(Rochester, Pa.)  A Rochester man is being charged after he traveled to the US Capital with his wife and mother to rally for Donald Trump. Russell James Peterson, of Rochester was arrested Friday on accusations that he participated in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S Capitol. Peterson is being charged with knowingly entering any restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct; disruptive conduct in the Capitol Buildings; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol Buildings.

At an initial appearance hearing Friday afternoon, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan granted Peterson release on a $10,000 unsecured bond. The prosecution is not seeking detention.

His wife and mother have not been charged with any crimes.

Keystone State News Connection

February 15, 2021

Billboard Calls on Pitt to Divest from Fossil Fuels

Andrea Sears

PITTSBURGH — “The world is watching, divest now,” will be the message University of Pittsburgh students and their allies deliver to university trustees today.

A billboard unveiled in Oakland is the latest action in a student-led campaign that began eight years ago.

Students want the trustees who control the university’s $4.3 billion endowment to divest from fossil-fuel investments when the board meets later this month.

Elina Zhang, a member of Fossil Free Pitt and a student, said failure to divest contradicts the university’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2037.

“We see Pitt’s hypocrisy as it pronounces itself a leader in sustainability and simultaneously refuses to withdraw its money from the fossil-fuel industry,” Zhang asserted.

In response to protests last year, the trustees formed an ad hoc committee to recommend whether and to what extent the endowment should divest from fossil fuels.

Zhang said the committee was supposed to release a report and make its recommendations public by the end of January.

“No report has emerged,” Zhang noted. “It’s coming up to the end of February and a recommendation is supposed to be made, but the public is really getting nothing from this ad hoc committee.”

She added as residents of a county with consistently high levels of particulate air pollution, students at Pitt personally feel the impact of continuing reliance on fossil fuels.

Zhang pointed out divestment is also important as a means to address what she calls the fossil fuel industry’s legacy of environmental racism.

“We know that communities most affected by oil and natural gas and its environmental consequences are low-income people of color, while jobs will disproportionately go to white workers,” Zhang contended.

She added if the trustees fail to act, Fossil Free Pitt will continue its actions to hold them accountable and demand full divestment from fossil-fuel industries.

(Moon Twp., Pa.) The National weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a Winter Storm warning for Beaver County and surrounding area starting at 1 AM Monday morning , February 15, 2021, and lasting until 1PM Tuesday Afternoon.  We could see upward of 6 to 9 inches of snow during the storm and also freezing rain is possible. Stay tune to AM Beaver County with Matt Drzik and Frank Sparks Monday Morning for an updated forecast and any delays or cancellations.

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
149 PM EST Sun Feb 14 2021

OHZ039>041-048>050-057-058-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-WVZ001-150300-
/O.UPG.KPBZ.WS.A.0004.210215T0600Z-210216T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KPBZ.WS.W.0004.210215T0600Z-210216T1800Z/
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-
Muskingum-Guernsey-Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-
Jefferson PA-Beaver-Hancock-
Including the cities of New Philadelphia, Dover, Carrollton,
Malvern, East Liverpool, Salem, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cadiz,
Steubenville, Zanesville, Cambridge, Sharon, Hermitage,
Grove City, Oil City, Franklin, Tionesta, New Castle,
Ellwood City, Butler, Clarion, Punxsutawney, Brookville,
Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Ambridge, Monaca, and Weirton
149 PM EST Sun Feb 14 2021

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM MONDAY TO 1 PM EST
TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow
  accumulations of 6 to 9 inches and ice accumulations of a glaze
  to around one tenth of an inch.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest, southwest and western
  Pennsylvania, east central Ohio and northern West Virginia.

* WHEN...From 1 AM Monday to 1 PM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Please report snow or ice by calling 412-262-1988, posting to the
NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania
Turnpike Commission strongly encourage motorists to heed all
travel restrictions and delay unnecessary travel. Visit
www.511pa.com for the latest travel, roadway and traffic
conditions.

