Al Martino

SPRINGFIELD — Singer Al Martino, who played the role of Johnny Fontane in "The Godfather," died at his childhood home in the Philadelphia suburb of Springfield, Delaware County.

Publicist Sandy Friedman of Rogers & Cowan said Martino died Tuesday afternoon. He was 82.

Starting in 1952, Martino was known for hit songs including "Here in My Heart," "Spanish Eyes," "Can't Help Falling In Love" and "Volare." In addition to acting in "The Godfather," Martino sang the 1972 film's title score, "The Love Theme From The Godfather."

Martino was born in South Philadelphia as Alfred Cini and was a longtime resident of Beverly Hills, Calif.

BROOKVILLE — A town will pay a church $100,000 to settle a feud created after it forced the parish to stop housing the homeless.In 2008, Brookville officials accused the First Apostles' Doctrine Church of violating zoning ordinances by housing the homeless at the parsonage and forced the church to remove them.In November 2008, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the town. Later, the town agreed to allow up to eight homeless people and two staff to remain in the building.The ACLU said Brookville will now pay the church $100,000 to settle the case completely. The church said the money will be used to care for the homeless.

ALIQUIPPA — Animal welfare officers found and removed emaciated dogs, cats and horses from a farm.The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed the animals Monday from the farm.Officer Nicole Wilson said the four horses, seven dogs and several cats were emaciated. She said an aborted horse fetus and several cat carcasses also were found.The horses were moved to a nearby farm for fear they could not survive a trip to PSPCA headquarters in Philadelphia. The dogs and cats were taken to Philadelphia.An owner of the farm recently died. Neighbors said his widow asked for help feeding the animals while she made funeral arrangements.

LANCASTER — A memorial was held for a soccer mom who symbolized the national gun-rights debate before being killed in a murder-suicide.Family and friends remembered Meleanie Hain on Tuesday during a service at a funeral home in Lancaster.The 31-year-old suburban mother made headlines last year for carrying a loaded handgun to her young daughter's soccer game.Authorities said Hain's husband, Scott, fatally shot her last week at their home before killing himself. The couple had three children.Meleanie Hain's burial will be private. Instead of flowers, her family requests donations be made to the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association.

HELLERTOWN — Teachers are heading to the picket lines for the second time in as many years.The Saucon Valley School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to reject the latest contract offer from the teachers, who have been without a contract for more than a year. There are about 2,500 students in the district in Hellertown, near Bethlehem.Eric Stever, spokesman for the Saucon Valley Education Association, said the teachers plan to stay out for 15 to 17 days, the maximum time allowed by state law.The two sides have been at odds over salary increases and other issues. Teachers went on strike for a week in September 2008 to protest the lack of a contract.

EBENSBURG — Members of a conservative Amish sect met with municipal officials to try to settle a dispute over the legal use of outhouses.A hearing in Cambria County Court scheduled Tuesday didn't go on as planned because the leader of the local Swartzentruber Amish sect was out of town. Instead, the Amish, lawyers and a county judge met in chambers.The Amish families want to re-enter a school and two homes ordered padlocked earlier this year after they were cited for not bringing the buildings into compliance with modern sewage regulations.A county sewage enforcement official and the Amish's lawyer said there was some progress Tuesday on a potential compromise, though the Amish have yet to approve any pact.