Falls City Lumber and Builders Supply is the starting place for any project. Serious contractors and do it yourselfers are welcome to take advantage of the good old fashioned professional lumber yard service at Falls City. Continue reading →
On Monday’s Teleforum program we’ll check in again with Mike Lysakowski of Motorsport Aspects, he’s spent the week in Daytona with the Nascar kickoff event; Also expect a recap of the Valentine weekend; the good, the bad, and the odd. Monday Teleforum starts after the 9 o’clock news on Beaver County Radio.
Pennsylvanians Encouraged to Use myPATH to File PA Tax Returns
The tax filing season opens today; returns are due April 15, 2021
Harrisburg, PA — With the tax filing season opening today, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers to electronically file their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns with the department’s new, state-only filing system available at mypath.pa.gov.
myPATH is a free, user-friendly option that allows most taxpayers to seamlessly file the Pennsylvania Income Tax Return (PA-40) and make income tax payments, as well as offering other services. The deadline to submit 2020 personal income tax returns is April 15, 2021.
“Pennsylvania taxpayers who file their state tax returns electronically with myPATH benefit from faster processing and will receive their refunds sooner if they are expecting one,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “We encourage all of our customers to take advantage of this free, easy-to-use online option.”
myPATH Offers Many Benefits
Using the electronic filing option available through mypath.pa.gov offers many benefits, including:
Other Important Features in myPATH
Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing a PA-40 or 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.
If you choose to create a username and password in myPATH, you’ll have the ability to update/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.
A detailed list of instructions is available in the myPATH User Guide. myPATH replaced the department’s previous personal income tax e-Services applications, including PA Direct File.
Electronic Filing for Free
Other free electronic filing options are available to file state and federal returns using software from a reputable vendor. More vendor information is available on the Department of Revenue’s website.
Electronic Filing for a Fee
Paid tax preparers and commercial tax preparation software providers offer electronic filing, or e-filing, for a fee. Check a list of vendors on the department’s website for further information.
April 15 Deadline
All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2020 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Thursday, April 15, 2021.
PA Personal Income Tax Guide
Pennsylvania taxpayers who have personal income tax questions are encouraged to review the PA Personal Income Tax Guide, an online publication prepared by the Department of Revenue that includes detailed information on a number of PIT-related topics.
Taxpayer Service and Assistance
Personal income tax assistance is also available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8 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.
The Department of Revenue’s district offices are open in a limited capacity with social distancing guidelines in place. Appointments are required to receive in-person assistance. Please keep the following in mind.
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 www.revenue.pa.gov.
Biden administration to allow 25,000 asylum-seekers into US
By ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Biden administration is unveiling plans for an estimated 25,000 asylum-seekers waiting in Mexico for their next immigration court hearings to be allowed into the United States while their cases proceed. The admissions will start slowly at three unidentified border crossings on Feb. 19. The move is a major step toward dismantling one of former President Donald Trump’s most consequential policies to deter asylum-seekers from coming to the U.S. About 70,000 asylum-seekers were enrolled in the “Remain in Mexico” program since it was introduced in January 2019.
(Photo taken by Sandy Giordano)
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Girodano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Rev. Steven Mckeown, Aliquippa, chaplain for the Pittsburgh office of the FBI and also chaplain of the Aliquippa Fire and Police Departments was honored by the FBI Wednesday for 30 years of dedicated service, according to Catherine Policicchio media coordinator for the FBI Field Office.
(File Photo)
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa School Board at its work session on Wednesday night hired Shelley Streb as an administrative assistant who will work in the elementary school. Her effective starting date was January 25, 2021. Her prorated salary is $25,000 with benefits.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Harrisburg,Pa.) Homeless residents in the state are now able to obtain a free photo ID or renewal of their ID as a result of Act 131 of 2020 tht Governor Tom Wolf signed into law late last year.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady announced Friday that a one count indictment on violating federal narcotics laws was returned on February 2, 2021 for Ossie Foster, 36, of 1710 Main Street in Aliquippa, PA. Foster is the sole defendant. On or about June 13, 2020 Foster possessed with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 28 grams or more of crack, and a quantity of fentanyl and heroin. He could face a fine of $5,000,000, a maximum sentence of not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years in prison. Asst. U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting the case. The Beaver County Drug Task Force and the FBI conducted the investigation that led to the indictment.
