Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment

PA CORRUPTION SCANDAL-DEWEESE

Ex-state Rep. DeWeese returns to Pa. state prison

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Former Pennsylvania House speaker Bill DeWeese is back behind the bars of a state prison after nearly four days of court-ordered freedom.

A Camp Hill State Prison spokeswoman said DeWeese turned himself in early Tuesday afternoon, following a judge's decision that he should not be out on bail while he pursues appeals.

He was four days into a 2½- to 5-year sentence on Friday when the state Superior Court freed him because the county trial judge hadn't ruled on his motion for bail pending appeal.

After Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover ruled against DeWeese on Tuesday, he returned to the prison. His lawyers are asking the state Superior Court to reverse Hoover.

DeWeese is convicted of five felonies for using his state-paid staff and public resources for campaign purposes.

WIFE STRANGLED

Pa. man convicted again of killing wife in 2004

YORK, Pa. (AP) A central Pennsylvania man has been convicted of first-degree murder for the second time in the strangulation slaying of his wife eight years ago.

Jurors in York County deliberated for less than an hour Tuesday before convicting 55-year-old Brian David Hummert of murder and hindering apprehension in the March 2004 death of 48-year-old Charlene Hummert.

Hummert showed no reaction as the verdict was read. The victim's son and brothers expressed satisfaction.

Earlier in the day, Hummert denied having killed his wife or written letters posing as a serial killer claiming responsibility for her death. He acknowledged that his marriage of 22 years was "rocky" but said "we were trying to make it work."

Hummert's earlier first-degree murder conviction was overturned after his attorney argued that prosecutors had withheld evidence.

PRIEST ABUSE-TRIAL

Priest: We weren't prepared for abuse complaints

PHILADELPHIA (AP) A priest assigned to help with child sex-abuse complaints at the Philadelphia archdiocese in the early 1990s says he was "woefully unprepared" and left after a year.

Monsignor James Beisel's (BYE'-zuhlz) testimony comes in the child-endangerment and conspiracy trial of his friend, Monsignor William Lynn.

Lynn is accused of keeping accused priests in ministry. Defense lawyers have started their case by calling three of his church colleagues.

The priests say Lynn talked compassionately with abusers and sent accused priests for mental-health evaluations.

Prosecutors note that Beisel left the job, while Lynn stayed from 1992 to 2004, despite a similar lack of training.

Beisel says he and Lynn went through secret files at night in early 1994 to review abuse complaints and make a list of 35 suspected pedophile-priests.

OFFICER SHOT-PENNSYLVANIA

Defense details problems before Pa. officer killed

EASTON, Pa. (AP) Defense witnesses say a man convicted of killing a Pennsylvania police officer suffered from chronic pain and had battled drug and alcohol problems.

But a judge barred the defense for 46-year-old George Hitcho Jr. of Freemansburg from discussing allegations that his client had suffered sexual abuse. The prosecutor objected that those comments were "complete hearsay."

Jurors are trying to decide whether Hitcho deserves execution or life in prison. They convicted him last week of first-degree murder in the slaying of police officer Robert Lasso, who was responding to a call at Hitcho's home in August.

Other friends and relatives said Hitcho looked out for others but his behavior became increasingly erratic in recent years after a series of head injuries.

Testimony in Northampton County Court is expected to resume Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT-FLARE

Crew landing plane in Philly sees possible flare

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Authorities say someone may have shot a flare into the sky near Philadelphia International Airport as a plane was landing.

US Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher (LEE'-mock-er) says Flight 4321 from Elmira, N.Y., landed safely on Tuesday afternoon.

Lehmacher says crew members reported seeing a possible flare as the plane came in around 1:45 p.m.

Philadelphia police say they received a 911 call at about 2 p.m. reporting someone had shot off a flare gun at an intersection near the airport. Officer Jillian Russell says officers went to the intersection but found no evidence of it.

Airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica (loo-PEE'-kah) says the crew's report led to a 30-minute closure of one runway.

Lehmacher says the plane was carrying 34 passengers and three crew members.

PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE-CORRUPTION

Prelim for Justice Orie Melvin moved to June 8

PITTSBURGH (AP) The preliminary hearing for state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin on campaign corruption charges has been postponed until June 8.

Melvin was charged May 18 with illegally using her taxpayer-funded staff in her 2003 and 2009 campaigns for a seat on the state's highest court. She had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing on felony theft of services and other charges on Friday. The postponement was not unexpected because her attorney said last week he planned to ask for one.

The Republican justice from Pittsburgh's North Hills suburbs has pleaded not guilty and contends the charges are politically motivated. Democrat Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. denies that.

Melvin's sister, Jane Orie, resigned as a state senator and is awaiting sentencing June 4 on her conviction for similarly misusing her legislative staff.

FATAL SUBURBAN CRASH

Driver arrested in crash that killed 2 passengers

POTTSTOWN, Pa. (AP) Authorities say they have arrested a man being sought in a southeastern Pennsylvania crash that killed two passengers, including a teenage girl, and left a third critically injured.

Montgomery County police and prosecutors say an anonymous call told Pottstown police where to find 27-year-old Roger Malloy, and officers apprehended him Tuesday as he was trying to flee on a bicycle.

Authorities say Malloy was driving with a suspended license due to a DUI offense last year when his car went out of control late Monday and hit a utility pole in Pottstown.

Fifteen-year-old Rachel Witt died at the scene and 28-year-old James Crawford died at a hospital, while 16-year-old Kendal Harper was critically injured.

Investigators said Malloy and another male fled the scene without rendering aid or talking to authorities.

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT FIRED

Fired CalU president says state violated contract

CALIFORNIA, Pa. (AP) The former president of California University of Pennsylvania says state officials improperly fired him.

Angelo Armenti Jr. was forced out last week by the State System of Higher Education Board of Governors, which oversees state universities.

Armenti says he was given five minutes' notice and that state officials offered to pay his salary for two years if he agreed not to sue them.

Rep. Peter J. Daley, a California trustee, says the firing was wrong and that state officials handled it poorly.

The State System of Higher Education says an audit shows the school improperly diverted nearly $6 million to a related nonprofit.

Board of Governors Chancellor John Cavanaugh did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

ELDERLY MAN BOUND

W. Pa. man beaten in home invasion dies

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (AP) An 81-year-old man who was badly beaten during a western Pennsylvania home invasion last month has died.

Dan Santia died early Tuesday morning at Sewickley Hospital, and Hopewell Township police Chief Eugene Ungarean says two of the people accused in the attack have now been charged with homicide.

Twenty-two-year-old Beau William Chermer and 25-year-old Joseph Michael Arlott are charged with homicide as well as earlier charges of aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, theft, and other crimes, while 19-year-old Samantha Ann Greno isn't being charged with homicide.

Police say they tied Santia up before stealing his Cadillac in the April 29 attack about 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

Attorneys for Chermer and Arlott couldn't be located, and an attorney for Greno did not immediately return a call.

FATAL TEEN SHOOTING

Pa. man gets prison in shooting of teen friend

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) A western Pennsylvania man who was just 16 when he claims he accidentally shot his girlfriend will spend six to 12 years in prison.

Ramal Chisler, of Uniontown, who is now 18, pleaded guilty three weeks ago to involuntary manslaughter and carrying an unlicensed firearm in the September 2010 shooting of 17-year-old Tiffany Moody.

Chisler said Moody didn't like guns so he was trying to dismantle the weapon and hide it when she arrived for a visit, but accidentally shot her instead. He has said a bullet jammed in the weapon as he was trying to take it apart, and apologized to the girl's family when he was sentenced Tuesday.

Fayette County District Attorney Jack Heneks Jr. says there was no animosity between Moody and Chisler who was "grossly negligent" in her death.

NO LAME DUCK

Legislative leaders vow no post-election lawmaking

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) State legislative leaders say there'll be no "lame duck" session of Pennsylvania's General Assembly following the Nov. 6 general election.

Leaders of the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate announced the move Monday.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says fewer than a dozen states even allow their legislatures to convene during the period after the election and the beginning of the next session.

The practice allows lawmakers to vote on potentially important bills after their successors have been elected.

Pileggi, a Delaware County Republican, says the ban on lame-duck sessions is a matter of holding the Legislature accountable to the taxpayers.

OBIT-UKRAINIAN CHURCH LEADER

Ukrainian Orthodox Church head Constantine dies

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America says its leader has died.

The church says in a statement that 75-year-old Metropolitan Constantine died on Monday morning after a serious illness.

He was a life-long resident of Pittsburgh and had led the church since 1993. His secular name was Theodore Buggan.

Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. on May 25 at St. Vladimir Parish in Pittsburgh, and burial services will be on May 26.

MUSIC-JAY-Z FESTIVAL

Pearl Jam, Skrillex to perform at Philly festival

NEW YORK (AP) Pearl Jam, Skrillex and D'Angelo are among the performers scheduled to take the stage at the Made In America music festival Jay-Z is curating in Philadelphia in September.

Jay-Z will also perform, as will Janelle Monae, Passion Pit, Odd Future, Santigold, Afrojack, Calvin Harris and Rick Ross and his Maybach Music group.

The festival will feature 28 acts over Labor Day weekend. Tickets for the two-day festival are to go on sale Wednesday.

Jay-Z announced plans for the event last week atop the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Proceeds will benefit the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

More performers will be announced later.