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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A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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:
PENNSYLVANIA GAMBLING EXPANSION
HARRISBURG — Facing a massive budget deficit, Pennsylvania lawmakers are turning to an expansion of casino-style gambling in the nation’s No. 2 commercial gambling state to squeeze more money into the state treasury, but there’s a problem: The state’s lottery and slot-machine revenues are flatlining amid rising competition. By Marc Levy. SENT: About 760 words.
With:
— PENNSYLVANIA GAMBLING EXPANSION-GLANCE.
TRUMP-SANCTUARY CITIES
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration intensified its threats to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with federal immigration authorities, warning nine jurisdictions Friday that they may lose coveted law enforcement grant money unless they document cooperation. It sent letters to officials in California and major cities including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans, all places the Justice Department’s inspector general has identified as limiting the information local law enforcement can provide to federal immigration authorities about those in their custody. By Sadie Gurman. SENT: About 1000 words.
With:
— TRUMP-SANCTUARY CITIES-GLANCE.
CONGRESS-COAL MINERS
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers from coal-mining states are pushing to extend health benefits for more than 22,000 retired miners and widows whose medical coverage is set to expire at the end of April. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and other coal-state Democrats threatened to shut down the government over the issue in December, but retreated after winning a four-month extension that preserves benefits through April 30. As lawmakers return to the Capitol following a two-week recess, Manchin says the time for extensions is over. By Matthew Daly. SENT: About 850 words.
EXCHANGE:
EXCHANGE–BOXING CHURCH
PHILADELPHIA — You can hear the man from the stairs. He calls out “Xanny! Percs!” as the El above him pulls away. Such is life in Kensington — what pastor Mark “Buddy” Osborn calls “the epicenter of the heroin trade” in Philadelphia. Rock Ministries is plain and peach-colored, standing out amid the row of homes and storefronts on Kensington Avenue mostly thanks to a single word of multicolored graffiti scrawled on its wall: Jesus. Step inside and you find the boxing gym. Osborn stands on the sidewalk in front of Rock Ministries, just 100 or so feet away from the drug dealer. His ministry gives free boxing lessons to kids, provided they attend a short Bible study. On some nights, as many as 75 kids come to the Rock to box. An additional 35 do homework in the study space upstairs. His gym isn’t so different from any other in the city, Osborn insists. “I just add scripture to it.” David Murrell, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
EXCHANGE-ORTHODOX CHURCHES STRUGGLE
PITTSBURGH — The bright blue cupolas atop SS. Cyril & Methodius Orthodox Church are an unmistakable landmark in Jeannette — symbols of a parish once home to more than 50 Russian families. In Monessen, families used to fill folding chairs beside packed church pews during Sunday services at St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church. Not so today. Not at St. Michael, not at many other Orthodox churches in southwestern Pennsylvania. George Essey, 81, one of 16 worshipers at St. Michael on a recent Sunday, was one of 10 a week earlier. Worshippers and leaders attribute parish struggles to the region’s transformation from a booming, steel-fueled immigrant haven to the epitome of Rust Belt decline. Stephen Huba and Michael Walton, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
EXCHANGE-THRIFT STORES-ADDICTS
LEBANON — Lebanon native Andrew Beenick checks all the boxes for a tragic story of opioid abuse. He started using drugs to have a good time. It began with pills like OxyContin but progressed to crack cocaine and his drug of choice, the dreaded heroin. Soon, Beenick wasn’t even getting an enjoyable high; he was using to just survive each day. He wandered in and out of jail before landing in prison for 15 months in October 2014 on drug charges. But Beenick’s story doesn’t end in tragedy. Instead, he beat the odds and is two-and-a-half years sober – thanks in part to the support of the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center near Harrisburg. Yes, we’re talking about the same Salvation Army famous for its thrift stores and Christmas-time bell ringers. All proceeds from six central Pennsylvania stores – including the thrift store at the eastern edge of Lebanon – support the rehab center, said Ryan Reed, director of operations. Daniel Walmer, Lebanon Daily News.
EXCHANGE-FROM HERO TO OFFICER
RIDLEY PARK — From modest hero to police officer and soon-to-be groomsman, life is good for Joseph Chambers. A lot has happened since Chambers, 20, rescued an on-duty Philadelphia officer from his burning police vehicle in 2014. Chambers not only graduated from both Ridley High School and the Delaware County Municipal Police Academy, but started working as a police officer in Folcroft and, most recently, in Ridley Park. For this dedicated part timer – who as a kid never missed a television episode of “Cops” – any day he wears the uniform is a welcome one. “I’ve always wanted to be a cop since I saw my first police car,” Chambers said. ” They were people I really looked up to.” Rose Quinn, Delaware County Daily Times.
EXCHANGE-ABUSED DOG’S RECOVERY
SCOTLAND, Pa. — Surrounded by old feces, urine and the bodies of two other dogs, a nightmare of neglect ended for two German shepherds when their human saviors found them last June. But ultimately, there was only survivor. Today, Bear’s then-hollow sides and protruding ribs are filled out like they should be, and he is able to run around the huge farm that is his new home, far away from the Greene Township basement where he went famished and forgotten. Bear weighed 35 pounds when Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter Humane Office Cindy Byers found her. For the next five months, Byers worked closely with Bear, training him to walk alongside her and with a leash, because she got the impression that he didn’t know what a leash was. She got him doing agility work as well and basic commands. “He turned out to be a very smart dog, and we bonded,” Byers said. “It was hard to let him go.” Becky Metrick, (Chambersburg) Public Opinion.
IN BRIEF:
TRUMP RALLY — President Donald Trump says he’ll mark his 100th day in office with a “BIG” rally in Pennsylvania. Trump hits 100 days on April 29 — that’s next Saturday.
DOG WALKER KILLED — A second teenager has been convicted in the attempted robbery and slaying of a northwest Philadelphia man shot as he was walking his dog two years ago.
FALL FROM BUILDING — Authorities in western Pennsylvania say a man has died following a fall from a Pittsburgh building.
LABORER-HOME DEATH — Authorities in western Pennsylvania say the death of a laborer who came into contact with electricity while working on a Pittsburgh home has been ruled accidental.
STATE TROOPER-INDECENT ASSAULT — A suspended Pennsylvania state trooper has reached a plea agreement that will spare him a felony conviction on sex assault charges.
DEER PLUNGE FROM BRIDGE — State game commission officials are investigating the deaths of four deer that jumped from a new bridge in western Pennsylvania.
SPORTS:
FBN–DRAFT-OUTDOOR VENUE
PHILADELPHIA — Yo, Roger, they did it. When the NFL chose Philadelphia to host the 2017 draft, it quickly became clear one of the world’s most famous movie locations would be the perfect site to hold the three-day extravaganza. “We had talked about a couple different venues for the NFL and they wanted the Rocky steps and they wanted the Art Museum,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney told The Associated Press. “So that’s what we gave them. It will be a terrific event.” By Rob Maadddi. SENT: About 900 words.
BBN–BRAVES-PHILLIES
PHILADELPHIA — Jerad Eickhoff (0-1) and the Phillies seek their Braves, who send Jamie Garcia (0-1) to the mound to stop a four-game skid. By Rob Maaddi. Upcoming. 650 words. AP Photos. Starts 7:05 p.m. EDT.
BBO–YANKEES-PIRATES
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates go for their second straight win over the New York Yankees on Saturday. Jameson Taillon (1-0, 0.90 ERA) starts for Pittsburgh against Michael Pineda (2-1, 3.44). Game begins at 4:05 p.m. EDT. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
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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.