Several legal stories today.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint today on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection against Erie Coke Corporation for Clean Air Act violations at its coke foundry. The company has been fined several times for high levels of air pollution. Is it possible to force the company to stop production until the problems are fixed? Fines are fine, but they are still polluting. The EPA had this to say in a press release:

The complaint requires Erie Coke to obtain the necessary permits and undertake expeditiously all actions necessary to comply with the Clean Air Act, including provisions of the Pennsylvania state implementation plan. Additionally, under the complaint, Erie Coke could be subject to fines up to $32,500 per day for each violation occurring since March, 15, 2004, and $37,500 per day for each violation after Jan. 12, 2009.

Teri Rhodes, convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 9 to 18 years in prison in the death of her newborn baby, is having her appeal heard in court in Pittsburgh. She is currently free on bond and living with her parents in Michigan.

Ed Palattella of the Erie Times-News has the story of a couple who is suing Hamot over custody of their triplets. The couple is claiming Hamot allowed the surrogate mother of triplets to take them home after they were born. It’s an interesting story.

Ernst Conservation Seeds, in Meadville, wants to build an alternative fuels plant in the Meadville area. They have long worked with switchgrass as a fuel source. The plant would create 10 jobs and has received a $896,000 grant from the state.

On Sept. 21, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, honored philanthropist and arts advocate Kay H. Logan in celebration of the 20th season of Music at Noon: The Logan Series, an innovative program that provides world-class chamber music in an informal, intimate atmosphere to diverse audiences. Logan, formerly of Warren, founded the noontime chamber concert series at the college in 1989.

Sports

Mercyhurst, ranked No. 18 in the latest NSCAA national Division II poll, battled through a physical match at No. 13 Slippery Rock, falling 2-1 despite a late rally. Billy Colton scored the Lakers’ lone goal in the defeat.

The Lady Knight soccer team tied Edinboro 0-0 Tuesday evening at Sox Harrison Stadium. Sabrina Chirco (Brampton, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) made five saves in the shutout for Gannon.

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are proud to announce that center Ryan O’Reilly has signed his first professional contract with the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche.

A second round pick in June’s NHL Entry Draft by Colorado, O’Reilly agreed to a three-year, entry-level deal with the Avalanche on Monday.

Events