CRANBERRY TWP — The township supervisors Thursday evening approved the grading and site preparation work for the new Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School that will be at the intersection of Route 228 and Old Mars Crider Road.

The plan lays out the pad for the school building, includes an initial variety of soil bank and drainage features on its 37-acre site. The township's planning advisory commission this month is set to review land development plans on the school.

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration says it has confirmed low levels of an illegal fungicide in orange juice samples taken from Florida manufacturers.The FDA says the fungicide is far below dangerous levels, the juice is safe to drink and the orange juice won't be recalled from stores or destroyed. The juice tested was mixed with product from Brazil, where the fungicide carbendazim is used.The government is testing for the chemical in domestic orange juice and in imports because carbendazim is not approved for use on oranges in the United States. It is used in other countries, including Brazil, to combat mold on orange trees.

WASHINGTON — Ben Bernanke defended the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates at record-low levels for the next three years during a contentious hearing before federal lawmakers.The Fed chief told the House Budget Committee Thursday that the central bank’s plan is an appropriate step to combat high unemployment while inflation is stable.Bernanke said prices have stabilized since spiking in early 2011 and the dollar has shown no signs of weakening.