National and State News-Friday, May 25th

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - Congress has approved 95 (b) billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the bill says nothing about a timetable for pulling troops out of Iraq. Democratic leaders say they're just getting started on the debate over the war in Iraq. They plan to ratchet up pressure on the White House.

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Military aid has arrived in Beirut to help the Lebanese army fight Islamic militants holed up inside a Palestinian refugee camp. The aid arrived after the U-S pledged help. Sporadic gunfire continues at the camp in Tripoli.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama is the latest state to express "profound regret" for its role in slavery. The state legislature has passed a resolution apologizing for slavery's wrongs and its lingering effects on the U-S.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Two-dozen people have been indicted on charges of cheating 18 U-S and Canadian casinos out of at least three (m) million dollars over five years. The group is accused of stealing (m) millions of dollars by bribing dealers to falsely shuffle decks.

WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) - The birthplace of Hollywood legend John Wayne is ready for a big party to mark what would have been his 100th birthday. Winterset, Iowa, is expecting thousands for a weekend celebration that includes film screenings and the groundbreaking for a John Wayne museum.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (AP) - The former Philadelphia Flyers star at the center of a gambling ring investigation is due in court today. New Jersey authorities and lawyers for Rick Tocchet confirmed he would appear, for an unspecified reason. But unexpected court appearances can sometimes signal a defendant is entering a guilty plea. The 42-year-old Tocchet was charged, with much fanfare, in February 2006 with promoting gambling, money laundering and
conspiracy. Authorities say the bettors included the wife of hockey legend and current Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky. Authorities said the ring handled nearly two (m) million dollars
in bets over a 40-day stretch in 2005 and 2006. Tocchet has been on indefinite leave as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Action on proposed fare hikes for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority riders has been delayed. The SEPTA board is considering a proposal to increase fares July First by an average of eleven percent for bus, subway and Regional
Rail riders. A vote slated to happen yesterday has been put on hold until next month.
There's also a threat of larger fare increases and service cuts in September if more state money is not provided.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philanthropist Dorrance Hamilton has given a second gift of 25 (m) million dollars to the endowment of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. The donation matches one Hamilton made in November. It increases the university's endowment to more than 75 (m) million dollars. Hamilton, a university trustee, is the granddaughter of Campbell
Soup founder John Dorrance. Her donations are the largest in the school's 130-year history.
The University of the Arts has 23-hundred students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs on its downtown campus.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pittsburgh-area businessman accused of defrauding an insurance company over flood damage has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy. Michael Smarto of Marshall Township is scheduled for sentencing August 21st after entering the guilty plea yesterday. Federal prosecutors say the 49-year-old Smarto got the help of another person and submitted artificially overstated bids and invoices to an insurance company for repair work on tools and machinery damaged by flooding triggered by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
Prosecutors say the insurance company paid more than two (M) million dollars and Smarto got a kickback of more than 300-thousand dollars from the firm hired to refurbish and clean the tools and machinery at his Etna business.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies have shut down a barber shop in downtown Pittsburgh after a judge ordered it closed over allegations of drug dealing. Prosecutors say video surveillance over the past month showed activity consistent with drug sales in the waiting area of Success Barber Shop in Market Square. Prosecutors say police have made 120 drug-related arrests in Market Square since November, some of them in and near the shop. Shop owner Charles Fowlks of Penn Hills has denied the allegation. County Judge Robert Horgos issued a preliminary injunction yesterday to close the shop. Prosecutors will seek to keep it closed at a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

WILKINSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Police say a three-month-old infant has been caught in the crossfire during a shootout at a playground in Wilkinsburg this evening. Police say the shooting happened at about 9 last night in Wilkinsburg and the baby, who was in a stroller, was
struck at least once. The infant has been taken to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
The child's condition was not immediately available. Police say a man who had been shot was later found in nearby Homewood. Police say he might have been injured in the playground
shooting.

CLEARFIELD, Pa. (AP) - A Coalport man has been convicted for the second time of killing a romantic rival and dumping his body in a pond nearly ten years ago. Twenty-five-year-old Andrew Callahan faces a mandatory life prison term when he is sentenced next week.
A Clearfield County jury found Callahan guilty yesterday of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and abuse of a corpse in the November Fifth 1997 shooting death of 16-year-old
Micah Pollock of Blandburg. Callahan was first convicted in 1998, but was granted a new
trial on appeal. He and Pollock were classmates at Glendale High School in Flinton. Prosecutors say Pollock was dating Callahan's former girlfriend and jealousy motivated Callahan to kill him.
Callahan's attorney says his client was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and could not form an intent to kill.