Bill to legalize pot gets preliminary OKPITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council has preliminarily approved an ordinance that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana or hashish.The bill passed 6-1 Wednesday, with Councilwoman Darlene Harris voting against it.If approved, police could fine people $25 to $100 and seize the drugs as long as the person has less than 30 grams of marijuana. People could have about eight grams of hash under the legislation.The ordinance says police would have the choice to issue a summary citation similar to a traffic ticket or charge the person with a misdemeanor.Harris says she voted no because it “directly contradicts” state law.The final vote is set for Monday. If adopted, Mayor Bill Peduto says he’ll sign it.

‘Kids for cash’ case settlement approvedWILKES-BARRE — A businessman will pay at least $4.75 million to settle a lawsuit by juveniles sent to his Pennsylvania detention centers by a corrupt judge.A federal judge gave final approval to the settlement on Wednesday.Robert Powell was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the scandal that became known as “kids for cash,” a kickback scheme that led the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to vacate the convictions of thousands of juveniles.Powell testified he was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to former Luzerne County Judges Mark Ciavarella Jr. and Michael Conahan in return for their support of his two private juvenile facilities. The judges are serving long prison terms.Powell could be forced to pay an additional $2.5 million depending on a calculation of his net worth.

Big payment ordered in 2012 fatal accidentPITTSBURGH — A Pennsylvania man and his former employer have been ordered to pay $32 million to the family of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in a 2012 crash.An Allegheny County jury on Tuesday found Kirk Fair, of Kittanning, and Golon Masonry Restoration responsible in the death of Elijah Straw, of Aspinwall.Authorities said Straw’s family was traveling on Route 28 in May 2012 when their car was hit by Fair’s truck. Elijah Straw died at the hospital.The family’s attorney Jon Perry said Fair had 20 seconds to change lanes or stop before crashing into the family’s vehicle.Perry said Golon violated its policy by letting Fair drive a company car with a history of driving under the influence.Fair pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle and other charges last year.