NEW CASTLE — An 11-year-old girl who was unaccounted for at the scene of a home fire has been found safe with a relative.

Crews in Neshannock Township say the girl was not staying in the home overnight as they feared.

A woman who lived there was able to get out of the home along with her 16-year-old son, who has autism. Crews had to rescue another child, a 6-year-old girl.

The fire heavily damaged the home near New Castle.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, and a state police fire marshal has been called in to investigate.

The ruins were still smoldering more than two hours after the fire was reported about 4:30 a.m. today.

NEW CASTLE — A man was arrested for allegedly putting a gun to a snow plow driver's head.Richard Eckert, 64, of New Castle was arrested Monday.Police allege that Eckert became angry when the driver accidentally pushed some snow into his yard while cleaning a neighbor's driveway. Eckert allegedly took a 22-calibur pistol out of his coat, pressed it against the driver's cheek, and told him to remove the snow.There were no injuries, and Eckert was released on $10,000 bond after being charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, and recklessly endangering another person.

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania officials are urging people to make basic preparations as another winter storm takes aim at the state.Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency director Glenn Cannon said Tuesday the forecast was for heavy snow and perhaps more ice, raising the potential for power outages.He said a home emergency kit should have enough supplies to help people get through three days without electricity, and added motorists should avoid unnecessary travel.The track of the storm was coming into focus even as crews worked to restore power for the last few suburban Philadelphia customers who were among the hundreds of thousands in the state left in the dark after last week's snow and ice storm.

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House Speaker Sam Smith, who grew up answering phone calls from his father's constituents in the small town of Punxsutawney, said Tuesday he will retire this year after steering the chamber through a wide-ranging corruption investigation, a devastating recession and a landmark transportation funding bill.Smith simply said he has lost the fire to keep managing the 203-member House and will not run for 15th term, choosing to retire when his current term ends Nov. 30.