Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Good afternoon! 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. Ron Todt 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A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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:

HEALTH OVERHAUL-OLDER AND PRICED OUT

The Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act will hit hardest on one of the groups that voted most heavily for President Donald Trump last year — older Americans who have not yet reached Medicare age. An analysis of data from the insurance marketplaces shows a majority of them are in states that went for Trump, who pledged to repeal the Obama-era health care law but also promised “insurance for everybody.” Many of these adults now fear being priced out of the health care market under the GOP plan. Here are stories from four of them — two Republicans and two Democrats. By Kelli Kennedy and Michael Rubinkam. SENT: About 1580 words, photos.

With:

— Sidebar with 2016 county-level data on age of consumers who purchased on the federal exchange; and 2017 marketplace data for all 50 states.

PENN STATE-ABUSE

HARRISBURG — After two fellow administrators struck plea deals, the former president of Penn State university goes on trial this week on charges his response to the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal put children in danger. By Mark Scolforo. UPCOMING: About 500 words.

OPIOD REFUSALS

HARTFORD, Conn. — The ease of relapsing into opioid addiction has led a growing number of states to help residents make it clear to medical professionals they do not want to be prescribed the powerful painkillers. Connecticut and Alaska are two of the latest considering legislation this year that would create a “non-opioid directive” patients can put in their medical files, formally notifying health care professionals they do not want to be prescribed or administered opioid medications. Legislators in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania last year voted to create similar voluntary directives. By Susan Haigh. SENT: About 720 words.

FOOD AND FARM-SAFFRON

BURLINGTON, Vt. — As spring crocus blooms approach, some growers have visions of a fall-flowering crocus that produces saffron, the world’s most valuable spice. University of Vermont researchers have been raising the exotic spice now grown primarily in Iran and are encouraging growers to tap into what they hope will be a cash crop. There are other small growers around the country, including Mennonite and Amish farmers, who have been raising it outside in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Maine. By Lisa Rathke. SENT: About 620 words.

STUDENT LAWYERS

SAN FRANCISCO —Arguing a case before a panel of federal appeals-court judges can be daunting even for experienced lawyers. Their clients often have much at stake, and the judges can be relentless, interrupting to point out weaknesses and even occasionally to scold. So Helen Andrews was understandably anxious when, as a third-year Pepperdine University law student, she stepped before three judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year in a case that could change the way inmates are monitored in an Arizona county. The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appear to be the only other federal appellate courts with similar programs. By Sudhin Thanawala. SENT: About 850 words.

EXCHANGE:

EXCHANGE-MON-FAYETTE EXPRESSWAY

PITTSBURGH —The future of the $1.6 billion Mon-Fayette Expressway faces a crucial vote Monday, and two top local leaders say they aren’t convinced the project should move ahead. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto say they are concerned about the huge price tag and expected 25-year build out and wonder whether other projects could benefit the region more. For decades, the project has been viewed as the savior for the Monongahela Valley, which has faced hard times since the steel industry’s collapse in the 1970s and 1980s. There have been several redesigns, including eliminating a leg into Pittsburgh because of community opposition and its high price. Ed Blazina, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. SENT: About 850 words.

IN BRIEF:

PEDESTRIANS STRUCK — Authorities have released the name of a pedestrian killed when he and another man were struck by a taxi that jumped a curb in downtown Pittsburgh on St. Patrick’s Day.

FATAL SNOWMOBILE CRASH — Authorities say a man was killed in a snowmobile accident in a wooded eastern Pennsylvania area, one of three people killed in accidents in a 13-hour period.

SHOT IN BAR — Authorities in western Pennsylvania have released the name of a man shot and killed in a Pittsburgh bar.

OMAHA-SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH — The two remaining finalists for the Omaha superintendent job have withdrawn, forcing the school board to reopen the search it began last fall. The Omaha World-Herald reports the school board was expected to pick either Sioux City, Iowa, Superintendent Paul Gausman or Reading, Pennsylvania, Superintendent Khalid Mumin at its meeting Monday night

SPORTS:

BKN–CELTICS-76ERS

PHILADELPHIA — The Boston Celtics play the Philadelphia 76ers. By Dan Gelston. UPCOMING. 650 words. Game starts at 1 p.m. EDT. AP Photos

HKN–PANTHERS-PENGUINS

PITTSBURGH — The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins inch closer to a playoff berth on Sunday against Florida. The Penguins have won all three meetings with the Panthers this season. Game begins at 1 p.m. EDT. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

HKN–HURRICANES-FLYERS

PHILADELPHIA — The Carolina Hurricanes play the Philadelphia Flyers. UPCOMING. 650 words. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT. AP Photos

___

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.