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Thursday, August 11, 2010 Riverstock Tri fireworks set SUNBURY - Riverstock Triathlon 2010 at the Shikellamy Marina State Park is gearing up for an event later this month in Sunbury. Mark Cox is coordinator for this year's three-day slate of activities, which is going to include an added bonus. He says a giant fireworks display will be held at dusk from the overlook at Shikellamy State Park overlook. Cox said they just procured the necessary permits and he said this will be a major fireworks display. Bands will take center stage at the Marina Friday night. Saturday’s events including a 5k Walk Run to benefit breast cancer awareness, a Zumba demonstration and other activities. Sunday, the Olympic Length Triathlon will start, end, and have its transitions in the Shikellamy Park Marina. The triathlon begins at 8:00 am Sunday August 29th. Cox says the Riverstock Triathlon is an event sanctioned by the national governing body that oversees those types of events. More information later about this at www.wkok.com. (Terry Diener) A ‘date certain’ is set for Sunbury’s double murder defendant SUNBURY – A ‘date certain’ has been sent for the double homicide trial for Michael Harrell of Sunbury. Harrell will stand trial starting November 8th; the jury selection will begin ten days earlier on October 27th. He’s charged with the January 2008 killing of two people at a home on Fourth Street in Sunbury. Harrell faced a pre-trial hearing today in Northumberland County Court. He faces a possible death penalty and is charged with first-degree homicide. Police say he shot and killed 24-year-old Crystal Scholl-Gordon of Selinsgrove and 25-year-old David Moore of Sunbury. Harrell originally confessed to the shootings, but then recanted his statements. Today, the unusual case saw several defense and prosecution requests. The defense wants a California doctor to testify about false confessions, while the commonwealth wants defense attorney’s handwritten notes on interviews with witnesses. Northumberland County president Judge Robert Sacavage will rule on those motions prior to the November trial date for Michael Harrell. (Ali Stevens) Snyder County mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile HARRISBURG - Word from Pennsylvania's West Nile Virus program that one of the test samples of mosquitoes across Pennsylvania has turned up positive in Snyder County. McClure Borough in Snyder County has registered a positive result. West Nile first appeared in Pennsylvania in 200 in birds, mosquitoes and a horse. Since then, the Department of Environmental Protection has undertaken an extensive program to survey all 67 counties for the disease. State DEP and county mosquito control professionals have been using Bti, naturally occurring bacteria, to kill mosquito larvae for years. (Terry Diener) Police clarify the location of a mugging in Selinsgrove SELINSGROVE – The Selinsgrove Police Department is clarifying the location of a mugging that took place Monday night in the borough. Police say the mugging took place about a half a block from a convenience store on Market Street. A man pulled into a parking stall at the store and walked across the street to Union Alley near Sassafras Street. That’s when he was attacked by two men who beat him and tried to steal money from him. The investigation continues and no arrests have been made. (Ali Stevens) Teaching positions to be cut in the Danville School District DANVILLE – Approximately 50 jobs will be cut in the Danville School District over the next few years as a cost savings measure. The Press Enterprise reports Superintendent David Price says nearly half of the cuts will be teaching positions. Price says the number of teachers has grown from 185 to 218 since 1995, which is a 20 percent increase. However, the student population has fallen by more than 17 percent. Eleven teachers who retired or resigned this year will not be replaced and teaching aide positions have been eliminated. Price says some positions will eventually have to be cut rather than eliminated through attrition. (Ali Stevens) Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project featured on Leaders & Lawmakers SUNBURY – A couple of board members for the Susquehanna Valley Community Education project are guests this week on Newsradio 1070 WKOK’s Leaders & Lawmakers program. The group is working to establish a community college in the Central Susquehanna Valley. Board member John Shipman says the process has been challenging, but they continue to push forward to find political and financial support. He says there are many other projects in need of funding in our area, but this will bring permanent jobs to the region. You can hear more from John Shipman and board member Lenaire Ahlum on our Leaders & Lawmakers program Thursday at 3:30 p.m. You can also listen to the interview online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens) Pennsylvania officials say the deadly ash borer has spread to Union County HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Agriculture officials say forty-three counties are now under a quarantine that is intended to prevent the spread of the invasive, tree-killing Emerald Ash Borer. