Posted
2012-12-12 20:17:00 by Mark Williams / News Director
Attempted Abduction
Benton police are investigating an attempted child abduction. It happened Tuesday afternoon with a 7 – year old boys telling police two men approached him at the corner of Main and North Streets... with the pair offering him candy. The child got away... telling police the men were in a rusty, red pick – up truck with a silver tool box in the bed. If you have information about the attempted child abduction.... call police.
PPL Rate Increase
Customers of PPL Electric Utilities will see monthly bills increase by about 4 percent next year. It's due to recent state Public Utility Commission action. The PUC granting Allentown-based PPL a 10.4 % rate of return on income for shareholders. The approval will increase the average bill for residential customers using 1,000 kilowatts of electricity monthly by about $4.77 to $116.37. The increase totals approximately $71 - million.
State Budget
More than six months before it becomes effective... state lawmakers are thinking about the Commonwealth's 2013 – 2014 budget. State Representative David Millard of Millville says Governor Corbett has already issued an edict.... no new taxes. Representative Millard... who sits on the House Appropriations Committee... says if lawmakers try to put in a new tax to fund programs... it's guaranteed that the Governor will not sign the proposed spending plan.
Berwick Man Innocent
It took Columbia County Judge Tom James less than two hours on Tuesday to find a 28 – year old Berwick man innocent of sex charges following a non – jury trial. Our media partner... NewsWatch 16... is reporting Daniel Galindo is free following the judge's decision. Galindo has spent the last 16 months at the Columbia County Prison. He was accused of having a young boy and girl engage in sex acts... but one of the kids testified Galindo wasn't present when the alleged acts took place. Galindo's former girlfriend... Christina Allen... faces the same charges. Allen is expected to go on trial early next year.
Luzerne County Budget
Luzerne County Commissioners Tuesday night... postponed voting on the county's proposed $122 – million dollar... no tax hike... budget. The decision was made after several residents complained that they're wasn't enough time to take a look at the proposal. Council relented... saying they'll post the proposal on line.... and meet next Monday to okay the plan.
Luzerne County Bills
Luzerne County officials are having a tough time paying their bills this month. They're trying to come up with $1.4 - million dollars. The county council is at wit's end. They had planned to transfer the money from 911 emergency funds... however... County Controller Walter Griffith said that would be illegal.
New Superintendent
The Southern Columbia School District has a new superintendent. The School board voting this week to hire 51 – year old Paul Caputo to replace out – going super Charles Reh. Caputo is no stranger to Southern... having been the high school principal before moving on to the job of Superintendent at the Upper Dauphin Area School District. He'll begin his new job in February at a salary of $103,000 a year salary... if he's released from his current contract.
Death Penalty
Luzerne County prosecutors will seek the death penalty for one of two brothers charged with killing three people, including a 15-year-old girl, during a botched drug deal. The district attorney's office says it wants 18-year-old Shawn James Hamilton put to death if he's convicted of first-degree murder in the July shooting in Plymouth.
Hazleton Scare
A possible structure fire at a Hazleton turned out to be nothing more than a malfunctioning furnace Monday afternoon. Firemen were called to a double house in the 100 - block of South Laurel when smoke was seen coming from the building. However... it was the furnace producing all the smoke. Fans were used to clear the air... with the owners told to call a furnace technician to take care of the problem.
PSU Board
A state lawmaker is proposing legislation aimed at reforming Penn State's Board of Trustees. The suggested reforms from Rep. Scott Conklin of Centre County include reducing the size of the board by 10 to 22 members and fully extending the state Right-to-Know law to the university. The board has been under scrutiny for more than a year for its handling of the child molestation scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
WHLM Sports
BU Women's Basketball
The Bloomsburg University women's basketball team is ranked 22nd in the nation in the latest USA Today Sports Division 2 Coaches Poll. The Huskies are coming off their first loss of the season to unbeaten Millersville last Saturday. Bloomsburg's next game is next Tuesday at 15th ranked IUP.
Bloomsburg HS Basketball
After three games on the road to start the season, the Bloomsburg High School boys basketball team played their home opener Wednesday night taking on Shamokin at the Bloomsburg Middle School Gymnasium. Bloomsburg won that game 74-54. You can hear all the details with Jim Doyle in the WHLM High School Hoops Report:
Tuesday Results
In boys high school basketball last night Benton defeated Warrior Run 60 to 58. In girls basketball last night Benton scored big over Bucktail Area 75 – 61.
NBA
In the NBA tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers are at home against the Chicago Bulls.
