PASSHE gun policy draws fire from all sides

HARRISBURG -- A proposal that would allow guns and other weapons in the outdoor areas of State System of Higher Education campuses - including Bloomsburg University - but ban them from buildings drew fire from all sides during a public comment session Thursday. Gun rights activists said criminals would ignore the policy and students licensed to carry a weapon would be left defenseless. A student leader asked if the state system would be stationing police officers at the student union door to ensure no one carries a gun from the sidewalk into a building.

The PE Sneak Peek: Jan. 8, 2014

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Wednesday: * Road rage was the reason behind a crash that caused injuries this afternoon, police say. See our breaking online report. * The death of a bright new doctor made headlines last spring. Now her family is suing the Geisinger Health System. Check back for more. * A third suspect is charged in the "pizza deliveryman" burglaries of student apartments.

Man's road rage causes crash, threats to kill, cops say

SCOTT TWP. -- An angry Berwick driver illegally passed a couple on Old Berwick Road only to cut them off and slam on the brakes, sending them crashing into the back of his vehicle Wednesday afternoon, police say. James McMillan, 43, hopped out and started yelling that he was going to kill Danny and Caffie Roeder, witnesses say. McMillan told a different story, alleging that the Roeders had been making obscene gestures and cut him off before ramming their Buick Lucerne into his GEO Tracker.

Blow-dryer sparks house fire

BERWICK -- Firefighters fought a house fire at 239 E. Fifth St. on Tuesday in the extreme cold, officials said. The fire started after a man tried to thaw a frozen pipe under his kitchen sink with a blow-dryer. Richard Slavick ignited some insulation, and flames spread behind a wall from the first to the second floor, authorities said. Firefighters wielded axes to cut into the walls and reach the fire. They contained it quickly, and no one was hurt. The weather was so cold, water froze on a window where firefighters had been spraying.

Central super regrets keeping school open

SCOTT TWP. -- Central Columbia Superintendent Harry Mathias says he regrets keeping schools open Tuesday, after nearly 500 students stayed home and angry parents inundated his office with phone calls and emails. Mathias thought he was making the right decision when he opted not to cancel school, even after every other school district in the region closed, he said. But when only 60 percent of the students showed up, he realized he made a mistake, he says. Usually, attendance is around 92-93 percent, he added.

Fire breaks out in Berwick

BERWICK -- A man trying to thaw the pipes under his kitchen sink set his house on fire Tuesday, firefighters said. Richard Slavick of 239 E. Fifth St. set some insulation on fire during his attempt to unblock his pipes, said Fire Chief Bill Coolbaugh. Slavick says he was using a blow dryer to thaw the plumbing. The fire spread from the first to the second floor, and firefighters had to use axes to cut into the walls to expose fire underneath. Coolbaugh said they quickly had the fire contained. Firefighters from Berwick and Espy responded to the call.

Firefighters battle flames, cold in Danville

DANVILLE -- Firefighters were battling to contain a fire on Ash Street to one house Tuesday in icy cold weather. The fire began around 11:15 a.m. in the 100 block of Ash Street. It appeared to have started in the second floor or attic of the house. At first, heavy smoke poured out of both ends of the roof, and, later, flames broke through the rear of the roof. Police and firefighters evacuated the house where the fire began, along with the homes on either side, located close by to the burning structure.

Wreck near Bloom Carpet sends two to hospital

SOUTH CENTRE TWP. -- Gerald Wiggin Jr., 69, of Bloomsburg, was listed in critical condition at a hospital Tuesday afternoon after his minivan collided head on with a minivan on Route 11 near Bloomsburg Carpet. Wiggin, 13 Ridgecrest Drive, was traveling on northbound Route 11 between Bloomsburg and Berwick when his white 2006 Dodge Caravan drifted across the highway and slammed head on into a southbound blue 2008 Chrysler Town & Country driven by Kimberly Nearhoof-O'Malley, 49, of 6955 Hillside Drive in Bloomsburg, South Centre Township Police said.

Schools debate cold-weather closings

EDITOR'S NOTE: Here's the complete list of school closings for Tuesday. * Benton, CLOSED * Berwick, CLOSED * Bloomsburg, CLOSED * Bloomsburg Christian, CLOSED * Columbia County Christian, CLOSED * Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech, CLOSED * Danville Area, CLOSED * Millville Area, CLOSED * Northwest Area, CLOSED * Southern Columbia, CLOSED * Saint Columba, Bloomsburg, CLOSED

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