STATE COLLEGE — Penn State University says it is appealing a state panel's decision that could double the university's electric rates.

Penn State said that would force a $25 per semester increase in room and board rates.

The university is asking Commonwealth Court to overturn a Public Utility Commission ruling that Allegheny Power can lift electric rate caps for the campus starting this year. Penn State estimates the electric bill for the campus could go from about $13 million in 2008 to $25.5 million in 2009.

Deregulation is eliminating price caps that utilities say keep rates artificially low. But Penn State said caps for other Allegheny Power customers in Centre County don't end for another year. Associate Vice President Ford Stryker says Penn State students shouldn't be treated differently.

UNIONTOWN — A slow economy that is causing people to delay or do without medical care is fueling one hospital's plans to freeze wages and cut staff.Officials at Uniontown Hospital said they're cutting the equivalent of 50 full-time positions at the hospital by Jan. 25. Those cuts will be made by not filling 27 empty positions and cutting hours of other employees. Among the cuts are 11 employees who will be laid off.The hospital also wants its union employees to agree to a wage freeze starting in July. Nonunion workers had their wages frozen Jan. 1.