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PRIEST ABUSE

Archdiocese deems 2 Pa. priests 'unsuitable'

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Archdiocese of Philadelphia says two priests have been found unsuitable for ministry following allegations of sexual abuse of minors.

A statement from the archdiocese says the priests, both in their 70s, "have agreed to accept a supervised life of prayer and penance."

Officials say a May 2010 abuse allegation against one priest had been substantiated, while in December a retired priest had self-reported such conduct.

The statement said announcements regarding the archdiocese's actions were made yesterday at Philadelphia and suburban parishes where the priests most recently served.

Earlier this month, the archdiocese said five priests would be permanently barred from ministry after substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or inappropriate conduct. Officials said three other suspended priests would be allowed to return to ministry, and another died during the investigation.

ELDERLY WOMAN DEAD-FIRE

Pa. woman, 92, found dead after house fire

PHILADELPHIA (AP) A 92-year-old Philadelphia woman is dead after firefighters responded to a kitchen fire at her home.

Investigators are trying to determine if the woman died from smoke inhalation from the fire yesterday evening in the city's Bridesburg neighborhood.

Firefighters received the call just before 6:30 p.m. and had the fire extinguished in less than a half-hour. Officials say it appeared to have been caused by a microwave.

The fire remains under investigation.

LOCKERBIE FAMILY-REAX-PA

Bomb victim's dad calls al-Megrahi death 'relief'

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) A western Pennsylvania man who lost his 21-year-old daughter in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing says the death of the only person convicted in the case "is to a degree a relief."

Glenn Johnson of Greensburg, Pa., tells The Associated Press -- in his words -- "it had almost reached the point where I was surprised" by the death of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, whose release and return home in 2009 on humanitarian grounds due to prostate cancer drew condemnation from relatives of the victims.

The Libyan was jailed in 2001 for the bombing of the Pan Am flight over Scotland that killed 270 people. He insisted to the end that he had nothing to do with the bombing.

Johnson called al-Megrahi's release a "political deal" but said his anger about it has diminished.

GAS DRILLING-HEALTH

Pa. health care company seeks gas drilling facts

PITTSBURGH (AP) Some people are absolutely sure gas drilling threatens public health, while others are absolutely sure it doesn't.

Geisinger Health Systems is looking for more facts on the debate over the Marcellus Shale -- a gas-rich formation that has generated jobs, billions of dollars and concerns about possible environmental and public health impacts.

The director of Geisinger's research center in Danville, David Carey, says the company has health records from both before and after gas drilling started in some communities.

That means that over time it will be able to provide scientific data on what is or isn't happening to people's health.

Carey says the company isn't presuming anything about the issue, though it is aware of both health concerns and the economic value of the shale boom.

JET SKI ACCIDENT

1 dead in jet ski accident in western Pa.

(Information in the following story is from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, http://www.post-gazette.com )

EDGEWORTH, Pa. (AP) Authorities say a woman is dead and a man is injured after a jet ski they were riding went over a dam in western Pennsylvania.

Officials say boaters pulled the two from the water yesterday afternoon near Dashields Dam in Edgeworth, just outside of Pittsburgh.

They were taken to a hospital where 24-year-old Melissa Mason of Aliquippa was pronounced dead. The condition of the man was unavailable last night.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Allegheny County Police and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are investigating.

Dashields Dam is a fixed-crest dam with about a 10-foot drop.

CAPSIZED BOAT-RESCUE

2 Pa. residents rescued after boat capsizes in NJ

ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) A Coast Guard crew has rescued two Pennsylvania residents from the hull of a boat that capsized in waters off central New Jersey.

Forty-one-year-old Lee Cuong of Lester and 42-year-old Hai Lee of Upper Darby were the only two people aboard the 19-foot boat, which capsized early yesterday morning in the mouth of the Shark River near Asbury Park.

Neither person was injured, but it's not clear what caused the boat to capsize.

A Belmar police officer notified the Coast Guard around 2:20 a.m. that two people were on the boat's overturned hull and waving their arms. A 25-foot response boat-small crew from the Shark River station rescued the pair around 2:30 a.m. and brought them back to the station, where they declined medical attention.

POLICE KILL BEAR

Police shoot, kill bear in Pa. town

EASTON, Pa. (AP) Officers shot and killed a black bear they said was roaming around the downtown area of the Pennsylvania town of Easton.

Police Capt. Scott Casterline says the officers unsuccessfully tried several times to tranquilize the bear yesterday and were concerned it would make its way into a residential neighborhood.

Authorities say the bear was spotted twice on Saturday, prompting police to alert the Pennsylvania Game Commission. It was eventually spotted again near the Easton Area Public Library.

Casterline says the bear wasn't an immediate threat to the public but it had become a public safety hazard because it was comfortable in populated areas.

Police say the bear's carcass will be turned over to state wildlife officials.

PENN STATE-FUTURE

Questions linger on past, but PSU moves forward

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) As Penn State tries to focus on the future, there are near-constant reminders about the past.

Retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is scheduled to stand trial next month on child sexual abuse charges that he has denied. Former FBI director Louis Freeh is leading the university's internal probe into the scandal.

A school trying to repair its image faces the challenge of dealing with the aftermath of a crisis never before seen in higher education while trying to move forward and going about the business of academia.

A trial could last weeks. Freeh's report could be released by the time the next academic year starts in late August.

Newly elected school trustee Ryan McCombie says he's hopeful Penn State will emerge a much better university.