HARRISBURG -- While a state grand jury has expanded its focus to look at political contributions connected with Pennsylvania's casino gaming licenses, a freshly minted Dauphin County grand jury, contrary to earlier reports, has not.

A court filing by the Dauphin County district attorney's office yesterday made it clear that, despite a trio of press reports to the contrary, the county's newest grand jury is not currently looking at casino licensing or the state's Gaming Control Board.

A previous Dauphin grand jury returned indictments for perjury against both businessman Louis A. DeNaples, whose Mount Airy Lodge was awarded a casino license, and the Rev. Joseph Sica, a friend of Mr. DeNaples who was accused of lying about his friendship with a reputed mobster. That grand jury expired earlier this year and Dauphin prosecutors petitioned the courts on Feb. 11 for authority to impanel a new jury.

Yesterday, in a court filing in response to a motion by attorneys for Mr. DeNaples, county prosecutors denied that the grand jury has been assigned to any further inquiries into casino licensing.To date, Deputy District Attorney Fran Chardo wrote, the only matters taken before the new grand jury "relate only to violent offenses."

Word that the grand jury is not looking at the Gaming Control Board was greeted with pleasure by Doug Harbach, spokesman for the board.

"It's apparent that persons who supplied that information were not well informed and we are gratified that the District Attorney has clarified the erroneous reporting," Mr. Harbach said.