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Residents warned of home-brewed 'krokodil' heroin

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The gruesome side effects from a home-brewed heroin substitute popular in Russia have prompted the Pittsburgh Poison Center to warn about the potent narcotic's possible emergence locally. The drug, typically injected, has the street name "krokodil" because of greenish, scaly skin lesions addicts develop, giving them the appearance of having crocodile skin, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Not 'selfie' for Merriam-Webster's word of year; it's 'science'

NEW YORK (AP) -- Look alive, selfie. There's another word of the year that's not all about you. While Oxford University Press, the British publisher of the Oxford dictionaries, declared those little smartphone self-portraits its winner last month, the folks at Merriam-Webster announced "science" on Tuesday. Oxford tracked a huge jump in overall usage of selfie, but Merriam-Webster stuck primarily to look-ups on its website, recording a 176 percent increase for science when compared with last year.

Pa. woman left 3-year-old twins to die in fire

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania woman has pleaded guilty to leaving her 3-year-old twins to die in a fire while she left the house to see whether her marijuana had been stolen by her 15-year-old daughter. Thirty-three-year-old Dalawna Berran-Lett, of North Braddock, pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges stemming from the Jan. 4 fire that killed Ky'heir (KY'-heer) and Dy'heir (DY'-heer) Arthur.

Police: 2 mules cause fatal 3-vehicle Pa. crash

WILLOW STREET, Pa. (AP) -- A car struck two mules that had gotten out of their pasture Monday, leading to a three-vehicle crash and the death of a 19-year-old man on his way to go deer hunting. Cpl. John Michener with Lancaster County's Southern Regional Police Department said the man didn't appear to be speeding and that it "doesn't appear there was anything on his part that caused the accident."

Amazon.com sees delivery drones as future

NEW YORK (AP) -- Amazon is working on a way to get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less -- via self-guided drone. Consider it the modern version of a pizza delivery boy, minus the awkward teenager. Amazon.com Inc. says it's working on the so-called Prime Air unmanned aircraft project but it will take years to advance the technology and for the Federal Aviation Administration to create the necessary rules and regulations. The project was first reported by CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday night, hours before millions of shoppers turned to their computers to hunt Cyber Monday bargains.

Pa. woman pleads guilty to leaving twins in fire

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania woman has pleaded guilty to leaving her 3-year-old twins to die in a fire while she left the house to see whether her marijuana had been stolen by her 15-year-old daughter. Thirty-three-year-old Dalawna Berran-Lett, of North Braddock, pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges stemming from the Jan. 4 fire that killed Ky'heir (KY'-heer) and Dy'heir (DY'-heer) Arthur.

The PE Sneak Peek: Dec. 2, 2013

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Monday: * A dog broke through thin ice into a freezing pond, but quick-thinking humans saved him. Read all about the rescue. * A nursing home says a patient died owing $157,000, and now it's suing his family. * A peeping college student runs from police, then is caught hiding under a bed, charges say.

This is how Amazon wants to deliver your goods

NEW YORK (AP) -- Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos wants his company to deliver goods -- in 30 minutes or less -- using drones. While many regulatory hurdles stand in the way, it's not hard to imagine how such a service might change our lives. Forget home delivery. With the so-called Prime Air unmanned aircraft project, Amazon can potentially deliver goods to customers who are camped out in the middle of a field. Here are some novel ways consumer might make use of a delivery drone service:

2 in horse-drawn Amish buggy killed in Pa. crash

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Authorities say a vehicle crashed into a horse-drawn Amish buggy in western Pennsylvania, killing two people in the buggy and injuring a third. Lawrence County emergency dispatchers say the accident occurred around 5:30 p.m. Saturday on a Mercer County road, about 60 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Lawrence County rescuers were called to assist.

Pa. woman allegedly takes car with children inside

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Philadelphia police say a woman allegedly stole a Cadillac that had a 10-month-old and a 14-year-old girl inside. The incident happened just before 11 a.m. Saturday. Authorities say the unidentified 22-year-old woman was later apprehended, and the children weren't injured. Police aren't sure if the suspect knew the children were in the car when she took it, and they say it doesn't appear to be a domestic dispute.