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Good evening! Here’s a look at AP’s general news coverage today in Pennsylvania. For questions about the state report, contact the Philadelphia bureau at 215-561-1133. Ron Todt is on the desk. Editor Larry Rosenthal can be reached at 215-446-6631 or [email protected].

A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories, digests and digest advisories will keep you up to date.

Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with updates

TOP STORIES:

XGR–GAMBLING EXPANSION

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is backing a measure to expand gambling to the internet and airports, but it rejected a more sweeping expansion of casino-style gambling to bars. The measure passed, 115-80, in a preliminary vote Wednesday to allow gambling on websites and in airports. It also would regulate daily fantasy sports betting. SENT: NewsNow. UPCOMING: About 500 words by 7:30 p.m. EDT.

With:

— XGR–GAMBLING EXPANSION-HIGHLIGHTS.

HOLLAND TUNNEL-WEAPONS CACHE

NEW YORK — Anguished over his daughter’s overdose death, John Cramsey became a crusader against the heroin crisis in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, starting a group for concerned parents and recovering addicts and going on self-described missions to save young people from the scourge of addiction. By David Porter and Michael Balsamo. SENT: About 880 words, AP Video.

LGBT RIGHTS-PENNSYLVANIA

HARRISBURG — Legislation to prohibit discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation or gender identity cleared a first hurdle Wednesday in the Pennsylvania Senate. By Marc Levy. SENT: About 430 words.

PENN STATE-ABUSE

HARRISBURG— A man who claims he told Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in 1976 that he was sexually abused by Jerry Sandusky wants a judge to protect his identity and limit questioning by lawyers in a lawsuit against college sports’ governing body. By Mark Scolforo. SENT: NewsNow, will be updated.

DEM 2016-CONVENTION-PROTESTS

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia officials say they will respect the First Amendment rights of all protesters during the Democratic National Convention, but they are sticking with requirements that all demonstrators have permits and preparing a mothballed prison in case there are mass arrests. By Kristen de Groot. SENT: About 540 words.

AIRLINE MANAGER-CHILD-SEX ARREST

PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH (AP) — A former American Airlines operations manager who learned of the first Sept. 11, 2001 hijacking before the jet struck the World Trade Center is set to plead guilty to a federal interstate child-sex charge in Pittsburgh. SENT: About 410 words.

EXCHANGE:

EXCHANGE-SURGERY WITHOUT TRANSFUSIONS

PITTSBURGH — No matter how desperate the situation, Patricia Hawk won’t accept another person’s blood in her veins. Receiving transfused blood could be lifesaving, but it violates Hawk’s religious beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness. Blood is sacred and should not be mixed, she said. After Hawk, 64, of Trafford suffered cardiac arrest during a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention in Johnstown, she had a coronary bypass graft at Allegheny General Hospital on Pittsburgh’s North Side, which has a bloodless surgery center. Hawk’s no-blood preference is rare, but more patients over the past decade or so have been responding “no” when asked if they would accept a transfusion if needed, often citing concerns over diseases. Ben Schmitt and Wes Venteicher, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. SENT: About 690 words.

IN BRIEF:

BEATING DEATH-COALDALE — Jurors have convicted an eastern Pennsylvania man of third-degree murder in the death of a former Marine who authorities say was killed in revenge for an alleged sexual assault.

PHILADELPHIA WOMAN KILLED — A west Philadelphia woman has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the beating death of her roommate.

WRESTLER’S BROTHER CHARGED — Pro wrestler and former Olympian Kurt Angle’s brother has admitted under a plea deal that he killed his wife at their Pennsylvania home.

PEDIATRICIAN-INDECENT ASSAULT — An eastern Pennsylvania pediatrician has been ordered to stand trial on a charge of indecently assaulting a woman while examining her infant.

PILOT DETAINED — A judge has ordered alcohol and drug testing for an American Airlines co-pilot accused of drunkenness at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

STRIP MALL SHOOTING — Police say two victims are not cooperating with investigators after they were shot outside a western Pennsylvania strip mall.

BEATING DEATH — Police have released surveillance video of a man they believe killed another man who was walking home from his brother’s wedding in Pennsylvania’s capital.