[table id=264 /]

Twin brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey retire from NFL
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike and Maurkice Pouncey came into the world together. They’re leaving the NFL in the same way. The 31-year-old twin brothers have retired after spending a decade among the best centers in the league. The Pounceys made the announcement on their respective Instagram pages. Maurkice Pouncey was a two-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler in Pittsburgh. Mike Pouncey reached four Pro Bowls while playing for Miami and the Los Angeles Chargers.

White House aide suspended for threatening reporter
By ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House deputy press secretary T.J. Ducklo has been suspended for a week without pay after he reportedly issued a sexist and profane threat to a journalist seeking to cover his relationship with another reporter. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says Ducklo has been suspended without pay with the approval of White House chief of staff Ron Klain. Ducklo’s personal life came under scrutiny earlier this week when Politico reported on his relationship with a reporter. On Friday, Vanity Fair published a report citing two unnamed sources that Ducklo threatened the Politico reporter to try to suppress the story, telling her “I will destroy you.”

Pennsylvanians Encouraged to Use myPATH to File PA Tax Returns

The tax filing season opens today; returns are due April 15, 2021

Harrisburg, PA — With the tax filing season opening today, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers to electronically file their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns with the department’s new, state-only filing system available at mypath.pa.gov.

myPATH is a free, user-friendly option that allows most taxpayers to seamlessly file the Pennsylvania Income Tax Return (PA-40) and make income tax payments, as well as offering other services. The deadline to submit 2020 personal income tax returns is April 15, 2021.

“Pennsylvania taxpayers who file their state tax returns electronically with myPATH benefit from faster processing and will receive their refunds sooner if they are expecting one,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “We encourage all of our customers to take advantage of this free, easy-to-use online option.”

myPATH Offers Many Benefits

Using the electronic filing option available through mypath.pa.gov offers many benefits, including:

• Fast and free return/refund processing
• The “Where’s My Income Tax Refund?” system to track the status of a refund
• Instant confirmation of a successful filing
• The benefit of error-reducing automatic calculators
• User-friendly options that are not available to taxpayers filing by paper
• The ability to view a detailed Statement of Account for personal income tax

Other Important Features in myPATH

Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing a PA-40 or making a payment, responding to department requests for information, and checking the status of a refund.

In order to file the PA-40, taxpayers will need to provide their Social Security number and either: (1) the tax liability for a previous tax year; or (2) their birth date, Pennsylvania driver’s license/photo ID number and the expiration date for the license/photo ID.

If you choose to create a username and password in myPATH, you’ll have the ability to update/view detailed account information and notices. You can also manage third-party access to your account, meaning you can give a tax professional or another person access to file your return and make payments on your behalf.

A detailed list of instructions is available in the myPATH User Guide. myPATH replaced the department’s previous personal income tax e-Services applications, including PA Direct File.

Electronic Filing for Free

Other free electronic filing options are available to file state and federal returns using software from a reputable vendor. More vendor information is available on the Department of Revenue’s website. 

Electronic Filing for a Fee

Paid tax preparers and commercial tax preparation software providers offer electronic filing, or e-filing, for a fee. Check a list of vendors on the department’s website for further information.

April 15 Deadline

All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2020 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Thursday, April 15, 2021.  

PA Personal Income Tax Guide

Pennsylvania taxpayers who have personal income tax questions are encouraged to review the PA Personal Income Tax Guide, an online publication prepared by the Department of Revenue that includes detailed information on a number of PIT-related topics.

Taxpayer Service and Assistance

Personal income tax assistance is also available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Online Customer Service Center contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email.

The Department of Revenue’s district offices are open in a limited capacity with social distancing guidelines in place. Appointments are required to receive in-person assistance. Please keep the following in mind.

• Taxpayer assistance hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Appointments between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. will be reserved for senior citizens.
• Taxpayers are required to wear a mask during appointments.
• Taxpayers should know that the Department of Revenue will be following health and safety guidelines established by the Department of Health to promote a clean office environment.

Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage; or 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.