PITTSBURGH — Construction on a new $290 million arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins is scheduled to begin within weeks.

The city-county Sports and Exhibition Authority on Wednesday authorized payments of more than $50 million to begin clearing debris and excavating land at the site.

The agency's executive director said construction-related earth moving should begin by the end of the month or early August.

Mary Conturo said the arena is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2010-11 hockey season.

The new multipurpose arena will replace Mellon Arena, which was built in 1961.

BRADFORD — Allegheny National Forest officials are considering fully or partially closing some recreational facilities in Pennsylvania's only national forest because of limited funding.Officials said choices will be difficult, but the idea is to save money by closing facilities close to other similar ones, closing little-used facilities and saving on reduced maintenance costs.Among the facilities facing possible closure are a boat launch, an information center, trails and recreation areas. Much of the forest's recreation site infrastructure was built in the 1960s.

NEW CASTLE — Lawrence County must turn over records pertaining to former treasurer Gary Felasco to a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh by July 22.County officials confirmed the subpoena, but will not comment on it.The subpoena covers records from 2003 through 2006, when Felasco was the county treasurer.Felasco was removed as treasurer in August 2006 when he was sentenced to one to seven years in state prison.State prosecutors said Felasco stole more than $170,000 from the office and used the money to rent space for a sex club and other personal expenses.He was released from prison last August and is now on parole.