STATE
ERIE — A coroner in northwestern Pennsylvania says all three college students killed in a head-on crash last month were sober.
Police have said 18-year-old Domenico Crea, of Erie, was speeding and trying to pass another car when he crashed head-on into another vehicle Nov. 11. He had been cited for careless driving and underage drinking three days earlier.
The Erie County Coroner's Office released the results of toxicology tests Tuesday. They show that Crea, his passenger and the driver of the other car had no drugs or alcohol in their bloodstream at the time of their deaths.
Crea's passenger was 18-year-old John Eyrolles of Pittsburgh. The other driver was 21-year-old Sheldon Harmon of Bolivar, N.Y.
HARRISBURG — It seems that rodent droppings in the cafeteria at Pennsylvania's state Capitol in Harrisburg were just about everywhere.The inspection report released Tuesday by the state Agriculture Department says the rodent droppings were excessive and on food preparation equipment, in cabinets, utensil bins and elsewhere.It says the now-closed cafeteria had a "severe" rodent infestation.State employees were told this week by the state Office of Administration that the cafeteria wouldn't reopen before January.Aramark Corp., the Philadelphia-based food service company that runs the cafeteria, is working with state workers to clean it up.The ground-floor cafeteria is a popular coffee and lunch spot for visitors to the statehouse and people who work there.
PHILADELPHIA — George Washington will have a tourist along for the ride this year.On Christmas Day, home builder Thomas Fischer will be given period garb and take a seat in the lead boat for the annual re-enactment of Washington's 1776 crossing of the Delaware River.Fischer, of Newtown, says he is thrilled to help recreate the event that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War.He will pay $3,500 to be an "imbedded VIP" as part of a campaign to save the event imperiled by budget cuts that have closed the Washington Crossing Historic Park visitor center near Philadelphia.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) — A newly elected district attorney can't try a 12-year-old Western Pennsylvania boy accused of killing his father's pregnant fiancee.Attorney Joshua Lamancusa is recusing himself because he gave the boy's father legal advice shortly after the boy allegedly shot 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk in February, killing her and her unborn son as she lay in bed.Lamancusa was elected Lawrence County District Attorney in November and takes office on Jan. 4.The state attorney general will now prosecute Jordan Brown, of New Galilee. A Jan. 29 hearing will determine whether the boy will be tried as a juvenile or an adult.
