THE MINI PAGE: An expert explains the ups and downs of the iconic yo-yo. Page 20
Movie Begins at Dusk
Held at Memorial Park
OUTDOOR MOVIE SCREENING JUNE 29 “A Farewell to Arms” (1932)
MONDAY JUNE 27, 2016
20 pages — 2 sections Vol. 112 — No. 305
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U.K. tries to allay fiscal fears
BICENTENNIAL BEAUTIES
By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press
LONDON — Britain’s Treasury chief sought today to ease concerns about the vote to leave the European Union, saying the economy is as strong as it could be to face the uncertainty — even as a survey showed many companies are looking to move business out of the country. In his first public appearance since Thursday’s referendum, George Osborne stressed that Britain’s economy is in a far better position than it was at the start of the 2008 financial crisis. “It will not be plain sailing in the days ahead,” he said. “But let me be clear. You should not underestimate our resolve. We were prepared for the unexpected.” The leaders of Germany, Italy and France will be huddling in Berlin to discuss the vote, trying to hone a common message that negotiations need to get underway quickly on the exit so as not to continue the uncertainty. Questions remain about exactly how the exit would happen. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she understands Britain may need “a certain amount of time to analyze things” before invoking Article 50 of the EU treaty, which will trigger the process for leaving. Prime
JAMES J. NESTOR/Gazette
CLASSIC CARS lined Philadelphia Street in Indiana on Sunday for a car show that was part of the ongoing bicentennial celebration. The show benefited veterans through the organization Team Red White and Blue and included raffles, music and more.
NIE Gazette Summer Experience to help area students keep sharp By ELLEN MATIS
ematis@indianagazette.net
Area students in grades kindergarten through 12 are invited once again this year to participate in The Indiana Gazette’s Summer Learning Experience. A program that’s been around for nearly 30 years, the NIE Summer Experience gives students the opportunity to continue learning throughout the summer break. This year, the program features activities that highlight both Indiana Borough’s bicentennial celebration
and the presidential election. “The theme is ‘Celebrate History,’ said Hastie Kinter, coordinator of the Gazette’s NIE program. “We’re going to tie into Indiana’s bicentennial and also have activities about the election.” Activities will focus more on what’s unique about Indiana County in general rather than Indiana Borough itself, encouraging participation from
each school district in the area. The newspaper, in general, gives its younger readers the chance to learn about the upcoming presidential election — and some of this year’s activities will reinforce that. “We all need to be good citizens, and the newspaper provides (kids) an opportunity to learn about the candidates so that when they become voters, they are informed voters,” Kinter said. In order to earn a 2016 Summer Experience T-shirt, students will need to complete five out of nine activities to Continued on Page 12
Minister David Cameron has said he will resign and his successor, to be chosen by the fall, should be the one to navigate that process. Merkel wouldn’t comment on whether it’s acceptable for London to wait until October, but said that a “long-term suspension” of the question wouldn’t be in either side’s economic interest. In the first direct reflection of the uncertainty hitting business confidence, a leading business group said 20 percent of its members plan to move some of their operations outside of the U.K. The Institute of Directors said today that a survey of its 1,000 members showed that three out of four believe that Britain’s exit from the EU, known as Brexit, will be bad for business. The pound hit a new 31year record low, dropping another 3.5 percent to $1.3199. Stock markets also declined across Europe. Bank shares were particularly hard hit, as they are considered a mirror on the larger economy. Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland, once the world’s largest bank, fell some 20 percent. Osborne pledged not to impose a new austerity budget — even though he said during the campaign that one would be necessary if voters chose to Continued on Page 12
Commander: Fallujah fully liberated from IS By SINAN SALAHEDDIN and SUSANNAH GEORGE Associated Press
BAGHDAD — Five weeks after a military operation began, a senior Iraqi commander declared Sunday that the city of Fallujah was “fully liberated” from the Islamic State group, giving a major boost to the country’s security and political leadership in its fight against the extremists. Recapturing Fallujah, the first city to fall to the Islamic State group more than two years ago, means that authorities can now set their sights on militantheld Mosul, Iraq’s second-
