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Pa. woman in stalking case banned from Twitter

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- A suburban Philadelphia woman has been banned from using Twitter as part of her sentence for a stalking conviction. Montgomery County Judge William Carpenter barred 34-year-old Sadiyyah Young of Pottstown from tweeting for at least five years. Authorities say Young used derogatory and harassing tweets against people involved in a custody case regarding her children, including a judge who ruled against her, lawyers, social workers and foster parents.

Pa. teacher charged in sex assault of student

READING, Pa. (AP) -- A 27-year-old teacher and cheerleading coach had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student, police said. Nicole Kurowski, a gym teacher at Tulpehocken High School outside Reading, surrendered Wednesday to face charges of institutional sexual assault. She was freed on bail. Her lawyer didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment Thursday. State police allege that Kurowski had a sexual relationship with a male student both on and off school property during the last school year, and that some of the encounters took place during school hours.

Police stun stepdad trying to save son from fire

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The family of a 3-year-old killed in a northern Missouri house fire says it is outraged after police used a stun gun on the boy's stepfather as he tried to run back in and save the child. Riley Miller died early Oct. 31 in the Mississippi River town of Louisiana. A city police officer fired his stun gun at Ryan Miller as he tried to re-enter his burning home, which was destroyed. Grandmother Lori Miller says she witnessed two officers use the stun gun three times, twice after Ryan Miller had been handcuffed.

Cat used for target practice shot by arrow

NORWICH, Conn. (AP) -- A cat that Connecticut officials believe was used for target practice has survived being shot by an arrow. Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom was campaigning for re-election on Monday when he said he found the cat on a house porch. The cat named Elliot was shot with a 15-inch arrow. The mayor called police and an animal control officer took the cat to Dr. Kathleen Tangari, a veterinarian. Tangari says the arrow missed the jugular, the lungs and heart. She says it's likely the arrow had been in the cat for about two days.

Rubber duck finally in Toy Hall of Fame

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- The rubber duck squeaked out a win for a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame, joining the ancient game of chess in the 2013 class inducted Thursday. The pair beat out 10 other finalists: bubbles, the board game Clue, Fisher-Price Little People, little green Army men, the Magic 8 Ball, My Little Pony, Nerf toys, the Pac-Man video game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the scooter.

The PE Sneak Peek: Nov. 7, 2013

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Thursday: * "This is the first time I've been off of everything," an apologetic meth suspect tells the judge. Find out if that helped him win a lighter sentence. * Officers found her missing mother, but a local woman remains upset at the police department's response. Get both sides in our report. * A second case of an urban club drug is reported in this rural area, and a suspect is charged. * Allegedly beaten by his son, a father refuses to testify in court.

Family's cat is returned 5 years after running away

RACINE, Wis. (AP) -- A Racine family has been reunited with their gray tabby cat that ran off five years ago. According to the Wisconsin Humane Society, a woman had seen the declawed cat hanging around her Racine home for the past several months and began to worry when the weather turned cold. So she brought the cat in and officials found he had a microchip registered to Lindsay O'Neill. O'Neill says she was shocked when she found out about Sammie. They were reunited Tuesday.

Death penalty sought for Pa. man in baby's death

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) -- Prosecutors say they intend to seek the death penalty against a Pennsylvania man accused of kidnapping and killing his girlfriend's 7-month-old son in August. Thirty-year-old Ummad Rushdi pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Delaware County Court to charges including criminal homicide and murder in the first, second and third degree. Police say the York man kidnapped 7-month-old Hamza Ali in early August from Rushdi's parents' home in the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby.

The PE Sneak Peek: Nov. 6, 2013

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Wednesday: * Police say a teen driver screeched to a halt near kids at a bus stop, but the boy's mother doesn't buy it. * Fire badly damages a house that's home to nine people. See our online breaking report. * No more family ties: Two brothers are ordered to steer clear of each other while they face meth charges. * Want $5,000? That's the reward after a vandalism spree in one local town.

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