METERED PARKING WILL BE IN EFFECT ON SUNDAY FROM NOON TO 6PM. MAYOR SAL PANTO SAYS THE CHANGES WILL BRING IN MORE THAN $300,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
A NEW JERSEY MINISTER NOW RUNNING A PAIR OF ALLENTOWN CHURCHES IS CHARGED WITH WRITING BAD CHECKS FROM CHURCH ACCOUNTS AT A NUMBER OF ALLENTOWN BUSINESSES. 27-YEAR-OLD ROBERT HESTER IS ACCUSED OF WRITING MORE THAN $8000 IN CHECKS FROM JANUARY TO OCTOBER FROM HIS CHURCHES' ACCOUNTS. ALL OF THEM BOUNCED ACCORDING TO POLICE. HESTER CURRENTLY IN CHARGE OF THE MARANATHA HOUSE OF REFUGE AND THE PNEUMA LIFE CNETER IN ALLENTOWN. HE'S IN LEHIGH COUNTY PRISON UNDER $50,000 BAIL.
AN ALLENTOWN MAN IS CHARGED WITH RUNNING A FRAUDULENT INVESTMENT AND LOAN SCHEME. 44-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH BECK ALLEGEDLY RAN HIS SCHEME FROM APRIL 2010 TO THIS MARCH VIA HIS COMPANY CALLED WASHINGTON INTEGRITY. INVESTIGATORS SAY BECK CREATED SHELF CORPORATIONS, WHICH DID NOTHING, AND ENCOURAGED INVESTORS TO BUY OTHER SHELF CORPORATIONS TO HELP THEM GET LOANS THEY PREVIOUSLY COULDN'T OBTAIN. INVESTORS WERE ALLEGEDLY DEFRAUDED OF $171,000. BECK IS ACCUSED OF USING THAT MONEY TO BUY REAL ESTATE, PAY OFF CREDIT CARDS AND OTHER PERSONAL EXPENSES. IF CONVICTED, BECK COULD GET UP TO 120 YEARS IN PRISON AND BE FINED $2 MILLION.
"THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON FOR SOME PENNSYLVANIA LOTTERY PLAYER IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY," SAYS THE PENNSYLVANIA LOTTERY'S GARY MILLER. A MATCH 6 WINNING TICKET WORTH MORE THAN $2.4 MILLION WAS SOLD AT IRON RUN BEVERAGE ON TILGHMAN STREET MONDAY FOR THAT NIGHT'S DRAWING. IRON RUN BEVERAGE COLLECTS A $10,000 BONUS FOR SELLING THE TICKET. THE WINNING NUMBERS WERE 1, 5, 13, 31, 33 AND 49.
THE UNION REPRESENTING FACULTY AT PENNSYLVANIA'S 14 STATE-OWNED UNIVERSITIES SAYS IT WON'T CONSIDER STRIKING UNTIL NEXT SEMESTER. THE ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FACULTIES ANNOUNCED THE DECISION TUESDAY IN A LETTER TO STUDENTS. UNION MEMBERS FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS GAVE THEIR LEADERSHIP THE AUTHORITY TO CALL A STRIKE EARLIER THIS MONTH. BARGAINING HAS STALLED OVER ISSUES INCLUDING PAY FOR PART-TIME INSTRUCTORS, HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION FOR ONLINE EDUCATION. OFFICIALS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE SAID THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO A FAIR SETTLEMENT. THE UNION LETTER SENT TO THE SYSTEM'S 120,000 STUDENTS SAYS THERE IS STILL "A GULF" BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.
