AARP Study Finds Proposed 14% Electric & 3.6% Natural Gas Rate Increases Could Lead to Adverse Health Outcomes for State's Elderly
BOISE, Idaho, June 30 - While soaring temperatures this summer find most Idahoans reaching for the air-conditioner, soaring utility bills and proposed rate hikes may soon find older residents struggling between their utility bills and prescriptions.
On the heels of two workshops regarding Avista's proposals to increase utility rates even more for residential customers, 14.5% for electric and 4.9% for natural gas, a new AARP study concludes high utility bills will likely lead to adverse health outcomes for many elderly across the state and nation. AARP is urging the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to deny the rate increases.
"In a good economy these rate hikes are a bad idea, in a rough economy like today's, they are a horrible idea and one that, if approved, could deliver a harsh blow to the elderly in Idaho," said Jim Wordelman. "AARP is calling on the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to do what's right and say no to higher utility bills at the worst time."
The June AARP study, Affordable Home Energy and Health (http://shar.es/mDxfO), finds that high utility bills leave older people on limited incomes to make dangerous and sometimes deadly choices. Oftentimes, soaring and unaffordable utility bills force the elderly to go without air-conditioning or heat, leaving them at increased risk for weather related illnesses and deaths from heart disease, stroke or respiratory disease. Seventy-four percent of households that include older adults report that they cut back on other necessities (such as groceries or prescriptions), due to high home energy bills.
In recent months, Avista reported a slight drop in its stock price, while the utility company's CEO, John Morris, reports a compensation of over $3 million. The rate hike proposal submitted to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission cites an increase in the cost of producing and delivering energy, coupled with upgrades as the primary reason for the increases.
"Avista is seeking to balance their corporate checkbook on the backs of Idaho consumers," added Wordelman. "People over 65 spend an average of 20% of their household income on utilities and nearly 30% on health care - that doesn't leave a whole lot of wiggle room."
An AARP survey of Idaho residents found an astounding 64% had already seen changes in their utility bills. The full Idaho survey, Economic Well-Being in Idaho, can be found here: http://shar.es/mDxr5.
AARP is encouraging people to contact the PUC in opposition to the proposed Avista rate hikes. To comment on the case people can either fill out an online form on the PUC's website: http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html and reference case # AVU-E-10-01 or AVU-G-10-01, or fax comments to the PUC at (208) 334-3762 (be sure to include name, addresses and daytime phone number).
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Thursday, July 1, 2010
Suit Against BP for Burning Endangered Sea Turtles Alive
NEW ORLEANS, June 30 - The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and other animal protection and conservation organizations have filed suit in federal court today against British Petroleum America, Inc., British Petroleum Exploration & Production and British Petroleum PLC ("BP") for burning critically endangered sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws.
"It is horrifying that these innocent creatures whose habitat has already been devastated by the oil spill are now being burned alive," said AWI President, Cathy Liss. "They are critically endangered and must be protected."
As part of BP's efforts to contain the massive oil spill that continues to devastate the Gulf of Mexico, BP is using "controlled burns" whereby oil is corralled by fire resistant booms dragged through the water by shrimp boats and then lit on fire. Endangered sea turtles, including the Kemp's ridley, one of the rarest sea turtles on Earth, are caught in the gathered oil and unable to escape when the oil is set ablaze.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana by AWI along with the Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network and Animal Legal Defense Fund, after notice was given to BP on Monday of its ongoing violations of federal law and the groups' intent to sue.
Under the suit, the plaintiffs have charged BP with violating the federal Endangered Species Act and the terms of its lease with the United States government for the Deepwater Horizon facility, which lease requires BP to comply with all federal environmental laws. The plaintiffs have asked the court to prevent BP from continuing to engage in burning activities in the Gulf of Mexico which kill or injure endangered sea turtles. The plaintiffs have also filed a Temporary Restraining Order seeking an immediate halt to the burning until, at a minimum, mechanisms are implemented that will prevent any additional sea turtles from being burned alive.
