SPEAKING AT THE K-NEX FACILITY IN HATFIELD, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PRESIDENT OBAMA PUT THE PRESSURE TO AVOID THE S0-CALLED 'FISCAL CLIFF' SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF CONGRESS. "IF CONGRESS DOES NOTHING EVERY FAMILY IN AMERICA WILL SEE THEIR INCOME TAXES AUTOMATICALLY GO UP ON JANUARY 1ST," THE PRESIDENT TOLD WORKERS THERE. HE SAYS IF CONGRESS DOES NOTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, INCOME TAXES WILL GO HIGHER BY ABOUT $2200 FOR EVERY MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY. HE SAYS BOTH SIDES NEED TO "GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONES'' TO REACH AN AGREEMENT.
DEPARTING STATE REP. JOE BRENNAN ISN'T GOING TO BE UNEMPLOYED VERY LONG. ON MONDAY THE 48-YEAR-OLD BRENNAN, WHO FACES D.U.I. CHARGES AND IS IS ACCUSED OF PUNCHING AND CHOKING HIS WIFE, BEGINS A $72,000 A YEAR JOB AS A RESEARCH ANALYST IN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS' LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND RESEARCH OFFICE. AFTER HIS MOST RECENT BRUSH WITH THE LAW, BRENNAN DECIDED NOT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION IN THE 133RD HOUSE DISTRICT.
POLICE SAY A 3-MONTH-OLD BABY IS DEAD AFTER BEING FOUND UNRESPONSIVE AT A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA DAY CARE CENTER. STROUD AREA REGIONAL POLICE SAY THE CHILD WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL THURSDAY NIGHT AND PRONOUNCED DEAD. THE DEATH HAS BEEN TERMED SUSPICIOUS AND IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE MONROE COUNTY DAY CARE FACILITY IS STATE CERTIFIED.
IT'S TIME AGAIN FOR A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE NITTANY LIONS AND THE...CROWS? PENN STATE OFFICIALS SAY A LOT OF CROWS HAVE TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN TREES ON CAMPUS, HARASSING STUDENTS AND STAFF AND LEAVING DROPPINGS ALL OVER SIDEWALKS. ONE COMPLAINT FROM A UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE READS LIKE A DISPATCH FROM A WAR CORRESPONDENT, DESCRIBING THE BIRDS COMING IN FROM THE EAST AND STUDENTS DODGING "STRAFING RUNS." THE UNIVERSITY WILL USE FLARE GUNS AND LOUD NOISES TO PUSH THE CROWS BACK STARTING NEXT WEEK AFTER GATHERING ADDITIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON WHERE THE CROWS ARE ROOSTING FOR THE NIGHT.
IT'S THE BRIGHTEST TIME OF YEAR IN CHOCOLATETOWN. HERSHEYPARK SPOKESPERSON KATHY BURROWS SAYS THAT GOES FOR THE PARK ITSELF AND THE ENTIRE TOWN FOR THAT MATTER. "WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2 MILLION LIGHTS INSIDE HERSHEYPARK AND WE PROBABLY HAVE AROUND 4 MILLION IN THE TOWN ITSELF," BURROWS SAYS. CHRISTMAS CANDYLANE IS OPEN WEEKENDS UNTIL IT OPENS DAILY ON DECEMBER 17. BURROWS SAYS CHRISTMAS IS THE SECOND BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR FOR TOURISM IN HERSHEY BEHIND THE MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY TIME FRAME.
THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES DEFENSE HAS SURRENDERED 30, 31, 38, 28 AND 30 POINTS IN THE FIVE GAMES SINCE TODD BOWLES TOOK OVER AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. DESPITE THAT, BOWLES SAYS YOU SHOULDN'T LOOK FOR LINEUP CHANGES WHEN THE EAGLES VISIT DALLAS SUNDAY NIGHT. "EVERYBODY IS FIGHTING FOR A SPOT EVERY DAY. WE'RE ALL TRYING TO GET BETTER AS A WHOLE AND IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY BEHIND THEM THAT WE THOUGHT COULD PLAY, THEY NEED TO SHOW THAT TOO. WE'VE GOT THE GUYS WE'VE GOT AND THE GUYS ARE PLAYING HARD AND THEY'RE PLAYING TOUGH AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET BETTER," BOWLES SAYS. THE EAGLES ARE RIDING A SEVEN GAME LOSING STREAK THAT HAS LEFT THEM WITH A 3-AND-8 RECORD. THE COWBOYS ARE 5-AND-6.
