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Michel: Who pays what, and where your taxes go

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

The annual tax-filing ritual sends Americans across the country scrambling to gather documents and brace for the inevitable confusion that results. For a lucky few, it can be a straightforward process. But tax filing can be a complicated and time-consuming ordeal for many, particularly for lower-income taxpayers. As we reconcile our tax bills, it’s natural to wonder: who pays taxes, and what do they fund?You’re not alone if Tax Day triggers fear and confusion. Even Americans who use tax software or an accountant face a seemingly endless list of questions.This is because politicians on both sides of the aisle get carried away with designing new tax programs without considering how the whole system works when families file their taxes. As a result, the United States has at least six sets of rules on how a child might qualify a family for tax benefits, 15 programs targeted at higher education, 18 tax-advantaged savings accounts and 14 deductions for people who itemize. The task of mere...

Editorial: Power grid security is America’s Achilles’ heel

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

This week marks 10 years since unknown assailants attacked a power substation in Metcalf, California, that continues to serve as a harbinger about the vulnerability of the nation’s electric infrastructure.That’s 10 years without the level of investment needed to upgrade, modernize and secure the nation’s power systems; 10 years without this perilous threat to American security even being a primary point of concern among those tasked with the nation’s well-being.Federal and state officials, in concert with electric organizations and power companies, must do better. Addressing the grid’s vulnerability should be a national priority as the number of attacks increases and the likelihood of a prolonged catastrophe grows larger.On the evening of April 16, someone — or perhaps more than one person — severed several fiber-optic communication lines serving Silicon Valley. Then, over about 20 minutes, the assailant(s) fired 120 shots that damaged 17 transformers at a remote substation, causing...

Dear Abby: Overwhelmed young adult needs a break

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

Dear Abby: I am 20 years old and dating a Marine. I work at a hospital, and I also have a part-time job. I recently rented an apartment near where my boyfriend is staying, and I’m busting my butt to be independent. My boyfriend struggles because he’s got a lot going on as well and doesn’t earn that much money. I’m the breadwinner right now and, honestly, I’m just tired. I work way too hard, and I’m really stressed. Life is hard, and I genuinely feel like I can’t catch a break. Any advice? –Overwhelmed in VirginiaDear Overwhelmed: This is the life you have chosen, and you are doing all you can. Carrying so much stress is bad for your emotional and physical health. Your boyfriend may not be making much money now, but he isn’t broke. It may be time to step back and review your finances and his, and whether you should continue to be the breadwinner. Things may get easier as your boyfriend gains rank and more seniority in the military...

Japanese PM unhurt after blast shakes port he was visiting

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed after an explosion at a western port on Saturday, NHK television reported, and a suspect was apprehended for allegedly throwing the explosive.Kishida was visiting the Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture to cheer his ruling party’s candidate in a local election. The explosion occurred just before he was to begin his speech, NHK said. No injuries were reported in the incident and Kishida was taken to Wakayama prefectural police headquarters, it added.The incident comes only nine months after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara. The assassination shocked the nation and a subsequent investigation found holes in Abe’s security and led to reinforcement of Japan’s police security measures.The latest attack also comes as a series of Group of Seven ministerial meetings begins this weekend ahead of the May 19-21 summit that Kishida will host ...

Abortion bans raise fears inside GOP about backlash in 2024

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — As a new election season begins, the Republican Party is struggling to navigate the politics of abortion.Allies for leading presidential candidates concede that their hardline anti-abortion policies may be popular with the conservatives who decide primary elections, but they could ultimately alienate the broader set of voters they need to win the presidency. The conflict is unfolding across America this week, but nowhere more than Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law one of the nation’s toughest abortion bans late Thursday. If the courts ultimately allow the new measure to take effect, it will soon be illegal for Florida women to obtain an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, which is before most realize they’re pregnant.Even before he signed the law, DeSantis’ team was eager to highlight his willingness to fight for, and enact, aggressive abortion restrictions. The Florida governor’s position stands in sharp ...

