A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY IS ACCUSED OF BRINGING A LOADED GUN TO HIS HIGH SCHOOL IN ALLENTOWN. POLICE SAY THE STUDENT AT WILLIAM ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY AFTER ENTERING THE BUILDING WITH THE HANDGUN. SUPERINTENDENT RUSSELL MAYO SAID THE TEEN WAS STOPPED BY SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS. POLICE DECLINED TO IDENTIFY THE STUDENT, CITING HIS AGE. HE WAS ARRESTED ON FIREARMS CHARGES AND COMMITTED TO JUVENILE DETENTION. MAYO WOULDN'T SAY WHETHER THE STUDENT INDICATED WHY HE HAD THE WEAPON OR IF HE INTENDED TO USE IT. HE SAYS THE DISTRICT WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF EXPELLING THE STUDENT. ALLENTOWN POLICE CHIEF ROGER MACLEAN SAID THE GUN WAS NEVER DRAWN ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
THE LEHIGH VALLEY HAS SEEN ITS FIRST FLU FATALITY OF THE FLU SEASON. LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK SAYS AN INFANT DIED AT ONE OF THEIR HOSPITALS FROM THE FLU OVER THE WEEKEND. THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS 22 DEATHS DUE TO THE FLU THROUGH SATURDAY.
A CARBON COUNTY HOME HAS BEEN GUTTED BY A WEDNESDAY FIRE. THE FIRE BROKE OUT JUST AFTER 7 O'CLOCK WEDNESDAY MORNING IN THE BELTZVILLE LAKE ESTATES DEVELOPMENT NEAR LEHIGHTON. NOBODY WAS INJURED IN THE FIRE, WHICH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2005, THE GOLDEN CORRAL RESTAURANT CHAIN HAS A PRESENCE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. "WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE SERVING THE GREATER ALLENTOWN MARKET AND THE LEHIGH VALLEY AGAIN AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DEVELOPING MORE RESTAURANTS IN THAT MARKET," SAYS GOLDEN CORRAL'S BOB McDEVITT. THE COMPANY'S NINTH PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT OPENS TODAY OUTSIDE THE LEHIGH VALLEY MALL. GOLDEN CORRAL OFFERS BUFFET-STYLE DINING AND THE 11,000 SQUARE FEET RESTAURANT WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE AROUND 400 DINERS. GOLDEN CORRAL HASN'T BEEN IN OUR AREA SINCE IT CLOSED ITS EMMAUS RESTAURANT EIGHT YEARS AGO.
THE JUDGE WHO SENTENCED JERRY SANDUSKY TO AT LEAST 30 YEARS IN PRISON IS ABOUT TO HEAR DEFENSE LAWYERS AND PROSECUTORS ARGUE OVER WHETHER THE FORMER PENN STATE ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH GOT A FAIR TRIAL. THE PROCEEDING TODAY IN BELLEFONTE INCLUDES A DEBATE OVER WHETHER SANDUSKY'S LAWYERS HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE TRIAL THAT RESULTED IN A 45-COUNT GUILTY VERDICT. SANDUSKY SAYS JUDGE JOHN CLELAND SHOULD HAVE ISSUED JURY INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT HOW LONG IT TOOK HIS VICTIMS TO REPORT ABUSE. HE'S ALSO CHALLENGING HEARSAY TESTIMONY BY A JANITORIAL SUPERVISOR WHO TOLD JURORS THAT A CO-WORKER HAD SEEN SANDUSKY RAPING A BOY. SANDUSKY IS SERVING A 30- TO 60-YEAR STATE PRISON SENTENCE, BUT MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE AND IS PURSUING APPEALS.
GOV. TOM CORBETT'S EXPLORATION OF HIRING A BRITISH FIRM TO RUN THE PENNSYLVANIA LOTTERY CONTINUES TO RUN INTO RESISTANCE FROM STATE TREASURER ROB MCCORD. MCCORD SAYS THE CORBETT ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO GIVE A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF CAMELOT GLOBAL SERVICES' PLANS TO EXPAND LOTTERY GAMBLING, AND HE QUESTIONED WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW. AS A RESULT, MCCORD REITERATED HIS THREAT TO WITHHOLD PAYMENTS TO CAMELOT UNDER A BUSINESS PLAN THAT INVOLVES THE OPERATION OF MONITOR- OR VIDEO-BASED GAMES. THE BUSINESS PLAN CAMELOT SUBMITTED TO THE CORBETT ADMINISTRATION ISN'T PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SAYS PLANS TO INTRODUCE KENO IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS FALL UNDER THE LOTTERY'S LEGAL AUTHORITY TO OPERATE TERMINAL-BASED GAMES. IT SAYS IT DOESN'T INCLUDE VIDEO POKER OR REQUIRE LAWMAKERS' APPROVAL.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CLOSING STATE PRISONS IN WESTMORELAND AND CAMBRIA COUNTIES AND REPLACING THEM WITH A NEW ONE IN CENTRE COUNTY? STATE CORRECTIONS SECRETARY JOHN WETZEL SAYS IT'LL SAVE THE STATE A LOT OF MONEY. "THAT SAVINGS WE ANTICIPATE TO BE $23 MILLION," WETZEL SAYS. THE STATE COUNTS MORE THAN 51,000 INMATES, INCLUDING ABOUT 2,400 IN COUNTY JAILS OR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTERS. WETZEL SAYS THE TWO PRISONS SHOULD BE CLOSED BY THE END OF JUNE.
