Financial Assistance Programs to Help with Winter Heating Costs

FOLSOM, N.J.

– Dec. 3, 2019 – With winter on the horizon, South Jersey Gas encourages customers to prepare for the colder months ahead. For some families, keeping warm is not as simple as adjusting the thermostat and many face competing financial priorities.

\”At South Jersey Gas, we know how important it is to have access to safe, reliable, affordable natural gas,\” said Dave Robbins, President, South Jersey Gas. “Through community outreach, our dedicated Energy Assistance team builds awareness of financial assistance programs and tools that help ensure our customers have the resources they need to meet their energy needs now and well into the future.”

South Jersey Gas wants to help customers better prepare for winter heating season by advising them of the following programs and services that can provide peace of mind when managing winter heating bills.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

provides income-qualified customers with grants to offset their winter heating bills. Eligibility factors include household size, income level and geographic location. Program recipients can combine this offer with other utility financial assistance programs. LIHEAP\’s application season runs from Oct. 1 through Aug. 31, 2019. For more information including eligibility requirements and an application, call 2.1.1 or the LIHEAP Hotline at 800.510.3102.

Universal Service Fund (USF)

awards eligible participants up to $1,800 each year in monthly credits split between a customer’s electric and gas bill. Applications are available year-round. For more information dial 2.1.1. or 800.510.3102.

Income guidelines have been changed effective this program year. Customers at or below 185% of poverty level are now income eligible to apply for this monthly benefit.

The Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric Program (PAGE)

program provides a one-time grant of up to $750 to low-to-moderate-income households experiencing a temporary financial crisis. Eligible customers may receive a subsidy on both their gas and electric accounts up to $1,500 per year. This program is for customers not eligible for other programs (e.g. LIHEAP or USF) during a given enrollment period. Visit NJPoweron.org for additional information and an application.

Lifeline

offers a $225 grant to seniors or adults receiving Social Security Disability benefits. The benefit can be applied equally to natural gas and electric utilities. For more information dial 800.792.9745.

NJ SHARES

provides financial relief to income-eligible households, not eligible for other types of assistance, in paying their energy, telephone and water bills. For more information dial 866.657.4273. Customers can also donate to support their neighbors in need through NJ SHARES at NJShares.org.

The South Jersey Gas Energy Assistance team hosts community outreach events to help determine customers eligibility and assist with program applications. Outreach dates are available online at southjerseygas.com/energyassistance. In addition to state and federal financial resources, South Jersey Gas provides customers with tools to help manage heating costs and energy savings.

South Jersey Gas Budget Plan

offers a convenient way for customers to pay a consistent amount every month for a 12-month period, based on historic usage, making household budgeting easier. Customers can enroll by calling the Customer Care Center at 800.582.7060 or by visiting southjerseygas.com.

South Jersey Gas Energy Efficiency Program

offers resources to help customers save money while reducing their carbon footprint. Resources include home energy assessments, home weatherization for income-qualified customers that include the installation of energy saving measures, a one-stop shop marketplace for instant rebates on energy-efficient products and high-efficiency equipment loans and rebates and more.

About South Jersey Gas

South Jersey Gas, subsidiary of SJI (NYSE:SJI), delivers safe, reliable, affordable natural gas and promotes energy efficiency to approximately 385,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, and portions of Gloucester, Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey. For more information, visit

southjerseygas.com

Pastor And President Of Louisiana Religious College Charged With Sexual Assault

NEWARK, N.J. – The president of a bible college will appeared in court on charges he sexually assaulted a student on an international flight bound for Newark, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Cornelius Tilton, 65, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged by complaint with one count of abusive sexual contact after being arrested by FBI agents on Nov. 30, 2019, when the flight, which departed from Tel Aviv, Israel, arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Tilton was sitting in a window seat next to the victim, a 19-year-old male student at a theological seminary who was traveling with a group of students on a religious trip to Israel. Tilton accompanied the group as an unofficial guide and gave speeches.

