STAFF REPORT A 45-year-old man tried to "get even" with a New Freedom resident by falsely reporting a shooting and hostage situation at the person's home Tuesday, police said.   Full Story

PLEASANT HILLS, Pa.—A police officer has settled his retaliation lawsuit against a Pittsburgh suburb for a small fraction of the $2 million he sought.   Full Story

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—It took a jury 13 days to convict and sentence Damien Echols to death for the 1993 slayings of three second-graders.   Full Story

KAUSWAGAN, Philippines—The beleaguered Philippine peace process was thrown into disarray Wednesday, with the government saying a proposed deal with Muslim rebels must be renegotiated after the guerrillas shot or hacked 37 people to death.   Full Story

It's difficult not to agree with the observation of York City School District board member Sam Beard that having to pass the scrutiny of police officers and metal detectors to enter high school creates a prison-like atmosphere and sends "a message to children that it's not an institution of learning.   Full Story

When 7-year-old Alex Colafrancesco came to the York Expo Center Tuesday to hear Sen. John McCain speak, he didn't know he would get a chance to ask the Republican presidential candidate a question.   Full Story

BEIJING—Russia's Buvaysa Saytiev has won a record-tying third Olympic freestyle gold medal. Saytiev was forced to wrestle his way back onto the Russia's team after being beaten out a year ago by the eventual world champion, He matched his golds of 1996 and 2004 by defeating Soslan Tigiev of Uzbekistan 0-1, 1-0, 3-1 at 74 kilograms.   Full Story

Corey Thurman hadn't lost an Atlantic League baseball game since July 2. But it only took one fatal pitch to snap that impressive streak Monday night at Regency Furniture Stadium.   Full Story

MOUNT WOLF -- Over his seven years as the manager of the Glen Rock Central League baseball team, Kim McCullough has had a number of excellent pitchers.   Full Story

LONDON—The U.S. dollar was higher Wednesday morning against other major currencies in European trading.   Full Story