The hearing is expected to continue as planned, even though Sandusky attended a special meeting with his attorney and prosecutors on Tuesday.

There has been a lot of talk and speculation about what went on during the meeting.

According to our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the biggest speculation at this point is that there may have been talks about a plea deal. However, there is no indication that was what the meeting entailed.

While that was going on, four of the accusers in the case filed motions to keep their names from being released to the public.

Sandusky will be back in court today for the last pre-trial hearing before the trial is scheduled to begin on June 5.

Today’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Much has happened to Penn State since the Sandusky scandal broke, but current University President Dr. Rodney Erickson believes he and the university are doing everything they can to move the school forward.

Dr. Erickson spoke with KDKA-AM’s Larry Richert and John Shumway Wednesday morning to talk about what the school is doing to move forward.

Listen to the entire interview here:

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Now, as the Sandusky trial is about to begin, what will the added scrutiny do to Penn State just as the community is healing?

KDKA-AM’s Larry and John talk to Dr. Erickson about the Sandusky controversy, what has happened at campus since the news broke, and how the university will move forward.

Dr. Erickson talks about Penn State’s efforts to become a leader in the prevention of child abuse, how they will handle the Sandusky trial, and how the university is moving forward despite all the distractions. He said Penn State has set a record for student applications and new research grant dollars for this year.

Listen to the entire interview here:

Charleroi Police say 69-year-old Margaret Dillard told them her 49-year-old boyfriend hit her and chased her around the house, so she grabbed the knife which had an eight-inch blade and stabbed him in self-defense.

They had been drinking earlier at a nearby bar.

“He required three to four stitches in his arm to repair the damage and it was a fairly deep cut to his arm,” Charleroi Police Patrolman Mike Carcella said.

Police were at the same house on Prospect Avenue back in April for another fight between the couple. Dillard’s boyfriend told police she accidentally stabbed him in that situation, so no charges were filed.

Police say this time they had no choice but to file charges.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Carcella said.

It’s not clear what the couple was arguing about.

Dillard is facing aggravated assault and related charges. She was placed in the Washington County Jail on $10,000 straight cash bond.

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Humane Police Officer Cathy Cunningham picked up a pit bull Tuesday night from a home in North Franklin Township, Washington County.

She says initially there were three adult dogs, three puppies, two rabbits and some fish.

Cunningham showed KDKA-TV pictures of a dog she says she had already removed from the backyard.

She says it was emaciated and had its skin rubbed raw by a chain collar. She also says there was a dog and three puppies on a sun porch with feces and urine.

As for the rabbits, Cunningham says they were malnourished and in a hot metal cage.

David Waychoff, 34, and 27-year-old Tina Shipley are facing animal cruelty charges, according to Cunningham. She says they claim they were away and had made arrangements for the animals to be taken care of.

Neighbor Deborah Whipkey is glad the dogs aren’t next door anymore.

“It’s good for the dogs, too, because who wants to see an animal be treated like that?”

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The game was delayed until after 9 p.m. because of rain, and once the game started the Pittsburgh bats largely remained in the dugout.

Andrew McCutchen, Matt Hague and Rod Barajas were the only Pirates starters to manage a hit off Reds starter Homer Bailey, who pitched a complete game shutout.

Casey McGehee recorded the other Pittsburgh hit in a pinch hit plate appearance, scoring Hague for the only Buccos run of the game in the fifth inning. That cut the score to 4-1, but it was hardly enough to put even a scare into the Reds and their pitcher.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on six hits.

Reds right fielder Jay Bruce went 3 for 4 from the plate with two doubles and two RBIs. Third baseman Todd Frazier went 2 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs.

Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick and Bailey each drove in a run a piece, too.

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New federal guidelines go into effect, requiring more whole grains, more fresh and raw foods.

The hope is that kids will learn they really are what they eat. The rest is up to them.

“We can say that these are the guidelines for what foods are going to be provided to the kids, but it’s really up to them whether or not they’re going to eat it or throw it away,” Jessica Lieb, a nutritionist for Children’s Hospital, said.

Look for more partnerships with local farms to provide less processed food.

“It’s all about accessibility to the right types of foods – fresher foods,” Lieb said.

Adding the daily fruits and vegetables will likely increase the price of lunch by a few cents per student.

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Duquesne Light reports 4,500 customers do not have service. Their crews are removing tree limbs and repairing downed wires to homes and businesses back on line.

Duquesne Light expects to restore power by 8 a.m. for customers in Beaver County, western Allegheny County and eastern Allegheny County.

Customers in other areas are expected to have power by 4 p.m.

First Energy reports 9,000 people without power.

Stay with KDKA for the latest developments.

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She went to the emergency room when the pain worsened. The chain of events that followed would change her life forever.

Since January, putting on a prosthetic hip and leg has become part of Mulley’s daily routine.

While it’s a challenge, she says it’s miraculous she’s even here.

“My kidneys failed, I was on dialysis, I was on total life support except for my heart and there were a few times when they told Frank and my sister, ‘Do you just want us to make her comfortable?’” she said.