During the flight, Tilton allegedly placed his hand on the victim’s bare calf. Tilton continued to touch the victim’s thigh, and eventually began rubbing the victim’s genitals over the victim’s shorts. The victim did not react, or look at Tilton, out of shock and fear. Tilton took the victim’s hand and placed it on Tilton’s erect penis, on top of his clothing. The victim got up to go to the bathroom, in hopes of ending the assault. Tilton also went to the bathroom. When the victim and Tilton were back in their seats, Tilton continued to touch the bare skin of the victim’s lower back, underneath the victim’s clothing. Tilton moved his hand around to the front of the victim’s waistline, and attempted to place his hand down the victim’s pants, when the victim blocked Tilton’s hand with his elbow. The victim then got up from the seat and informed a flight attendant about the assault.

The charge of abusive sexual contact carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

STUDY: IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH

Depression symptoms rise over time when facing multiple conditions that need different types of self-care, especially among husbands whose conditions differ from their wives’

Newswise — When they said their wedding vows, many of them promised to stand by one another in sickness and in health.

But a new study suggests that as married couples age and develop chronic conditions, the daily demands of coping with their own health demands and those of their spouse may take a mental toll.

Depression symptoms increased over time among married men and women who themselves had two or more chronic conditions that need different types of self-care – such as a special diet and medications for heart disease or diabetes along with pain-reducing therapy for arthritis.

When husbands and wives both had chronic health conditions, and needed different kinds of self-care from their partners, husbands fared worse. Their depression symptoms were significantly higher, but this effect was not found for wives.

The new findings, made by a team from the University of Michigan using data from a long-term study of more than 1,110 older opposite-sex married couples from 2006 to 2014, are published in

Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.

While less than 10% of the women and less than 7% of the men in the study had levels of depression symptoms serious enough to suggest a need for treatment, lower-level depression is important for older people, clinicians, caregivers and adult children to understand, says Courtney Polenick, Ph.D., who led the study.

In both husbands and wives, the rise of depressive symptoms didn’t begin until a few years after the first assessment of their health and well-being.

“Our results suggest that there’s a window where, if one or both of you are managing complex conditions that don’t have similar self-management goals, it may be possible to intervene and prevent the development or worsening of depression,” says Polenick, who is part of the U-M Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Social Research. “This might be the time for couples, and those who care for them, to emphasize broadly beneficial lifestyle behaviors that help to maintain both mental and physical health.”

For instance, a woman coping with both high blood pressure and arthritis needs to make changes to her exercise routine, but her husband without such conditions could commit to making those changes along with her. Or a wife with diabetes who does most of the cooking and has a husband with prostate cancer could adopt a healthier menu for both of them.

Polenick and her colleagues from U-M’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation looked at data from the Health and Retirement Study, which repeatedly interviews and surveys thousands of American adults in their 50s and beyond over time.

They focused on conditions that have similar treatment goals focused on reducing cardiovascular risk — diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and stoke – and those with treatment goals and needs that are different from each of the other conditions– cancer, arthritis and lung disease.

When one person in the couple had at least one condition with different treatment goals and needs, they’re considered to have “discordant” conditions. When one member of a couple had at least one condition that has different treatment goals and needs from the other partner, the couple is considered to have discordant conditions.

“Research has focused on how individuals with multiple conditions, also called multimorbidity, manage their chronic health needs,” says Polenick. “But most people in later life are partnered, with similar health-related habits, and we need to understand how changing health affects the couple dynamic.”

The fact that both wives and husbands experienced significant increases in depressive symptoms as the years passed, when they were coping with discordant conditions in themselves, is by itself important to understand, Polenick notes.

But the fact that wives whose husbands’ health needs differed from their own didn’t experience an even greater rise in depression is a bit surprising, she adds.

Meanwhile, husbands whose conditions had self-care needs that were different from their wives’ conditions did experience an additional rise in depression symptoms.

Among individuals who are baby boomers or older, wives may be more used to taking the lead in caring for the health and emotional well-being of both themselves and their husbands, she says. But when husbands have wives who are coping with different health demands than their own, the husbands may experience less of this support than usual, worsening their stress and mental health.

Polenick and her colleagues continue to explore these intra-couple dynamics, and their consequences for mental and physical health. They also hope to expand the range of chronic health conditions they examine, and to look at shorter timeframes in conditions that can be managed with lifestyle changes.

