WHEN THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS BEGIN PLAYING HOCKEY IN THE FALL OF 2014, THEY'LL BE PLAYING INSIDE THE PPL CENTER. PPL C.E.O. BILL SPENCE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH THE 10-YEAR NAMING RIGHTS DEAL. "WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW PPL INVESTS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES," SPENCE SAYS. AS PART OF THE DEAL, PPL GETS ITS NAME AND LOGO WILL BE AT CENTER ICE, ON THE SCOREBOARD, AT EVERY ENTRANCE AND DOZENS OF OTHER LOCATIONS INSIDE THE ARENA, ROAD SIGNS DIRECTING DRIVERS TO THE PPL CENTER AND EVERY PHANTOMS POWER PLAY WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS A "PPL POWER PLAY." THE AMOUNT PPL WILL PAY ISN'T BE REVEALED, BUT SPENCE INDICATES IT'S LESS THAN WHAT PPL PAID FOR NAMING RIGHTS TO THE SOCCER STADIUM IN CHESTER. THAT DEAL IS REPORTEDLY FOR $20 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS.
ALLENTOWN POLICE SAY THEY SHOT AND KILLED A MAN WHO WAS THREATENING OFFICERS WITH A MACHETE. POLICE ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY HIM. OFFICERS HAD RESPONDED TO REPORTS THURSDAY THAT A SUSPICIOUS MAN WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH A MACHETE. LEHIGH COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JIM MARTIN SAYS THE MAN WAS COMBATIVE AND BEGAN THREATENING POLICE OFFICERS WITH THE WEAPON. MARTIN SAYS THE ASSAILANT WAS HIT WITH A STUN GUN, BUT IT APPEARED TO HAVE NO EFFECT. TWO OFFICERS THEN SHOT THE MAN. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL A FEW HOURS LATER. FOUR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, WHICH IS STANDARD PROCEDURE AFTER A POLICE SHOOTING. MARTIN SAYS IT APPEARED TO BE A "JUSTIFIABLE RESPONSE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT." THE SHOOTING HAPPENED JUST BEFORE NOON IN AN ALLEY NEAR 10TH AND CHEW STREETS.
MORE RAPE CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST ALLEGED SERIAL RAPIST DAVID MARTINEZ. THE 20-YEAR-OLD BETHLEHEM MAN IS NOW CHARGED WITH RAPING FIVE WOMEN, ALL OF WHOM APPARENTLY MET HIM VIA FACEBOOK. EARLIER THIS MONTH MARTINEZ WAS CHARGED WITH RAPING TWO GIRLS LAST YEAR. WEDNESDAY, MARTINEZ WAS CHARGED WITH RAPING TWO PREGNANT TEENAGERS, ONE IN 2011 AND THE OTHER LAST JUNE. THURSDAY MORNING, MARTINEZ WAS ARRAIGNED FOR ALLEGEDLY RAPING A 17-YEAR-OLD INSIDE A VAN IN FREEMANSBURG. THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY DA'S OFFICE SAYS IT'S STILL REVIEWING THREE MORE CASES.
