Western PA News

(WTRF/NEXSTAR) — President Joe Biden is planning to execute the first major tax hike in federal taxes in almost 30 years, Bloomberg reported Monday.

The increase would be used to help pay for the longterm economic program that will be a follow-up to Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic stimulus package — called the American Rescue Plan — which he signed into law Thursday.

The planned increases reportedly include raising the corporate tax from 21% to 28%, increasing the income tax rate on people making over $400,000, expanding the estate tax, paring back tax preferences on pass-through businesses such as limited-liability companies, and setting up a higher capital-gains tax rate for individuals making at least $1 million.

The tax hike, the first such measure since Bill Clinton’s overhaul in 1993, will likely include repealing former President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax law, which benefitted corporations and wealthy individuals, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin told The Hill in January that repealing Trump’s tax cuts while the pandemic continues to weigh on the economy would be “ridiculous,” though his stance has eased a bit since then. He said last month that “everything’s open for discussion.”

Source: Major tax hike coming: report

Officer Baker was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he is in critical condition, according to police. The woman, 31, was also shot and is in critical condition as well.

Source: Nashville officer critically wounded, woman killed in shootout after traffic stop on Brick Church Pike | WREG.com

He’s feeling the Burrn on social media.

“Sorry to everyone on the tl/watching who’s been forced to learn who bill burr is,” tweeted one detractor. “He’s been absolute garbage for years and i shook my head in bitter disbelief when i saw he was one of the presenters. further shows the grammys don’t *really* care at all about inclusivity/progress.”

Another wrote that while they enjoyed Burr’s Netflix show, “his jokes at the Grammys were just not… funny.”

One critic snarked, “i miss 10 minutes ago when i didn’t know who bill burr was #GRAMMYs.”

Source: Bill Burr in hot water with feminists over Grammys 2021 joke

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Saturday saw relatively tame celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day.

Pittsburgh Public Safety said on Sunday that all branches of public safety, including police, firefighters, EMS workers, reported no major incidents from celebrations Saturday night.

“Thanks to all residents, visitors and business owners for celebrating responsibly, and thank you to all members of Public Safety who worked hard, as always, to keep everyone safe,” Pittsburgh Public Safety wrote in a statement.

Source: Pittsburgh Public Safety Reports No Major Incidents From St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations – CBS Pittsburgh

Pelosi says the surge in unaccompanied children arriving at southern border is a crisis. Joe Biden’s administration has stopped short of using that word.

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Sunday said that the influx of unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border was a “humanitarian crisis” and the result of the policies of former President Donald Trump.
• Pelosi’s remarks came one day after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will begin sheltering and transferring children who arrive at the southern border.
• President Joe Biden’s administration has stopped short of calling the situation on the border a crisis.

Source: Pelosi calls children arriving at U.S.-Mexico border a ‘humanitarian crisis’

Beyoncé entered this year’s awards race with the most nominations at nine total. Taylor Swift, Roddy Ricch, and Dua Lipa each boast six nominations.

Source: 2021 Grammy Winners: Beyoncé, Kanye West, Billie Eilish, and More | Complex

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., repeatedly reaffirmed Sunday that she has “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment – but fell short of calling on embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.

Both U.S. Democratic senators from New York — Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand – have joined the growing chorus of lawmakers calling on Cuomo to resign as a seventh woman has come forward accusing the governor of some form of sexual harassment or inappropriate touching.

CUOMO IMPEACHMENT BREAKDOWN: HERE’S WHAT COULD HAPPEN

“I said there’s zero tolerance for sexual harassment and we have taken measures in the House of Representatives – very strong measures – under leadership of Rep. Jackie Speier of California,” Pelosi began during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”

Source: Pelosi declines to call on Cuomo to resign despite having ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual harassment | Fox News

A Chicago police sergeant was shot in the face Sunday afternoon in the city’s 6th District, the department said.

Source: Chicago police sergeant shot in face outside precinct | Fox News

Nearly $2 trillion in fresh relief benefits are expected to start flowing into Americans’ bank accounts within days. Now, Democrats are already looking to make some of them permanent.

With President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan signed into law, Democratic lawmakers are exploring ways to ensure that generous tax credits and other key aspects of the legislation will last well beyond the pandemic itself, either through additional rounds of extensions or more permanent measures.

Democratic leaders are banking on some of the aid provisions being so popular that letting them expire would be a political nightmare, painful enough for Americans that even Republicans couldn’t stand in the way.

At the top of the list is making permanent the expanded child tax credit, a move supporters believe could generate bipartisan backing and which analysts say would cut child poverty nearly in half. But some lawmakers and outside experts expect Democrats will also fight to keep the expansions of the earned income tax credit and a second program for child and dependent care, while further extensions of food assistance and boosted unemployment benefits are also likely.

Source: Beyond Covid relief: Biden invokes LBJ as Democrats aim to expand welfare state

Marvin Hagler, the middleweight boxing great whose title reign and career ended with a split-decision loss to “Sugar” Ray Leonard in 1987, died Saturday. He was 66.

Wife Kay G. Hagler confirmed the death on Facebook on the verified Marvelous Marvin Hagler Fan Club page.

“I am sorry to make a very sad announcement,” she wrote. “Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire. Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Hagler was 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts from 1973 to 1987. He was the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to his loss to Leonard at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 6, 1987.

The fierce left-hander had two of his biggest victories at Caesars Palace, unanimously outpointing Roberto Duran in 1983 and knocking out Thomas Hearns in the third round in 1985.

“Marvelous Marvin Hagler was among the greatest athletes that Top Rank ever promoted,” Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said. “He was a man of honor and a man of his word, and he performed in the ring with unparalleled determination. He was a true athlete and a true man. I will miss him greatly.”