But in the meantime, she notes that middle-aged and older couples may want to do more now to understand the factors that they can control as they age, and those they cannot, and talk about how they feel as a result.

“This is a reminder to step back and look at what your partner is coping with, to learn about their health conditions, to be conscious of it on a daily basis, and for grown children and clinicians to do the same,” she says. “Having that awareness, and helping one another manage health problems while watching for signs of depression, may help both members of a couple over time.”

In addition to Polenick, the study team includes Kira Birditt, PhD, Angela Turkelson, MS, and Benjamin Bugajski of U-M, and Helen Kales, MD, formerly a professor at U-M and now the chair of psychiatry at the University of California, Davis.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (AG057838), as is the Health and Retirement Study.

Mcadoo Man Convicted Of Threatening The President

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Shawn Christy, age 28, of McAdoo, was convicted on November 26, 2019, by a federal jury on twelve counts involving threats against the President of the United States, transmitting threatening communications, interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, interstate transportation of stolen firearms, interstate transportation of firearms while charged with a felony offense, and unlawful possession of a firearm as a fugitive and as a convicted felon. The seven-day trial was held before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the jury deliberated for approximately six hours before finding Christy guilty of all charges.

The evidence showed that arrest warrants were issued for Christy in early June 2018, for his failure to appear for court proceedings in Schuylkill and Northampton Counties, and that while a fugitive Christy posted threats in June 2018 to kill President Trump, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli, and any law enforcement officer that sought to detain him.

Christy was apprehended in Ohio on September 21, 2018, after a three-month manhunt by U.S. Marshals, FBI agents, Secret Service agents, and state and local law enforcement from six states. Prosecutors presented evidence that Christy stole and transported two vehicles from Pennsylvania to New York State and West Virginia, stole firearms and transported them from Pennsylvania to Maryland and Kentucky, broke into businesses in Pennsylvania and Maryland, broke into a church in Maryland, and broke into residences in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

After the verdict, Judge Mariani ordered a presentence investigation report to be completed and tentatively scheduled sentencing for February 2020. Christy remains in custody pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol agents, the Pennsylvania State Police, Butler Township Police, Maryland State Police, New York State Police, Allegany County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office, Nitro Police in West Virginia, Richland County Jail Officers in Ohio, Northeastern Ohio Correctional Officials, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis P. Sempa and Sean A. Camoni are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)

, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each threat offense is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for each interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle offense is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for each interstate transportation of a stolen firearm offense, and for unlawful possession of a firearm as a fugitive and convicted felon, is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for each interstate transportation of a firearm while charged with a felony offense is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant\’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

Darlene Johnson Elected Chair of FCA\’s Board of Trustees

KANSAS CITY, Mo—

The

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA,

www.fca.org

)

is announcing that Darlene Johnson has been elected the chair of

FCA’s

Board of Trustees.

Johnson is the first female African-American board chair and the second female in

FCA

history to lead the board. Her two-year term begins Jan. 1, 2020, and she previously served

FCA

as the vice chair of the board.

“The Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Board of Trustees is blessed to be led by a chair who has faithfully served the ministry and has a passion for the vision and mission of FCA,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “Darlene Johnson is also a coach’s wife who understands the significant influence coaches have on athletes, as well as the challenges coaching can bring to a marriage, family and home. We celebrate Darlene’s contributions to FCA and her community and look forward to her leadership.”

Johnson was born and raised in central New Jersey and has an educational background in business and computer systems. She owns and operates a home-based clean beauty business and enjoys encouraging all people, especially women, to grow in the use of their God-given talents. Johnson’s husband, Craig, is in his sixth season as the New York Giants’ running backs coach. They have two adult children, Shelby and Sydney.

“I am humbled and excited to see God’s plan unfold, as He uses me for His glory and to advance the gospel message in FCA through coaches and athletes,” Johnson said. “I love sports, and I love seeing people from all walks of life come to faith in Christ! It’s a rich blessing to be involved in sports ministry and a ministry that has impact all over the world. I will work hard to represent this ministry with commitment, excellence and integrity.”