largest city. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, visiting central Fallujah with the celebrating troops, vowed that the Iraqi flag would next be raised above Mosul. But that campaign has been progressing in fits and starts, revealing the deep divisions among the different groups that make up the security forces. Iraqi troops entered Fallujah’s northwestern neighborhood of al-Julan, the last part of the city under IS control, said Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab alSaadi, head of the counterterrorism forces in the operation. The operation, which
began May 22, “is done, and the city is fully liberated,” al-Saadi told The Associated Press. Al-Abadi, dressed in the black fatigues of the counterterrorism forces and carrying an Iraqi flag, visited Fallujah’s central hospital Sunday evening and called for residents of the city 40 miles west of Baghdad to celebrate the military advance. But tens of thousands of people from Fallujah who were forced to flee their homes during the operation are still at overcrowded camps for the displaced with limited shelter in the Anbar desert. The U.S.-led Continued on Page 12
Elusive deal could push work on state budget past deadline By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG — The start of Pennsylvania state government’s 2016-17 fiscal year is just four days away and key budget legislation remains under negotiation behind closed doors. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature have reported no agreements on spending or how to pay for it, and have not unveiled a bipartisan budget package. Negotiations continued through the weekend, and lawmakers were to return to the Capitol today, virtually ensuring that a budget will not meet the fiscal-year deadline. Negotiators are tight-lipped, while rank-and-file lawmakers who must vote
on it say they are being told little by caucus leaders. A look at some key topics:
SPENDING According to lawmakers, the debate is between a Republican position of roughly $31.5 billion, a 5 percent increase, and $31.9 billion being sought by Democrats, a 6 percent bump. Wolf is seeking enough money to balance a long-term deficit projected at $1.8 billion in the 2016-2017 fiscal year by the Legislature’s Independent Fiscal Office and to increase aid to public schools for instruction and operations by $250 million, or about 4 percent. Funding for human services and public schools could be affected, depending on the spending level. The deficit is driven Continued on Page 12
Index Classifieds ...............22-24 Comics/TV....................19 Dear Abby .....................11
Entertainment ..............21 Family .............................8 Lottery.............................2 Sports.......................13-17 The Mini Page ..............20 Today in History...........11 Viewpoint .......................6
Courtesy of Indiana Fire Association
FIREFIGHTERS WORKED to extinguish a blaze early Sunday at 71 Oakland Ave. in Homer City, where three people were left homeless.
Homer City family of three safe after fire damages home By CHAUNCEY ROSS
chauncey@indianagazette.net
HOMER CITY — Fire heavily damaged a house early Sunday in Homer City, leaving three people homeless and causing some brief anxious moments when a man was unable to get out of the house. Homer City Borough police entered the burning two-story house at 71 Oak-
land Ave. to help Nathan Barney, 31, reach safety from the smoke-filled living room. Barney’s mother and stepfather, Kathy Walker and Scott Walker, discovered smoke and fire in the house as they arrived home about 2:15 a.m., and Scott Walker tried to enter the house while Kathy Walker phoned in the emergency to Indiana County 911.
Deaths 66 80 Clear tonight. A shower or storm Tuesday. Page 2
Obituaries on Page 4 KENNEY, Thomas B. Jr., 65, Homer City NAYBOR, Joseph Michael Jr., 80, Avonmore PACIFIC, Mario, 87, Saltsburg POLLOCK, John Sr., 95, Brenizer SMITH, Irene D. “Renee” Smith, 85, Blairsville STUMPF, Raymond Jay, 46, Aultman STUMPF, Shannon (Gray), 44, Aultman
“I ran in and couldn’t get through the back door,” Scott Walker said. “Between the kitchen and the living room, it was involved in flames. I took a couple of steps in and I couldn’t breathe. “I ran around front, screaming his name and I couldn’t get in the front door because it was bad.” Borough police said offiContinued on Page 12
Inside NOT LETTING UP At least 25 West Virginia counties are under a flashflood watch, and forecasters say downpours are possible in many areas already devastated by flooding. Page 5
INAUGURAL PASSAGE A huge container ship on Sunday entered newly expanded locks that will double the Panama Canal’s capacity. Page 10