(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

A New Castle was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to a 66-month prison sentence following a guilty plea for multiple cocaine trafficking offenses, including distributing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school.

28-year-old Forrest Gilmore admitted in his guilty plea to distributing 450 grams of cocaine and 25 grams of crack between June 2020 and June 2021 throughout the New Castle area, following a prior 60-month trafficking sentence from which Gilmore was released into federal supervision in April 2020. 

This 66-month sentence comes with an additional six years of federal supervision following the completion of his prison sentence.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — About 1,000 engineers and conductors who work for Norfolk Southern will soon be able to report safety concerns anonymously through a federal system without any fear of discipline.

Norfolk Southern is the first of the six major freight railroads to follow through on promises made in the wake of last year’s fiery eastern Ohio derailment to join the Federal Railroad Administration’s program. The one-year pilot agreement is limited to members of just two unions who work in Atlanta, Georgia; Elkhart, Indiana; and Roanoke, Virginia.

But federal officials who urged the railroads to do more to improve safety touted the agreement Monday as a breakthrough coming just days before Saturday’s one-year anniversary of the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that prompted temporary evacuations, a $1 billion and counting cleanup and lingering questions about long-term health consequences for residents in the area near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

“Norfolk Southern has taken a good first step, and it’s time for the other Class I railroads to back up their talk with action and make good on their promises to join this close call reporting system and keep America’s rail network safe,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

The major freight railroads have resisted joining the anonymous reporting system because they wanted the ability to discipline workers who use the hotline in certain circumstances. The Association of American Railroads trade group has said railroads were worried that the system could be abused by workers who try to avoid discipline by reporting situations a railroad already knows about.

Unions and workplace safety experts countered that the idea of disciplining workers who report safety concerns undermines the entire purpose of such a hotline because workers won’t use it if they fear retribution. Experts say programs like the one overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration are especially important in industries like railroads where there is a long history of workers being fired for reporting safety violations or injuries.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said he hopes his railroad’s agreement to join the reporting system will set an example for the rest of the industry. Shaw has been focused on improving safety and service at Norfolk Southern ever since the East Palestine derailment.

“NS is proud to partner with our labor leaders and FRA to make another industry-leading advancement in safety,” Shaw said.

Officials with the unions that signed onto the deal — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — praised the agreement and urged the other major freight railroads to join.

“For far too long the large railroads and their trade association, The Association of American Railroads, have paid lip service to safety,” BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace said. “The AAR prefers to spend millions of dollars on television commercials bragging about safety while backtracking on safety agreements.”

Amtrak and several dozen small railroads use the government reporting program, but none of the big freight railroads have signed on to it so only about 32,000 rail workers are covered. The big freight railroads, which include Union Pacific, CSX, Canadian National, CPKC and BNSF, collectively employ more than 100,000.

The railroads have said part of why they resisted joining the federal program is because they believe their own internal reporting systems are sufficient. But railroad unions have consistently said workers are reluctant to use the railroads’ own safety hotlines because they fear retribution.

The head of the SMART-TD conductors’ union Jeremy Ferguson said this agreement at Norfolk Southern “will allow our members to speak up when they see unsafe conditions without fear of negative repercussions.”

The railroad trade group has said that a similar safety hotline used in the aviation industry allows workers to be disciplined if they report the same safety violation more than once in a five-year period. The railroads have been pushing for a similar rule for their industry.

“Railroads have been clear about their commitment to enhance and join C3RS (the FRA’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System),” AAR spokeswoman Jessica Kahanek said. “This commitment remains unchanged.”

But FRA Administrator Amit Bose said it’s time for the railroads to move beyond promises and take action to join the program.

“The occurrence of any preventable accident, injury, or death is unacceptable, and FRA will continue to fight for the right of rail workers to help improve rail safety without fear of discipline or enforcement,” Bose said.

Former President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom before the start of closing arguments in his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in New York. (Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Within days, Donald Trump could have his sprawling real estate business empire ordered “dissolved” for repeated misrepresentations on financial statements to lenders, adding him to a short list of scam marketers, con artists and others who have been hit with the ultimate punishment for violating New York’s powerful anti-fraud law. An Associated Press analysis of nearly 70 years of civil cases under the law showed that such a penalty has only been imposed a dozen previous times, and Trump’s case stands apart in a significant way: It’s the only big business found that was threatened with a shutdown without a showing of obvious victims and major losses.

