Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

STATE

'Framework' reached for Pa. faculty pact Dozens hurt in bus crash Mob trial jury deadlocked

HARRISBURG -- Negotiators for Pennsylvania's state-owned university system and the union representing about 5,500 faculty members say they have reached "framework" for a new contract to resolve a prolonged dispute. The 14 state-owned universities, which include Millersville University, enroll about 115,000 students.

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties said the accord with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education was reached early Sunday after two full days of negotiating.

The union says "the general framework largely mirrors" agreements with other statewide unions, and offered no details pending a vote this evening by its negotiations committee. Members have been working without a contract since June 2011, and members had authorized a strike if necessary.

Both sides had agreed on wage increases based on the state-employee contracts, but issues such as health care, class sizes and distance learning have been sticking points. The union said the system was making unreasonable demands for concessions on health coverage and other issues.

BOSTON -- After a visit to Harvard University, dozens in a group of high school students and their adult chaperones were injured when their charter bus hit a bridge after police say the driver failed to heed low-clearance warning signs.

One person was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and three with serious injuries, the Boston Emergency Medical Services said. Thirty-five people were injured, Massachusetts state police said.

The Calvary Coach bus was carrying 42 people and was heading back to the Philadelphia area when it struck an overpass on Soldier's Field Road in Boston, a major crosstown road, at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Massachusetts State Police said.

State police said the driver "failed to heed signs" warning of the height limit and will likely be cited for an over-height violation. The driver, Samuel J. Jackson, looked down at his GPS and saw the bridge when he looked up but it was too late to avoid hitting it, Ray Talmedge, owner of the Philadelphia-based Calvary Coach Bus company, told WCAU-TV.

The students were part of a Destined for a Dream Foundation group, Talmedge said. Officials with the Bristol, Pa.-based group, a nonprofit that helps underprivileged youth, refused to comment on the crash when reached by phone.

PHILADELPHIA -- A day after declaring themselves at an impasse, jurors at the Philadelphia mob racketeering trial deliberated for nearly six hours Sunday but did not reach a verdict.

The panel offered no clues about their progress on Day 19 of talks in the case against reputed mob boss Joseph Ligambi and six others. They met, but, unlike previous days, had no questions or requests.

On Saturday, the jury reported to U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno for the first time that it was at "an impasse," but didn't elaborate. After consulting with the prosecutors and defense lawyers, Robreno urged them to keep trying.

From our wire services