HARRISBURG — The two Democratic congressmen running against each other in southwestern Pennsylvania's newly redrawn 12th District are taking more shots at each other.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire said Thursday that Rep. Mark Critz's challenge to his nominating petitions is a despicable act by a desperate campaign.

If Critz's court challenge is successful, it would knock Altmire off the ballot.

Critz's campaign insists that Altmire's campaign failed to follow the law and turned in some petition signatures that were likely forged or collected by someone who doesn't live in the district, as state law requires.

Republicans redrew the districts to force them into a primary race. The primary is April 24.

HARRISBURG — Penn State says it has received a federal subpoena related to a former assistant football coach accused of molesting boys and is cooperating with the request.University spokeswoman Lisa Powers said Thursday federal prosecutors based in Harrisburg this month sought “certain information” about Jerry Sandusky, a charity for children Sandusky founded, the university and three administrators.Sandusky denies charges he molested 10 boys.Powers says she can't provide details about the subpoena, citing an ongoing investigation.

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities say a letter containing suspicious white powder was sent to the Philadelphia office of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey.Philadelphia police say Toomey's downtown office received the letter around 2:30 p.m. Thursday and that police and firefighters responded. Officer Jillian Russell, a police spokeswoman, says authorities are conducting tests on the substance, but have not yet identified it. No injuries were reported.Earlier this week, law enforcement officials said some congressional offices outside Washington and media organizations had received threatening letters containing a suspicious powdery substance that was tested and proved to be harmless.

PITTSBURGH — Surgeons successfully implanted the region's first total artificial heart, Allegheny General Hospital announced Thursday.Doctors at Allegheny General said they implanted the SynCardia Temporary Total Artificial Heart into a 62-year-old man suffering from an acute heart attack. The operation took place on Feb. 17. The man, whose name was not released, is doing well, surgeons said.Federal regulators have approved the SynCardia heart for transplant candidates who are suffering from end-stage heart failure of both ventricles.The artificial heart is typically powered by a 400-pound machine that requires patients to stay in the hospital. Allegheny General is one of 30 U.S. medical centers taking part in a clinical trial of a portable version weighing 13 pounds, which allows patients to go home while waiting for a donor heart.Nationwide, 23 people have received the portable device. The record amount of time that anyone has lived with a SynCardia heart is 46 months.

ALTOONA — Altoona may be the next municipality to seek help from the state in dealing with its fiscal problems.The Altoona Mirror reported Thursday that the city council voted unanimously Wednesday to petition for entry into the state's Financially Distressed Municipalities program.Councilman Mark Geis says the council must take steps to confront a $1.6 million budget shortfall that will exhaust the city's reserves by the end of the year.Twenty other municipalities are already in the program, including Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Scranton, Johnstown and Reading.If Altoona is accepted, a state coordinator would be hired to work with local officials to develop a three-year financial recovery plan. It also could empower the city to raise taxes beyond normal limits and provide access to loans and grants.

MCKEESPORT — A dog that fatally bit a newborn baby last week has been seized from the Pittsburgh-area man who adopted it and could be euthanized.A state dog warden took custody of the 18-month-old husky on Thursday, a week after it bit 2-day-old Howard Nicholson inside a McKeesport home while his mother was in the bathroom.William Uhring adopted the dog earlier this week after it was released by the shelter that had taken custody of it.The Allegheny County district attorney's office says state law requires a dog involved in a fatal attack to be isolated and euthanized unless the owner files an appeal.Authorities say they're still investigating the baby's death.