Hagler was born in Newark, New Jersey, and moved with his family to Brockton, Massachusetts, in the late 1960s. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1983.

Source: Marvin Hagler, middleweight boxing great, dies at 66 – WTMJ

Netflix Password Crackdown May Be “A Net Positive In The Long Term,” Analyst Claims

Netflix sent a message this week to some accounts with multiple users, threatening them with a service cut-off if illegally sharing passwords but offering the incentive of a free 30-day trial in certain territories. The message read: “If you don’t live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching.”

Netflix said the move was “designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so.”

Research company Magid claims 33% of Netflix users share their password with at least one other person. That led one analyst to cheer the attempt to cut-off the freeloaders while discounting the negative fallout from such actions during a pandemic that has left many stuck at home and unemployed.

Source: Netflix Password Crackdown May Be “A Net Positive In The Long Term,” – Deadline

It’s time to spring forward.

Daylight saving time officially starts Sunday, March 14 at 2 a.m., shifting the clocks to  put more daylight into the afternoon hours. Since most people likely won’t hop up at 2 a.m. to make the change – or know that their smart devices handle it for them – it’s best to move the clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday, March 13.

Source: When does the time change? Daylight saving time means you should ‘spring forward’ 1 hour tonight – al.com

Some Americans have already received the third stimulus payment, according to mobile banking service Current.

The first deposits come just one day after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act into law. The bill includes a provision for a third stimulus check worth up to $1,400 per qualifying individual and each of his or her dependents.

Source: Some Americans have already received the third stimulus payment

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh Public Schools is taking students to court over truancy.

“My daughters were both straight-A students and now they are failing. They have Es on their report cards,” said Sharon Austin.

READ MORE:Pittsburgh Weather: Cooler Weekend Temperatures, Sunny Skies

As a mother of those two daughters at Obama Academy, Austin is distraught. Since the beginning of the school year, she says neither has been able to connect with the remote classes despite seven trips to the technology support center at the school.

“I can’t get into the account,” said Ciara Austin. “The computers won’t let me in. I can’t get to the teachers and say, ‘Hey, I’m here.’”

Like scores of other students who — for various reasons — have not been attending their remote classes, the district recently took the Austins to court for truancy. In a statement, the district says it determined there is nothing wrong with the laptops.

“We have provided support and engaged multiple times with this family and have found no problem with the district-issued technology. Any problem with connectivity is the result of user error.”

READ MORE:Pittsburgh Bars Prepared For Toned-Down St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Source: Pittsburgh Public Schools Takes Students Not Attending Online Classes To Truancy Court – CBS Pittsburgh

By Jayati Ramakrishnan | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Portland police detained a crowd of over 100 protesters during a Friday night demonstration, stemming a march only minutes after it began.

The mass detainment was an apparent use of kettling, a police tactic of surrounding a crowd and containing people within a perimeter. Police told the crowd they were detaining everyone within the boundary for the “investigation of a crime” but did not specify the nature of the alleged crime.

Demonstrators initially gathered in the Pearl District about 8:30 p.m. and started marching roughly a half-hour later. Police threatened to arrest protesters minutes after the march started, saying those walking in the street were blocking traffic and would be subject to arrest, citation or crowd control munitions if they didn’t move.

Police announced about 9:20 p.m. they were setting up a perimeter around the group and detaining everyone. Police said the detention was “temporary” and that they would remove demonstrators “one at a time.”

Source: Police detain more than 100 Portland protesters in apparent kettling – oregonlive.com

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called on Andrew Cuomo to resign on Friday evening as sexual-harassment allegations against the embattled New York governor continue to pile up. “We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct,” they said in a statement. “Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has los the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.”

Their call for his resignation comes after some of the most influential Democratic members of New York’s congressional delegation said Cuomo should resign in the wake of mounting scandals. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who has represented Manhattan in Congress for three decades, said in a statement that Cuomo had “lost the confidence of the people of New York.” Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, meanwhile, said in a joint statement that Cuomo can “no longer effectively lead.” Freshman Rep. Mondaire Jones, calling Cuomo “unfit” for office, cited not only the sexual-harassment claims but also evidence of a plot to cover up COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes. Rep. Grace Meng, a former Democratic National Committee vice chair, joined the resignation calls as well. Later, Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Nydia Velazquez, long-tenured Manhattan and Brooklyn Democrats who chair House committees, called on Cuomo to resign, as did Reps. Yvette Clarke and Adriano Espaillat.

Source: New York Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand Say It’s Time for Cuomo to Resign

By Elizabeth Stauffer

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III approved a request from the U.S. Capitol Police for 2,300 National Guard troops to remain in Washington, D.C. through May 23, 2021. There are currently 5,200 troops deployed to the Capitol.

On Thursday, the Fox News Channel obtained a copy of a memo written by Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, in which he explained why the National Guard “cannot and should not fulfill the Capitol Police’s troop request at this time.”

Hokanson argued that “the National Guard is already over-stretched due to coronavirus constraints, civil disturbances and wildfires. Efforts to date have not secured enough volunteers among supporting states to meet the USCP request of 2,280 soldiers, nor Option B of 1000 soldiers.”

“I am concerned that the continued indefinite nature of this requirement may also impede our ability to man future missions as both adjutants general and guardsmen alike may be skeptical about committing to future endeavors,” he added.

According to Fox, Hokanson’s memo circulated within the White House National Security Council over the past week.

Source: National Guard General Wants to Bring His Weary Soldiers Home from DC, But the Biden Administration Won’t Let Him: Report