SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The wife of former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz says he remains in guarded condition at a Boston hospital and “continues to heal and make progress.” Tiffany Ortiz in a statement released by the team Thursday also thanked Eliezer Salvador, the man who drove Ortiz to the hospital after Sunday night’s shooting in his native Dominican Republic, “and the medical staff at the Abel González Clinic who took care of him.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A man sentenced to death for raping, strangling and dismembering his girlfriend’s 14-year-old daughter has asked a judge to instead give him a life term. Jacob Sullivan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other offenses for killing Grace Packer in 2016 as part of a rape-murder fantasy he shared with the teen’s mother. Jurors told the judge during the deliberations they were unable to agree on imposing the death penalty, and his lawyers argued the judge forced jurors to keep deliberating.

A NEW BRIGHTON MAN FACES A HEARING IN BEAVER COUNTY COURT FOR AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A WEAPON IN ECONOMY BOROUGH. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS THE STORY. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

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Kennywood is bringing back Heinz Ketchup. While the decision was made at the corporate level to move all of the Palace Entertainment parks to Hunts Ketchup, it was the local Kennywood employees who have been hearing the complaints. Patrons made it clear they want their Heinz ketchup back…not just because of the taste but also because of community pride and identity. So visitors will soon see Heinz ketchup back at Kennywood…and Heinz will also be flowing again at Idlewild and Sandcastle as well. Kennywood hopes the decision will put its condiment issues behind them and allow the park to focus fan excitement on the looming opening of Steelers Country and its super coaster. The last pieces of track are expected to go into place this week. Testing and training will follow with an opening sometime this summer.

Western Pennsylvania drivers could face fewer vehicle emissions testing requirements. The state Senate Transportation Committee voted yesterday to waive annual emissions inspections for vehicles that are less than nine-years-old. Supporters say only two-percent of new cars and trucks fail the tests in their first eight years.

A freshman state Senator is asking Governor Tom Wolf to send Pennsylvania National Guard members to the U-S southern border. State Senator Doug Mastriano says that’s how opioids are entering the country and Pennsylvania should do its part to prevent that from happening. Mastriano was sworn in Monday after winning a special election for P-A’s 33rd Senate District.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican lawmakers aren’t committing to the money sought by Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to back up his demand that counties replace their voting machines by 2020. Republicans who control the Legislature say their budget counterproposal doesn’t include the $15 million Wolf requested. Republicans say that there’s no example of an election irregularity in Pennsylvania and that counties that already use machines with a paper-based backup shouldn’t be forced to buy new machines.

MIFFLINTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A small earthquake has rumbled parts of central Pennsylvania. The United States Geological Survey says the epicenter of Wednesday night’s magnitude 3.4 quake was about 11 miles (18 kilometers) southwest of Mifflintown at a depth of nearly 17 miles (27 kilometers). No damage has been reported. Some people reported hearing a rumble like thunder while others compared the quake to a big truck going by.

State Police in Lawrence County are investigating damage that took place last month at DelMar Golf Course in Wampum. According to police an unknown vehicle had driven on the course causing damage to portions of the course including minor damage to a tree. Police estimated the damage at three thousand dollars. Anyone with information is asked to call State Police.

Proposed legislation in Harrisburg would require schools to pass out information about eating disorders to parents in an effort to catch problems before they begin. Don Rooney has more…