Judge blocks federal executions; administration appeals
By MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A U.S. district judge has ordered a new delay in federal executions, hours before the first lethal injection was scheduled to be carried out at a federal prison in Indiana. The Trump administration immediately appealed, asking a higher court to allow the executions to move forward. The executions, pushed by the administration, would be the first carried out at the federal level since 2003. The new hold on executions came a day after a federal appeals court lifted a hold on the execution of Daniel Lewis Lee, of Yukon, Oklahoma, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT on Monday.

(Ambridge, Pa.) Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reported that Ambridge Council President Mike Mikulich announced this morning that this month’s regular meeting set for tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. is cancelled.  The borough office had no further information or when the meeting will be rescheduled. Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for updates as this story continues to develop.

Pittsburgh, PA — Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has announce extended hours of daily operation. The Conservatory is now open from 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, allowing guests to enjoy the serene beauty of Summer Flower Show: Back in Bloom all day and into the evening as the sun begins to set. Café Phipps and The Shop at Phipps will also be operating for extended hours.

Guests are invited to find joy, refreshment and tranquility at Back in Bloom, a special new show that celebrates the essence of why Pittsburghers have cherished Phipps for over 125 years. Connect to nature through beautiful horticultural displays and serene spaces. A stroll through glasshouse rooms overflowing with lush greenery, colorful blooms and trickling fountains is sure to provide a moment of peace at a time when it is needed more than ever.

In order to ensure the health and safety of all guests and staff, new safety protocols must be followed and tickets must be reserved in advance at phipps.conservatory.org/Tickets. Tickets for members are free, but must be reserved in advance.

Fans can also engage with Phipps through a variety of online opportunities. From Virtual Story Times and Virtual Summer Camps for little learners to Virtual Biophilia: Pittsburgh meetings, Environmental Film Series, Summer Short Course and Online Classes for Adults, there are plenty of ways for curious minds of all ages to enjoy quality Phipps content from the comfort of their own homes. For more information, visit phipps.conservatory.org.

Summer Flower Show: Back in Bloom was designed by Associate Director of Exhibits Jordyn Melino. Hours are 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily. For more information, visit phipps.conservatory.org.

Reminder: July 15 is Deadline to File Personal Income Tax Returns 

Harrisburg, PA — The Department of Revenue is reminding Pennsylvanians the deadline to file 2019 personal income tax returns is Wednesday, July 15, 2020. The filing deadline was extended 90 days this year to provide relief to taxpayers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the tax filing deadline approaching this Wednesday, we are encouraging Pennsylvania taxpayers who have not filed their tax returns to take advantage of easy-to-use electronic filing options,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “We also want to remind taxpayers that we are offering help over the phone and at our district offices for anyone who has a question or needs help filing their return.”

Personal Income Tax Filing Options

Tax returns that are filed electronically are processed faster, leading to taxpayers receiving their refunds sooner. Pennsylvanians can file their state tax returns by using the following paper-less e-filing options:

• Padirectfile

Padirectfile, a free, secure, state-only electronic income tax filing system, is available through the Department of Revenue’s website. For more information or to begin filing, visit Padirectfile.

• Electronic Filing Free

Free electronic filing options are available to file state and federal returns using software from a reputable vendor (income limits may apply). More vendor information is available on the department’s website. 

• Electronic Filing for a Fee

Paid tax preparers and commercial tax preparation software providers offer e-filing for a fee. E-filing offers advantages not available to taxpayers filing by paper, including error-reducing automatic calculators, instant confirmation of successful filing, faster refund processing and direct deposit options.  

Help Over the Phone and Online

The Department of Revenue’s Customer Experience Center is available by calling 717-787-8201. The call center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays so that Revenue call center agents can assist taxpayers who need help with their returns. Taxpayers may also schedule a call at a time that is convenient for them.

In addition to the assistance over the phone that is available by calling 717-787-8201, the Department of Revenue also offers help through its Online Customer Service Center. This online option provides taxpayers with answers to specific questions about 2019 personal income tax returns and the department’s electronic filing, or e-filing, options. It also provides an option to submit a question to a Department of Revenue representative through a secure, electronic process that is similar to sending an email.

Taxpayers can check the status of their income tax refunds online by visiting the department’s website and selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage. They can also check the status of their refunds 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. You can also visit the department’s pages on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for helpful filing information.

Find In-Person Taxpayer Assistance

Taxpayers who need in-person assistance will need to schedule an appointment at one of the Department of Revenue’s district offices. The department is asking taxpayers to make appointments to assist with social distancing and other health protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the COVID-19 information page on the department’s website for a list of the district offices that are currently accepting appointments. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and taxpayers are encouraged to bring their Social Security cards with them to facilitate tax filing.

July 15 Deadline

All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2019 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

The extension of this year’s tax-filing deadline to July 15, 2020 applied to both final 2019 tax returns and payments, as well as estimated payments for the first and second quarters of 2020. Penalties and interest on 2019 personal income tax payments were also waived through the new deadline of July 15, 2020.

Filing Extensions

Taxpayers can request an extension to file a personal income tax return by submitting form REV-276. The department automatically grants an extension to file when an extension is granted by the IRS. As a reminder, an extension to file is not an extension to pay tax that is due. If you feel you will owe tax, you should send a payment for the amount of tax you expect to owe. Make sure you record your Social Security number on the check with the notation that you are making an “extension payment” for the tax year.

Video that shows officer with knee on man’s neck sparks fury
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Video posted on social media that shows a Pennsylvania police officer with his knee on a man’s neck trying to restrain him has prompted protests and a demand from the local Black Lives Matter group to suspend the officers involved. The video shot Saturday night from a passerby’s vehicle shows Allentown officers restraining a man on the ground outside a hospital. A protest formed hours later outside the police station, with calls for an investigation. Allentown Police released a statement Sunday night saying the interaction is being investigated and additional videos are being reviewed.

Washington NFL team dropping ‘Redskins’ name after 87 years
By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington NFL team is shedding the “Redskins” name effective immediately. The change comes less than two weeks after owner Dan Snyder launched an organizational review amid pressure from sponsors to make a change. A new name for one of football’s oldest franchises must still be selected and it’s unclear how soon that will happen. Native American experts and advocates have long protested the name they call a “dictionary-defined racial slur.” The name dates to 1933 when the team was still based in Boston.

Kelly Preston, actor and wife of John Travolta, dies at 57
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Kelly Preston has died at age 57. John Travolta, Preston’s husband of 28 years, confirmed late Sunday that his wife had died after a two-year battle with breast cancer. Preston enjoyed a lengthy career in film and television, appearing in “Jerry Maguire,” “Twins” and at times starring with her husband in films like “Battlefield Earth” and “Gotti.” The couple was married in 1991 in Paris after meeting on a film set, and had three children together. They experienced tragedy in 2009 when their son Jett died after a seizure in the Bahamas.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Monaca, Pa.) Borough manager Mario Leone announced that the automated garbage  collection  begins today, Monday July 13, 2020.  Each household  received a   95  gallon wheeled cart  for weekly trash collection  Excess trash requires a resident to call Waste Management 1-866-4460 to arrange for pickup of the additional items. Payments will need to be made by credit card. Cost of trash bags is $2 each, bulk items such as mattresses and furniture $5 each , white goods such as appliances $10 per item.  On Mondays odd address #’s  will be picked up beginning at 6 a.m. , Tuesdays even address #’s will have trash pickup All trash bags must be a manageable weight  for a one person pickup Please return your cart to  to a rear yard storage location, leaving out is an ordinance violation.