The U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania says a Virginia man, whose victims included a Pennsylvania resident, has been indicted on wire fraud charges.  Rishi Budhadev of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges in October. The case was unsealed following Budhadev’s arrest on December 1st. The indictment alleges that between October and December 2015, Budhadev, working with other unnamed co-conspirators, defrauded victims using common advance-fee mass marketing scams.  Budhadev’s victims included a 72-year-old widow from the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The victim sent a MoneyGram transfer to Budhadev after an individual impersonating a U.S. Government agent told her that she needed to pay money to redeem her late husband’s military benefits

Governor Tom Wolf has tested positive for COVID-19. He is in isolation at home.

The Mifflin County Coroner’s office reports 84 deaths attributed to COVID-19 since the beginning of the recent surge starting on November 8th.  The number includes 28 deaths in Mifflin County in the past week.

COVID-19 has altered many Christmas plans for humans, but conditions can be troublesome for your pets.  Best Friends Animal Society offers some tips to keep your dogs and cats safe during the Christmas Season.  Curb the tendency to give your dog or cat human food. Plants such as lilies, holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are known to be toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach.  Christmas tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria and can be extremely harmful to pets. Keep water covered with a thick skirt so pets can not get access.  Tape electrical cords safely to the wall and make sure that all electrical connections are concealed.  For more tips and information, visit www.bestfriends.org.