State News-Saturday, August 5th

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Former Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel says he's severing his ties with a company that has waited several months for the state to decide whether to grant it a license to distribute slot machines in Pennsylvania. Singel sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Friday saying he would no longer serve as a member and director of Revenco Gaming, based in North Huntingdon. The board has been reviewing Revenco's license application since February, but has yet to make a final decision on it. Singel says Revenco officials don't know why the approval process is taking so long. He says he doesn't want his political background to hinder approval of the application and decided it would be best to step aside. Singel was lieutenant governor from 1987 to 1995 under Governor Robert Casey.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Lancaster County man has come down with the year's third documented case of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania. State health officials say the 47-year-old has since recovered from his symptoms. The year's first two cases of the mosquito-borne virus occurred in York County residents. West Nile can cause encephalitis, a potentially fatal swelling of the brain. Last year, there were 25 human cases of the virus in
Pennsylvania, two of which resulted in death.