THE APPEAL OF EX-PENN STATE ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH JERRY SANDUSKY IS BASED ON HIS ATTORNEYS NOT HAVING ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE FOR HIS MOLESTATION TRIAL. PROSECUTOR FRANK FINA ISN'T BUYING THE ARGUMENT. "ANYBODY CAN GO THROUGH A BOX OF INFORMATION ADEQUATELY AND PREPARE FOR TRIAL AND AS YOU SAW MR. AMENDOLA DID THAT AND DID A GOOD, EFFECTIVE JOB," FINA SAYS OF SANDUSKY'S ATTORNEY. A JUDGE HEARD ARGUMENTS FROM SANDUSKY'S ATTORNEYS ON THURSDAY BUT DIDN'T ISSUE A RULING. SANDUSKY IS SERVING A 30- TO 60-YEAR STATE PRISON SENTENCE AFTER BEING CONVICTED IN JUNE OF 45 COUNTS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. THE 68-YEAR-OLD SANDUSKY MAINTAINS HE IS INNOCENT.
PENNSYLVANIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL-ELECT SAYS SHE'LL APPOINT A SPECIAL DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CARRY OUT THE PROBE SHE PROMISED INTO THE STATE INVESTIGATION THAT TRIGGERED THE JERRY SANDUSKY CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL. KATHLEEN KANE SAID THE STILL-TO-BE-NAMED DEPUTY WILL WORK WITH AN INVESTIGATOR AND REPORT DIRECTLY TO HER. KANE, THE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO BE ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL, SAYS SHE WANTS THE PUBLIC TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. KANE, WHO IS TO BE SWORN IN TUESDAY, CAMPAIGNED ON A PLEDGE TO INVESTIGATE THE HANDLING OF THE NEARLY THREE-YEAR PROBE THAT RESULTED IN SANDUSKY'S ARREST, CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT.
ALLENTOWN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT RUSS MAYO SAYS THE 16-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON INSIDE ALLEN HIGH MORE THAN AN HOUR AFTER SECURITY OFFICERS BEGAN LOOKING FOR HIM. THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE STUDENT WAS COOPERATIVE AND SHOWED OFFICERS THE GUN IN THE WAISTBAND OF HIS PANTS. MAYO TELLS THE MORNING CALL PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS AT THE SCHOOL WEREN'T TOLD OF THE GUN'S DISCOVERY UNTIL THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE SECURITY OFFICERS HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE STUDENT WAS ARMED AND THERE WAS NO IMMINENT CRISIS AFTER THE GUN WAS DISCOVERED AND THE TEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE DENT HOPES VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S GUNS TASK FORCE TAKES A LONG LOOK AT VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT AND SCHOOL SECURITY. HE SAYS A BIGGER ISSUE ALSO HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. "WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO COMMIT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ACTING OUT OR DEMONSTRATING VERY ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OR AT THE VERY LEAST THEY REPRESENT A THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND IN SOME CASES TO OTHERS," DENT SAYS. HE SAYS IF YOU LOOK AT MOST MASS KILLINGS, YOU'LL FIND A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE KILLER.
THE LEHIGH COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED A WOMAN, WHOSE BURNING BODY WAS FOUND IN SALISBURY TOWNSHIP DECEMBER 27. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF TESTING, LEHIGH COUNTY CORONER SCOTT GRIM SAYS THE BURNING BODY FOUND ALONG CHESTNUT HILL ROAD IN SALISBURY TOWNSHIP IS THAT OF 26-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER VELEZ-NEGRON, OF READING. HER BODY WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION AND COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED UNTIL DNA TEST RESULTS CAME BACK THURSDAY MORNING. HER DEATH HAS BEEN RULED A HOMICIDE. NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
A TEENAGER HAS ADMITTED TO ROBBING A GAS STATION AT GUNPOINT FOR MONEY SO HE COULD BUY HIS MOM A GIFT. 18-YEAR-OLD CAMERON CHRISTIAN BLAKE OF BETHLEHEM PLEADED GUILTY TO FELONY ROBBERY THURSDAY IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY COURT. THE CHARGE CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 20 YEARS IN PRISON. POLICE SAID AT AROUND 3 A.M. ON JULY 8, BLAKE POINTED A GUN AT A GAS STATION EMPLOYEE, WHO HANDED OVER A CASH DRAWER. BLAKE TOLD POLICE HE GOT $130 AND SPENT $82 ON A KINDLE FIRE READING TABLET FOR HIS MOM AND THE REST ON MARIJUANA. HE ALSO TOLD POLICE THE GUN WAS A BB GUN. HE IS BEING SENTENCED JANUARY 25 FOR THAT AND ANOTHER ARMED ROBBERY IN SEPTEMBER.
