BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MARCH 31, 2023

VIOLENT CRASH SHUTS DOWN EAST THIRD STREET

State police are investigating a crash that happened on East Third Street yesterday around 1:30pm and sent one driver to the hospital.  According to the Sun Gazette, witnesses say a three car collision happen at Westminster Drive with one of the cars, a Mazda, flipping up in the air and landing on its roof.  Crews from Loyalsock Township and South Williamsport responded to the scene and extricated the driver from the Mazda and transported her to UPMC Williamsport.  No one else was hurt in the crash.

MURDER CHARGES THROWN OUT

Third degree murder charges against a 21 year old Williamsport woman who gave birth to a premature baby at home, who later died, have been thrown out by a Williamsport district judge, but charges of felony endangering the welfare of a child were upheld.  According to the Sun Gazette, District judge Christian Frey said no evidence supports that Chemari Truax acted with malice in the death of the baby, there were only her reactions to a confusing, unanticipated birth at home. Truax called the hospital that night and brought the infant to the ER an hour after delivery, however resuscitative efforts were not successful.  Truax is free on bail.

TEEN SUFFERS FROM SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT

A teenager from Williamsport suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand Wednesday just after 3:30pm.  According to the Sun Gazette, Williamsport police say the accidental shooting happened at the 900 block of Poplar Street that brought paramedics to the scene and transported the boy to UPMC Williamsport.  City police originally thought there was more than one party involved in the shooting, but are now trying to determine who owns the gun and how the minor had the weapon in his possession.  

NO MORE INPATIENT SERVICES AT UPMC LOCK HAVEN

UPMC Lock Haven will no longer be admitting patients to the hospital as inpatients, instead transitioning the facility to an Emergency Outpatient Emergency Department this spring.  According to the Lock Haven Express, president of UPMC Lock Haven, Ron Reynolds, said March 29th was the last day the hospital admitted inpatients and the hospital will begin the transition this Monday.  Reynolds said 18 of 25 employees from the inpatient side of the hospital have moved jobs within the UPMC system, and that Williamsport Regional Medical Center keeps 4-5 inpatient beds open on a daily basis to accommodate patients being treated at Lock Haven’s ER. The hospital will be recognized with the new designation as Emergency Outpatient Emergency Department on April 20th and the services are to begin April 21st.

UPCOMING VOTE WILL DECIDE FATE OF LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The fate of the Salladasburg Elementary School building is coming in April when the Jersey Shore area school board will vote on student placement and whether to close one of the three elementary schools in the district.  According to the Sun Gazette, there are three scenarios the school board is considering.  Scenario A which is the only one that closes the Salladasburg building, would move k-3 students to Jersey Shore elementary and grades 4 & 5 go to Avis elementary.  Scenario B Jersey Shore gets all students in grades 3-5 and Avis and Salladasburg would each take half the k-2 grade students.  Scenario C would keep all the buildings k-5, but students would be shifted to other buildings for equal class sizes.  The board will meet April 24th to discuss the scenarios and vote.

SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT NEAR IUP COLLAPSES

Twelve people were injured after the second floor of an off-campus apartment at Indiana University of Pennsylvania collapsed Saturday night.  According to State police and social media the apartment was about a mile from campus and the floor caved in just before midnight.  It’s not clear whether all the people who were injured were IUP students – but police say everyone inside the apartment escaped – some having to break windows to get out of the structure.  Seven people were hospitalized and are being evaluated after the accident.  State police are investigating the cause of the collapse.

ACCIDENT VICTIM CAN FILE PUNATIVE DAMAGES

A woman from Nebraska who was seriously injured in the multi- vehicle pile-up in Clinton County along I-80 in December of 2020, will be allowed to pursue punitive damages in federal court.  According to the Sun Gazette, Bianca Armbruster says in a court filing that the defendants did not drive with proper vigilance or at a safe speed during the snow squall conditions that caused 64 cars and trucks to collide and become stranded in winter conditions.  Two people died in the ordeal and 22 were hurt, including Armbruster.  She is seeking in excess of 75 thousand dollars from the drivers of four rigs the woman said overrode her Jeep on the interstate during the accident.  Nine others are named in the suit but unidentified.

PA LANDMARK TO BE FEATURED ON GHOST HUNTERS

A Pennsylvania landmark will be featured on an upcoming episode of Ghost Hunters on the Travel Channel.  According to PennLive, Lehigh Valley news dot com reports that the George Taylor Mansion built in Catasauqua, Lehigh County in 1768, will be the focus of the May 4 episode.  Recent visitors claim to see ghostly presences in the home, one said to be Taylor himself, who was an Irishman and Philadelphia resident who was an original signer of the Declaration of Independence.  The episode will feature the investigation of the claims done by the Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS).

SPORTS

NCAA Basketball News
Penn State hired a new men’s basketball head coach yesterday. Mike Rhoades is the former head coach of VCU in Richmond, Va and a Pennsylvania native from Mahanoy City.  Rhoades has produced a 373-189 record, seven NCAA Tournament and nine national postseason appearances across 19 seasons as a head coach. 

NCAA Men’s Basketball Final 4 Saturday, April 1

Florida Atlantic vs San Diego State 6pm on CBS
Miami vs UConn 8:45pm on CBS
NCAA Men’s Championship Monday 9:20pm on CBS

Women’s Basketball News – Iowa star Caitlin Clark was awarded Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year yesterday.  Throughout the NCAA tournament so far, Clark had 41 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in the No. 2 Hawkeyes’ Elite Eight victory over the No. 5 Louisville Cardinals, a win that sent Iowa to the Final Four for the first time since 1993.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Final 4 Friday, March 31
Virginia Tech vs LSU 7pm on ESPN
South Carolina vs Iowa 9pm on ESPN
NCAA Women’s Championship Sunday 3:30pm on ABC

NBA
Bucks 149                    Pacers 136
Nets 123                       Rockets 114
Knicks 101                   Heat 92
76ers 116                      Mavericks 108
Lakers 121                    Bulls 110
Clippers 141                Grizzlies 132
Thunder 107                Pistons 106
Jazz 128                        Spurs 117
Kings 120                     Trailblazers 80
Suns 107                      Timberwolves 100

NHL
Panthers 3           Maple Leafs 2
Islanders 2          Capitals 1
Wild 4                 Avalanche 2

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