December 17, 2023 4:48 am
A lawsuit has been filed in Washington County Court against Washington County Controller April Sloane. Washington County Treasurer Tom Flickinger is filing a civil suit against Sloane for her office policy of requiring that before refund monies are disbursed from her office, a federal W-9 form be filed in her office. According to the suit filed by Flickinger’s solicitor, the policy is unlawful because a W-9 form is not necessary for funds that are not deemed taxable, such as tax refunds and over-payments. The suit claims that filling out the W-9 form discloses sensitive information that is unnecessary for these transactions. In the suit it states that Flickinger has surveyed all 66 other counties in Pennsylvania and they do not have this requirement. It goes on to say that a W-9 policy was drawn by up Flickinger to cover the lawful needs of a W-9 form and eliminating the requirements for non-taxable payments. According to the lawsuit, 34 taxpayers have yet to receive refunds due to the unlawful nature of the policy. Flickinger is asking that the policy be stopped and all non-taxable disbursements due to taxpayers be made.
December 17, 2023 3:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has new laws to allow more criminal records to be sealed from public view and to try to reduce the number of people who are on probation or in jails in Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bills Thursday, a day after lawmakers passed both with large majorities. The probation law aims to limit the length of probation and prevent people from being sent back to jail for minor violations. However, it drew criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union, which says it doesn’t fix problems that plague the state’s probation system. The other bill allows courts to seal more records of non-violent drug felonies and more quickly seal other records.
December 16, 2023 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was the most painful inflation Americans had experienced since 1981, when “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “The Jeffersons” were topping the TV charts. Yet the Federal Reserve now seems on the verge of defeating it — and without the surge in unemployment and the deep recession that many economists had predicted would accompany it. Inflation has been falling more or less steadily since peaking in June of last year at 9.1%. And when the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge for November is reported next week, it’s likely to show that in the past six months, annual inflation actually dipped just below the Fed’s elusive target of 2%, economists at UBS estimate.
December 16, 2023 4:14 am
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona’s governor has ordered the state’s National Guard to send troops to the border with Mexico to help federal officials manage an influx of migrants. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs issued her executive order Friday, saying the federal government is not keeping Arizona’s border communities safe. Hobbs asked President Joe Biden’s administration a week ago to mobilize Arizona National Guard troops to help Customs and Border Protection reopen the crossing in Lukeville, Arizona. The U.S. government closed the crossing on Dec. 4. so personnel stationed there could support Border Patrol agents scrambling to apprehend hundreds of migrants crossing daily into the U.S.
December 16, 2023 4:12 am
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing his supporters to deliver a blowout win in next month’s Iowa caucuses. A myriad of well-qualified GOP challengers has struggled to gain traction despite crisscrossing the state over the last year. Rival campaigns have spent more than $70 million in Iowa on advertising. And unlike his first time in the caucuses, Trump’s campaign is now run by Iowa veterans who are not just locking in caucus commitments but building a formidable organization to try to lock in his lead. His dominance reflects what one strategist called his “quasi-incumbent” status and his continued support in the GOP base.
December 16, 2023 4:08 am
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A prolonged communications blackout is compounding the misery in the besieged Gaza Strip where a United Nations agency says hunger levels have spiraled. An internet access advocacy group said Saturday that internet and telephone lines are still inaccessible two days after they went down. The two-month war has seen more than 85% of Gaza’s roughly 2.3 million people displaced, with most cramming into the southern part of the territory after Israel ordered the northern section evacuated. With only a trickle of aid able to enter, the U.N.’s World Food Program reported a surge from 38% to 56% in the number of displaced households experiencing severe levels of hunger in under two weeks.
December 16, 2023 4:04 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An autopsy report on “Friends” star Matthew Perry says he died from the acute effects of the drug ketamine. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report released Friday that Perry also drowned in the heated end of his pool, but said that was a secondary factor in his death deemed an accident. The report says coronary artery disease also contributed. Perry was declared dead at age 54 after being found unresponsive at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Oct. 28. Investigators performed an autopsy the following day.
December 16, 2023 2:54 am
Washington County Commissioners ended 2023 on a high note on several levels. The county passed a $168 million budget with no tax increase in 2024. Additionally, Commissioners helped the Washington County Library System with their funding crisis due to a budget stall in Harrisburg. Commissioners, using a memorandum of understanding advanced the library system all of its $200,000 allotment immediately. It also is loaning the system $165,000 of the anticipated $660,000 that they would receive from Harrisburg. Interim System Administrator of the Washington County Library System, Diane Ambrose thanked Commissioners for their fast action in getting the funding together. Ambrose says that now all 14 libraries will make it until the end of the year and into next year when the funding will be allocated. The Pennsylvania Legislature adopted the spending plan that covers libraries late on Wednesday night. Ambrose says it is not clear when the funding from Harrisburg will arrive. During public comment, several people addressed the board pleading with them to somehow remove April Sloane from her position as Controller. Sloane is facing charges of animal neglect after police and animal control officers found an emaciated dog enclosed in a plastic bag in her garage. Muse resident A.C. Rowland went further, asking that her office be audited. Her reasoning is that if Sloane did this to an animal, what harm could she have done to county funds. Commissioner Diana Irey-Vaughan says that there is no way for the county to remove her. If Sloane were to resign, Commissioner Nick Sherman says they are examining what the procedure would be to replace her. Sloane did not attend Thursday’s commissioners meeting.
December 16, 2023 2:51 am
(WPXI) – UPMC will soon require face masks again in all of its healthcare facilities. “UPMC is seeing an increase in cases of respiratory viruses, including Covid, influenza and RSV,” a UPMC spokesperson said in a statement. Beginning Dec. 20, all employees, patients and visitors will be required to wear a face mask. The spokesperson said UPMC will continue to monitor cases and adjust protocols as the situation changes. Back in May, UPMC dropped its universal masking policy that was in place for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 15, 2023 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a defense policy bill that authorizes the biggest pay raise for troops in more than two decades. Supporters overcame objections from some conservatives concerned it didn’t do enough on cultural issues, such as restricting the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives and gender-affirming health care for transgender service members. The Senate had already overwhelmingly passed the bill on Wednesday, so now it goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. One of the most divisive aspects of the bill is a short-term extension of a surveillance program aimed at preventing terrorism and catching spies. Opponents of the extension wanted changes designed to boost privacy protections for Americans.