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said the pest was recently found in Union County. Joel Imgrund is program horticulture assistant with the Penn State Cooperative Extension says an Ash Borer is an insect that bores holes into ash trees, quickly killing the trees. Any ash trees are susceptible to this borer and the forest and landscape trees will be difficult to keep alive. State Agriculture officials say the Emerald Ash Borer poses a serious threat to Pennsylvania’s nation-leading hardwoods industry, which contributes nearly $25 billion to the economy. The pest likely arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates. Imgrund says the insect came to the United States in the mid 1990’s and was not detected until 2002 in the Detroit area. From that, the borer has been spreading rapidly and was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2006. Imgrund says the ash borer is a very fast flyer and they are expanding very rapidly. Imgrund says Union County is not currently under quarantine, but that could change in the near future. If an area is quarantined, it restricts the movement of ash nursery, logs, stumps roots and branches. That would mean campers couldn’t move firewood from site to site. (Ali Stevens) Man caught wearing drug paraphernalia around his neck MILTON – A Colorado man was arrested after he was caught wearing a marijuana pipe around his neck. State police say 39-year-old Christopher Dickson of Fort Collins was stopped for speeding on Route 15 near Interstate 80 in White Deer Township, Union County on Tuesday night. Troopers say Dickson was wearing a marijuana pipe as a necklace and they searched his vehicle. Two bags of marijuana were recovered along with 11 bags of Ecstasy. Dickson was arraigned on charges of possession with the intent to distribute, DUI and numerous other drug related charges. He was sent to the Union County Prison on $50,000 bail. (Ali Stevens) Man who sparked Danville fire facing a contempt hearing DANVILLE -- A Danville man who accidentally sparked a major fire at a building in Danville will go to court next week on a charge of contempt. Gib Spradlin violated a court order not to proceed with any demolition of the old Cabinet Industries Plant in Danville. Spradlin was cutting a pipe in the building with a torch on Monday when the fire broke out. Contempt papers were filed yesterday, citing previous orders banning Spradlin from doing demolition in the building after a wall partially collapsed in the spring. Spradlin is due in court on Monday at 2 p.m. The fire heavily damaged the building on Monday and multiple fire companies from two counties were called to the scene. (Ali Stevens) Berwick nuke was on Alert because of a Freon leak BERWICK – Workers have successfully stopped a leak of Freon vapor in the Unit 1 reactor building at PPL’s Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant near Berwick. The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station declared an alert yesterday morning because of the uncontrolled Freon leak. The power plant continued to operate at full power and officials at the plant said there was no need for public concern or any action outside the plant. The alert was ended last night around 11:30 p.m. The Alert is the second lowest of four Nuclear Regulatory Commission emergency categories and calls for no action by the general public. It states that a problem has occurred that may affect plant safety and has the potential to be more serious. An Alert also calls for an extensive media, government and emergency management notification. PPL's Joe Scopelletti said the Freon was leaking in the Unit 1 reactor building and is part of a chiller system. It is part of a plant safety system, which is used to cool equipment. (Ali Stevens) Latest Pennsylvania news, business, lottery and entertainment PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pennsylvania gubernatorial hopeful Dan Onorato is calling for state grants to help some low-income families pay for private education. The Democrat says grants would go to families served by the most academically troubled schools. He says the details and costs of the plan are still being worked out. Onorato made the announcement today in Philadelphia. The candidate appeared with state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, who backed a "school choice" agenda in his own run for governor. Onorato beat Williams and two others in the primary, and will face GOP nominee Tom Corbett in November. Corbett also supports the voucher concept, which would make public money available to pay for tuition at parochial and other private schools. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell is insisting on certain environmental protections and landowner compensation requirements before he'll sign any bill that forces landowners to sell their below-ground natural gas rights. Rendell's top aides said this week that discussions on a measure being sought by the booming natural gas industry is in the early stages. No bill has been introduced in the Legislature yet. The so-called pooling law is a top priority for the gas industry in Pennsylvania. Advocates say it will limit the drilling necessary to extract gas from below the land of everyone who voluntarily sells their below-ground gas rights. Opponents of such a law say it could be a tool to abuse landowner rights or to limit a landowner's ability to negotiate a better deal from the industry. