Gambling

News in brief from eastern Pennsylvania

philly.com/Philadelphia/PA/USA/26-Jul-05/AP

Wilkes Barre Times-Leader/Wilkes Barre/PA/USA/26-Jul-05

Nepa News/Scranton/PA/USA/26-Jul-05

Centre Daily Times/State College/PA/USA/26-Jul-05

Allentown Morning Call/Allentown/PA/USA/26-Jul-05

… BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - An interfaith meeting to oppose gambling in Bethlehem drew more than 50 people to Christ Church on Monday.

Members of the Moravian, Muslim, Quaker and Mormon faiths were among those attending the meeting. The group opposes a $300 million proposal that would locate slot machines on the former Bethlehem Steel site.

The Rev. Mark Ruzicka, the associate pastor of Christ Church UCC, said the intent of the interfaith group is to "come together and work toward the common goal."

Northampton County Councilwoman Mary Ensslin also attended Monday's meeting. She was one of the council members who voted last week to oppose gambling in Northampton County.

The Rev. David Wickmann, president of the Moravian Church's Northern Province, urged the group to support a city zoning amendment that would bar slot machines from the former steel manufacturing site.

State legislators passed a law last year that allows for the placement of as many as 61,000 slot machines at 14 locations statewide. ...