HARRISBURG — Students in Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities are in line for a 4.5 percent tuition increase next year.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's governing board on Thursday passed a $1.5 billion budget that also includes a $26 jump in the technology fee for full-time resident students. Tuition will typically go up by about $250. For a full-time, resident undergraduate, it will be just over $5,800.

An on-campus resident student can expect to pay about $15,000 for tuition, fees, housing and meals next year.

PITTSBURGH — A judge has approved a $900,000 settlement between a Pittsburgh hospital and the family of a dementia patient who wandered onto the hospital's roof and froze to death in 2008.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will pay $500,000 and the state's malpractice fund $400,000 to settle a civil suit filed by the family of Rose Lee Diggs.The 89-year-old Diggs died of hypothermia on Dec. 3, 2008 after wandering from her 12th floor room through a fire door, up some steps and through a door to the roof wearing only a gown and slippers.

HARRISBURG — The state Supreme Court is providing family court judges, lawyers and other specialists with a new guide for handling cases of abused or neglected children.The "Pennsylvania Dependency Benchbook" draws together state law and provides examples of practices from around the country that can help judges and lawyers.The book is part of the court's effort to reduce delays in placing at-risk children in safe, permanent homes.

SCRANTON — A watchdog group says the oil and gas industry is pouring millions of dollars into state election campaigns and lobbying efforts.Pennsylvania Common Cause projects coordinator Alex Kaplan says the money is aimed at keeping Pennsylvania from adopting an oil and gas severance tax. Kaplan said Thursday at a Scranton forum on Marcellus Shale issues that since 2007 industry lobbyists have spent $4.2 million and have ducked a severance tax common in other states.Drillers say they're victims of anti-capitalist demonization and misinformation.