Category: News

Ex-Pennsylvania court clerk sentenced for mail fraud

Ex-Pennsylvania court clerk sentenced for mail fraud
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Schuylkill County’s former clerk of courts is going to federal prison after he tried to cover his tracks when an audit uncovered a misappropriation of funds. A judge on Thursday sentenced 70-year-old Steven Lukach Jr. of Nesquehoning to 27 months behind bars for mail fraud and falsification of records. He also ordered Lukach to pay nearly $16,000 in restitution. Lukach served approximately 27 years as court clerk in the Pennsylvania county when an audit in 2013 uncovered money was misappropriated. Federal prosecutors say Lukach stole mail that was sent to banks, forged records and sent fake bank records in a bid to conceal that he was taking funds from various accounts for his own personal purposes.

AAA: It’s the Peak Time of Year for Deer Collisions

AAA: It’s the Peak Time of Year for Deer Collisions
The average AAA Insurance vehicle claim for a deer incident is about $3,500

Cooler weather and shorter days means more deer are now gracing Pennsylvania’s roadways. The number of deer-vehicle collisions increases in October, peaking in November and December. To reduce inconvenience, costs, and potential danger, AAA East Central cautions motorists to be especially vigilant on the road in animal-prone areas in the months ahead.

“More collisions between vehicles and deer occur in November than any other month,” says Mark Sisson, vice president of Insurance, AAA East Central. “One of our top claims in the winter is for vehicles that have been totaled from hitting animals, and the costs can be staggering.”

Last year, there were more than 4,300 deer-vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Moreover, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year nationwide, resulting in 150 fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries.

AAA’s Recommendation: Check Your Coverage.
AAA Insurance reports that it’s average deer-related claim in the region is about $3,500, though costs can be much higher depending on the damage to a vehicle.

Collision coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with an object (e.g., a telephone pole, a guard rail, a mailbox), or as a result of flipping over. AAA East Central recommends motorists opt-in for comprehensive coverage, which is for damage to your car covered by disasters “other than collisions” (in this case, contact with animals).

“While adding comprehensive coverage may add a small amount to your premium, it could save you money down the road,” continued Sisson.

To help prevent a crash or to reduce damage from an animal collision, AAA suggests motorists:

  • Pay attention to road signs. Yellow, diamond-shaped signs with an image of a deer indicate areas with high levels of deer activity.
  • Keep your eyes on the road. Ditching distractions is one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re ready for when a deer comes out of nowhere.
  • Be especially attentive in early morning and evening hours. Many animals, especially deer, are most active from 5-8 a.m. and 5-8 p.m., prime commuting times for many.
  • Use high beams when there’s no oncoming traffic. You can spot animals sooner. Sometimes the light reflecting off their eyes will reveal their location.
  • Slow down, and watch for other deer to appear. Deer rarely travel alone, so if you see one, there are likely to be more nearby.
  • Resist the urge to swerve. Instead, stay in your lane with both hands firmly on the wheel. Swerving away from animals can confuse them so they don’t know which way to run. It can also put you in the path of oncoming vehicles or cause you to crash into something.
  • If the crash is imminent take your foot off the brake. During hard braking, the front end of your vehicle is pulled downward which can cause the animal to travel up over the hood towards your windshield. Letting off the brake can protect drivers from windshield strikes because the animal is more likely to be pushed to one side of the vehicle or over the top of the vehicle.

If you hit a deer, AAA recommends:

  • Call the police.
  • Avoid making contact with the animal. A frightened or wounded animal can hurt you or further injure itself.
  • Put the vehicle’s hazard lights on, whether it’s light or dark outside.
  • If possible, immediately move the vehicle to a safe location, out of the roadway, and wait for help to arrive.
  • Contact your insurance agent or company representative as quickly as possible to report any damage to your car.

 

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 76 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Two Fisherman Rescued in Ohio River in Sewickley

(File Photo)

(SEWICKLEY, Pa.) Two fishermen were rescued after their fishing boat capsized in the Ohio River in Sewickley Thursday night. The boat had just left the dock near Sewickley when they hit a log in the river and overturned. First Responders were able to help the men after one swam safely to shore and the other held onto the capsized boat until he was rescued. Both men are expected to be OK.

Eric Trump visits Ambridge on Thursday Says his Dad is Hardest Working Person He Knows

(Ambridge, Pa.) President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump criticized Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 restrictions and praised his father’s economic policies during a Make America Great Again Rally at Munroe Inc.’s warehouse in Ambridge on Thursday Afternoon. Trump spoke to numerous supporters as they cheered as he talked about the President’s efforts to protect our First and Second Amendment rights. Trump told the crowd that Biden and the Democrats want to defund the police and take your guns.

