ACCU-WEATHER METEOROLOGIST DEAN DEVORE EXPECTS SOME RAIN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE TEMPERATURES DROP JUST A BIT. "WE EXPECT THAT TO CHANGE OVER TO SNOW. OUR MOST LIKELY ACCUMULATION AT THIS POINT IS ONE TO THREE INCHES," DEVORE SAYS. DEVORE FIGURES THE SNOW WILL END LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT OR VERY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.　

  REPUBLICAN SENATOR PAT TOOMEY SAYS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER. "THERE ARE MANY AREAS WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND HELP TO RESTORE FISCAL DISCIPLINE, PUT US ON A PATH TO A BALANCED BUDGET AND GET THIS ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ANYONE IN EITHER PARTY WHO'LL HELP US ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS," TOOMEY SAYS. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BOB CASEY SAYS HE'S GRATIFIED THE PRESIDENT MADE JOBS THE FOCUS OF HIS ADDRESS. DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN MATT CARTWRIGHT SAYS BOTH SIDES NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE PRESIDENT TO PROVIDE A PLAN FOR A STABLE FINANCIAL FUTURE AND REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE DENT SAYS PRESIDENT OBAMA DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING PROBLEM.　

  A 16-YEAR-OLD ALLENTOWN BOY IS IN CUSTODY AFTER ALLEGEDLY CHASING OTHER STUDENTS THROUGH THE McKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND TUESDAY AFTERNOON. POLICE SAY THE UNIDENTIFIED ALLEN HIGH STUDENT CHASED THE STUDENTS WHILE HOLDING WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS A MACHETE-STYLE KNIFE AFTER HAVING SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH THOSE STUDENTS.　

  EX-STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE BRENNAN AND HIS WIFE HAVE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS BRENNAN TO CONTACT HIS WIFE ONLY FOR MATTERS INVOLVING THEIR TWO SONS. A LEHIGH COUNTY JUDGE APPROVED THE ARRANGEMENT A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER BRENNAN PLEADED GUILTY TO PUNCHING AND CHOKING HIS WIFE, NORMA JEAN, LAST AUGUST. BRENNAN RESIGNED HIS HOUSE SEAT AFTER THE INCIDENT. HE WAS GRANTED WORK RELEASE LAST WEEK AND IS SERVING THREE TO 23 MONTHS IN JAIL AFTER ALSO PLEADING GUILTY TO DRIVING AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE ASSAULT WHILE DRUNK.　

  A 24-YEAR-OLD ALLENTOWN MAN IS CHARGED WITH STABBING ANOTHER MAN 16 TIMES SATURDAY NIGHT. TONY-RAY ARVELO WAS CHARGED TUESDAY WITH ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE FOR STABBING ANGEL RODRIGUEZ AND ALSO HIS WIFE IN A BETHLEHEM APARTMENT. BOTH ARE EXPECTED TO SURVIVE. ARVELO ALLEGEDLY STABBED THE COUPLE AFTER HE FORCED HIS WAY BACK INTO THEIR APARTMENT AFTER THEY THREW HIM OUT OF THEIR HOME BECAUSE HE BEGAN ACTING INAPPROPRIATELY WITH THE COUPLE.　

  FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT TOLD LEHIGH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THEY NEED TO CONFESS THEY "DON'T KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW" AND THAT THEY SHOULD USE THEIR OPINIONS TO START DISCUSSIONS, NOT END THEM. ALBRIGHT SPOKE AT THE SCHOOL ON TUESDAY AS PART OF A LECTURE SERIES ON UNDERSTANDING AND TOLERANCE. THE FIRST FEMALE SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD THE STUDENTS THEY MUST VALUE CRITICAL THINKING AS A WAY OF CHANGING THE WORLD. SHE SAYS A NEW ERA OF GLOBAL COLLABORATION IS NEAR, BUT THAT PEOPLE NEED TO ANALYZE THEIR OWN THINKING AND SEARCH FOR TRUTH. THE 75-YEAR-OLD ALBRIGHT SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE UNDER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON.　

  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JIM CAWLEY SAYS PRIVATIZING THE STATE'S LIQUOR BUSINESS WOULD ACTUALLY HELP, NOT HURT, THE EFFORT OF KEEPING BEER AND LIQUOR OUT OF THE HANDS OF UNDERAGE DRINKERS. "IT PROVIDES MORE MONEY FOR OUR STATE POLICE TO ALLOW THEM GREATER ENFORCEMENT. IT REQUIRES EVERYONE WHO SELLS ALCOHOL NOW HAS A SCANNER FOR I.D.s AND IF SOMEBODY CANNOT PROVIDE AN I.D. FOR SCANNING THEY'RE NOT TO BE SOLD ALCOHOL REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE," THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAYS. CAWLEY SAYS GOVERNOR CORBETT'S PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO HIKE FINES AND PENALTIES AGAINST BUSINESSES SELLING LIQUOR TO UNDERAGE BUYERS.　

  DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR DAYLIN LEACH SAID LAST YEAR HE WOULD INTRODUCE LEGISLATION LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IN PENNSYLVANIA AND HE HAS NOW DONE JUST THAT. "FOR THE LAST 75 YEARS WE'VE BEEN TREATING PEOPLE WHO SMOKE A PLANT AS CRIMINALS," LEACH SAYS. HE PROPOSES THAT POT BE SOLD WITH LIQUOR AND WINE AT THE STATE STORES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE AT LEAST 21. GOV. TOM CORBETT HAS SAID HE'D VETO ANY LEGALIZATION BILL, HOWEVER IT'S BELIEVED LEACH'S PROPOSAL HAS NO SHOT OF PASSING THE LEGISLATURE.　

  THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS SENDING THE STATE SENATE SEVERAL BILLS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. THE HOUSE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TUESDAY TO HELP SET UP CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS, TO MAKE JUDGES MORE AWARE WHEN A CHILD HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER, AND TO MAKE IT A SEPARATE CRIME TO INTIMIDATE OR RETALIATE AGAINST A WITNESS, VICTIM OR REPORTER OF CHILD ABUSE. CURRENT PENNSYLVANIA LAW APPLIES ONLY TO WITNESSES AND VICTIMS IN A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. THE NEW LAW WOULD APPLY IN NONCRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. THE PROPOSALS ARE IN RESPONSE TO THE PENNSYLVANIA TASK FORCE ON CHILD PROTECTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE WAKE OF THE JERRY SANDUSKY CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL. THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS WOULD BE FUNDED BY A $15 FEE FROM CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS.　

  U.S. SEN. BOB CASEY IS JOINING HIS PENNSYLVANIA COLLEAGUE PAT TOOMEY ON THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE. CASEY HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE PANEL THAT OVERSEES TAXATION, TRADE AND CERTAIN HEALTH PROGRAMS. TOOMEY, A REPUBLICAN, WAS APPOINTED IN JANUARY. CASEY, A DEMOCRAT, SAYS THE ASSIGNMENT WILL GIVE HIM A VOICE IN SHAPING TAX AND TRADE POLICIES, ENSURING THAT MEDICARE WORKS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE BENEFICIARIES AND ENSURING THAT CHILDREN HAVE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. HE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, THE HEALTH EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE, THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING AND THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.　

  AN ASSEMBLY PANEL IS SET TO CONSIDER 25 BILLS AIMED AT REFORMING NEW JERSEY'S GUN LAWS. THE PROPOSALS INCLUDE REFORMING WEAPON SALES AND ALLOWING FOR ONLY FACE-TO-FACE TRANSACTIONS OF AMMUNITION. ANOTHER MEASURE WOULD REQUIRE BUYERS TO SUBMIT CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS TO THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK PROGRAM. THE ASSEMBLY'S LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO MEET THIS MORNING TO CONSIDER THE MEASURES. ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS UNVEILED THE BILLS FRIDAY AS PART OF A GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PACKAGE. THEY SAY THE MEASURES ARE MEANT TO ENHANCE GUN SAFETY. IF APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE, THE MEASURES ARE SLATED TO GO BEFORE THE FULL ASSEMBLY ON FEBRUARY 21. NEW JERSEY'S GUN LAWS ARE ALREADY CONSIDERED AMONG THE NATION'S TOUGHEST.　

  NEW JERSEY CASINO REGULATORS WILL HEAR FROM MGM RESORTS ON WEDNESDAY AS THE COMPANY TRIES TO GET BACK INTO THE ATLANTIC CITY CASINO MARKET. THE COMPANY WANTS THE CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION TO LET IT KEEP ITS 50 PERCENT OWNERSHIP OF THE BORGATA. MGM DECIDED IN 2010 TO SELL ITS STAKE AND LEAVE NEW JERSEY RATHER THAN CUT TIES TO AN ASIAN BUSINESS PARTNER IN MACAU. THE PARTNER'S FATHER IS SUSPECTED BY NEW JERSEY REGULATORS OF HAVING ORGANIZED CRIME TIES TO CHINESE GANGS, BUT MGM AND THE FAMILY OF PANSY HO DENY THE ALLEGATIONS. MGM SAYS HO'S CONTROL OF THE CHINESE COMPANY HAS LESSENED, AND THAT HER FATHER, STANLEY HO, IS OLD AND SICK.