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Those who deal with criminals each day hope gun control works

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There are those who agree with the President and others who say his appeals are a long shot. Many feel that President Obama will have a tough time enforcing the stricter gun laws.

"This one came from a drug dealer, this one came from a kid in school"

The Franklin County Prosecutor's Gun Unit focuses on those who have and use guns illegally.
After a handful of years, the unit is up to four prosecutors and a whole lot more cases.

"We have between 700 and 800 cases a year and the local federal prosecutor has about 25 cases a year,” explained Ron O’Brien, Franklin County, Ohio Prosecutor.

O'Brien's team focuses on people who have guns that shouldn't where they shouldn't. He sees room for improvement when it comes to making sure those people don't get those guns in the first place, and that is where the federal government comes in.

“I think it's good if someone going in a gun store, tries to purchase again and is ineligible if the feds are going to prosecute them to deter them from doing that, that's a good thing,” cited Ohio State Professor Charles Smith.

The President wants to require background checks for all gun sales.

The White House will direct the Attorney General to find ways to ensure dangerous gun buyers and sellers aren't slipping through the cracks.

Charles Smith studies guns and politics at Ohio State University. He thinks enforcement comes down to the people and money to do it.

"Who's going to do the investigation to see that law is enforced?” Smith questioned. “Is it going to come down to what available resources the states have?"


New, just approved flu vaccine represents landmark in flu vaccine technology

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Information provided by HHS:

Our nation has reached a landmark in influenza vaccine history with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a new seasonal flu vaccine, called Flublok, made with novel technology. This method uses recombinant DNA and a modified baculovirus (a virus that infects insects) to produce a safe and effective human flu vaccine.

The approval Wednesday of the new vaccine produced with this modern technology stands as one of the most significant improvements in flu vaccine technology in the past 50 years. I am honored that such a remarkable advancement came through a public-private partnership between ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and Protein Sciences Corporation.

Since its inception in 2006, BARDA has worked steadily with private industry to advance influenza vaccine technology and develop flu vaccines with these modern technologies that are FDA approved, ultimately providing more domestic pandemic vaccine capacity. As part of these national pandemic preparedness efforts, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases supported early stage development of this vaccine and in 2009, when the vaccine reached an advanced development stage, BARDA began a partnership with Protein Sciences Corporation to reach the results we are seeing today: a new flu vaccine made with modern technology.

Demand for influenza vaccine can increase with little warning in a pandemic and in years when the flu is especially widespread. The method used to manufacture Flublok may help meet the increased demand for flu vaccine quickly because it has the potential for faster start-up of the manufacturing process than traditional egg-based vaccine methods.

The process is nimble enough to be used for seasonal as well as potentially for pandemic flu vaccine because the technology does not depend on an egg supply or on the availability of modified influenza virus for production like traditional egg-based vaccine manufacturing does.

This new way of making flu vaccine is an example of the Obama administration partnering with industry to move innovative technology forward to the market. Our goal in ASPR is to drive innovative development of effective and cost-efficient vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and medical equipment to protect public health during emergencies. Many of these innovations also hold potential day-to-day uses, as is often the case with seasonal and pandemic flu technology.





Man charged for murder of Hess Express clerk robbed home a few weeks before

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Fairview Township Police have charged one of the suspects in the Hess Express murder with more criminal charges.

Shante Rice, who was described as a ‘career criminal’ was charged for breaking into a home on October 31. Along with several other people, Rice entered a home and got in an argument with the homeowners.

Following the argument, an item was removed from the home.

It was not until after Rice was arrested at a later date, likely for his role in the murder of Linda Ness, that he admitted to his role in the robbery.

Rice has been charged with robbery, burglary and theft.

Car pulls up; man steals 3-foot tall Uncle Sam, Army and Air Force soldier statues

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On Wednesday around 6 a.m., a loud car entered a parking lot of a business in Paradise Township, York County.

The owner looked outside and saw a white male loading a three foot wooden ‘Uncle Sam’ statue into a dark-colored, older Honda or Toyota sedan.

The vehicle exited the lot and traveled westbound on Lincoln Highway.

Moments later, the car returned and the same man exited the vehicle and stole a three-foot tall wooden Army soldier and a three-foot tall Air Force statue.

The suspect is approximately 5 foot 10 and was wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt and jeans.

The investigation into these thefts continues and anyone with information is asked to call Northern York County Regional Police Department at 717-292-3647.

