HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania state gambling regulators pulled the plug Thursday on the long-stalled Foxwoods Philadelphia casino project planned for the city's Delaware River waterfront, potentially opening the door to a lawsuit and a new crowd of competitors for the orphaned license.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board voted 6-1 in quick and decisive fashion after more than a year of threatening to revoke the license it initially awarded four years ago.

It was the first time the gaming board has revoked a $50 million casino license in its six-year history, and its decision seemed to stun both opponents and backers of a newly hatched plan featuring casino giant Caesars Entertainment as a major partner.

“I was shaking and crying, I couldn't believe they actually did the right thing,” casino opponent Mary Strumpf of Philadelphia said through tears after the vote.

Fred Jacoby, a lawyer for the investor group that held the license, said he was surprised that the board overlooked the importance of Caesars' involvement.

“I was shocked. I really didn't expect to see revocation,” he said.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police officers will work a normal security detail at Heinz Field for the National Hockey League's outdoor Winter Classic game after resolving a holiday pay dispute.The officers threatened last month to boycott the New Year's Day game claiming the Pittsburgh Steelers had offered only regular overtime pay instead of the double-time-and-a-half holiday rate. Although the game is between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, the Steelers control the stadium and must pay 36 officers for security.Sgt. John Fisher, who coordinates the special event coverage, tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the dispute has been settled, but he's not offering details. Nor is a Steelers spokesman.Holiday pay for officers is about $66 an hour, instead of $39 an hour for overtime.

ERIE — A state commission has approved a plan that would give a new area code to parts of northwestern Pennsylvania by 2012.The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved the plan to divide the 814 area code.The agency says it's projected to run out of telephone numbers for the area by early 2013.The Erie Times-News reports that the change will affect Erie, Crawford, Warren, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Elk and McKean counties.It will also affect parts of Clearfield, Armstrong, Mercer and Indiana counties.

CALIFORNIA — A southwestern Pennsylvania borough has a new Christmas tree in a public park just days after unknown vandals cut down another one and dumped it in a creek.California Borough police say someone tried to cut down the tree in Rotary Park last year, but failed. Police say it appears somebody used a chain saw to cut down a decorated blue spruce tree in the park over the weekend.Police Chief Tracy Hudak-Vitale says a new live tree was planted Wednesday and has been decorated. It was donated by a local nursery.The chief tells the Observer-Reporter newspaper in Washington, Pa., that police plan to use surveillance equipment and are hoping residents will keep a closer eye to make sure the new tree isn't damaged.Police haven't charged anyone with cutting down the first tree.

CRESSON — Two central Pennsylvania communities are considering natural gas drilling bans based on an ordinance passed last month in Pittsburgh.Officials in Cresson and Washington Township, two Cambria County communities more than 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, say local ordinances may be the only way to control drilling in their towns.Washington Township Chairman Ray Guzic Jr. says his big concern is the effect drilling could have on water quality.Pittsburgh’s ordinance was passed largely to prevent fracking, the injection of chemical-laced water that breaks up rock and helps force gas to the surface. Opponents of the process say those chemicals can contaminate water supplies and even the air near wells.Both Cambria County towns say their measures are still on the drawing board.