Johnson added that the Bible verses Colossians 2:6-7 have been ministry verses for her since 2006, as well as confirmation that her new role at

FCA

is the path God has chosen for her in this season of life and ministry: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Bruce Williams served as Chair of the

FCA

Board of Trustees for 2018-19 and handed over the gavel to Johnson during a ceremony at last month’s board meeting.

“I am thrilled that Darlene Johnson will serve as the next chairman of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Board of Trustees and, historically, as the first African-American woman to be chair,” Williams said. “We are so excited to see how God will use Darlene, and we thank her for her servant’s heart and her willingness to serve at this important time for the ministry.”

GTPD Participating In Statewide Impaired Driving Enforcement Crackdown

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP NJ (Dec. 4, 2019)–Beginning December 6, 2019 and continuing through January 1, 2020, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated. The Gloucester Township Police will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs as part of the annual end of year “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. During the last five years New Jersey has experienced nearly 37,000 alcohol involved crashes resulting in more than 679 fatalities. Last year, 20% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Just last year, 10,511 people died in drunk driving crashes across the nation. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $44 billion annually.

We want to offer the following advice for the holiday season:

• Take mass transit, a taxicab, rideshare service or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

• Spend the night where the activity or party is held.

• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement.

• Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

The timing of this initiative is even more important given it coincides with the holidays where we see an increase in traffic volume due to celebrations involving family and friends as well as numerous shopping trips to retail businesses. The Gloucester Township Police Department is committed to ensuring everyone gets to where they are going safely by enforcing aggressive driving behaviors and detecting and arresting those driving while under the influence. We want to reinforce the importance of safe driving behaviors in an effort to save a life or prevent a serious injury.

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Parade of Lights is Just Around the Corner

PHILADELPHIA PA–\’

Tis the season to get festive with family! Hosted by

CBS 3

anchor

Jan Carabeo

Parade of Lights

is coming up this Saturday, December 7. Spend the afternoon decorating seasonal crafts like a gingerbread boat in Santa\’s Workshop on the Water* or a fractal tree in

River Alive!

Say \”cheese!\” for a family photo in our merry Makerspace and take home a holiday LED frame*.

Museum members enjoy special benefits at Parade of Lights, like access to the Member\’s Lounge and an exclusive take-home activity! Read on below to learn more about how you can become a member and take advantage of these perks.

After an afternoon of fun, a parade of local working boats will take to the river illuminated in lights for all to see at 5:15 p.m.

(*additional fees apply)

PARADE OF LIGHTS TICKETS

Migraine Headaches? Consider Aspirin for Treatment

Newswise — Migraine headache is the third most common disease in the world affecting about 1 in 7 people. More prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined, migraine headaches are among the most common and potentially debilitating disorders encountered by primary health care providers. Migraines also are associated with an increased risk of stroke

There are effective prescription medications available to treat acute migraine headaches as well as to prevent recurrent attacks. Nonetheless, in the United States many patients are not adequately treated for reasons that include limited access to health care providers and lack of health insurance or high co-pays, which make expensive medications of proven benefit unaffordable. The rates of uninsured or underinsured individuals have been estimated to be 8.5 percent nationwide and 13 percent in Florida. Furthermore, for all patients, the prescription drugs may be poorly tolerated or contraindicated.

Researchers from

Florida Atlantic University

’s

Schmidt College of Medicine

have proposed aspirin as a possible option for consideration by primary care providers who treat the majority of patients with migraine. Their review includes evidence from 13 randomized trials of the treatment of migraine in 4,222 patients and tens of thousands of patients in prevention of recurrent attacks.

Their findings, published in

The

American Journal of Medicine

suggest that high-dose aspirin, in doses from 900 to 1,300 milligrams given at the onset of symptoms, is an effective and safe treatment option for acute migraine headaches. In addition, some but not all randomized trials suggest the possibility that daily aspirin in doses from 81 to 325 milligrams may be an effective and safe treatment option for the prevention of recurrent migraine headaches.