A STATEWIDE PANEL WANTS IDEAS FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES INTERESTED IN MANAGING AND OPERATING PENNSYLVANIA'S TRAVELER-INFORMATION SYSTEMS NOW RUN BY THE STATE. THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC-PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP BOARD GAVE THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE COMMISSION THE GREEN LIGHT WEDNESDAY TO SOLICIT PROPOSALS. IT COULD LEAD TO THE PRIVATIZATION OF PENNDOT'S 511PA SYSTEM, WHICH PROVIDES WARNINGS OF TRAFFIC DELAYS, WEATHER FORECASTS AND OTHER KEY INFORMATION ABOUT MAJOR HIGHWAYS. THE TURNPIKE ROADWAY INFORMATION PROGRAM PROVIDES SIMILAR UPDATES FOR TURNPIKE TRAVELERS. STATE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY BARRY SCHOCH SAYS THE PANEL IS LOOKING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES WHILE SAVING TAXPAYERS' MONEY. PENNDOT SPOKESMAN STEVE CHIZMAR SAYS THERE IS NO FIRM TIMELINE, BUT THAT THE REVIEW OF PROPOSALS COULD TAKE ABOUT A YEAR.
FOR SIX YEARS NOW, ATLANTIC CITY'S CASINOS HAVE BEEN TAKING A BEATING FROM GAMBLING HALLS POPPING UP IN NEIGHBORING STATES. FIGURES DUE OUT TODAY WILL SHOW JUST HOW FAR NEW JERSEY'S CASINOS FELL IN 2012. ATLANTIC CITY'S CASINO REVENUES HAVE FALLEN FROM A HIGH OF $5.2 BILLION IN 2006 TO $3.3 BILLION IN 2011. THE 2012 FIGURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE LOWER THAN THAT. SO FAR, THE ADDITION OF REVEL, ATLANTIC CITY'S 12TH CASINO, HAS NOT HELPED GROW THE MARKET. IT OPENED IN APRIL BUT HAS BEEN STUCK NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE CITY'S CASINOS IN TERMS OF REVENUE.
NEW JERSEY GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE SAYS HE STILL LOVES STATE SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY DESPITE HIS ASSERTION THAT SUPERSTORM SANDY PROVIDES POLITICAL COVER FOR CHRISTIE'S FAILED ECONOMIC POLICIES. SPEAKING WEDNESDAY AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE START OF BELMAR'S BOARDWALK RECONSTRUCTION, THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WAS ASKED ABOUT THE STATUS OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SWEENEY, A DEMOCRAT AND POSSIBLE OPPONENT IN THE FALL GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION. CHRISTIE SAID, "I LOVE HIM, BUT OUR LOVE IS STRAINED" AS THE CROWD LAUGHED. SWEENEY APOLOGIZED FOR SAYING CHRISTIE "PRAYED" FOR SANDY, BUT SAYS CHRISTIE USES IT TO AVOID DISCUSSION OF HIS RECORD ON OTHER TOPICS.
A MAN WHO CLIMBED A NEW JERSEY ROLLER COASTER SWEPT INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN DURING SUPERSTORM SANDY AND UNFURLED AN AMERICAN FLAG ON IT FACES A DISORDERLY CONDUCT CHARGE. CHRISTOPHER ANGELO USED A CANOE TO REACH THE SITE TUESDAY MORNING. HE PUT THE FLAG IN PLACE AND THEN LEFT THE COASTER AND HOPPED INTO A POLICE BOAT. HE WAS HANDCUFFED, WALKED THROUGH THE SURF AND ESCORTED TO A POLICE CAR ON THE BEACH IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS. THE LAVALLETTE RESIDENT SAYS HE ACTED TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR SHORE RECOVERY. THE REMNANTS OF THE JET STAR ROLLER COASTER HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE ICONIC IMAGES OF THE DEADLY LATE OCTOBER STORM.
THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INTERVIEWED NOTRE DAME COACH BRIAN KELLY FOR THEIR COACHING VACANCY. KELLY WAS THE THIRD COLLEGE COACH PHILADELPHIA INTERVIEWED SINCE FIRING ANDY REID ON DECEMBER 31. THE EAGLES MET WITH KELLY ON TUESDAY. PENN STATE'S BILL O'BRIEN AND OREGON'S CHIP KELLY INTERVIEWED WITH THE EAGLES LAST WEEK, BUT CHOSE TO STAY AT THEIR SCHOOLS. THE EAGLES HAVE INTERVIEWED SIX CANDIDATES AND PLAN TO MEET WITH FOUR OTHERS.
TED ROOF HAS LEFT PENN STATE AFTER ONE SEASON AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TO TAKE THE SAME JOB AT HIS ALMA MATER, GEORGIA TECH. THE NITTANY LIONS ANNOUNCED ROOF'S RESIGNATION ON THEIR TWITTER FEED ON WEDNESDAY. SECONDARY COACH JOHN BUTLER WILL TAKE OVER AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.
