BC-PA--Pennsylvania News Digest, PA

Organic farms tailor setups, employ predator species

Good afternoon! Here's a look at AP's general news coverage today in Pennsylvania. For questions about the state report, contact the Philadelphia bureau at 215-561-1133. Ron Todt is on the desk. Editor Larry Rosenthal can be reached at 215-446-6631 or lrosenthal@ap.org. A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories, digests and digest advisories will keep you up to date. Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with updates. TOP STORIES: PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET HARRISBURG — Lawmakers work to remove major differences over a spending plan for the next fiscal year as they appear headed to another stalemate. By Marc Levy. UPCOMING: 500 words by 5 p.m. EDT. COLD CASE HOMICIDE WILMINGTON, Del. — A judge is meeting with attorneys to discuss the murder case against a woman charged in the slaying of a man in Wilmington in 1985. CARNEGIE HEROES, HFR PITTSBUGH — The latest group of people to be awarded Carnegie Heroes medals and cash prizes will be announced. UPCOMING: About 200 words by 3 p.m. EDT. Hold for release until 12:01 a.m. Thursday. With: — CARNEGIE HEROES-LIST, HFR. EXCHANGE: EXCHANGE-ORGANIC FARMING LATROBE — Neil Palmer does more than water his tomato plants to help them grow. He often sprays them with a copper-based liquid to ward off fungal infections that could impair their development and production. "It's not a foolproof method, but it can really protect the plants. It creates a barrier that is uninhabitable for fungus," he said. It's one of the organic methods Palmer employs to control pests and diseases at his farm in Unity. Farmers like Palmer, who prefer to avoid chemical treatment to boost their crops, have turned to such alternative measures as importing helpful microbes and constructing shelters to control the growing environment. Jeff Himler, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. IN BRIEF: CHILD IDENTIFIES SLAYING SUSPECT — Jurors in central Pennsylvania have convicted a man of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his girlfriend last summer. DOUBLE FATAL-ROAD RAGE — Police say road rage or racing may have led to a double-fatal crash on Route 51 in a Pittsburgh suburb. HOLLAND TUNNEL WEAPONS CACHE — Three Pennsylvania residents who were arrested last week when they attempted to drive into New York City with a cache of weapons are trying to get their bail terms eased. SAVED BY SON'S CHICKENS — A Pennsylvania fire chief says some cackling chickens turned out to be cock-a-doodle-do-gooders. OFFICER SHOT-PENNSYLVANIA-911 — County officials and a computer vendor are investigating after a 911 computer went down for four minutes while a dispatcher was speaking with officers at the scene were an eastern Pennsylvania officer was wounded. BLANKET CAUSES MOTORCYCLE CRASH — State police are looking for some tractor-trailer drivers who apparently ran over a motorcycle driver who crashed in central Pennsylvania after a blanket got stuck in his rear wheel. TEMPLE PROVOST REMOVED — Temple University has removed its provost amid a $22 million shortfall in financial aid. NAVAL BASES-WATER CONTAMINATION-BROCKOVICH — Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is weighing in on concerns residents are raising about drinking water contamination near two former U.S. Navy bases near Philadelphia. PILL MILL CHARGES-DEATH — A Philadelphia-area doctor accused of trading painkillers for cash and sex has been convicted of illegally distributing prescription painkillers with the help of the Pagan motorcycle gang. KING OF PRUSSIA MALL — The King of Prussia Mall near Philadelphia plans to expand with 50 new retailers — about half of them considered luxury shops. POULTRY BARN FIRE — A poultry barn has gone up in flames in central Pennsylvania. MOUNT NITTANY CONTRCT TALKS — Contract talks were continuing the day before the service workers' union contract expires at Mount Nittany Medical Center in central Pennsylvania. PENN STATE-ABUSE — The NCAA wants to question two men who claim they were sexually abused in the 1970s by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. TEMPLE-PROVOST REMOVED — Temple University has removed its provost amid a $22 million shortfall in financial aid. CLAIRTON SLAYING — Investigators are looking for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man in Clairton. FARM DEATH — Authorities say a man is dead after a farming accident in central Pennsylvania. WIFE SLAIN-HAMMER — An elderly Pennsylvania man has been ordered to stand trial on charges he fatally beat his wife with a hammer. FATAL BAR FIGHT — A Maryland man is heading to prison after admitting under a plea deal that he fatally pushed another man from behind at a central Pennsylvania bar, causing him to fall and hit his head on an ATM. SPORTS: BBN--PHILLIES-DIAMONDBACKS PHOENIX — Right-hander Zach Eflin makes his fourth career big league start when the Philadelphia Phillies face right-hander Archie Bradley and the Arizona Diamondbacks. By John Marshall. UPCOMING: 750 words. Starts at 12:40 p.m. BBO--PIRATES-MARINERS SEATTLE — Wade Miley returns from the disabled list to start for the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night as they close out a brief two-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jameson Taillon gets the start for Pittsburgh. By Tim Booth. UPCOMING: Game at 7:10 p.m. PT. 700 words. With hometown lead only if Seattle loses. ___ If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to phillyap@ap.org. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477. MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from Pennsylvania and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational pane of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click "All" or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.

AP-PA--Pennsylvania News Digest, PA