“Our review supports the use of high dose aspirin to treat acute migraine as well as low dose daily aspirin to prevent recurrent attacks,” said

Charles H. Hennekens

, M.D., Dr.PH, corresponding author, first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “Moreover, the relatively favorable side effect profile of aspirin and extremely low costs compared with other prescription drug therapies may provide additional clinical options for primary health care providers treating acute as well as recurrent migraine headaches.”

Common symptoms of migraine include a headache that often begins as a dull pain and then grows into a throbbing pain, which can be incapacitating and often occurs with nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to sound, light and smell. Migraines can last anywhere from four to 72 hours and may occur as many times as several times a week to only once a year.

“Migraine headaches are among the most common and potentially debilitating disorders encountered by primary health care providers,” said Bianca Biglione, first author and a second-year medical student in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “In fact, about 1 in 10 primary care patients present with headache and three out of four are migraines. Aspirin is readily available without a prescription, is inexpensive, and based on our review, was shown to be effective in many migraine patients when compared with alternative more expensive therapies.”

Approximately 36 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches and the cause of this disabling disorder is not well understood. There is a higher prevalence in women (18 percent) than men (9 percent). In women, the prevalence is highest during childbearing age. Approximately 90 percent of migraine sufferers report moderate to severe pain, with more than 50 percent reporting severe impairment or the need for bed rest as well as reduced work or school productivity.

Co-authors of the study are Alexander Gitin, a first-year medical student at the

University of Florida College of Medicine

; and

Philip B. Gorelick

, M.D., M.P.H., a professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience at

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

– FAU –

About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:

FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 152 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010,

when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With

more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, t

he college

matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum.

To further FAU’s commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. The Consortium currently has five Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residencies including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and neurology.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.

SEE ORIGINAL STUDY

Pennsylvania Included in Eight States with a Budget Deficit

By Dave Fidlin |

The Center Square

With expenses outpacing income, Pennsylvania is one of eight states across the country running a deficit within its government operations, according to a recent analysis.

Gloucestercitynews.net files

In its report, “

A Snapshot of Each State’s Financial Health

,” cost information website

HowMuch.net

examined the amount each state government is spending, compared to the amount coming in through taxes and other sources.

The analysis was based on 2017 figures – the same year the new U.S. tax code was enacted.

According to its analysis, gleaned from such sources as U.S. Census data, researchers concluded Pennsylvania’s state government expenses outpaced its revenues 0.63 percent, resulting in the deficit.

Per-capita expenses in 2017 hit $8,100, while revenue from the year clocked in $8,000, per capita.

Pennsylvania’s greatest expense, per capita, was under the category, “employees, supplies and service payments.” It represented more than half – $4,400 – of the state’s spending, per capita.

On the revenue side, the greatest contributor to Pennsylvania’s revenue, property taxes, made up $3,000 of the $8,000, per capita, of income that is funneled into the state’s operations.

Pennsylvania’s per-capita intake of taxes was above the national average, which hovered around $2,500. Vermont recorded the highest amount of taxes, per-capita, in income, at $5,000. On the low end, Alaska brought in $1,600.

Pennsylvania\’s budgetary practices have come under frequent criticism from the nonprofit Commonwealth Foundation, a free-market-oriented think tank, and from conservative lawmakers who have pushed for the passage of the Taxpayer Protection Act. The legislation would put strict limits on how much the state government can increase expenditures each year based on population growth and inflation.

\”The TPA controls government spending by limiting how quickly it can grow,\” the foundation\’s Tirzah Duren said

in a recent analysis

. \”It keeps spending growth in line with economic growth, freeing up revenues for paying down debt.\”

The

HowMuch.net

analysis comes at a time when deficit spending in the federal government reached a record – to the tune of $23 trillion.

In a statement within the report, author Juan Carlos said the review could play an important role in next year’s presidential election.

“With November 2020 on the horizon, questions about government debt, tax rates and the expansion of social programs will be at the forefront of national conversation,” Carlos wrote in the report.

Depending on a candidate’s platform, Carlos said in the report the outcome of next year’s election could impact states’ debt levels in the road ahead.

Most of Pennsylvania’s neighbors fared better in the How Much analysis. Only one other neighboring state – Delaware – spent more than it took in during the year under review.

