GREENSBURG — State police say a western Pennsylvania man shot his friend in the foot while aiming at a groundhog, then blamed the scope on his rifle for the incident.
Online court records don't list an attorney for 51-year-old James Sullivan, of Hempfield Township, who was charged in the incident about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Troopers from the Greensburg barracks say 51-year-old Barry Guy fell asleep on the ground near Sullivan's home when Sullivan saw a groundhog about two feet away from Guy.
Police say Sullivan was on his porch when he fired the rifle, hitting Guy in the foot.
Police say Sullivan told them the scope on his rifle "must have been off."
Guy was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital while police filed aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and other charges against Sullivan.
Hempfield is about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh.
_____________________________________
Man jailed in arson-related domestic dispute
PARKER — A western Pennsylvania man is jailed on charges that he torched his home after arguing with his wife and running away after an unidentified relative wrestled a gun away from the man, who ran to hide in the woods.
State police from Kittanning say the incident began about midnight and ended about 1:10 a.m. Sunday.
That's when troopers were able to arrest 52-year-old James Ryan, of Parker. Online court records don't list an attorney for Ryan, who was charged with arson, ricking a catastrophe and making terroristic threats, among other crimes.
Police say Ryan was arguing with his wife when he grabbed a shotgun. Police say an adult relative, whom they didn't identify, got the gun away from Ryan while his wife and two children fled for safety.
That's when Ryan allegedly set their home on fire.
_____________________________________
Man gets prison for fatal, DUI wrong-way crash
MEADVILLE — A northwestern Pennsylvania man will spend five to 10 years in state prison for a drunken, wrong-way crash that killed a 77-year-old grandmother last year.
The Meadville Tribune reports that 40-year-old Edward Herrick, of Meadville, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving drunk and other crimes in April.
Police say Herrick's blood-alcohol level was more than double the legal limit on Oct. 29 when he drove westbound across a median and hit a car head-on in the eastbound lanes of Route 322, killing Dorothy Miller of Hartstown. Investigators found Herrick was driving 91 mph when he crashed.
A Crawford County judge imposed the sentence after Miller's granddaughter Sonya Hansen told the court the accident was "all avoidable" but that Herrick "played God with other's lives" by choosing to drive that afternoon.
_____________________________________
Cow causes truck crash
MEADVILLE — A cow may be to blame for a truck crash in northwestern Pennsylvania.
State police in Meadville say a pickup truck rolled over after swerving to avoid a cow in the road shortly before 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The Erie Times-News reports authorities say the driver, 35-year-old Jason Lockwood wasn't hurt.
It wasn't immediately clear how the cow got into the road.
_____________________________________
Late teacher leaves $3M to Philly-area prep school
POTTSTOWN — A former math teacher has who died last year has left a $3 million donation for a prestigious prep school in suburban Philadelphia.
George D. Senter, who died in July 2011 at the age of 93, taught at The Hill School in Pottstown from 1952 to 1983. The Mercury reports the school says the money will go toward a scholarship fund, a mathematics chair and the school's endowment.
In 1999, Senter said he intended to leave a large part of his estate to the school "because I love The Hill School." The school says the gift is one of the largest it's received over its 161-year history.
_____________________________________
Couple found shot in bed in Pittsburgh suburb
WILKINSBURG — Autopsies are set on the bodies of a young couple found shot to death in bed in their home near Pittsburgh.
The Allegheny County medical examiner has yet to release the names of the Wilkinsburg couple found shot to death Sunday afternoon.
County homicide detectives believe the couple was shot sometime late Saturday or early Sunday, because a neighbor reported hearing what she thought were fireworks going off in the apartment. Police believe the woman actually heard gunshots.
Police have not confirmed reports that they have someone in custody Monday.
Police found no signs of forced entry, and say the killer was apparently able to get to an upstairs bedroom undetected before shooting the victims.
A roommate found the bodies about 2 p.m. Sunday.
_____________________________________
Decision on closure of Pittsburgh air base delayed
PITTSBURGH — The Defense Department has told the Air Force to postpone a decision on whether to close an air base just outside Pittsburgh.
U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy says legislators have received a letter from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta explaining the order to hold off on a decision on the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon for at least one more year.
In February, the Air Force announced plans to close the base, estimating the move could save $354 million over five years. The base was slated for closure by September 2013.
The Air Force says the seven C-130 refueling planes there are among the oldest in the fleet. Supporters of the 911th said the closing would affect about 2,500 people who work or are based there.
_____________________________________
State Sen. Pippy resigns after budget vote
CORAOPOLIS — Pittsburgh-area Republican state Sen. John Pippy has resigned the seat he has held for nine years.
Pippy is from Moon Township and earlier this year announced he would not run for re-election.
Pippy says he waited to resign until after he could vote for the new state budget on Saturday night.
Pippy served seven years in the state House before he was elected to the Senate.
Pippy says he's leaving to take a job in the private sector, but says he won't announce what that is until July 9.
His district included parts of Allegheny and Washington counties south and west of Pittsburgh.
_____________________________________
Woman charged with hitting mate with shovel
TITUSVILLE — A northwestern Pennsylvania woman has been jailed on charges she stabbed her husband in the back and hit him on the head with a shovel during a domestic dispute.
Online court records don't list an attorney for 53-year-old Sally Nichols, of Titusville, who was arrested Sunday evening on aggravated assault and other charges.
Police say 54-year-old Allen Nichols was flown to UPMC Hamot hospital in Erie, where he remained in fair condition Monday.
Police say the incident happened during a domestic dispute shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday in Titusville. That's about 90 miles north of Pittsburgh.
_____________________________________
Occupy: About 2 dozen arrested in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — Organizers say about two dozen protesters with Occupy's national gathering have been arrested after a spontaneous march to Philadelphia's City Hall.
Occupy Philadelphia member Nate Kleinman says the arrests happened around 9 p.m. Sunday. He says a group of people attending the national conference had been on a spontaneous "solidarity march" to City Hall when they were arrested. He says the march wasn't part of the conference's organized events.
Kleinman says he doesn't know what offenses the individuals are accused of. A Philadelphia Police Department spokeswoman said she didn't have any details Monday morning.
'Occupy' groups from across the country are in Philadelphia for a conference on Independence Mall. Organizers say it's part of the group's push for economic equality and other causes.
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
