Agreement

Former house cleaner Andrea Lawton changed her plea to guilty in federal court Tuesday as part of a plea agreement on charges involving the theft of a rare bust of Benjamin Franklin from a Bryn Mawr home. In exchange for her pleading guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, federal prosecutors will recommend to U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones II that the second count against her, concealing stolen property, be dismissed. The bust is said to be valued at $3 million.

Cathedral Village, a retirement community in Philadelphia's Andorra section, last month reached what experts called a "unique" agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia to enhance care in its nursing home, especially for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. The joint agreement grew out of complaints by Barry Vernick, whose wife, suffering from Parkinson's disease and dementia, died following a brief stay at Cathedral Village in late 2008. The agreement mentions no allegations of wrongdoing by the nonprofit Cathedral Village.

It doesn't have the thrilling punch of a soap opera, but the drama over rejuvenating Ardmore around the train station certainly has the drawn-out pace of one. In the hope of speeding up at least part of the nearly decadelong project, the Lower Merion Township Economic Revitalization Committee on Wednesday renewed an agreement with Dranoff Properties to build - eventually - housing, stores, and parking space on what is now the municipal parking lot...

It doesn't have the thrilling punch of a soap opera, but the drama over rejuvenating Ardmore around the train station certainly has the drawn-out pace of one. In the hope of speeding up at least part of the nearly decadelong project, the Lower Merion Township Economic Revitalization Committee on Wednesday renewed an agreement with Dranoff Properties to build - eventually - housing, stores, and parking space on what is now the municipal parking lot...

HONG KONG - HSBC says it's paying $1.9 billion in penalties to settle a U.S. money laundering probe. The investigation into HSBC has focused on the transfer of billions of dollars on behalf of nations such as Iran and the transfer of money from Mexican drug cartels. The British bank said in statement Tuesday that the settlement involves a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The bank won't be prosecuted if it meets certain conditions, such as strengthening internal controls to prevent money laundering.

For the second time in four days, representatives from the NHL and the players union had a lengthy meeting as they attempted to end their labor feud and take a step toward a new collective bargaining agreement. The meeting in New York, attended by 13 players, including Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, lasted more than seven hours Tuesday night. Neither side would disclose what occurred at the meeting. They planned to meet again Wednesday. "The players' view has always been that we ought to keep negotiating until we find a way to get an agreement," Donald Fehr, the NHL Players' Association's executive director, told reporters before the sides met. "You sort of stay at it day by day, so it's very good to be getting back to the table.

NEW YORK - The replacement officials are gone, and the NFL is sorry it took so long. Now fans can go back to complaining about the calls made by the regular refs. The sport's experiment with replacements ended Thursday night when a veteran crew worked the Browns-Ravens game. Referee Gene Steratore, a 10-year veteran, strolled onto the field at M&T Bank Stadium with little fanfare about 21/2 hours before kickoff, still wearing a coat and tie as he paced along the sidelines. Among his other routine tasks was a brief talk to a stadium official about the wireless on-field microphone the referee wears.

On June 27, with enormous pride, optimism, and a sense of history, the CEOs of Abington Health and Holy Redeemer Health System faced reporters and announced their plans to form a partnership. The leaders knew this was a bold move, even shocking, to partner a secular hospital with a Catholic one, but they felt it was so beneficial and important they were sure the community would come to see it as they did. The community did not. Within three weeks, the proposed partnership - a year in planning - was dead.

WASHINGTON - The top Republican and Democrat on Capitol Hill have announced an agreement to keep the government running on autopilot for six months when the current budget year ends on Sept. 30. The announcements by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and GOP House Speaker John A. Boehner are aimed at averting any chance of a government shutdown this fall. The legislation will pass in September. The deal would also lighten the crush of business in a postelection congressional session agenda that's already overloaded.