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State briefs

12 governors urge Congress to fund children’s health program

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Twelve governors of both parties are urging Congress to reauthorize funding for a popular children’s health insurance program as soon as possible.

The recommendation involving the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, came in a letter to congressional leaders Tuesday.

Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper led the letter-writing effort. It was joined by the governors of Alaska, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia.

Fresh funding for the $14 billion CHIP program ran out Oct. 1. Since then, some states have relied on unspent funds. Others got a short-term reprieve in the two-week spending bill President Donald Trump signed Friday.

The governors said funding the program “without disruption” is something they can all agree on.

Two face homicide charges in

cellphone store employee slaying

PALMER (AP) — Prosecutors say two men are facing criminal homicide charges in the death of a Verizon store employee that authorities say was linked to armed robberies of cellphone stores.

The Northampton County district attorney and other officials announced charges Tuesday against 27-year-old Gregory Lewis Jr. and 27-year-old Vaughn Felix.

The charges stem from the November 2016 death of 25-year-old Michael Davis outside his home. Weeks earlier, the store where he worked had been robbed.

District Attorney John Morganelli said the two apparently planned to kidnap Davis for another robbery but ended up shooting him. Lewis and Felix are already jailed on charges stemming from the armed robberies.

Lewis’ attorney, James Brose, and Felix’s lawyer, Brian Monahan, declined comment on the new charges, but Monahan vowed “a vigorous defense” for his client.

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