Her husband, Frank, assured doctors his wife was a fighter. The Pittsburgh native, who had undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer, took on yet another battle after contracting necrotizing fasciitis or flesh eating bacteria.

“That infection spreads very quickly around the lining of muscles and tendons,” explains Dr. Bruce Dixon of the Allegheny County Health Department, “and the only real way besides giving the person antibiotics and seeing if you can control it to remove things that have the bacteria in them.”

Mulley credits her ER doctors at UPMC Passavant for saving her life. She says it was there that she first learned that she may have to lose her leg.

“They amputated my leg that night and then they had to go back the next day and take out the hip,” she recalled.

A total of eight months in the hospital and plenty of painful physical and emotional therapy has led her to where she is now.

“Life goes on and if you believe you can do it and it’s not easy, but go forward and do whatever you can to make the best of your life,” she said.

Mulley says her weakened immune system made her susceptible to the rare disease. Doctor’s don’t know how the bacteria entered her body, but she remembers cutting her left leg while shaving before receiving chemotherapy that day.

She now receives physical therapy with the goal of walking on her own again one day.

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Martina Searcy, 22, of Carnegie, allegedly left the kids in the car with the windows barely cracked on an 84-degree day.

The car was in the Walmart parking lot in Scott Township.

“The children were sweating profusely,” Scott Township Police Sgt. Jeff Skees said. “One child was dehydrated and they were ultimately taken to the hospital by ambulance.”

One of the children is seven months old. The two others were ages four and five. The children were believed to be in the car for about 15 minutes.

“Could have been potentially life-threatening,” Skees said.

Police say Searcy came outside after officers opened the car doors to give the children some air.

“According to the officers, she didn’t think there was a problem,” Skees said. “She went in to cash a check and just left the kids there for what she said was a couple minutes.”

CYF was notified.

Searcy is charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children.

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It happened at about 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 200-block of Center Avenue in Burgettstown.

State police say Tracy Domick, 37, hit Paul Walden, with her van.

Mark Crowell and his friend, Raymond Pratt, watched it all from a window.

“There was a lot of screaming and yelling and a big panic at one time, so, that’s what made us look out,” Crowell said.

“She deliberately hit him,” Pratt added. “There’s no two ways about that.”

According to witnesses, Domick first hit a brick wall then put her van in reverse, hitting a black wall. All the while, Walden was trying to take the keys out of the ignition.

State police say Walden was able to call 911 himself before he was flown to Allegheny General Hospital.

Domick was taken to the Washington County Jail where she was unable to make her $25,000 bail.

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This year, the housing authority’s paying more than a million dollars to the Victory Security firm to help the Pittsburgh police patrol this and other communities.

But a former Victory supervisor says the authority isn’t getting what it’s paying for.

Brian Van Dusen says he was fired after showing the security firm’s owners that constables working there were doctoring worksheets and getting paid for hours they never worked.

Andy Sheehan: “So basically the taxpayer is being defrauded.”

“Definitely they’re being defrauded. If they’re billing for hours that officers aren’t there, that’s very significant,” Van Dusen said.

According to Van Dusen, to get paid, constables would write work reports, indicating a full night of patrol such as one for February 7.

Only problem is the computer log shows the report was written the day before the patrols took place on February 6.

“Here you have it – a 12 to 8 report filed at 10:43 the day before,” Van Dusen said. “Now how can you effectively do that unless you got a crystal ball.”

KDKA’s Andy Sheehan placed several calls to Victory Security and even went to their offices in Carnegie and later got statement saying they are investigating the charges.

The housing authority issued its own statement saying it’s launching its own probe.

“These allegations while not yet proven, are not being taken lightly and have resulted in the authority launching a full-scale investigation into these claims.”

But the Housing Authority says it will try to get to the bottom of these claims and if they are borne out take appropriate action to ensure that tax dollars are properly spent and the people living in these communities have adequate protection.

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“Not [until] about five years ago did you see this level of change,” says Mark Lovell, PhD, Chairman and CEO of ImPACT Applications.

Teachers, coaches, trainers and administrators are learning about the new state law that takes effect July 1st.

The law says student athletes cannot play if they have concussion symptoms.

“Both the parents and the athletes will be required to do some reading on what a concussion is, what the symptoms are prior to the season,” says Lovell. “Headaches related to the injury, dizziness, nausea, certainly vomiting, balance problems, difficulties with concentration and focus.”

And they have to be cleared by a qualified medical professional to return.

Coaches are penalized for not following the rules.

“That person would get suspended, and if it happens again, could be essentially banned.”

Schools face challenges in developing a protocol to deal with the new law, including a concussion management team and communication procedures.

“The school nurse is critical, the athletic trainer, athletic director, the coaches, possibly an administrator and the guidance counselor,” lists Diana Malone, PhD, Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Another challenge is the athletes themselves.

“A lot of it depends on players being honest, being open with you,” admits Highlands School District Coach, Scott Newell. “It’s also difficult to pick up on some of the warning signs.”

“I think you need to know your athlete, you have to try to get to know them,” advises athletic trainer Dave Tumbas. “Your preseason meetings, just being around them on the practice field helps.”

