A new federal law will make 61,000 workers in Pennsylvania eligible for overtime pay of time and a half beginning Jan. 1, according to a release from the state Department of Labor and Industry. People who are eligible include: Most hourly employees who work more than 40 hours per week, most salaried employees who work more than 40 hours per week and earn less than $684 per week/$35,568 per year are eligible for overtime, regardless of their job duties, and most salaried employees who are not engaged in an executive, administrative or professional capacity, regardless of how much they are paid.

For more information on the new overtime rule, call 1-800-932-0665 (L&I’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance), visit dli.pa.gov.

HEMPFIELD, Pa. (AP) — Law enforcement officers serving a warrant at a western Pennsylvania home found a family living there in “uninhabitable conditions” and charged the parents with child endangerment and animal neglect. Authorities say Cloyd and Melissa Zimmerman, both 38, turned themselves in Monday. Westmoreland County sheriff’s officers had gone to the couple’s Hempfield home Thursday to serve a criminal mischief warrant issued for Melissa Zimmerman. When she opened the door, the deputies were overwhelmed by the smell of urine and feces. The couple’s four children, all younger than 6, were turned over to child welfare officials. Animal control officers took control of two dogs and cats.

Pennsylvania State Police Troopers will be patrolling the highways of the commonwealth to keep them safe this New Year’s Eve. Troopers will be on the lookout for suspected DUI drivers, speeders, aggressive and distracted drivers, and seat belt law violations. Residents are being encouraged to call 911 and report any aggressive or drunk drivers they encounter on the roads.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ride-share company Uber and on-demand meal delivery service Postmates are suing to block a broad new California law aimed at giving wage and benefit protections to people who work as independent contractors. The lawsuit filed in court Monday argues that the law set to take effect Wednesday violates federal and state equal protection and due process guarantees. The law creates the nation’s strictest test by which workers must be considered employees. It could set a precedent for other states. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez says the law extends employee rights to more than a million California workers who lack benefits.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Federal authorities say remains of an American soldier killed during the Korean War have been accounted for and will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Monday it verified the remains of 28-year-old Army 1st Lt. Robert C. Styslinger of Pittsburgh in August. It says his remains were among 55 boxes turned over by North Korea in July 2018, after a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un. Styslinger was reported to have been killed in action in November 1950 in North Korea.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania county judge captured on video aggressively challenging a patrolman who pulled him over is getting a written reprimand from the entity that investigates judicial misconduct. The Judicial Conduct Board’s “letter of counsel” to Lancaster County Common Pleas Judge Dennis Reinaker was made public Monday. It says the complaints against him were dismissed but the board believes he violated a requirement that judges always behave in a way that promotes public confidence in the judiciary. A message was left seeking comment from Reinaker’s lawyer.

UNDATED (AP) — The first black woman named to lead Philadelphia’s troubled police department pledged to be a “conduit” between the community and police and to address the racist and sexist tensions dividing the force. Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney announced Monday he’s hired Portland Chief Danielle Outlaw to fill the job that’s been open since August when the last commissioner abruptly resigned. Outlaw spent nearly two decades with the police department in Oakland, California, before being named Portland’s chief in August 2017. She calls the new job a privilege and is vowing to restore the public’s trust in the city police department.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a man shot and wounded by police was armed with a replica handgun that was made to look like a .45-caliber handgun. Emmanuel Celestino-Mendez is charged with aggravated assault against a police officer. The 31-year-old Allentown man remained hospitalized Monday in critical condition, but was expected to survive. The shooting in Allentown occurred early Sunday. Police responding to reports of a fight and shots fired found several people brawling and one person on the ground near a trail of blood. Celestino-Mendez was seen holding a weapon and refused officers’ orders to drop the weapon. It’s unclear if Celestino-Mendez has retained an attorney.

Yesterday morning, 4 county row officers were sworn in by the county’s judges during the second investiture ceremony of the year. That brings the total to 11 office officials preparing to begin new terms next week. Overall, 7 county officials were sworn in publicly, while 7 others chose private ceremonies. All row officers take office on Monday January 6th.

A Beaver Falls man is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home. Police have charged 51-year-old Carlos Acevedo with rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, simple assault, and unlawful restraint. As of Monday afternoon, Acevedo remained in Beaver County jail on $75,000 bond.