Court to hear case on school fundingPHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania’s highest court is about to hear arguments in a case that could revamp how school funding is divvied up.The state Supreme Court’s session in Philadelphia today includes a lawsuit by several school districts, parents and others that challenges the state’s method of funding public education.A lower court rejected the lawsuit last year, saying school funding was a political decision that should be ironed out by the governor and state lawmakers.In a brief submitted to the justices last week, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf noted that a negotiated funding formula for public schools was enacted on June 1.He also said public school funding has risen in both of his first two state budgets.

Slow train halts marathon runnersALLENTOWN — A slow-moving train might have brought some runners’ dreams of the Boston Marathon to a halt.Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Via Marathon was in full swing Sunday when a slow train crossed the race course near Allentown, stopping runners in their tracks.Runner Charlie Young said the race was his last chance to qualify for the 2017 Boston Marathon. The 22-year-old Young said he and over 100 others were held up for about 10 minutes as the train crossed. He said he missed his qualifying time by 8 minutes. Video and photos show some runners scrambling between the slow-moving cars.Registration for the Boston Marathon started Monday, opening first to those who beat their qualifying time by 20 minutes.Lehigh race officials said times will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Teacher fired for alleged role as sex ‘lookout’WILKES-BARRE — A high school teacher has been fired for allegedly acting as a “lookout” while another teacher had sex with a 16-year-old girl.The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board fired Coughlin High teacher Brian Hampel on Monday night.Hampel testified at the trial of teacher Stephen Stahl who was convicted last year of the sexual incident that occurred in 2004. Hampel denied any involvement in the incident.But the school board hired an attorney to investigate the incident and he determined Hampel acted as a lookout. The teacher’s union may appeal the 44-year-old teacher’s firing.