POLICE SAY A MAN DROPPED A SMALL PLASTIC BAG OF COCAINE IN THE SANDS CASINO RESORT BETHLEHEM AND TOLD POLICE WHO CONFRONTED HIM THAT HE HADN'T SLEPT IN A WEEK. 38-YEAR-OLD MIGUEL RIOS OF WIND GAP FACES DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES. INVESTIGATORS SAY A SMALL BAG OF COCAINE WAS FOUND THURSDAY OUTSIDE A RESTROOM ON THE GAMBLING FLOOR. THEY SAY OFFICERS TRACKED RIOS THROUGH SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE AND APPROACHED HIM NEAR A BLACKJACK TABLE. WHEN POLICE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES, THEY SAY RIOS HANDED OVER ANOTHER BAG CONTAINING SIX SMALL PLASTIC BAGS OF COCAINE AND TOLD THEM HE HADN'T SLEPT IN MORE THAN A WEEK. RIOS WAS SENT TO NORTHAMPTON COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF $5,000 BAIL.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS SIGNED A DISASTER DECLARATION MAKING FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE IN 16 COUNTIES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE SANDY FROM OCTOBER 26 THROUGH NOVEMBER 8. THE DECREE MEANS FEDERAL FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SOME PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR EMERGENCY WORK AND REPAIRING OR REPLACING FACILITIES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY THE STORM. AMONG THE COUNTIES AFFECTED ARE BUCKS, MONROE AND NORTHAMPTON. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SAYS MORE DISASTER RELIEF COULD BE APPROVED IN THE FUTURE IF ONGOING DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS SHOW IT'S NEEDED.
GOV. TOM CORBETT HAS SIGNED DEATH WARRANTS FOR THREE MORE CONVICTED MURDERERS ON DEATH ROW IN PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH LAST EXECUTED SOMEONE IN 1999. CORBETT'S OFFICE SAYS HE SIGNED WARRANTS THURSDAY FOR 54-YEAR-OLD ORLANDO MAISONET, 24-YEAR-OLD ABRAHAM SANCHEZ JR. AND 55-YEAR-OLD FREEMAN MAY, ALL INCARCERATED AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT GREENE. MAISONET'S EXECUTION IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 6. SANCHEZ'S EXECUTION IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 7. MAY'S EXECUTION IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 5.
GOV. TOM CORBETT HAS ANOTHER DAY TO CONSIDER A BID BY THE BRITISH NATIONAL LOTTERY OPERATOR TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT THE $3.5 BILLION PENNSYLVANIA LOTTERY FROM STATE EMPLOYEES. THURSDAY'S 24-HOUR EXTENSION CAME AFTER CAMELOT GLOBAL SERVICES AGREED TO A PRIOR 10-DAY EXTENSION. THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE TO DECIDE ON CAMELOT'S BID HAD BEEN DECEMBER 31. CORBETT ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS REMAIN SUPPORTIVE OF CAMELOT'S BID AND SAY TALKS ON A LONGER EXTENSION WILL CONTINUE TODAY. CAMELOT'S PLEDGING $34 BILLION IN LOTTERY PROFITS OVER 20 YEARS, WITH EXTENSIONS OF UP TO 10 YEARS POSSIBLE CERTAIN PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS ARE MET. UNIONIZED STATE LOTTERY EMPLOYEES HAVE OFFERED A COUNTERPROPOSAL TO KEEP THE MANAGEMENT IN-HOUSE AND ARE SUING TO BLOCK ANY AGREEMENT WITH CAMELOT. THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS SCHEDULED A MONDAY HEARING ON THE MATTER.
IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE TO VISIT THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW AND IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE TO GET A FLU SHOT WHILE DOING SO. "BE SURE TO VISIT THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S BOOTH AT THE FARM SHOW FOR YOUR FREE FLU SHOT," SAYS HEALTH SECRETARY MICHAEL WOLF. FLU SHOTS ARE BEING OFFERED FROM 8:30 TO 4:30 THROUGH FRIDAY AND FROM 8:30 TO 2:30 ON SATURDAY.
ELECTRIC COMPANIES TOLD STATE UTILITY REGULATORS THAT SOCIAL MEDIA PROVED THEIR WORTH DURING THE POWER OUTAGES CAUSED BY SUPERSTORM SANDY. OFFICIALS FROM FIVE UTILITIES WHOSE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS WERE AFFECTED BY SANDY MADE PRESENTATIONS THURSDAY DURING A STATE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION FORUM. PUC CHAIRMAN ROBERT POWELSON SAYS THE SANDY OUTAGES MARKED THE FIRST TIME A MAJORITY OF UTILITIES USED TWITTER AND FACEBOOK TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH CUSTOMERS. BUT HE CALLED THE TREND "A WORK IN PROGRESS" THAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS REJECTING A REQUEST FROM SUSPENDED FELLOW JUSTICE JOAN ORIE MELVIN TO HALT HER PROSECUTION ON CAMPAIGN CORRUPTION CHARGES. THE COURT ISSUED AN ORDER THURSDAY DENYING MELVIN'S PETITION WITHOUT COMMENT. IT SAID JUSTICE MAX BAER ABSTAINED FROM THE DECISION. LAWYERS IN THE CASE ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN PICKING A JURY FOR MELVIN'S TRIAL JANUARY 23. MELVIN HAD ARGUED THAT THE PROSECUTION VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTIONAL SEPARATION OF POWERS. MELVIN WAS CHARGED IN MAY WITH USING HER FORMER SUPERIOR COURT STAFFERS TO ILLEGALLY CAMPAIGN FOR A SEAT ON THE HIGH COURT IN 2003 AND 2009.
REVENUE AT ATLANTIC CITY'S CASINOS FELL 8 PERCENT IN 2012, TO JUST OVER $3 BILLION. IT WAS THE SIXTH STRAIGHT ANNUAL DECLINE. THE ALL-TIME HIGH FOR ATLANTIC CITY CAME IN 2006, WHEN THE CASINOS RAKED IN $5.2 BILLION. DECEMBER REVENUE FIGURES SHOWED A SLOW REBOUND FROM SUPERSTORM SANDY. THE CASINOS WON $223.5 MILLION FOR THE MONTH, A DECLINE OF NEARLY 9 PERCENT FROM DECEMBER 2011. BUT IT WAS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT FROM NOVEMBER, WHICH SAW THE BIGGEST MONTHLY DECLINE EVER.
SEVEN DOWN. WHO'S NEXT? LOVIE SMITH INTERVIEWED WITH THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES ON THURSDAY AS THE TEAM CONTINUED ITS SEARCH TO REPLACE ANDY REID, WHO WAS FIRED AFTER A 4-12 FINISH. SMITH IS THE SEVENTH CANDIDATE TO MEET WITH OWNER JEFFREY LURIE, GENERAL MANAGER HOWIE ROSEMAN AND PRESIDENT DON SMOLENSKI. THE EAGLES HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED WHO THEY PLAN TO INTERVIEW NEXT, BUT THEY RECEIVED PERMISSION TO SPEAK TO THREE ASSISTANT COACHES. INDIANAPOLIS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRUCE ARIANS, SEATTLE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GUS BRADLEY AND CINCINNATI OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAY GRUDEN ARE ON THE LIST.
