Human services changes wordingHARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services will no longer use terms such as “mental retardation” in official documents to refer to people with an intellectual disability.State officials say such terms in 24 chapters of licensing regulations have been changed to “remove words that are outdated and offensive to people with disabilities.” Another change will replace a word like “normalization” with “integration.”The licensing regulations govern intellectual disability and mental health programs and county programs. They also cover regulations for adult training centers, vocational facilities, state operated facilities, personal care homes, assisted living residences, and child residential facilities.Human Services secretary Ted Dallas said in a statement the changes reflect “people’s strengths and abilities” and “expresses dignity and regard for people.”

Mine subsidence likely caused holeWILKES-BARRE — State environmental officials say mine subsidence is likely to blame for a crater that opened up in a Wilkes-Barre yard that a woman fell into.Rhonda Martini was landscaping in her backyard on Sunday when a hole about 8 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter opened up at her feet. Martini wasn’t seriously injured.The Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation issued an emergency declaration to begin work on the hole. Crews will start when DEP obtains permission from neighbors.