Pennsylvania schools could see 5% revenue loss, group says
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts are facing a projected loss of up to 5% in the revenue from local taxes as coronavirus pandemic shutdowns take a heavy toll on the economy. The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officers said Tuesday it is projecting a loss of $1 billion, or 5%, in revenue from local taxes if an economic recovery lags. The group says a quicker turnaround could limit losses to $850 million, or 4%. School districts reported spending about $30 billion in the 2017-2018 school year, the latest data available. About $17.5 billion in revenue that year came from local sources, primarily property taxes.

AG Shapiro To Consumer Reporting Agencies: If You Don’t Protect Consumer Credit, We Will

HARRISBURG―Attorney General Shapiro today led a group of 22 Attorneys General warning the nation’s three Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) that they will not hesitate to enforce safeguards set in place to ensure consumers’ credit is properly protected and that their credit reports are fairly and accurately reported as Americans continue to struggle from the economic fallout of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis.

In a letter to Experian Information Solutions, Inc.; Equifax Information Services, LLC; and TransUnion LCC, the group outlines their commitment to enforcing the consumer credit protections outlined in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed last month, as well as in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), despite the federal government’s failure — under the Trump Administration — to commit to enforcing the FCRA’s 30- to 45-day deadline to investigate consumer disputes. The letter emphasizes that the coalition will continue to actively monitor and enforce compliance during the COVID-19 crisis and will hold the CRAs accountable for failure to meet their obligations.

“I won’t leave Pennsylvanians’ financial security up to the interests of credit reporting agencies,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “During this emergency, people across the Commonwealth need more financial security, not less. These financial protections are critical to consumers and to our overall economy. My Office will enforce the CARES Act and the FCRA to make sure these credit reporting agencies don’t harm Pennsylvanians.”

In March 2020, Congress enacted the CARES Act to extend relief to struggling consumers and amend the FCRA to enable consumers to obtain CARES Act relief without incurring lasting harm to their credit scores. To prevent such harm, the CARES Act requires furnishers to report a credit obligation as “current” if the obligation was current prior to the grant of a CARES Act accommodation. The FCRA also protects consumers by requiring CRAs to take no more than 30 days (or in some cases 45 days) to investigate when consumers dispute the accuracy of information on their credit report. But the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — under the Trump Administration’s leadership — recently issued guidance that suggests that it will not enforce these deadlines during the COVID-19 crisis, instead imposing a weaker requirement that CRAs make “good faith efforts to investigate disputes as quickly as possible.”

In today’s letter, the group warns the three CRAs that each state will enforce the requirements of the FCRA and agreements between CRAs and states to conduct meaningful and timely investigations of consumer disputes of credit information.

“This CARES Act provision is critically important both to individual consumers and to the overall recovery of the economy because it ensures that consumers obtain essential relief without jeopardizing their future ability to secure employment, rent or buy a home, obtain a credit card, or purchase a car,” the Attorneys General write in their letter. “The state Attorneys General expect compliance with this vital provision of the CARES Act, and we will actively monitor for and enforce such compliance.”

At a time when the nation faces significant economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that CRAs meet their obligations under the law to protect consumers against incorrect information in their credit reports that could prevent them from conducting all of the normal activities they would be able to do before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Today’s letter follows a letter the coalition sent to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on April 13, urging the agency to rescind its announcement that it would not enforce certain provisions of the CARES Act and the FCRA.

The letter, co-led by Attorney General Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Attorney General James of New York, was joined by Attorneys General from California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columb

Wolf Administration Expands Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants to Help the Charitable Food System

Grants to eliminate food waste will help keep food banks stocked and prevent farm losses

Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration is making immediate changes to the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program to help ensure food banks are adequately supplied to meet the needs of Pennsylvania residents.

Increased demand on the charitable food system related to COVID-19 has demonstrated an immediate need for resources to support additional cold storage space, and more flexibility and changes to this grant program. The changes also encourage partnerships between nonprofit organizations such as food banks and farms, processors and cooperatives that continue to experience challenges within the food supply chain as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.

