HARRISBURG — Happy holidays meant safer driving this year in Pennsylvania.

State police say they investigated 728 crashes during the five-day Christmas holiday driving period, Dec. 24 through Dec. 28.

That's 172 fewer crashes than in a four-day holiday driving span last year.

State police say 8 people were killed — all of them not wearing seat belts — and 224 were injured in crashes this year.

Last year, there were 8 deaths and 255 injuries.

State police say 98 of this year's crashes, including two involving fatalities, were alcohol-related.

NEW CASTLE — State police have released the name of a man found dead in a Western Pennsylvania home, but have yet to confirm he was shot as first reported.Troopers from New Castle say the dead man is 25-year-old Joseph Pagley III.Police were called after friends discovered the man's body about 11:30 p.m. Sunday at a home in Neshannock Township.Results of an autopsy were not immediately available, and the Lawrence County coroner did not immediately return a call.Police spokesman Trooper Dan Kesten says Pagley had wounds to his head, but police aren't releasing details after first reporting Monday it appeared Pagley had been shot.Police haven't arrested anyone, but say it appears Pagley was “targeted” and nobody else is in danger.

MONROEVILLE — A Western Pennsylvania shopping mall is increasing security after hundreds of fighting teens forced it to close early last week.The Monroeville Mall says it'll increase the number of officers on patrol Fridays and Saturdays.The mall's owner, Tennessee-based CBL & Associates Properties, will foot the bill.Monroeville Police Chief K. Douglas Cole called the fight an isolated incident and says the mall area has seen a drop in crime.He says large groups of teens began showing up around 5 p.m. Friday and swelled to as many as 1,000.Employees say stores closed early after fights were reported around 8 p.m.

WASHINGTON — An embattled judge says she's retiring after a dispute with colleagues led to a reduction in her authority.Washington County Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca's decision comes weeks after the state Supreme Court removed her as president judge and appointed a replacement to handle her administrative duties.Seneca's retirement is effective Monday. The 61-year-old told Gov. Tom Corbett of her decision in a Dec. 23 letter.The Supreme Court appointed Senior Judge Joseph James to take over Seneca's duties in November.