Congressmen to take oaths of office today

Two area congressmen will take the oath of office today when the 111th Congress convenes.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, will be sworn in for his fourth term, and U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, will be entering his 19th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Murtha has been called the dean of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation because he is the most senior member of Congress representing the commonwealth. He ranks 12th in overall seniority among members of both the House and Senate.

The current party alignments are 257 voting Democrats in the House of Representatives and 178 Republicans.

Jury selected in trial of W&J student

Jury selection was completed Monday for the trial of a Washington & Jefferson College student accused of raping a fellow student in April 2007 at the home of an assistant basketball coach.

A trial will begin this morning for Gregory E. Stuckey, 22, of Orlando, Fla., before Washington County Judge Janet Moschetta Bell. Stuckey allegedly raped the 19-year-old woman, who was a sophomore at the college, after the two had been at a fraternity party.

According to court records, Stuckey and the woman drank alcoholic beverages before going to an assistant basketball coach's house at 167 S. Wade Ave., just off the college's campus.

Stuckey was charged in August 2007 with rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. He has been free on $50,000 unsecured bond.

Man pleads guilty to nine bank robberies

A former Allegheny County man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to robbing nine banks, including a bank in Hickory twice in 2004.

William F. Perry, 64, formerly of North Versailles, is accused of robbing Washington Federal Savings Bank on Route 50 on Sept. 14 and Nov. 29, 2004. He also admitted to robbing banks in Southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 10 before Chief U.S. District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.

Firefighters, utility inspect gas scent

What at first was thought to be a natural gas leak near South Strabane Township's Trinity Point shopping center Monday night was probably a vented cloud of gas that moved quickly through the area.

Township fire Chief Scott Reese said his department received three calls just before 7 p.m. of a possible leak. The calls came from people who smelled gas along the East Beau Street overpass of Interstate 70, at the south junction of I-70 and Interstate 79 and at the shopping center.

Reese said the gas smell was drawn into the vents at Wal-Mart. A representative from Columbia Gas inspected the store, but no gas was found inside.

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