usatoday--2020-12-01--These 17 arbitration-eligible players could soon join full and frozen free agent market

The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have come and gone , with three weeks remaining to grab free agents before the Christmas holiday .
There were 186 free agents that hit the market after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series , and a month later , there still are about 175 free agents still unemployed .
The two highest-paid free agents are the ones who accepted their $ 18.9 million qualifying offers : Kevin Gausman of the San Francisco Giants and Marcus Stroman of the New York Mets .
No team has spent more than the Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million for veteran pitchers Charlie Morton , Drew Smyly and Josh Tomlin .
And starter Mike Minor of the Kansas City Royals , once he passes his physical , is the only free agent who received a multi-year deal .
There has been just $ 86.5 million spent so far in the 35 days since the start of free agency , and the deep freeze will only get worse after the 8 p.m .
ET Wednesday deadline for teams to decide whether to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players on their 40-man roster .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents .
Considering that teams lost $ 3 billion in the pandemic , according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred , with revenues expected to plummet again if fan attendance is severely limited 2021 , owners will lower their payrolls again .
MINOR LEAGUE NEWS : Five teams to form 'draft league , ' eight relegated to independents Teams like the Cleveland Indians already are in full cost-cutting mode .
They are shopping All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor after refusing to pick up the $ 10 million option on three-time All-Star closer Brad Hand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early and walk away from $ 10 million like Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein or step down as chairman of the San Diego Padres like Ron Fowler if you don ’ t know that painful cutbacks are coming .
The Dodgers just laid off about 60 employees and the Philadelphia Phillies dismissed about 80 people alone in the last week .
There were 53 players who were non-tendered a year ago , including Gausman , Blake Treinen and Taijuan Walker .
What further complicates teams ’ decisions is that MLB and the players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a formula on how statistics during the shortened 60-game season will be viewed by arbitrators .
The union wants the 2020 stats multiplied by 2.7 , while MLB believes it shouldn ’ t be that simple .
Here are the biggest names teams are discussing whether to submit contract offers by Wednesday night ( arbitration salary projections courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors ) : Kris Bryant , Chicago Cubs : Crazy , huh ?
Who would have ever believed a year ago that Bryant , the 2016 National League MVP and three-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be non-tendered ?
After the worst season of his career ( .206 average , .293 OBP , .351 SLG with four home runs and 11 RBI ) , playing just 34 of the 60 games with five different injuries , the Cubs are intent on trading him before opening day .
It ’ s highly unlikely they ’ ll non-tender him , even with a projected salary of $ 18.6 million , but it ’ s not completely out of the realm of possibility .
Gary Sanchez , New York Yankees : He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit 34 homers with 77 RBI a year ago .
But last season , he hit just .147 with 64 strikeouts in 156 at-bats and was benched in five of the Yankees ’ seven playoff games .
Do they really want to give him about a $ 1 million raise from his $ 5 million salary of last year ?
Owner Hal Steinbrenner said the Yankees lost more than any team last year , an amount the New York Post reported is close to $ 220 million .
Eddie Rosario , Minnesota Twins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past four years , but he ’ s also going to cost $ 9.6 million to $ 12 million .
Considering the Twins have two former first-round outfielders in Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach , who also hit left-handed , Rosario is expendable .
The low-budget Twins could spend the savings on a one-year contract for a right-handed-hitting left fielder while acquiring pitching depth .
Steven Matz , New York Mets : Matz is coming off his worst season in a career that has been little more than mediocre .
He was 0-5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has just a 31-41 career record with a 4.35 ERA .
But he also made 30 starts apiece in 2018 and 2019 .
If this was the old Mets , they ’ d probably cut him loose .
But with owner Steve Cohen and his $ 14.5 billion at the helm , what ’ s a gamble of just over $ 5 million ?
Kyle Schwarber , Chicago Cubs : Schwarber ’ s value is enhanced if there ’ s a universal DH , but with the Cubs looking to shake things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a strong non-tender candidate .
They could tender him a contract and attempt to trade him like Bryant , but with a .230 career batting average , while hitting just .188 last season , his value has shrunk .
Archie Bradley , Cincinnati Reds : Bradley was the Reds ’ biggest acquisition at the trade deadline .
He made $ 4.1 million last year , but now could be earning $ 5.7 million as the Reds ’ setup man in 2021 .
Tommy Pham , San Diego Padres : Pham is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he missed half of the season with a broken hamate bone and had a slash line of just .211/.312/.312 .
He also suffered a 12-inch stab wound in his lower back while retrieving his car at a San Diego club during the offseason , and hopes to be recovered by spring training .
It will cost about $ 8 million to keep him .
Carlos Rodon , Chicago White Sox : They love his talent and believe he could be a front-line starter , but injuries limited the 27-year-old to nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two seasons .
It 's expected they will cut him loose instead of gamble for about $ 4.5 million .
Jon Gray , Colorado Rockies : Gray has been a huge disappointment for the Rockies since being selected third in the 2013 draft , one spot behindBryant .
Gray has gone 45-37 with a 4.59 ERA .
He ’ s projected to earn $ 5.9 million to $ 6.5 million in arbitration .
Austin Hedges , Cleveland Indians : Cleveland landed Hedges in the Mike Clevinger trade , but after picking up starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million option , it seems a little silly to invest another $ 3 million in Hedges to be a defensive backup .
Remember , they unloaded Hand to save $ 10 million , so it ’ s difficult envisioning spending nearly $ 9 million on light-hitting catchers .
Jesus Aguilar , Miami Marlins : The Marlins love Aguilar ’ s clubhouse leadership , and a universal DH increases his value .
But Aguilar could command as much as $ 6 million for a team with one of the lowest payrolls .
Corey Knebel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who plan to cut payroll again this winter , have no real need to keep Knebel and his projected $ 5.125 million salary .
They already have closer Josh Hader and rookie of the year winner Devin Williams as a premium 1-2 bullpen punch .
Knebel has pitched only 13 1/3 innings since 2018 .
Nomar Mazara , Chicago White Sox : He was a former top Texas Rangers prospect whom the White Sox provided an everyday opportunity .
He flopped .
There ’ s no chance he gets tendered at a projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matt Barnes , Boston Red Sox : He ’ s expected to earn as much as $ 5.7 million in arbitration .
It ’ s a fair deal if he ’ s the closer .
If the Red Sox decide he doesn ’ t fit that role , he could be non-tendered .
Travis Shaw , Toronto Blue Jays : The Blue Jays plan to spend this winter , but there are more prudent ways than risking $ 4.5 million to $ 5.4 million on Shaw .
He hit just .239 with six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OPS last season .
This should be the second consecutive winter he is non-tendered .
Maikel Franco , Kansas City Royals : Franco did everything the Royals desired last winter as their everyday third baseman , but they ’ re not about to risk $ 5 million and potentially as much as $ 8 million in arbitration for a guy who has a career .737 OPS .
Johan Camargo , Atlanta Braves : Camargo has been disappointing since his 2018 breakout season , and with Austin Riley at third base , they may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million on a bench player .