Harrisburg, PA — With the tax filing season opening today, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers to use a free online option to file their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns. Taxpayers can visit mypath.pa.gov to file their PA tax returns through the department’s state-only filing system.

myPATH is user friendly and can also be used to make income tax payments. The deadline to submit 2023 personal income tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2024.

“If you’re looking to avoid paying a fee to file your personal income tax return in Pennsylvania, myPATH is a great option. This free, online filing tool helps us deliver on Governor Shapiro’s promise to keep costs down for Pennsylvanians and their families,” Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said. “You can access myPATH from a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, which makes it easy to file your return at a time and place that are convenient for you.”

Important Features in myPATH

Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), making a payment, responding to department requests for information, and checking the status of a refund.

In order to file the PA-40, taxpayers will need to provide their Social Security number and either: (1) the tax liability for a previous tax year; or (2) their birth date, Pennsylvania driver’s license/photo ID number, and the expiration date for the license/photo ID. myPATH offers error-reducing automatic calculators and provides instant confirmation that your return has been successfully filed.

If you choose to create a username and password in myPATH, you’ll have the ability to update or view detailed account information and notices. You can also manage third-party access to your account, meaning you can give a tax professional or another person access to file your return and make payments on your behalf.

Spanish Resources for Filing

myPATH has an option for Spanish-speaking Pennsylvania taxpayers to file the PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40). In addition, the department has an informational video in Spanish with step-by-step instructions on how to use myPATH to file a PA-40 as part of its Revenue411 video series.

April 15 Deadline

All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2023 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Monday, April 15, 2024.

Taxpayer Service and Assistance

Personal income tax assistance is available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Online Customer Service Center contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email.

Taxpayers may also visit a Department of Revenue district office for state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to make appointments and they should also bring their Social Security cards and photo identification with them to facilitate tax filing.

Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage; or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.

Free tax forms and instructions are available at revenue.pa.gov.

FILE – An historical marker at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., is seen on Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration invites all first through sixth grade students in Pennsylvania to enter the 2024 Lyme Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”

The annual contest helps students, scout troops, and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where they live, how to prevent bites, and how to remove ticks that do bite.

The deadline for entries is 5:00 PM, March 15, 2024. Contest information can be found on the Department of Health’s website.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation, which further emphasizes the importance of teaching children about tick awareness and prevention measures.

Officials from the Departments of Health (DOH), Education (PDE), Environmental Protection (DEP), and Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) encourage young students to participate in the contest and help raise awareness of this disease.

“The Department of Health strongly encourages being outside as part of a healthy lifestyle. However, it is important to make a habit of checking yourself, your children, and pets for ticks that may carry Lyme disease,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “For the health of all Pennsylvanians, children and adults alike, it is important to learn how ticks transmit disease, take steps to prevent tick bites, learn how to remove ticks if found on the body, and seek timely medical treatment when needed to protect against Lyme disease.”

Finalists will be notified by mail and will be invited to an award ceremony at the State Capitol in May. In 2023, nine winners were recognized at a ceremony with representatives from DOH, PDE, and DCNR.

“It is of paramount importance for all Pennsylvanians to be aware of the dangerous effects of tick bites and Lyme disease,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “This art contest provides students with a creative way to combine their health and science knowledge with art to help raise awareness as tick season approaches.”

Ticks are usually found in shrubs, weeds, leaf litter, and tall grasses, but can be found anywhere there is grass.

“This annual competition to raise awareness about ticks and Lyme disease is critical in helping Pennsylvanians safely enjoy the outdoors and find new adventures across the Commonwealth,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Thank you to the departments of Health, Education, and Environmental Protection for prioritizing healthy outdoor habits through this creative initiative.”

“Exploring Pennsylvania’s beautiful environment is a huge opportunity available to everyone, but it is important we understand how to protect ourselves against ticks,” said DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “It is encouraging to see young people championing tick prevention, as they can truly make an impact. By raising awareness of ticks and tick-borne illnesses, we can help prevent Lyme disease cases, and safeguard our memorable moments outdoors.”

When exploring outside, it is important to take the proper steps to protect yourself from the chances of getting bitten like covering exposed skin, wearing light colors to help detect ticks, and using an EPA-approved insect repellent. Use permethrin spray on shoes, clothes, and gear as an added protection before spending time outdoors.

After being outside, check yourself, your children, and your pets thoroughly for ticks and remove any that you find. Then, shower to help remove any ticks you may have missed. You can also throw your clothes in the dryer using high heat to help kill any ticks that might still be stuck to your clothes.

For more information on preventing Lyme disease, visit the Department of Health’s website at Tickborne Diseases (pa.gov) or follow the Department of Health on Facebook and X.