“When you question them specifically will essentially deny that they’re having these symptoms, and that’s difficult,” cautions Lovell. “That puts the coach and everybody in a really difficult situation.”

The law applies to all public and private schools. The rules go for all practices, scrimmages, cheerleading, club sports and other school sponsored activities.

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Marrero described himself as a line drive hitter and said playing with wood bats at the college level this season rather than aluminum has him more major league ready.

Deven’s numbers have dropped a bit since last year, but he said the adjustment to the bats had some to do with that as well as the great pitching in the conference.

A great pitcher that came out of their conference last year was Gerrit Cole, and Deven told us about the times he faced him during his college career.

Devon does have a year of eligibility left at ASU, and told us whether or not he would consider using that rather than going pro if drafted.

We wrapped things up with Deven hearing about some of his ties to the Pirates and what he has heard about them.

Taillon evaluated the season he has had so far through 10 starts and talks about the recent bad outings he has had after starting off the year on fire.

Despite not pitching well in his last 3 starts, Jameson told us he’d been working on some different things and has actually felt his best during those starts.

We also discussed what is different from last year to this year for Jameson and he told us about getting to pitch deeper into games, and what that has taught him.

One key Jameson said for his success is the use of his changeup which allowed him to get though lineup with more efficiency.

We wrapped things up with Jameson learning about his relationship with the Pirates other premiere prospects Gerrit COle, and when he expects his next promotion to come.

It happened at about 1:30 p.m. on Third Street.

Don Zink, who lives in the house, said he got the phone call from a neighbor while he was at work. His two sons were home watching television.

His home is considered uninhabitable at this point and the gas company has already shut off service to the house.

Alex Zink, 13, was inside the house during the collapse and heard a loud noise.

“I didn’t know what was happening, so I walked upstairs and looked out the window and there’s this debris everywhere and the roof was on there and some guy was motioning for us to come outside,” he said. “So we went out through the back and then we went to the neighbor’s.”

The Red Cross is assisting the family.

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The National Center for Victims of Crime filed motions to protect the identities of four of Sandusky’s alleged victims.

Sandusky appeared in court with his attorney for the hearing.

Jury selection in his trial is scheduled to start next week.

There is also a pre-trial conference scheduled for Wednesday.

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That means it’s important to have a good sunscreen. Consumer Reports recently tested to find the best.

Whether you’re relaxing on the beach or enjoying the waves, it’s critically important to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun.

Consumer Reports has tested 18 sunscreens — mostly sprays and lotions — from names like Banana Boat and Coppertone to Neutrogena and Aveeno.

“We test to see how well the sunscreens protect against two types of radiation— UVB, which causes sunburn, and UVA, which penetrates deeper, resulting in tanning and aging of the skin,” Nicole Sarrubbo from Consumer Reports said.

Both types contribute to skin cancer, so it’s important to use a sunscreen that protects against both.

To test, Consumer Reports applied sunscreen to panelists’ backs, then exposed them to either UVA or UVB rays.

Testers also checked water resistance. Panelists sat in water for up to 80 minutes, depending on the product’s claims.

“We also performed a new critical wavelength test mandated by a FDA that determines if the sunscreen offers a sufficient level of UVA protection,” Sarrubbo said.

Two products that claim both UVA and UVB protection failed this test are Banana Boat Kids and Alba Botanica.

However, for fun in the sun without the worry, Consumer Reports did find two very good, inexpensive sunscreens -  No-Ad SPF 45 and Walgreen’s Continuous Spray Sunscreen Sport SPF 50.

Both rated very good against UVA and excellent against UVB radiation, making them great options for your next day at the beach.

The FDA is currently investigating spray-on sunscreens and whether inhaling the spray poses a danger.

Until more is known, Consumer Reports said it’s best to avoid using sprays on children. And never spray directly onto your face — instead spray into your hands and rub the sunscreen onto your face.

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A group called American Working Families said it’s not campaign-related.

Gov. Corbett is in the middle of his first term. Now, he finds himself the target of a strong attack ad funded by a Washington-based group called American Working Families.

“We’re launching a two-week ad campaign, drawing attention to Gov. Corbett’s record with middle class people. He’s one of the worst governors in the country when it comes to helping the middle class and he’s been making things harder for them,” the group’s founder, Bud Jackson, said.

Jackson, the group’s founder, said Corbett is duplicitous, a charge the ad makes directly.

“Corporate friends and campaign donors – he chose to give them tax breaks. His staff – pay raises. And a new SUV for himself and his wife while eliminating health care for our children and cutting our schools by more than $1 billion,” Jackson said.

The ad, which is meant to be educational and not political, is timed to influence the budget season in Harrisburg.

“It’s time Pennsylvania citizens stood up and took notice of what’s going on, especially as we head into the budget session,” Jackson said.

However, it is unknown who is paying for these ads.

KDKA-TV’s Jon Delano: Who’s paying for these ads?

Jackson: All the money is being generated from people inside Pennsylvania.

Delano: Their names?

Jackson: We’re not releasing their names. A lot of them are fearful of a vengeful governor. But also we’re not legally obligated to, and we’re not going to.

