The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

State News

June 26, 2012

Evening News Brief | Detroit Lions' Aaron Berry faces DUI charge in Pa.

HARRISBURG — Police in Harrisburg, Pa., say Detroit Lions cornerback Aaron Berry faces DUI and other charges stemming from a weekend accident in his hometown.

Authorities say the 24-year-old, who played college ball at the University of Pittsburgh, was arrested around 4 a.m. Saturday after driving his vehicle into parked cars and attempting to flee. Police say he was arrested a short distance away. No one was hurt.

Police say he faces suspicion of DUI, failure to stop and render aid and other counts. They're all misdemeanors.

The team says it's disappointed in reports of Berry's arrest, saying it's "not the standard of behavior we expect." Berry says in a statement that he offered a "sincere apology."

Berry played in 11 games last season, starting three. He had 26 tackles.

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Pa. Legislature hurtles toward Saturday deadline

HARRISBURG —Lawmakers and staff in Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled state Legislature are scrambling to finish writing a host of budget- and education-related bills to get them to Gov. Tom Corbett before the new fiscal year starts Sunday.

The Senate Republicans made final details of Republicans' $27.7 billion spending plan public Tuesday.

Spending for health care, pensions and debt is rising, while lawmakers want to eliminate a program that provides $200 a month to adults who are disabled and can't work. Public schools would see a little more money, universities would see the same amount and tuition grants to students would shrink.

House Approprations Committee Chairman Bill Adolph says a House vote could happen Wednesday. After that, Senate passage would be necessary.

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Pa. takeover of troubled capital gets 2nd lawsuit

HARRISBURG — Officials from Pennsylvania's financially troubled capital are suing over an unprecedented state takeover of the city after a separate legal challenge by three city residents was thrown out.

Members of the Harrisburg City Council, Controller Dan Miller and Treasurer John Campbell said Tuesday that they filed the suit in federal court.

They say the eight-month-old law that unleashed the takeover is unconstitutional because it violates equal protection guarantees that Harrisburg should be treated like Pennsylvania's other financially troubled municipalities.

They also say the Legislature improperly delegated its lawmaking ability to the governor, in violation of the state constitution. Gov. Tom Corbett has maintained that he believes the law will withstand court scrutiny.

Judge John Jones threw out the previous suit, saying only the city has standing to challenge the law.

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Second Mile headquarters building for sale

STATE COLLEGE — The building that houses the offices for the charity founded by convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky is up for sale.

An online listing for The Second Mile's two-story office building showed a selling price of $750,000. A large "For Sale" sign could be seen Tuesday that completely covered the sign for the charity once visible on a busy street in State College.

A jury last week found Sandusky guilty of 45 counts in his child sex abuse trial. Prosecutors said the retired Penn State assistant football coach met the eight accusers who testified at his trial through The Second Mile.

The charity was once lauded for its efforts in helping at-risk youth, now it's waiting for court approval to formally transfer many programs to Arrow Child & Family Ministries Inc.

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Paper: Transfer of Second Mile assets challenged

STATE COLLEGE — A newspaper reports that attorneys for three alleged abuse victims are asking a central Pennsylvania judge not to allow the charity founded by convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky to transfer millions of dollars to a Texas organization.

The Second Mile, once lauded for efforts to help at-risk youth, is now seeking court approval to formally transfer many programs to Arrow Child & Family Ministries Inc.

Sandusky was convicted last week of 45 counts in his child sex abuse trial. Prosecutors said the retired Penn State assistant football coach met the eight accusers who testified through The Second Mile.

The Centre Daily Times says the attorneys argue that the court's first priority should be to preserve the charity's assets so it can pay "current and future liabilities."

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Pittsburgh-area man to prison in triple-fatality

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh-area man will spend 2½ to 6 years in state prison for a crash that killed three of his friends on Interstate 376.

Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning sentenced 21-year-old Ryan Safka, of Upper St. Clair, on Tuesday. He had previously convicted Safka of 11 charges, including involuntary manslaughter and homicide by vehicle stemming from the accident on Feb. 21, 2010.

The judge relied on the car's electronic data recorder which showed Safka's car was traveling 106 mph five seconds before the air bags deployed.

The crash killed 20-year-old Derek Phillips, of Bethel Park, 20-year-old David Rizzo Jr. and 18-year-old Tara Schulz, both of Upper St. Clair, after the car went airborne over an embankment.

Safka's attorneys argued the speed was overestimated because the data recorder clocked the tires spinning freely in the air, not on the pavement.

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Officials ID airman presumed drowned at Lake Mead

LAS VEGAS — Authorities are identifying a 28-year-old U.S. Air Force member from Philadelphia they believe drowned during the weekend at Lake Mead near Las Vegas.

Creech Air Force Base officials said Tuesday that a memorial is planned Friday for Staff Sgt. Antonio Tucker at the air base in Indian Springs, about 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Tucker worked as a drone crew chief for the 432d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

He disappeared Saturday after diving from a rented boat in the Boulder Basin area.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area officials say a woman and a toddler were aboard the 21-foot boat, and the woman summoned rescuers after Tucker disappeared.

Officials say he wasn't wearing a life vest.

 

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