"While cleaning up the catastrophic oil spill is critically important, so too is doing it in a way which doesn't destroy wildlife in a flagrantly unlawful manner," said Liss. "We hope that our legal efforts will serve to protect the endangered sea turtles whose very existence hangs in the balance."
"It is horrifying that these innocent creatures whose habitat has already been devastated by the oil spill are now being burned alive," said AWI President, Cathy Liss. "They are critically endangered and must be protected."
As part of BP's efforts to contain the massive oil spill that continues to devastate the Gulf of Mexico, BP is using "controlled burns" whereby oil is corralled by fire resistant booms dragged through the water by shrimp boats and then lit on fire. Endangered sea turtles, including the Kemp's ridley, one of the rarest sea turtles on Earth, are caught in the gathered oil and unable to escape when the oil is set ablaze.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana by AWI along with the Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network and Animal Legal Defense Fund, after notice was given to BP on Monday of its ongoing violations of federal law and the groups' intent to sue.
Under the suit, the plaintiffs have charged BP with violating the federal Endangered Species Act and the terms of its lease with the United States government for the Deepwater Horizon facility, which lease requires BP to comply with all federal environmental laws. The plaintiffs have asked the court to prevent BP from continuing to engage in burning activities in the Gulf of Mexico which kill or injure endangered sea turtles. The plaintiffs have also filed a Temporary Restraining Order seeking an immediate halt to the burning until, at a minimum, mechanisms are implemented that will prevent any additional sea turtles from being burned alive.
"While cleaning up the catastrophic oil spill is critically important, so too is doing it in a way which doesn't destroy wildlife in a flagrantly unlawful manner," said Liss. "We hope that our legal efforts will serve to protect the endangered sea turtles whose very existence hangs in the balance."
Israel's Nuclear Arsenal - July 7, 2010 DC Panel Discussion
WASHINGTON, June 30 - What do newly declassified documents about weapons grade uranium and dual-use technology diversions from the US reveal about the role of espionage in building Israel's secret arsenal? Did Israel's proposed nuclear weapons sales to apartheid South Africa signal they are still for sale if the partner and price are right? Do FBI and CIA cover-ups of investigations into Israeli nuclear espionage signal official US government approval or political acquiescence? Did cooperating with Israel's policy of "strategic ambiguity" ever make sense for the United States? Is the era of "nuclear opacity" now coming to an end? Are Israel's nuclear weapons of strategic benefit to the US? Join our panelists for an exciting discussion of these timely questions!
Sasha Polakow-Suransky is editor of Foreign Affairs magazine at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of the 2010 book "The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa."
John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago and author of the book "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics" and coauthor of "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy."
Grant F. Smith is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) and author of the books "Spy Trade," "America's Defense Line" and "Foreign Agents".
Moderated by Middle East analyst Jeffrey Blankfort, host of the Northern California public radio station KZYX international affairs program, "Takes on the World."
The sole sponsor of this event is IRmep's Mordechai Vanunu Open Nuclear Dialogue Initiative. This free panel discussion with Q&A and continental breakfast buffet begins at 10AM, July 7, 2010 in the International Spy Museum's special events room, 800 F Street NW--Washington, DC 20004. Seating is limited. Register online at http://www.irmep.org/nuclear.htm
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Sasha Polakow-Suransky is editor of Foreign Affairs magazine at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of the 2010 book "The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa."
John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago and author of the book "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics" and coauthor of "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy."
Grant F. Smith is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) and author of the books "Spy Trade," "America's Defense Line" and "Foreign Agents".
Moderated by Middle East analyst Jeffrey Blankfort, host of the Northern California public radio station KZYX international affairs program, "Takes on the World."
The sole sponsor of this event is IRmep's Mordechai Vanunu Open Nuclear Dialogue Initiative. This free panel discussion with Q&A and continental breakfast buffet begins at 10AM, July 7, 2010 in the International Spy Museum's special events room, 800 F Street NW--Washington, DC 20004. Seating is limited. Register online at http://www.irmep.org/nuclear.htm
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Phoenix Attorney and Two Accountants Plead Guilty to Participation in Fraudulent Offshore Tax Shelter Scheme
WASHINGTON, June 30 - Attorney Steven W. Allen pleaded guilty in federal court in Arizona to taking part in a conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by promoting a fraudulent offshore trust scheme to hide his clients' income, the Justice Department and IRS announced today. Allen P. Goodmansen, a certified public accountant, pleaded guilty to participating in the same conspiracy. Charles D. Kober, an accountant, pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return for a client who used the trust scheme.
