Mafia Hoax: Fake Kidnapping Photos By PA Man Prompts Friends To Call London Police, FBI Mafia Hoax: Fake Kidnapping Photos By PA Man Prompts Friends To Call London Police, FBI
Mafia Hoax: Fake Kidnapping Photos By PA Man Prompts Friends To Call London Police, FBI A Lancaster County man faked his own Mafia abduction—complete with staged beatings, a gun to his head, and ransom demands—scamming victims out of more than $126,000 before law enforcement unraveled his elaborate scheme, authorities said. Joshua B. Fernando, 27, of Salisbury Township, was sentenced to six to 23 months in prison followed by two years of probation after pleading guilty to felony theft by deception, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday, Feb. 27. Fernando convinced his victims that he had traveled to Europe on business in May 2024 but soon call…
IRS Issues Warning For These Taxpayer Scams IRS Issues Warning For These Taxpayer Scams
IRS Issues Warning For These Taxpayer Scams A new warning from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has taxpayers on high alert as the agency unveils its 2025 Dirty Dozen — a list of the most common and deceptive tax scams that could put financial and personal information at risk. With tax season in full swing, scammers are ramping up efforts to steal money, sensitive data, and even taxpayer identities. From fake tax credits to social media-fueled misinformation, the schemes on this year’s list serve as a reminder that fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics. What Is the Dirty Dozen? Each year, the IRS compiles the Dirty Doze…
Pitt Football Freshman Mason Alexander Killed In Fiery Crash While Home In Indiana Pitt Football Freshman Mason Alexander Killed In Fiery Crash While Home In Indiana
Pitt Football Freshman Mason Alexander Killed In Fiery Crash While Home In Indiana Mason Alexander, a freshman on the University of Pittsburgh football team, was killed in a fiery car crash in Fishers, Indiana, on Saturday night, March 2, authorities confirmed. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a vehicle fire with entrapment at 10900 block of Florida Road around 9:03 p.m., dispatch records show. Alexander, 18, was a passenger in a 2016 BMW 340 traveling south on Florida Road from 113th Street when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle, investigators said. As the BMW crested a hill near Geist Park, it entered the northbound lane and swer…
Billy Joel's Onstage Fall Stuns Crowd At Concert Billy Joel's Onstage Fall Stuns Crowd At Concert
Billy Joel's Onstage Fall Stuns Crowd At Concert Billy Joel stunned those on hand when he fell onstage at a concert in the Northeast. The incident happened Saturday, Feb. 22 in Connecticut at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville. The 75-year-old "Piano Man" fell while performing his classic hit, “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.”
 As Joel engaged with the audience, he momentarily stepped away from his piano and began interacting with the microphone stand. In a dramatic flourish towards the conclusion of the song, he threw the stand into the air. However, this exuberance resulted in a loss of balance, causing him to t…
120+ Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across PA, New Study Says 120+ Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across PA, New Study Says
120+ Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across PA, New Study Says Drinking water in some Northeast states contains some of the highest levels of contaminants in the country, according to new data. The latest update to the Environmental Working Group's tap water database analyzed nearly 50,000 water systems nationwide between 2021 and 2023. The nonprofit identified 324 contaminants in drinking water, many at levels exceeding health-based guidelines. New York had the highest number in the region with 197 contaminants detected since 2013. New Jersey followed with 131, Pennsylvania with 123, and Connecticut with 120. Massachusetts recorde…
Millions Stolen In Bank Scam Run By Pennsylvania Fraud Ring: AG Millions Stolen In Bank Scam Run By Pennsylvania Fraud Ring: AG
Millions Stolen In Bank Scam Run By Pennsylvania Fraud Ring: AG A multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that drained bank accounts across central Pennsylvania has been dismantled, with 24 people now facing charges, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Friday, Feb. 28. York resident Jeremy Antuan Boria Fraticelli, 22, is accused of leading the operation, which targeted victims in Cumberland, Dauphin, and York counties, investigators said. Fraticelli and his co-conspirators allegedly posed as bank representatives to trick customers into handing over their private banking information. Once they gained access, they transferred funds into so-called "funnel a…
