| | 5/9/08 | Marriage Bill Vote Postponed; Citizen Pressure Sought |
HARRISBURG - The PA Senate has tabled or postponed a vote on Senate Bill 1250 – PA’s marriage amendment. As the Senate was preparing for a vote, Senate leadership was informed by PA House Speaker Dennis O'Brien that should the bill pass the Senate and go to the House, that he would assign it to the House State Government Committee whose chairman, Rep. Babette Josephs, would refuse to bring it up for a vote, thereby killing it. Lancaster County Sen. Mike Brubaker, the lead sponsor of the bill, in consultation with other senators, determined to hold off the vote so that grass-roots pressure can be mounted on Speaker O'Brien and House members to ensure it receives full and timely consideration in the House. The bill can still get a Senate vote if the chamber's Republican leaders secure a commitment from the House to consider the bill within the time necessary to move along the process to amend the Constitution. PA for Marriage is urging citizens to contact House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, and rep. Babette Josephs and ask them to assign Senate Bill 1250 to a committee where it will be brought up for a vote in a timely fashion when it comes over from the Senate. O’Brien can be e-mailed at dobrien@pahousegop.com or call 717-787-4610. DeWeese can be e-mailed at wdeweese@pahouse.net or call 717-783-3797. E-mail for Rep. Babette Josephs is bjosephs@pahouse.net or call 717-787-8529 They also urge citizens to continue to contact their state senators and representatives to urge their support. Saturday's Spotlight at 12:30 will feature Deb Hamilton with Pennsylvania for Marriage talking about the tabling of Senate Bill 1250 and the effort to get citizens to put pressure on the House to get a vote on the legislation | | 5/9/08 | Body Found In The Susquehanna |
CONOY TWP. - An autopsy is underway today on a man found in the Susquehanna River last evening near Three Mile Island in Conoy Twp., Lancaster County. A pair of fisherman wading discovered the body floating about 6 p.m., according to Susquehanna Regional Police. Investigators did find some information on the individual that might help them identify the victim. Police are not sure how long the body was in the river but man was fully clothed wearing a jacket. | | 5/9/08 | Historic Trails Created By Presidential Signature |
BALTIMORE (AP) - President Bush has signed legislation creating two historic trails. One connects historic sites stretching from Pennsylvania to Virginia. The other commemorates War of 1812 battle sites in Maryland. The 175-mile Journey Through Hallowed Ground Heritage Area spans the Gettysburg and Antietam battlefields, Thomas Jefferson's home of Monticello, and other sites. Meanwhile, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail will guide visitors to sites of important War of 1812 battles, including Fort McHenry in Baltimore. Francis Scott Key was inspired to write what became "The Star-Spangled Banner" while watching the American flag waving above Fort McHenry during a battle with the British.
| | 5/9/08 | Charges Filed In Collision With Police Cruiser |
LANCASTER – Lancaster Police have charged the driver of a minivan who collided with a police cruiser on April 28th. 21-year-old Iris Morrison of Lancaster was charged with a red light violation and a driving during suspension. Morrison ran a red light at the intersection of West King and Water Streets colliding with Officer Todd Grager. A pregnant passenger in the minivan, 20-year-old Crystal Garcia, was ejected. She remains a patient at Hershey Medical Center listed in good condition. The investigation included the interview of witnesses and the review of video footage of this intersection at the
time of the accident.
| | 5/9/08 | Suspicious Fire In Leola |
LEOLA – Fire crews responded to an early morning call at the Chelsea Village development in Leola, Lancaster County. It happened around 3:30 along Country Drive. Investigators say smoke detectors alerted over two dozen residents who escaped unharmed from the apartment building. Police have called it arson as two fires were started in separate locations. The smoky mishap caused little to no damage in the units. | | 5/9/08 | ADF Goes After Shippensburg |
HARRISBURG - Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom filed suit against Shippensburg University for its continued violations of student free speech rights. The university reinstituted unconstitutional policies it was supposed to revise or drop as part of a 2004 legal settlement. ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven Aden says, “We hope that a return trip to the courthouse for this constitutional repeat offender will cause Shippensburg to finally mend its ways.” According to the university, the university’s speech code in its Code of Conduct is designed to stop “harassment,” “intimidation,” and “subordination.” The codes also encourage students to report classmates who may be in violation. The university’s Student Senate used provisions of the Code of Conduct to strip a campus Christian student organization, Christian Fellowship, of its rights and privileges because it adheres to membership requirements consistent with its statement of faith. Members of the club fear that they could violate the school’s speech code merely by speaking out about their group and their faith. In 2004, a judge issued a preliminary injunction against several of the policies on the grounds that they were too broad and likely violate the First and 14th Amendments. As part of a settlement, the university agreed to revoke the policies named in the order. However, school officials have since re-enacted many of those policies nearly verbatim. | | 5/9/08 | Prison Time Possible For Teacher |
READING (AP) - A former Boyertown Area High School math teacher may face prison for having pornographic videos of children on his personal computer at school. 38-year-old Peter Lamana will undergo a Megan's Law assessment following his Berks County Court conviction of one count of sexual abuse of children. The evaluation is to determine whether he should be listed as a sexual predator. And he can face a minimum sentence of probation to nine months or a maximum of seven years in prison. The school's technology manager found the child porn videos on Lamana's computer while investigating a virus affecting the school's system. He told the principal, who called police. Superintendent Harry Morgan says Lamana is on unpaid leave and "We do not anticipate he'll be back in the classroom." | | 5/9/08 | Possible Departure Of Wrightsville Police |
WRIGHTSVILLE (AP) - The town of Wrightsville is considering disbanding its police force. The York County borough started its police department two years ago, but it's costing more than expected. Also, it isn't patrolling 24 hours a day, seven days a week as had been planned. Borough Council Vice President Larry Kirkessner says the police force "is not anywhere close to the promises." But Mayor Stephen Rambler says there is far less trouble with graffiti and other problems than there used to be. | | 5/9/08 | Denlinger Offers Small Business Legislation |
HARRISBURG - To allow small businesses to benefit from economic incentives recently enacted at the federal level, Lancaster County Rep. Gordon Denlinger is sponsoring legislation to increase the amount a business may deduct for capital investments made during a tax year. Under Denlinger’s legislation, the amount a business may deduct as capital investments made during a tax year would be increased from $25,000 to $100,000. Pennsylvania does calculate the Commonwealth’s Corporate Net Income tax on federal taxable income, therefore businesses subjected to the CNI are eligible for and receiving the incentive. However, the Tax Reform Code limits Section 179 deductions for Personal Income Tax purposes to $25,000 – thus preventing most small businesses from achieving the full scope of the tax incentive. Denlinger plans on introducing the legislation in the near future.
| | 5/9/08 | Motorcycle Safety Month In PA |
HARRISBURG – May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Safety Administration Kurt Myers urges all motorists to share the road. He adds that motorcyclists can protect themselves on the road by wearing protective headgear, face or eye protection, and brightly colored, protective clothing covering all exposed areas of the body. The state offers a free program for motorcyclists. PennDOT’s Motorcycle Safety Program courses are offered March through October at 69 sites across the state and are free to Pennsylvania residents. To enroll, individuals must have either a Class M learner’s permit or license. Class M permit holders who successfully complete the program will be issued a Class M (motorcycle) license. Visit www.pamsp.com for more information on the Motorcycle Safety Program and to enroll in a course. |
