Pa. man rams mom's car over drug money, cops say

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania man has been jailed on charges that he threatened to kill his mother and rammed her car with his because she refused to give him money to buy drugs. Online court records don't list an attorney for 23-year-old Matthew Mollica, of Kennedy Township, who has been charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Township police say Mollica's mother reported that he threatened to kill her and spat at her Monday night and that his attacks continued Tuesday when she, again, refused to give him drug money.

What we're working on for July 10

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Tuesday: * Police file charges in another post-prom drinking party bust -- this one in Columbia County. * A woman allegedly steals $84,000 from an ATM at her workplace. Find out how she reportedly pulled it off. * A prison guard who traded cigarettes for sex may avoid a jail sentence of his own.

What we're working on for July 9

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Monday: * A man perches at the edge of a river bridge, keeping police at bay. See our breaking online report and look for a full story in Tuesday's print edition. * A father is in court on charges of breaking his infant's leg. Reporter Leon Bogdan tells you what happened. * A prominent businessman dies, leaving questions about his landmark moviehouse. Reporter Susan Schwartz has more.

Standoff ensues with suicidal man on ledge of river bridge

SOUTH CENTRE TWP. -- A two-hour standoff with a suicidal man on the Mifflinville bridge ended with a police officer tackling the man as he tried to walk into his nearby home. Wayne Shiffer, 47, was spotted by a passerby at 4:17 a.m., sitting on the ledge about halfway across the Mifflinville bridge and talking on his phone, police say. When officers arrived, they shut down both sides of the bridge, and attempted to talk Shiffer down from the ledge. "He was mad about some life problems, a divorce and child custody," South Centre Township Officer Paul Kelly said.

Man thrown from convertible in wreck

HUNTINGTON TWP. -- A driver was apparently flung from his convertible as the car flipped Friday afternoon and landed upside-down. Rescuers found Kevin G. Whipple, 56, of 794 Waterton Road, sitting on the ground dazed shortly after the crash was reported around 1 p.m. State Police said Whipple was headed south on Waterton Road about a mile and a half south of Route 239 when he crested a small hill and lost control of his 2009 Mazda, possibly due to his speed.

Firefighters overcome fighting barn blaze

ROSS TWP. -- Two firefighters were taken to the hospital suffering from the heat Thursday while fighting a fire that may have started through spontaneous combustion. Michael Howell was out mowing at his home at 177 Grange Hall Road here when he noticed smoke coming from the corner of his small barn, said his sister, Jackie Howell, 33. He told her to call 9-1-1 at 2:21 p.m., according to dispatchers. Then she and her brother led two horses, Trinity and Zeus, out of the field around the barn where they had been grazing. "The horses were scared," Jackie Howell said. "I was scared, too."

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