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Fire kills a dozen cats near Danville

DANVILLE -- A fire in a home just south of here killed at least a dozen cats Wednesday, the fire chief said. The owner, Linda Long, lives in Allentown and wasn't at her summer home when the blaze broke out about 11:30 a.m., a neighbor who cared for the cats and didn't want to be identified said. Point Twp. Fire Chief Jim Geise said he saw one cat running around outside the house while firefighters battled the blaze. But firefighters had collected the bodies of at least a dozen other cats that had perished. A large metal animal crate on the deck appeared to have several cats in it as well.

Ex-cop gets prison for theft of drug evidence

BERWICK -- Ousted Berwick police officer Christian Wilson will spend at least a month in prison for his theft of heroin packets from evidence while he was on the force. Wilson, 30, and his attorneys had hoped to escape with a sentence requiring only probation Wednesday. But Columbia County Judge Gary E. Norton imposed a stiffer penalty of one to 18 months behind bars.

What we're working on for April 24

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Tuesday: * A Berwick arson suspect takes the stand in her defense. She admits a lie, but still claims innocence. See what we have so far. * A driver suspected of DUI runs away from from an accident, collapses a fence in his attempted escape, and then punches a police officer, according to charges. Courts reporter Leon Bogdan has more.

Arson suspect admits she lied to police, but claims innocence

WILKES-BARRE -- A Berwick woman suspected of setting fire to an apartment building and putting two 92-year-old women in grave danger claimed innocence on the stand Tuesday. But Gail Schneider admitted she lied to police about her whereabouts earlier that evening, claiming she was not in Conyngham on the night of Sept. 4, 2010, when she actually was.

What we're working on for April 23

Here's a quick look at the stories keeping our reporters busy Monday: * A vacant home that once housed a gift shop at a local bison ranch burns to the ground early Monday. Reporter Kristin Baver will have more. * A local doctor was not responsible for a man's death just days after surgery, a jury decides. Read what we have on the story so far. * Testimony continues in the arson trial of a Berwick woman. See what a tenant, landlord and bartenders at a tavern had to say today.

Geisinger doc did not cause man's death, jury says

DANVILLE -- A Geisinger urologist was not negligent in his care of a prostate cancer patient who died days after surgery, a jury decided Monday. Widow Elizabeth Schoppy had sued Dr. Daniel Rukstalis and Geisinger after her husband, Phillip Schoppy of Marion Heights died after having his cancerous prostate removed four years ago. Schoppy's lawyer had alleged that Rukstalis had not taken Schoppy's history of blood clots into account in deciding how to treat the patient and what medications to administer.

Sports shots of the week, April 14-19

A look at some of the action from local competition captured by our photographers:

Boston police: Bombing suspect is in custody

WATERTOWN, Mass. (AP) -- A 19-year-old college student wanted in the Boston Marathon bombings was taken into custody Friday evening after a manhunt that left the city virtually paralyzed and his older brother and accomplice dead. Police announced via Twitter that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was in custody. His brother, 26-year-old Tamerlan, was killed Friday in a furious attempt to escape police. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had been holed up in a boat in a Watertown neighborhood. The crowd gathered near the scene let out a cheer when spectators saw officers clapping.

What we're working on for April 20

Here's a look at the stories keeping our reporters and photographers Friday: * The driver who hit a pedestrian on Main Street and drove off wants to pay full restitution for any harm done to the injured woman, his lawyer says. Read what we have so far, and look for reporter Julye Wemple's full story Saturday morning. * A woman accused of shoplifting in a store starts popping lithium and Xanax pills while in custody, police say. Mike Lester has more.

Alleged hit-and-run driver apologizes through lawyer

BLOOMSBURG -- A suspected hit-and-run driver was wrong not to stop, and now wants to accept full responsibility for the accident, says his lawyer. Randall Francis, 20, appeared at District Judge Russell Lawton's office Friday morning with his lawyer, Pat O'Connell. Francis agreed to waive his hearing on charges of leaving an accident with injury and failing to give aid to a victim and will face the charges in county court.