“At a time when our fellow residents are facing hunger and financial hardship, we all have a moral obligation to do what we can to help, and that includes expanding this grant program, quickly delivering grant awards, and helping ensure that food is not being wasted,” Governor Tom Wolf said.

Changes to the grant solicitation process include:

• Closing the round of grant eligibility on May 8 to review applications and deliver awards as soon as possible;
• Expanding the list of potential partners beyond retailers and wholesalers to also include farms, processors and cooperatives; and
• Removing pre-application meeting requirements to expedite applications.

The changes to the program are effective immediately.

This $4 million grant program is an opportunity for the charitable food system to apply for up to $200,000 in grant funding offered through the new Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program. This funding is available for Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations for grant assistance for the proper management and operation of food waste reduction pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988, Act 101.

Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations such as food banks, shelters, and soup kitchens to cover the costs of equipment purchases necessary to prepare, transport and store food acquired from retailers, wholesalers, farms, processors and cooperatives. Examples of eligible equipment include refrigerated or non-refrigerated box trucks, industrial-sized refrigerators, pallet jacks and/or dollies. Installation and shipping costs will also be eligible for support.

To apply, the applicant must describe its current food recovery operation and explain how the food infrastructure equipment will enhance its current program. The organization must also provide a description of the proposed program and provide what food retailers, wholesalers, farms, processors and cooperatives will be partners for the project. Additionally, the organization must provide a description of how the program will be operated by staff and or volunteers.

“Making these changes will help us get more food to the people who need it and help prevent harvested crops from spoiling or otherwise going to waste,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

The deadline to apply is Friday, May 8. Learn how to apply for the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program.

Poll: Cost makes nearly 1 in 10 leery of seeking COVID care
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — With some states gearing up to lift coronavirus restrictions, a new poll finds a potential obstacle to keeping new infections tamped down. Nearly 1 in 10 adults say cost would keep them from seeking treatment if they thought they were infected. The Gallup-West Health Healthcare Costs Survey out Tuesday found that younger people, members of minority groups, people with less than a college degree, and those making less than $40,000 a year were more likely to say they would avoid seeking treatment. That could create a blind spot for governors trying to calibrate economic reopening plans to keep watch for potential virus flare-ups.

4 residents hurt when roof collapses in room at nursing home
CANTON, Pa. (AP) — A partial roof collapse at a nursing home in western Pennsylvania has injured four residents. But officials say none of the injuries appeared to be serious. The collapse was reported late Monday at The Grove at Washington in Canton. The four men were initially trapped inside a room in the single-story facility, including one was knocked from his bed to the floor during the incident. But a fire official says that helped  the man because the ceiling came down across the bed and a little stand instead of landing on top of him.  It’s not yet known what caused the collapse.

(Photo Courtesy of Pa. State Police)

(Butler, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police in Butler County are searching for Justin Cooksey, who is wanted for motor vehicle theft and parole violations. Troopers say that he has ties to the Butler, Petrolia, East Brady, and Rimersburg areas.

They are asking the public to notify them if you have information surrounding his whereabouts.

Truck found in lake believed linked to decade-old crime
FLEETVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a box truck found at the bottom of a northeastern Pennsylvania lake over the weekend is believed to have been used in a crime spree more than a decade ago. On Saturday night, a man on a fishing boat noticed what appeared to be a vehicle in the Benton Township lake in Lackawanna State Park in Lackawanna County. The vehicle was raised Sunday. The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reports that police suspect that the truck is the same one stolen from an electrical contractor in Scott Township and then used to steal a convenience store ATM.

Tennessee family finds dog 54 days after deadly tornadoes
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF-TV) — A Tennessee family has been reunited with their dog nearly two months after she went missing when tornadoes ripped through their home in early March. WTVF-TV reports Bella, the Australian shepherd who was missing for 54 days, was found on Sunday. She alerted Eric and Faith Johnson to a tornado that ravaged Putnam County moments before it flattened the Johnson’s family home. Eric Johnson says finding Bella now completes the family. Friends and neighbors assisted the Johnsons in finding the dog. The family told WTVF-TV earlier this month that they plan to rebuild their home.

