Trench collapse traps construction worker

PITTSBURGH — A construction worker in Pittsburgh is recovering after the 18-foot-deep trench he was working in partially collapsed.

Authorities say it happened at about 9 a.m. Thursday while construction workers were digging a trench for a new townhouse development. It took rescuers close to an hour to dig out the worker, who was buried up to his waist.

Investigators haven’t released the worker’s name. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation. Chris Robinson, director of the Pittsburgh-area office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said the crew wasn’t following proper safety procedures.

Robinson says the victim worked for Alton Industries. The company was cited in 2012 over trench-related concerns.

Alton couldn’t be reached for comment.

Test-taking scheme leads to indictments

PITTSBURGH — Fifteen Chinese citizens have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges they conspired to take college admissions tests so others could fraudulently obtain student visas.

The indictment announced says the alleged conspirators took the tests run by Educational Testing Service and the College Board — such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT — under false pretenses.

Prosecutors aren’t saying how many students benefited from the alleged scheme, but say some paid as much as $6,000 to have the tests taken in their name.

That was done by forging passports that included the students’ personal information next to a picture of the conspirator who was being paid to take the tests.

Two of the suspects were in custody, 10 will be sent court summonses and three are still in China.