NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Linda Mae Combine, 65, of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at UPMC Horizon in Farrell, Pennsylvania.

She was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1960, to Thomas and Hazel (Foster) Weaver.

Linda graduated from Mercer High School in 1978. She attended Meryhurst University and earned her associates degree.

She was a dental assistant and office manager for Dr. Donald McCamant, and was a faithful, dedicated worker for 44 years at his office in Sharpsville.

Linda was married to Tom “Toby” Combine on August 13, 1988, and he survives at home. They shared 37 wonderful years of marriage.

Linda loved to travel to coastal destinations, where she could soak in the warm sunshine, listen to the waves, and spend time near the water. She loved being at the beach. She also enjoyed going to camp with her husband and spending time with her family and friends.

In addition to her husband at home, Linda is survived by her sons, Travis (Ashley) Combine of WV, and Lucas (Brenna) Combine of Boardman, Ohio; grandchildren, Lucy, Ava and Holden; stepson, Louis (Ciera) Gianni and their children, Loki and Samara of Texas; sister, Judy (Bernie) Pyle of Mercer; also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Diane.

In keeping her wishes, cremation has been chosen and there will be no services.

Messages of sympathy, stories and photos can be shared on Linda’s memorial page, at: www.flynnfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Linda Combine, please visit our floral store.

Chatbots on five different websites claimed to be licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania when prompted by Spotlight PA — the same kind of output that led the Shapiro administration to file a lawsuit last month.

A task force under Pennsylvania’s Department of State has been working since February to identify AI chatbots posing as licensed professionals and misleading users. Based on that work, the administration filed suit against the role-playing site Character.AI.

Mirroring the investigation detailed in the Department of State’s lawsuit, Spotlight PA had conversations with AI characters on websites Talkie, Janitor, Kindroid, Replika, and Nomi.AI. All provided a false Pennsylvania medical license number when prompted, a key part of the state’s argument in its lawsuit against Character.AI.

Spotlight PA checked responses from these bots after reviewing online articles and digital message boards to find 10 popular companion and role-playing AI chatbots. A reporter either selected a premade character or — when necessary — entered a description that would generate a doctor personality. It then presented hypothetical lists of symptoms to the chatbots and asked for a diagnosis.

Some of the most popular AI large language models, like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini, did not claim to be licensed medical professionals under the same circumstances. Only a handful of role-playing websites did so.

Replika and Nomi require their users to create characters. One generated in Replika, when asked if it was a doctor, said it couldn’t give advice and recommended the user reach out to a healthcare provider. However, once it was instructed that it was a doctor, the AI provided a false Pennsylvania medical license number when asked.

“Let’s focus on getting you feeling better, shall we?” it said.

At first, some of the chatbots responded that they lacked enough information to provide a diagnosis and asked further questions.

“Dr. Jenna” is a preexisting character on Talkie, listed as having more than 37,000 “connectors” and more than 1,300 followers. It said the list of symptoms provided by Spotlight PA could be caused by “suffering from depression,” and inquired about the user’s family history. Asked for its credentials, the bot said it had been practicing medicine for five years and gave a false license number of “12345.”

Many of the websites, including Character.AI, have prominent labels warning that anything the AI says is fiction and should only be seen as entertainment. The other sites issue similar disclaimers in their initial terms of service, saying users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of the technology’s claims.

Jennifer Kraschnewski, a physician and director of the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute, told Spotlight PA she isn’t convinced the disclaimers actually get through to users. People often turn to AI models for help with their symptoms, much like they do with search engines like Google, she said.

“Incorrect information in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to interpret that can be concerning,” Kraschnewski said. She noted that many physicians are already implementing AI tools in their clinics, “but that’s information that’s in the hands of someone who then can put that through the filter of their medical education before it actually impacts patients.”

Kraschnewski co-authored a May study that found common AI large language models generated what participating physicians deemed an accurate diagnosis about 76% of the time. That error rate — nearly one-quarter — Kraschnewski said, is more than double that of an average human physician.

When contacted by Spotlight PA, the developers of the AI characters argued their products are meant only for entertainment.

