Death penalty trial in 2014 slaying to begin in January

Prosecutors ask judge to allow Cosby's accusers to testify

Good evening! 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. Joe Mandak 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 A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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. UPCOMING TOMORROW: BILL COSBY NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Day 2 of pretrial hearing, when Bill Cosby's lawyers fight to block 13 other accusers from offering "prior bad act" testimony at his sexual assault trial. By Maryclaire Dale. UPCOMING: About 300 words by 1 a.m. EST with updates following scheduled 9 a.m. EST hearing. TUESDAY'S TOP STORIES: BILL COSBY NORRISTOWN — Bill Cosby used his fame to gain the trust of women before knocking them out with pills and drinks so he could sexually assault them, prosecutors argued Tuesday as they sought to persuade a judge to allow 13 of Cosby's accusers to testify in the 79-year-old entertainer's upcoming sexual assault trial. By Maryclaire Dale. SENT: About 850 words, AP Photos. With: —BILL COSBY-THE OTHER 13-LIST — Did Bill Cosby drug and molest young women as part of a "signature" crime spree spanning five decades? Prosecutors preparing for his sexual-assault trial hope to call 13 of about 60 accusers to show just that. A look at who the women are, and their allegations. By Maryclaire Dale. SENT: About 1610 words, AP Photos. GUN BUST PLEA PITTSBURGH — A Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for paying people to buy guns in Pennsylvania that were smuggled to New York City and sold on the street.. By Joe Mandak. SENT: About 450 words. POLICE CHASE-SHOOTING NEW CASTLE — A man who led police on a car chase in two western Pennsylvania counties was holding a gun to a woman's head when an officer shot him several times, police said in a criminal complaint. SENT: About 270 words. ELECTION RECOUNT MADISON, Wis. — Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein says she plans to donate any money left over from the $7.3 million she raised to force recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. By Scott Bauer. SENT: About 620 words. BOARDING SCHOOL ABUSE BOSTON — A former Episcopal priest who worked at several elite boarding schools pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sexually assaulting a teenage boy in 1973 in Boston. Howard "Howdy" White appeared in Suffolk Superior Court after being indicted on five counts of assault and battery. White, 75, of Bedford, Pennsylvania, was freed on personal recognizance. SENT: About 300 words. EXCHANGE: EXCHANGE-DELIVERY DRIVER SLAIN ASTON — Now that the elusive suspect in the fatal shooting of her husband during a robbery that netted less than $20 and a cellphone is behind bars, another waiting game has begun for Ginger Stevenson Childs and her family. It's been 18 months since the body of 63-year-old Thomas "Chilly" Childs was found at Ridgway Industries in Yeadon, where he was employed as a truck driver. On Friday, police apprehended suspect Rodney Shelton in Decatur, Ga., in the company of a woman inside an apartment. Details regarding the apprehension by U.S. Marshals are sketchy, but Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said Saturday that Shelton may have tried to hide in a closet in an attempt to avoid arrest. "Until he is definitely convicted, I'm going to be a nervous wreck," Childs' widow said Saturday night. Rose Quinn, Delaware County Daily Times. IN BRIEF: GAS TAX INCREASE — Motorists in Pennsylvania will be hit with the third and final step in the gradual gas tax increases that are being phased in as part of a 2013 state law that's supposed to raise billions to improve bridges, highways and other transportation modes. PENN STATE-HAZING LAWSUIT — A county judge is dismissing a former Penn State student's claims against the university over allegations of hazing and sharply narrowing his lawsuit against a fraternity. PHILLY LAWYER-ANTI-TRUMP VANDALISM — A New York man has been charged in an anti-Donald Trump vandalism incident in Philadelphia for which a city attorney has been disciplined. GIRL KILLED BY CAR — A man has been sentenced to five to 10 years in what authorities said was a drunken-driving crash that killed a 6-year-old western Pennsylvania girl last year. CAR FIRE-HOMICIDE — A death penalty trial is scheduled next month in the shooting death of a man found in the trunk of a burned car in Pennsylvania more than two years ago. DRUG DEAL SLAYING — A