RECORDED ON VICTIM’S PHONE — Police say a Pennsylvania man swore on his mother’s grave that he didn’t molest a young girl, until they showed him video of some of the acts recorded on the alleged victim’s cellphone.

DRESS CODE-WORKER REINSTATED — A suburban Philadelphia woman who was suspended from her job at an Acme supermarket after wearing a patriotic dress is returning to work.

FLIGHT-CRACKED WINDSHIELD — A Pittsburgh-bound JetBlue Airways flight had to return to Boston because of a cracked windshield.

FOOT STUCK IN SINKHOLE — Authorities say a man was taken to a hospital after he stepped into a sinkhole on a street in an eastern Pennsylvania city.

NO COPS RESOLUTION — The council of an eastern Pennsylvania city has voted to oppose letting the reality show “Cops” film its officers — even though the eight-week television shoot is about halfway over.

TRUMP TRUCK-CITATION WITHDRAWN — Police have withdrawn a $700 ticket issued to a tractor-trailer promoting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign that got stuck on a northeastern Pennsylvania bridge.

FATAL TRENCH COLLAPSE — Authorities say a Pennsylvania contractor who was buried above his waist when a trench collapsed earlier this week has died.

BASKETBALL COURT SHOOTING — Two 16-year-olds were wounded, one critically, when shots were fired after two groups of young men argued on a basketball court at a Pittsburgh park.

WOMAN FALLS INTO HOLE — A woman says she was gardening in the backyard of her Pennsylvania home when she struck the ground with a pitchfork and fell into a 50-foot-deep hole that abruptly opened up at her feet.

WORK-RELEASE ESCAPE — Authorities say a man who threatened to kill his girlfriend escaped from a work-release program about 50 miles north of Philadelphia.

WATER CONTAMINATION-DOYLESTOWN — State environmental regulators are trying to figure out what caused the water to become contaminated near Philadelphia.

CHESTER APARTMENT FIRE — Investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire inside a home that was converted into apartments in Chester.

FATAL FIRE-FREEBURG — A 61-year-old man has died after he became trapped in his burning central Pennsylvania home.

ATLANTIC CITY CASINO STRIKE — The main Atlantic City casino workers union is taking to the airwaves to explain why its members are threatening to go on strike next week.

SPORTS:

BKN–NBA DRAFT

NEW YORK — Ben Simmons has been considered the No. 1 pick for months, and has to wait just one more day to see if that’s the result. The Philadelphia 76ers will make that decision Thursday in the NBA draft. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING; 700 words, photos by 7 p.m. EST.

BKN–NBA DRAFT-76ERS

PHILADELPHIA — Ben Simmons may as well have walked right into a Philadelphia 76ers pep rally when he took a seat on “The Tonight Show” stage. The Philly-born band The Roots serenaded Simmons with the team’s catchy anthem they play at every home game, a decades-old tune with a chorus where the fans belt out: “1-2-3-4-5-Sixers.”. By Dan Gelston.

BBN–GIANTS-PIRATES

PITTSBURGH — The San Francisco Giants continue a four-game set in Pittsburgh on Wednesday when Jeff Samardzija (8-4, 3.14 ERA) takes on Francisco Liriano (4-7 5.03). Game begins at 7:05 p.m. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

BBO–REDS-RANGERS

ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers ace Cole Hamels sees a familiar foe from his NL days in the finale of a quick two-game interleague series against Cincinnati. The Reds took the opener to end Texas’ streak of 10 straight series victories. By Stephen Hawkins. UPCOMING. 650 words, photos. Game starts 7:05 p.m. CT.

BBO–PHILLIES-TWINS

The Philadelphia Phillies send Adam Morgan (1-6, 6.49 ERA) to the mound at Minnesota, as Kyle Gibson (0-5, 6.06 ERA) tries again for the Twins to get his first win of the season after coming up empty in his first six turns. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. With hometown lead on losing team. Game starts at 7:10 p.m. CDT.

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If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to [email protected]. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at [email protected] or 877-836-9477.

MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from Pennsylvania and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational pane of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click “All” or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.