The ad is called a 501-c-4 issue ad. That means as long as the ad does not urge you to vote for or against somebody, the donors can remain anonymous.

The substance of the ad is one that the Legislature will be addressing in the next few weeks.

The budget is supposed to be approved by June 30.

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Nutt answered questions from callers as well as talked about raising the speed limit and some possible new projects for the Turnpike.

You can listen to the whole show here now!

You can also listen to Mike Pintek Weekdays Noon to 3pm on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA.

Pintek talked to Toomey about rumors surrounding him running for vice president alongside Mitt Romney and Toomey gives an update on the 911th Airlift Wing.

You can listen to Toomey’s VP response and the update on the 911th here now! You can also listen to Mike Pintek Weekdays Noon to 3pm on NewsRadio1020 KDKA.

Chip has another Indianapolis 500 win under his belt, thanks to Dario Franchitti.

He takes us through the dramatic final lap, updates us on the health of IndyCar racing, and remembers his former driver Dan Wheldon.

Chip also tells us how his NASCAR teams are doing, and how the auto industry’s resurgence has helped racing.

Rock is feeling good about the team’s four-game winning streak, and he’s feeling better about the Pirates offense.

John details how Pedro Alvarez has improved, and tells us why James McDonald has been on fire of late.

Each week we’ll be providing you with insight into the best (and worst) baseball players to play in your fantasy baseball league.

As I turn in this week’s column, I own a three strikeout lead on my opponent in my one head-to-head league, and he still has Jonny Venters in the Sunday Night game. If I don’t turn in a column next week, it’s because the suspense has killed me.

5 UP

1. Norichika Aoki, OF, MIL: Aoki has moved into an everyday role in right field for Milwaukee, forcing their hand with his performance so far this season. Another 2-for-4 day Sunday raises his average to .313 with decent doubles power and a healthy 8.4% walk rate. He has 11 runs in 95 plate appearances and that rate should skyrocket with regular plate appearances in front of Ryan Braun. He won’t provide much in RBI or HR, and he only has one stolen base, but it can be extremely hard to find high-average guys at this point in the season and Aoki could be one.

2. Tom Wilhelmsen, RP, SEA: With Brandon League out as closer in Seattle, the Mariners are going to a committee. Expect Wilhelmsen to come out on top. The 28-year-old righty has 30 strikeouts in just 24.1 innings and is the best righty in the Mariners’ pen at this time. Don’t be fooled by his 4.44 ERA – a 3.24 FIP suggests that number will come down, and with a hot start he could entrench himself as Seattle’s closer.

3. Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR: Rasmus scorched the ball this week, going 10-for-28 (.357) with two homers, two steals and five RBI. The main scourge behind his .227/.298/.411 line remains a .260 BABIP. Owners who pick him up now likely won’t have to deal with that and can reap the benefits of hitter-friendly Rogers Centre as he heats up. He could be a sneakily cheap source of both power and steals.

4. Adam Wainwright, SP, STL: Wainwright followed up a shutout gem earlier in the week with a six inning, one run start Sunday against the Phillies, giving him just one run allowed in his last 15 innings. It’s time to buy on Wainwright. He’s seen his velocity tick up, particularly on his cutter, and that could indicate he’s returning to the form which had him competing for Cy Youngs in the latter part of the last decade.

5. Matt Moore, SP, TB: Moore’s 7 IP, 10 K, 2 ER start against the White Sox on Memorial Day was overshadowed by Chris Sale’s gem (and understandably so). But let’s not lose sight of the future ace — he now has four straight starts with at least six strikeouts and has allowed no more than three earned runs in each. He has a 30:10 K:BB ratio in those four starts (covering 22 innings) and looks like he might be turning a corner. Don’t get left behind.

5 DOWN

1. Derek Lowe, SP, CLE: Lowe was beat up in two starts this week, allowing 10 runs on 16 hits in 8.1 innings. Lowe struck out just five batters and has a swinging strike rate of just 4.6% on his career. What we saw last week is just what happens when a pitcher gives up as much contact as Lowe does – he allowed 16 hits, including a homer, and even his pristine control (just one walk) doesn’t always help with major league hitters in the batter’s box.

2. Michael Young, INF, TEX: Young has struggled mightily to open 2012, and another down week (.222/.236/.278 in 55 PA) has his overall line down to .282/.305/.379. His power is almost completely gone; he has just a .097 ISO, and at 36 there doesn’t seem to be much reason to believe it will come back. Young always seems to have fans somewhere, so a reasonable return could probably be had here, too.

3. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY: The Jeter cool-down has begun. The Captain is hitting just .250 in his last two weeks (12 games, 54 PA) despite a BABIP of .297 in that span. He’s certainly not worth giving up on – he’s probably a .280-.290 hitter with a very good run total at the end of the season – but if you can capitalize on his .338/.380/.465 start, do so and do so quickly.