These 17 arbitration-eligible players could soon join full and frozen free agent market
The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have come and gone, with three weeks remaining to grab free agents before the Christmas holiday.
There were 186 free agents that hit the market after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, and a month later, there still are about 175 free agents still unemployed.
The two highest-paid free agents are the ones who accepted their $18.9 million qualifying offers: Kevin Gausman of the San Francisco Giants and Marcus Stroman of the New York Mets.
No team has spent more than the Atlanta Braves, who dished out $27.25 million for veteran pitchers Charlie Morton, Drew Smyly and Josh Tomlin.
And starter Mike Minor of the Kansas City Royals, who received a two-year, $18 million contract, and reliever Trevor May of the New York Mets, are the only free agents who have received multiyear deals.
There has been just $86.5 million spent so far in the 35 days since the start of free agency, and the deep freeze will only get worse after the 8 p.m. ET Wednesday deadline for teams to decide whether to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players on their 40-man roster.
The non-tendered players will immediately become free agents.
Considering that teams lost $3 billion in the pandemic, according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, with revenues expected to plummet again if fan attendance is severely limited 2021, owners will lower their payrolls again.
MINOR LEAGUE NEWS: Five teams to form 'draft league,' eight relegated to independents
Teams like the Cleveland Indians already are in full cost-cutting mode. They are shopping All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor after refusing to pick up the $10 million option on three-time All-Star closer Brad Hand.
You don’t resign a year early and walk away from $10 million like Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein or step down as chairman of the San Diego Padres like Ron Fowler if you don’t know that painful cutbacks are coming. The Dodgers just laid off about 60 employees and the Philadelphia Phillies dismissed about 80 people alone in the last week.
There were 53 players who were non-tendered a year ago, including Gausman, Blake Treinen and Taijuan Walker.
What further complicates teams’ decisions is that MLB and the players union still have not reached an agreement on a formula on how statistics during the shortened 60-game season will be viewed by arbitrators. The union wants the 2020 stats multiplied by 2.7, while MLB believes it shouldn’t be that simple.
Here are the biggest names teams are discussing whether to submit contract offers by Wednesday night (arbitration salary projections courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors):
Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs: Crazy, huh? Who would have ever believed a year ago that Bryant, the 2016 National League MVP and three-time All-Star, would be under consideration to be non-tendered? After the worst season of his career (.206 average, .293 OBP, .351 SLG with four home runs and 11 RBI), playing just 34 of the 60 games with five different injuries, the Cubs are intent on trading him before opening day. It’s highly unlikely they’ll non-tender him, even with a projected salary of $18.6 million, but it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility.
Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees: He’s a two-time All-Star catcher who hit 34 homers with 77 RBI a year ago. But last season, he hit just .147 with 64 strikeouts in 156 at-bats and was benched in five of the Yankees’ seven playoff games. Do they really want to give him about a $1 million raise from his $5 million salary of last year? Owner Hal Steinbrenner said the Yankees lost more than any team last year, an amount the New York Post reported is close to $220 million.
Eddie Rosario, Minnesota Twins: Rosario has hit 96 homers the past four years, but he’s also going to cost $9.6 million to $12 million. Considering the Twins have two former first-round outfielders in Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach, who also hit left-handed, Rosario is expendable. The low-budget Twins could spend the savings on a one-year contract for a right-handed-hitting left fielder while acquiring pitching depth.
Steven Matz, New York Mets: Matz is coming off his worst season in a career that has been little more than mediocre. He was 0-5 with a 9.68 ERA last season, and has just a 31-41 career record with a 4.35 ERA. But he also made 30 starts apiece in 2018 and 2019. If this was the old Mets, they’d probably cut him loose. But with owner Steve Cohen and his $14.5 billion at the helm, what’s a gamble of just over $5 million?
Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs: Schwarber’s value is enhanced if there’s a universal DH, but with the Cubs looking to shake things up and trim the payroll, Schwarber is a strong non-tender candidate. They could tender him a contract and attempt to trade him like Bryant, but with a .230 career batting average, while hitting just .188 last season, his value has shrunk.
Archie Bradley, Cincinnati Reds: Bradley was the Reds’ biggest acquisition at the trade deadline. He made $4.1 million last year, but now could be earning $5.7 million as the Reds’ setup man in 2021.
Tommy Pham, San Diego Padres: Pham is an ideal middle-of-the-order hitter and a fiery competitor, but he missed half of the season with a broken hamate bone and had a slash line of just .211/.312/.312. He also suffered a 12-inch stab wound in his lower back while retrieving his car at a San Diego club during the offseason, and hopes to be recovered by spring training. It will cost about $8 million to keep him.
Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox: They love his talent and believe he could be a front-line starter, but injuries limited the 27-year-old to nine starts and 42 1/3 innings the past two seasons. It's expected they will cut him loose instead of gamble for about $4.5 million.
Jon Gray, Colorado Rockies: Gray has been a huge disappointment for the Rockies since being selected third in the 2013 draft, one spot behindBryant. Gray has gone 45-37 with a 4.59 ERA. He’s projected to earn $5.9 million to $6.5 million in arbitration.
Austin Hedges, Cleveland Indians: Cleveland landed Hedges in the Mike Clevinger trade, but after picking up starting catcher Roberto Perez’s $5.5 million option, it seems a little silly to invest another $3 million in Hedges to be a defensive backup. Remember, they unloaded Hand to save $10 million, so it’s difficult envisioning spending nearly $9 million on light-hitting catchers.
Jesus Aguilar, Miami Marlins: The Marlins love Aguilar’s clubhouse leadership, and a universal DH increases his value. But Aguilar could command as much as $6 million for a team with one of the lowest payrolls.
Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers, who plan to cut payroll again this winter, have no real need to keep Knebel and his projected $5.125 million salary. They already have closer Josh Hader and rookie of the year winner Devin Williams as a premium 1-2 bullpen punch. Knebel has pitched only 13 1/3 innings since 2018.
Nomar Mazara, Chicago White Sox: He was a former top Texas Rangers prospect whom the White Sox provided an everyday opportunity. He flopped. There’s no chance he gets tendered at a projected close to $6 million salary.
Matt Barnes, Boston Red Sox: He’s expected to earn as much as $5.7 million in arbitration. It’s a fair deal if he’s the closer. If the Red Sox decide he doesn’t fit that role, he could be non-tendered.
Travis Shaw, Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays plan to spend this winter, but there are more prudent ways than risking $4.5 million to $5.4 million on Shaw. He hit just .239 with six homers, 17 RBI and a .717 OPS last season. This should be the second consecutive winter he is non-tendered.
Maikel Franco, Kansas City Royals: Franco did everything the Royals desired last winter as their everyday third baseman, but they’re not about to risk $5 million and potentially as much as $8 million in arbitration for a guy who has a career .737 OPS.
Johan Camargo, Atlanta Braves: Camargo has been disappointing since his 2018 breakout season, and with Austin Riley at third base, they may not want to risk about $2 million on a bench player.
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale


usatoday--2020-12-01--This coffee maker will blow your Keurig away—and it's on sale for Cyber Monday 2020

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
When it comes to high-quality coffee makers , there often tends to be a steep price tag attached .
Today , however , for Cyber Monday 2020 , we 're bringing you one heck of a deal on our favorite single-serve pod coffee maker—the Nespresso VertuoPlus by De'Longhi .
Get expert shopping advice delivered to your phone .
Sign up for text message alerts from the deal-hunting nerds at Reviewed .
Regularly priced at $ 179 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on sale for $ 104.99 today .
That ’ s a markdown of nearly $ 75 !
The extremely similar Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville ( also on sale today for $ 125.97 ) came out at the top of the coffee maker heap in testing .
While this De'Longhi sale model is slightly different in appearance ( the Breville features a more rounded top ) , these two machines , though manufactured by different brands , are effectively the same according to our cooking team .
They use the same Nespresso technology , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same shot of espresso .
This unit we tried was a clear winner thanks to its dense , rich coffee and espresso-making abilities and consistent performance .
The VertuoPlus had us plenty wowed by its construction , too .
With a sleek design , it boasts a 40-ounce water tank that swivels out easily , plus , it automatically ejects coffee pods into a hidden container to avoid any would-be burns .
It even has the ability to brew five different coffee sizes ( 1.35 ounces , 2.7 ounces , 5 ounces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The motorized head opens with a light lift , allowing for ample room for pod insertion , and functions more gracefully than your typical Keurig machine .
In fact , in a test between the two , we determined that the VertuoPlus `` simply [ brewed ] much better coffee than most Keurigs . ''
In addition to earning our official seal of approval , this product has a near-perfect rating from more than 3,600 Amazon shoppers who pledge for its incredible coffee-making abilities .
There 's no telling how long this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it while you can !
Get the Nespresso VertuoPlus by De'Longhi at Amazon for $ 104.99 ( Save 74.70 ) Get the Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville at Amazon for $ 125.97 ( Save $ 53.99 ) Looking for hard-to-find essentials ?
Sign up for our Resources by Reviewed newsletter .
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the latest deals , reviews , and more .
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but @ @ @ @ @

This coffee maker will blow your Keurig away—and it's on sale for Cyber Monday 2020
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
When it comes to high-quality coffee makers, there often tends to be a steep price tag attached. Today, however, for Cyber Monday 2020, we're bringing you one heck of a deal on our favorite single-serve pod coffee maker—the Nespresso VertuoPlus by De'Longhi.
Get expert shopping advice delivered to your phone. Sign up for text message alerts from the deal-hunting nerds at Reviewed.
Regularly priced at $179 on Amazon, this expert espresso machine is on sale for $104.99 today. That’s a markdown of nearly $75! The extremely similar Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville (also on sale today for $125.97) came out at the top of the coffee maker heap in testing. While this De'Longhi sale model is slightly different in appearance (the Breville features a more rounded top), these two machines, though manufactured by different brands, are effectively the same according to our cooking team. They use the same Nespresso technology, feature the same elements and even produce the same shot of espresso.
This unit we tried was a clear winner thanks to its dense, rich coffee and espresso-making abilities and consistent performance. The VertuoPlus had us plenty wowed by its construction, too. With a sleek design, it boasts a 40-ounce water tank that swivels out easily, plus, it automatically ejects coffee pods into a hidden container to avoid any would-be burns. It even has the ability to brew five different coffee sizes (1.35 ounces, 2.7 ounces, 5 ounces, 7.7 ounces and 14 ounces).
The motorized head opens with a light lift, allowing for ample room for pod insertion, and functions more gracefully than your typical Keurig machine. In fact, in a test between the two, we determined that the VertuoPlus "simply [brewed] much better coffee than most Keurigs."
In addition to earning our official seal of approval, this product has a near-perfect rating from more than 3,600 Amazon shoppers who pledge for its incredible coffee-making abilities.
There's no telling how long this deal will last, however, so get it while you can!
Looking for hard-to-find essentials? Sign up for our Resources by Reviewed newsletter.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.


