HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A newspaper is reporting that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett plans to spend about $55 million to repair and upgrade buildings and facilities in the state Capitol complex.  The Patriot-News ofHarrisburgsaid Wednesday the Corbett administration intends for the money to be spent in the next few years on such needs as roofs, lighting, security and parking.  The paper says the Corbett administration will pay for the work with borrowed funds that  were designated for major maintenance or construction.  The projects include nearly $20 million to fix the roof on the Capitol’s east wing, including exterior lighting.

HARRISBURG,Pa.(AP) – The Republican leader of the Pennsylvania Senate says he expects the state’s April 24 primary to be conducted using the existing General Assembly district lines as the Legislative Reapportionment Commission met briefly without holding a vote.  Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi comments about the primary happened Wednesday after a five-minute commission meeting in the state Capitol.  It was the panel’s first meeting since the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the proposed General Assembly maps based on the 2010 census. Another meeting was scheduled for next week.  The redistricting process is designed to redraw districts to take into account population shifts every decade. There are 50 seats in the state Senate and 203 in the House.

PUNXSUTAWNEY,Pa.(AP) – Now that the Pennsylvania lottery has scratched Gus the groundhog as its fictional pitchman, Punxsutawney Phil’s status as top dog among groundhogs seems as secure as ever.  Lottery officials said this week they were retiring Gus after eight years in the spotlight hawking instant ticket. Officials say the campaign has reached everyone it can, and it’s time to tap new market segments.  Gus was known as Pennsylvania’s “second most-famous groundhog,” yielding the crown to Phil, who emerges from his lair each Feb. 2 to “forecast” whether winter will end early.  The president of the “Inner Circle” club tells that fawns over Phil tells the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper the lottery approached the club years ago  bout using Phil, but it didn’t work out because the club said Phil didn’t talk.

HARRISBURG,Pa.(AP) – A formerPennStateUniversityprofessor has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, false statements and money laundering in connection with $3 million in federal research grants.  Federal prosecutors said 55-year-old Craig Grimes of Raleigh, N.C., defrauded the National Institutes of Health between 2006 and 2011 while aPennStateprofessor of material sciences and engineering.  Authorities said hisState Collegecompany requested a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, but funds weren’t sent to Hershey Medical Center as promised and clinical studies and trials weren’t done. Grimes was also charged with false statements in a $1.9 million Department of Energy grant.  Prosecutors said Tuesday that Grimes faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Latest Business News

Dow: 12,938.70, down -27.02

S&P 500: 1,357.66, down -4.55

NASDAQ: 2,933.17 down -15.40

Stocks slip…Home sales rising…Pitching a corporate tax plan

NEW YORK(AP) -U.S.stocks have backtracked today amid concern about the outlook forGreeceand the risk to the global economy. The declines come a day after the Dow touched the 13,000 level for the first time in more than three years.

WASHINGTON (AP) – A positive trend continues for theU.S.housing market. The National Association of Realtors says sales of previously owned homes rose 4.3 percent last month. Sales stood at the highest level in nearly two years.

ATLANTA(AP) – A federal advisory panel wants allU.S.adults to get vaccinated against whooping cough. The panel has voted to expand its recommendation to include all those 65 and older who haven’t gotten a whooping cough shot as an adult.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says President Barack Obama’s plan to reduce corporate tax rates would make the tax system more globally competitive. The administration wants to lower the corporate tax rate from 35 to 28 percent. Manufacturers would get incentives making their effective tax rate 25 percent.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – A strike at Germany’s Frankfurtairport that’s caused hundreds of flight cancellations is being halted before new talks aimed at defusing a bitter pay dispute, according to a union. The strikes, which began last week, already have led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and delays at the airport. It normally sees some 1,300 takeoffs and landings daily.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

 HARRISBURG,Pa.(AP) – These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Wednesday:

Mega Millions

Estimated jackpot: $83 million

MiddayBig 4

3-3-8-6

MiddayDaily Number

2-2-8

MiddayQuinto

4-1-3-6-3

Powerball

Estimated jackpot: $60 million

Treasure Hunt

05-06-11-12-26

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Features & Entertainment

DECATUR,Ga.(AP) – Prosecutors have dropped DUI charges against Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and Dancing With the Stars winner Hines Ward.  DeKalb County Prosecutor Sonja N. Brown said Wednesday that Ward pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was given a year on probation. She says he also was fined $2,000 and must do 80 hours of community service. He also must undergo alcohol evaluation.  The 35-year-old Super Bowl XL MVP was arrested last year after he failed to maintain his lane and hit a curb. He failed several field sobriety tests and was booked into theDeKalbCountyjail and later released on bond.  Ward used to be a primary receiving target but last season wasn’t used as much. He has two years remaining on his deal and has said he’s willing to restructure it to finish his career with Pittsburgh.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Academy Awards will be coming to you live from the same place – but with a different name.  Oscar organizers have agreed to drop mentions of the Kodak Theatre from Sunday’s broadcast. The move follows bankruptcy proceedings for Eastman Kodak Co., which has received court approval to end its expensive naming-rights deal for the venue that’s been home to the awards show for a decade.  In an interview aired Wednesday on KABC-TV inLos Angeles, Academy of Motion Pictures Artsand Sciences President Tom Sherak said the show will refer to the venue as the Hollywood & Highland Center – after the retail and entertainment complex where the theater is located.  Sherak says the complex’s landlord had asked that Oscar organizers drop the Kodak Theatre name from the ceremony.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)