BEAVER — A Western Pennsylvania man has been cleared of criminal charges after bringing his handgun to a campaign rally for President Barack Obama.

John Noble of Industry wore the 9 mm on a holster and carried a Bible to the August rally to protest Obama's remark that Americans who felt left out by the system clung to guns and religion. The rally was in Beaver.

Police said the 51-year-old Noble wanted to be disruptive. They say he posted on the Internet that he was taking the gun to "test what would happen."

Friday, a jury acquitted him of a disrupting a public meeting and a judge acquitted him of disorderly conduct, but called his actions foolish.

Noble wasn't charged with gun offenses because he was legally carrying it.

WILKES-BARRE — It was an important day for hundreds of children who appeared in the courtroom of a corrupt Pennsylvania judge.A judge heard arguments Friday on how to restore the legal rights of youth offenders sentenced by former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella. Ciavarella and another judge have pleaded guilty to taking millions in kickbacks from the owner of a youth detention center.The state Supreme Court has already overturned hundreds of juvenile convictions involving low-level offenses. Friday's hearing focused on youths convicted of more serious crimes.

MOUNT LEBANON — Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik will bless a Virgin Mary statue that's been restored after being vandalized at a suburban Pittsburgh church.Vandals entered St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church in Mount Lebanon on June 6 and knocked the 5-foot-tall statue over, breaking its left arm and causing other damage. They also painted "666" in orange on its forehead and tore apart and scattered rosary beads about the grotto.Parishioners raised nearly $9,000 to repair the statue. They also prayed for the vandals. No one has been charged.Zubik was to bless the statue Sunday evening.