usatoday--2020-12-01--'Tis the season to follow these wise shopping tips, anti-fraud precautions

The holiday shopping season is underway , with plenty of bargains , solid sales numbers and enough festivities to make it seem almost like a normal year .
Just do n't let online phishing scams , overspending and other perils ruin it .
This is a time when many consumers can really dig themselves into a financial hole if they 're not careful .
Here are some seasonal risks to beware of , along with suggestions for keeping your personal information , and money , safe .
Online shopping will grow at double-digit rates this holiday season , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
While convenience and good deals are among the lures , consumers need to be cautious .
Shameka Walker , an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission , recently provided some updated tips for safe remote shopping .
These include having late-version antivirus software installed on your computer , taking time to make sure the online merchants or sellers you deal with are legitimate , keeping records of online purchases until you receive the goods and sticking with secure checkout sites .
Those are website addresses that start with `` HTTPS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for secure .
She and others also recommend paying with credit cards , which provide added protection compared with debit cards , checks , cash and other forms of payment .
With credit cards , you may dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payments while the dispute is investigated .
If someone else uses your card without permission , your liability generally is limited to $ 50 , she said .
Many credit card companies improve on this and won ’ t hold consumers responsible for any unauthorized charges — in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reward points and other benefits .
The holiday shopping season can be a good time to adopt best practices regarding credit cards and other forms of payments , if only because you 're doing more spending , possibly at unfamiliar retailers .
Such tips include regularly monitoring your accounts for accurate transactions and setting up text alerts so that you 're notified of unusual activity .
`` Anytime ( a transaction ) is over $ 25 , I 'm going to get an alert , '' said Cyndie Martini , president and CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , among other services , coaches credit unions and their members on credit and debit card use .
While a $ 25 threshold might seem low to many people , triggering an excessive number of alerts , fraudsters often make a lot of modest-dollar transactions in hopes consumers wo n't notice , Martini said .
At any rate , you can raise the notification limit if you prefer .
Martini also recommends tracking transactions as often as once a day .
If that seems excessive , you might opt for a service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consolidate their financial accounts in one place for easier monitoring and budgeting .
Above all , Martini emphasizes the need to know whom you 're dealing with when buying online .
Be careful about clicking on links that take you to websites that might not be legitimate , with letters or words slightly different from those of the actual site .
No discussion of holiday finances would be complete without a look at credit cards and consumer debts .
So far , there has n't been a lot of bad news to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people have lost jobs or otherwise suffered financial setbacks .
Consumers have been paying down their credit card balances big time this year .
Credit card debt as a percentage of disposable income fell to 4.5 % at midyear , down 0.9 % from the first quarter , reported the American Bankers Association , which speculated that many Americans applied stimulus payments and other federal aid to reduce debts .
But Jim Triggs , CEO of Money Management International , a nonprofit financial-assistance organization , cautions that consumer debt woes could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reason ?
Many people are having their rent or mortgage payments deferred , which has allowed them to pay down other debts .
When those programs expire , more consumers could feel the pinch .
That ’ s why he advises caution when it comes to holiday spending .
DIVE IN : Governor asks Arizona retailers to help keep Black Friday shoppers safe Among his tips : heed budgets , focus on quality gifts over quantity , prioritize the use of lower-interest credit cards ( if you have more than one ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financing if you ’ re confident you can pay off the bill when the promotional offer expires .
If you shop online , have gifts sent directly to recipients if it saves you shipping costs , and set expectations with family members and friends if you 're cash strapped .
`` I think we ’ ll see a lot of consumers struggling well into next year , '' Triggs said .
If you ’ re stumped for gift-giving ideas , you usually can ’ t go wrong with gift cards .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mind about them .
Federal law mandates that cards can ’ t expire for at least five years from the date of activation , and the law places limits on fees .
An issuer ca n't charge an inactivity fee unless the card clearly states a policy for allowing such fees and at least a year has elapsed .
Among various tips , the Federal Trade Commission recommends buying cards only from known , trusted sources .
Cards sometimes become available through online auctions , but these might be counterfeits or could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also suggests reading the fine print , especially as it pertains to fees , and inspecting a gift card before purchase , making sure that protective stickers haven ’ t been removed and that no areas have been scratched off to reveal PINs , or personal identification numbers .
And while it might seem gauche , the FTC suggests giving the gift-card purchase receipt to the recipient in case the card gets lost or stolen .
Fraud risk this time of year is n't confined to holiday shopping .
For example , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning of a new texting scam tied to stimulus payments designed to trick people into disclosing their bank account information .
The scam features a text message that states : “ You have received a direct deposit of $ 1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND .
Further action is required to accept this payment into your account .
Continue here to accept this payment . ''
The text includes a link to an official-looking but fake internet address .
The IRS is asking people who receive this message to take a screenshot and send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the time/date of the message and sender phone number , to phishing @ irs.gov .
As a reminder , the IRS doesn ’ t send unsolicited text or email messages or place phone calls threatening lawsuits or imprisonment .
Nor does the agency demand that people make tax payments using gift cards .
Business reporter Russ Wiles writes a weekly column on personal finance .
Reach him at russ.wiles @ arizonarepublic.com .

