“The new anti-fraud steps we are taking with ID.me allow us to more efficiently process PUA claims while reducing fraud,” said Secretary Oleksiak. “Pennsylvania families are relying on the money they receive through the PUA program to pay their bills, buy food, and keep a roof over their families. ID.me is another step we are taking to help out-of-work Pennsylvanians get the PUA benefits they’re eligible for while preventing fraudsters from illegally lining their pockets.”

Claimants should check their PUA dashboards for secure notifications from ID.me and promptly follow the directions they receive to verify their identities. Only PUA claimants who have been contacted can complete the steps. If claimants do not complete the steps, their payments may continue to be held.

L&I contracted with ID.me to complete additional identity verification after detecting a surge of fraudulent claims through the PUA program in mid-September. Payments to all new claimants for the PUA program were temporarily paused while additional identity verification steps could be implemented to prevent payouts to fraudsters.

ID.me can initially vet about 5,000 claimants daily and expects to ramp up its capacity in the coming days. This new step is in addition to several others taken since fraudulent activity began to be detected in the PUA program in several states this past Spring.

This fraud, which is widespread in many states throughout the country, is occurring when scammers use personal information obtained through previous, non-government data breaches to file for PUA under stolen identities.

ID.me is a federally certified identity verification provider that specializes in digital identity protection. ID.me is already assisting several other states with preventing fraud within the PUA program. L&I continues to work with law enforcement officials to investigate suspected cases of fraud and bring scammers to justice.

Politics has way of finding Supreme Court eager to avoid it
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court might prefer to avoid politics, but politics has a way of finding the court. President Donald Trump wants the court to keep his taxes from being turned over to New York’s top prosecutor and allow his administration to exclude non-citizens from the census count. He wants the justices to counteract an order making it easier for women to get an abortion pill and rein in voting by mail. And Trump is hoping to have his third high court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, installed before Election Day. That would forge a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.

US layoffs still high, but so is skepticism on jobless data
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dipped last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that layoffs remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession. Yet economists say they are increasingly dubious about the unemployment claims figures, even though there is little doubt that hiring has slowed and employers have continued to lay off workers. One reason layoffs remain high is that companies often hold on to workers when a recession begins, if they can, in hopes of outlasting the downturn. Yet if the recession drags on, many will eventually give up and cut workers.

13 charged in plots against Michigan governor, police
By ED WHITE Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Six people have been charged in federal court with plotting to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at her vacation home. Separately, seven more people have been charged with trying to target police and the Michigan Capitol. The FBI says in a court filing that four had planned to meet Wednesday to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear.” The FBI quoted one of the accused as saying Whitmer “has no checks and balances at all.” The government used informants and undercover agents to thwart the plot. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge says the men are “violent extremists.”

Pennsylvania House Republican Leaders Call on Rep. Aaron Bernstine to Resign Immediately

HARRISBURG – The leadership of the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus issued the following statement today regarding the conduct of Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence):

“As parents and fellow legislators, we are disgusted by Rep. Bernstine’s conduct. In order to take the time necessary to focus on his family and repair his relationships, we call on Rep. Bernstine to immediately resign.”

Trump vows not to participate in virtual debate with Biden
By ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he won’t participate in next week’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden if it’s virtual. Debate organizers announced Thursday that the debate would be virtual because of Trump’s diagnosis of COVID-19. The Commission on Presidential Debates made the announcement a week before Trump and Biden were scheduled to face off in Miami. It said the candidates will “participate from separate remote locations,” while the participants and moderator remain in Miami. But Trump said he’s “not going to do a virtual debate.” Biden’s campaign insisted its candidate was ready to move forward, but the future of the event is now in serious doubt.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City Council met Wednesday night  via zoom and hired a full time laborer, John Coffey was hired for Aliquippa’s street department.   Two part-time hires, Troy Dawkins and Ke’Shawn Sheppard  were approved conditionally upon passing pre-employment testing. Street department superintendent Alex Scott  reported  that  paving of streets in key  areas  is nearing completion.

(Bridgewater, Pa.) A construction crew that was working at the former Oak Arbor Restaurant at Stone Point Landing in Bridgewater struck a water line Thursday morning around 9:20 a.m. . As seen in the picture a Geiser of water flooded out the nearby area including a portion of the drive thru lane at Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union. Crews have been working over the last couple of months at renovating the former restaurant that has housed many businesses over the years. The Building once housed Keystone Bakery.

2nd Trump-Biden debate to be virtual due to Trump’s COVID-19
By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commission on Presidential Debates says the second Trump-Biden debate will be ‘virtual’ amid concerns about the president’s COVID-19. The nonpartisan host of the debates made the announcement Thursday morning, a week before the two were scheduled to face off in Miami. Now, the candidates will “participate from separate remote locations,” while the participants and moderator remain in Miami. Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus a week ago and said he looked forward to debating Biden on stage in Miami.