August Wilson programs backed

PITTSBURGH — Officials on Tuesday announced the establishment of the August Wilson Legacy Fund to support programming at Pittsburgh’s August Wilson Center for African American Culture.

Administered by the Pittsburgh Foundation, the fund seeks donors to support programming and education in the spirit of August Wilson.

Wilson was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, writing mostly about the 20th-century African-American experience from growing up in Pittsburgh’s historically black Hill District.

Major gambling bill advances in House

HARRISBURG — A state House committee is advancing legislation that would authorize the third major gambling expansion in six years, including allowing Internet-based gambling through the state’s casinos and slot machines at airports and off-track betting parlors.

The House Gaming Oversight Committee voted 18 to 8 on Wednesday. The bill’s ultimate fate remains uncertain.

Under the bill, casinos wanting to start Internet gambling portals would have to pay a one-time license fee of $8 million.

The bill would allow slot machines at off-track horse-racing betting parlors at least 50 miles from a casino and at the state’s six international airports.

High court election ads cost $11.5M

HARRISBURG — A new analysis shows spending on air time for campaign ads on broadcast TV in Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court race totaled more than $11.5 million.

The Washington, D.C.-based Center for Public Integrity center analyzed political advertising data from media tracking firm Kantar Media/CMAG and released the results Thursday.

The analysis shows spending by the Democrats who won all three open seats on the state’s highest court accounted for about half of the total. They paid for more than 16,000 airings of their commercials.

Carcasses left near teachers’ picket line

CANONSBURG — Police are trying to figure out who has left animal carcasses near the picket line of striking teachers in the Peters Township School District.

The last animal found, on Tuesday, was a deer spray-painted blue with the initials “PT”.

Striking teachers have been wearing blue T-shirts while picketing.

Last week, officials say a dead squirrel was thrown from a passing vehicle and a raccoon carcass was left hanging from a nearby road sign.

Nearly 300 teachers have been on strike since Oct. 28.