Times Leader 3-15-11

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Playing a healthy game?

N.Y. bus crash probe continues

Do exercise-themed video games really work?

Officials: Driver in fatal crash had multiple violations.

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WILKES-BARRE, PA

ANOTHER EXPLOSION Third blast in 4 days hits nuke plant, agency says

OCEAN YIELDS DEAD Hundreds of corpses wash ashore in northeast

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011

GRIM TOLL RISES

Official death count increases to 2,414 from disasters

Nuke threat intensifies

50¢

Missing woman recently filed PFA

Disappearance of Lillian Calabro may be linked to Pittston crime scene, authorities say. By SHEENA DELAZIO sdelazio@timesleader.com

Honshû, about two hours from the epicenter of the earthquake. Gillian, a 2008 graduate of Penn State University, is in Japan on a one-year visa teaching English at an elementary school. Michael, a 2007 graduate of Wilkes and a math and computer science teacher at GAR High School, took a sabbatical in June to join his wife. Mickie said that

PITTSTON – A woman living in a shelter who investigators believe may have been the victim of foul play after blood was found Saturday in a city park has a criminal history and a recently filed protection-from-abuse order. Investigators said Lillian Calabro, 48, has been missing since late Friday evening and her disappearance may be related to a Calabro crime scene discovered near the Water Street Bridge. Attempts to contact Calabro’s family Monday were unsuccessful. Investigators have not specifically said if blood and personal belongings found near the bridge belong to Calabro. In a PFA Calabro filed in November against Andrew Pacovsky, 34 of Wyoming, she alleged physical abuse in a romantic relationship she had with Pacovsky. On Nov. 19, she said Pacovsky returned to their South Main Street, Pittston, residence drunk and disorderly, and threatened to kill her cat. “I locked the door and called the Pittston police department, who asked him to leave,” Calabro wrote. A month earlier, Calabro said Pacovsky, who became dangerous while drinking, slapped her and threatened her with violence, prompting her to stay with a friend for a few days. She wrote that, since the summer of 2010, there “has been an ongoing battle about every two to four weeks” when there is a “cycle of drunken outbursts.” The protection-from-abuse order was granted Nov. 30 by county Senior Judge Richard Saxton for a one-year period. Pacovsky was ordered to stay away from Ca-

See OK, Page 10A

See CALABRO, Page 8A

AP PHOTO

A 1-year-old boy is checked for radiation exposure after being decontaminated in Nihonmatsu, Fukushiima, northern Japan on Monday.

Radiation hazard high; people told stay indoors day-old catastrophe, forcing the government to tell people nearby to stay indoors to avoid exposure. In a nationally televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation had spread from four reactors and told people living within 19 miles of the Daiichi complex to stay indoors to avoid radiation sickness. “The level seems very high, and there is still a very high risk of more radiation coming out,” Kan said.

By By ERIC TALMADGE and MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press

SOMA, Japan — Japan’s nuclear safety agency says a fire in a reactor at a crippled nuclear power plant in tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan has been extinguished. The fire broke out Tuesday at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in one of the hardest-hit provinces in last week’s massive earthquake and tsunami. Meanwhile, radiation was spewing from the Dai-ichi plant in a dramatic escalation of the 4- See JAPAN, Page 10A

Savored message: ‘We’re OK’ in Japan By ANDREW M. SEDER aseder@timesleader.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OSTRUM FAMILY

Michael and Gillian Ostrum, of Wilkes-Barre, are living in Japan, two hours from the epicenter of the 9.0 earthquake.

Mickie Ostrum had already been counting down the days until her son and daughterin-law returned to Wilkes-Barre. But the devastation left behind by last week’s 9.0 magnitude earthquake near Sendai, Japan, caused her countdown to take on greater meaning. Ostrum’s son, Michael, and his wife, Gillian, are in Saitamaken, a region of Japan located on the island of

Pennsylvania being sued after Casey touts the importance adultBasic health care plan ends of Coal Street Park project Three people who were covered by the insurance filed action in Commonwealth Court. The Associated Press

The lawsuit filed in Commonwealth Court alleges that money set aside for the plan, called adultBasic, was unlawfully diverted to other purposes, and is directly responsible for the plan’s end on Feb. 28. The suit, filed by Sheryl Sears of McKeesport, Ronald Guiney of Butler and Florence Spanos of Pittsburgh, also seeks a class-action order. More than 41,000 were covered under adultBasic.

HARRISBURG — Three people who were covered by a state-run health care plan for lower-income adults that stopped being funded two weeks ago sued Monday to force Pennsylvania to re-establish the program. See HEALTH, Page 8A

INSIDE

A NEWS Obituaries 2A, 6A Local 3A Nation & World 5A

Even in tough fiscal times, says senator, renovations vital for community, future. By BILL O’BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – With Congress faced with the task of deciding where to make huge slashes to the national budget, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey on Monday said projects such as Coal Street See PARK , Page 8A

Madness!

Play-in games tip off tonight. Story, 1B

Park should never be affected by those cuts. Casey joined Mayor Tom Leighton at Coal Street Park on Monday morning to announce the start of a multiphased $1million development project that will enhance the outdoor recreational facilities at the park. “I take a back seat to no one when it comes to finding budget cuts,” Casey, D-Scranton, said.

Editorials B SPORTS B BUSINESS Stocks

9A 8B 9B

Weather C HEALTH Birthdays Television

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

Mayor Tom Leighton and Sen. Bob Casey at a press conference Monday to announce the Coal Street Park project.

10B 5C 8C

Movies Puzzles Comics E CLASSIFIED

8C 9C 10C 6

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