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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 lrosenthal@ap.org.
A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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:
FEDERAL COURT-HELPING FELONS
SCRANTON, Pa. — As a felon with poor credit, Casey Carrick wasn’t exactly a prime candidate for a bank loan. Yet, last fall, nearly two years after his release from prison, Carrick found himself closing on a $12,000 loan from ESSA Bank & Trust. He’s using the money to pay for barber school, already has a job lined up after graduation and dreams of opening his own shop. Carrick took advantage of an unusual new program that helps federal convicts get back on their feet by hooking them up with a bank, a community college and drug-and-alcohol treatment. By Michael Rubinkam. SENT: About 730 words.
URSINUS COLLEGE-ILLNESS
COLLEGEVILLE —Officials say a norovirus has been confirmed as the source of a stomach illness that sickened more than 200 students at an eastern Pennsylvania college last week.
BODY FOUND-RECYCLING BIN
ALLENTOWN — Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a recycling bin.
WINTER WEATHER
NEW YORK — A grab bag of weather conditions — including snow and sleet — will descend on communities from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast, but with many people off for Washington’s Birthday, it might be just another day to hunker down.
EXCHANGE:
EXCHANGE-WHISKEY REBELLION REMEMBERED
BEDFORD — Crowds of onlookers filled Bedford’s streets Oct. 19, 1794, as the President of the United States rode into town. A witness recalled that 62-year-old Washington – “the Father of His Country,” as he was already widely called – appeared pleased as he passed down a street, but this was no campaign stop. Washington stood at the head of an army, and to many in Bedford, it was an unwanted occupying force. It would be the only time in American history that a sitting president led an army in the field. “They probably weren’t happy to see he was there,” local historian Larry Smith of East Freedom said. It’s been more than 220 years since Washington stayed in Bedford as he moved to put down tax-protesting rebels in western Pennsylvania. As the country marks the 283rd anniversary of Washington’s birth, some in Bedford hope to turn the so-called Whiskey Rebellion into a point of pride – and tourism. Ryan Brown, The (Altoona) Mirror. SENT: About 1530 words.
IN BRIEF:
FATAL CRASH — Authorities say speed is considered a factor in a rollover crash that killed two people in eastern Pennsylvania over the weekend.
ANTIQUE FIREARMS STOLEN — Police are investigating the theft of some antique firearms from a central Pennsylvania museum over the weekend.
PLOW DRIVER-GUN — Authorities say a plow truck driver in western Pennsylvania reported being threatened with a gun by a motorist over the weekend.
SPORTS:
HKN–PENGUINS-PANTHERS
SUNRISE, Fla. — The first-place Florida Panthers try to bounce back from consecutive home losses when they play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have won eight of the their past 10 games. By Paul Gereffi. UPCOMING: About 500 words. Game starts 7:30 p.m. EST. Photos.
BBN–SPRING TRAINING-PHILLIES
PHILADELPHIA — — For the Philadelphia Phillies, spring training is all about the future. The rebuilding Phillies accumulated a plethora of young talent in various trades over the past year. Many of those prospects will get ample opportunity to show their stuff this spring. By Rob Maaddi. SENT: About 6000 words.
BBN–SPRING TRAINING-PIRATES
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates watched their NL Central rivals in Chicago and St. Louis spend lavishly in the offseason while taking their typically pragmatic approach to addressing major holes heading into spring training. By Will Graves. SENT: NewsNow. UPCOMING: About 600 words by 5 p.m. EST.
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If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to phillyap@ap.org. 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 apcustomersupport@ap.org 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.