HARRISBURG — The Rendell administration said it ended up laying off 48 fewer state government workers than it had expected to when the cost-cutting was announced last week.

The Office of Administration said Wednesday the final number ended up at 271 rather than 319.

Officials said it is because the Department of Environmental Protection was able to tap into federal money and other special funds to move people into different positions.

The number also is lower because some people chose to retire, freeing up a few spots.

FEASTERVILLE — Suburban Philadelphia police said they are looking for a man who got into the Thanksgiving spirit by pilfering poultry.Lower Southampton Township Police said the man has struck at least four Philadelphia-area supermarkets and made off with thousands of dollars worth of frozen turkeys, hams, beef and seafood.Police Lt. John Krimmel said the man simply loads up his cart with frozen meat and heads for the exit. Before store employees can respond, he and an accomplice have loaded the misbegotten meat into a truck and fled.The latest theft came Monday at a Giant Food Store in Upper Southampton township. The suspect has been caught on surveillance video three times.

ALLENTOWN — A Pennsylvania college student was charged with posting fake online ads to lure victims and rob them.Police said Corey Jackson, 22, of East Stroudsburg used the free classifieds site Craigslist to find his victims.Police said Jackson posed as a buyer interested in jewelry and stole expensive rings from the sellers and offered the sale of a computer but took the cash then wrestled the laptop back.Jackson is in Northampton County Prison under $75,000 bail on charges of robbery, theft, and related counts.