HARRISBURG — A bill that would begin the process of changing Pennsylvania's troubled constable system is being considered by the state House of Representatives.

Judiciary Chairman Tom Caltagirone introduced the measure Tuesday to bring together in one place the scattered state laws that currently govern constables. It'll also repeal outdated elements, some that go back to the 1700s.

A state Supreme Court committee is also developing a manual that would establish new rules for constables.

An Associated Press series last year described serious misconduct by constables, including violent crimes and abuse of their position. Critics say the existing system lacks supervision.

PITTSBURGH — Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter is planning to make his first major speech before Pennsylvania's Democratic State Committee in Pittsburgh on Saturday.The former Republican originally was to make his speech at a Friday night fundraising dinner honoring the late Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll. But on Wednesday, party officials changed plans to keep the focus on Knoll, so Specter, Sen. Bob Casey, Gov. Ed Rendell and other top elected officials will make only brief remarks.Specter will deliver his speech at Saturday's meeting of the full Democratic State Committee.

PITTSBURGH — About a dozen people have suffered minor injuries after a Port Authority of Allegheny County bus crashed into a retaining wall near a home in the Pittsburgh suburb of North Braddock.Port Authority spokesman Jim Ritchie says the accident happened about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday when the bus began drifting backward on a residential street.The rear of the bus hit a retaining wall near a home.

HARRISBURG — Gov. Ed Rendell plans to sign legislation that would extend health insurance rights to employees of small businesses.The state Senate on Wednesday passed the bill and sent it to the governor's desk as a way to help more people get or keep health insurance.That type of insurance gives workers and their families the right to continue health insurance coverage through the employer for some time after they leave employment.But under current law, those rights don't extend to businesses that employ fewer than 20 people.

YORK — Five schools in York and Lancaster counties in southern Pennsylvania are now closed because of concerns over swine flu.On Monday, the York City School District closed the Edgar Fahs Smith Middle School and McKinley Elementary School. One student has tested positive in the district.Logos Academy, a private Christian school in York, announced on Tuesday it had closed its two schools almost a week early because a significant number of students had influenza-like symptoms.The Donegal School District in Lancaster County closed its middle school in Marietta on Wednesday as a precaution. Officials say there are no confirmed cases of swine flu there.