4. Matt Capps, RP, MIN: Capps finally blew his first save of the season Sunday, giving up a two-run homer to Miguel Cabrera to lose the game for the Twins. The problem with Capps is that he just doesn’t miss bats any more – he has just a 4.5 K/9 and in many ways is the relief pitcher version of Lowe. He’s had exceptional control thus far, walking just one batter all year, but if he does lose track of the strike zone, it could fall apart very quickly in Minnesota for Capps.

5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, NYM: Nieuwenhuis was a darling early in the season as he put up a .325 average in April. May has not been so kind. The 25-year-old has just a .261 average in May, and he may not even sustain that going forward. He was 0-for-4 with a strikeout Sunday, his 53rd of the year in just 47 games. It’s almost impossible to maintain any sort of a reasonable batting average with a 30% strikeout rate or higher, and Nieuwenheis is now at 30.5% on the year. Expect him to be closer to .250 than his current .288 for the rest of the season.

Jack Moore is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Mathematics and Economics. His work can also be found at FanGraphs.com, DisciplesOfUecker.com, RotoWire.com, AdvancedNFLStats.com and ESPN. Follow him on twitter at @jh_moore.

Bernard Carter, 20, of Rankin is accused of killing William Harrington.

Harrington was shot in the head in Hawkins Village Friday afternoon as he walked out of his sister’s apartment.

According to police, as many as 100 people saw the shooting, but no one initially came forward with information.

Carter is in the Allegheny County Jail and is being charged with criminal homicide.

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However, because of the new Act 24 law in Pennsylvania Kathie lost her job because of a DUI back in 1979 when she was 19.

Kathie talked to KDKA’s Marty Griffin on Tuesday’s show to explain her mess.

Listen to the full interview below.

(credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Memorial Day weekend is famous for its racing. The Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 are American traditions and winning one of these two are high on a driver’s wish list.

Danica Patrick never won the Indy 500 before leaving IndyCar full time and it was highly unlikely she would win the Coke 600 on her first try. But Patrick made her weekend even more difficult by running in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Making her debut at Charlotte had more eyes on her than usual, being the first woman since 1976 to do so (Janet Guthrie). But Patrick didn’t feel the pressure.

“I feel like I’ve got a good distance preview with Darlington being 500 (miles), what’s another hundred after that right? I am excited,” Patrick said. “I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to race in both of them because of GoDaddy.com and because of Stewart-Haas willing to put me in these 10 races this year. I will be running back and forth but it’s nothing other driver’s haven’t done before.”

Unfortunately, Patrick’s debut did not go well. She was 28th in the first two practices and 24th in the final practice. Qualifying was even worse. She was 43rd fastest of the 47 cars trying to make the field and only made the race because the No. 10 was in the top 35 of owner points.

The race started under the bright sun and Patrick, who started 40th, slowly made her way through the field, which isn’t hard to do when the back of the field is filled with start-and-park teams. By lap 50, she was already one lap down and got in the way of race-leader Marcos Ambrose.

Things got even worse from there, as she continued to go laps down (two laps down at lap 90, three laps down at lap 250, four laps down at lap 290) and got in the way of other drivers. Jeff Gordon was overheard on his scanner referring Patrick was getting in the way.

With 67 laps left, Patrick brushed the wall and had slight damage but continued the race, where she eventually finished five laps down in 30th place.

“We had a lot of green-flag running and for me as a driver in general in NASCAR, but especially as a new driver in the Cup Series, that hurts me. Those long runs hurt me,” Patrick said. “I’m just not great at making the best out of a car that’s not perfect and those long runs really show that. But that’s what you get in Cup. You get a lot of green flag running and I’ve got to learn how to deal with that. But that’s just the nature of where I’m at on the learning curve at this point in time.

“We brought the GoDaddy car home and one of the goals was to finish. I would have liked to have been a little faster overall, but I think there were some times in there when it was decent. It was kind of like Darlington (where) there was a certain run or two that felt really good and everything else, you just kind of like let’s work on this and let’s work on that.”

Kasey Kahne, making his 300th Sprint Cup series start, took the win for Hendrick Motorsports, earning Mr. H his 201st trophy. This marks Kahne’s third Coca-Cola 600.

In the HISTORY 300, Patrick had a much better race. She qualified third, after sitting on the provisional pole for a few runs. She finished 13th and on the lead lap. Cup series regular and past series champion Brad Keselowski won the race.

As far as not being at Indy, Patrick said she is happy in her decision to be in NASCAR (despite rumors there are plans to have her run “The Double” in the near future).

“I didn’t feel like I wanted to be there,” Patrick said of Indy. “I just had a lot of memories of what was going on. I’m very pleased that I’m in NASCAR. I’m very happy; I’m having a lot of fun.”

Patrick will not get behind the wheel of the No. 10 again until Bristol in August. Next week, the Nationwide Series heads to Dover.

Farrah Kaye is a NASCAR columnist for CBS Local Sports and is a member of the NMPA. Her previous articles have appeared on SPEEDtv.com, newsweek.com and she holds a degree in Journalism. Follow her on Twitter @Farrah_Kaye.

According to state police, the accident happened on Route 422 near Dunbar Airport Lane in Kittanning around 5:30 a.m.