A COMMISSION SET UP BY THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE AFTER JERRY SANDUSKY'S MOLESTATION ARREST LAST YEAR SAYS "SWEEPING" CHANGES TO STATE LAW ARE NEEDED. THE PENNSYLVANIA TASK FORCE ON CHILD PROTECTION ANNOUNCED TUESDAY ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE REWRITING STATE LAW. IT SAYS THE STATE SHOULD CHANGE HOW CHILD ABUSE CASES ARE HANDLED, REVAMP HOW CHILD ABUSE CRIMES ARE INVESTIGATED, AND IMPROVE TRAINING FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILD WELFARE. THE GROUP SAYS THE STATE SHOULD ELIMINATE A REQUIREMENT THAT CHILDREN HAVE TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE PAIN IN ORDER TO BE CLASSIFIED AS ABUSE UNDER THE LAW. THE DEFINITION OF "PERPETRATOR" WOULD BE EXPANDED GREATLY AND PENALTIES WOULD BE HARSHER FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T REPORT ABUSE.
TWO FORMER HIGH-RANKING PENN STATE OFFICIALS WANT TO DELAY THEIR PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ON CHARGES THEY CONCEALED SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FORMER ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH JERRY SANDUSKY. THE REQUEST TUESDAY BY FORMER UNIVERSITY VICE PRESIDENT GARY SCHULTZ AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TIM CURLEY SEEKS TO HAVE A DECEMBER 13 HEARING POSTPONED AMID LEGAL WRANGLING OVER THE LATEST CHARGES FILED AGAINST THEM. SCHULTZ AND CURLEY WERE CHARGED LAST YEAR WITH PERJURY AND FAILURE TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE. EARLIER THIS MONTH PROSECUTORS FILED ADDITIONAL CHARGES INCLUDING OBSTRUCTION AND CONSPIRACY AGAINST BOTH MEN AND FORMER SCHOOL PRESIDENT GRAHAM SPANIER. TESTIMONY FROM FORMER UNIVERSITY COUNSEL CYNTHIA BALDWIN IS KEY TO THE NEW CHARGES. ALL THREE MEN CLAIM HER TESTIMONY VIOLATES ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
THE FIRST DECLARED CANDIDATE IN THE 2014 ELECTION FOR PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR IS POISED TO MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT. DEMOCRAT JOHN HANGER, A LONGTIME STATE OFFICIAL AND ENVIRONMENTALIST, HAS SCHEDULED NEWS CONFERENCES IN PHILADELPHIA AND HARRISBURG TODAY AND IN PITTSBURGH ON THURSDAY. SEVERAL OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE INTERESTED IN OR CONSIDERING SEEKING THE PARTY'S NOMINATION TO CONTEST REPUBLICAN GOV. TOM CORBETT'S PLANNED RE-ELECTION BID IN A CAMPAIGN NEARLY TWO YEARS AWAY. BUSINESSMEN TOM WOLF OF YORK AND TOM KNOX OF PHILADELPHIA HAVE SIGNALED STRONG INTEREST IN RUNNING AND STILL OTHER PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES REFUSE TO RULE OUT CAMPAIGNS. THE 55-YEAR-OLD HANGER, A HARRISBURG LAWYER, SAYS HIS CAMPAIGN WILL FOCUS ON EDUCATION, JOBS, ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
NEW JERSEY OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO IMPOSE SALES TAXES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA. STATE TREASURY SPOKESMAN ANDY PRATT SAID TUESDAY THAT THE DIVISION OF TAXATION MADE THE DECISION TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF LAWMAKERS BEHIND A 2010 LAW TO ALLOW THE SALE OF POT TO PATIENTS. SO FAR, NO DISPENSARIES ARE SELLING MARIJUANA TO PATIENTS IN NEW JERSEY.
