Briefs
Coroner’s office seeks information
The Washington County coroner’s office is seeking information about family members of two people who died in the area recently.
Elizabeth Gonzalez, whose last known address was on Carl Avenue in Eighty Four, was born Oct. 21, 1958, and died Nov. 7 in Humbert Lane/Transitions.
Faith A. Loughman, whose last known address was on Weirich Avenue in Washington, was born March 2, 1957, and died Nov. 12.
Anyone with information is asked to call 724-228-6785.
Section of Old Route 71 to close
A section of Old Route 71 (First Street) between the intersection of Daily Avenue/Holly Drive and Homewood Road in Fallowfield Township will be closed and detoured between Dec. 3 and 17 so that a slide can be repaired. A marked detour will be in place that uses Route 481, Interstate 70 (Speers exit) and Maple Drive/Twilight Hollow Road.
PA. Senate leadership to return intact
HARRISBURG (AP) – Leaders of the Pennsylvania Senate are returning for another two-year session.
Republican Sen. Joe Scarnati of Jefferson County was nominated Wednesday to a seventh session as president pro tempore.
For a third session, Republicans re-elected Sen. Jake Corman of Centre County as floor leader, while Democrats re-elected Sen. Jay Costa of Allegheny County as floor leader for a fifth session.
Republicans lost at least four seats in Nov. 6’s election and hold a 28-20 advantage, with votes still being counted in two races that were too close to call.
In one of those races, Republican Jeremy Shaffer conceded an open Allegheny County seat to Democrat Lindsey Williams. In the other, six-term Republican Sen. Robert Tomlinson of Bucks County held a slim lead over Democratic state Rep. Tina Davis.
Officials unclear on cause of explosion
GLADWYNE (AP) – Authorities are still working to determine what caused the explosion that destroyed an empty mansion in an affluent Philadelphia suburb.
Lower Merion Township spokesman Thomas Walsh said investigators finished their work at the property in Gladwyne Friday, but further analysis could take weeks to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Philly.com reported authorities will be able to determine what caused the explosion after lab analysis of items taken from the scene.
The 9,000-square foot home belonged to limited partnership GF 2014, owned by area developer Michael Grasso.
Members of the Grasso family have not responded to multiple requests for comment.
No one was injured in the Nov. 4 blast that leveled the unoccupied mansion. The property itself had been undergoing renovations for years.