Trial ordered for man in December slaying near church

High profiles of some statewide races overshadow others

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The high profiles of some statewide contests in Pennsylvania's primary election are overshadowing others as a Feb. 16 deadline looms for would-be candidates to qualify for the ballot. Besides nomination battles for president, U.S. Senate and state attorney general that have been heating up for months, there are less notable races for the offices of treasurer and auditor general. Those office-holders receive the same salary as the attorney general, $158,764 this year, serve the same four-year terms and have the same statewide jurisdiction. Also on the ballot are two proposed constitutional amendments. One would increase the mandatory retirement age for the state's roughly 1,000 judges from 70 to 75. The other would complete the process of abolishing Philadelphia's former corruption-ridden traffic court.