April 19, 2022 4:01 am
Peters Township Council adopted a pilot program of sharpshooting to enhance the already existing archery program in order to reduce the number of deer in the township to cut down on deer related car accidents. They were updated on the results of the program at their council meeting Monday night. The program began on February 1 and lasted through March 5 with a goal of harvesting 125 deer. Officer Jason Brunetti of the Peters Twp. Police department reported that the goal of 125 deer was met. Township parks and private property were used by the program. Of the 125 deer harvested, 91 of them came from private property along Rt. 19, E. McMurray Rd. and Bebout Rd. Only 11 deer were taken from six township parks. The total cost of the program was $21,600. The total amount of venison donated through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest organization was 6181 pounds. That meat went to the Greater Washington Food Bank, the Allenport Food Pantry and the Donora Food Pantry. Additionally, 45 deer were harvested through the existing archery program bringing the total harvest to 170 deer throughout the township.
April 19, 2022 3:33 am
A McDonald man whose company allegedly contracted with homeowners to replace decks and porches will face trial for his taking money and not completing the work. Alexander Walker, 65 is the owner of Three Rivers Decks and Porches. He is facing several felony charges of receiving payment and failure to perform services and deceitful business practices among other charges. Walker appeared for a plea court proceeding where he had hoped to continue his case until July to align it with identical cases that are levied against his son Matthew. A victim at the hearing objected and forced Walker’s attorney to schedule a trial. Frank Pollack stated in court that he objects to any further delay and wants the case that he began in 2020 to reach a resolution. The judge agreed with Pollack despite Walker’s attorney trying to explain how cases against his client in Allegheny and Beaver Counties are making it difficult to arrange restitution agreements with Pollack and several other Washington County victims, some whose cases began as early as 2017. Pollack stated that he is out more than $12,000 and does not expect to see the money returned. He called Walker a criminal and wants to see him and his son put in jail. Walker’s attorney had no comment on the development. Walker is scheduled for an August 8 trial.
April 19, 2022 2:37 am
A Monongahela man accused of shooting and killing his wife will face trial. Dennis Vaccaro, 64 faced his preliminary hearing on Monday and had charges of criminal homicide and aggravated assault held for court. Vaccaro allegedly was arguing with his wife Mecca Vaccaro outside their Monongahela home. The couple separated and Mecca went back inside. A witness indicated a few moments later Dennis went inside the home and a second argument broke out and shots were fired. The witness found Dennis Vaccaro standing over Mecca Vaccaro as she was laying on the ground. Mecca was taken to Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital where she later died. Vaccaro will be arraigned on May 26. He is being held in the Washington County Jail without bond.
April 18, 2022 2:46 pm
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – A federal judge in Florida has voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials. The decision Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking. The CDC recently extended the mask mandate until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant. The Justice Department declined to comment Monday when asked if the government planned to appeal the ruling.
April 18, 2022 2:43 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court has rejected a challenge from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland to the 2017 tax law that capped federal tax deductions for state and local taxes. The lawsuit had previously been dismissed by lower courts. The suit argued that the Republican-led tax law, signed by then-President Donald Trump, unfairly singled out high-tax states in which Democrats predominate. The law caps a deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, at $10,000. The lawsuit claimed lawmakers crafted the provision to target Democratic states, interfering with the states’ constitutionally granted taxing authority. Legislation to raise the cap has passed the House but not the Senate.
April 18, 2022 2:41 pm
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear a St. Louis-based natural gas company’s appeal of a lower court’s decision that could close a pipeline that runs through parts of Illinois and Missouri. The court rejected Spire Inc.’s appeal Monday without comment. Spire President Scott Smith pledged to fight to keep the pipeline operational. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted approval for the pipeline in 2018 and it became fully operational in 2019. The pipeline connects with another pipeline in western Illinois and carries natural gas to the St. Louis region. A 2020 lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defense Fund called the pipeline unnecessary and harmful to land in its path.
April 18, 2022 2:39 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration is taking a key step to ensure federal dollars will support U.S. manufacturing. New guidance issued Monday will require material for projects like bridges, highways and broadband internet funded by last year’s infrastructure package be produced in the U.S. Waivers can be granted if the material costs too much or cannot be sufficiently provided by domestic factories. Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, President Joe Biden hopes to create more jobs, ease supply chain strains and reduce the reliance on China. He’s betting that more domestic production will ultimately reduce price pressures to blunt Republican attacks that his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package triggered higher prices.
April 18, 2022 2:15 pm
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa-(WPXI)-West Mifflin police said that five people, including three juveniles, were arrested and charged after they allegedly caused “extensive damage” inside Century III Mall on April 15. Aaron Anthony, of Beaver Falls; Angel-Mariah Schulz, of Pittsburgh; and all three juveniles were charged with burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Police state that several storefront glass windows and center display signs were shattered. Police said they also found several fire extinguishers and other pieces of debris near the broken windows. Anthony and Schulz were taken to the Allegheny County jail for arraignment. The three juveniles were released to their parents. West Mifflin police said that although the mall is not open anymore, it is privately owned and operated and has security measures in place. Police said anyone who is found trespassing will be prosecuted.
April 18, 2022 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Millions of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes, and this year is no exception. Monday is Tax Day – the federal deadline for individual tax filing and payments. The IRS will receive tens of millions of last-minute filings electronically and through paper forms. Nina Tross at the National Society of Tax Professionals says if people haven’t filed their taxes by now, “they’re better off filing an extension.” But she says many people don’t realize that filing an extension “has zero effect,” so long as people are paid up on their income taxes by Tax Day. She adds that people are “better off extending than amending.”
April 18, 2022 4:17 am
HAMPTON, S.C. (AP) – The lawyer for a man arrested in connection with a mass shooting at a South Carolina mall tells news outlets his client fired in self-defense. Attorney Todd Rutherford represents Jewayne Price, who currently faces a charge of illegally carrying a pistol. A judge said Sunday that Price could be released on house arrest with a $25,000 surety bond. Saturday’s shooting in Columbia was one of two Easter weekend shootings in South Carolina with multiple victims, and one of three in the nation. Nine people were hurt early Sunday in a Hampton County, South Carolina, nightclub shooting. Gunfire at a Pittsburgh party caused multiple injuries and killed two minors.