Lance Armstrong comes clean to Oprah, local biking expert says it doesn't matter

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Lance Armstrong joined Oprah to come clean about drug use during his cycling career.

The 7-time Tour de France champion and Olympic bronze medal winner admitted that he did use performance-enhancing drugs.

He told Oprah that it's part of the sport and that almost everyone does it.

Thursday night, Lance Armstrong finally admitted to what he has been denying for his whole career.

Armstrong told Oprah that he used drugs and that he lied not just to the cycling community and his sponsors, but to all of his fans.

When asked by Oprah if he used drugs during his cycling career, Armstrong simply said yes.

“Did you ever take banned substances to enhance your performance?” Winfrey questioned.

“Yes," Armstrong replied.

In an exclusive interview, Armstrong revealed to Oprah that he used banned substances during his cycling career.

"I view this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times, and as you said, it's not as if I just said no and I moved off of it," commented Armstrong.

The seven-time Tour de France winner admitted that he used blood transfusions, testosterone, and EPO in route to win his titles.

"I made my decisions, I made my mistake, and I'm sitting here today to acknowledge that and to say I'm sorry for that," Armstrong confessed.

In Central PA, some bicyclists say this interview doesn't surprise them.

"After what we went through with Floyd Landis almost seven years ago now, nothing surprises me anymore," Michael Farrington, owner of Green Mountain Cyclery told us.

Farrington sold Floyd Landis, who went on to win a Tour de France before being stripped of his win, his first mountain bike and he says that all this controversy won't change a thing in the biking world.

"Everybody is so used to drugs in sports, nobody cares anymore to be honest with you,” Farrington admitted. “I mean, people are going to go ride, they're going to have a great time. Those who want to compete are going to compete, those who ride for fun are going to ride for fun. Really, this doesn't change anything."

Armstrong described his cycling career as a fairy tale that he was hoping wouldn't come to an end.

"This story was so perfect for so long, and I mean that as I try to take myself out of this situation,” Armstrong told the world Thursday night. “You come out of the disease, you win the Tour de France seven times. It's just the perfect story.”

The perfect story that no longer exists after Armstrong’s admission Thursday night.


Family time: Bears enjoy first skate at Hersheypark Stadium

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HERSHEY -- The Hershey Bears got their first taste of the outdoor ice at Hersheypark Stadium on Thursday.

Sharing it with family members made it even more memorable.

"It almost gives you a sense of 'Field of Dreams' when you see the lights on," noticed Hershey head coach Mark French, who's little boy loved the opportunity to skate around the rink.

"You know something special is happening."

The Bears will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Capital BlueCross AHL Outdoor Classic. An alumni game will take place on Saturday.

"Around the community, just the buzz and the excitement; it gets you that much more excited as a player for it," said defenseman Steven Oleksy.

The Bears and their family members spent about two hours on the outdoor rink.



Police: Man threw woman on subway tracks in Philly

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Transit police in Philadelphia have arrested a man who allegedly threw a woman on the subway tracks at a station in the city's Chinatown neighborhood.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority police say they attack happened around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when the man approached the woman on the subway platform and asked for a light. Surveillance video shows the suspect then moved closer and began beating her.

Authorities say the man then grabbed the woman by her ankles and threw here onto the tracks before walking away with her phone.

SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestell says the woman was able to climb off the tracks and suffered only bumps and bruises.

Police say they arrested the man around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, identifying him by his unique jacket. His name hasn't been released.

 

©2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Dillsburg man charged in sex proposition of 17-year-old

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Robert C. Bonner faces charges of corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children after allegedly asking a 17-year-old juvenile tyo have sex with him and another person.

Live in Lancaster County? You're probably satisfied

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Residents of Lancaster County are satisfied with their overall quality of life and things are getting better. Conducted for the first time in 2010, Millersville University’s biennial survey, “Perceptions of Quality of Life in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,” represents an ongoing effort to better understand the degree to which Lancaster County residents are satisfied with their quality of life.

“The findings of the 2012 survey confirm that Lancaster County residents are generally satisfied with their overall quality of life, the educational opportunities available to them and the services they receive in their communities,” said Dr. Adam Lawrence, research fellow. “The results offer valuable feedback to area leaders and decision makers responsible in various ways for the services and policy issues that are the substance of this survey.”

