HARRISBURG — People who want to buy a house in Pennsylvania might get better terms through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

Right now, the agency is financing 30-year, fixed-rate loans for 4.5 percent on newly built homes and 5.25 percent on older homes.

The rates are comparable to what is available in the conventional market, but the agency's executive director Brian Hudson said the loans require fewer dollars down. The PHFA loans can be arranged through private lenders. Hudson said the loans are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are backed by $250 million in bonds sold last week. Also, people who qualify for the federal homebuyer tax credit can get the money up front from the state housing agency as a credit toward the purchasing price.

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania court system has new disaster plans to help ensure the judiciary will be able to respond effectively to a range of potential crises.The state Supreme Court on Monday adopted rules to help it cope with terrorist attacks, major floods or public health emergencies. The rules let the justices suspend or modify procedural or administrative rules upon the declaration of a judicial emergency. Under certain circumstances, county president judges can order endangered court facilities closed, move court operations to a safe location, change court calendars, and cancel or suspend trials and jury duty.