A high school teacher from Plum borough and his wife are accused of burglarizing a neighbor’s house. According to court documents, Michael Verrico and his wife took an odd collection of items, and got a teenager to help them. The neighbor’s house was in foreclosure and they allegedly entered an unlocked closed garage door and took the items, according to the criminal complaint. Police interviewed the 17-year-old and three other kids who said Verrico destroyed evidence and told them to lie to police. Verrico is on administrative leave from the Plum School District where he teaches physical education at Oblock Junior High School. He is now charged with felony burglary, corruption of minors and tampering with evidence. According to the criminal complaint, the couple allegedly took sheets, a washing machine, five suits and a broom.

Gas prices in Beaver County are down slightly this week by about 2 cents. Beaver County Radio News intern Alex D’Itri has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Alex’s report…

The Center Supervisors move one step closer to bringing a new daycare center to the township. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

On the eve of the historic House vote, demonstrators came out in Beaver and Westmoreland counties in opposition to the impeachment of President Donald Trump. Many pro-Trump individuals took to the streets to make sure their voices were heard on Tuesday. In total, five rallies for and against impeachment were held in the Pittsburgh area, including one outside the office of Democratic Congressman Conor Lamb, who recently decided to vote to impeach President Trump. There was extra security on hand at some of the rallies to control the crowds.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania House is advancing changes to the state’s parole system for lower-level, less violent offenders and revamping the process by which inmates get into drug treatment. Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to send the amended legislation back to the Senate. It would set up a system of more automated parole, a change designed to make it more consistent and efficient. The bill also provides a “quick dip,” short-term detention for parole violations that aren’t considered serious enough to return them to prison, and authorizes a Corrections Department review team to examine homicides by parolees.

UNDATED (AP) — A man convicted on murder charges stemming from a deadly 1993 fire at two Pittsburgh buildings will get a new trial. The ruling issued Tuesday comes after prosecutors discovered evidence that had never been turned over to the defense. Daniel Carnevale has maintained his innocence since he was initially questioned following the fires in Bloomfield, which left three people dead. He was sentenced to life without parole. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office initially opposed his bid for a new trial, but consented after a report found in a case file showed one federal chemist disagreed with the findings of another.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18TH, 2019

TODAY – MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SNOW SHOWERS DURING
THE MORNING. HIGHER WIND GUSTS THIS
MORNING. HIGH – 28.

TONIGHT – A FEW CLOUDS. LOW – 14.

THURSDAY – ABUNDANT SUNSHINE. HIGH – 31.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has endorsed Joe Biden for president. The Democrat says he believes Biden is the best candidate to beat President Donald Trump in Ohio. Strickland tells The Associated Press he believes Biden’s policy positions and experience can appeal to both working class Democrats who have strayed from the party in recent years and moderate Republicans alienated by Trump’s crassness and volatility. Strickland spoke to the AP on Monday ahead of an announcement made Tuesday. Strickland previously had endorsed Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a close friend who dropped out of the race in August and is now running for reelection.

Women are “indisputably” better leaders than men. That’s what former President Barack Obama said Monday while speaking at a private event on leadership in Singapore. The former commander in chief said, quote, “I’m absolutely confident that, if every nation on Earth was run by women, you would see a significant improvement across the board on just about everything.” Obama, who served as president from 2009 until 2016, also said the majority of the world’s problems were caused by mostly old men who held on to positions of power.