Pennsylvania woman allegedly passes drug-filled balloon to prison inmate while kissing him. A western Pennsylvania woman has been ordered to stand trial on charges she passed a drug-filled balloon to a state prison inmate while kissing him. State police said guards at the State Correctional Institution-Mercer became suspicious when an inmate appeared to swallow something after a prolonged kiss with a visitor on Oct. 19.

2 former judges granted partial judicial immunity in NE Pa. kids-for-cash kickback lawsuit. Two former county judges accused of taking millions of dollars in kickbacks to send juveniles to private detention facilities are partially immune from civil lawsuits, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Friday.

Pat Farnelli says there's something in the water at her house. The last time she drank it, she says she vomited four times. It's made her children sick, too.

Northeast Pa. residents sue Houston-based natural gas driller over polluted water wells. Pat Farnelli says there's something in the water at her house. The last time she drank it, she says she vomited four times. It's made her children sick, too.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks could sputter next week as volumes dry up in holiday-shortened trading and with a slew of economic reports likely to illustrate the recovery is still fragile.

Hundreds turn out as early voting on table games for W.Va. casino gets under way. More than 300 people have already voted on whether to let the Charles Town Races & Slots put table games alongside its slot machines.

Families of 3 hikers held in Iran worry about their mental health, ask public to send letters. The families of three American hikers held in Iran say they are growing increasingly concerned about the mental health of the trio after 16 weeks in custody.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged four individuals and two companies with running a $30 million Ponzi scheme that targeted elderly investors and people nearing retirement who were seeking environmentally friendly investments.

Rising from small roots, Comcast is on the verge of becoming an entertainment giant. Ralph Roberts knew he was onto something big when people ran after his cable TV trucks in Tupelo, Miss., asking for a visit to their homes.

Internet phone service Vonage to pay $3M and issue refunds to end investigation by 32 states. Internet phone service provider Vonage Holdings Corp. has agreed to pay $3 million to 32 states to settle an investigation into some of its business practices.

Obama will visit Pennsylvania, other states, after Dec. 3 forum on jobs and economy. President Barack Obama will travel to Pennsylvania and other states next month after hosting a White House forum on creating jobs.

Pa. uses 12 pounds of explosives to implode one of its most structurally damaged bridges. Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation has used 12 pounds of explosives to bring one of the state's most structurally problematic bridges crashing into a river.

Fifth-ranked Villanova routs Big Five rival Penn 103-65. Maalik Wayns scored 16 points, Corey Stokes, Scottie Reynolds and Taylor King each added 14 and No. 5 Villanova had no trouble in a 103-65 rout against city rival Pennsylvania on Monday night.

Fifth-ranked Villanova routs Big Five rival Penn 103-65. Maalik Wayns scored 16 points, Corey Stokes, Scottie Reynolds and Taylor King each added 14 and No. 5 Villanova had no trouble in a 103-65 rout against city rival Pennsylvania on Monday night.

Pa. uses 12 pounds of explosives to implode one of its most structurally damaged bridges. Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation has used 12 pounds of explosives to bring one of the state's most structurally problematic bridges crashing into a river.

Obama will visit Pennsylvania, other states, after Dec. 3 forum on jobs and economy. President Barack Obama will travel to Pennsylvania and other states next month after hosting a White House forum on creating jobs.

House Democrats on the Education & Labor Committee appear to be united in favor of ENDA. House Democrats on the Education & Labor Committee appear to be united in favor of passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would outlaw employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The committee has scheduled a November 18 final markup of the legislation where members will decide whether the bill reaches the House floor for a final vote this session. Democrats control the committee with 30 members, while Republicans remain in the minority with 19. All but three Democratic members are co-sponsors of the legislation. Those three members also appear likely to vote in favor of the legislation introduced in June by openly gay Representative Barney Frank, a Democrat from Massachusetts. Nevada's Dina Titus along with Jason Altmire from Pennsylvania and Marcia Fudge from Ohio previously voted in favor of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the f

Hundreds of rotting deer carcasses in western Pa. yard raise a stink with neighbors. Hundreds of rotting deer carcasses in a southwestern Pennsylvania yard are causing a stink among the neighbors. Randy Good of North Buffalo Township has a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to remove the animal carcasses from roads in five counties.

ORLANDO (Reuters Health) - A simple telephone intervention improved mood, physical functioning, and overall quality of life in patients who were depressed after heart bypass surgery, researchers reported in a late breaking clinical trial here at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009.

Holiday downsizing: South Carolina Statehouse gets smaller Christmas tree because of recession. The recession is downsizing everything ? even South Carolina's Statehouse Christmas tree.