Wolf Administration Updates on Progress of Vaccinations of Long-Term Care Facilities and Staff
First Round of COVID-19 Vaccines Nearly Complete at Nursing, Personal Care, and Assisted Living Facilities
Harrisburg, PA – The departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS) today provided an update on Pennsylvania’s progress administering COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff of long-term and congregate care facilities eligible in Phase 1A via the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program. To date, 100 percent of facilities enrolled in the program have received their first vaccine dose, 70 percent have received their second doses and, 70 percent of personal care homes and assisted living residences enrolled in the program have received their first doses.
“Vaccinating residents and staff of long-term and congregate care facilities – people who are often most at-risk of a severe case of COVID-19 if exposed – will protect our most vulnerable residents and, hopefully, reduce size and severity of outbreaks that have challenged congregate settings. This progress is a much-needed reprieve for long-term care facilities that have been particularly challenged by this pandemic,” said DHS Sec. Teresa Miller. “We are incredibly grateful to the committed staff at these facilities for their perseverance over the last year and their continued dedication to safety and fighting COVID-19 as we move forward. We have a long way to go, but we must recognize and celebrate this progress.”
Residents and staff of skilled nursing facilities, personal care homes, and assisted living residences are being vaccinated by CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership, and residents and staff of other DHS-licensed long-term and congregate care settings are getting COVID-19 vaccines through a partnership between DHS and Rite Aid.
Pennsylvania is participating in the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program in order to coordinate vaccinations for skilled nursing facilities, which are licensed by DOH, as well as personal care homes, assisted living facilities, and intermediate care facilities for people with disabilities licensed by DHS.
Pennsylvanians living in these facilities enrolled in the federal program are receiving vaccines from CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. As of February 11, all skilled nursing facilities have had their first round of COVID-19 vaccine doses, and more than two-thirds of facilities statewide have had their second-round vaccine doses. More than 70 percent of personal care homes and assisted living facilities covered through the partnership have received their first round of vaccine doses, and CVS and Walgreens expect to finish first rounds before the end of the month. To date, the partnership has administered:
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Vaccinations as of Feb. 11
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First Doses
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Second Doses
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Total Doses
|
|
CVS Pharmacy
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148,866
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58,480
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207,886
|
|
Walgreens
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26,164
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5,626
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31,795
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Other long-term and congregate care settings included in Phase 1A of Pennsylvania’s Interim Vaccination Plan, including group homes for people with disabilities; residential treatment facilities and long-term structured residences for adults with behavioral health needs; and private psychiatric hospitals, are not included in the federal partnership but are still in the Phase 1A due to the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate settings.
These settings serve people who have co-occurring medical needs that put them at higher risk of severe cases and death if they contract the virus. Some personal care homes and assisted living facilities also were not enrolled in the Federal Pharmacy Partnership program and may be served by the Rite Aid partnership for DHS-licensed facilities.
Vaccine clinics for these facilities are being held on-site for facilities where people served are not able to travel off-site. Additional clinics are being scheduled at centralized locations when possible to accommodate more facilities and community group homes, which are typically small, private residences. To date, the partnership has administered:
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Facilities with First Doses Administered
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Total Doses to Date
|
Facilities Scheduled
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Expected Doses
|
|
|
Office of Developmental Programs Facilities
|
276
|
513
|
1,393
|
7,840
|
|
Office of Long-Term Living Facilities
|
70
|
3,091
|
38
|
2,260
|
|
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Facilities
|
11
|
755
|
22
|
1,601
|
Nearly 4,400 people have been vaccinated so far through this partnership. Approximately 7,000 people living and working in 1,800 licensed facilities and group homes will be vaccinated at 78 scheduled clinics over just the next nine days.
Learn more about the partnership with Rite Aid and view more data here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 14 and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 21. Please note that this does include vaccine administration through CVS as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership, which is vaccinating people in long-term care facilities. Vaccination numbers for Pennsylvania do not include Philadelphia, which is its own jurisdiction, or federal facilities, which are working directly with the federal government.
Through Feb. 13:
Through Feb. 8:
While vaccine supply from the federal government remains limited, the Department of Health is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient.
The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics