THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS 18 MORE PEOPLE DIED OF FLU-RELATED ISSUES LAST WEEK, BRINGING THE STATEWIDE TOTAL TO 40, WHICH IS NEARLY FOUR TIMES THE FLU-RELATED DEATHS FROM THE ENTIRE FLU SEASON A YEAR AGO. THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 16,000 CONFIRMED FLU CASES IN THE STATE, WITH ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THEM BEING REPORTED IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES.
STATE POLICE SAY 39-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW LERCH OF EMMAUS WAS THE MAN WHO PEACEFULLY SURRENDERED MONDAY EVENING AFTER A SIX HOUR STANDOFF AT THE KNIGHTS INN IN HANOVER TOWNSHIP. LERCH WAS WANTED ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND REFUSED TO COME OUT OF HIS THIRD FLOOR HOTEL ROOM WHEN POLICE TOLD HIM TO. NEARLY SIX HOURS AFTER BARRACADING HIMSELF INSIDE THE ROOM, LERCH FINALLY SURRENDERED AND WAS TAKEN TO LEHIGH COUNTY PRISON, WHERE HE REMAINS UNDER $10,000 BAIL.
IT APPEARS A BATH MAN WILL PLEAD GUILTY IN AN ACCIDENT THAT KILLED AN ELDERLY WOMAN AND HER SON. 51-YEAR-OLD LESTER SMITH IS REPORTEDLY READY TO PLEAD GUILTY TO A SINGLE COUNTY OF CARELESS DRIVING. A SECOND COUNT OF CARELESS DRIVING IS REPORTEDLY BEING DISMISSED AS PART OF THE DEAL. LAST SEPTEMBER, SMITH'S VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE ON HANOVERVILLE ROAD AND SLAMMED HEAD-ON INTO THE CAR DRIVEN BY 67-YEAR-OLD CLIFFORD BABIN. THE CRASH KILLED BABIN AND HIS 88-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, GERTRUDE.
BETHLEHEM'S NEW HEALTH DIRECTOR IS KRISTEN WENRICH, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY SINCE 1998 AND HAD BEEN COMMUNITY HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS MANAGER. WENRICH REPLACES JUDITH MALONEY, WHO WAS PUT ON LEAVE LAST YEAR AFTER SHE WAS CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HER BOYFRIEND. WHILE CHARGES AGAINST HER WERE EVENTUALLY DROPPED, MALONEY IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED BY THE CITY, WHICH ISN'T SAYING IF SHE QUIT OR WAS FIRED.
SEN. BOB CASEY SAYS HE'S NOT SURE WHETHER A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS CAN PASS THE U.S. SENATE, BUT LAWMAKERS SHOULD ALSO FOCUS ON HELPING LOCAL POLICE IN AN EFFORT TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE. CASEY EXPECTS A SENATE VOTE ON AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, EVEN IF IT FAILS TO GET THE NECESSARY 60 VOTES TO ADVANCE. HE ALSO EXPECTS A VOTE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF BULLETS IN AMMUNITION MAGAZINES. BUT CASEY'S ALSO TRYING TO PRESS FEDERAL AID FOR COURTS, POLICE AND PROSECUTORS INTO THE DEBATE, AND SAYS CONGRESS NEEDS TO INVEST IN WHAT WORKS. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PLANS TO UNVEIL PROPOSALS TODAY IN RESPONSE TO THE DECEMBER 14 KILLINGS OF 26 STUDENTS AND SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS AT THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NEWTOWN, CONN.
POLICE SAY A DISPUTE ON A SOCIAL MEDIA SITE APPARENTLY PRECIPITATED THE STABBING OF A TEENAGER AT BERKS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL. POLICE CHIEF BRYAN ROSS OF SPRING TOWNSHIP IN BERKS COUNTY SAYS THE 14-YEAR-OLD VICTIM IS IN STABLE CONDITION WITH WOUNDS THAT ARE "NOT SUPERFICIAL" BUT NOT LIFE-THREATENING. ANOTHER 14-YEAR-OLD WAS ARRESTED AFTER THE STABBING, WHICH OCCURRED IN A SECOND-FLOOR HALLWAY AT WILSON SOUTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL AT ABOUT 8:30 A.M. TUESDAY. ROSS SAYS SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION ON FACEBOOK PRECEDED THE ATTACK, AND "OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE MOTIVE FOR THIS INCIDENT."