Not only are residents content, but in 2012, the percentage of residents who said their quality of life had gotten better (25 percent) was more than double the percentage of residents who said their quality of life had gotten worse (12 percent). The results of this survey are based on computer-assisted telephone interviews with 445 adult residents of Lancaster County, conducted from April to May, 2012. Here are some of the results:

- A majority of residents reported an excellent or good quality of life (92 percent).

- Most residents felt that they had a strong sense of community where they lived (82 percent).

- A large proportion of residents felt that their health was excellent or good (88 percent).

- Large majorities of residents expressed favorable evaluations of the services they receive in their local communities (trash collection, fire, senior services, etc.).

- Substantial majorities reported that there are plenty of parks and open spaces (90 percent), as well as recreational facilities (83 percent), in the areas where they lived.

- Ratings of public elementary, middle schools and high schools were far more positive than negative.

This survey was completed in Millersville University’s Polling and Research Office (PRO), under the supervision of Lawrence and Dr. Kerrie Farkas, former director. The PRO is a nonpartisan research and polling organization dedicated to providing quality public opinion research and analysis serving the public interest. The PRO is housed within Millersville University’s Center for Public Scholarship (CPS), which provides services for researching perceived com community needs, quality of services and attitudes of the public in order to help initiate and guide public policy decision-making.

To read the 2012 “Perceptions of Quality of Life in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,” report, or for more information about Millersville University’s PRO and CPS, visit www.millersville.edu/ccerp/cps/.



Swatara Creek in the running for PA river of the year

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Today is the last day that you will be contacted to vote for the Swatara Creek, Central PAs beloved waterway, that is a finalist in the 2013 Pennsylvania River of the Year contest. www.pawatersheds.org/vote 

If selected as River of the Year..., the Swatara will receive some extra love in 2013, increasing awareness of this fabulous amenity and first-class recreational and educational resource. So far it has been a tight race between the Schuylkill, Monogahela and Lackawanna Rivers, but with your help, we can be the Dark Horse, and sprint to victory.

We all know that the Swatara is one of our best assets, so let's show it! Help the Swatara Watershed Association and our partners bring this ‘working river’ into the spotlight by voting for the Swatara Creek and spreading the word about the River of the Year competition.

PA River of the Year is an honor that elevates public awareness of selected waterways and recognizes conservation needs and achievements. Sponsored by DCNR and POWR, the River of the Year is chosen by an online public vote.

AARP supports Lottery privatization

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AARP Pennsylvania today applauded Governor Corbett’s pledge to channel an additional $50 million in Lottery proceeds to existing home and community-based programs serving older Pennsylvanians in his proposed 2013-14 state budget as an important first step toward balancing the state’s long-term care systems and supports.

AARP Pennsylvania Advocacy Director Ray Landis said the $50 million in additional revenues, which are anticipated to be available through a private management agreement to run the Pennsylvania Lottery, will provide much-needed assistance to lottery-funded programs designed to help older adults remain at home that have been neglected for years and have developed waiting lists for services.

Landis noted that AARP policy neither supports nor opposes the concept of private management of the Pennsylvania Lottery. The Association’s interests are based solely on ensuring that any changes maximize revenues available to existing lottery-funded programs that provide essential assistance to older adults statewide.

“We’ve said all along that the Corbett Administration’s investigation into privatizing the operations of the Pennsylvania Lottery must result in a system that increases revenues and provides new funding for existing programs specifically created to help older adults remain at home,” said Landis.

“Dedicating $50 million in new revenues for home and community-based programs for seniors represents an important step towards improving the balance between nursing home care and less expensive alternatives that allow older adults to remain at home.”

A recent AARP study, done in conjunction with the Scan Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund, shows Pennsylvania ranks 39th nationally in its efforts to balance funding between institutional care and home and home and community-based programs serving older adults.

Landis said the state’s disappointing record for funding for home and community-based programs can be attributed in part to runaway nursing home costs in the state Medicaid program.

“In the 2012-13 budget alone, a record $309 million was shifted from lottery revenues to the Medicaid nursing home budget,” he said. “In fact over the last five years, more than a billion dollars have been diverted from the Lottery Fund to the Medicaid program, while the budget for other lottery-funded programs remained stagnant.”

“AARP continues to believe that Medicaid nursing home expenses should return to the General Fund so the Lottery Fund can fulfill its intended purpose—providing essential assistance to help older adults remain at home,” he said. “That’s because in the end, everyone buying a lottery ticket in the Commonwealth deserves to know that their purchase is truly helping older Pennsylvanians live where they want.”


