PITTSBURGH — A federal judge forbade defense attorneys to mention at trial a claim that the prosecution of former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht is politically motivated.

U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab also denied a hearing on the claim, ruling that a defense motion was untimely, without merit and raised nothing new.

Wecht is scheduled for trial in January on charges he used his county staff to do work for his private multimillion-dollar pathology practice. The coroner, whose has consulted privately in the deaths of Elvis Presley, JonBenet Ramsey and others, resigned in January after being indicted on 84 counts by a federal grand jury.

In his ruling, Schwab wrote that Wecht previously claimed that his prosecution was motivated by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., a fellow Democrat.

In Wecht's latest motion, Schwab wrote, Wecht contended U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan charged him "as part of a plan emanating from Karl Rove to dismiss prosecutors who were not using prosecutorial powers against Democrats, or due to this particular United States attorney's assessment of how to improve her prospects for career advancement in the eyes of high-ranking Republican officials having powers of promotion, nomination or appointment."

Schwab found both claims without merit.

HARRISBURG — Ten people died in crashes on Pennsylvania highways during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday period.Authorities said 320 others were injured in more than 1,000 crashes investigated by state police.Police said seven of those killed were not wearing seat belts; four of the deaths were in alcohol-related crashes.

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County officials say they'll try to build a temporary bridge to reach eight families isolated when a small bridge leading to their neighborhood buckled.Emergency crews responded just before midnight Monday when the bridge over Little Pine Creek cracked. The bridge is the only link between eight O'Hara Township families and Saxonburg Boulevard, a major road that runs through the township.Township officials say a pier in the creek sank after heavy rains last night.Plans won't become clear until heavy equipment can begin work today.

BERLIN, Pa. — A Somerset County hunter has died after falling from a tree stand.The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports 56-year-old Roger Deem of Meyersdale died Monday, the first day of rifle deer season, after falling about 20 feet from a stand in Brothersvalley Township.State police called the death accidental.Additionally, a Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman said an Irwin, Westmoreland County, man shot himself in the foot with a rifle on Monday in Armstrong County. The man's name wasn't immediately released.The season continues through Dec. 8.