GOV. TOM CORBETT IS EXPECTED TO SAY HOW HE'LL RESPOND NOW THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL KATHLEEN KANE HAS REJECTED HIS EFFORT TO HIRE A BRITISH FIRM TO MANAGE THE $3.5 BILLION PENNSYLVANIA LOTTERY. CORBETT HAS SAID HE'D REVEAL HIS NEXT MOVE TODAY, BEFORE THE BID BY LONDON-BASED CAMELOT GLOBAL SERVICES EXPIRES. CAMELOT HASN'T COMMENTED ABOUT ITS PLANS, EITHER. KANE SAID LAST WEEK THAT SHE WOULDN'T APPROVE THE 20- TO 30-YEAR CONTRACT WITH CAMELOT BECAUSE STATE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO PRIVATIZE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LOTTERY NOR DOES IT ALLOW THE EXPANSION OF GAMBLING THAT THE CONTRACT WOULD PERMIT. CORBETT CAN CHALLENGE KANE'S DECISION IN COURT. THE CONTRACT'S LEGALITY IS ALSO BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT BY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AND THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS LOTTERY EMPLOYEES.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COURTS SAYS SUSPENDED STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOAN ORIE MELVIN'S CAMPAIGN CORRUPTION CONVICTION HASN'T IMMEDIATELY IMPACTED HER STATUS. MELVIN REMAINS SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY. SHE STILL FACES ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES BEFORE THE COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE, WHICH HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE HER FROM OFFICE. A SPOKESMAN ISN'T SURE IF THE SUPREME COURT, ITSELF, COULD REMOVE MELVIN FROM OFFICE AND SAYS CHIEF JUSTICE RONALD CASTILLE WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY COMMENTING ON THE VERDICT. MELVIN AND HER SISTER AND AIDE, JANINE ORIE, WERE CONVICTED OF THEFT OF SERVICES AND OTHER CHARGES FOR USING STATE-PAID COURT WORKERS AND SENATE STAFFERS BELONGING TO A THIRD SISTER TO DO POLITICAL WORK ON MELVIN'S 2003 AND 2009 SUPREME COURT CAMPAIGNS.
A THURSDAY NIGHT FIRE HAS GUTTED A HOME IN FORKS TOWNSHIP. IT TOOK FIREFIGHTERS ONLY A HALF HOUR TO CONTROL THE FIRE, BUT THE HOME WAS DESTROYED IN THAT BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. INVESTIGATORS THINK THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE HOME'S GARAGE. NO INJURIES ARE REPORTED.
LESS THAN THREE YEARS AFTER HE ARRIVED AT THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM, ITS C.E.O. IS LEAVING. BROOKS JOYNER'S LAST DAY AT THE MUSEUM IS THURSDAY WHEN HE LEAVES FOR WHAT HE CALLS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HORIZON. THE MUSEUM HAS LAUNCHED A COMMITTEE TO SEARCH FOR JOYNER'S REPLACEMENT.
THE LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL GRENADIER BAND WILL BE SPENDING NEW YEAR'S DAY WHERE IT SPEND NEW YEAR'S DAY IN 2009. THE BAND IS ONE OF 18 CHOSEN TO PERFORM IN THE 125TH ANNUAL ROSE PARADE IN PASADENA CALIFORNIA ON JANUARY 1, 2014. IN ADDITION, THE BAND WILL BE IN ONE OF THE BANDFEST EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 29 AND DECEMBER 30.
PENN STATE OUTLINES IN A NEW COURT FILING WHY IT THINKS A DEFAMATION AND WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT FILED BY A FORMER FOOTBALL ASSISTANT COACH WHO REPORTED JERRY SANDUSKY IN 2001 LACKS MERIT AND SHOULD BE DISMISSED. THE UNIVERSITY ON THURSDAY FILED A 33-PAGE LEGAL MEMO THAT FLESHED OUT ITS RESPONSE TO MIKE MCQUEARY'S CIVIL SUIT OVER HOW HE WAS TREATED AFTER REPORTING THAT HE SAW THE FORMER DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR SHOWER WITH A BOY. THE SCHOOL'S LAWYER SAYS THE ALLEGED DEFAMATION, BASED ON TWO STATEMENTS BY FORMER PRESIDENT GRAHAM SPANIER ABOUT THE CHARGES AGAINST TWO FORMER ADMINSTRATORS, DOESN'T MAKE REFERENCE TO MCQUEARY. PENN STATE ALSO SAYS THE LAWSUIT IS TOO VAGUE TO SUPPORT WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGATIONS. MCQUEARY IS SUING FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, ALLEGING THAT SPANIER MADE HIM A SCAPEGOAT.