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Wednesday: Midday Big 4 1-0-9-8 Midday Number 5-5-3 Midday Quinto 8-3-8-4-6 Treasure Hunt 12-19-20-24-29 (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Dow Jones Averages 30 industrials 10378.83 down 265.42 or -2.49 percent 20 transportation 4262.24 down 189.89 or -4.27 percent 15 utilities 388.23 down 8.51 or -2.14 percent 65 stocks 3581.07 down 109.00 or -2.95 percent Kid singer from Pa. makes splash on TV talent show WEXFORD, Pa. (AP) - Watch out, Susan Boyle. Here comes Jackie. A 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl who was chosen by YouTube viewers to compete on NBC's America's Got Talent stunned the judges and audience Tuesday night with her big voice. Jackie Evancho, of Pine Township, sang Giacomo Puccini's aria "O Mio Babbino Caro" and received praise from the judges and overwhelming applause from the audience. The tiny blonde wore a pink ruffled dress and a big smile. After the performance, Jackie said she was so happy she wanted to cry. Jackie was one of 12 acts who performed on the show Tuesday night. Four of those performers will join 20 other semifinalists who are competing for $1 million and a contract to perform in Las Vegas. Who are the highest paid TV stars? NEW YORK (AP) - No one on TV comes close to Oprah when judged by salaries. TV Guide's list of the highest-paid people on TV shows that Oprah Winfrey makes $315 million a year. Among talk show hosts, Judge Judy is next with $45 million, followed by David Letterman with $28 million and Jay Leno with $25 million. Among those on reality shows, Ryan Seacrest is tops with $15 million. Sitcom stars get paid much more than stars of TV dramas. Charlie Sheen is the top-paid sitcom star with $1.25 million an episode for "Two and a Half Men." That's triple what the highest-paid dramatic actor gets. Hugh Laurie is paid $400,000 an episode for "House." Matt Lauer is the highest-paid newsperson at $16 million. Katie Couric makes a million less. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Yoncuski pleads guilty after long-term court fight SUNBURY – The trial of 60-year-old Robert Yoncuski of Shamokin was supposed to get underway in Northumberland County Court on Tuesday. But the man accused six years ago of stealing a safe from the home of his estranged wife pleaded guilty before the proceedings could continue. A jury was already selected and ready to hear the charges against Yoncuski, which included criminal trespass, and theft. The charges stemmed from the removal of the safe from the home of 57-year-old Donna Deitrick of Shamokin in August of 2004. Deitrick claimed the safe contained $300,000 in cash and $500,000 in jewelry and coins. Yoncuski at first refused to tell officials where the safe was located. He was then sent to jail for four months for contempt of court. Yoncuski was released only when he agreed to show authorities where the safe was located, which was in Dornsife. When recovered, few valuables were found in the safe. Yoncuski was sentenced to time already served for the contempt charge, seven years of probation, restitution for his victims, and a fine of $500. (Matt Farrand) Pennsylvania officials say the deadly ash borer has spread to Union County HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Agriculture officials say forty-three counties are now under a quarantine that is intended to prevent the spread of the invasive, tree-killing Emerald Ash Borer. Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding said the pest was recently found in Union County at the intersection of State Gameland and Matthew Brown Roads in Gregg Township. The Emerald Ash Borer has now been found in 17 counties including Centre, Juniata, Mifflin and Union. And the expanded quarantine to 43 counties is intended to restrict the movement of ash nursery, green lumber, and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, from the quarantine area. Because it is difficult to distinguish between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood and wood chips—including ash, oak, maple and hickory—are considered quarantined. State Agriculture officials say the Emerald Ash Borer poses a serious threat to Pennsylvania’s nation-leading hardwoods industry, which contributes nearly $25 billion to the economy. The wood-boring beetle is native to China and eastern Asia. The pest likely arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada. (Terry Diener) Some traffic detours in Sunbury later this month SUNBURY – PennDOT says some rail crossing repairs in Sunbury later this month will necessitate detours. One will last five days, the other, ten days, with both starting August 23rd. Norfolk Southern Railroad is planning to rebuild the crossing at Market Street (Route 61) from August 23rd through the 27th. The detour for northbound traffic will use Fifth Street, Arch Street and Front Street. The detour southbound will use Front Street, Chestnut Street which is also Truck Route 61, and Fourth Street. The crossing to be rebuilt crosses Market Street just east of Cameron Park. Also, a ten-day detour beginning August 23rd will be implemented for North 11th Street, which will be closed at the intersection with Market Street. That