Bostonians remember deadly marathon bombing 10 years later

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A decade after two homemade bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the city will mark the somber occasion Saturday with prayers for those who died and activities demonstrating the community’s resilient spirit.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who was making her first run for City Council when the bombing happened, will join families who lost love ones to lay a wreath at memorial sites. A brief ceremony will be held later in the day at the finish line of marathon, where bells will ring followed by a moment of silence.The 127th running of the Boston Marathon takes place Monday.“I have since spoken with many, many community members, families who have been forever impacted and who carry that trauma with them to this day,” Wu said, recalling how people streamed into her campaign office that day with a sense of “confusion and fear and shock about what was happening.”“The whole world saw Boston pull together in that moment and, to this day, we still car...

Timberwolves dominate Thunder to punch ticket to playoffs, set up first-round series with Denver

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

For one of the first times all season, the Timberwolves controlled a contest for four quarters Friday at Target Center.What a fine time to do it. In a do-or-die play-in contest, the Wolves “did” for 48 minutes, downing up-and-coming Oklahoma City in convincing fashion. Minnesota suffocated the Thunder defensively en route to a 120-95 victory in Minneapolis to secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.After a rollercoaster 82-game campaign — plus two more play-in contests — Minnesota will meet top-seeded Denver in the first round, with Game 1 set for 9:30 p.m. Sunday in Denver. For the first time since 2004, the Timberwolves have qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons.“We’re certainly happy and proud. The season was a tough one in a lot of ways,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “We felt all season we were a playoff team no matter what the circumstances were. Very pleased the guys continued to fight through...

Mariners get to Austin Gomber, beat Rockies 5-3 in series opener in Seattle

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

The baseball gods gifted the Rockies a couple positive omens to open their road series in Seattle on Friday. Neither panned out.First, would-be Mariners starter Marco Gonzales was scratched, as the former Rocky Mountain star went on the paternity list. That led soft-throwing veteran Tommy Milone to get the spot start instead, and in the opening inning Kris Bryant proceeded to park Milone’s piped changeup into the left field seats for his first homer of the year and a 1-0 lead.From there, however, it was back to usual programming: A team with a glaring lack of bona fide starting pitching depth, struggling to contend when a pitcher not named Freeland or Marquez is taking the hill.Southpaw Austin Gomber was tagged for five earned runs over 3 2/3 innings pitched, and the Rockies fell 5-3 to the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Gomber had four walks to two strikeouts, struggling with his command. Meanwhile, Colorado’s offense mustered only seven hits and sputtered in the final inni...

Barricade incident in Northglenn leads to police shooting

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

A barricade incident in Northglenn unfolded into a police shooting on Friday night, and an investigation is underway.NPD and @ThorntonPolice are working to confirm details in an Officer-Involved shooting. Updates here and press release forthcoming. #MalleyDrOIS pic.twitter.com/50OS6R74mm— Northglenn PD PIO (@NorthglennPDPIO) April 15, 2023Northglenn and Thornton police were attempting to contact a person in the 300 block of Malley Drive who was wanted on arrest warrants, Northglenn police said in a 5:32 p.m. tweet. A barricade incident ensued, and a reverse 911 call was made advising area residents to shelter in place.Just before 7 p.m., police tweeted that the shelter-in-place order was lifted and “there is no threat to the community.” About an hour later the department tweeted that a police shooting investigation was underway.

No. 1 Nuggets to face No. 8 Timberwolves in first-round playoff series

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:43:27 GMT

Nuggets coach Michael Malone lamented the only downside of the No. 1 seed was that Denver wouldn’t know who it’d meet in the first round until late Friday night.With only one day to prepare before Sunday’s Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. in Denver, familiarity shouldn’t be an issue.The Minnesota Timberwolves knocked off the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-95, on Friday night to claim the No. 8 seed and secure a date against the top-seeded Nuggets.A Northwest Division rival, that’s only the start of the shared history between the two franchises. Most notably, former Nuggets president Tim Connelly left Denver last offseason to run the Timberwolves’ franchise. Connelly was instrumental in turning the Nuggets around and never could’ve guessed that he’d see his former team in his very first playoff series running his new franchise.Ironically, Denver’s current GM, Calvin Booth, spent four years in Minnesota’s front office prior to joining the Nuggets’ franchise.On the court, the Nuggets went 2-2 ...