Weather officials confirm tornado

HERMITAGE — Weather officials say a tornado that struck western Pennsylvania over the weekend was an EF-0 with maximum winds of 80 mph.

Meteorologist John Darnley of the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh says the twister touched down at about 4 p.m. Sunday just south of Hermitage in Mercer County.

Forecasters said it went a little more than a mile, snapping trees and branches. It also tore off part of a gas station canopy and stripped the shingles from much of the roof of one home.

The tornado occurred 30 years to the day after a deadly twister tore through the region, killing dozens and injuring hundreds in the northeastern United States and Canada.

Flooding from the weekend storm closed roads in Jamestown, Greenville and Sugar Grove. No injuries were reported.

Lawmakers plead guilty in sting case

HARRISBURG — The undercover sting that state Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s office called too flawed to win convictions did just that Monday, racking up guilty pleas from a legislator and a former lawmaker, bringing the total to three after Philadelphia prosecutors took over the case.

The two Philadelphia Democrats will be given probation and will get to keep their state pensions.

Appearing in Dauphin County court, Rep. Ron Waters pleaded guilty to nine counts of conflict of interest, requiring him to serve 23 months on probation and resign the seat in the state House of Representatives he had held since 1999. He submitted his formal notice of resignation later in the day.

Former Rep. Harold James pleaded guilty to a single count of conflict of interest and received 12 months of probation.