man has been sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison in the shooting death of an eastern Pennsylvania man during a drug deal three years ago. ODD-ADDRESS THIEVES — Scores of ones and zeroes stolen from addresses mounted on the homes of northeast Philadelphia residents have been returned. TROOPERS SHOOT SUSPECT — A prosecutor says two state troopers were justified in shooting a knife-wielding, suicidal man as they responded to a domestic disturbance in western Pennsylvania. POLICE CHASE-SHOOTING — State troopers say they've shot a suspect following a chase on Interstate 376 in western Pennsylvania. FIRE COMPANY TREASURER-THEFTS — A former Pennsylvania volunteer fire company treasurer is heading to trial on charges she stole more than $395,000 from the group. HEALTH FRAUD CHARGES — State authorities have dropped health care fraud charges against a northeastern Pennsylvania businessman and five of his relatives. SHAKESPEARE PORTRAIT REPLACED — Students at the University of Pennsylvania have removed a portrait of William Shakespeare and replaced it with the picture of Audre Lorde, a self-described "black, lesbian, mother, warrior poet." SECRET SANTA — Two different Secret Santas have been paying off tens of thousands of dollars of layaway accounts at discount stores in Pennsylvania. ALLENTOWN BUDGET VETO — Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski has exercised his veto for the first time since taking office in 2006 — nixing City Council's proposed 2017 budget. BONES IN YARD-HOMICIDE — Prosecutors say they'll pursue the death penalty against a man charged with kidnapping and killing a co-worker whose bones were found buried in his eastern Pennsylvania yard. ESTRANGED WIFE'S BANK ACCOUNTS — Police say a Pennsylvania man opened 18 bank accounts in the name of his estranged wife and 7-year-old daughter and has been jailed on identity theft, forgery and other charges. PITTSBURGH VA HOSPITAL-LEGIONNAIRES' — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey has asked for a review of how federal health officials conducted their investigation into a 2012 Legionnaires' outbreak at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System. FIREFIGHTER DEATH-LAWSUIT —The family of the first female firefighter to die in the line of duty in Philadelphia is suing 30 fire equipment manufacturers in connection with her December 2014 death. SODA TAX-PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — With two-thirds of Philadelphia International Airport technically located in Delaware County, terminals lying within that designation will not be subjected to the city's controversial soda tax. INDIANA REGIONAL NURSES CONTRACT — A union representing registered nurses and anesthetists has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Indiana Regional Medical Center in western Pennsylvania. AMBRIDGE TEACHERS STRIKE — Approximately 190 Ambridge Area School District teachers are on strike. SHOT OUTSIDE STRIP CLUB — Philadelphia police say a man was shot in the face by a robbery suspect outside a strip club, but the suspect was then also shot at by the victim's friend. SPORTS: FBC--T25-TEMPLE-COLLINS Temple turned to the Minister of Mayhem to keep its football renaissance alive. The Owls hired Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins on Tuesday, plucking one of the SEC's top defensive minds to become their fourth coach in the last eight seasons. Collins will replace Matt Rhule, who left the Philadelphia-based school last week for Baylor after leading the 23rd-ranked Owls to consecutive double-digit victory seasons and the American Athletic Conference championship this year. By Ralph D. Russo. SENT: About 770 words. With: —FBC-T25-FLORIDA-MCELWAIN — Florida coach Jim McElwain has a defensive makeover on his hands. The 20th-ranked Gators (8-4) lost defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, who on Tuesday finalized a deal to become Temple's new head coach , and could lose as many as eight defensive starters to the NFL. BKC--T25-TEMPLE-VILLANOVA VILLANOVA, Pa. -- The No. 1 Villanova Wildcats try and remain undefeated when they play city rival Temple. By Dan Gelston. UPCOMING. 650 words. Game starts at 7 p.m. EST. AP Photos. FBN--STEELERS-TOMLIN PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin's got enough to worry about without having to remind his team to keep its cool on Sunday in Cincinnati. By Will Graves. SENT: About 760 words. ___ 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.

BC-PA--Pennsylvania News Digest, PA