Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced criminal charges against 25 individuals in Western Pennsylvania following investigations by the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section. The charges are the result of a sweep conducted by the Insurance Fraud Section’s Western Regional Office during the months of February and March 2019. Since Attorney General Shapiro took office in January 2017, the Office of Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud section has charged 452 persons with insurance fraud cases. Two of the suspects have been identified as 51-year-old Alan Talarico of Moon Township and 34-year-old Tonya Prowell of New Castle. The charges announced today involve some of the most common types of insurance fraud.

Voting that is easier, more efficient and more secure is the aim of a new vote-by-mail bill introduced by Pa. state Rep. Rob Matzie. House Bill 1059 would permit Pennsylvania voters to cast their ballots by mail. Voters would request a ballot once and then continue receiving ballots for every election until they opted out.

A federal judge is dismissing a lawsuit over Pennsylvania Turnpike toll increases that are financing payments the commission makes to help fund transit agencies. U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane ruled Thursday that a truckers’ organization didn’t adequately argue that the scheme violates constitutional protections over commerce and travel between states. The lawsuit had also asked the court to bar the turnpike commission from using tolls to pay off debt stemming from the payments.

Two bills that could make it easier for victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits years later are expected to be voted in the Pennsylvania House next week. One bill would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes entirely and give victims of future abuse until age 55 to file lawsuits. The other proposal would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to allow a two-year retroactive window for lawsuits over past abuse.

Students from Taylor Allderdice High School will be among hundreds of others to take a stand against violence this week. They’ll be joined by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where 17 people were killed last year during a mass shooting. Students will attend an assembly at Taylor Allderdice today and then visit the Tree of Life Synagogue. This is part of a “three days of healing, resilience and community building” being held by the Center For Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement of the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh.

A 77-year-old man died after police say he fell into a stream behind a Moon Township home. Police were called Thursday afternoon to the home on Downing Drive. When officers arrived they found the victim, William Kriger, face down in a stream. The officers pulled Kriger from the stream and administered CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said Kriger was riding a garden tractor above a concrete wall on the side of the stream. The officers found the tractor wasn’t running, but the key was still in the ignition. Police said it appeared Kriger either had a medical episode and fell off the tractor or he slipped off the seat and fell into the stream striking his head.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 5TH, 2019

 

TODAY – RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUING THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON TODAY. HIGH – 54.

TONIGHT – REMAINING CLOUDY OVERNIGHT. SLIGHT
CHANCE OF A RAIN SHOWER. LOW – 43.

SATURDAY – OVERCAST. HIGH – 65.

SUNDAY – CLOUDY SKIES. A STRAY SHOWER OR
THUNDERSTORM IS POSSIBLE. HIGH – 73.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is acknowledging his past behavior with women has made some people uncomfortable following complaints over the past week that he touched some without their consent. In a video posted Wednesday on Twitter, Biden says, “I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future.” He did not directly apologize but seemed to be seeking to ease some people’s discomfort. Biden is considering a 2020 Democratic presidential bid.