BREAKING NEWS: AMBRIDGE POLICE CHIEF JAMES MANN IS HEADED TO TRIAL…AS HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO:

PARIS (AP) — The cultural heritage envoy for French President Emmanuel Macron says it is realistic to reopen Notre Dame Cathedral to the public in five years. Following a meeting at the presidential palace about the cathedral’s reconstruction, Stephane Bern said Macron’s goal is to allow visitors coming for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris to visit Notre Dame.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Federal authorities say they have charged 60 people, including 31 doctors, for their roles in illegal prescribing and distributing of opioids and other dangerous drugs. The action announced Wednesday in Cincinnati and Washington resulted from the federal Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force and includes defendants in at least seven states. They are Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Influenza-related deaths are rising by a wide margin in the state of Pennsylvania. The latest state statistics indicate flu-related fatalities increased by 13 since last week, with adults age 65 and older making up more than 60-percent of the deaths. In addition, the total number of cases reported state-wide has risen to well more than 94-thousand people. Allegheny County has been the hardest hit by a wide margin with over 91-hundred cases.

The state House is passing legislation that could allow private clubs to sell six-packs to its members. The measure would allow club members to buy the beer to drink off-site. That bill is now off to the state Senate for consideration.

Southwest Airlines’ decision to ground its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is impacting flights across the country. Officials at Pittsburgh International Airport say it will experience service reductions this coming summer. Southwest is trimming its summer flight schedules from June 8 through 29. The Pittsburgh routes impacted by the adjustments included suspended non-stop service to Los Angeles, Cancun, and a reduction in service to Las Vegas. It’s unclear what changes will be made beyond June.

Two men are behind bars after a drug bust on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. State troopers say 75 pounds of marijuana were seized yesterday morning during a traffic stop at the New Stanton interchange. The drugs have a street value of more than 200-thousand-dollars. Troopers say the reason why they pulled them over in the first place – the driver failed to use his turn signal.

Several dozen Beaver County employees are walking the picket line protesting a proposed new contract. The informational picket happened Tuesday during the employee’s lunch breaks for those working in county row offices as well as court-appointed and court-related nonprofessionals. The union representing those 220 employees is unhappy with the three-year contract being offered. County officials say union reps are misleading their members with false information on the proposed contract.

AMBRIDGE POLICE CHIEF JAMES MANN IS BACK IN THE COURTROOM THIS MORNING FOR HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING ON SEVERAL CHARGES. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Police in New Castle are investigating a late-night shooting that damaged a car and a home. Neighbors say they heard at least 15 shots around 9:30 last night. Police found a car with a bullet hole on Cumberland Avenue. A home on North Crawford Avenue was also struck. The homeowner says a bullet went into the home and through several rooms. No one was injured.