HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State senators are hearing from victims, church advocates, lawyers and others about whether Pennsylvania should alter rules for child sexual abuse claims that happened too long ago to file a lawsuit. A Senate Judiciary Committee session on proposals to extend the criminal and civil statutes of limitations in such cases got underway Wednesday. It’s unclear whether majority Republican opposition that has stalled legislation has changed.

Smoking is being banned at Veterans Administration facilities, but some argue it’s not healthy. The new V-A rules, went into effect yesterday, prohibit all tobacco products on their campuses and outpatient facilities nationwide. Opponents of the law fear the change will be tough for veterans with addiction or mental health issues. Patients who violate the new policy could be issued a citation and removed from their care facilities.

MONACA COUNCIL AWARDED A CONTRACT…AND HIRED A PART-TIME POLICE OFFICER DURING ITS WORK SESSION LAST NIGHT. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO WAS THERE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

The son of WTAE-TV anchor Mike Clark died Saturday in a hiking accident in the Rocky Mountains, just four days after his 26th birthday. Matthew Clark, of Denver, was hiking with some friends when he slipped and fell. He was pronounced dead at the scene, about an hour west of Denver. Mike Clark will be taking some time off from work, according to the station, and has asked for prayers for his family.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A tax on beer sold at Pennsylvania breweries and brew pubs is in effect, and some are passing along the higher cost to customers. The use tax of about 1.5 percent that began Tuesday is technically a tax on the brewer for using its own products at its business.

Some state lawmakers are introducing their own bill that would allow college athletes to be paid. The bill would allow students to sign endorsement deals, letting them earn money for their name and likeness. The measure would also permit the young athletes to hire an agent. Allegheny County state Representative Dan Miller calls the bill a worker’s freedom issue, adding the athletes help their coaches earn big salaries while they don’t financially benefit as well.

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would raise the salary cap on local elected officials. The bills, if approved, would allow townships and boroughs the option to increase salaries for their leaders, based upon the size of the community. The largest communities could see the amount of compensation rise from five-grand to near 84-hundred-dollars per year. The bills could come up for a vote starting October 21st.

A partially naked man was arrested after trying to break in to a woman’s apartment in Pittsburgh. Police say James Lipinski, a convicted arsonist, tried to break into the woman’s apartment Monday night. Lipinski is charged with aggravated assault and burglary after police said he stripped naked from the waist down and tried to force his way into the apartment.

Firefighters saved a man trapped in a car after it caught fire near the Cranberry Mall late Tuesday. The car had rolled onto its side across the parking lot from Emiliano’s restaurant, according to Cranberry police. The fire was coming from the rear of the car. According to police, the roof had to be taken off the car to rescue him. Firefighters from Cranberry Fire and Adams Fire responded. The man was alert when he was taken to the hospital.

Police say a Butler man pulled a gun on some neighbor kids after their ball went in his yard. Scott Spahn is accused of threatening the kids with a revolver and refusing to give their ball back. Spahn was charged Tuesday with aggravated assault and terroristic threats and is in Butler County Jail on 200-thousand-dollars bail.