HARRISBURG — Former state Rep. Bill DeWeese has lost another round in his bid for a new trial on corruption charges.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused Tuesday to consider DeWeese's appeal of a ruling against him by a three-judge Superior Court panel in August.

DeWeese, 63, is serving at least 2½ years at Retreat State Prison in northeastern Pennsylvania for using public employees and taxpayer resources for political purposes.

The lower court said the trial record showed that DeWeese stole taxpayer-provided services worth more than $100,000 and rejected his claim that the trial judge abused his discretion at sentencing.

The lion's share of the money was attributed to a former aide who handled DeWeese's political fundraising and testified against him under a grant of immunity from prosecutors.

DeWeese represented his southwestern Pennsylvania district for 35 years, including a two-year stint as House speaker.

Barring any misconduct, DeWeese would be eligible for parole on March 28, Susan Bensinger, a spokesman for the state Corrections Department, said Wednesday.

DeWeese was the only sitting legislator to stand trial among the 25 Democrats and Republicans connected to the House of Representatives who were arrested in a sweeping state corruption probe. Most of the defendants were convicted.

PITTSBURGH — A hospital system is notifying nearly 1,300 patients that their records were viewed inappropriately by an employee.The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says patient care was not affected.Hospital officials say the accessed data includes names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and treatment and diagnosis information.The motive for viewing the records was not immediately clear. The employee reportedly told officials that she did not store or use the information for financial gain.A statement posted Wednesday on UPMC's website says the worker at the hospital's McKeesport branch has been fired.According to the statement, another worker alerted management to the breach in early November.The hospital says local and federal authorities have been alerted.

PHILADELPHIA — A cat that was set on fire in a Philadelphia neighborhood is being adopted by a city firefighter.The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Wednesday that Campbell the cat will go home with firefighter Stephen Paslawski once the tabby finishes healing from his severe burns.Paslawski said he and Campbell clicked right away and the injured cat climbed right on his shoulder “as if to say, 'I choose you.”'Campbell was set on fire Nov. 10 and is being treated for severe burns. Two Philadelphia men have been charged with criminal conspiracy and cruelty to animals.Campbell is expected to continue recovering at the SPCA for several weeks before he is ready to go to his new home.

SCRANTON — A northeastern Pennsylvania judge is trying to decide whether a former official can keep his county pension following a corruption plea three years ago.Former Luzerne County clerk of courts Robert Reilly pleaded guilty in 2010 to having lied to FBI investigators about payments he received from a contractor for work at the clerk's office. The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader says a federal judge cited the loss of the pension while sentencing Reilly to probation, but he has been trying to get it back.His attorney, Todd Johns, argued Tuesday that Reilly's false statement wasn't made during the course of his job or on government property.Retirement board solicitor Donald Karpowich said the state and federal laws are essentially the same, and Reilly's plea should subject him to forfeiture.

HARRISBURG — A state judge on Wednesday extended Harrisburg's receivership for two additional years in what officials described as a procedural move that will allow time to complete the city's financial recovery plan.Commonwealth Court Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter issued an order granting a joint request by the state and the city to extend the receivership until December 2015.A spokesman for state-appointed receiver William Lynch said the two-year increment is required by law and doesn't reflect the time Lynch expects to stay on as receiver.“It is the desire of the receiver to only remain as long as necessary,” said the spokesman, Cory Angell.