HARRISBURG — Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell said legislative leaders are making progress again toward a budget agreement after the collapse of a previous deal.

Rendell spoke briefly with reporters while leaving his Capitol offices Sunday night following a meeting with top House and Senate Democrats.

Rendell said he believes "there's going to be a compromise" and the differences between Democrats and the Senate's Republican majority "are narrowing substantially."

The state's budget is already three months late, while the politically divided Legislature has struggled over how to resolve a multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall.

A deal on a nearly $28 billion budget was announced Sept. 18. But rank-and-file House Democrats forced key changes to the deal's tax package Republicans oppose.

PITTSBURGH — A pregnant aerobics instructor sued the estate of the gunman who wounded her and eight other women and killed three others at a health club in August.Attorneys for 26-year-old Mary Beth Primis and her husband, Alex, of Moon Township, said they filed the lawsuit today in Allegheny County. Primis and her unborn baby survived, though she claims the risk of a miscarriage exists.The couple are seeking $175,000 in damages from the estate of George Sodini, 48, of Scott Township. Sodini fatally shot himself after shooting 12 women in Primis' class at an L.A. Fitness Health club in Collier Township on Aug. 4.Sodini left $225,000 to his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, which refused the gift. At least two other victims have filed papers saying they intend to sue Sodini's estate.

ALLENTOWN — Authorities in northeastern Pennsylvania said a woman was killed by her pet black bear as she cleaned its cage.State police said Kelly Ann Walz, 37, of Ross Township, Monroe County, was mauled to death Sunday evening by the 350-pound bear.A state Game Commission spokesman said Walz kept the bear inside a 15-by-15 foot steel and concrete cage near her house.Officials said Walz threw a shovelful of dog food to one side of the cage to distract the bear while she cleaned the other side. At some point, the bear turned on her and attacked.The bear was shot and killed. No information was available about who shot the bear.Game officials said Walz also owned a Bengal tiger and an African lion.

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will launch his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor.The 48-year-old is in his second term as county executive and was formerly a Pittsburgh councilman and county controller. He planned to make his candidacy official today.Onorato will compete with Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty and Montgomery County Commissioner Joel Hoeffel for the 2010 nomination. Auditor General Jack Wagner also has signaled interest in the Democratic nomination, but hasn't officially joined the race.Attorney General Tom Corbett will face state Rep. Jim Gerlach of Chester County for the Republican nomination.