PENN STATE'S LAWYERS ARE ASKING A JUDGE TO THROW OUT A WHISTLEBLOWER AND DEFAMATION LAWSUIT FILED BY A FORMER FOOTBALL ASSISTANT WHO'S TESTIFIED HE SAW JERRY SANDUSKY ATTACK A BOY IN A SCHOOL SHOWER MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. THE UNIVERSITY MADE A COURT FILING TUESDAY THAT SAYS MIKE MCQUEARY'S LAWSUIT IS TOO VAGUE AND DOESN'T MEET LEGAL STANDARDS TO SUPPORT CLAIMS OF DEFAMATION AND MISREPRESENTATION. THE SCHOOL'S LAWYERS SAY IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR MCQUEARY TO HAVE BEEN EMBARRASSED OR ANNOYED IN ORDER FOR DEFAMATION TO BE VALID. THE FILING SAYS HE ALSO HAS TO HAVE SUFFERED HARM THAT "HAS GRIEVOUSLY FRACTURED HIS STANDING IN RESPECTABLE COMMUNITY." MCQUEARY IS SUING THE UNIVERSITY FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, SAYING FORMER PRESIDENT GRAHAM SPANIER MADE HIM A SCAPEGOAT AFTER SANDUSKY'S ARREST.
LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED INTO LAW A MEASURE THAT EXTENDS LIFETIME SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION TO ALL EX-PRESIDENTS, THEIR WIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN UP TO THE AGE OF 16. ALLENTOWN NATIVE AND EX-SECRET SERVICE AGENT JOE PETRO SAYS IT'S PROBABLY A PRUDENT MOVE. "I THINK THERE'S AN OBLIGATION TO KEEP OUR EX-PRESIDENTS SAFE," PETRO SAYS. HOWEVER, PETRO SAYS THE LEVEL OF SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION CAN VARY DEPENDING ON WHO IS BEING GUARDED. "YOU DON'T NEED A FULL DETAIL FOR GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, WHO'S ELDERLY AND NOT VERY MOBILE ANY MORE. THAT CERTAINLY CHANGES THE RISK PROFILE," SAYS PETRO, WHO SPENT 23 YEARS IN THE SECRET SERVICE AND SERVED AS HEAD OF PRESIDENT REAGAN'S SECURITY DETAIL FOR FOUR OF THOSE YEARS.
THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION IS OUT WITH ITS REPORT CARD ON PENNSYLVANIA'S PROGRAMS TO REDUCE TOBACCO USE. DEB BROWN SAYS THEY BREAK IT DOWN INTO FOUR CATEGORIES AND SHE SAYS PENNSYLVANIA DOESN'T FARE VERY WELL. "THE COMMONWEALTH GETS AN 'F' FOR TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL FUNDING, A 'C' FOR SMOKE FREE AIR, A 'C' FOR CIGARETTE TAXES AND A 'F' FOR CESSATION COVERAGE," ACCORDING TO BROWN. SHE SAYS PENNSYLVANIA IS LIKE MANY OTHER STATES THAT DON'T SPENT ENOUGH OF ITS TOBACCO SETTLEMENT MONEY ON TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS. BROWN SAYS NOTHING WAS DONE IN CLOSING LOOPHOLES IN PENNSYLVANIA'S CLEAR INDOOR AIR LAWS LAST YEAR. THE ASSOCIATION WILL PUSH FOR THAT TO CHANGE THIS YEAR.
ABOUT 500 NEW PENNSYLVANIANS WILL GET THE WRONG ANSWER TO THE QUESTION "WHO'S YOUR DADDY?" IF THEY RELY ON THEIR MISPRINTED BIRTH CERTIFICATES. A COMPUTER GLITCH CAUSED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE STATE DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS RECENTLY TRANSITIONED TO NEW RECORDS SOFTWARE. SPOKESWOMAN HOLLI SENIOR SAYS THE PROBLEM AFFECTED ABOUT 500 BIRTH CERTIFICATES. THE SOFTWARE WAS SUPPOSED TO PULL THE FATHERS' NAMES FROM STATE RECORDS, BUT WOUND UP PULLING INFORMATION FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE BIRTH RECORDS SO THE FATHERS' NAMES WERE INCORRECTLY PRINTED ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES. THE STATE'S PERMANENT, COMPUTERIZED BIRTH RECORDS ARE CORRECT, HOWEVER. THOSE WITH BOLLIXED BIRTH CERTIFICATES HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER EXPLAINING THE MIX-UP AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO GET A CORRECTED COPY.
