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Twinkies make early return to Wal-Mart

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wal-Mart is making Twinkies available this weekend, even though Hostess says it asked retailers to wait until Monday to start selling the spongy yellow snack cakes. The world's largest retailer announced Friday that the cakes were available at about 1,600 stores and that about 3,000 of its 4,000 U.S. stores should have them by Sunday morning. That's a day before the July 15 return that Hostess has trumpeted in its marketing. Hostess said in a statement that it shipped out products to give retailers the same opportunity to display the product on Monday.

Iowa top court: Firing of attractive aide is legal

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- A dentist acted legally when he fired a longtime assistant because he had grown too attracted to her and worried he would try to start an affair, the Iowa Supreme Court reaffirmed Friday in its second crack at the controversial case. Coming to the same outcome as it did in December, but clarifying its rationale, the court found that bosses can fire employees that they and their spouses see as threats to their marriages. The court said such firings do not count as sex discrimination because they are motivated by feelings, not gender.

Fired guard gets 45 days for freezing shackles

BEDFORD, Pa. (AP) -- A fired guard must spend 45 days in jail for placing freezing shackles on a female inmate after she previously complained about how cold the metal restraints could be. Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins says Ryan Clapper's conduct was "reprehensible and egregious."

Truck slams through concrete barrier, smashes parked cars

ORANGEVILLE -- An out-of-control tri-axle dump truck hauling machinery failed to stop at the end of Route 93 here, smashing through a concrete barrier and into yards around 4:30 p.m. The truck, hauling farm equipment on a trailer, was traveling west on Route 93 when it came to the stop sign at the T-intersection with Route 487.

Pa. couple charged in elderly woman's death

SAYLORSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Police say a northeastern Pennsylvania couple neglected a 70-year-old stroke victim before the woman died after having lost 100 pounds in filthy conditions while in their care. The Pocono Record reports state police said Wednesday that 43-year-old John Tedesco and 37-year-old Tina Tedesco face charges of third-degree murder and other counts in the August 2011 death of Barbara Rabins, whom John Tedesco called his aunt.

What we're working on for July 11

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Wednesday: * Police charge four in a raid on a heroin house, then collar a bonus suspect. Check out our developing story online and look for a full story in the print edition. * A police impound lot is nearly full. Find out what they'll do with all those cars. * Two friends were driving two cars when one crashed. The second man did the wrong thing, police say.

Police raid house for heroin overnight; 5 charged

BERWICK -- Police raided a suspected drug house overnight, and collared three women and a man, they say. And the arrests did not end there. A fifth person was captured trying to steal from the home after police cleaned up from the raid, according to authorities.

Ask a Reporter: Reader irked by noisy motorcycles

Question: Why do motorcycles tend to be so much louder than cars? Are motorcycles not subject to the same noise restrictions as other motor vehicles? Will our new mayor or police chief do anything about the loud motorcycles, especially late at night?
-- John, Bloomsburg

Pa. man rams mom's car over drug money, cops say

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania man has been jailed on charges that he threatened to kill his mother and rammed her car with his because she refused to give him money to buy drugs. Online court records don't list an attorney for 23-year-old Matthew Mollica, of Kennedy Township, who has been charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Township police say Mollica's mother reported that he threatened to kill her and spat at her Monday night and that his attacks continued Tuesday when she, again, refused to give him drug money.

What we're working on for July 10

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Tuesday: * Police file charges in another post-prom drinking party bust -- this one in Columbia County. * A woman allegedly steals $84,000 from an ATM at her workplace. Find out how she reportedly pulled it off. * A prison guard who traded cigarettes for sex may avoid a jail sentence of his own.