State News-Wednesday

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - At least 20 people with financial interests in slot-machine gambling in Pennsylvania also serve on the boards of public agencies or large nonprofit institutions. Most of these people have stakes in groups seeking licenses to open slots parlors. A few others who serve on such boards have interests in firms already approved to distribute slot machines. Some of the board members were appointees of Governor Ed Rendell or legislative leaders. Such a reach into civic society and government has some casino opponents like the Philadelphia-based Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront wondering whether their efforts to protect their neighborhoods are in vain. The Pennsylvania Partnership Group, an investor group in the proposed Riverwalk casino in Philadelphia, says it is proud of its members record of public service. And it says that their slots interest does not compromise their ability to serve in the public interest.

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A mother who set a house fire that killed her two toddlers was sentenced to 12 to 30 years in prison. Samantha Hirt, who had a prior history of mental illness, had pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder in June. She said she doesn't recall setting the February 2004 fire that killed her three-year-old daughter, Sarah, and two-year-old son, Matthew. Hirt initially told police she was in another part of the house and unable to reach the children.

LANDENBERG, Pa. (AP) - There is extensive damage in Chester County from a storm that touched down in New Garden Township. A National Weather Service meteorologist says it looks like the storm was a tornado, but that determination won't be made until someone from the agency visits the scene. Heavy winds ripped roofs from buildings and sent tree branches across roads in the afternoon storm, which did extensive damage to the area's mushroom farmers.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A judge refused a request to order unannounced candidates for mayor of Philadelphia to follow campaign-finance limits. The judge didn't explain his one-sentence decision, which was a setback for the good-government group the Committee of Seventy. City law says mayoral candidates may not accept more than 25-hundred dollars from an individual or 10-thousand dollars from a business partnership or political committee. But several people have been acting like candidates and raising money for a campaign without declaring that they are running. The Committee of Seventy was asking the judge to issue a summary judgment ordering them to also follow the contribution limits.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sovereign Bancorp is reviewing its security procedures following the theft of three laptop computers in Massachusetts that might contain customers' personal data. A spokesman for the Philadelphia-based parent of Sovereign Bank says customers were "upset and concerned" about the situation. Sovereign has offered to help them set up new accounts. Sovereign won't say exactly how many customers were potentially affected, but says it was less than one percent of its customers.The thrift operates 800 branches in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.