A man is in custody after a nearly seven-hour standoff in Ellwood City. According to police, the incident started around 6:00 last night at a home in the 200 block of Patricia Drive. Officers initially went to the home to serve a warrant to a man who failed to show up for a court appearance. At that time, he barricaded himself inside the home and refused to come out. Around 1 a.m. this morning, the man surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. No injuries were reported.

Have you seen a spike in your electric billy recently? You’re not alone. Some are blaming the problem on so-called Smart Meters. Over 160,000 smart meters have been installed by Duquesne Light and since that time here in Beaver County, there have been reports of customers seeing huge spikes in their electric bills. It apparently happened to Cindy Landman of Beaver Falls, who told Beaver County Radio’s Pat Septak that her bill jumped to $916 after a new meter was installed at her White Township home. We reached out to Duquesne Light. Spokeswoman Jessica Rock blames the problem on ‘human error’ and tells us that they are in contact with the customer and will be issuing a new bill before the end of the week.

An Illinois man has been arrested in Tennessee on charges he tried to kill an Aliquippa woman as she slept. The Pennsylvania State Police announced Monday that 47-year-old William Spengler, of Harvard, Illinois, has been arrested in Knox County, Tennessee.  Police say he repeatedly hit the 50-year-old woman in the head with a blunt object while she slept in her home in Independence Township. Police say that happened around 10:30 a.m. Saturday and that Spengler then stole the woman’s car. Police say Spengler drove to Tennessee before he was arrested. Police aren’t releasing the woman’s name and condition, and aren’t saying whether or how she knew Spengler. Spengler’s charged with attempted homicide and theft.

A lung transplant patient is suing UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh after coming down with a fungal infection during a hospital mold outbreak. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports the outbreak has been linked to the deaths of three other transplant patients.

A much-reviled Pennsylvania business tax has been swept out by the new year. State Revenue Department spokesman Gary Miller says the capital stock and franchise tax expired Thursday as 2015 ended.

A drug conviction from 23 years ago is keeping a newly elected city council member in Mckeesport from taking his new post. Corey Sanders was prevented from being sworn in with his colleagues Monday night. A prosecutor says he’ll need the governor’s pardon to allow him to hold public office.