'Tis the season to follow these wise shopping tips, anti-fraud precautions
Show Caption Hide Caption Here’s how to avoid scams and protect your data this holiday season Online sales are expected to surge this holiday season. So how do we gear up to keep our data safe and avoid holiday shopping scams? Buzz60
The holiday shopping season is underway, with plenty of bargains, solid sales numbers and enough festivities to make it seem almost like a normal year. Just don't let online phishing scams, overspending and other perils ruin it.
This is a time when many consumers can really dig themselves into a financial hole if they're not careful. Here are some seasonal risks to beware of, along with suggestions for keeping your personal information, and money, safe.
Heed e-commerce security tips
Online shopping will grow at double-digit rates this holiday season, according to estimates by the National Retail Federation and others. While convenience and good deals are among the lures, consumers need to be cautious.
Shameka Walker, an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission, recently provided some updated tips for safe remote shopping. These include having late-version antivirus software installed on your computer, taking time to make sure the online merchants or sellers you deal with are legitimate, keeping records of online purchases until you receive the goods and sticking with secure checkout sites. Those are website addresses that start with "HTTPS," where the “S” stands for secure.
Black Friday broke records: Will Cyber Monday follow?
Personal finance: Three factors in determining your ideal retirement age
She and others also recommend paying with credit cards, which provide added protection compared with debit cards, checks, cash and other forms of payment.
With credit cards, you may dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payments while the dispute is investigated. If someone else uses your card without permission, your liability generally is limited to $50, she said. Many credit card companies improve on this and won’t hold consumers responsible for any unauthorized charges –in addition to providing extended product warranties, reward points and other benefits.
Monitor accounts regularly
The holiday shopping season can be a good time to adopt best practices regarding credit cards and other forms of payments, if only because you're doing more spending, possibly at unfamiliar retailers.
Such tips include regularly monitoring your accounts for accurate transactions and setting up text alerts so that you're notified of unusual activity.
"Anytime (a transaction) is over $25, I'm going to get an alert," said Cyndie Martini, president and CEO of Member Access Processing, a company that, among other services, coaches credit unions and their members on credit and debit card use.
While a $25 threshold might seem low to many people, triggering an excessive number of alerts, fraudsters often make a lot of modest-dollar transactions in hopes consumers won't notice, Martini said. At any rate, you can raise the notification limit if you prefer.
Martini also recommends tracking transactions as often as once a day. If that seems excessive, you might opt for a service such as Mint.org, which allows users to consolidate their financial accounts in one place for easier monitoring and budgeting.
Above all, Martini emphasizes the need to know whom you're dealing with when buying online. Be careful about clicking on links that take you to websites that might not be legitimate, with letters or words slightly different from those of the actual site.
Beware of excessive borrowing
No discussion of holiday finances would be complete without a look at credit cards and consumer debts. So far, there hasn't been a lot of bad news to report, which is remarkable given how many people have lost jobs or otherwise suffered financial setbacks.
Consumers have been paying down their credit card balances big time this year. Credit card debt as a percentage of disposable income fell to 4.5% at midyear, down 0.9% from the first quarter, reported the American Bankers Association, which speculated that many Americans applied stimulus payments and other federal aid to reduce debts.
But Jim Triggs, CEO of Money Management International, a nonprofit financial-assistance organization, cautions that consumer debt woes could be more serious than those figures suggest. The reason? Many people are having their rent or mortgage payments deferred, which has allowed them to pay down other debts. When those programs expire, more consumers could feel the pinch. That’s why he advises caution when it comes to holiday spending.
DIVE IN: Governor asks Arizona retailers to help keep Black Friday shoppers safe
Among his tips: heed budgets, focus on quality gifts over quantity, prioritize the use of lower-interest credit cards (if you have more than one) and take advantage of 0% retailer financing if you’re confident you can pay off the bill when the promotional offer expires. If you shop online, have gifts sent directly to recipients if it saves you shipping costs, and set expectations with family members and friends if you're cash strapped.
"I think we’ll see a lot of consumers struggling well into next year," Triggs said.
Understand gift-card basics
If you’re stumped for gift-giving ideas, you usually can’t go wrong with gift cards. But there are a few key pointers to keep in mind about them.
Federal law mandates that cards can’t expire for at least five years from the date of activation, and the law places limits on fees. An issuer can't charge an inactivity fee unless the card clearly states a policy for allowing such fees and at least a year has elapsed.
Among various tips, the Federal Trade Commission recommends buying cards only from known, trusted sources. Cards sometimes become available through online auctions, but these might be counterfeits or could have been obtained fraudulently.
The FTC also suggests reading the fine print, especially as it pertains to fees, and inspecting a gift card before purchase, making sure that protective stickers haven’t been removed and that no areas have been scratched off to reveal PINs, or personal identification numbers.
And while it might seem gauche, the FTC suggests giving the gift-card purchase receipt to the recipient in case the card gets lost or stolen.
Beware tax fraud, too
Fraud risk this time of year isn't confined to holiday shopping. For example, the Internal Revenue Service has been warning of a new texting scam tied to stimulus payments designed to trick people into disclosing their bank account information.
The scam features a text message that states: “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment into your account. Continue here to accept this payment." The text includes a link to an official-looking but fake internet address.
The IRS is asking people who receive this message to take a screenshot and send it, along with other relevant information such as the time/date of the message and sender phone number, to phishing@irs.gov.
As a reminder, the IRS doesn’t send unsolicited text or email messages or place phone calls threatening lawsuits or imprisonment. Nor does the agency demand that people make tax payments using gift cards.
Business reporter Russ Wiles writes a weekly column on personal finance. Reach him at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.


usatoday--2020-12-01--Five lessons from the AIDS epidemic on how to cope with COVID-19