PA Creek Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty PA Creek Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty
PA Creek Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty A new set of stamps celebrating the Appalachian Trail has been released, showcasing breathtaking landscapes across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the Forever stamps during a first-day-of-issue ceremony at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia on Friday, Feb. 28. The stamps honor the nearly 2,200-mile trail that stretches through 14 states. The collection highlights key locations along the trail, from New England's rugged peaks to historic sites in the mid-Atlantic. "The natural beauty of the Appalachian Trail has delighted millions throughout the…
Some Americans Must File Tax Returns In March: Here's Who, Why Some Americans Must File Tax Returns In March: Here's Who, Why
Some Americans Must File Tax Returns In March: Here's Who, Why The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has alerted some American workers that they face an early tax deadline.  Those in the group who did not make estimated tax payments by Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, must file their 2024 federal income tax returns and pay any taxes owed by Monday, March 3, 2025.  Due to the deadline falling on a Saturday, it has been extended from the usual Saturday, March 1, to Monday, March 3. Details of the Early Deadline Farmers and fishers who qualify for this special deadline are those who derived at least two-thirds of their gross income from their respective…
Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says
Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says The US population is rapidly diversifying, with cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at the forefront, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 ranking of the nation's Most Diverse Cities on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Three Maryland communities topped the list of 501 locations, which were evaluated based on socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious diversity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2 percent of Americans identified as multiracial in 2020, a sharp increase from just 2.9 percent in 2010. "The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many …
Lunar Eclipse To Drench Moon In Red: When To Watch Lunar Eclipse To Drench Moon In Red: When To Watch
Lunar Eclipse To Drench Moon In Red: When To Watch Skywatchers are in for a celestial treat as an upcoming total lunar eclipse, the first since 2022. It's set to take place overnight from Wednesday, March 13, into Thursday, March 14. Those in North America will have a prime viewing opportunity to witness the moon undergo a dramatic transformation. During the peak of the eclipse, expected between 2:26 a.m. and 3:31 a.m. Eastern time, the moon will take on a reddish hue, a phenomenon commonly referred to as a "Blood Moon."  Even with some cloud cover, brief breaks in the sky could allow glimpses of this rare event. Following the eclips…
$700K Gold, Bitcoin Theft: ‘PayPal’ Poser From NJ Scams Elderly PA Man, DA Says $700K Gold, Bitcoin Theft: ‘PayPal’ Poser From NJ Scams Elderly PA Man, DA Says
$700K Gold, Bitcoin Theft: ‘PayPal’ Poser From NJ Scams Elderly PA Man, DA Says A slick con artist posing as a PayPal agent scammed a 74-year-old Pennsylvania man out of nearly $700,000 in gold and cryptocurrency, authorities revealed on Friday, Feb. 28. Hirtik Hemchand Khatri, 24, of Lawrence Township, New Jersey, allegedly orchestrated a high-stakes fraud that convinced the victim to empty his savings, fearing he’d be arrested if he didn’t comply, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Whitehall Township Police Chief Michael Marks said. Khatri, who twice showed up at the victim’s home in a Mercedes-Benz to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in gol…
Pope Francis' Health 'Suddenly Worsens' At Hospital, Vatican Says Pope Francis' Health 'Suddenly Worsens' At Hospital, Vatican Says
Pope Francis' Health 'Suddenly Worsens' At Hospital, Vatican Says Pope Francis' condition has taken an alarming turn for the worse as he continues to receive treatment for pneumonia at a hospital in Rome. According to a statement issued Friday, Feb. 28 by the Vatican, the 88-year-old pontiff experienced an “isolated” breathing crisis that has raised concerns about his condition. After a morning spent alternating between respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel, the Holy Father suffered a sudden deterioration following an episode of bronchospasm in the afternoon, the statement said, noting that the incident led to vomiting, which resulted in furt…