News-State

FORT HOOD, Texas Pfc. Marquest Smith, on his way to Afghanistan in January, was completing routine paperwork about a bee-sting allergy when the sounds erupted.

The 13 people killed when an Army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, included a father of three with ties to Laos whose family had a history of military service, a civilian who had returned to work a week after suffering a heart attack, and a psychiatric nurse who arrived at Fort Hood a day before the shooting. Here is a look at some of the victims.

PITTSBURGH A woman from Pittsburgh is reportedly among the 13 people killed Thursday in the shooting rampage in Fort Hood, Texas.

PITTSBURGH A western Pennsylvania soldier is reportedly among those wounded in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood.

In an Oct. 30 story about African-American Muslims, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a 2007 Pew survey estimated that 35 percent of the nation's Muslims were African-American. The survey estimated that 20 percent were African-American.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. Police say an arsonist is on the loose in Doylestown.

HARRISBURG, Pa. An appeals court has ruled Pennsylvania State Police botched a prostitution investigation in which troopers gave an informant money to pay for sex four times at a massage parlor, along with a total of $180 for the man's trouble.

PHILADELPHIA Al Gore urged a gathering of about 500 people in Philadelphia to become part of the solution in the global climate change fight.

ALLEN PARK, Mich. A film and television production company started by former NBA player Dale Davis is moving from Pittsburgh to suburban Detroit.

HARRISBURG, Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell has ordered that U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff at all state government facilities as a tribute to the victims of the shootings at Fort Hood.

KILLEEN, Texas A civilian police officer is being praised for taking down a man suspected of opening fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood when she shot him in the torso.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. Penn State's president wants to avoid raising tuition at midyear, but stopped short of promising against a rate hike as the university awaits its long-delayed state funding.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. A Pennsylvania company has received a $36 million contract to repair Bluestone Dam.

SHARON, Pa. One man is dead and two people are injured in a western Pennsylvania shooting.

HARRISBURG, Pa. Windstream Corp.'s acquisition of D&E Communications Inc. phone and Internet company has the approval of Pennsylvania state utility regulators.

RENO, Nev. The woman who filed a lawsuit accusing Ben Roethlisberger of raping her has quit her job at the Lake Tahoe hotel-casino where she claims the assault occurred in the NFL quarterback's penthouse room more than a year ago.

HARRISBURG, Pa. A Pennsylvania appeals court says state police mishandled a prostitution investigation in which they gave a private citizen $360 to pay for sex at a massage parlor along with $180 for his trouble.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. A Pennsylvania county down two judges because of a pair of unrelated scandals is asking lawyers to preside over a glut of civil cases.

PHILADELPHIA A tentative contract agreement has been reached that could end the public transit strike that has idled Philadelphia's subways, buses and trolleys for four days, Gov. Ed Rendell said late Friday.

PHILADELPHIA As the city's transit strike drags into its fourth day, tempers are frayed, commuter trains are packed, streets are clogged and some residents remain virtually stranded at home.