THE EAGLES SAY THEY'RE HOLDING TRAINING CAMP IN PHILADELPHIA THIS SUMMER AT BOTH LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD AND THE NOVACARE COMPLEX. IN A STATEMENT, THE EAGLES SAY "THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM HAS BEEN PART OF OUR LIVES EVERY SUMMER FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS." HOWEVER, THE TEAM IS FOLLOWING A GROWING TREND IN THE NFL TO BRING TRAINING CAMP TO THEIR OWN FACILITIES, MARKING THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1943 THAT THE EAGLES' TRAINING CAMP WILL BE IN PHILADELPHIA. LEHIGH DEAN OF ATHLETICS JOE STERRETT SAYS "LEHIGH UNIVERSITY HAS ENJOYED HOSTING THE EAGLES' TRAINING CAMP FOR THE PAST 17 SEASONS. WE REALIZE THE EAGLES ARE EMBARKING UPON A NEW ERA FOR THEIR TEAM AND WE WISH COACH KELLY AND THE TEAM ALL THE BEST IN THE UPCOMING SEASON."
THE NAMES OF MORE THAN 40 MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE ON A RESOLUTION THAT COULD LEAD TO IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A SITTING STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE. THE RESOLUTION WOULD AUTHORIZE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE CONDUCT OF JUSTICE JOAN ORIE MELVIN. THE RESOLUTION'S SPONSORS INCLUDE THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CHAIRMEN OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS A MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE'S 25 MEMBERS. MELVIN AWAITS SENTENCING MAY 7 FOR HER CONVICTION LAST MONTH IN A CASE THAT CENTERED ON ALLEGATIONS SHE USED TAXPAYER-PAID STATE EMPLOYEES AND RESOURCES TO WAGE HER POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS IN 2003 AND 2009 FOR THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT. THE REPUBLICAN JUSTICE IS SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY AND ALSO FACES MISCONDUCT CHARGES BEFORE THE COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE.
A THIRD REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR IS BREAKING WITH CONSERVATIVES AND GOV. TOM CORBETT TO SUPPORT AN EXPANSION OF MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE 2010 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. SEN. LLOYD SMUCKER TOLD A TOWN HALL MEETING THAT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ACCOMPANYING THE EXPANSION WOULD EASE THE BURDEN ON LANCASTER GENERAL AND OTHER HOSPITALS THAT TREAT THE UNINSURED. TWO OTHER REPUBLICAN SENATORS PUBLICLY SUPPORT IT. THEY ARE SENATE BANKING AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DON WHITE OF INDIANA COUNTY AND MAJORITY POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN EDWIN ERICKSON OF DELAWARE COUNTY. CORBETT ISN'T EMBRACING THE EXPANSION AND SAYS HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST TO PENNSYLVANIA TAXPAYERS. AN EXPANSION WOULD MEAN AN ESTIMATED $4 BILLION A YEAR IN FEDERAL MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE HEALTH CARE FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS UNINSURED PENNSYLVANIANS.
THEY'RE GOING GREEN TODAY IN BETHLEHEM. THE THIRD ANNUAL CELTIC CLASSIC PARADE OF SHAMROCKS BEGINS THIS AFTERNOON AT 1 O'CLOCK. FIVE BAGPIPE BANDS AND IRISH DANCERS ARE TRADITIONAL PARTS OF THE PARADE. NON-TRADITIONAL GROUPS IN THE PARADE ARE ROLLER DERBY GIRLS AND A COUPLE OF MOTORCYCLE CLUBS. BEFORE THE PARADE, IT'S THE BEST LEGS IN A KILT CONTEST AT DONEGAL SQUARE AT 11 O'CLOCK.
THE COLOR OF THE DAY TOMORROW IN ALLENTOWN WILL BE GREEN. THE ANNUAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE BEGINS AT 1:30 SUNDAY AFTERNOON NEAR THE ALLENTOWN FAIRGROUNDS. PARADE ORGANIZER HUGH GALLAGHER SAYS HAVING A TOP NOTCH PARADE ISN'T AN INEXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. "THE PARADE COSTS ABOUT $25,000 A YEAR," GALLAGHER SAYS. BEFORE THE PARADE, THERE'S MASS, BREAKFAST AND A 5K RACE.
