UGI HAS AGREED TO PAY $386,000 AND SPEED UP REPLACEMENT OF CAST IRON PIPELINES AS PART OF A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT WITH STATE REGULATORS OVER THE GAS EXPLOSION IN ALLENTOWN THAT KILLED FIVE PEOPLE LAST YEAR. THE SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL FILED WEDNESDAY WOULD REQUIRE UGI UTILITIES TO REPLACE LINES SUCH AS THE ONE IMPLICATED IN THE FEBRUARY 2011 BLAST WITHIN 14 YEARS, RATHER THAN THE 20-YEAR TIMELINE TO WHICH THE COMPANY AGREED IN MAY. UGI HAS ALSO AGREED TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS IT USES TO INFUSE GAS WITH AN ODOR THAT HELPS CUSTOMERS DETECT LEAKS. THE PROPOSAL NOW GOES TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE WHO WILL ACCEPT COMMENT, AND THEN TO THE STATE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION FOR A FINAL DECISION.
AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A PAIR OF TRACTOR TRAILERS HAVE LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD IN LEHIGH COUNTY. THE CRASH HAPPENED JUST AFTER 6AM ON RUPPSVILLE ROAD IN UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP. THE LEHIGH COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE FOR AT LEAST ONE FATALITY. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED A DIESEL FUEL SPILL AS WELL.
JUST BECAUSE OPPONENTS OF PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW VOTER ID LAW WON A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION IN COURT DOESN'T MEAN THE ISSUE OR THE COURT CASE IS GOING AWAY. MEMBERS OF THE WIDE-RANGING VOTER ID COALITION SAID WEDNESDAY THEY WILL WORK TO EDUCATE PEOPLE THAT PHOTO ID WON'T BE REQUIRED IN THE NOV. 6 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAYS THE HEATED DEBATE HAS SPAWNED THOUSANDS OF NEW VOLUNTEERS WHO ALSO WILL BE EDUCATING VOTERS ABOUT WHAT'S REQUIRED. IF SHOWING AN ID BECOMES MANDATORY IN FUTURE ELECTIONS, VOTER ID COALITION MEMBERS SAY THEY'LL PROBABLY WORK FOR A COUPLE YEARS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.
ATTORNEY DAVID GERSCH ARGUED AGAINST THE STATE'S VOTER ID LAW AND SAYS EVENTHOUGH ID WON'T BE NEEDED TO VOTE NEXT MONTH, THE ISSUE HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY PUT TO REST. "THIS RULING SIMPLY HOLDS THAT PEOPLE CAN VOTE IN NOVEMBER WITHOUT HAVING ID," GERSCH SAYS. HE SAYS THE RULING SAYS NOTHING TO THE ISSUE OF THE LAW'S CONSTITUTIONALITY. OPPONENTS OF THE LAW WILL LIKELY PERSUE THAT ISSUE NEXT YEAR.
THE SALISBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. THE SCHOOL BOARD THERE HAS UNANIMOUSLY CHOSEN 42-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL ROTH AS THE DISTRICT'S NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. ROTH, WHO IS CURRENTLY AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT IN THE NAZARETH SCHOOL DISTRICT, HAS AGREED TO A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $135,000. HIS FIRST DAY ON HIS NEW JOB IS NOVEMBER 1.
A BANGOR WOMAN IS DEAD IN A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ACCIDENT IN PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY CORONER ZACHARY LYSEK SAYS 59-YEAR-OLD BEVERLY SEIPLE WAS KILLED IN THE TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 2 O'CLOCK ON ROUTE 191. IT APPEARS SEIPLE'S VEHICLE CROSSED OVER INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND SLAMMED HEAD-ON INTO A PICKUP TRUCK.
A WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIRE SEVERELY DAMAGED AN ALLENTOWN APARTMENT HOUSE. INVESTIGATORS THINK THE FIRE BEGAN JUST BEFORE 7 O'CLOCK IN THE KITCHEN OF THE HOUSE AT 1913 HANOVER AVENUE IN EAST ALLENTOWN. THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING WAS GUTTED AND THE SECOND FLOOR WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. NOBODY WAS INJURED.
TWO FORMER NCAA PRESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN ISSUE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S HANDLING OF THE UNPRECEDENTED SANCTIONS LEVIED ON PENN STATE FOR THE JERRY SANDUSKY CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL. GENE CORRIGAN AND CEDRIC DEMPSEY ATTENDED A PANEL DISCUSSION WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON THE FUTURE OF THE NCAA SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY'S SPORTS JOURNALISM CENTER. CORRIGAN SYMPATHIZED WITH AN AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 350 PENN STATE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT A DOWNTOWN THEATER. HE SAID HE WAS UPSET FOR THE PENN STATE COMMUNITY, AND THAT HE FELT THEY GOT "HIT IN THE HEAD AWFULLY HARD." DEMPSEY SAID HE THOUGHT THE NCAA ACTED TOO QUICKLY, AND THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED THE SANCTIONS IF HE WERE REPRESENTING PENN STATE. THE PENALTIES INCLUDE A FOUR-YEAR BOWL BAN AND STEEP FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP CUTS.
A DEMOCRATIC-LED EFFORT TO DEBATE WHETHER TO HAVE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES LOOK INTO HOW THE JERRY SANDUSKY INVESTIGATION WAS HANDLED IS TYING UP THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPUBLICAN SPEAKER SAM SMITH ABRUPTLY ADJOURNED THE CHAMBER WEDNESDAY AFTER DEMOCRATS TRIED TO FORCE DISCUSSION OF A RESOLUTION ASKING THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE SO-CALLED DISCHARGE RESOLUTION WHEN THE HOUSE RESUMES SESSION. THE INVESTIGATION WAS BEGUN BY THE UNDER THEN-ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT, WHO'S NOW PENNSYLVANIA'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR. HIS SPOKESMAN KEVIN HARLEY SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE PLAYING POLITICS AND THEIR EFFORT TO BRING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL REVICTIMIZE SANDUSKY'S VICTIMS. SANDUSKY IS SCHEDULED FOR SENTENCING NEXT WEEK ON 45 COUNTS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
PENNSYLVANIA'S TOP COURT HAS DENIED PROSECUTORS' EMERGENCY PETITION IN A DEATH PENALTY APPEAL, AND AN INMATE WHO HAS BEEN ON DEATH ROW FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES HAS NOT BEEN EXECUTED. THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS ASKED FOR MORE BRIEFINGS IN THE CASE OF TERRANCE "TERRY" WILLIAMS OF PHILADELPHIA, WHO COULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT. PHILADELPHIA JUDGE M. TERESA SARMINA RULED LATE LAST WEEK THAT PROSECUTORS WITHHELD EVIDENCE AT WILLIAMS' 1986 TRIAL, INCLUDING EVIDENCE THAT A VICTIM WAS MOLESTING BOYS. SHE TOSSED OUT WILLIAMS' DEATH SENTENCE BUT UPHELD HIS FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION. WILLIAMS NOW CONTENDS BOTH OF HIS VICTIMS HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSING HIM. THE 46-YEAR-OLD WILLIAMS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PERSON EXECUTED IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 50 YEARS WHO HAD NOT GIVEN UP HIS APPEALS.
A JURY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THAT COULD IMPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY ON A MAN WHO KILLED A STATE GAME WARDEN WILL CONTINUE HEARING TESTIMONY IN THE CASE. THE SENTENCING PHASE OF THE TRIAL FOR 29-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE TODAY IN GETTYSBURG. HE COULD BE EXECUTED OR SPEND LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE. JOHNSON WAS CONVICTED EARLIER THIS WEEK OF FATALLY SHOOTING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICER DAVID GROVE DURING A POACHING INVESTIGATION.
