James Kennedy

The trial of embattled state Sen. Jane Orie began in February.

The Allegheny County District Attorney's office in 2010 charged Orie, R-40th, with 10 counts, including destroying evidence and violation of the state Ethics Act.

She was accused of paying state employees to engage in campaign-related tasks for herself and her sister, state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, while working on the state's clock.

Three weeks after the trial started, a mistrial was declared after prosecutors discovered documents being used to discredit a key witness were forged.

After Judge Jeffrey Manning declared the mistrial, Orie was subsequently charged with 16 new counts, including perjury, forgery, tampering with evidence and obstruction.

Orie's new trial is scheduled to begin in February. She will be tried on the original and new charges.

Butler County Commissioner James Kennedy retired in July, taking a job with the state Department of Agriculture.County President Judge Thomas Doerr appointed Bill Patterson, the former chief county clerk, to fill out the fellow Republican's term.Voters in November re-elected Republican Commissioner Dale Pinkerton and elected former Commissioner Bill McCarrier, a Republican, and Democrat Jim Eckstein.Patterson was not a candidate in the 2011 election. Democrat incumbent Jim Lokhaiser lost in the May primary.

The Legislature redrew legislative and congressional districts, which go into effect with the 2012 elections.Congressman Mike Kelly of Butler now will represent all of Butler County, taking the southern part of the county away from Congressman Jason Altmire.The county also lost and added several state senators and representatives.