SKI SEASON ENDS TOMORROW AT BEAR CREEK AFTER AN ATTENDANCE JUMP OF 18 PERCENT. BLUE MOUNTAIN HOPES TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGH AT LEAST NEXT SUNDAY AND MIGHT BE HELPED BY A FORECAST THAT INCLUDES COLD NIGHTS AND AT LEAST A LITTLE SNOW. SKI RESORTS UP IN THE POCONOS BELIEVE THEY CAN REMAIN OPEN INTO APRIL.
PENN STATE'S CIVIL DEFENSE LAWYER IS DEFENDING COMMENTS MADE BY FORMER PRESIDENT GRAHAM SPANIER SHORTLY AFTER TWO OF HIS TOP DEPUTIES WERE ARRESTED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. UNIVERSITY ATTORNEY NANCY CONRAD ON FRIDAY AGAIN SOUGHT DISMISSAL OF MIKE MCQUEARY'S DEFAMATION AND WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT. SHE SAYS SPANIER'S REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF TIM CURLEY AND GARY SCHULTZ WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. CONRAD SAYS SPANIER IN NOVEMBER 2011 SAID MORE THAN "THE CHARGES ARE GROUNDLESS." SHE SAYS THE EXPANDED QUOTE WAS THAT "I AM CONFIDENT THE RECORD WILL SHOW THAT THESE CHARGES ARE GROUNDLESS AND THAT THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES PROFESSIONALLY AND APPROPRIATELY." AS A WITNESS IN THE JERRY SANDUSKY CASE, MCQUEARY IS ARGUING SPANIER'S COMMENTS MADE HIM LOOK UNTRUTHFUL. A HEARING ON THE SCHOOL'S OBJECTIONS TO THE LAWSUIT IS MONDAY.
A BERKS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS IT HAS ADJUSTED ITS INTERNET FILTERING SOFTWARE SO THAT IT NO LONGER BLOCKS CONTENT ABOUT GAYS. THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION SAID LAST MONTH THAT GOVERNOR MIFFLIN SCHOOL DISTRICT'S INTERNET FILTER BLOCKED SITES THAT A STUDENT TRIED TO ACCESS FOR RESEARCH. THE GROUP SAID THE DISTRICT'S "SEXUALITY" FILTER PREVENTED THE STUDENT FROM ACCESSING SITES THAT EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE GAY-RIGHTS MOVEMENT. AN "INTOLERANCE" FILTER BLOCKED A RANGE OF POLITICAL ADVOCACY SITES, INCLUDING ONES THAT OPPOSE LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR GAYS. JOHN STOTT IS THE DISTRICT'S SOLICITOR AND SAYS THE DISTRICT HAS NOW DISABLED THOSE FILTERS FOLLOWING THE ACLU'S COMPLAINT. THE ACLU SAYS IT IS ENCOURAGED BY THE DISTRICT'S DECISION.
NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED A WARNING ABOUT MEASLES AFTER IDENTIFYING A THIRD PERSON WHO MAY HAVE EXPOSED OTHERS TO THE CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS AT SOMERSET MEDICAL CENTER. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE PERSON GOT THE DISEASE AFTER HAVING CONTACT WITH A PATIENT WHO HAD MEASLES. MEASLES SYMPTOMS INCLUDE RASH, HIGH FEVER, COUGH, RUNNY NOSE AND RED, WATERY EYES. OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING ANYONE WHO VISITED SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN SOMERSET COUNTY BETWEEN MARCH 6 AND THIS PAST TUESDAY TO CONTACT A DOCTOR TO DISCUSS THEIR POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO MEASLES. THE LOCATIONS INCLUDE SOMERSET MEDICAL CENTER, STEEPLECHASE CANCER CENTER, SOMERSET COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING, SOMERSET COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND SEVERAL RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS IN BRIDGEWATER.