Other states with budgetary deficits, according to the report, included Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Kentucky, Vermont and Wyoming.

Nevada led off the states notching the highest surpluses, according to the analysis, with 27.65 percent, followed by Hawaii, Idaho, North Carolina and, at 15.5 percent, New Hampshire.

published here with permission

Snow Thrower Usage: Keep Safety in Mind, Get Ready Before the Snow

Alexandria, Va. –The

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)

encourages home and business owners to ready their snow throwers and other winter equipment. Clearing driveways, sidewalks and parking lots is no small job. You rely on your outdoor power equipment to make snow removal easy, but it’s also important to keep safety in mind when using snow throwers, often referred to as snow blowers.

“If you’re anticipating bad weather or snow, start the machine and makes sure it operates before you need it and before repair shops are busy,” says OPEI President and CEO Kris Kiser. “Gas stations also can close and roads can be treacherous during a winter storm. You want to protect your power by having the right and fresh fuel on hand for your equipment. And, remember, gasoline-powered snow throwers should use E10 or less.”

OPEI offers the following questions to help you ready your snow thrower for the winter season:

GETTING READY

Have you read your owner’s manual?

Read up on safe handling procedures. Review how to operate the controls. You should be able to shut off your equipment quickly. If you lost your manual, you can look it up online, and store a copy on your computer so you have the manual available to reference in the future.

Have you checked your equipment since storing it?

Make sure all equipment is completely powered off when checking it over. If you forgot to drain the fuel last winter before storing your snow thrower, drain the gas tank now. Adjust any cables and check the auger when the equipment is powered off.

Is your equipment where you can get to it easily?

Move your equipment to a convenient and accessible location, so you can get to it quickly when you need it.

Have you purchased the right fuel?

Be sure to use the correct fuel, as recommended by your equipment\’s manufacturer. Place gasoline in a fuel container and label it with the date purchased and the ethanol content of the fuel. Use fresh fuel in your snow thrower as fuel that is more than 30 days old can phase separate and cause operating problems. Make sure fuel is stored safely and out of the reach of children. For more information on fueling properly see

www.LookBeforeYouPump.com

Are you fueling safely?

Before you start the engine, fill up the fuel tank on your snow thrower while the engine is cold and outside your home or garage. Never add fuel to a running or hot engine.

Are batteries charged?

If using a battery/electric-powered snow-thrower, make sure batteries are fully charged, in case electricity goes out during a winter storm.

Is the area you intend to clear free of obstructions or hidden obstacles?

Snow can hide objects. Doormats, hoses, balls, toys, boards, wires, and other debris should be removed from the areas you intend to clear. When run over by a snow thrower, these objects may harm the machine or people.

Are you dressed properly for winter weather?

Locate your safety gear now, and place it in an accessible closet or location in your home. Plan to wear safety glasses, gloves and footwear that can handle cold and slippery surfaces.

OPERATING SNOW THROWERS SAFELY

Do you have a clean out tool or stick?

NEVER

put your hands inside the auger or chute. Use a clean out tool (or stick) to unclog snow or debris from your snow thrower.

Do you turn off your snow thrower if you need to clear a clog?

Always turn off your snow thrower and wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop before clearing any clogs or debris.

Do you use your snow thrower in visible conditions?

Never operate the snow thrower without good visibility or light.

Can you aim your snow thrower with care?

Never throw snow toward people or cars. Do not allow anyone to stand in front of your snow thrower. Keep children or pets away from your snow thrower when it is operating.

Will you use extreme caution on slopes and hills?

Do not attempt to clear steep slopes and use caution when changing directions on slopes or inclines.

Do you know where your cord is?

Use an extension cord that is weather-resistant and designed for outdoor use. If you have an electric-powered snow thrower, be aware of where the power cord is at all times. Avoid tripping. Do not run over the power cord.

Are pets and children inside while the snow thrower is operating?

Kids and pets may love to play in the white stuff, but it’s best to keep them inside your home and supervised (by someone else) while you are using your snow thrower to clear a path or driveway. Do not allow them to play in the snow as it is tossed out of the snow thrower’s chute.

About OPEI

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show, and the creative force behind the environmental education program,

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. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces.