Category: PHILLY & PA. NEWS

Pennsylvania Suing Delta Auto for Consumers

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced today that his Office has filed a civil lawsuit against extended automobile warranty company Delta Auto Protect to get money back for consumers and repair shops which fell victim to its car repair scam. Delta is operated by Omega Vehicle Services LLC and its managing member Charles Seruya.

The

lawsuit

alleges the company advertises and sells vehicle service and repair contracts to thousands of consumers in multiple states from a virtual office in Exton, PA, but refuses to honor the contracts it sells and, after accepting payment from consumers, refuses to cover the necessary repairs promised under contract.

“Many customers of Delta Auto Protect of Exton have complained to my Office, and they’re not happy,” AG Shapiro said. “From phone calls to emails and letters, consumers have let us know how unresponsive this defendant has been to them. This rude and illegal treatment of customers is unwarranted. We are listening, and we are taking action to get their money back.”

The Attorney General said he wants restitution for Delta customers who:

Paid for warranties and didn’t get the coverage they were promised,

Paid out-of-pocket costs to repair their vehicles, and

Tried to cancel their policies but didn’t receive refunds.

Shapiro said he is also seeking restitution for repair shops that didn’t get paid.

The lawsuit says Delta advertised “24/7 customer service” to entice sales, but when consumers and the repair shops called about missing payments, the company dodged them, re-routed their calls, left them endlessly “on hold.” They also failed to return messages.

In some instances, Delta placed a condition on payment that required a consumer to remove their negative reviews of the company. Multiple consumer complaints allege the company failed to pay refunds for contract cancellations.

“I’ve been calling this company almost every week for the past year and it has failed to pay for the repairs on my car,” said Carolyn Ames, a customer from Germansville, Lehigh County. “Delta is impossible to reach. If I do get through they hang up and they never return my calls. I’m so glad to know Attorney General Shapiro is standing up for consumers like me and is taking action to get my money back.”

AG Shapiro is urging any consumers who believe they were victimized by the defendants’ business practices to

submit a complaint

with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, calling the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 or emailing

scams@attorneygeneral.gov

.

This complaint has been filed in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas by Senior Deputy Attorney General Karen C. McRory-Negrin.

# # #

Philadelphia Bar Association\’s Statement on Alleged Racially Derogatory Remarks by Judge

PHILADELPHIA, PA –

In response to recent reports that Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Tranquilli is alleged to have made racially derogatory comments about a black juror,

Philadelphia Bar Association

Chancellor Hon. A. Michael Snyder (ret.) issued the following statement:

“The Philadelphia Bar Association, and its members, have long been committed to the

imperative of respect for all individuals. We cannot, and will not, tolerate comments by a jurist which reflect racial bias or disparagement. The allegation of any such comments by a judge demands a full investigation.

“We condemn the comments alleged to have been made by Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Tranquilli. We join with the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association in demanding a full and complete investigation of the alleged conduct.

“Such comments, if made, reflect an intolerance and lack of respect for all involved in the judicial process. The fair administration of justice demands that everyone, of any race, ethnicity or gender be treated with dignity and respect.

“We cannot expect our citizenry to respect the judicial process if members of the judiciary do not demonstrate a respect for those who appear before them.

“We must remember that justice denied to one is justice denied to all.

“Therefore, we anticipate a full and appropriate review by the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board. We further anticipate a speedy and just resolution of these charges.”

The Rodger Stone Case: Where Is \”Lady Justice\”?

WASHINGTON, DC–This week saw new controversies related to the Roger Stone case with four top DOJ prosecutors resigning from their posts in protest of AG Barr’s call for reducing Stone’s sentence. Scroll down to see how Judicial Watch has taken an active role in exposing the FBI’s misconduct in raiding, targeting and prosecuting Roger Stone.

From FOX News:

DOJ Prosecutors Resign After Top Brass Reverses Course on Roger Stone Sentencing

(2/12/2020)

Four career Department of Justice  prosecutors abruptly withdrew from their postions in an apparent dramatic protest just hours after senior leaders at the DOJ said they would take the extraordinary step of effectively overruling the prosecutors’ judgment by seeking a lesser sentence for President Trump’s former adviser Roger Stone.

Read More

Here

.

From Judicial Watch:

1.

Judicial Watch Sues Justice Departmet for Roger Stone Raid Documents

(4/19/2019)

The Judicial Watch FOIA request and subsequent lawsuit was in part prompted by the extraordinary and exclusive video access to the raid and arrest of Stone obtained by CNN. “That we’re being stonewalled suggests that someone has something to hide,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Read More

Here

.

2.

Targeting of Trump’s Team ‘Worst Corruption by DOJ in Modern Times’

(1/29/2019)

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton: “I don’t think the Justice Department would have brought this prosecution of Roger Stone but for the Mueller special counsel operation, which is geared at trying to destroy President Trump.”

Read More

Here

.

3.

Documents Show Andrew Weissmann Leading Hiring Effort for Mueller Special Counsel

(5/14/2019)

“These documents show Andrew Weissmann, an anti-Trump activist, had a hand in hiring key members of Mueller’s team – who also happened to be political opponents of President Trump,”  Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.

Read More

Here

.

Hunters! Please Remove Temporary Deer Stands from State Wildlife Areas

DOVER (Feb. 12, 2020) – With Delaware’s 2019/20 deer hunting seasons having ended earlier this month, hunters are reminded to remove their portable deer stands from state wildlife areas by Saturday, Feb. 15. Any stands found on wildlife areas after that date will become the property of the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Hunters may temporarily set up portable stands starting Aug. 1 each year and remove them at the end of the season – doing so with the knowledge that placement of a deer stand on a public wildlife area does not provide exclusive rights to hunting from their stand. Under state wildlife area rules, no parts of portable deer stands can be nailed or bolted to a tree. Hunters are also prohibited from cutting any vegetation or branches to hang a stand or to clear shooting paths on a wildlife area.

For more information, please contact the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912.

What You Need to Know About Vampire Energy

(February 15, 2020)–)–Have you ever wondered why all your energy saving efforts seem not enough? Is your electric bill still hiking up? Well, you might have something lurking in your home. This monster is leeching

energy from your sockets and money from your pockets.

How Does It Work?

Vampire energy, also known as standby loss, idle current, or ghost load, refers to the energy being unnecessarily leeched by gadgets or appliances when you leave it plugged in. These products are consuming energy even when not in use. On average, one household can waste more than £86 each year. It is a terrible waste of electricity and money.

Who Are the Culprits?

ATTENTION Pennsylvanians! You can now request mail-in ballot for any reason

By Kim Jarrett |

The Center Square

A voter steps from the voting booth Nov. 6, 2018, after casting his ballot in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Matt Rourke / AP photo

HARRISBURG, PA (February 14, 2020)–Pennsylvania voters will be able to mail-in their ballots for the first time in history without a reason, but county election officials say they are not sure how it will affect the upcoming presidential primary in April.

The Secretary of State’s Office is accepting applications for the online ballots starting this week and will do so until April 21, a week before the primary. Voters will need to have a driver’s license, the last four numbers on their Social Security card or have an acceptable form of identification like a military ID card or passport. Counties must begin processing mail-in ballots on March 9, according to information for the Secretary of State’s office.

Mail-in ballots were part of an election reform package passed by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2019 that gives voters a 50-day window to return their ballots. Voters can still ask for an absentee ballot if they have an illness, will be out of state or have another reason they cannot vote on Election Day.

Unlike absentee ballots, voters do not need a reason to want to vote by mail. They can visit their county elections office and ask for a ballot and are allowed to fill it out in person. Some election officials are concerned about the strain on county election staffs.

“County voter registration offices do not have the staff or resources to serve as an early in-person vote center, and that is what Act 77 is going to turn us into,” said Forrest Lehman, director of elections for Lycoming County at a hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee last month.

Voters can turn their ballot in as late as 8 p.m. on the day of the election. That timeline has some county election officials concerned about the delay in results and what voter turnout will be.

“We don’t know how many ballots we are going to need to send out,” said Timothy Benyo, chief clerk for the Lehigh County Office of the Election Board at the hearing. “We don’t know how many ballots are going to be returned. We don’t know how many people are going to show up at the polls.”

Twenty-eight Pennsylvania counties are also using new voting machines for the first time in the presidential primary, which could cause further delays in getting results.

Act 77 also gave voters 15 extra days to register before a primary or general election. The deadline to register for the April 28 presidential primary is April 13.

republished by Gloucestercitynews.net with permission of

The Center Square

Guest Opinion: 75 percent of illegal immigrants skip deportation hearings, hiding out in US

OPINION: WASHINGTON SECRETS

by

Paul Bedard

| February 07, 2020 10:35 AM

More than 7 out of 10 illegal immigrant families ordered to be deported have skipped their court dates and remain in the United States, according to federal statistics.

In just 10 courts, some 36,115 illegal immigrant families ordered out from September 2018 to January 2020 never complied with a requirement to attend their hearings and instead are hiding out in the country, according to a Justice Department report from the Executive Office for

Immigration Review Adjudication Statistics

.

The report, according to an analysis by the

Center for Immigration Studies

, found that during the period, 47,925 families were denied asylum and ordered deported, but 75% didn’t attend their court hearings to get the order.

The statistics are the latest in a long string of reports that have detailed how illegal immigrants disappear into the U.S. once they enter.

“Their failure to appear suggests that they simply gamed loopholes in our immigration laws to gain entry into this country, to live and work indefinitely,” said former Immigration Judge Andrew R. Arthur, writing for CIS.

“There is nothing wrong with people looking for a better life generally, of course, but the problem in these cases are that (1) they put themselves and their children in danger by entering illegally to begin with, (2) they gave money to criminals and cartels to be smuggled into the U.S., (3) they are swelling immigration court dockets with hearing dates they never attended and likely never planned to attend, and (4) they make it harder for legitimate asylum seekers to get protection in a timely manner, which would allow those aliens to start a new life free from fear and protect their family members still abroad. Oh, and illegal entry is a crime,” he added.

The report said that as in the past, some 9 out of 10 immigrants seeking asylum into the U.S. were denied.

Over the 15-month period and 10 courts studied in the report, judges completed 52,646 cases resulting in deportations of 47,925 — a 91% removal rate.

Secure Your Finances Before Obtaining a Car Loan

image courtesy of unsplash.com

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 15, 2020)–Getting a car loan requires you to be responsible. You need to pay the loan each month for three to five years. There\’s a chance that your car could get taken away from you if you fail to pay the required amount. Therefore, you must secure your finances first before you obtain any loan.  If you are looking for first-class service and a quick response to your loan request look no further than

Omacl Loans.

Make sure you don’t have any existing major debt

You can’t get a major loan if there’s an existing loan that you still keep paying. Unless you have a huge monthly income, keeping up with two significant loans that require monthly payments would be tough. You can wait until you already finished one loan before getting another, or at least be close to completion.

Check your income source

You should only take on paying a monthly car loan if you have a stable income source. Otherwise, it will be a burden. You will keep worrying about where you’re going to get the amount to help you pay the loan for the following month. If you have a secure job, you can pursue this transaction. If you’re still on probation, or you only recently started your job, you need to think twice.

Understand the terms

Not all car loan companies are the same. Some of them offer reasonable terms. You need to understand what it entails for you to secure a car loan. If you can find

no deposit car finance

, it might be great news. You can drive your preferred car without the need to pay anything first. However, the monthly fees might be a lot higher than usual due to the lack of initial payment. If you already understand the terms, you will know if you chose the right car loan company.

Compare the cars

It also helps if you know the car models. You can check if an option is good enough considering its price, or if there are other better choices. Take your time to review the options using different standards. Once you find the car model that you want, it will be easier to proceed with any transaction.

A no-deposit deal could be the perfect choice

You might have second thoughts about the idea of obtaining a no-deposit car deal. You think that it’s too risky. The truth is that you can still get a great deal if you compare the terms first. The monthly fees might be affordable enough. Even the fees for delayed payments aren’t as terrible as you think. The reason why you have an unfair view is that you only heard what other people said about this loan. Upon further research, you will realize that it could be the perfect deal.

Once you conclude that you will pursue this deal, you need to start gathering the requirements. You also need to ask different car loan companies for quotes. Confirm the information found online and start submitting the documents for approval. Once you get approved, you need to be responsible for the monthly payments.

The Rodger Stone Case: Where Is \”Lady Justice\”?

WASHINGTON, DC–This week saw new controversies related to the Roger Stone case with four top DOJ prosecutors resigning from their posts in protest of AG Barr’s call for reducing Stone’s sentence. Scroll down to see how Judicial Watch has taken an active role in exposing the FBI’s misconduct in raiding, targeting and prosecuting Roger Stone.

From FOX News:

DOJ Prosecutors Resign After Top Brass Reverses Course on Roger Stone Sentencing

(2/12/2020)

Four career Department of Justice  prosecutors abruptly withdrew from their postions in an apparent dramatic protest just hours after senior leaders at the DOJ said they would take the extraordinary step of effectively overruling the prosecutors’ judgment by seeking a lesser sentence for President Trump’s former adviser Roger Stone.

Read More

Here

.

From Judicial Watch:

1.

Judicial Watch Sues Justice Departmet for Roger Stone Raid Documents

(4/19/2019)

The Judicial Watch FOIA request and subsequent lawsuit was in part prompted by the extraordinary and exclusive video access to the raid and arrest of Stone obtained by CNN. “That we’re being stonewalled suggests that someone has something to hide,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Read More

Here

.

2.

Targeting of Trump’s Team ‘Worst Corruption by DOJ in Modern Times’

(1/29/2019)

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton: “I don’t think the Justice Department would have brought this prosecution of Roger Stone but for the Mueller special counsel operation, which is geared at trying to destroy President Trump.”

Read More

Here

.

3.

Documents Show Andrew Weissmann Leading Hiring Effort for Mueller Special Counsel

(5/14/2019)

“These documents show Andrew Weissmann, an anti-Trump activist, had a hand in hiring key members of Mueller’s team – who also happened to be political opponents of President Trump,”  Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.