CERTAIN EMPLOYERS THAT HIRE NEW WORKERS IN PENNSYLVANIA WOULD GET TO KEEP 95 PERCENT OF THE STATE INCOME TAX WITHHELD FROM THE WORKERS' PAYCHECKS UNDER A BILL MOVING QUICKLY THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE BILL SPONSORED BY REPUBLICAN REP. KERRY BENNINGHOFF WAS AWAITING FINAL ACTION IN THE CHAMBER WEDNESDAY. IT WAS DESIGNED AS AN INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT COMPANIES FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE BEFORE IT WAS AMENDED TO INCLUDE IN-STATE COMPANIES. PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS WOULD GIVE THE STATE ONLY 5 PERCENT OF THE INCOME-TAX PAYMENTS FOR FIVE TO 10 YEARS DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF THE JOBS. THE PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER, A LIBERAL THINK TANK, IS URGING LAWMAKERS TO REJECT THE BILL BECAUSE IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE AND WOULD DUPLICATE EXISTING JOB-CREATION TAX CREDITS.
CANDY MAKER HERSHEY IS VOWING TO USE ONLY CERTIFIED COCOA FOR ALL OF ITS CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS BY 2020 AND ACCELERATE PROGRAMS TO HELP ELIMINATE CHILD LABOR IN THE COCOA-PRODUCING REGIONS OF WEST AFRICA. THE COMPANY HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM ACTIVISTS WHO SAID IT WAS THE ONLY MAJOR CHOCOLATE PRODUCER IN THE WORLD THAT HADN'T MADE A COMMITMENT TO USE CERTIFIED COCOA. THE CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY SAID WEDNESDAY ITS PLAN TO USE CERTIFIED COCOA, WHICH IS PRODUCED ACCORDING TO CERTAIN SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, SHOULD "SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND" ITS GLOBAL SUPPLY, ESPECIALLY FROM WEST AFRICA, WHICH PRODUCES ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S COCOA.
THE STATE CAPITOL'S WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN HAS BEEN TURNED PINK IN A CEREMONY THAT INCLUDED FIRST LADY SUSAN CORBETT. SHE WANTS THE COLOR CHANGE TO MAKE MEN AND WOMEN THINK. "WHEN THEY WALK PAST THE PINK FOUNTAIN I HOPE THEY THINK OF THEIR MOTHERS, THEIR SISTERS, THEIR DAUGHTERS, THEIR WIVES AND FRIENDS AND ASK THEM IF THEY'VE HAD THEIR ANNUAL MAMMOGRAM. IT'S A REMINDER THAT THIS IS AN ILLNESS THAT WE CAN FIGHT," MRS. CORBETT SAYS. OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
PENN STATE WON'T INCREASE FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET PRICES OR CURRENT DONATION LEVELS IN 2013, AND ANNOUNCED TWEAKS TO GUIDELINES INCLUDING A LOWER, $200 LEVEL OF GIVING FOR BOOSTER-CLUB MEMBERS. ATTENDANCE IS DOWN ABOUT 10 PERCENT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. IT'S ALSO UNCLEAR WHAT IMPACT THE JERRY SANDUSKY CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL MAY HAVE HAD ON ATTENDANCE.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER FINISHING WITH A .500 RECORD, THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES FIRED FIRST BASE COACH SAM PERLOZZO, BENCH COACH PETE MACKANIN AND HITTING COACH GREG GROSS. PERLOZZO, FORMER MANAGER OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES, JOINED THE PHILLIES AS THEIR THIRD BASE COACH FOR THE 2009 SEASON. HE MOVED TO FIRST BASE IN 2011. GROSS WAS PHILADELPHIA'S BENCH COACH IN 2001, THEN HITTING COACH FROM 2002-04 AND FROM JULY 2010 UNTIL WEDNESDAY. MACKANIN JOINED THE PHILLIES IN 2009.
