[naviga:h3]Prosecutor: City lacks gun authority[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — A prosecutor is telling Pittsburgh’s city council that it lacks the authority to pass restrictions on some firearms and ammunition.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala says in a letter to a councilman, dated Jan. 9, he understands the effort to curtail gun violence, but believes the legislation would be unconstitutional.

The bills would ban semi-automatic rifles and certain ammunition and accessories.

Council introduced the bills in the wake of the October massacre at Tree of Life synagogue, where 11 worshippers were killed.

The gunman shot his victims with an AR-15 — the weapon used in many of the nation’s mass shootings — and three handguns.

Zappala says the restrictions would need to come from the state legislature.

[naviga:h3]Police: Irate fan put dog in microwave[/naviga:h3]

HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Police say a woman upset about the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the New Orleans Saints got into an argument with her girlfriend and put the friend’s dog in a microwave.

Kirsten Gaskins of Philadelphia faces charges including assault, harassment and cruelty to animals. The Morning Call newspaper reports the 31-year-old Gaskins began yelling at the woman about the game. Gaskins allegedly punched the woman and told her if she left the room Gaskins would kill the dog.

When police arrived, they found the white Pomeranian in the microwave. The device hadn’t been turned on.