Turnpike speed limit bumped to 70 mphHARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has approved an increase in the speed limit from 65 mph to 70 mph along most of the toll road.The commission vote Tuesday followed an 18-month study of the increase, which is expected to go into effect in the spring.The maximum speed in areas that have a 65 mph limit now will become 70 mph. Areas posted at 55 mph will remain the same.Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo says the two speed limits will allow for more consistency for drivers.A test on a 100-mile stretch between Morgantown and Blue Mountain found that there wasn’t a noticeable increase in the actual average speed of vehicles, and there was a decrease in traffic accidents despite an increase in traffic.

Cheating scandal probe soughtHARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania State Police commissioner is requesting an outside investigation into misconduct as the agency probes possible cheating by cadets.Commissioner Tyree Blocker said Wednesday that he requested an investigation by the Office of Inspector General.He says he has confidence in an internal state police investigation. But he cites “the broad nature of recent allegations reported in the press” as the need for the outside investigation.The agency says dozens of cadets have left the academy in connection with the investigation. Blocker has given few details about it since disclosing it Feb. 4, including what kind of cheating was suspected.

Rubio group ends Kasich challengeHARRISBURG — Supporters of failed presidential candidate Marco Rubio are ending a court challenge seeking to knock Republican presidential rival John Kasich off Pennsylvania’s primary ballot.A withdrawal petition was filed Wednesday. The Kasich campaign’s lawyer had agreed that Kasich’s paperwork was eight valid signatures short of the 2,000 required, but he maintained that the challenge was invalid because it was filed after the deadline.