A novel infection , an unknown history , and a race to learn how it spread , how to contain it and how to treat it .
This was HIV , the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that caused the AIDS epidemic .
Over several decades , we made monumental strides against AIDS — transforming it from a death sentence to a chronic disease .
On Tuesday , World AIDS Day , here are five important lessons from that experience and how they can help us better navigate the coronavirus pandemic now .
First , universal precautions are of utmost importance — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ papers show that in the early 1980s , when the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome epidemic began , health care personnel were at increased risk of HIV acquisition via non-intact skin exposure .
Part of this increased risk came from the fact that the route of transmission ( bloodborne ) was not entirely clear for AIDS , and thus , proper precautions were not instituted .
We learned from this that for any unknown pathogen , it is better to be over-protective than under-protective .
For COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ route of transmission is via respiratory droplets .
Based on this knowledge , appropriate health care measures should include routine use of masks by patients and providers , disinfection of shared equipment , prompt testing of symptomatic patients , and isolation precautions when the disease is confirmed .
Second , for any new disease , a little humility goes a long way .
This is of utmost importance because even a small outbreak has the potential to become a pandemic .
In the case of AIDS , Dr. Anthony Fauci noted that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then 26 gay men , and then it 's only a gay man 's disease… And then fast forward a few decades .
You have 78 million people who have been infected.
” COVID-19 has shown similar skyrocketing numbers in the last year and requires us to balance the fear of uncertainty with the need to act .
However , in taking actions , we must not resort to desperation .
Rather , each action should be based on ethically sound data as it becomes available .
Much like with AIDS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our knowledge and recognize that we may need to change our guidelines as new information emerges .
Third , stigma runs counter to public health .
Stigma was a significant contributor to the AIDS pandemic as it often prevented patients from taking the very actions needed to curb the pandemic — like getting tested and using protection during intercourse .
Similar themes have resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic , where individuals who test positive are often subject to social stigma .
Nevertheless , if there ’ s one thing we saw with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only made outcomes worse .
Those who test positive for COVID-19 need to be encouraged and supported in sharing this information without fear of judgment .
Lasting mental toll : COVID has turned breathing into a deadly event and all of us into potential serial killers Fourth , we need tests , tests and more tests .
The only way to stop a pandemic is to know exactly who is infected so that appropriate protective measures can be taken .
This requires wide-scale testing .
As with AIDS and HIV infection , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic carriers are significant vectors of transmission .
This is , perhaps , more important for COVID-19 , where the route of transmission is through respiratory droplets ( vs. bloodborne for HIV ) and thus , one asymptomatic individual could infect others in their vicinity .
In fact , recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that these asymptomatic carriers are responsible for more than 50 % of transmissions .
Identifying these asymptomatic carriers is a critical lever to limiting transmission and this makes widespread testing a top priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms .
And , finally , diseases do discriminate .
For both AIDS and COVID-19 , the risk of disease is higher in communities of color and those that are under-resourced .
For COVID-19 , these vulnerable populations additionally include the elderly ( 75+ ) and those with preexisting chronic conditions such as diabetes , kidney disease and obstructive pulmonary disease .
Pay people to get vaccinated : A vaccine stimulus is the shot in the arm our country needs In recognizing these disparities , it is up to us as a society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes wearing our masks in public , washing our hands frequently , and continuing to socially distance — because we never know the underlying conditions of the people around us .
World AIDS Day this year is special because it allows us to reflect on how far we ’ ve come in one pandemic and empowers us to use the lessons learned to battle COVID-19 .
Though there is much uncertainty , we should take heart in the fact that we have been in situations like these before and we can mitigate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on what has worked with AIDS .
Furthermore , the similarities between COVID-19 and AIDS will surely recur in future pandemics , and our ability to learn from them today will pay immense dividends in the future .
Prerak V. Juthani ( @ Pjuthani ) is a student at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Management .
Dr. Howard P. Forman ( @ thehowie ) is a Professor of Management , Radiology , Public Health , and Economics at Yale University .

Prerak V. Juthani and Dr. Howard P. Forman, Opinion contributors

Five lessons from the AIDS epidemic on how to cope with COVID-19 We need humility, flexibility and tests, tests and more tests. The only way to stop a pandemic, be it AIDS or COVID, is to know exactly who is infected.
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A novel infection, an unknown history, and a race to learn how it spread, how to contain it and how to treat it. This was HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that caused the AIDS epidemic. Over several decades, we made monumental strides against AIDS — transforming it from a death sentence to a chronic disease. On Tuesday, World AIDS Day, here are five important lessons from that experience and how they can help us better navigate the coronavirus pandemic now.
First, universal precautions are of utmost importance — especially for health care workers. Multiple papers show that in the early 1980s, when the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome epidemic began, health care personnel were at increased risk of HIV acquisition via non-intact skin exposure. Part of this increased risk came from the fact that the route of transmission (bloodborne) was not entirely clear for AIDS, and thus, proper precautions were not instituted.
We learned from this that for any unknown pathogen, it is better to be over-protective than under-protective. For COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, early research has suggested that its route of transmission is via respiratory droplets. Based on this knowledge, appropriate health care measures should include routine use of masks by patients and providers, disinfection of shared equipment, prompt testing of symptomatic patients, and isolation precautions when the disease is confirmed.
Be humble and don't stigmatize
Second, for any new disease, a little humility goes a long way. This is of utmost importance because even a small outbreak has the potential to become a pandemic. In the case of AIDS, Dr. Anthony Fauci noted that it started with: “Five gay men, then 26 gay men, and then it's only a gay man's disease… And then fast forward a few decades. You have 78 million people who have been infected.”
COVID-19 has shown similar skyrocketing numbers in the last year and requires us to balance the fear of uncertainty with the need to act. However, in taking actions, we must not resort to desperation. Rather, each action should be based on ethically sound data as it becomes available. Much like with AIDS, we need to respect the constraints of our knowledge and recognize that we may need to change our guidelines as new information emerges.
Third, stigma runs counter to public health. Stigma was a significant contributor to the AIDS pandemic as it often prevented patients from taking the very actions needed to curb the pandemic — like getting tested and using protection during intercourse. Similar themes have resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where individuals who test positive are often subject to social stigma. Nevertheless, if there’s one thing we saw with the AIDS pandemic, it was that stigma only made outcomes worse. Those who test positive for COVID-19 need to be encouraged and supported in sharing this information without fear of judgment.
Lasting mental toll: COVID has turned breathing into a deadly event and all of us into potential serial killers
Fourth, we need tests, tests and more tests. The only way to stop a pandemic is to know exactly who is infected so that appropriate protective measures can be taken. This requires wide-scale testing. As with AIDS and HIV infection, not everyone with COVID-19 is symptomatic and these asymptomatic carriers are significant vectors of transmission. This is, perhaps, more important for COVID-19, where the route of transmission is through respiratory droplets (vs. bloodborne for HIV) and thus, one asymptomatic individual could infect others in their vicinity.
Recognize and protect the vulnerable
In fact, recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that these asymptomatic carriers are responsible for more than 50% of transmissions. Identifying these asymptomatic carriers is a critical lever to limiting transmission and this makes widespread testing a top priority — even for those who exhibit no symptoms.
And, finally, diseases do discriminate. For both AIDS and COVID-19, the risk of disease is higher in communities of color and those that are under-resourced. For COVID-19, these vulnerable populations additionally include the elderly (75+) and those with preexisting chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and obstructive pulmonary disease.
Pay people to get vaccinated: A vaccine stimulus is the shot in the arm our country needs
In recognizing these disparities, it is up to us as a society to protect these vulnerable populations. This includes wearing our masks in public, washing our hands frequently, and continuing to socially distance — because we never know the underlying conditions of the people around us.
World AIDS Day this year is special because it allows us to reflect on how far we’ve come in one pandemic and empowers us to use the lessons learned to battle COVID-19. Though there is much uncertainty, we should take heart in the fact that we have been in situations like these before and we can mitigate the impact of the current pandemic with policies based on what has worked with AIDS. Furthermore, the similarities between COVID-19 and AIDS will surely recur in future pandemics, and our ability to learn from them today will pay immense dividends in the future.
Prerak V. Juthani (@Pjuthani) is a student at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Management. Dr. Howard P. Forman (@thehowie) is a Professor of Management, Radiology, Public Health, and Economics at Yale University.


