Tom Corbett

The Franklin County (Pa.) Department of Emergency Services is seeking local businesses affected by a tractor-trailer fire Thursday that closed Interstate 81 in Dauphin County, Pa., for several days. Due to the crash and fire last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett declared a state of disaster. He is consulting with the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine if there is a need for a federal declaration, according to a news release. If a federal declaration is made, there might be federal funds available to offset uninsured business losses due to the incident.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett says a Franklin County man accused of traveling to York, Pa., to have sex with what he believed was a 14-year old girl, and a former girls' volleyball coach for a suburban Philadelphia school were among those arrested in an online sex sting. Corbett said Chad Randall Keefer, 43, of 13327 Locust Level Road, Greencastle, Pa., allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a 13-year-old girl from York, Pa. Keefer allegedly asked if she would be interested in meeting so they could "play" -- explaining that he was interested in touching and feeling her, along with "whatever else" she would allow, Corbett said.

Franklin County, Pa., lawmakers expect grim news when Gov. Tom Corbett delivers his annual budget address Feb. 7. Poor tax collections are resulting in an unexpected budgetary shortfall that some estimates place at $1.5 billion, according to state Sen. Richard Alloway, R-Franklin/Adams/York. “We have an idea it's not going to be good. We have our work cut out for us,” Alloway said. Some legislative leaders are pushing for public education to be funded at the same levels as 2011-12, state Rep. Todd Rock, R-Franklin, said.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Richard Alloway II exited stage left and affixed his eyes squarely on Robert "Bob" Curley on Monday evening. Alloway had spoken for three minutes as the first Pennsylvania Senate candidate given the opportunity to do so at the annual Franklin County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. The 33rd District candidate was noticeably riled up. Curley, one of Alloway's three opponents, had spoken out over the weekend about what Curley maintains are omissions about Alloway's work history.

Negotiating teams for the Waynesboro Area School Board and the district's teachers union met Wednesday for a bargaining session that both sides described as unproductive. The meeting involved "heated exchanges" and "disagreement," according to Richard Galtman, a lawyer serving as lead negotiator for the school board. "I think the frustration level on both sides is palpable. ... We disconnect on what is and what is not a fair proposal," Galtman said. "It has definitely turned to hostile discussion, majorly hostile discussion of the financial status of the board.

The Waynesboro Area School Board is expected to continue hammering out its 2011-12 budget and possible program cuts at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday. The board is looking at areas of its curriculum not mandated by the state to be taught. On its list are some foreign language, technology education, and family and consumer sciences classes, according to Superintendent James Robertson. “We’re just looking at ways to close the gap,” Robertson said Monday. The board is grappling with an anticipated $1.9 million deficit, which is after two support staff positions and six teacher positions are cut. Contributing to the deficit is a plan from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to return K-12 public education funding to 2008-09 levels.

The Chambersburg Area School Board learned Wednesday that the district has received state approval to potentially increase taxes by an additional 1.6125 mills, if they see fit, in its 2011-12 budget. The board's Finance Committee met on April 11 and committee members learned that the district was approved for the Act 1 index exceptions. Anne Boryan, a Finance Committee member, reported to the board during its regular meeting Wednesday night inside an almost empty board room at the Administration Building.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A Waynesboro man has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of distributing approximately 10 ounces of methamphetamine he obtained in Hagerstown in 2005, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. Carlos Justin Mills, 27, of 2954 Oak Hill Road, was arraigned Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Larry Pentz in Waynesboro on charges of delivery of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy, according to Pentz's office. He was released on $25,000 bail, a member of Pentz's staff said.

Municipal and county leaders from Franklin County, Pa., called on state representatives Wednesday to address a half-dozen priorities in 2011. The Franklin County Council of Governments (COG) provided five legislators with information about transportation funding, prevailing wage, bid limits, electronic advertising, police radar and storm water management. COG members also shared a few of their other concerns during a relaxed conversation with state Reps. Dan Moul, Rob Kauffman, Mark Keller and Todd Rock and state Sen. Richard Alloway.

Some of the pedestrian crosswalks in Greencastle could soon get a new look. The Greencastle Borough Council voted unanimously Monday to hire Ginny Lays, president of The Write Group Inc., to research and write a grant to help fund the new crosswalks. But, the council hasn't voted on installing the new crosswalks yet. While Lays will spend about eight hours researching federal, state and foundation funding options to support the project, she is unsure if she'll get the money for the project.