TWO CANDIDATES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE SEEKING SPOTS ON PENN STATE UNIVERSITY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES. FORMER PENN STATE TRUSTEE BEN NOVAK AND 2002 PENN STATE GRADUATE RYAN BAGWELL ARE BOTH SEEKING SPOTS ON THE BOARD THIS YEAR. ALUMNI CAN NOMINATE CANDIDATES THROUGH MONDAY. NOVAK IS A 1965 GRADUATE WHO SERVED AS AN ALUMNI-ELECTED TRUSTEE FROM 1998 TO 2010. HE FINISHED SIXTH LAST YEAR IN A RACE THAT SAW 86 CANDIDATES VYING FOR THREE SEATS. HE'S BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF THE UNIVERSITY'S RESPONSE TO THE SEX-ABUSE SCANDAL INVOLVING FORMER ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH JERRY SANDUSKY. BAGWELL RAN LAST YEAR, TOO. HE SAYS HE WANTS TO BRING NEW IDEAS, REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY TO THE BOARD.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE WILL TRY TO OVERRIDE GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE'S GAY MARRIAGE VETO. ASSEMBLYMAN REED GUSCIORA OF TRENTON, ONE OF TWO OPENLY GAY STATE LAWMAKERS, SAYS DEMOCRATS AGREED TO RENEW THE PUSH FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY DURING A MEETING THURSDAY. THE STRATEGY COULD INCLUDE PUTTING THE QUESTION TO VOTERS IN NOVEMBER IF THE VETO OVERRIDE FAILS. THE DEMOCRATIC-LED LEGISLATURE HAS NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OVERRIDING A CHRISTIE VETO. HOWEVER, SENATE PRESIDENT STEPHEN SWEENEY AGREED TO TRY AGAIN. HE'LL NEED 27 SENATORS TO SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE, INCLUDING A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS. THE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED YES VOTES FROM 54 OF ITS 80 MEMBERS. THREE STATES APPROVED GAY MARRIAGE IN BALLOT QUESTIONS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET IN NOVEMBER.
THE NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED 22 BILLS THAT PROPONENTS SAY WILL HELP CURB GUN VIOLENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MASSACRE IN NEWTOWN, CONN. THE BILLS FOCUS ON LIMITING AMMUNITION SALES, IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TIGHTENING REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING GUN PERMITS. THE FIRST BILL APPROVED THURSDAY BARS PEOPLE ON THE FEDERAL ANTI-TERRORISM WATCH LIST FROM BUYING A GUN. THE VOTE WAS 63-3 WITH 10 ABSTENTIONS. REPUBLICAN MICHAEL PATRICK CARROLL OBJECTED BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN BE PUT ON THE WATCH LIST MISTAKENLY, AND SUCH ERRORS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO CORRECT. NEW JERSEY'S GUN LAWS ARE ALREADY AMONG THE TOUGHEST IN THE NATION. THE SENATE HAS INTRODUCED SEVERAL SIMILAR MEASURES, BUT NO HEARINGS HAVE BEEN HELD. GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE HAS NOT STATED A POSITION ON THE BILLS.
A NEW JERSEY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HAS PUSHED FORWARD A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL NEW JERSEY STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE TO GET AT LEAST 20 MINUTES OF RECESS EACH DAY. UNDER THE BILL, RECESS COULD NOT BE DENIED AS PUNISHMENT. THE MEASURE WAS SUPPORTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE STATE SENATE'S EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY. IT NOW MOVES TO A VOTE OF THE FULL SENATE. NO ASSEMBLY VERSION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. SEN. SHIRLEY TURNER HAS INTRODUCED A SIMILAR BILL FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE TERMS. SHE CITES STUDIES THAT HAVE FOUND STUDENTS DO BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE RECESS AND ALSO SAYS THAT PLAYTIME CAN HELP COMBAT OBESITY. SOME SCHOOLS HAVE ELIMINATED RECESS TO FOCUS ON MEETING ACADEMIC STANDARDS.
FLYERS CENTER MATT READ WILL MISS SIX WEEKS BECAUSE OF TORN RIB CAGE MUSCLES. PHILADELPHIA GENERAL MANAGER PAUL HOLMGREN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THURSDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE FLYERS FACED FLORIDA. READ WAS INJURED ON A HIT BY CHRIS KUNITZ IN THE FIRST PERIOD OF PHILADELPHIA'S 6-5 WIN AT PITTSBURGH ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. READ LEADS THE FLYERS WITH SEVEN GOALS, AND HIS 13 POINTS ARE THIRD BEHIND CAPTAIN CLAUDE GIROUX AND BRAYDEN SCHENN.