usatoday--2020-11-30--Three-year-old's designer-filled wardrobe is worth $10,000

Elensio has over 26,000 Instagram followers and knows how to take selfies .

Toddler's wardrobe is worth $10,000
Elensio has over 26,000 Instagram followers and knows how to take selfies.
Associated Press, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-12-02--Lawsuit by Trump allies challenging Pennsylvania election results reaches Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – A long-shot effort to overturn the presidential election results in Pennsylvania made its way to the Supreme Court Tuesday .
Conservative Rep. Mike Kelly , R-Pa. , and others contend state officials had no right under the Pennsylvania Constitution to expand mail-in voting in 2019 , and the state Supreme Court was wrong to uphold that statute .
The group called it `` an unconstitutional , no-excuse absentee voting scheme . ''
`` Pennsylvania ’ s General Assembly exceeded its powers by unconstitutionally allowing no-excuse absentee voting , including for federal offices , in the election , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a result , the election was `` conducted illegally . ''
The group seeks an emergency injunction from the nation 's highest court to block the completion of any remaining steps in the state 's certification of Pennsylvania 's 2020 election results , which took place last week .
The petition was submitted to Associate Justice Samuel Alito .
Attorney General Barr : Justice Dept .
finds no evidence of fraud to alter election outcome There are several reasons why the high court is unlikely to look kindly on the petition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rather than federal , courts .
They are even more unlikely to disenfranchise millions of law-abiding voters .
The challengers could have filed suit when the state law passed but waited a year , until their preferred presidential candidate was defeated , to take action .
President Donald Trump ’ s campaign has pursued a separate battle in Pennsylvania federal courts to block or rescind the certification of the state ’ s election results and undo the outcome .
However , two lower federal courts ruled issued scathing ruling that said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , as well as specific allegations and evidence .
Legal experts deride Trump campaign case : Nine legal experts say Trump 's lawsuit challenging election results in Pennsylvania is dead on arrival Trump campaign loses Pennsylvania case : In scathing ruling , judge dismisses Trump campaign 's effort to overturn election results in Pennsylvania Appeals Trump campaign lawsuit : 'Calling an election unfair does not make it so ' : Appeals court denies Trump campaign 's effort to overturn Biden 's win in Pennsylvania A promised appeal of that case to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers had not yet materialized as of Tuesday night .
The state court case was filed Nov. 21 , more than two weeks after Election Day and about a year after the Pennsylvania General Assembly approved what 's known as Act 77 , a major overhaul of the state 's election code .
The change included the first authorization of wide-scale mail-in voting in the state 's history .
This year 's presidential race marked the first time the changes were in effect for a Pennsylvania general election .
The original petition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , argued that the mail-in voting provision violated the state 's constitution .
`` Under the Act , and the mail-in ballot scheme it implements , any and all qualified electors are eligible to vote by mail , and no justification needs to be provided , '' the petition argued .
It characterized the change as `` another illegal attempt to override the limitations on absentee voting prescribed in the Pennsylvania Constitution , without first following the necessary procedure to amend the Constitution to allow for the expansion . ''
The group asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violation of the state constitution and issue an injunction to bar certification of Pennsylvania 's 2020 election results , or to require any already-approved certification to be rescinded .
As an alternative , the group asked that the Pennsylvania General Assembly be authorized to name the electors to the Electoral College , which will cast ballots later this month in the presidential contest .
Gov .
Thomas Wolf , a Democrat , certified Pennsylvania 's election results three days after the petition was filed .
The certification showed that Biden beat Trump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough issued a Nov. 25 order that preliminarily blocked any remaining action on the state 's election certification .
In a legal memorandum issued two days later , McCullough said Kelly and the other petitioners appeared to have established `` a likelihood to succeed on the merits '' because they `` have asserted the ( Pennsylvania ) Constitution does not provide a mechanism for the legislature to allow for expansion of absentee voting without a constitutional amendment . ''
State officials appealed McCullough 's ruling to the Pennsylvania Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court order .
The state 's highest court vacated McCullough 's order halting certification of the election results and dismissed the case on Saturday .
However , the ruling did not focus on the state constitutional challenge .
Instead , the court 's unsigned order , joined by the entire court of five Democratic and two Republican justices , ruled that Kelly and others had waited too long to challenge the election system overhaul .
`` The want of due diligence demonstrated in this matter is unmistakable , '' the ruling said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the potential impact of the delay in filing the lawsuit , `` as such inaction would result in the disenfranchisement of millions of Pennsylvania voters . ''
In a concurring statement , Justice David Wecht noted that several of the petitioners participated in primary races under the election overhaul `` without complaint , '' and subsequently `` play a dangerous game at the expense of every Pennsylvania voter . ''
`` It is not our role to lend legitimacy to such transparent and untimely efforts to subvert the will of Pennsylvania voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Thomas Saylor agreed with the decision , he wrote separately to say the underlying challenge `` presents troublesome questions about the ( state ) constitutional validity of the new mail-in voting scheme . ''
Trump allies to Mich. judge : Force Gov .
Whitmer to overturn Biden 's win , give state to president

Lawsuit by Trump allies challenging Pennsylvania election results reaches Supreme Court
Show Caption Hide Caption AP Debrief on Trump election lawsuits AP Debrief on Trump election lawsuits AP
WASHINGTON – A long-shot effort to overturn the presidential election results in Pennsylvania made its way to the Supreme Court Tuesday.
Conservative Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and others contend state officials had no right under the Pennsylvania Constitution to expand mail-in voting in 2019, and the state Supreme Court was wrong to uphold that statute. The group called it "an unconstitutional, no-excuse absentee voting scheme."
"Pennsylvania’s General Assembly exceeded its powers by unconstitutionally allowing no-excuse absentee voting, including for federal offices, in the election," the challengers argued in court papers. As a result, the election was "conducted illegally."
The group seeks an emergency injunction from the nation's highest court to block the completion of any remaining steps in the state's certification of Pennsylvania's 2020 election results, which took place last week. The petition was submitted to Associate Justice Samuel Alito.
The group on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to stay its order that dismissed the case, pending disposition of the petition filed with the nation's highest court.
Attorney General Barr: Justice Dept. finds no evidence of fraud to alter election outcome
There are several reasons why the high court is unlikely to look kindly on the petition. The justices are disinclined to overrule state, rather than federal, courts. They are even more unlikely to disenfranchise millions of law-abiding voters. The challengers could have filed suit when the state law passed but waited a year, until their preferred presidential candidate was defeated, to take action.
President Donald Trump’s campaign has pursued a separate battle in Pennsylvania federal courts to block or rescind the certification of the state’s election results and undo the outcome. However, two lower federal courts issued scathing rulings that said the campaign lacked legal standing to pursue the case, as well as specific allegations and evidence.
Legal experts deride Trump campaign case: Nine legal experts say Trump's lawsuit challenging election results in Pennsylvania is dead on arrival
Trump campaign loses Pennsylvania case: In scathing ruling, judge dismisses Trump campaign's effort to overturn election results in Pennsylvania
Appeals Trump campaign lawsuit: 'Calling an election unfair does not make it so': Appeals court denies Trump campaign's effort to overturn Biden's win in Pennsylvania
A promised appeal of that case to the nation's highest court by Trump campaign lawyers had not yet materialized as of Tuesday night.
The state court case was filed Nov. 21, more than two weeks after Election Day and about a year after the Pennsylvania General Assembly approved what's known as Act 77, a major overhaul of the state's election code. The change included the first authorization of wide-scale mail-in voting in the state's history.
This year's presidential race marked the first time the changes were in effect for a Pennsylvania general election.
The original petition, filed with the state's Commonwealth Court, argued that the mail-in voting provision violated the state's constitution.
"Under the Act, and the mail-in ballot scheme it implements, any and all qualified electors are eligible to vote by mail, and no justification needs to be provided," the petition argued. It characterized the change as "another illegal attempt to override the limitations on absentee voting prescribed in the Pennsylvania Constitution, without first following the necessary procedure to amend the Constitution to allow for the expansion."
The group asked the court to declare the change in violation of the state constitution and issue an injunction to bar certification of Pennsylvania's 2020 election results, or to require any already-approved certification to be rescinded.
As an alternative, the group asked that the Pennsylvania General Assembly be authorized to name the electors to the Electoral College, which will cast ballots later this month in the presidential contest.
Gov. Thomas Wolf, a Democrat, certified Pennsylvania's election results three days after the petition was filed. The certification showed that Biden beat Trump in the state by a 80,555-vote margin.
Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough issued a Nov. 25 order that preliminarily blocked any remaining action on the state's election certification. In a legal memorandum issued two days later, McCullough said Kelly and the other petitioners appeared to have established "a likelihood to succeed on the merits" because they "have asserted the (Pennsylvania) Constitution does not provide a mechanism for the legislature to allow for expansion of absentee voting without a constitutional amendment."
State officials appealed McCullough's ruling to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The appeal stayed the Commonwealth Court order.
The state's highest court vacated McCullough's order halting certification of the election results and dismissed the case on Saturday. However, the ruling did not focus on the state constitutional challenge.
Instead, the court's unsigned order, joined by the entire court of five Democratic and two Republican justices, ruled that Kelly and others had waited too long to challenge the election system overhaul.
"The want of due diligence demonstrated in this matter is unmistakable," the ruling said. Equally clear, the court added, was the potential impact of the delay in filing the lawsuit, "as such inaction would result in the disenfranchisement of millions of Pennsylvania voters."
In a concurring statement, Justice David Wecht noted that several of the petitioners participated in primary races under the election overhaul "without complaint," and subsequently "play a dangerous game at the expense of every Pennsylvania voter."
"It is not our role to lend legitimacy to such transparent and untimely efforts to subvert the will of Pennsylvania voters," added Wecht.
While Chief Justice Thomas Saylor agreed with the decision, he wrote separately to say the underlying challenge "presents troublesome questions about the (state) constitutional validity of the new mail-in voting scheme."
Trump allies to Mich. judge: Force Gov. Whitmer to overturn Biden's win, give state to president