A Subaru in the eastbound lanes crossed the center line and crashed into a coal truck heading west.

The coal truck burst into flames upon impact. After the initial impact, the Subaru began to spin and was hit by a second coal truck in the eastbound lanes.

“Witnesses say it was driving erratically, traveled across the center lane and struck a coal truck which was traveling westbound. That coal truck caught on fire,” Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Thomas Dubovi said. “Car then spun out of control and came to rest on the south berm of [Route] 422 where another coal truck was traveling eastbound also struck the car again.”

According to state police, the driver of the Subaru died instantly in the crash. According to the Armstrong County Coroner’s Office, the victim has been identified as Dorothy Lynn LaVan, 55, of Indiana, Pa.

LaVan’s husband, Robert, was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries.

The driver of the first coal truck is expected to survive the injuries sustained in the crash, while the driver of the second coal truck was not injured.

“We’ve had a number of fatal accidents on this stretch of road in the past few years and it’s causing a significant concern. Very little distraction will cause an accident here,” Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi said.

Stay With KDKA.com For More Details

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The 40-year-old goaltender, the team’s two big goal scorers and the new coach all have played major roles in getting the Devils back to the championship round just a year after they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

The guy who tends to get lost in all the talk is Travis Zajac.

This was almost a lost season for the Devils’ No. 1 center. He tore an Achilles tendon in August, had surgery the next day and tried to come back in December. He lasted eight games before calling it quits.

Over the next two months, there were times he thought his season was over as the injury and soreness wouldn’t go away. The 27-year-old continued his rehab and eventually came back in late March. It took him a couple of weeks to find his game but one can argue he has been the best player for the Devils in the postseason, which will start its final round on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Kings visit New Jersey.

“He is the type of player who does a lot of things well, from the faceoff to the forcechecking, taking the body,” Brodeur said. “He does a lot of little things. A lot of people who are not watching him and who only look at the stats, miss a lot. He is an effective player. He logs a lot of important minutes. That’s what you have to look at, and who he plays against every single shift, and that tells you a lot about them.”

His statistics aren’t shabby either. Zajac has seven goals — tied for the team high with Kovalchuk and Parise — and five assists. His 12 points are tied for eighth best in the postseason. He also played on New Jersey’s power play and kills off penalties averaging more than 20 minutes a game, third highest among the teams’ forwards.

Not bad for player who appeared in 15 regular-season games.

“Getting this far I’m sure it’s enjoyable for everyone but it really is for me,” Zajac said after the Devils practiced Monday for the first time since winning the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers on Friday night. “Playing this late in the season really makes me feel like I didn’t miss the whole season. It’s really a fun time to play hockey.”

Coming into this season, Zajac had been the Devils’ current iron man. He had played in 401 consecutive games for the team between 2006 and the end of the 2010-11 season only to get hurt working out at home before training camp.

If there has been a positive in terms of the injury, Zajac is fresh. While most of his teammates have played around 100 games, he has played in 33 and seemingly is rounding into midseason form.

Veteran forward Dainius Zubrus said Zajac’s return has been one of the keys to the Devils’ success.

Instead of gambling and making a deal for a top center at the trading deadline, general manager Lou Lamoriello stood pat and waited for Zajac to be ready.

“It took time, but the surprising thing for me is how well the guy can play after basically missing the whole year,” said Zubrus, who plays on Zajac’s right wing with Parise on the left. “He is playing top minutes, PP and PK, and all that stuff. You can’t get a player like that on deadline. When he got healthy it was a big addition.”

DeBoer said Zajac’s contributions are immeasurable.

“We wouldn’t be here without Travis,” said DeBoer, who was forced to use roughly 10 different centers this season in searching for replacement for Zajac. “The fact that we were able to fill … the hole he left is a credit to Patrik Elias, (Adam) Henrique and (Stephen) Gionta, and (others).”

“Looking back now in reflection, that was an awfully big hole,” DeBoer added.

In facing the Kings, the Devils will be taking on the NHL’s top team in the postseason. Los Angeles is 12-2 and it has barely been tested in knocking off the top three seeds in the Western Conference — Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix. In each series, Los Angeles won the first three games.

“They have big size up front, they check well and control the puck offensively, that’s been one of their strengths throughout the playoffs,” Zajac said. “They have some D-men who can make plays and jump up on offense.”

The Kings also play like the Devils. They roll four lines and have an outstanding goaltender in Jonathan Quick.

“There are similarities for sure, but every team at this point plays a similar style, they forecheck hard and the D keeps puck alive,” Zajac said. “I think every team that has been successful was similar structure.”

The Kings traveled on Monday to New Jersey. A media day for the teams is scheduled Tuesday.

Will Zajac and the Devils hoist the Cup? Make your prediction in the comments below!

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

McKeesport Police have now turned the investigation over to Allegheny Homicide Detectives as they continue to look into what happened.

Emergency responders and police swarmed the home on Cleveland Street after she was found unresponsive in the backyard pool.

The girl was rushed to McKeesport Hospital and later flown to Children’s Hospital. According to our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the little girl was last listed in critical condition.

