HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House Democratic leaders are explaining why some top staffers got hefty salary increases late last year and others received raises after a pay freeze took effect on Jan. 1.

The Patriot-News of Harrisburg reported Sunday that House Speaker Keith McCall's chief of staff Paul Parsells received a nearly $19,000 pay increase and Parliamentarian Reizdan Moore's salary was boosted by about $3,900.

That's in addition to a dozen House Democratic staffers who received pay raises after a "salary control" freeze on annual merit pay increases took effect in January.

House Majority Leader Todd Eachus says those 12 raises were mistakes but he's letting the recipients keep them.

The newspaper says House Democrats resisted requests to release the details, and it took the paper six weeks to obtain the information.

WILKINSBURG — A Western Pennsylvania man is charged with simple assault for allegedly attacking a pastor's husband during a Palm Sunday church service.Police say 31-year-old William Carter Jr. is jailed on three counts of simple assault stemming from Sunday's incident at the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg, just east of Pittsburgh.Witnesses told authorities that Carter attacked Steve Hellner-Burris during the service and had to be restrained by members of the congregation until police arrived.Police say Hellner-Burris suffered cuts on his ear and forehead and teeth marks on his hand in the attack.Carter was arraigned Sunday evening and was jailed in lieu of $1,000 bond.