FILE – A sign on the sidewalk outside an antique store in Spartansburg, Pa., on Feb. 29, 2024. Shawn C. Cranston, accused of killing a pregnant Amish woman in her rural home last month was expected to be in a courtroom on Friday, March 14, where a Pennsylvania judge will consider whether investigators have sufficient evidence to advance the charges toward trial. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file)

MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A truck driver accused of killing a pregnant Amish woman in her rural home is headed to a Pennsylvania courthouse for a preliminary hearing. A Pennsylvania judge on Friday will consider whether investigators have sufficient evidence against 52-year-old Shawn Cranston to advance the charges toward trial. He is accused of killing 23-year-old Rebekah Byler and her unborn child inside the Byler home near Spartansburg in February. The hearing in the Crawford County Courthouse is to determine if there is enough evidence to support those charges, as well as accusations of burglary and trespassing. Cranston’s lawyer has not responded to messages and the chief prosecutor has declined to discuss the case.

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — John Ludvig and Rickard Rakell scored two minutes apart in the third period and the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled away from the San Jose Sharks for a 6-3 win. Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Jeff Carter Noel Acciari also scored for Pittsburgh, which won for the first time since dealing star winger Jake Guentzel to the Hurricanes at the trade deadline last week. Tristan Jarry made 30 saves for the Penguins, who were outscored 17-2 during their losing streak. Fabian Zetterlund, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Klim Kostin scored for San Jose, which lost for the 11th time in 12 games. Magnus Chrona stopped 25 shots.

FILE – Former President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association Convention in Indianapolis, on April 14, 2023.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump listened in court as his lawyers urged a federal judge to dismiss the criminal case accusing the former president of illegally retaining classified documents after he left the White House. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon heard arguments Thursday over whether a law that underpins the bulk of the charges is too vaguely worded to enforce against a former president. Cannon asked probing questions of both sides and didn’t immediately rule on Trump’s bid to throw out the case before ever reaching a jury. More arguments are expected later Thursday.

HARRISBURG — In response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed energy plan, released today, March 13, in Scranton, Reps. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) and Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) issued the following statement:

“Once again, Gov. Shapiro is pushing extreme California policies that will cost Pennsylvanians more. After campaigning on pulling out of RGGI, Gov. Shapiro is pushing another outrageous energy tax. There are many things wrong with this proposal, from rolling blackouts to massive job loss, but the most egregious thing is this cap and tax program that will increase electric bills for every Pennsylvanian. Pennsylvania cannot afford more failed Shapiro policies. We stand against ANOTHER Shapiro tax increase.”

A freshly decorated Key Lime pie rests on a counter in a busy bakery kitchen at Michele’s Pies, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Norwalk, Conn. Math enthusiasts and bakers celebrate Pi Day on March 14 or 3/14, the first three digits of a mathematical constant with many practical uses. Around the world many people will mark the day with a slice of sweet or savory pie. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

College students, rocket scientists and math enthusiasts around the world are celebrating Pi Day. The holiday is on Thursday, March 14 since 3/14 correlates to the first three digits of the infinite number. It’s also Albert Einstein’s birthday, making the pie eaten at Pi Day gatherings all the sweeter. Pi is a mathematical constant that expresses the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is part of many formulas useful in physics, astronomy, engineering and other fields, dating back thousands of years to ancient Egypt and Babylon.

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published March 14, 2024 2:34 P.M.

(Crescent Township, Pa) The Department of Environmental Protection in Pittsburgh is cooperating with the Allegheny County Fire Marshal in the investigation of the home explosion that took place Tuesday in Crescent Township that claimed the lives of a couple living in the home.

A press release was issued from Lauren Camrda from the DEP Communications Office  and they cannot speculate on the possible cause. DEP’s role in the investigation will include inspections of nearby oil and gas wells and infrastructure, including a search for unregistered home use wells in the vicinity. DEP’s investigation will establish a soil gas monitoring network to track possible methane migration through the subsurface. The nearest registered oil or gas wells are more than 2,500 feet away from the incident site, however there are two unregistered historic wells in closer proximity to the home.

Residents with home use wells are encouraged to make sure they are registered with DEP to ensure that they are being operated safely. Residents with questions about home use wells or wishing to ensure a well is registered should contact the DEP Office of Oil and Gas Management at 717-772-2199 or by email.

FILE – United States Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pa. is shown on Feb. 26, 2019. U.S. Steel, the Pittsburgh steel producer that played a key role in the nation’s industrialization, is being acquired by Nippon Steel in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $14.1 billion. The transaction is worth about $14.9 billion when including the assumption of debt. Nippon, which will pay $55 per share for U.S. Steel, said Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 that the deal will bolster its manufacturing and technology capabilities. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is opposing the planned sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, saying the U.S. needs “strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers.” The announcement Thursday comes as the Democratic president campaigns in the Midwest and could have ripples in his race against Republican Donald Trump. Nippon Steel announced in December it plans to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14 billion in cash. That raised concerns within the federal government about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Nippon Steel promises no job losses and says it’s committed to keeping U.S. Steel’s Pittsburgh headquarters.