HARRISBURG (KDKA) – House Republicans on the state House Government Committee released their proposed congressional redistricting map. Democrats immediately denounced the plan, especially for what it does in western Pennsylvania.

It’s a near impossible task — cutting Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts down to 17, while keeping counties intact, communities of interest together, respecting minority rights and not giving one party an advantage over the other.

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/12/09/pennsylvania-republicans-redistricting-plan-western-pennsylvania/

HARRISBURG — A Republican state senator from southcentral Pennsylvania says he’ll run for governor, adding to the GOP’s double-digits-deep primary field aiming to take on the presumed Democratic nominee, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, in next year’s election.

Sen. Scott Martin, of Lancaster County, on Saturday became the third Republican state senator to run. Martin, a former county commissioner, was first elected in 2016, and is the Senate’s Education Committee chairman.

In the Senate, he has provided a reliable vote for Republican leadership on hot-button issues, including abortion and guns.

As Education Committee chairman, Martin introduced legislation to accelerate state taxpayer subsidies for private and parochial schools by hundreds of millions of dollars.

https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/another-lawmaker-joins-gop-field-pennsylvania-governor/OESYASHRIVD5ZGH4RKDLGNKCV4/

PITTSBURGH — Several students and staff of a Pittsburgh school have become ill from a possible norovirus outbreak.

Pittsburgh Carmalt will be closed on Monday, while teams work to clean the building and prevent further student and staff infections. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

The district said following the review of a high volume of reports of non-COVID-related illness from students and staff at Pittsburgh Carmalt since Thursday, the District’s physician, in consultation with the Allegheny County Health Department, has determined the illness is most likely norovirus.

Norovirus is a virus that is primarily transmitted through contact with stool or vomit and touching contaminated surfaces. Norovirus is very contagious. Common symptoms associated with norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. A loss of energy, mild headache and low-grade fever are sometimes present. There is no specific treatment for norovirus, and symptoms usually resolve within 24 to 48 hours. Dehydration is the most common complication.

https://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/possible-norovirus-outbreak-closes-pittsburgh-school/3YGVGX5LMVAI3ISBIIIHV27PYY/

PITTSBURGH — Target 11′s Rick Earle has learned new details about what led to a man being stun-killed and dying after an incident involving a bicycle in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood in October.

Sources said the victim, 54-year-old Jim Rogers, was stunned 8 times by responding Pittsburgh police officers with a Taser.

Police told Channel 11 that Rogers was not complying with officer commands and were forced to deploy the non-lethal weapon

At the time, people living along Harriet Street told Channel 11 that Rogers took a bike that was listed for sale for $50 in someone’s front yard. He reportedly rode it around the block and then returned it a short time later. Several people living there said Rogers was aggressive and resisted arrest. Others said he pleaded with officers to stop during the incident.

Sources said a medic unit arrived at the scene to check Rogers out, but officers told them to leave. Two officers then took him away, driving past West Penn Hospital which was closer than UPMC Mercy Hospital. Sources said the officers thought he had fallen asleep.

Rogers died the next day at the hospital.

Target 11′s Earle learned that as many as four officers could be fired and two others could be demoted. Sources said the officers failed to follow training and established departmental procedures. The officer who used the stun-gun more than eight times failed the police academy test but was given a second chance to pass it.

The District Attorney’s office is still finalizing its investigation. Mayor Bill Peduto said he wants to finish the investigation and finalize any decisions before his term ends.

https://www.wpxi.com/news/investigates/target-11-man-center-bloomfield-bike-incident-was-stunned-8-times-before-he-died/6JQC3ACJ75B7XOSVDN46NB6D6A/