Trump went on to state that Pittsburgh has “some of the toughest guys in the world,” before criticizing Biden and his son Hunter saying that. “This guy has the worst work ethic of any person I’ve ever met in my entire life,” “He literally doesn’t leave his house.”

Trump on Thursday called his father the hardest working person he knows, tirelessly trying to “drain the swamp” that is Washington, D.C. 

Thursday COVID numbers Highest in State during Pandemic Due Faulty Data File

(Harrisburg) Pennsylvania’s Department of Heath reported over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, which is the one of the highest single day totals since the pandemic began.

The 2,063 new cases include a faulty data file sent to the system by a laboratory early this week, which prevented some of the lab results from being properly reported, the Department of Health reported. The statewide total cases stand at 188,360.

Pennsylvania is also reporting 30 additional deaths across the state. To date, there has been a total of 8,592 deaths.

COVID Spreading Fast in Rural PA

Keystone State News Connection

October 23, 2020

COVID Spreading Fast in Rural PA

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Seven rural counties in Pennsylvania were in the “red zone” for new COVID-19 infections last week as the pandemic spread rapidly in non-metropolitan areas nationwide.

An analysis in The Daily Yonder, which covers news in rural America, says nearly 70% of rural counties across the country now have rates of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 residents, outpacing urban counties.

According to Tim Marema, editor of the publication, after an early surge of COVID infections in more densely populated areas, last week the rate in rural Pennsylvania counties was 6.5% higher than in metropolitan areas.

“Rural areas began to acquire new infections at a much higher rate beginning in late September,” said Marema, “and surpassed the metropolitan rate about the second week of October.”

He said though only 14% of Americans live in non-metropolitan areas, last week more than 21% of new COVID cases originated in rural counties.

Marema pointed out that, earlier in the pandemic, new infections were closely related to specific locations. But since summer, they’re no longer linked as closely to institutions and are spreading generally in the population.

“That means people can’t say, ‘I’m not around that nursing home or that meat packing plant, so I’m not at risk,'” said Marema. “No place is getting a pass on the pandemic now. ”

He added that urban areas also broke a record last week, with infection rates in 54% of the nation’s metropolitan counties that made them “red zones” for new infections.

Marema stressed that the spread of the novel oronavirus can still be controlled by following recommended precautions – like wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding crowds.

“The measures that we’re able to take right now can go a long way in containing the virus,” said Marema. “But they don’t do any good if you don’t practice them. It’s not easy, but it’s not complicated. ”

Last week, there were more than 82,000 new COVID cases in rural areas nationwide, raising the total positive tests for rural residents past one million since the pandemic began.

Focus On Domestic Violence – Changes In How COVID Has Affected Ways To Help During The Holidays. Part 2 of 4.

(Beaver County, PA) October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Women’s Center of Beaver County has partnered with Beaver County Radio to produce and publish a four part series on issues associated with Domestic Violence.

One of the most significant ways to combat domestic violence is by making people more aware of the resources that are available to them in their community. The Women’s Center of Beaver County has traditionally been that safe haven and advocate for the victims of domestic violence.  Ann Colella-Murray from the Women’s Center of Beaver County remarked in a recent discussion, that  COVID 19 has changed the way residents can help her organization attend to area victims of Domestic Violence. Traditionally, the Women’s Center of Beaver County would see an upward trend in the amount of non perishable food and other useful items, along with cash that was donated as part of Holiday giving.  However, in an effort to maintain high a high level of caution and safety, this year the Women’s Center of Beaver County can only accept monetary donations.

Upcoming segments in this series include “24 Hour Helpline” and “Counseling Versus Therapy”.

For more information, call the Women’s Center Of Beaver County at 724-775-0131.

 

High stakes for Trump, Biden heading into final debate

High stakes for Trump, Biden heading into final debate
By JONATHAN LEMIRE, BILL BARROW and STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — It’s debate night for President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. They will square off in Nashville in their final face-to-face confrontation before the election. It’s one of the last high-profile opportunities for the trailing president to change the trajectory of an increasingly contentious campaign. Some Trump advisers are urging him to trade his aggressive demeanor for a lower-key style, hoping Biden will get himself in trouble with verbal gaffes. But it’s hardly clear that the president will listen. There were supposed to be three debates, but the second was canceled after Trump got COVID-19 and then objected to the resulting revised format.

