PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh-area real estate firm is apparently jumping on the bandwagon just days after a federal appeals court reinstated an antitrust lawsuit against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and insurer Highmark Inc.

Royal Mile Co., a Whitehall real estate firm, sued UPMC and Highmark saying they're to blame for the company's rising insurance premiums.

Earlier this week, a federal appeals court revived a suit in which West Penn Allegheny Health System claims UPMC refused to contract with other health insurance companies at reasonable rates. In return, the suit claimed that Highmark pays inflated reimbursements to UPMC's facilities, putting other insurers at an economic disadvantage.

UPMC says the new suit piggybacks on the West Penn case and has no merit either. Highmark officials declined comment.

BETHEL PARK — Nearly 400 striking teachers and professional support staff in a Pittsburgh-area school district will go back to work on Monday.But on Friday the American Federation of Teachers said it would take one last stab at reaching a new contract with the Bethel Park School District.The two sides reported progress after talks Thursday night but said they still didn't have a deal.The union has been on strike since Oct. 25, but that must end by Monday, even if they don't reach a deal. That's because the state requires 180 days of classroom instruction for students by June 15.The teachers' latest contract expired June 30.

GIBSONIA — A western Pennsylvania school district superintendent is seeking a protection from abuse order against his live-in girlfriend, whom he's accused of assaulting during an argument at their home Nov. 19.Trinity Area Superintendent Paul Kasunich's attorney, Robert Del Greco, revealed the PFA as Kasunich waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday and says Kasunich expects to pursue a criminal complaint against the woman. Del Greco said his client was attacked with a vase and “has every right to have a redress of that.”Police say the 51-year-old Kasunich allegedly pushed the head of Darlene Tartaglione through a wall and nearly ripped off her shirt. Tartaglione, a principal in another school district, declined comment after Kasunich's hearing.Kasunich has been suspended with pay from the Washington County district he oversees.

HANOVER — Shareholders of pretzel and snack maker Snyder's of Hanover Inc. have given their approval to be acquired by Lance Inc., a move that combines the two snack makers.The privately held maker of EatSmart products, Krunchers! and Grande tortilla chips said Friday the deal was approved by its shareholders and the merger is expected to be complete by Monday.The new company will be called Snyder's-Lance Inc. and be based in Charlotte, N.C., but will keep some executives and operations in Hanover, where Snyder's is based.The company's name was approved at Lance's special shareholders' meeting on Thursday that saw Lance stockholders approve the deal.

PITTSBURGH — Gov. Ed Rendell said the state will help Allegheny County avert a transit crisis by making $45 million in federal transportation funds available to the Port Authority.The Port Authority said earlier this year that it would cut service 35 percent and eliminate dozens of routes because of a $47 million deficit. Rendell made the funding announcement in Pittsburgh after meeting with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, a regional agency that will vote on allocating the money to the Port Authority.Rendell says the money is needed because thousands of people would be affected by the cuts.The commission will vote on the funding Dec. 13.