Wolf Administration Extends Volunteer Loan Assistance Program Maturity Dates, Deferments

HARRISBURG, PA – The Wolf Administration announced today that it will extend the maturity dates of loans offered to volunteer fire departments under the Volunteer Loan Assistance Program (VLAP) and temporarily defer payments for the months of April, May, and June.

“As the effects of the coronavirus and the necessary government response ripple their way through our state, it should be no surprise that our volunteer fire departments are feeling the pain,” said State Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego. “Our office is here to help our commonwealth’s fire fighters, and that hasn’t changed as we telework during Governor Wolf’s stay-at-home order. We’re committed to working very hard with departments to assist them with the resources they need to ensure they can meet their financial obligations during these difficult times.”

The Volunteer Loan Assistance Program (VLAP) provides loans to volunteer fire companies, ambulance services and rescue squads for the purpose of purchasing and modernizing apparatus, facilities and equipment. There will be no interest or penalties assessed for borrowers who accept this deferment.

Since its inception, the program has approved more than $500 million in loans for the commonwealth’s volunteer emergency services community.

Office of State Fire Commissioner (OFSC) staff provide technical assistance and regulatory guidance to applicants; receives, analyzes and approves loan applications; supplies loan closing services; maintains financial and historical files and services all accounts until they are closed.  For those borrowers who wish to decline deferment and continue to make payments, please notify OSFC staff.

For more information regarding VLAP loans, including forms and informational materials, visit the OSFC web site: www.osfc.pa.gov

AAA: Moderate Drop at the Pump in Pennsylvania; Oil Prices Remain Volatile
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is four cents cheaper this week at $2.082 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Most states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region saw weekly decreases of two to four cents. Washington, D.C. ($2.19), New York ($2.17) and Pennsylvania ($2.04) land on the top 10 list for largest state averages in the country. At $1.65, Virginia carries the cheapest average in the region.

Gasoline stocks in the region have been steadily increasing for a month now. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest report shows a weekly build of 2 million barrels, pushing regional stock levels to a very healthy 73.8 million barrels. Since February, regional refinery utilization has been on the decline. However, for the week ending April 17, utilization increased nearly 5% to 44%. Motorists in the region will likely see gas prices to continue to decrease in the coming weeks.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                 $2.082
Average price during the week of April 20, 2020                                      $2.122
Average price during the week of April 29, 2019                                      $3.099

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$2.053      Altoona
$2.238      Beaver
$2.160      Bradford
$2.099      Brookville
$2.008      Butler
$1.979      Clarion
$2.100      Du Bois
$2.069      Erie
$2.101      Greensburg
$2.101      Indiana
$2.166      Jeannette
$2.047      Kittanning
$2.129      Latrobe
$1.942      Meadville
$2.040      Mercer
$1.760      New Castle
$2.200      New Kensington
$2.109      Oil City
$2.190      Pittsburgh
$1.873      Sharon
$2.224      Uniontown
$2.159      Warren
$2.144      Washington

On the National Front
As gas prices continue to push cheaper across the country, a dozen states carry an average of $2/gallon or more. Today’s national average is $1.77, which is four cents less than last week, 28 cents cheaper than last month and $1.11 less than a year ago. Some states could see minimal fluctuation at the pump in coming weeks if demand jumps as business are given the green light to re-open. However, this will not have a large impact for most of the nation’s motorists.

Crude oil prices were extremely volatile last week, pushing negative for the first time ever, but they did make significant gains to end the week in the positive. At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by 44 cents to settle at $16.94 per barrel. This increase was in response to reports of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries reducing crude output before the May 1 start date of its 9.7 million b/d production reduction agreement for May and June 2020. Crude prices will likely remain volatile this week, as the market continues to assess how much crude demand will continue to fall during the ongoing pandemic.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.