PENNSYLVANIA'S ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF AGRICULTURE DREW A RECORD CROWD THIS YEAR. THE STATE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT SAYS ATTENDANTS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW COMPLEX IN HARRISBURG PARKED MORE THAN 71,100 CARS, UP 4 PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 68,000 LAST YEAR. NO TICKETS ARE REQUIRED, AND NO MONITORS COUNT ATTENDANCE AT THE DOORS. AS A RESULT, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN SAYS COUNTING CARS IS THE BEST WAY TO MEASURE ATTENDANCE EACH YEAR. ALL THOSE VISITORS KEPT VENDORS BUSY ALL WEEK AT THE FOOD COURT. FOR INSTANCE, THE STATE SAYS THE PENNSYLVANIA CO-OPERATIVE POTATO GROWERS SOLD MORE THAN 300,000 DOUGHNUTS, 35,000 BAKED POTATOES AND NEARLY 45,000 SERVINGS OF FRENCH FRIES.
THE POLITICAL TEMPEST STIRRED UP BY SUPERSTORM SANDY APPEARS TO HAVE MOVED ON AFTER WREAKING HAVOC AMONG HOUSE REPUBLICANS DIVIDED OVER HOW MUCH AID TO ALLOCATE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE STORM. IN A 241-180 VOTE TUESDAY NIGHT, THE HOUSE APPROVED $50.5 BILLION IN DISASTER RELIEF FOR SANDY VICTIMS. THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO ACCEPT THE MEASURE EARLY NEXT WEEK AND SEND IT TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA DESPITE SOME DEMOCRATIC CONCERNS THAT IT DOESN'T DO ENOUGH.
REVENUE COLLECTIONS IN NEW JERSEY ARE $426 MILLION BELOW THE BUDGETED AMOUNT THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR. A REPORT RELEASED TUESDAY BY THE STATE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SHOWS TAX AND FEE COLLECTIONS FOR DECEMBER EXCEEDED THE BUDGETED AMOUNT BY $25 MILLION. BUT REVENUES REMAIN OFF 4 PERCENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE'S $31.7 BILLION ANNUAL BUDGET RELIED ON REVENUE GROWTH OF MORE THAN 7 PERCENT FOR THE YEAR, THE HIGHEST FORECAST OF ANY STATE IN THE NATION. SO FAR, COLLECTIONS OF INCOME, SALES, CORPORATION BUSINESS AND OTHER TAXES HAVE NOT NEARED THE AMOUNT PROJECTED. THE SALES TAX IS OFF BY $189 MILLION FOR THE YEAR SO FAR.
SEAHAWKS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GUS BRADLEY ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA ON TUESDAY FOR HIS SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE EAGLES, SUGGESTING THE NEARLY THREE-WEEK SEARCH TO REPLACE ANDY REID COULD BE NEARING AN END. BRADLEY FIRST MET WITH THE EAGLES IN ATLANTA ON SATURDAY, A DAY BEFORE SEATTLE LOST TO THE FALCONS IN A NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME. HE'S THE FIRST OF THE 11 KNOWN CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED BY PHILADELPHIA TO GET A SECOND MEETING.
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS HAVE NAMED CLAUDE GIROUX THE 19TH CAPTAIN IN TEAM HISTORY. GENERAL MANAGER PAUL HOLMGREN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TUESDAY NIGHT. THE FLYERS SAY KIMMO TIMONEN WILL SERVE AS ASSOCIATE CAPTAIN, AND SCOTT HARTNELL AND DANNY BRIERE WILL SERVE AS ALTERNATE CAPTAINS. GIROUX TAKES OVER FOR DEFENSEMAN CHRIS PRONGER, WHO HAS NOT PLAYED SINCE NOV. 19, 2011 AND STILL SUFFERS FROM LINGERING EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE CONCUSSIONS.
