Pennsylvania: Councilman, family face drug charges

To Norristown residents, City Councilman Ernest “Scotty” Scott Jr. ran what seemed like a modest family business. But prosecutors say the business was a front for a family drug empire.

Scott, 52, allegedly made thousands of dollars each year selling drugs with help from his mother and three adult sons at his auto tags business.

In raids of 13 properties owned by Scott family members or co-defendants, investigators seized more than 42 pounds of marijuana and $12,000 in cash, along with guns, jewelry, cocaine and 22 vehicles.

State police had investigated Scott’s tag business from 1993 to 1995. Scott was elected to council in 1999.

California: Former employee’s rampage turns deadly

An ex-employee of a plastics business in San Dimas stabbed two former co-workers and set three others on fire by throwing chemicals at them before he was shot to death by deputies, authorities said.

The five workers were hospitalized, and six deputies suffered minor injuries.

No motive had been established for the rampage Friday afternoon at Maxdem Inc., which makes super-rigid plastic parts for automobiles and national defense.

The 30-year-old attacker’s name was not released.

Ohio: Security workers sue over physical standards

The union representing federal court security officers sued the government, saying new physical standards have led to the wrongful firing of 32 officers.

About 190 more officers have been told they are not medically qualified, but have not yet been fired, said the claim filed Friday in Dayton by the International Union, United Government Security Officers of America.

The lawsuit named as defendants the Judicial Conference of the United States and the U.S. Marshals Service. It alleges that in 2000, the United States Public Health Service established new medical standards, especially related to hearing and vision, for the officers.

The lawsuit asks a judge to reinstate all fired officers, suspend medical exams and restrain the defendants from any actions against other officers until a hearing is held.

Louisiana: Weather service tests heat stress advisories

The National Weather Service is testing a new system of heat stress advisories to provide earlier warnings for people vulnerable to oppressive heat and humidity.

The tests are being conducted only in the agency’s Southern Region, but if it works well the alert system could be expanded to the National Weather Service nationally, said Lee Harrison, head of the Shreveport office.

The weather service will continue to use the heat index, a number based on a combination of temperature and humidity.