Kim to host open house for 103rd district residents

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State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin, will host an open house for residents of the 103rd Legislative District, which includes Harrisburg, Steelton, Highspire and parts of Swatara Township, on Jan. 26 at her Steelton constituent service office located at 8 S. Front St. 

The open house will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Kim said she and members of her office staff will be available during the event to meet constituents and discuss issues and services important to the community.

"This is a way to let the community know we are here, we are accessible and we are excited to meet you," Kim said. "We are open for business.

"We will be serving lunch and offering door prizes for attendees, so this is a great chance to learn about state government and have some fun, too."

Kim added that her constituent service offices can help residents with questions and information about PACE, CHIP and other state programs, as well as provide information on financial assistance for higher education. They also can assist with Property Tax/Rent Rebate questions, help with unemployment compensation, assist with obtaining birth certificate applications, and work with state agencies on behalf of constituents.

More information is available by calling 717-986-1673.

 

Partner of Harrisburg drug dealer loses $300,000 house to Feds

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The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today the forfeiture of more than $300,000 from the sale of a drug trafficker’s home.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, United States District Judge John E. Jones, III, entered a Final Order of Forfeiture on January 14, 2013 in connection with a criminal case pending against Robert Taylor.

The court’s order forfeited $341,898.35 to the United States, the proceeds of the sale of Taylor’s home in Maryland.

Taylor, 37, of Aberdeen, MD and co-defendant, Shawn Duncan, 41, of Harrisburg, came to the attention of authorities following an investigation into drug activity in Harrisburg. Taylor was identified as a source of supply for Duncan. In February of 2012, federal agents made multiple purchases of crack cocaine from co-defendant Duncan. Both Duncan and Taylor were arrested on February 9, 2012 and approximately 9 ounces of crack cocaine was seized.

Taylor and Duncan were indicted by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg in February 2012 with unlawfully distributing both cocaine HCL and crack cocaine as well as criminal conspiracy to do the same. A superseding indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg in March 2012 providing notice of the Government’s intention to forfeit any property that drug proceeds were used to purchase and any property used to commit the offenses. The federal investigation revealed that the proceeds of drug trafficking were used to purchase the Randallstown home.
On October 1, 2012 both Taylor and Duncan pleaded guilty to unlawfully distributing cocaine HCL and crack cocaine. Taylor agreed to the forfeiture of the proceeds of the sale of the Randallstown home. Both defendants await sentencing. Taylor faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life imprisonment. Duncan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. Sentencing dates have not yet been scheduled for either defendant.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Harrisburg Resident Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Dauphin County Drug Task Force and the East Lampeter Township Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Behe.

Flu information resources

Obama asked to attend 'Gettysburg Address' event

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GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's two U.S. senators and the congressman who represents Gettysburg are asking President Barack Obama to attend the November event that will commemorate the 150th year since the "Gettysburg Address."

Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey and U.S. Rep. Scott Perry on Thursday wrote the president, asking him to deliver the keynote address. The letter says Obama's participation "would mean a great deal to Pennsylvania and to the nation."

President Abraham Lincoln's short speech at the 1863 dedication of a cemetery for war dead is considered one of the greatest achievements in American political oratory.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg gave the keynote address two months ago.

The Battle of Gettysburg, in which Northern forces turned away a Confederate advance, is considered a pivotal moment in the American Civil War.

 

©2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


PennDOT to Rehab Route 75 Bridge near Claylick

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PennDOT District 8 Jan. 21 will set barricades and begin a bridge rehabilitation project on the Route 75 span over Licking Creek near the Village of Claylick in Montgomery Township, Franklin County.

 

Route 75 will be closed to through traffic between Route 995 and the Village of Shimpstown until the end of April.

 

The contract for $1,864,376 was awarded June 12, 2012, to Jay Fulkroad & Sons Inc. of McAlisterville, Juniata County, and includes rehabilitation work, bridge beam and deck replacement on three structures in Franklin County: Route 75 over Licking Creek; Williamson Road over the Conococheague Creek at the St. Thomas/Antrim Township Line; and Edgewood Road over the Conococheague Creek near the Village of Woodstock in Green Township.

PennDOT expects work on the new bridge to be completed by the end of April. Until then, a detour which follows Route 16, Route 416 and Route 995 will be in place.

