State News-Wednesday, Dec. 13th

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - No strike at Philadelphia's two biggest newspapers -- The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. There's a tentative agreement in the labor talks. The deal must still be ratified by the membership of The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia. Guild President Henry Holcomb says the agreement offers "a very difficult economic package." He says he will provide more details at a membership meeting tonight. The Guild represents more than 900 editorial, circulation, advertising and clerical workers at The Inquirer and Daily News.

ERDENHEIM, Pa. (AP) - There's no school today in Montgomery County's Springfield Township School District because of yesterday's shootings in the high school. Sixteen-year-old Shane Joseph Halligan shot up the walls of the school and then killed himself. No one else was injured. Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor says Halligan was despondent that poor grades would lead his parents to curtail
his after-school activities. But he says the family told authorities that the teen acted normally after being lectured by his parents Monday night about the importance of schoolwork. He acted normally as he ate breakfast with his family yesterday.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold public hearings today in Harrisburg on two proposed slots parlors. One is planned for just outside Gettysburg and the other for
Allentown. The applications to be considered today are among 13 competing for five "standalone" licenses. Those are licneses for slots parlors that aren't connected to a racetrack or restricted to the customers of a resort.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former Governor Raymond Shafer is being remembered as "one of the most dedicated public servants in the commonwealth's history." That's what Governor Ed Rendell said after learning of Shafer's death yesterday at the age of 89. Shafer was a Republican who oversaw tax increases to finance
social programs when he was governor. He later pushed for the decriminalization of marijuana when appointed to a federal panel by President Nixon. Shafer's daughter, Diane Graham, says he died of complications from congestive heart failure. A funeral service is scheduled Sunday at Allegheny College in
Meadville, his alma mater.