Read More

Here

.

CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH ON THE KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS

March 2020 programming includes a renowned Broadway revival,

celebrated artists from across comedy, jazz, chamber & orchestral music, and more

(Philadelphia, PA, February 13, 2020) ––The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus, along with Resident Company support from Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and The Philadelphia Orchestra, celebrates Women’s History Month in March 2020 with an array of programming honoring a breadth of female artistry and expression. Additionally, in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Philadelphia and Drexel University’s Vision, 2020’s “Women 100” National Women’s Equality Initiative will host a series of events, including the

Seat at the Table

FREE and interactive exhibition, opening in March and running through September in the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza.

“Representation of women is one of our top priorities when presenting world-class art, as we continue to fulfill our mission to engage the Philadelphia region’s diverse communities with art through performance and education,” said Anne Ewers, President & CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Throughout Women’s History Month, and all season long, we partner with our Resident Companies to bring you stories about women and female artistic champions, from comedy to Broadway, jazz to dance, chamber music to the orchestra. It is imperative to us that our audiences, particularly our growing student attendees, see themselves reflected onstage. Furthermore, it is an honor to serve as this institution’s President & CEO, with more than half of its dedicated staff made up women, and 51% female at the executive level.”

Women’s History Month-specific programming on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus includes

Hello, Dolly!

, called “The Best Show of the Year” by NPR and “Classic Broadway at its best” by

Entertainment Weekly

, running at the Academy of Music February 19 through March 1. Comedian

Paula Poundstone

, most recently known from NPR’s #1 show,

Wait, Wait…Don\’t Tell Me!

, returns to the Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater on Saturday, March 7; Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer

Kristin Chenoweth

returns to Verizon Hall on Friday, March 13; while the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ jazz series continues with Grammy Award-nominated

Jazzmeia Horn

in Perelman Theater on Saturday, March 14; and Emmy nominated comedian, actor, writer, director, and executive producer

Ilana Glazer

brings her

Horny 4 Tha Polls

to the Merriam Theater on March 21.

With the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Philadelphia and Drexel University’s Vision 2020’s “Women 100” National Women’s Equality Initiative will host a series of events, enlightening attendees to challenges; aiming to refocus attention for 50-50 leadership in business; and impacting the 2020 election by encouraging all women to vote. The Kimmel Center will host a

Seat at the Table

exhibition

.

On Thursday, March 12,

Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de SILVIA LOZANO

plays the Merriam Theater, reflecting the work of Mexico’s leading researchers and practitioners of folklore, dance, music, and costumes. Silvia Lozano is a distinguished artist, internationally recognized as a leading promoter of authentic Mexican folklore. She has dedicated herself to sharing the beauty of music, dance, costumes, and Mexican traditions with people around the world.

Join the Kimmel Center for a presentation of Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, at the Merriam Theater for

National Geographic Live! When Women Ruled the World

on Wednesday, March 18. Learn about women often neglected in history books, whose undeniable power and influence allowed them to work both with and against the patriarchal society.  Cleopatra used her sexuality – and her money – to build alliances with warlords of the Roman empire. Neferusobek was the first woman to definitively take the title of King. Neferiti is known more for her beauty than for bringing a fractured Egypt together. What can we learn from how these women ruled? Dr. Cooney shares some illuminating answers.

The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus is home to eight beloved Resident Companies – this Women’s History Month, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents

Pamela Frank, Violin and Peter Serkin, Piano

on Tuesday, March 3. These beloved chamber musicians unite to perform an unforgettable evening of Bach. Grammy Award-winning soprano

Ana María Martínez

graces the Perelman Theater on Friday, March 13 for an all-Spanish recital of works by Rodrigo, Granados, Lecuona, de Falla, Moré, Capó, and selected zarzuela.

Takács Quartet

performs a renowned Beethoven performance on Sunday, March 15. Diving into the emotional depths of Beethoven’s music, the

Belcea Quartet

presents several of his famous string quartets on March 17 and 18. On Tuesday, March 31,

Jörg Widmann, clarinet; Tabea Zimmermann, viola; and Dénes Várjon, piano

perform a fantastical program featuring three of Europe’s most versatile and intriguing artists and Widmann’s contemporary take on classic fairy tales. In addition, The Philadelphia Orchestra joins the celebration with

Porgy and Bess

, conducted by Marin Alsop and starring soprano Angel Blue, March 5 – 7, and with Composer-in-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank for

BeethovenNOW: Symphonies 2 & 3

, March 19 – 22. As part of the latter program, the Orchestra premieres a new work by Jessica Hunt, a student of Frank’s Creative Academy. Both programs are part of the Orchestra’s

WomenNOW series

, embracing and exploring the range, creativity, and power of women in music on the podium, in composition, and on stage.

For additional information, visit

www.kimmelcenter.org

.