PITTSBURGH — A company that develops tornado assessment software says the Pittsburgh area ranks seventh in the nation for tornado activity.

Huntsville, Ala.-based Vortek bases its rankings on the amount of land disturbed by twisters, not the number to hit. Only cities with populations greater than 100,000 are ranked. Cincinnati ranks top.

VorTek manager Frank Tatom says based on National Weather Service numbers, 131 acres within a 20-mile radius of Pittsburgh are damaged each year.

Weather Service meteorologist Richard Kane says Pennsylvania typically gets 20 tornadoes a year, most of which are weak. In 1998, there were 60.

PITTSBURGH — Police say they have recovered a vehicle believed to have been the getaway car in an armed robbery at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.Police say they found the SUV in the Stanton Heights neighborhood Sunday night. It had been reported stolen in Penn Hills.Detectives say an armed robber emerged from the SUV and held up a female zoo employee around 5 p.m. Sunday as she walked to her car pulling a suitcase-type bag filled with the day's receipts.Spokeswoman Connie George and police say the amount taken in Sunday's robbery is still being calculated.

PITTSBURGH — State lawmakers are considering requiring scrap metal dealers to record more details about scrap metal purchases as thefts increase.Pittsburgh requires scrap metal dealers to record seller identification, but most towns don't.In February, the state House passed legislation that would require dealers to record extensive information from sellers of scrap worth more than $100. A Senate committee may vote on the bill next month.