detour will use Fifth, Arch, Front and Reagan Streets. The 11th Street detour will facilitate removal and upgrade of existing handicapped accessible curb ramps and installation of new concrete signal pole foundations. (Terry Diener) Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Pat Toomey SUNBURY – Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Pat Toomey lays the blame for current economic woes across the country, on policies in Washington. During an interview on WKOK’s On The Mark program, Toomey says bailouts, high corporate taxes, out of control spending and questions over national health care have hampered job growth and the economy. Toomey favors tax cuts which he says leads to an expanding economy with more people working, more profits and more corporate income. U.S. Senatorial candidate Pat Toomey’s remarks from the On The Mark program can be heard at wkok.com. (Terry Diener) The Berwick nuke was on Alert because of a Freon leak BERWICK – Workers have successfully stopped a leak of Freon vapor in the Unit 1 reactor building at PPL’s Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant near Berwick. The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station declared an alert yesterday morning because of the uncontrolled Freon leak. The power plant continued to operate at full power and officials at the plant said there was no need for public concern or any action outside the plant. The alert was ended last night around 11:30 p.m. The Alert is the second lowest of four Nuclear Regulator Commission emergency categories and calls for no action by the general public. It states that a problem has occurred that may affect plant safety and has the potential to be more serious. An Alert also calls for an extensive media, government and emergency management notification. PPL's Joe Scopelletti said the Freon was leaking in the Unit 1 reactor building and is part of a chiller system. It is part of a plant safety system, which is used to cool equipment. (Ali Stevens) New Shik super excited about 'first day of school' SUNBURY – Robin Musto, the new superintendent in the Shikellamy School District, has been on the job for a little more than a week and says she is looking forward to the start of the school year. Musto feels strongly about state testing and says the scores will improve. Musto says they haven’t received their formal scores yet, but informal scores show that the Shikellamy District has made adequate yearly progress in all areas this year, which is a great sign. Musto feels the state testing is good because it makes students accountable in reading, writing and math and they want students to leave school knowing how to do those things. She also wants to help students find their way into careers through school. Musto says she wants to help kids know what fields they want to get into so they can make better course selection in school to guide them on a career path. Musto says she has visited all the schools in the district and feels the high school and elementary schools are in great shape. She says in the future, improvements will need to be made to facilities on the Middle School level. Musto comes to the Shikellamy School District from Lycoming County, where she spent most of her educational career. She will be moving to Northumberland in a few weeks and looks forward to greeting students outside of the school buildings as they arrive at school for the day. (Ali Stevens) Marino reacts to Carney claim CLARKS SUMMIT -- Democrat Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) claims his Republican opponent took advantage of the time he annually spends on active duty in the US Navy, when he noted that the congressman's name was not on a list of co-sponsors of a bill that would prohibit the use of taxpayer money for abortions. Carney says Tom Marino unfairly linked him with the issue at a time when he was not permitted to respond, and near the date his wife was to undergo surgery for breast cancer. However, Marino says Carney is lying because he knew about the bill before leaving for Washington. He says Carney received several emails about the bill and chose not to be a part of it. Marino doesn’t think Carney needed to use his service in the military and his wife’s cancer as an excuse. He says he respects anyone who serves in the military, but that shouldn’t be used in his explanation. Marino says he is a two-time cancer survivor and is offended that Carney would even bring up his wife’s breast cancer as an excuse for not sponsoring a bill. Marino says they did not know of Jennifer Carney’s condition when they made their initial claim. (Matt Farrand) Trial begins for a man charged with stealing his ex-wife’s safe SUNBURY – A man accused of stealing his ex-wife’s safe and refusing to tell police where the safe was located is finally going to trial in Northumberland County. The trial for Robert Yoncuski will get underway today in Northumberland County. The 60-year-old from Shamokin was accused in August of 2004 of stealing a safe from the home of his estranged wife, 57-year-old Donna Deitrick of Shamokin. Deitrick claimed the safe contained $300,000 in cash and $500,000 in jewelry and coins. Yoncuski was charged with burglary and theft, but refused to tell where the safe was located. He was then sent to jail for four months