Walmart drops $35 minimum for its members’ online orders

Walmart drops $35 minimum for its members’ online orders
By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers on Walmart.com who pay a $98-a-year membership fee will get free shipping on orders of any size starting Friday. Walmart announced the membership perk on Wednesday, doing away with a previous requirement that orders amount to at least $35 to qualify for free shipping. The perk comes two months after Walmart launched its membership service called Walmart+, which it hopes will compete with Amazon’s Prime membership program. Walmart+ members will receive free next-day and two-day shipping on non-perishable items shipped by Walmart, no matter the purchase amount. The move builds on the retailer’s pledge to continue adding benefits to its membership program, which also includes unlimited free grocery deliveries and fuel discounts.

Letter to UN Alleges Misconduct by Philly Police

Keystone State News Connection

December 2, 2020

Letter to UN Alleges Misconduct by Philly Police

Andrea Sears

PHILADELPHIA – Civil-rights groups have sent a written complaint to the United Nations over what they call violence and excessive force by Philadelphia police officers against Black Lives Matter protesters.

The letter says police violence against demonstrators peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights in the demonstrations in May and June was a violation of international law.

According to Mary Catherine Roper, deputy legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, the police violence and use of nonlethal weapons was not directed at people engaged in looting or vandalism.

“The violence we recorded was aimed at people who were protesting and in West Philadelphia, honestly, it was just aimed at the entire neighborhood,” said Roper.

In October, the Philadelphia City Council passed a bill banning the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray against people engaged in First Amendment-protected activities.

But Roper said none of the actions taken so far establish the accountability that’s needed. She noted that UN Special Rapporteurs could issue a finding that use of excessive force by the Philadelphia police violated the protesters’ human rights.

“Requesting that the city take very specific steps to redress the harm that they have caused,” said Roper. “And to change their practices and their structures to make sure that this kind of thing can’t happen again.”

She added the UN also could confirm that the police violence was a violation of treaties and conventions that the United States is party to.

Roper pointed out the use of violence against protesters in West Philadelphia in May and June took place less than a mile from where police firebombed the Move house in 1985.

“No one has forgotten that,” said Roper. “And it was a particularly terrorizing day because of that history of violence between the Philadelphia police and the Black community.”

The letter to the UN contains a series of recommendations, including hiring an independent investigator to examine police violence against protesters.

Matzie: More than $1.3 million to address pandemic-related shelter needs

AMBRIDGE, Nov. 30 – Grant funding of $1.308 million will help ensure residents in Beaver and Allegheny counties do not have to face the harsh realities of winter and a pandemic without a safe place to call home, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today.

Matzie said the grant funding under the CARES Act includes $85,000 to The Cornerstone of Beaver County and an additional $1.22 million in combined grants to three additional relief entities in Allegheny County.

“Life during the pandemic has been especially harsh, but the hardship and risk are tenfold for Pennsylvanians facing life without the promise of a warm, secure place to call home,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help ensure those who are homeless or are facing the prospect of homelessness will not have to face the triple threat of winter, flu season and COVID-19 without a safe secure place to go.”

In addition to The Cornerstone, Matzie said Allegheny County shelter providers ACTION Housing/Team PSBG, Community Human Services and Pittsburgh Mercy will share in approximately $1.22 million.

Pennsylvania received a second allocation of nearly $20 million in Emergency Solution Grant CARES Act funding allocated by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Of that amount, the state Department of Community and Economic Development prioritized the use of nearly $3 million to address emergency winter shelter and temporary shelter needs related to the pandemic.

This funding is part of that package and is going to 15 providers in 20 counties.

AG Shapiro: Watch Out For Increased Scams This Holiday Season

HARRISBURG—Attorney General Josh Shapiro is today issuing a warning to Pennsylvanians of common online scams that may increase in frequency this holiday season.

“Because of the pandemic, this holiday season looks and feels different than those in the past,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “These scams are present all year long and it is important that Pennsylvanians remain on guard. Make sure you know what these scams look like in order to protect your money, your identity, and your personal information.”

Here are some common scams the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is aware of:

