AP PA Headlines 2/10/19

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — When Gov. Tom Wolf took office, he told lawmakers that he had a plan to fix Pennsylvania’s system of school funding.  Four years and a couple of budget fights later, public school advocates say huge gaps still persist between poorer and wealthier districts, while the subject didn’t rate a mention this past week in the Democrat’s first budget speech to the Legislature after his re-election.

That prompted grumbling among Democratic lawmakers, although some in the school-funding trenches say Wolf hasn’t necessarily given up. Rather, his silence reflects the difficult politics in the Republican-controlled Legislature, they say.  “I think in this particular budget, coming off of a new election with a Legislature that has been at least semi-productive in the last year or two, that the governor said, ‘Look, I’m not going to stick a fork in anybody’s eye to get started with,'” said Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — Some Pennsylvania officers participating in a “Skate with a Cop” fundraiser at a roller rink had to take a break from the fun to deal with a drunken man who was falling over and running into other skaters.  The Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department says officers asked the 31-year-old to leave, and he became belligerent.  Officers then cited him for public drunkenness, but say he tore up the citation and threw it on the ground.

Police say they then issued a citation for scattering rubbish and disorderly conduct.  They say he told them he was drinking before the event and saw all the police vehicles outside Skateaway and wanted to show his support.  The fundraiser was organized to honor local and state police. Money raised will be used to purchase shields for officers in Luzerne County.

FLEETWOOD, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania school has been shuttered after 12 people were sickened there by carbon monoxide.  Fleetwood Area Schools Superintendent Greg Miller says a community theater group was practicing for a play in the district’s middle school when group members started getting sick around 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Twelve people were treated at hospitals and are expected to recover.  Authorities eventually determined that carbon monoxide caused the problems, and classes there were canceled Friday as a precaution.  The rest of the districts’ schools were not affected.  Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the carbon monoxide issues.

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Features 

DETROIT (AP) — Blackface scandal doesn’t surprise people of color. A barber, Thomas Carter, said many black people, say it is mocking and demeaning.  Carter said white people wearing blackface is a painful reminder of America’s history of racism, hate and exploitation.  “It’s just a huge form of disrespect. I’m kind of upset with a lot of people allowing it to be done. It’s acceptable in a lot of circles, even with our own people,” he said.  Education consultant and travel writer Fernanda Meier, “My skin, hair, lips are a costume to non-black people,”

She said, “There is nothing flattering about using shoe polish or dark makeup to paint one’s skin like mine, when the very same thing is the source of my oppression.”  She said the Klan, exclusion from school, a job. It’s a whole kind of comprehensive white supremacy, not just a particular sort of image or remark. It’s a structure that needs to be challenged.”  Carter said the person in Klan garb in Northam’s yearbook photo angered him as a black man. Hate is taught. You’re not born a racist. So, you have households teaching … kids. It’s inbred. How are you going to stop that?”

MILAN (AP) — Director Spike Lee said Friday he will no longer wear Gucci or Prada until the brands hire some black designers following a pair of blackface fashion fails from the major Italian fashion houses.  Lee said on Instagram that “It’s Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don’t Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery. WAKE UP.”  Spike said the brands needed to have black designers “To Be In Da Room When It Happen.”

His personal boycott in the midst of movie awards season was a powerful message to luxury fashion houses that are already suffering backlashes for designs evoking racist images.  Lee donned Gucci on the Venice Film Festival red carpet last September, following up with a stop by the Prada womenswear preview show in Milan later in the month decked out in a black Prada suit.  Gucci this week apologized for a high-neck black wool sweater that featured bright red lips when pulled over the face, while Prada apologized for a monkey bag charm resembling blackface in December. Both brands withdrew the offending pieces from sale on both websites and stores.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows: On NBC, and on WKOK and WKOK.com at noon: NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney; Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.  ABC’s “This Week” — To be announced.  CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar; Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.  CNN’s “State of the Union” — Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.; South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a Democratic candidate for president.  “Fox News Sunday” —Mulvaney; Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Jon Tester, D-Mont.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a suburban Minneapolis resident reported a strange intruder in her basement. It was a horse.  Inver Grove Heights police arrived at the woman’s home late Friday night to find a pale-colored horse walking through various rooms as officers watched through windows from the outside.

Police Sgt. Adam Wiederhoeft says the investigation is ongoing and it isn’t clear how the horse got into the house, but that the animal’s owner came by to remove it.  A message on the police department’s Facebook page read: “No horses or officers were hurt in this incident and the horse was safely returned to the corral!”

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PA Sports, Scores & Skeds

LEWISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nate Sestina had 25 points and 11 rebounds as Bucknell defeated Boston University 82-76 on Saturday. Kimbal Mackenzie added 20 points for the Bison.  Sestina hit 4 of 6 3-pointers.  John Meeks had 10 points for Bucknell (16-8, 10-2 Patriot League), which won its fourth consecutive game. Bruce Moore added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Javante McCoy had 19 points for the Terriers (11-14, 4-8). Max Mahoney added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Tyler Scanlon had 16 points and six assists.  The Bison leveled the season series against the Terriers with the win. Boston University defeated Bucknell 87-80 on Jan. 5. Bucknell plays Lehigh at home on Monday. Boston University takes on Army on the road on Wednesday.

Saturday’s Scores

BOYS HS BASKETBALL

Bloomsburg 63, Sayre Area 26

Danville 79, Mifflinburg 40

Mifflin County 65, Central Mountain 46

Millville 56, Sullivan County 17

Muncy 54, Benton 31

Shamokin 60, Milton 52

Tunkhannock 50, Berwick 49

Williamsport 68, Montoursville 44

GIRLS HS BASKETBALL

Benton 43, Muncy 35

Central Columbia 38, Central Mountain 36

Columbia-Montour 39, Bucktail 28

Mifflinburg 49, Penns Valley 33

Montoursville 59, Selinsgrove 39

Williamsport 63, Jersey Shore 60, OT

AP-Scorecard

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