HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that his office sued a Philadelphia company called M & B Multi Services Inc (“M&B”) for illegal price gouging on Amazon.com marketplace. After the Governor’s March 6, 2020 Disaster Declaration, M&B sold at least 83 bottles of 8-ounce Purell hand sanitizer for as much as $75.80 each.

“It’s illegal to rip off Pennsylvanians during a pandemic, and we’re holding price gougers accountable,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “During a time when millions are out of work and millions more are struggling to pay for food and medicine, playing off people’s fears to rip them off is wrong, and illegal. M&B charged outrageous markups for hand sanitizer at the height of public anxiety, was asked to provide refunds, and refused. We are seeking nearly $1 million in penalties for their actions.”

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General sued M&B after the Office received information from Amazon alleging that the online seller was selling Purell Advanced Formula Green Certified Hand Sanitizer, Gel 8 oz Pump Bottle for unlawful prices. The Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and Amazon had previously announced they would coordinate to crack down on price gouging earlier in the year. The Office learned that M&B charged $75.80 per bottle for 49 of the bottles. M&B charged $65.80 per bottle for 34 of the bottles. M&B may have sold many more bottles of Purell at these illegally inflated prices through other outlets, including its own store and website.

Under the Price Gouging Act, a price increase of more than 20 percent during a declared state of emergency is considered price gouging. The Complaint asks the Court to order M&B to pay restitution to consumers and civil penalties of $10,000 per violation to the Commonwealth. The Complaint also requests an injunction to prevent M&B from violating the Pennsylvania Price Gouging Act and Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law moving forward.

Consumers who purchased hand sanitizer from M&B on or after March 6, 2020 are encouraged to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection, email at scams@attorneygeneral.gov or call at 1-800-441-2555.

Chief: 5 fires in Pennsylvania’s capital ‘intentionally set’
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Officials say five fires in Pennsylvania’s capital city were “intentionally set.” The fires broke out in Harrisburg’s South Allison Hill section early Wednesday. Firefighters first responded to a small trash fire. Fires also broke out in an abandoned home, an abandoned building and an abandoned garage. Firefighters then had to extinguish flames from the upper floors of a home on Market Street. A woman was taken to a hospital. The extent of her injuries is not known. A police officer was treated for smoke inhalation. Investigators are combing the scenes for clues.

At DNC, Jill Biden pledges husband Joe will ‘make us whole’
By ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Jill Biden has offered a deeply personal and hopeful endorsement of her husband as a man who can lead the nation through adversity. During the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, she pledged to the nation that if Joe Biden is elected president, America’s classrooms “will ring out with laughter and possibility once again.” Jill Biden’s remarks capped off the second night of the convention. In her speech, the presidential nominee’s wife drew parallels with Joe Biden’s experience leading his family through personal adversity and what she described as his ability to lead the nation through its current crises.

San Francisco blanketed in smoke as California fires rage
By JULIET WILLIAMS Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thousands of people are under orders to evacuate regions around the San Francisco Bay Area as nearly 40 wildfires blaze throughout the state. Smoke has blanketed the city of San Francisco and California is coping with a blistering heat wave. State fire spokesman Will Powers says the entire state is stretched thin for firefighting crews because of the scope of the fires. Police and firefighters went door-to-door early Wednesday as a fire encroached on Vacaville. It’s a Northern California city of about 100,000 people located between San Francisco and Sacramento. Fire officials said at least 50 structures were destroyed and 50 damaged. Four people were injured.

(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)

At a hearing in Beaver County Central Court before District Justice Ed Howe this morning, a criminal homicide charge was dropped against Michael Barbuto, 18, of Center Township, in connection with his brother’s death on the evening of July 15 in Hopewell Township. A key witness was to testify and refused, and was held in contempt of court.

The investigation is continuing. Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for further development on this ongoing story.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’ll pardoned Susan B. Anthony, a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, who was arrested for voting in 1872 in violation of laws permitting only men to vote. Anthony was arrested for voting in her hometown of Rochester, New York, and convicted in a widely publicized trial. Although she refused to pay the fine, the authorities declined to take further action. Trump says he’ll issue the pardon later Tuesday. That’s 100 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which ensures the right of women to vote and which is named for Anthony.

HARRISBURG-Attorney General Josh Shapiro alerted school districts today they are required to maintain criminal history background checks from the statewide child abuse database after a recent investigation revealed local districts may not be following Pennsylvania law.

“In the course of a criminal investigation, we learned that some public schools in Pennsylvania may not be properly checking the statewide child abuse database and maintaining records for every employee,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “The law requires that school districts check and keep these records because we need them to help keep children safe. We shared our findings with every district as a warning call so that Pennsylvania children are better protected in the future.”

State law requires that school districts obtain a clearance from the statewide child abuse database, and consult the Pennsylvania State Police and FBI for criminal history information on all school employees and volunteers. Every district is also required to maintain this information without exception.

“Our children look to their teachers, principals, coaches and school secretaries with respect and trust, and districts need to show they have performed their due diligence to uphold that trust and protect their students,” Attorney General Shapiro said in the letter sent to all Pennsylvanian School Districts. “My office works every day to uphold the law, and Title 23 is one law that cannot be ignored. It must be followed and this is why I’ve sent this letter to our 500 districts.”

Regardless of education, training or background, Shapiro said any employee or volunteer within Pennsylvania’s schools must submit the appropriate clearances to the schools and those schools must maintain all required clearances as mandated by law.

“Exceptions to this requirement should not be made for anyone – police officers, judges, attorneys, doctors, elected officials, clergy or anyone who serves in a position of authority or trust are not entitled to special exception. The law applies to everyone equally,” the Attorney General said.

Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Dye is leading this effort within the Office of Attorney General.

(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)

Last night Center Township’s Board of Supervisors adopted a DROP ordinance for a police pension for a 1 year term. Terms and conditions of the pension will be established, according to the supervisors.

INDUSTRY – Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver/Butler) today announced a more than $226,000 grant has been awarded to replace storm sewer pipes along Lindsay Drive and south of Darlington Avenue in Patterson Township. The project will address flooding concerns within the area.

“This grant will help to protect residential properties that are being impacted during storms. It will also strengthen the system for everyone who uses it by better protecting it against the impact of storms,” Marshall said.

After a hydraulic analysis, it was observed that there were only a few inlets along the project route which would not have the capacity to capture the overland flow that is draining onto Lindsay Drive. This is resulting with the runoff bypassing the existing storm sewer system and washing out residents’ property. Additionally, the existing storm system does not have capacity to convey the runoff delivered from the watershed during a one-year storm event.

The funding will be used to install 1,010 linear feet of storm sewer pipe, add nine additional inlets and three new manholes. Once completed, the new storm sewer system will be able to withstand a 100-year storm.

The total cost of the project is $266,034.

The grant was awarded through the CFA and its Small Water and Sewer Grants program. The program awards grants to municipalities and municipal authorities for water, sewer, storm water and flood control projects with a cost of not less than $30,000 and not more than $500,000.