“I just [saw] the grandmother come out like a raving maniac screaming. I [saw] them carrying her out. She was like a wet rag. It was horrible,” Gloria Abraham, a neighbor, said.

Police are now trying to figure out how the child ended up in the pool unnoticed. KDKA-TV has learned that the toddler was visiting the home for a birthday celebration. As the partygoers were singing “Happy Birthday,” they noticed the girl was missing.

“It’s scary and it’s just sad and I just hope this little girl makes it because I’d hate to see a little 3-year-old pass away,” Danielle Dubyak, a neighbor, said.

Stay with KDKA for the latest developments.

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Pamela Smallis, 48, of Moon Township, and her 19-year-old son, Richard, were arrested after they were caught selling marijuana and prescription drugs in April.

According to police, they had been investigating Smallis for more than a year.

Smallis often had some of her juvenile children along with her during the drug sales, according to police, and twice used her children in drug sales. One of those sales included an undercover police informant, who purchased drugs from the child on Stocker Drive.

Today’s court appearance was postponed while officials wait for lab results.

John Peter Banes, 45, of Ambridge, is charged as the source of the drug Oxymorphine to Pamela Smallis.

Richard Smallis is charged with criminal conspiracy as well as possession with intent to deliver, among other indictments.

Pamela Smallis faces numerous charges, including endangering welfare of children, corruption of minors and possession with intent to deliver.

The hearing has been postponed until July 24.

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Cruz has gone to the Dominican Republic to deal with “personal matters,” as the team addressed it.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle expects Cruz back by Friday for the team’s road trip to Milwaukee.

In the meantime, veteran reliever Doug Slaten has joined the Pirates’ bullpen. Slaten, 32, has been lights out for the Indians in Triple-A, going 2-0 with a 0.36 ERA and eight saves in 20 appearances.

He joins Tony Watson to give Pittsburgh two left-handed options in the bullpen.

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Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

Yes, James and Wade are clicking — at the perfect time.

James scored 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Wade scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Heat beat the Boston Celtics 93-79 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The stars were stars, and the role players more than did their parts as well, with the Heat enjoying a 48-33 edge in rebounds, blocking 11 shots and never trailing.

“One down. And they still have an opportunity in Game 2 to accomplish what they want to,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, referring to how Boston can still grab home-court advantage by winning Game 2. “At times it was a strange game. Some good runs, both teams. We felt we could have played better and I’m sure they felt the same thing.”

Shane Battier had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who wasted an early 11-point first-half lead, then gave up 35 second-quarter points before running away to break a halftime tie — getting going with a 9-2 run early in the third, that Wade-to-James touchdown pass part of the flurry.

“We didn’t play our best game,” James said. “And we want to just try to continue to get better throughout the series.”

Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, which got 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists from Rajon Rondo and 12 points from Paul Pierce. Ray Allen shot just 1 for 7 from the floor for Boston, which was outscored by 10 in the first quarter and 11 in the third.

“On the road, you can’t have two quarters of lulls,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Miami.

And while both sides would say there’s a long way to go in this series, Game 1 winners have a decided edge in any best-of-seven series, the conference final being no exception. In the 10 most recent postseasons, teams with 1-0 leads in conference finals have advanced 15 out of 20 times.

“They’re home, they’re comfortable and when you’re comfortable you do things like that,” Garnett said, suggesting Miami was showboating at times down the stretch. “We have to show them to take them out of their comfort zone. We’ve got to fight a lot harder.”

James had 13 points in the first quarter — two more than the entire Celtics roster — and Miami ran out to a 21-11 lead. Garnett made three of his four shots in the quarter, while everyone else in Boston green was 2 for 16 from the floor.

“I thought they were ready to play,” Rivers said. “I’m talking about Miami. I thought we kind of joined the game.”

Boston scored 35 in the second quarter, erasing what was an 11-point deficit early in the period by scoring 27 points in the final 8:46 of the half to pull into a 46-all tie. Rondo, Garnett and Pierce combined to score 23 points in the quarter, looking absolutely vintage, near-perfect offensive execution getting to Miami time and time again.

And the Celtics’ comeback happened even while they got hit with three technical fouls in the second quarter, plus Ray Allen missing four first-half free throws — matching his career-worst for an entire game.

“We may never see that again,” Rivers said.

In the end, it went down as merely a one-quarter lapse for Miami.

Another technical foul, this one on Rondo, came in the third quarter, likely born from frustration as the Heat started to roll again.

With the game tied at 50, Rondo missed three shots in a 31-second span early in the third, the last of those getting blocked by Battier — who hit a 3-pointer 11 seconds later. That’s when Miami got going, and by the end of the third, the Heat lead was 72-61.

“I think we believe we can beat them,” Pierce said. “It’s all about making adjustments. LeBron and Wade are great players. We’ve got to do a better job of slowing them down. As a group we believe we can win this series.”

Rondo echoed Pierce’s thoughts.

“We kept fighting,” Rondo said. “It wasn’t pretty. We missed four or five layups, a bunch of free throws. That being said, we were tied at halftime but we just didn’t come out with the right mindset in the second half.”

Miami did and takes a 1-0 lead into Game 2 as its reward. But James said he knows Boston is far from done.

“I look at them as a top opponent, as a top contender and a competitive group … a championship-caliber team,” James said.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Concussions are on the rise from skateboarding, horseback riding, skiing, bicycling, etc., and everyday we see more concern for kids playing sports like football and hockey where concussions sometimes go unchecked.

KDKA-AM’s Larry and John talk to Dr. Joseph Maroon, team neurologist for the Pittsburgh Steelers and one of the country’s premier neurology doctors, about the staggering numbers of concussions and how the conversation is changing to more concern for kids’ health.

The Rimington Trophy is presented to the top center in college football every year. Turnley is one of 50 players placed on the spring watch list.

Turnley was one of the only constants along the Pitt offensive line last season, starting all 13 games. He should anchor a more productive unit in 2012.

Turnley received the Ed Conway award as Pitt’s most improved player in spring drills.

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Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

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Ronald Robinson is accused of shooting and killing Officer Michael Crawshaw in December of 2009.

Officer Crawshaw was shot in his patrol car while responding to a call at a house on Johnston Road in Penn Hills.

Robinson is also accused of killing Danyal Morton at the home that Officer Crawshaw was heading to.

The shooting at the home was allegedly over a $500 drug debt.

Jury selection was set to begin Tuesday morning, but has been postponed until October.

Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.

Stay With KDKA.com For More Details

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The alleged incident happened around 10 a.m. Monday at the Flying J Store in South Huntingdon.

State police say 74-year-old Ronald Ritt exposed and fondled himself in front of the girl.

Ritt is facing charges of indecent exposure, corruption of minors and open lewdness.

He is now in the Westmoreland County Jail.

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Witnesses say a white Chevy pickup truck blew through a red light at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 14th Street, hitting a 12-year-old girl who was on her bike.

“He hit the back end of the tire and she flipped over the bike and ended up over by the grate,” Amber Horm, an eyewitness, said.

She was taken to Children’s Hospital.

“She was crying for her daddy, so I bent down to hold her hand and try to keep her calm,” Diane Carter, a neighbor, said.

Police later tracked down the truck, but the owner claims he wasn’t driving and had lent the pickup truck to a friend.

He’s on the run.

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Marshawn Ptomey, 19, was remembered at a vigil in McKees Rocks.

“I just want people to remember that he was a great kid,” Sonya Smith, Marshawn’s sister, said. “He had a very sense of family. He loved everybody. He had a very big sense of humor. I don’t feel like he should have died that way.”

Relatives say they are still coming to grips with the reality that he is gone and that a juvenile girl, 17-year-old Destiny Brown is a suspect in the deadly shooting.

Marshawn’s pastor led the vigil, calling on the crowd of mostly families to be on the front lines on the fight for change in their community.

Many grieving family members were also in attendance. They gathered in the same location where the 19-year-old college student was gunned down last week — the 300-block of Russellwood Avenue.

Marshawn was also a stand-out football player at Sto-Rox. Some of his former teammates were there, including one young man who planned tonight’s vigil.

“It’s just crazy that we have to bury another one of my childhood friends that doesn’t deserve to be buried,” Shawn Dorsek said. “He had a full life ahead of him and it got taken away from him.”

After the vigil, the crowd made their through the neighborhood to the Sto-Rox High School football field. They called it a peaceful walk to counter the gun violence that too often happens on their streets.

“The streets is nothing,” Antwian Beck, the victim’s cousin, said. “Just go home, do what you have to do, listen to school, be disciplined. That’s what I’m trying to tell to the young crowds. Some might listen. Some might not.”

Even before Marshawn died, they arrested Brown in connection with that shooting. She is been charged as an adult.

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Pirates starter James McDonald pitched eight innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just five hits while striking out five and walking one.

“I think my mental approach is different,” McDonald said. He now boasts a 4-2 record with a 2.20 ERA.

Third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit two doubles on the afternoon, driving in one run for Pittsburgh (24-24). Second baseman Neil Walker also had two hits and drove in a run, while right fielder Garrett Jones and catcher Rod Barajas each drove in a run.

“I like the direction we’re headed,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “I’m easy to please and hard to satisfy.”

Pittsburgh got off to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After Walker singled he advanced to second on an Andrew McCutchen groundout and then to third on a throwing error by Reds starter Bronson Arroyo.

“I didn’t have a whole lot today,” Arroyo said. “But that being said I still felt like I could have put myself in position where I could have gotten out of those (early) innings and only given up one or two runs.”

Alvarez drove him in with a double, and Jones followed with a single, driving home Alvarez for a 2-0 advantage.

Walker singled in the second, driving home McDonald from second base for a 3-0 lead.

That lead grew to 4-0 in the third inning, as Barajas singled home Alvarez, who had hit his second double of the game to lead off the inning.

Cincinnati couldn’t manage a run until the ninth inning with McDonald on the bench. Chris Heisey hit a single off Pirates reliever Tony Watson, scoring Joey Votto.

Joel Hanrahan came in and recorded the final out in two pitches against Miguel Cairo.

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