The existing two-span steel I-beam bridge that carries Route 75 over the Licking Creek was built in 1947 and is classified as structurally deficient.


This section of Route 75, locally known as Fort Loudon Road, averages more than 2,000 vehicles each day.

Cash 5 ticket worth $1 Million sold in York County

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One jackpot-winning Cash 5 ticket worth $1 million from the Jan. 17 drawing was sold at Sheetz, 1484 Carlisle Road, York.

The ticket correctly matched all five balls, 07-13-24-26-27, to win a jackpot of $1 million, less 25 percent federal withholding.

The retailer will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Lottery officials cannot confirm the identity of the winner until the prize is claimed and the ticket is validated. Cash 5 winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes.

The Lottery encourages the holder of the winning ticket to sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at 717-702-8146 and file a claim at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County, or at any of Lottery’s seven area offices.

Claims may be filed at headquarters Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at area offices.



Letterkenny to layoff 244 contractors

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From Letterkenney Army Depot:

Over the past decade Letterkenny Army Depot has utilized a contractor workforce to help accomplish temporary workload surges to meet Department of Army mission requirements. These programs are short-term in duration and require resizing of the contract workforce to match the workload requirements. The result is contractor layoffs.

Contractor layoffs are a standard part of depot operations upon program completion. The layoffs will occur in a phased approach starting today with the expectation to extend through March. The total number of contractor employees affected by the reduction is estimated at 244.

'Next Generation' initiative saves PennDOT $50 million

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Governor Tom Corbett today announced that PennDOT has identified more than $50 million in savings through its Next Generation initiative that involves modernizing operations, expanding inter-agency efficiencies and becoming a better business partner.

“PennDOT’s Next Generation efforts are focusing on using every dollar effectively and efficiently in delivering transportation products. PennDOT is doing more with less while continuing to focus on the quality of their service,” Corbett said.

PennDOT’s Next Generation initiative, which is outlined at www.ModernDOT.pa.gov, encompasses technology improvements, employee suggestions and private-sector innovation to evaluate and enhance business practices. Next Generation projects also include efficiencies stemming from increased coordination with other state partners, and other modernization efforts.

“Pennsylvania has a well-established need for additional transportation funding, this is critical to preserve our economy and our quality of life,” Corbett said. “As we move forward to establish new revenues it is critical that PennDOT is able to maximize every dollar possible.”

One example of a Next Generation Project is the department’s ePermitting system for highway occupancy permits, which moved the process online, increasing transparency and reducing the review time from an average of 45 days to 10 days. The system received a 2012 National Association of State Chief Information Officers award in the Government to Business category.

Efficiencies are also being realized through projects streamlining right of way program services as well as bridge inspection and analysis. The department anticipates $1.2 million in savings from reducing or eliminating right of way processes and regionalizing resources. An additional $540,000 in annual savings is expected through realigning workloads and enhancing resources for bridge inspections and load evaluations.

Other efficiency efforts under the initiative include sharing services with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, bundling bridge projects and realizing local government savings with project delivery efficiencies.


Seniors show you are never too old for a snow day on the slopes

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Some folks think they are too old to hit the slopes. Then there are the other folks who say you are never too old.

We caught up with a group of 80-and 90-year-olds who say why let a good snow covered hill go to waste.

Where they get the energy and stamina we have no idea. We spent the afternoon with about two dozen Bethany Village residents at Roundtop Mountain Resort, better known as Ski Roundtop.

We went tubing, well our Brandie Meng went down the hill once, the seniors went tubing.

It was cold, the snow was blowing and smiles were popping up everywhere.

“Oh its fun,” exclaimed one tuber.

“I would not come and just watch, I’d stay home before I’d do that,” commented another.

“I’m 83,” Leroy Erickson began. “I used to ski down here years ago. You get a little older, you don’t want to do that so this is a good opportunity to have some fun.”

“We hook together and you go faster,” chuckled one person. “You got to have weight, one time we had six of the tubes together, go shooting down.”

For most age wasn't a factor.

“I remember the days when I used to do that, not now,” Ed Evans told us. “I act my age.”

“With all that blowing out there, they can have it, Ill stay in here (the lodge),” added Rosemarie Evans.

The funny thing is we would like to see the driving records of the residents who hit the slopes. Many where complaining it was too slow and faster in years past.

But our own Brandie Meng thought it was a little too fast.

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