A PUBLIC-INTEREST LAW GROUP IS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER NEW JERSEY ELECTION OFFICIALS COUNTED BALLOTS PROPERLY AS VOTING RULES CHANGED IN THE AFTERMATH OF SUPERSTORM SANDY. THE CONSTITUTIONAL LITIGATION CLINIC AT THE RUTGERS SCHOOL OF LAW IN NEWARK ON TUESDAY REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM ELECTION OFFICIALS FOR THE STATE AND ALL 21 COUNTIES ABOUT HOW BALLOTS WERE HANDLED. WITH ELECTIONS HELD JUST A WEEK AFTER SANDY HIT, THE STATE ALLOWED DISPLACED VOTERS TO CAST PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AT ANY POLLING PLACE IN THE STATE OR TO VOTE BY EMAIL OR FAX. CLINIC CO-DIRECTOR PENNY VENETIS SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHETHER ALL BALLOTS WERE COUNTED. SHE SAYS THAT 75 ELECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE ARE CLOSE ENOUGH THAT THE SPECIAL BALLOTS COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THE CHARITY LAUNCHED BY GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE AND HIS WIFE TO HELP VICTIMS OF HURRICANE SANDY HAS RAISED $18.2 MILLION IN ITS FIRST 24 DAYS. THE GOVERNOR SAYS MORE THAN 9,000 PEOPLE AND CORPORATIONS HAVE DONATED SO FAR. MARY PAT CHRISTIE, WHO CHAIRS THE EFFORT, SAYS THE HURRICANE SANDY NEW JERSEY RELIEF FUND WILL PROVIDE AID TO FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER THE DEVASTATING STORM. APPEARING ALONGSIDE THE GOVERNOR AT AN EVENT THIS WEEK TO THANK FIRST RESPONDERS IN MIDDLETOWN, MARY PAT CHRISTIE SAID SHE AND HER CELEBRITY CO-CHAIRS HAVE VOWED TO BE "GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY."
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES CATCHER CARLOS RUIZ HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THE FIRST 25 GAMES OF NEXT SEASON FOLLOWING A POSITIVE TEST FOR AN AMPHETAMINE. RUIZ'S SUSPENSION WAS ANNOUNCED TUESDAY BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. THE 33-YEAR-OLD, AN ALL-STAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN SPRING TRAINING GAMES.
PENN STATE HEAD COACH BILL O'BRIEN HAS BEEN NAMED THE BIG TEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR. "ANY TIME YOU'RE NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR IT HAS TO DO WITH TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE. IT'S YOUR COACHING STAFF AND OBVIOUSLY YOUR PLAYERS. WE HAVE A GREAT COACHING STAFF HERE THAT DID A NICE JOB OF KEEPING EVERYTHING TOGETHER HERE AND TEACHING OUR PLAYERS. OUR PLAYERS JUST DID A GREAT JOB OF GOING OUT THERE EVERY WEEK AND PLAYING AS HARD AS THEY COULD," O'BRIEN SAYS. O'BRIEN LED THE NITTANY LIONS TO AN 8-4 RECORD, GOING 6-2 IN CONFERENCE PLAY. SIX NITTANY LIONS OBTAINED FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG TEN STATUS AND PENN STATE DEFENSIVE END DEION BARNES WAS NAMED THE CONFERENCE'S FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR.
THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES HAVE RELEASED TWO-TIME PRO BOWL DEFENSIVE END JASON BABIN IN THE FIRST MAJOR ROSTER MOVE FOR A TEAM THAT'S LOST SEVEN STRAIGHT GAMES. BABIN HAD JUST 5.5 SACKS AFTER RECORDING 18 LAST YEAR. COACH ANDY REID SAYS THE EAGLES CUT BABIN TO GIVE MORE PLAYING TIME TO YOUNGER PLAYERS. THE EAGLES WILL PLACE WIDE RECEIVER DESEAN JACKSON ON INJURED RESERVE AFTER HE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE RIB FRACTURES IN MONDAY NIGHT'S LOSS TO CAROLINA. REID SAYS RUNNING BACK LESEAN MCCOY REMAINS IN PHASE ONE OF HIS CONCUSSION RECOVERY AND MICHAEL VICK IS IN THE FOURTH OF FIVE STAGES. DEFENSIVE TACKLE FLETCHER COX INJURED HIS TAILBONE AND OFFENSIVE LINEMAN KING DUNLAP SPRAINED HIS KNEE. NEITHER WILL PRACTICE TODAY.
