State News-Tuesday, Sept. 26th

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state House of Representatives will begin vetting more than 90 bills intended to fight crime during an unusual "committee of the whole" meeting today. The House will take informal votes on each bill to determine which proposals merit further consideration, just as it did in December during a forum on legislation to reduce school property taxes. But it is unclear whether any anti-crime bills that emerge as the favorites will pass the House and Senate and reach Governor Ed Rendell's desk between now and November 30th, when the current
two-year legislative session ends. Democrats representing Philadelphia and other cities are particularly interested in debating gun-control legislation. But House Majority Leader Sam Smith says measures such as improving
police enforcement and toughening penalties for weapons crimes are better short-term solutions. Proposals to be advanced by Republicans include legislation sponsored by Speaker John Perzel. Perzel wants the state, to spend
225 (m) million dolalrs to help cities and towns across Pennsylvania hire ten-thousand new police officers by 2010.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The mother of a five-year-old Philadelphia girl killed by a stray bullet on Sunday plans to go to Harrisburg today with N-A-A-C-P members and others who plan to lobby lawmakers for stricter gun-control laws.
Cashae Rivers died Sunday morning after being struck in the chest while riding in the back seat of a car driven by her mother, 22-year-old Alisha Corley. Police say the car may have been caught in the crossfire of a moving gun battle between people in other vehicles. Three other people were in the car with Cashae and Corley, including Cashae's
one-year-old brother.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pittsburgh court is scheduled to hold preliminary hearings today for two men charged with shooting five Duquesne University basketball players earlier this month. William Holmes and Brandon Baynes, both 18, are charged with the shootings, which took place on campus following a Black Student Union dance on September 17th. Their hearings will be held at the Municipal Courts Building. A preliminary hearing is also scheduled for 19-year-old Duquesne student Brittany Jones, who is accused of helping six men gain admittance to the party. She allegedly knew several of them were carrying guns. All three defendants are from Penn Hills in suburban Pittsburgh.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A charter Amtrak train carrying the Washington Nationals derailed early this morning near Wilmington, Delaware, but no one was injured. Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell says it was a "minor derailment" with just the rear wheels on the locomotive leaving the tracks. It happened about 1:30 a-m during the trip from New York to Washington. The engine and all three cars remained upright. Nationals broadcaster Charlie Slowes, who was on the train with the team, tells W-T-O-P radio he didn't feel a thing. He says others felt a minor jolt. The train slowed and came to a stop. About 50 passengers on board were transferred to another train
shortly after 3 a-m and have arrived back in Washington. Amtrak says the derailment will cause minor delays of about ten minutes this morning in the Northeast Corridor.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Smokers are being forced out of Philadelphia's bars and restaurants and onto the sidewalks as the city's new smoking ban takes effect. The city's health department yesterday began enforcing the law,
which applies to all workplaces, including restaurants and most bars. Businesses or smokers who violate the ban will receive a warning for the first offense. The second offense will draw a small fine, and fines will be as high as three-hundred dollards for subsequent violations. The ban began immediately after Mayor John Street signed it two
weeks ago because the legislation was to take effect in January 2006. Health department spokesman Jeff Moran says the department set up a hot line for complaints and hired two new inspectors to help handle the department's increased workload.