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Large Pa. wind turbine collapses

SPRINGFIELD, Pa. (AP) -- A large wind turbine has collapsed in western Pennsylvania, but no injuries are reported. NextEra Energy Resources says crews went to the site in Springfield Township late Wednesday and discovered the wreckage. That's about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. According to the company the Mill Run Wind farm consisted of 10 1.5 megawatt turbines. The distance from the ground to the hub in the center of the blades is about 210 feet. The wind farm began operation in 2001.

Manual transmission stymies car thieves

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- A trio of would-be Massachusetts car thieves had to hit the brakes on their plan because none of them knew how to drive a stick. Police in Springfield say the men pulled a knife on a food delivery driver Tuesday night and demanded the grub and his keys. But then they noticed the car had a manual transmission. Sgt. John Delaney tells The Republican newspaper the thieves argued among themselves then ran down the street with their ill-gotten dinner. The driver was not seriously hurt. There have been no arrests.

Police release 911 call in Berwick Offray hoax

BERWICK - Police have released two snippets of the hoax 911 call that led dozens of police officers to search Berwick Offray's buildings in Berwick, Briar Creek Boro, South Centre Township and Salem Township. They hope the public can help them identify the voice of the caller, who identified himself only as "Mike."

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The PE Sneak Peek: Jan. 16, 2014

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Thursday: * A local woman is charged with assault and threats late last night, and now she's in jail. Get the details of her alleged rampage. * Police are on the hunt for whoever made a hoax 911 call that brought dozens of officers swarming to a business early this morning. Read more and listen to the 911 call in our online report.

5-year-old child locked in school closet

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Police say a Memphis teacher locked a 5-year-old girl in a closet, then left the school. Shelby County Schools says the teacher, whose name was not released, has been suspended. According to police, the teacher at A.B. Hill Elementary locked up the kindergarten student on Tuesday. Police say the child was not harmed and the teacher was not at the school when police arrived. Police and school officials are investigating. No charges had been filed as of Wednesday afternoon.

Police: Shooting claim at Berwick Offray 'unfounded'

BERWICK -- A man called 9-1-1 from a stolen phone early Thursday to report that someone was shooting at a Berwick Offray plant, police say. The whole report was fake, but more than two dozen police officers swept through five Berwick Offray buildings in the area over four hours to make sure of that, said Berwick Police Chief Ken Strish. (Listen to two snippets of the call here.)

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The PE Sneak Peek: Jan. 15, 2014

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Wednesday: * A school district will pay $130,000 to settle a lawsuit by a sex-assault victim who said two male students intimidated her. Get the details in our online report.

Shooting range in a saloon? It's in the works

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Bullets and beer long have been part of the lore in Deadwood, the western South Dakota gambling town where Wild Bill Hickok met his demise during an 1876 poker game. Now, an FBI agent nearing retirement hopes to tap that history by opening a combined indoor shooting range and saloon a block off Deadwood's historic Main Street.

Cops: Video of pot plants leads to arrest

CLINTON, Conn. (AP) -- A Connecticut man faces numerous drug charges after police say he posted a YouTube video of himself giving a tour of what he calls his marijuana garden. Police in the shoreline town of Clinton, about 20 miles east of New Haven, arrested William Bradley, 46, on Monday following a six-month investigation.

Judge tells Pa. man to tear down tree house

MIDDLEBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A judge has upheld a central Pennsylvania zoning board's decision requiring a man to dismantle a partially-constructed tree house that he was building for his daughter. The Selinsgrove Zoning Board told John "J.C." Carlson in June that the tree house violated the borough's zoning laws. He was building it on his front lawn as a gift for his daughter's 11th birthday. Carlson appealed the decision in Snyder County Court, which The Daily Item (http://bit.ly/1ckqj6S) said backed the zoning board on Tuesday.