  • Email and Text Phishing – In a phishing email or text scheme, you may receive an email or text message directing you to enter personal information on a fraudulent website. These fraudulent emails or texts can appear to be from a shipping/delivery company or retailer that may claim to be an order confirmation you didn’t place.
  • Delivery Stealing – If no one is home when deliveries are made, try to make arrangements with a trusted neighbor to hold your deliveries until you arrive home, or ask your employer if your deliveries can be dropped off at your place of employment.
  • Credit Card Skimming – Be vigilant of credit card skimmers that steal your credit and debit card information at the ATM, gas pump, or other payment kiosks. Instead of inserting your credit or debit card into the slot of a merchant’s payment processing machine, consider using a payment app on your smartphone. For Pennsylvanians without smartphones, keeping track of your bank statements and transactions is also crucial to any lost money taken by skimmers.
  • Romance Scams – Romance scammers strike up what appears to be a serious relationship, then ask their victims to pay for plane tickets, customs fees, visas. In addition, they may appear to transfer a large sum of money to a victim’s checking account, but the money transfer turns out to be fake.
  • Online Pet Scams – Pet sale scammers pose as online retailers, charging hundreds or thousands of dollars for the puppy or kitten, plus airline and transport fees. A common twist is the scammer notifies you the animal is at the airport, but additional fees are needed from you before the animal will be delivered. Check with your local animal rescues or shelters for particular breeds or sizes, or only deal with a seller in person where you can visit and meet the parents of the puppy or kitten, and inspect the premises.
  • Online Pop-up Advertisements – While on your computer or mobile device, you may see pop-up ads claiming you’ve won a gift card or a valuable prize. Never click on these links, as they may contain a virus or make your device susceptible to being hacked.
  • Online Marketplace Deals – Be suspicious of sellers promising deals on peer-to-peer apps and online marketplaces, offering the latest popular toys and games that are difficult to find.

AG Shapiro is reminding Pennsylvanians that there are preventative efforts they can make to protect themselves from online retail scams:

  • Set up email or text alerts with your credit card company or bank, so you’ll be alerted quickly to all purchases, including fraudulent purchases.
  • Install the latest security updates and run virus scans regularly on your computer or mobile device.
  • Never use your home’s smart device, such as Alexa, Siri, or Google Home, to find a customer support number for any company, and have the system dial it for you. Go directly to the company’s website, call the number on the back of your credit or debit card, or the number on your billing statement.
  • Never pay with a prepaid gift card, CashApp, or Venmo or wire someone money when you’re trying to buy a gift online. Use your credit card, not a debit card, for better protection.

Anyone who believes they may have been scammed should file a police report and should file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General by visiting https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/.

Wolf Administration Expands Testing Sites Across the Commonwealth

Wolf Administration Expands Testing Sites Across the Commonwealth

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Director of Testing and Contact Tracing Michael Huff today announced the extension of the Department of Health’s contract with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI) to provide COVID-19 testing in five regions across Pennsylvania to help contain local spread of COVID-19.

“Every day COVID continues to spread in the commonwealth, every day our numbers continue to rise, and that puts our health care system and our health care workers at greater risk,” Gov. Wolf said. “To help stop the spread, we are announcing a new testing strategy in the commonwealth, one that will help improve access to testing for Pennsylvanians in every region of the state.”

Over the next 12 weeks, five strike teams will provide regional testing for 61 counties. The six counties not receiving testing from AMI have county health departments providing other means of COVID-19 testing.

“We have seen a rapid increase of positive case counts reaching record-high levels, which gives us significant cause for concern,” Michael Huff said. “AMI has been a significant partner to the Department of Health by providing pop-up testing in counties with a high positivity-rate and other factors contributing to outbreaks of COVID-19 across the commonwealth.

“These testing sites are open to anyone who feels they need a test. It is important that even people with no symptoms who test positive isolate to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The initial contract with AMI had two strike teams to provide testing in two different counties simultaneously. AMI deployed to:

  • Centre county, testing 2,492 patients total;
  • Columbia county, testing 1,068 patients total;
  • Indiana county, testing 566 patients total;
  • Berks county, testing 3,354 patients total;
  • Northumberland county, testing 639 patients total;
  • Lebanon county, testing 908 patients total;
  • Huntingdon county, testing 1,396 patients total;
  • Westmoreland county, testing 916 patients total;
  • Blair county, testing 3,820 patients total;
  • Bradford county, testing 1,513 patients total; and
  • Lackawanna county, testing 1,856 patients total.

The department decided to deploy testing based on the total number of confirmed cases per 100,000 people in a county in the past 14 days as well as where outbreaks were happening, county population, and other metrics. The initial AMI testing contract and the extension were funded by the ELC Enhancing Detection grant.

The Department of Health believes that increased testing will assist in determining the prevalence of the virus and assist the counties in moving forward. Counties of concern, identified as those with percent positives above 5 percent, can be found on the Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard. Each county is being monitored as the state continues to examine all available data.

Beginning Wednesday, December 2, drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held to contain the recent rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the following five counties:

  • Bedford;
  • Mifflin;
  • Tioga; and
  • Northampton.

Testing will be available daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM starting Wednesday, December 2 through Sunday, December 6.

Beginning Friday, December 4, drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Butler county. Testing will be available daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM through Tuesday, December 8.

