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Legislature urged to create new rules for life sentences

Prosecutors and other court officials on Thursday told a panel of lawmakers that the General Assembly needs to act to set the ground rules as the judiciary adjusts to a March Supreme Court ruling finding Pennsylvania’s use of mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder convictions is unconstitutional. The ruling impacted those convicted of committing a felony that resulted in a death. Critics of the state’s use of life sentences in these cases maintain that the old sentencing scheme was unfair to those who may have been conspirators in a crime but did not directly commit a ...

House fire claims Imler resident

IMLER — A woman who was pulled from her burning home Wednesday afternoon later died from her injuries at Conemaugh Nason Hospital, according to the Blair County Coroner’s Office. Resident Carrie Lightner, 56, was home alone when the fire broke out at 11748 William Penn Road, Imler, ...

Skill games bill aim of rally-goers

About 130 people filled a room at the Bavarian Hall Tuesday to express support for passage of a state law that would rescue the “skill games” industry from a June 15 ruling of the state Supreme Court that held the devices are essentially slot machines and must be regulated as such — that is, must be located only in casinos and specially licensed truck stops. Speakers at the rally organized the Bavarian membership, DeLeo Games and manufacturer paceOmatic urged representatives of businesses and organizations that operate the games and depend on the revenue to pressure lawmakers to ...

‘Gentle giant’ Kumpf praised for integrity, work ethic

Dubbed a “gentle giant” by some, Barry Kumpf is being remembered as a man of high integrity and a man with a great work ethic. Kumpf, 69, Altoona, passed away Sept. 18 at UPMC Altoona. Kumpf retired as president and CEO of the Blair County Convention Center and was previously general ...

Audit: Pennsylvania Department of Aging woes putting seniors at risk

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s oversight of local agencies charged with preventing elder abuse is riddled with weaknesses and deficiencies that could leave vulnerable older adults at further risk of harm, according to a stinging audit released Wednesday by the state’s top fiscal watchdog. The 80-page audit by Auditor General Tim DeFoor’s office also concluded that the department’s new system for monitoring the quality of abuse and neglect investigations no longer looks at key areas — such as whether an older adult was left at risk of harm — creating a ...

Bellwood-Antis Public Library hosts quilt show

The Bellwood Quilting Bees will hold their annual quilt show at the Bellwood-Antis Public Library, 526 Main St., Bellwood, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. The show consists of several displays featuring patriotic items honoring the 250th year of the United States of America. There ...