According to the indictment and the plea agreements, from at least 1997 to 2004, Allen, Goodmansen and others, participated in a scheme to help their clients evade their income taxes. Allen set up a series of offshore trusts in which his clients hid their income from the IRS. Allen also helped his clients hide their ownership of businesses and other assets by directing them to title their businesses and other assets in the names of their foreign trusts. Allen charged his clients between $10,000 and $30,000 to set up the trust packages.
The indictment and plea agreements further state that, at Allen's direction, accountants Goodmansen and Kober prepared false trust tax returns to create the appearance that their clients' income belonged to their trusts. Goodmansen and Kober also prepared fraudulent personal tax returns for some of their clients. These fraudulent tax returns omitted the income that the clients hid through the foreign trusts. To hide the fact that the scheme was taking place in Arizona, Allen caused the false trust tax returns to be mailed to the IRS from outside the United States. In fact, none of the clients' money or other assets were outside of the United States. Goodmansen also personally used the scheme in 2002 to hide his own income from the IRS.
Allen and Goodmansen face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Kober faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Allen will be sentenced on Sept. 20, 2010, and Goodmansen and Kober will be sentenced on Sept. 13, 2010.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation in Phoenix, and is being prosecuted by Tax Division Trial Attorneys Monica B. Edelstein and Michael J. Romano.
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According to the indictment and the plea agreements, from at least 1997 to 2004, Allen, Goodmansen and others, participated in a scheme to help their clients evade their income taxes. Allen set up a series of offshore trusts in which his clients hid their income from the IRS. Allen also helped his clients hide their ownership of businesses and other assets by directing them to title their businesses and other assets in the names of their foreign trusts. Allen charged his clients between $10,000 and $30,000 to set up the trust packages.
The indictment and plea agreements further state that, at Allen's direction, accountants Goodmansen and Kober prepared false trust tax returns to create the appearance that their clients' income belonged to their trusts. Goodmansen and Kober also prepared fraudulent personal tax returns for some of their clients. These fraudulent tax returns omitted the income that the clients hid through the foreign trusts. To hide the fact that the scheme was taking place in Arizona, Allen caused the false trust tax returns to be mailed to the IRS from outside the United States. In fact, none of the clients' money or other assets were outside of the United States. Goodmansen also personally used the scheme in 2002 to hide his own income from the IRS.
Allen and Goodmansen face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Kober faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Allen will be sentenced on Sept. 20, 2010, and Goodmansen and Kober will be sentenced on Sept. 13, 2010.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation in Phoenix, and is being prosecuted by Tax Division Trial Attorneys Monica B. Edelstein and Michael J. Romano.
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JCP&L Announces 2010 Power Systems Institute Graduates
Successful Program Will Add 44 New Employees and 40 Summer Workers
MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 30 - Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), Raritan Valley Community College, and Brookdale Community College are pleased to announce the Power Systems Institute (PSI) Class of 2010. Forty-four graduates of the program have been hired by JCP&L. In addition, 40 students currently enrolled in the program have been hired as summer workers.
PSI is an award-winning, two-year educational program designed by JCP&L's parent company, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) , to prepare the next generation of utility line and substation workers. Students in the program can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree with a focus on electric utility technology, and may be eligible to receive free tuition, including college fees, books and required protective clothing.
Brookdale Community College Graduates joining JCP&L are: Michael Baniowski, Jason Bridges, Steven Brendel, Thomas Brown, Daniel Crenshaw, William Dahrouge, Anthony Durando, Kevin Froes, Robert Graczyk, Richard Greene, Doug Howe, Paul LaMonica, Thomas Liana, Josh Linkhart, Michael Marino, Jonathan Nelson, Christian Nguyen, Joseph Olini, Alonzo Rawls, Benjamin Seymour, Justin Shulske, John Thomas, and Tom Zadroga.