The testing site addresses are:

  • Butler County:  Michelle Krill Field, 100 Pullman Park Pl., Butler, PA, 16001;
  • Bedford County:  Bedford High School parking lot, 330 West John St., Bedford, PA, 15522;
  • Mifflin County:  Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, 1150 Riverside Drive, Lewistown, PA, 17044;
  • Tioga County:  North Penn Mansfield High School, 73 W. Wellsboro St., Mansfield, PA, 16933; and
  • Northampton County:  William Penn Highway Park & Ride, Emrick Blvd., Easton, PA, 18045.

Up to 450 patients can be tested per day at each location. Mid-nasal passage swab PCR tests will be performed. Testing is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is completely free to all patients. Patients must be ages three and older and are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. No appointment is necessary. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo-ID or insurance card. Registration will also be completed on-site. The turnaround time for testing results is two to seven days after testing.

Individuals who are tested should self-quarantine while they await test results. Individuals who live with other people should self-quarantine in a private room and use a private bathroom if possible. Others living in the home with the individual awaiting test results should also stay at home. The department has additional instructions for individuals waiting for a COVID-19 test result. Individuals who test positive will receive a phone call from AMI while individuals who test negative will receive a secured-PDF emailed to them from AMI.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean surfaces frequently.
  • Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
  • If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
  • Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

Unveiling economic team, Biden pledges, ‘Help is on the way’

Unveiling economic team, Biden pledges, ‘Help is on the way’
By ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has introduced top advisers he says will help his administration rebuild an economy hammered by the coronavirus pandemic. He declared on Tuesday, “I know times are tough, but I want you to know that help is on the way.” Biden says he’s chosen a “first-rate team” that is “tested and experienced.” He picked liberal advisers who have long prioritized the nation’s workers and government efforts to address economic inequality, as unemployment remains high and as the COVID-19 outbreak widens the gulf between average people and the nation’s most well off. The virus is resurgent across the country amid holiday travel and colder weather.

Suspect snatches $24K from Pennsylvania casino

Suspect snatches $24K from Pennsylvania casino
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Police say a man who asked to use a phone made off with approximately $24,000 from a casino in Pennsylvania. The heist took place around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday at Harrah’s Casino in Chester. Police say the suspect asked an employee in the area where customers bet on horse races if he could use the phone. The employee was counting cash from a money drawer. Police say the employee turned away for a moment and the suspect grabbed the cash and took off. Police plan to review surveillance video. The investigation is ongoing.

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — A man who asked to use a phone made off with approximately $24,000 from a Pennsylvania casino early Tuesday, police said.
The heist unfolded around 12:15 a.m. in the area where customers bet on horse races at Harrah’s Casino in Chester.
According to police, the suspect asked an employee who was counting cash from a money drawer if he could use the phone.
The employee turned away for a moment and the suspect grabbed the cash and took off, police said.
Police planned to review surveillance video.
The investigation was ongoing.

Cosby’s sex assault conviction goes before high-level court

Cosby’s sex assault conviction goes before high-level court
By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — An appeals court has questioned whether Bill Cosby’s alleged history of intoxicating and sexually assaulting young woman amounted to a “signature” crime pattern. The court on Tuesday cited studies that show as many as half of sexual assaults involve drugs or alcohol. The 83-year-old Cosby hopes to overturn his 2018 sex assault conviction because the judge let prosecutors call five other accusers to testify. The defense says their testimony prejudiced the jury against the actor and comedian. Cosby has spent more than two years at a state prison near Philadelphia. The jury convicted him of drugging and molesting a woman in 2004.

Ex-Penn St. president’s Sandusky-related conviction restored

Ex-Penn St. president’s Sandusky-related conviction restored
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal appeals court is reinstating former Penn State President Graham Spanier’s conviction for child endangerment over his handling of a report that former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a child. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Tuesday that a lower-court judge had improperly vacated Spanier’s misdemeanor conviction for the 2001 incident. Spanier’s defense attorney declined comment. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro says in a release that Spanier “turned a blind eye to child abuse by not reporting his knowledge of Jerry Sandusky’s assaults to law enforcement.” Spanier was forced out as university president shortly after Sandusky was arrested in 2011 on child molestation charges.

After White House test, Pa. senator calls COVID-19 case mild

After White House test, Pa. senator calls COVID-19 case mild
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Republican state lawmaker from Pennsylvania says he’s been diagnosed with COVID-19. He confirmed the positive test result five days after he went to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump and went maskless at a packed public meeting to discuss efforts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. State Sen. Doug Mastriano first revealed the diagnosis in a Facebook live video Monday night, one day after The Associated Press reported that Mastriano was informed of the positive test while at a West Wing meeting with Trump. Mastriano says he’s quarantining. Mastriano has led rallies against mask wearing and other pandemic mitigation efforts. Another GOP state senator who attended last week’s meeting in Gettysburg also says she tested positive.