A state study has found the number of Pennsylvania children killed or nearly killed after abuse had occurred spiked recently, increases likely driven by a new definition of abuse and an uptick in its reporting in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky and Roman Catholic clergy child sexual abuse scandals. The state Human Services Department released a report Thursday into fatalities and near fatalities during 2015 and 2016. It shows both types of reports were up after being fairly level for years.

The man who served as Penn State’s president when the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal erupted may soon be headed to jail after Pennsylvania’s highest court said it will not take up his appeal. The state Supreme Court declined to hear Graham Spanier’s Thursday appeal of a misdemeanor child endangerment conviction related to his handling of a 2001 complaint about Sandusky showering with a boy in the football team locker room. Spanier’s lawyer said they were disappointed in the decision.

News out of Pittsburgh that’s making national headlines this morning….Kraft Heinz is disclosing an investigation by federal regulators and will slash the value of its Oscar Mayer brands by a $15.4 billion. Shares plunged 20 percent before the opening bell today with the company posting a $12.6 billion loss for the fourth quarter.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2019

*** THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR BEAVER COUNTY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH 7AM MONDAY MORNING. STRONG WINDS MAY BLOW DOWN LIMBS, TREES, AND POWER LINES. SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH, OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. ***

TODAY – CLOUDY SKIES. HIGH – 44.

TONIGHT – CONSIDERABLE CLOUDINESS. LOW – 31.

SATURDAY – CLOUDY EARLY WITH SHOWERS FOR THE
AFTERNOON HOURS. HIGH – 46.

SUNDAY – RAIN SHOWERS EARLY, THEN REMAINING
OVERCAST AND WINDY LATER IN THE DAY.
MORNING HIGH OF 55 WITH TEMPS FALLING
TO NEAR 40.