Ridge returns home after heart attack in Texas

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge left a Texas rehabilitation facility and returned to his Maryland home Wednesday, nearly a month after he suffered a heart attack.

Mr.Ridge, 72, had been in Austinfor a conference whenhe was stricken in his hotelNov. 16.

“Gov. Ridge wishes to thank all those who continue to keep him and the Ridge family in their thoughts and prayers along with the many dedicated medical professionals who have assisted in his recovery,” according to a statement from his spokesman, Steve Aaron.

Sex offender registration law change advances

Legislationintended to addressflaws in Pennsylvania’s sex offender registrationlaws passed the state Houseunanimously on Wednesday.

The bill, proposed by state Rep. Ron Marsico, RDauphin, was introduced earlier this month as a result of a state Supreme Court decision in July that found that Pennsylvania’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act could not be applied retroactively to any defendant sentenced before its effective date of Dec. 20, 2012.

That meant sex offenders who are required to register their home addresses and other information and were convicted before that date would no longer be subject to registration requirements.

The legislation now proceeds to the state Senate. Wednesday evening in a single-vehicle crash in Lincoln-Lemington, Pittsburgh police said.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as 77year-old David Pierce.

The incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Allegheny River Boulevard between Washington Boulevard and Nadine Road, according to police.

Mr. Pierce was the only person in the car and was heading outbound toward Penn Hills when he crashed, police said. Investigators said he lost control of his car and struck a fixed barrier.

Policehad to close AlleghenyRiver Boulevard betweenWashington Boulevardand Nadine Road as theyinvestigated the crash.