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Good morning! Here’s a look at AP’s general news coverage today in Pennsylvania. For questions about the state report, contact the Philadelphia bureau at 215-561-1133. Joe Mandak is on the desk. Editor Larry Rosenthal can be reached at 215-446-6631 or [email protected].
A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories, digests and digest advisories will keep you up to date.
Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with updates.
TOP STORIES:
MOTHER-BATHTUB DROWNING
PITTSBURGH — A judge is scheduled to issue his verdict in the trial of a mentally ill Pennsylvania woman charged with drowning her two youngest sons in their bathtub. By Joe Mandak. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: Update from 2 p.m. EDT verdict announcement with about 500 words by 4 p.m. EDT.
FAITH HEALING DEATHS
READING — For the first time in dozens of cases, a pastor in a fundamentalist Christian sect that rejects doctors and drugs has been charged in the death of a child — his own granddaughter — from medical neglect. The novel prosecution is raising hopes among some advocates that it might spur change in a church that has resisted it. By Michael Rubinkam. UPCOMING: 840 words, AP Photos by 10 a.m.
EX-TREASURER-CORRUPTION CASE
HARRISBURG — Former state treasurer Rob McCord was expected to continue testifying in the second day of his corruption trial. By Marc Levy. UPCOJMING: 500 words by 5 p.m. EDT.
MILLIONS STOLEN-CASHIER
PITTSBURGH — The former cashier at a Pittsburgh monuments and engraving firm has acknowledged stealing nearly $13 million over 16 years. By Joe Mandak. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 400 words by noon EDT.
ELSEWHERE:
PRISONER ESCAPE-INTERSTATE CHASE
CLEVELAND — Authorities say a handcuffed prisoner who escaped from a transport vehicle in Cleveland is back in custody in northwestern Pennsylvania after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car. SENT: 136 words.
IN BRIEF:
—TEMPLE-SODA TAX — Temple University has agreed to rethink a meal plan cost increase that they say was in response to Philadelphia’s soda tax.
—CHILD-SEX TRAFFICKING FUGITIVE — A western Pennsylvania man who fled to Mississippi to avoid child-sex trafficking charges now faces sentencing before a federal judge in Pittsburgh.
—WINTER WEATHER-PARKING SPOT — State troopers have charged two women with disorderly conduct for a hair-pulling fight that erupted over a newly-shoveled parking spot on a snowy street.
—BOY COLLAPSES IN SNOW — A 5-year-old boy is at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh after police say he collapsed while playing in the snow in the suburbs.
—GROUP HOME WORKER-SEX ABUSE — A worker at a western Pennsylvania group home for troubled youths has been charged with sexually assaulting two residents, one of whom was a minor.
—FATAL HOUSE FIRE — Two people have died in a house fire in Lancaster County.
—GROCERY STORE ATTACK — Authorities in Philadelphia are searching for two women who they say attacked an employee at a grocery store.
SPORTS:
BKC–NCAA-BUCKNELL-WEST VIRGINIA
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The West Region’s fourth-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers (26-8) open the NCAA Tournament against Patriot League champion Bucknell Bison (26-8) on Thursday afternoon. By John Wawrow. UPCOMING: 650 words, AP photos developing from 2:45 p.m. EDT start.
BKC–NCAA-VILLANOVA-MOUNT ST MARY’S
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The No. 1 overall seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, defending champion Villanova begins its quest to become the first repeat winner since 2007 when it faces No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s in the opening round of the East region. By Tom Withers. UPCOMING: 700 words, AP Photos.
BKC-NCAA-DRESS FOR SUCCESS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sometimes the toughest coaching decisions aren’t zone defense or man-to-man, but double breasted or vest? By Tom Withers. SENT: 606 words, AP Photos.
BKW–NCAA-SOUTH BEND
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Ninth-seed Purdue will play its first game since coach Sharon Versyp revealed to the team she has early stage breast cancer. Purdue faces Green Bay on Friday in an NCAA tourney opener, followed by Notre Dame against Robert Morris. By Tom Coyne. UPCOMING: 500 words, AP Photos by 6 p.m. EDT.
BKW–NCAA–COLLEGE PARK
COLLEGE PARK, Md. —No. 3 seed Maryland has the advantage of playing at home Friday against Bucknell in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Elon and West Virginia also meet Friday in another duel of conference champions. By David Ginsburg. UPCOMING: 600 words, AP Photos by 5:30 p.m. EDT
HKN–FLYERS-DEVILS
NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils will try to snap a 10-game winless streak when they face the Philadelphia Flyers at the Prudential Center. By Tom Canavan. UPCOMING: 600, AP Photos developing from at 7 p.m. EDT start.
PMS ONLY:
HKN-PENGUINS-FLYERS
PHILADELPHIA — Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers feel their record isn’t indicative of the team they have. They certainly showed why on Wednesday night. By Aaron Bracy. SENT: 820 words, AP Photos.
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If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to [email protected]. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at [email protected] or 877-836-9477.
MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from Pennsylvania and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational pane of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click “All” or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.