“Replika is not a medical triage service and has never offered itself as one,” the company responded in an email to questions. “Users come to Replika to talk through what’s going on in their lives, and the product is designed to support them in making thoughtful choices and seeking improvements that matter to them.”

Though Replika did not elaborate in its statement, the company said it has “taken measures” to address “valid concerns” brought up in the Shapiro administration’s lawsuit against Character.AI.

Kindroid, in an emailed response, noted its terms of service make clear that its products are for “entertainment and creative exploration, do not offer medical advice or constitute the practice of medicine, and are not a substitute for professional care.”

“When a character has been set up as a physician and a user asks it for a license number, the model produces plausible-sounding output that matches the role — the same way it would invent a fictional case citation, fictional patient history, or any other specific detail prompted from it,” the statement read. “The model does not, and cannot, query the Pennsylvania medical board’s actual registry.”

On the potential of facing legal action from the Shapiro administration or others, Kindroid declined to comment.

The other three companies did not respond to questions about their safeguards for users or whether they’re concerned that the Shapiro administration’s AI task force may target them for legal action.

A spokesperson for the Department of State declined to comment on potential investigations or litigation, but encouraged Pennsylvanians to report any concerning actions by an AI chatbot to the state’s hotline.

“Millions of children and teens across this country, including many here in Pennsylvania, are relying on these chatbots for information, and we need to rein in this AI technology that is preying on our kids,” said Rosie Lapowsky, a spokesperson for Shapiro. “Pennsylvania will continue leading the way in holding bad actors accountable and setting clear guardrails so people can use new technology responsibly.”

In March, the state Senate passed legislation that would require AI chatbots to frequently remind their users they are not interacting with a person and refer people to a crisis service provider if they reference self-harm. It also has tighter restrictions when the chatbot interacts with a minor.

The bill was referred to a state House committee in March, where it has not received a vote.

NEWTOWN, PA — ARTWRKD Gallery at 128 South State Street presents “The Colors of Music,” a solo exhibition featuring the work of artist Jeanette Griffith, on view through June 28. The exhibition explores the relationship between sound and visual expression through a vibrant collection of abstract paintings inspired by music.

For Griffith, music serves as both catalyst and guide. Her work translates rhythm, melody, harmony, and emotion into dynamic compositions of color, texture, line, and space. The exhibition invites viewers to experience music through a visual lens, revealing how sound can become shape, movement, and atmosphere on canvas.

“My work is an intuitive response to music translated into line, color, texture, shadow, and positive and negative space,” said Griffith. “The Color of Music inspires my visual interpretation of note, chord, and melody.”

(Courtesy of Jeanette Griffith)

(Courtesy of Jeanette Griffith)

(Courtesy of Jeanette Griffith)

(Courtesy of Jeanette Griffith)

A native of Philadelphia, Griffith began her artistic career as a designer and fabricator of stained-glass windows. She later studied sculptural glass and developed a distinguished career as a craftsperson, studio assistant, manager, and instructor. Drawing upon decades of experience, she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Fine Arts from Lesley University, where her focus expanded to painting, mixed media, and photography.

Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, the International Exhibition of Glass Craft in Kanazawa, Japan, the Glass Museum in Ebeltoft, Denmark, the Hall Haskell Gallery, Montserrat College of Art, and numerous galleries throughout New England and Pennsylvania.

Visitors are invited to attend a meet the artist reception on June 20 from 1 to 4 p.m.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Jeanette Griffith will donate 50 percent of artwork sales to The Bucks County Foundation’s initiative addressing hunger and homelessness in Bucks County, a cause that holds deep personal significance for the artist.

Exhibition Details

The Colors of Music
Artist: Jeanette Griffith
Dates: June 5 to June 28, 2025
Meet the Artist: June 20 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: ARTWRKD Gallery, 128 S. State Street, Newtown
Website: artwrkd.com
About ARTWRKD

ARTWRKD is a creative community and gallery dedicated to connecting artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts through exhibitions, educational programming, workshops, and cultural events. Located in the heart of Newtown, ARTWRKD champions emerging and established artists while fostering meaningful engagement with the arts.