for contempt of court. Yoncuski was released only when he agreed to show authorities where the safe was located, which was in Dornsife. Few valuables were found in the safe when it was recovered. Judge Thomas James of Columbia County will be handling the trial in Sunbury because the Northumberland County judges had to recuse themselves because they were involved with the couple’s bitter divorce. (Ali Stevens) Catawissa woman charged with leaving her young children home alone for several hours CATAWISSA – A Catawissa woman is accused of leaving her 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son home alone for several hours. Police say 21-year-old Aigner Gladden has been charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. The two children apparently crossed through traffic to make their way into the Catawissa borough building after being left alone for three hours. Gladden says she went to meet with a therapist. (Ali Stevens) More details out on home invasion in Sunbury last month SUNBURY -- More details have been released by Sunbury Police regarding a home invasion in the city at the end of July. Police say they are searching for 52-year-old Steven Willard of Sunbury, who is accused of walking into the home of Timothy Williams in the 200 block of Pine Street on July 31st. Police say Willard confronted Williams with a handgun and demanded money and threatened to kill him. Williams apparently grabbed at the weapon and the two men struggled, with the gun firing into the kitchen floor. Willard then fled the home. Police are now searching for Willard and anyone with information is asked to call Sunbury police. (Ali Stevens) Selinsgrove police investigate a mugging from last night near Sassafras Street SELINSGROVE – Selinsgrove police are investigating a mugging last night in the borough. Police tell us a 19-year-old man got out of his vehicle at a convenience store on Market Street at Sassafras Street when he was attacked. Police say two men knocked the victim to the ground and held him down while they checked for money and other valuables. Police say the victim sustained multiple cuts and abrasions to the face and head. The suspects fled the scene on foot. The men are described as a black male and a white male, approximately 18 to 20-years-old. Anyone with information concerning this incident around 9:30 last night is asked to contact Selinsgrove Police and the information will remain confidential. (Ali Stevens) Latest Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's governor says he now hopes fewer than 200 state employees will have to be laid off under this year's budget. Gov. Ed Rendell initially estimated last month that as many as 1,000 state workers would have to be laid off. But Rendell said Monday that more employees than expected are choosing to retire. He also says the state's hiring freeze has helped to reduce the number. The governor's administration says the exact number of layoffs will not be available until next week. Rendell spokeswoman Amy Kelchner says the governor will meet with legislative leaders on Wednesday. Afterward, Kelchner says, staffers will meet to discuss the specifics of which agencies will see layoffs and how many. SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania official is seeking separate trials for himself and a former official on corruption charges. The motion filed by Lackawanna County commissioner A.J. Munchak on Tuesday afternoon says he is concerned that he cannot get a fair trial if he is tried with former commissioner Robert Cordaro. He says Cordaro is charged with 25 counts and only six relate to his own conduct. The U.S. Attorney's office is opposing the idea, saying all of the charges relate to a scheme orchestrated by the men jointly. A federal grand jury in March issued a wire fraud, extortion and money laundering indictment accusing the two of illegally receiving more than $450,000 in cash and benefits from contractors. SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton is characterizing Pennsylvania's close and competitive U.S. Senate race as a choice between disastrous Reagan-Bush economic policies and the ability of Democrats to fix the economy. Clinton, perhaps the biggest Democratic Party name in Pennsylvania, drew several hundred people to a rally in Scranton yesterday for Rep. Joe Sestak. Clinton is on a swing through eastern Pennsylvania to raise money and stump for several Democratic candidates on the Nov. 2 ballot. Sestak missed the event at the Scranton High School gymnasium because he was in Washington for an emergency session vote. Sestak is facing former Republican Congressman Pat Toomey in the November election. While in the Navy, Sestak served in the Clinton White House as director for defense policy on the National Security Council. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A historically black college near Philadelphia will again boast a polling place as part of a settlement of a race-bias lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union and others complained that some voters were disenfranchised when the polling place at Lincoln University in Chester County moved off-campus, because many students don't have cars. The ACLU also says a group of mostly black voters in Lower Oxford Township waited up to seven hours to vote in the 2008 presidential election because the new site was too small. The lawsuit was filed against Chester County election authorities. County Solicitor Thomas Whiteman did not immediately return a message after hours yesterday. STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has been nominated for the highest civilian award in the country. Congressmen including Glenn Thompson, Mark Critz and Tim Holden say the Hall of Fame coach deserves a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his service to the Nittany Lions, the university and the State College community. Their nomination letter to President Barack Obama says Paterno personifies sportsmanship on the field and academic achievement in the classroom while also noting Paterno's philanthropic efforts. Paterno's 394 career victories are most among major college coaches. A spokesman for Critz says Critz and Holden were approached by House staffers who are Penn State graduates to nominate Paterno and Thompson helped lead the effort. Thompson's district includes State College, about 150 miles northwest of Philadelphia. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-Morning BusinessMinute NEW YORK (AP) - A fine-tuning of the Federal Reserve's strategy aimed at helping the economy wasn't enough to lift stock prices out of negative territory in the latest session. The Dow fell almost 55 points to 10,644. The S&P lost nearly 7, and the Nasdaq was down 29 points. SINGAPORE (AP) - World markets slid Wednesday as strength in the yen knocked Japanese shares and China's economy showed more signs of slowdown, offsetting halfhearted enthusiasm for the U.S. Federal Reserve's new stimulus measures. Japan's Nikkei led the losses, diving more than 2.7 percent. BEIJING (AP) - China's industrial growth slowed further in July as Beijing clamped down on a credit boom, fueling expectations it will ease monetary policy to shore up its economic expansion. Inflation spiked to its highest level this year as summer flooding wrecked crops. WASHINGTON (AP) - Deficits will be the focus of today's economic reports. The government releases the latest on the nation's trade gap before the opening bell. Later, the Treasury releases the federal budget statement. SINGAPORE (AP) - Oil prices fell below $80 a barrel Wednesday in Asia. Benchmark crude for September delivery was down 67 cents to $79.58 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost $1.23 to settle at $80.25 on Tuesday. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Tuesday: Big 4 9-9-1-0 Cash 5 13-14-17-31-37 Daily Number 7-8-2 Evening Quinto 3-2-6-2-1 Mega Millions 02-14-26-50-56, Mega Ball: 12 Megaplier 2 Midday Big 4 6-3-2-0 Midday Number 5-0-0 Midday Quinto 5-4-3-6-9 Treasure Hunt 01-12-18-22-25 (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Feds send ground zero mosque imam to Mideast WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department says it's sending the imam behind controversial plans for a mosque near the site of the 9/11 attacks on a religious outreach trip to the Middle East. Spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday that the department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's visit to Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, where he will discuss Muslim life in America and promote religious tolerance. He says the imam had been on similar trips dating back to 2007 and that plans for the upcoming tour predated the current controversy. Crowley says the Obama administration has no position on Rauf's plans for an Islamic center near ground zero, but has respect for his message of moderation, tolerance and religious diversity. Lawyer gives different version of events on plane NEW YORK (AP) - The lawyer for a JetBlue Airways flight attendant charged in an onboard tirade says his client is under stress because his mother has lung cancer. Steven Slater is accused of cursing at a passenger on an airplane public-address system, grabbing some beer from the galley and leaving the plane by way of an emergency slide. Slater smiled slightly as he was led into a New York City courtroom today to be arraigned on charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing. T he judge set his bail at $2,500. Defense attorney Howard Turman says tempers flared while the flight was waiting to take off from Pittsburgh. He says two female passengers got into an argument over space in the overhead bins, and Slater was struck in the head by one woman's luggage. Turman says the dispute resumed after the plane landed in New York. He says one of the women became enraged at Slater because she had to wait for her luggage and "cursed him out." Slater has been getting expressions of support on a Facebook page set up in his honor. BIG HALIBUT FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - It's one heck of a halibut. George Levasseur is a giant step closer to winning the Valdez, Alaska, Halibut Derby, by landing a fish weighing just under 364 pounds. It's a record for the tournament and the second largest halibut ever caught in Alaska. The contest runs through September 5 and has a $15,000 first prize. Levasseur says it took an hour and 15 minutes to reel in the big fish and three friends to help him get it into the boat. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)