High Court justice blocks ruling

PITTSBURGH — A Supreme Court justice is blocking an appeals court’s ruling that would have forced two Western Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses and a Christian college to fill out forms to avoid penalties for not directly providing contraceptive benefits.

Justice Samuel Alito issued the order Tuesday soon after the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals filed documents making its ruling official. The religious groups had asked Alito to intervene while they appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Affordable Care Act says religious organizations can opt out of directly providing and paying to cover medical services they consider morally objectionable.

The diocese and college contend being forced to document their objections on the one-page form violates their rights because it makes them a party to a process enabling third-party insurers to provide the coverage.

Remains of woman found near Brookville

PITTSBURGH — The remains of a mentally ill central Pennsylvania woman whose parents told police she jumped from their moving car as they drove her to a psychiatric clinic last year have been found in some woods, not far from where she was last seen.

State police in Dubois aren’t saying how the remains of 37-year-old Susan Bachman were found Wednesday, only that unspecified new evidence led them to search woods near Brookville where she was last seen.

Jefferson County Coroner Bernard Snyder says a forensic anthropologist will begin examining the remains today to try to figure out how she died.