HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Penn State president who was forced out as the school’s top administrator after Jerry Sandusky was arrested nearly a decade ago is  expected in court for a hearing about his own pending criminal sentence. A Pennsylvania judge will preside over the Wednesday hearing in Harrisburg. He’ll determine if and when Graham Spanier must report to jail to begin serving time for endangering the welfare of children. Appeals have allowed him to avoid serving the jail time of at least two months in jail, followed by three months of house arrest. A Penn State spokesperson says Spanier remains a tenured faculty member on administrative leave who is not teaching classes.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Cranberry Township, Pa) The body found inside a car that exploded in Cranberry on Friday, has been identified as 53-year-old Mark Jenks from Cranberry. The cause of death has been determined as smoke inhalation and burns. Police reportedly responded to the explosion at a Route 228 restaurant parking lot around 5pm on Friday.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state House committee is advancing legislation to keep portions of the governor’s coronavirus disaster emergency in place until October but end fast-track contracting rules and other provisions. The resolution passed by Republicans on the State Government Committee on party lines Tuesday requires approval from both legislative chambers but not from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. It’s designed to stop the use of no-bid contracts, require people on unemployment aid to look for work and end social distancing rules. Wolf’s mitigation orders are currently being phased out, and on Monday the governor’s acting labor secretary outlined a schedule for resumption of job search requirements. Wolf says lawmakers are acting before the election results have been certified.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans who control Pennsylvania’s Legislature are advancing hot-button bills to restrict abortion rights and expand gun rights, although the bills faced opposition by Democratic lawmakers and certain veto by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. In the House Health Committee on Tuesday, Republicans passed two bills to further restrict abortion rights. One would restrict abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. The other bill would prohibit an abortion on the basis of a Down syndrome diagnosis. In the House Judiciary Committee, Republicans passed a bill to allow people to carry a loaded firearm openly or concealed, without a permit, and revived legislation to make it easier to sue municipalities over gun ordinances that are stricter than state law.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Darlington, PA) State Police report that a 74 year old woman from Darlington was a victim of theft by deception by an unknown male who called her on the phone.  The man deceived her into thinking that there was an issue with a recent merchandise order, and she provided him with her personal bank account information. The man stole $2000 from her account. There are currently no witnesses, leads, or suspects.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondents Curtis Walsh and Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police were called in by the Aliquippa Police department to assist with a male that was shot around 10:55 last night.  Aliquippa police advised that the male was being flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital by a medivac helicopter with a gunshot wound in the back.  The Troopers arrived in the area of 300 Superior Avenue, which is part of the Valley Terrace Housing Complex, and were informed by Aliquippa Police that the male had been identified as a 16 year old that was driving his car.  The 16 year old was unable to control his car after being shot and hit an embankment.  He is reported to be in critical but stable condition.  The investigation will continue.  City of Aliquippa Police, Hopewell Township Police, City of Aliquippa Fire Department, Medivac, and Medic Rescue all assisted on scene.

WASHINGTON — The White House says the United States on Tuesday will reach 50% of American adults fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

President Joe Biden previously set a goal of having 70% of all adults receiving at least one dose of the vaccine by July 4th.

The White House has ramped up is vaccine distribution, and coronavirus case and deaths have dramatically fallen across the nation.

There are currently three vaccines in use in the United States. The Biden administration has increased the number of inoculations it is exporting to other nations.

— By Jonathan Lemire

VIENNA (AP) — World powers are set to open a fifth round of talks with Iran aimed at bringing the United States back into the landmark 2015 nuclear deal meant to prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining an atomic bomb. The talks in Vienna come the day after the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, was able to strike a last-minute agreement with Tehran on a one-month extension to a deal on surveillance cameras at Iran’s nuclear sites. The issue wasn’t directly related to the ongoing talks resuming Tuesday on the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but had Iran not agreed it could have seriously complicated the discussions.