Governor Wolf Announces Plan to Waive Liquor License Fees To Provide Financial Relief to Restaurants and Bars

(File Photo)

Governor Wolf Announces Plan to Waive Liquor License Fees To Provide Financial Relief to Restaurants and Bars

Pittsburgh, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today announced a plan to waive liquor license fees to provide financial relief to restaurants and bars, which have faced significant financial impacts during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

“As we enter the anticipated fall resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the very contagious nature of this virus makes gathering indoors publicly at full capacity dangerous. Still, we know that restaurant and bar owners in Pennsylvania are committed to keeping their employees and customers safe and the vast majority of these businesses have followed safety precautions and invested in new procedures and supplies, but COVID continues to hurt this industry,” Gov. Wolf said. “My administration continues to look for innovative ways that we can support the bar and restaurant industry. Eliminating liquor license fees is an important step toward helping bars and restaurants retain the capital they need to weather the storm of COVID-19.”

Governor Wolf is working with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to waive standard licensing fees through 2021 starting January 1, 2021. More than 16,000 Pennsylvania restaurants and bars, clubs, catering clubs and hotels would see $20 million in relief.

The governor was joined by state Representatives Dan Deasy (D-Allegheny), Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny) and Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny), and Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) at LeMont Restaurant in Pittsburgh.

“I’m glad I could work with Governor Wolf to bring help to our bars, restaurants, taverns and social clubs right now. I know this isn’t a solution to the big problems this pandemic presents, and more help is needed,” said Rep. Deasy. “I’m working hard to enact additional measures that can help keep these vital employers in business.”

“This terrible public health crisis has also stricken our economy and our path to recovery will need to be a well thought out and effective one on several fronts. While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected just about every industry, restaurants and bars have been hit particularly hard and we need to provide relief to these small businesses at the heart of our communities,” said Sen. Fontana. “Over the summer, Senate Democrats introduced a comprehensive proposal to provide emergency relief to Pennsylvania’s restaurants and taverns, which have seen significant financial loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown. Under our plan, license renewal and permit fees that are paid by restaurants and taverns would be waived for one year along with other administrative changes to help financially benefit these struggling businesses. I’m pleased that the governor is taking steps to implement some of our goals and am encouraged that this will provide meaningful assistance to so many of these establishments that are struggling.”

“This is a step in addressing the concerns that we know that the bars and restaurant community need. I want to thank Governor Wolf for understanding the situation of the bars and restaurants and for offering this plan to waive these fees as we continue to search for solutions to assistance,” Rep. Gainey said. “I know the governor is working hard with our federal officials, as well as our state officials to bring relief to our bars and restaurants.”

“I thank the governor for his constant commitment to help our restaurants and bars,” Rep. Wheatley said. “I look forward to working with our federal legislators and general assembly to get more support for these restaurants.”

“I want to thank the Governor for listening to the concerns of the bar and tavern community,” said Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland). “They’ve been hurting the last seven months, especially here in Western Pennsylvania. Today’s announcement will provide savings that they desperately need to keep their businesses open, and I hope it’s just one step of what we continue to do at the state level to help our small business folks recover.”

“I understand the financial impact that our small business restaurant and tavern owners have endured during this difficult time and their efforts to ensure the safety of their customers and employees, and I’m grateful that the governor has taken this step to ease that financial burden,” said Rep. Mike Driscoll (D-Philadelphia). “This is one step of many steps that we can and will take to help these local businesses and I will continue to support them as we focus on economic recovery efforts.”

“As new cases of the virus have jumped recently, our priority should be to continue to protect the population, and to provide targeted relief to industries most affected,” said Rep. Steve Malagari (D-Montgomery). “Waiving liquor license fees gives some immediate relief to local businesses, while we wait for our colleagues in the General Assembly to take action to release the $1 billion remaining CARES Act funding to our communities.”

As part of his fall legislative agenda, Governor Wolf has called on the General Assembly to provide an additional $225 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding in the form of forgivable loans and grants to small businesses in Pennsylvania through the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program. In addition, the governor proposed $100 million in forgivable loans and grants for the hospitality, leisure and service industries, including restaurants and bars, salons and barber shops.

The governor also supports the federal Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act. The bipartisan bill in Congress provides $120 billion to help independent restaurants with the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

New lawsuit targets Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballot deadline

New lawsuit targets Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballot deadline
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A new lawsuit is challenging Pennsylvania’s court-ordered deadline to count mail-in ballots that are received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election in the presidential battleground state. Plaintiffs in the suit filed Thursday include a Republican congressional candidate and four registered voters from Somerset County. The lawsuit comes three days after a divided U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican plea making a similar argument. Both sought to block a state Supreme Court ruling that required county election officials to receive and count mailed-in ballots that arrive up until Nov. 6, even if they don’t have a clear postmark, as long as there is not proof it was mailed after the polls closed.