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West Hazleton man arrested in brutal assault; party drug blamed

HAZLE TWP. - A man accused of brutally assaulting a woman here early Tuesday confessed to the attack and said it had been fueled by the illegal party drug known as "Molly," state police said. Emmanuel Paulino, 30, of West Hazleton, is also accused of assaulting a trooper.

Family of 4 found dead was happy, lawyer says

ARLINGTON, Mass. (AP) -- A man found dead with his wife and their infant twin sons in their suburban home had recently sued his former employer but had given no indication of marital problems, his attorney said on Tuesday. Paramedic Scott Jones had filed a lawsuit accusing the former employer of inflicting severe emotional distress by firing him when he complained about faulty medical equipment, the attorney said.

Pa. police find slain man stuffed in sleeping bag

MALVERN, Pa. (AP) -- Authorities in suburban Philadelphia say a man fatally shot a longtime acquaintance and hid the body in a sleeping bag. Investigators charged 24-year-old Merritt Dudas on Tuesday with homicide and related offenses. Police say Dudas shot 21-year-old Drew Ferguson in the head last week. Authorities found Ferguson's body Monday in a sleeping bag on the second floor of his garage in Malvern. Authorities did not give a motive for the slaying, but they say Dudas and Ferguson had known each other for years.

Pa. pastor unrepentant over son's gay wedding

SPRING CITY, Pa. (AP) -- A United Methodist minister convicted of breaking church law by officiating at the same-sex wedding of his son said Tuesday he is unrepentant, declaring he has been called by God to be an advocate for the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people. The Rev. Frank Schaefer, testifying at the penalty phase of his church trial in southeastern Pennsylvania, also refused to promise he wouldn't perform another same-sex union -- putting himself in jeopardy of losing his minister's credentials.

The PE Sneak Peek: Nov. 19, 2013

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Tuesday: * Jurors reach their verdict in the case of a man charged with killing his girlfriend. See our our breaking online report. * One suspect breaks down as she faces charges of stealing $81,000 in insurance money. Her alleged accomplice is due before the judge later today. * Police say a shoplifter scampered off into the high weeds, but officers sniffed him out.

Girls' coach quits after allegedly biting player on face

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- A Mississippi sheriff said Tuesday that he doesn't plan to file criminal charges against a high school girls basketball coach accused of biting a player on the face during a game. Leake County Sheriff Greg Waggoner told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the girl's family said they wouldn't press charges if Leake Academy coach Doyle Wolverton resigned. The school said in a statement that Wolverton resigned Monday.

Pa. medical marijuana bill has bi-partisan support

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Two state senators, one a Republican and the other a Democrat, said Monday they plan to introduce a bill to legalize a certain form of marijuana for medicinal use in Pennsylvania in an effort to help children who suffer seizures and potentially many others, including patients suffering through chemotherapy.

Pa. police: Student's fatal fall may be linked to 'acid'

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Authorities say the accidental death of a Penn State student may be linked to a drug being sold as "acid." State College police say the exact compound of the narcotic has not been determined. But an initial investigation shows it played a role in a student's nine-story fall on Saturday. Police say 20-year-old Conor Macmannis of Stafford, Va., died after tumbling from a balcony at the Penn Tower apartments.

Pilot billed $3,000 for landing on Pa. toll road

CENTERVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- The pilot of a small vintage plane who made an emergency landing on a western Pennsylvania toll road has been billed nearly $3,000 by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, over and above $1,000 he initially paid for the plane to be towed from the scene. Brian Nicholson, of Upper Speers, believes much of the bill is unnecessary because he had a mechanic prepared to replace the plane's damaged propeller so he could fly away.

Watch for water repair overnight in Bloom

BLOOMSBURG -- Crews will repair a faulty valve on a water main early Tuesday morning that's been leaving the intersection of Main and Iron streets wet. The $2,000 repair job will take place between 1 and 5 a.m. Tuesday to try to minimize inconvenience to customers on Main Street from Iron to Market streets, said United Water spokesman Bob Manbeck in a press release. Those living in the area have received a phone message and a written notice delivered to their door. Water crews will install a new 300-pound valve on the 6-inch diameter water main, Manbeck said.