Story by News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa High School Athletic  Director Brandon Le Donne announced yesterday that Sam Weir, Aliquippa High School girls varsity basketball coach has resigned.   Le Donne said she  sent a letter to the district  and the resignation became effective June 30.  Ms. Weir  accepted a  coaching position at Point Park University.

Interested candidates should submit  an application, resume, and updated clearances to  Brandon LeDonne , Athletic Director, 800 21st Street, Aliquippa, PA  a5001 by the close of business on Wednesday, July 22, 2020

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) A postal device made for some anxious moments this morning in Pittsburgh. Someone called Pittsburgh Police and said they heard a beeping coming from a United Postal Service Mailbox on Brighton Road in the Brighton Heights Neighborhood of Pittsburgh around 6:30 this morning. Pittsburgh Police blocked off the roadway and after investigating the sound found that it was a postal device that was inside the mailbox making the noise.

Western PA Gas Prices Hold Steady; Supply Outpaces Demand Nationwide
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is steady this week at $2.473 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Gas price fluctuation was low in most Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states this week. Delaware (+7 cent) and Maryland (+5 cents) saw the largest increases in the region and land on the top 10 list of states with the biggest changes, along with Connecticut (+4 cents) and Vermont (+3 cents).  Washington, D.C. (-1 cent) and West Virginia (-2 cents) were among a minority of states in the country to see gas prices push cheaper.

The region saw inventory levels plummet by nearly 3 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) latest report measures total stock levels at 72.3 million barrels, which is still a healthy supply level for this time of year. While stocks could decrease further in the week ahead due to an unplanned shutdown at Phillips 66’s 265,000-b/d Bayway refinery in Linden, N.J., at the end of last week, this event has not had an immediate impact at the pump given the abnormally high level of inventory on hand.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.473
Average price during the week of July 6, 2020                                          $2.475
Average price during the week of July 15, 2019                                        $2.983

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

$2.484      Altoona
$2.478      Beaver
$2.497      Bradford
$2.482      Brookville
$2.458      Butler
$2.460      Clarion
$2.477      DuBois
$2.483      Erie
$2.437      Greensburg
$2.489      Indiana
$2.464      Jeannette
$2.468      Kittanning
$2.466      Latrobe
$2.490      Meadville
$2.504      Mercer
$2.420      New Castle
$2.494      New Kensington
$2.499      Oil City
$2.467      Pittsburgh
$2.489      Sharon
$2.469      Uniontown
$2.499      Warren
$2.397      Washington

On the National Front
Gasoline demand increased on the week to the highest level (8.7 million b/d) since March as stocks decreased, but the combination wasn’t enough to significantly impact gas price averages across the country. On the week, the national gas price average only increased one penny to land at $2.19. That is nine cents more than last month and nearly 60 cents less than a year ago.

EIA data show gasoline demand and supply have been on a roller coaster ride, largely as motorists react to unfolding COVID-19 information. From May to early July in 2019, gasoline demand averaged 9.5 million b/d. For the same time period this year, demand is measuring at 8 million b/d while gasoline stocks sit, on average, at a 24-million-barrel surplus. The low demand and high supply are keeping gas prices relatively cheap for the summertime.

At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by 93 cents to settle at $40.55 per barrel. Domestic crude prices were volatile last week after the EIA’s weekly report revealed that total domestic crude inventories increased by 5.7 million barrels to 539.2 million. Increasing crude stocks could mean that crude production is still too high given where demand is currently.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 78 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.

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) commended Senate State Government Committee Chairman John DiSanto (R-Dauphin/Perry) and members of the committee for passing his legislation that would amend the Sunshine Act to require a public agency to post public meeting agendas no later than 24 hours prior to the start of a meeting.

 “This bill is a commonsense and critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to increasing transparency and ensuring government officials think twice about letting important business fly under the taxpayers’ radar,” said Bernstine. “In today’s fast-paced world, it is important that we give our constituents the tools they need to participate in government in a meaningful way.”

House Bill 1069 would also prohibit an agency from taking official action on items not on the meeting agenda unless added by a majority vote. In addition, the legislation would require the agenda to be posted at the location of the meeting, on the agency’s public website and copies be made available to those in attendance.

“Sunshine Act reform bills have been considered by the Legislature in recent years without success,” said Bernstine. “However, House Bill 1069 was passed unanimously by the House in January and today by the Senate State Government Committee. A well-informed populace is essential to the vitality of our democratic form of government.

“It is time to eradicate backroom deals and unannounced decisions. They can have a big impact on our lives, and we deserve to know about them. It is essential that we get this legislation across the finish line and there is no better time than now.”

House Bill 1069 is now headed to the full Senate for consideration.

 

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.