Prosecutor: Cosby has shown a 'lifetime of sexual assault'

The Latest: Defense: Cosby accusers want to vindicate claims

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. 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 A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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. TOP STORIES: BILL COSBY NORRISTOWN — More than a dozen women who accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault should be allowed to testify at his upcoming trial because their stories are so similar they show the "handiwork of the same perpetrator," a prosecutor argued Wednesday. By Maryclaire Dale and Michael R. Sisak. SENT: About 600 words. PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET HARRISBURG — The Republican leader in the Pennsylvania House says lean budget times may require restructuring of state government in the coming year, changes that could affect schools, human services, prisons and even the Legislature's own operations. By Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy. SENT: NewsNow. UPCOMING: About 400 words by 5 p.m. EST. DEADLY POLICE CHASE PITTSBURGH — A preliminary hearing is set for a man charged with killing a family of three when he crashed into their car while fleeing police at more than 100 mph on Thanksgiving Day. SENT: NewsNow, to be updated as warranted from hearing scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. EST. EXCHANGE: EXCHANGE-HOME COOKING FOR STUDENTS STATE COLLEGE — When Ben Sparango's first idea for his business — a grocery and alcohol delivery service — went kaput, like many 22-year-old college students he first consulted his stomach and then his friends for advice. A brainstorming session produced reams of orange, yellow and pink sticky notes. Among them, one stuck out. "My one friend wrote: 'I need a second Mom,' " Sparango said. Nothing, it turns out, can beat Mom's cooking. At least that's the upshot of Stockd, Sparango's startup and dietary delivery system that brings healthy, home-cooked meals to hungry college students. Sparango, a senior at Penn State, co-founded the company with family friend Matt Mason about two years ago. Roger Van Scyoc, Centre Daily Times. SENT: About 650 words. IN BRIEF: TRUMP INAUGURATION-EVANCHO — Jackie Evancho, a 16-year-old singer from the Pittsburgh suburbs, has been chosen to sing the national anthem at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. JUDGES-CONTINUING EDUCATION — Pennsylvania's judiciary will have to complete at least three hours of training in ethics and nine hours on other aspects of their job annually under rules imposed last week by the Supreme Court. REHAB PATIENT-BANK ROBBERY — Police say a Philadelphia man signed himself out of a Chester County rehab center, took a cab to a nearby bank and robbed it using a note scribbled on his discharge papers. PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSMAN INDICTED — Two Philadelphia residents will each serve prison time for their roles in helping disgraced former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah use charity and grant money to repay a $600,000 political debt. ODD-PITTSBURGH CITES ITSELF — The city of Pittsburgh has cited itself for owning run-down properties and a local judge isn't letting the city withdraw some citations, which officials say were mistakenly filed. SALVATION ARMY LOTTERY TICKET — An anonymous donor has dropped a winning lottery ticket into a Salvation Army kettle in northwestern Pennsylvania. HERSHEY-100 MILLIONTH VISITOR — Hershey's Chocolate World is gearing up for its 100 millionth visitor. PITTSBURGH-AREA LIGHT RAIL — Tens of thousands of people who use light-rail trains to travel to and from Pittsburgh are out of luck. SCHOOL DISTRICT-ARMED GUARDS — A western Pennsylvania judge has agreed to allow an Allegheny County school district to arm its 13-officer security team. PHILADELPHIA SLAYING-28 SHOTS — Philadelphia police say a man is dead after more than two dozen shots were fired at close range. ALLENTOWN BUDGET VETO — Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski says he'll sue after City Council voted to override his veto of council's proposed 2017 budget. ALLEGHENY FOREST-SNOWMOBILE TRAILS — The Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania is opening 365 miles of snowmobile trails on Friday HEROIN INDICTMENTS — A federal prosecutor in West Virginia says 18 people have been indicted in a drug distribution network involved in moving large amounts of heroin from Baltimore to the Martinsburg area. SPORTS: BKN--RAPTORS-76ERS PHILADELPHIA -- The Toronto Raptors visit Philadelphia to play the 76ers. By Dan Gelston. UPCOMING: 650 words. Game starts at 7 p.m. EST. AP Photos. HKN--BRUINS-PENGUINS PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins look for their seventh straight win on Wednesday night against Boston. The Bruins' nine road wins are tied for the most in the NHL. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game begins at 7:30 p.m. EST. HKN--FLYERS-AVALANCHE DENVER — With goaltender Semyon Varlamov bothered by a groin ailment, the Colorado Avalanche will start backup Calvin Pickard on Wednesday night against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has won nine straight. By Brent New. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Gametime is 10 p.m. EST. FBN--STEELERS-LE'VEON'S PUSH PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have put their playoff hopes in Le'Veon Bell's sure hands. The do-everything running back has thrust himself into the MVP conversation during a torrid month-long tear that's pushed the Steelers back atop the AFC North. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 700 words by 7 p.m. EST, FBN--BENGALS-KICKER CINCINNATI — A day after Pittsburgh let him go, kicker Randy Bullock wound up heading to division rival Cincinnati, which hosts the Steelers on Sunday. By Joe Kay. UPCOMING: 600 words by 6 p.m. ET. FBC--TEMPLE-COLLINS PHILADELPHIA -- Temple is set to introduce Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins as its new coach. By Dan Gelston. UPCOMING. 650 words by 5 p.m. EST AP Photos. FBC--T25--LSU-CANADA BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU has hired Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Matt Canada away from the Panthers in hopes he can make the Tigers' run-heavy offense more dynamic and productive against some of the nation's better defenses. ___ 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