Raritan Valley Community College graduates joining JCP&L are: Antonio Amendoeira, Mark Blanco, James Boyer, Jeff Briggs, Richard Coates, Lance Cook, Andy Dabkowski, Ryan Derr, Ryan Farley, Thomas Farley, Alan Fernicola, Brian Fiorello, James Griner, Michael Hedlund, Kevin Kinney, Richard LaFevre, Kyle O'Loughlin, Ralph Price, James Schmidt, Brent Shoemaker and Anthony Virga.
"This year's graduating classes are examples of the success of the PSI program in educating and training the next generation of line and substation workers," said Don Lynch, JCP&L president. "Our new employees will continue to gain valuable experience while working alongside our veteran line and substation workers. They will also benefit from the additional programs we offer to provide continued training and opportunities for advancement. I am pleased to welcome them to JCP&L."
In addition to learning the skills necessary to become an electric utility worker, students completed academic courses including economics, applied physics and English composition. Students also earned first aid and CPR certifications and a Class A Commercial Driver's License.
Besides Raritan Valley Community College and Brookdale Community College, nine other colleges across FirstEnergy's service area offer the PSI program. More information on PSI is available at FirstEnergy's web site, http://firstenergycorp.com/career_center/technical_training/psi/index.html, or by calling 1-800-829-6801.
JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in 13 New Jersey counties. JCP&L's service area includes all or portions of the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.
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MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 30 - Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), Raritan Valley Community College, and Brookdale Community College are pleased to announce the Power Systems Institute (PSI) Class of 2010. Forty-four graduates of the program have been hired by JCP&L. In addition, 40 students currently enrolled in the program have been hired as summer workers.
PSI is an award-winning, two-year educational program designed by JCP&L's parent company, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) , to prepare the next generation of utility line and substation workers. Students in the program can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree with a focus on electric utility technology, and may be eligible to receive free tuition, including college fees, books and required protective clothing.
Brookdale Community College Graduates joining JCP&L are: Michael Baniowski, Jason Bridges, Steven Brendel, Thomas Brown, Daniel Crenshaw, William Dahrouge, Anthony Durando, Kevin Froes, Robert Graczyk, Richard Greene, Doug Howe, Paul LaMonica, Thomas Liana, Josh Linkhart, Michael Marino, Jonathan Nelson, Christian Nguyen, Joseph Olini, Alonzo Rawls, Benjamin Seymour, Justin Shulske, John Thomas, and Tom Zadroga.
Raritan Valley Community College graduates joining JCP&L are: Antonio Amendoeira, Mark Blanco, James Boyer, Jeff Briggs, Richard Coates, Lance Cook, Andy Dabkowski, Ryan Derr, Ryan Farley, Thomas Farley, Alan Fernicola, Brian Fiorello, James Griner, Michael Hedlund, Kevin Kinney, Richard LaFevre, Kyle O'Loughlin, Ralph Price, James Schmidt, Brent Shoemaker and Anthony Virga.
"This year's graduating classes are examples of the success of the PSI program in educating and training the next generation of line and substation workers," said Don Lynch, JCP&L president. "Our new employees will continue to gain valuable experience while working alongside our veteran line and substation workers. They will also benefit from the additional programs we offer to provide continued training and opportunities for advancement. I am pleased to welcome them to JCP&L."
In addition to learning the skills necessary to become an electric utility worker, students completed academic courses including economics, applied physics and English composition. Students also earned first aid and CPR certifications and a Class A Commercial Driver's License.
Besides Raritan Valley Community College and Brookdale Community College, nine other colleges across FirstEnergy's service area offer the PSI program. More information on PSI is available at FirstEnergy's web site, http://firstenergycorp.com/career_center/technical_training/psi/index.html, or by calling 1-800-829-6801.
JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in 13 New Jersey counties. JCP&L's service area includes all or portions of the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.
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