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IRS plans to launch free tax filing pilot program in 13 states next year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

Washington (CNN) — The Internal Revenue Service is moving ahead with a plan to build its own free tax filing program, known as Direct File, announcing Tuesday that a pilot version will be available to some taxpayers in 13 states next year.Armed with an influx of new money approved by Democrats last year, the IRS is conducting a major overhaul of its operations – despite continued threats from Republicans to cut future funding and even abolish the agency altogether.Eventually, the IRS tax filing system could serve as an alternative to private tax preparation companies like H&R Block and Intuit’s TurboTax.But for now, the online pilot program will be very limited in scope. Only taxpayers in those 13 states with specific, eligible tax situations will be able to participate.The IRS anticipates that at least several hundred thousand taxpayers will decide to participate in the pilot.Critics of Direct File, including H&R Block and Intuit, argue th...

Greta Thunberg charged with public order offense following arrest at protest in London

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

London (CNN) — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been charged with a public order offense following her arrest for protesting outside this year’s Energy Intelligence Forum in London, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement Wednesday.The 20-year-old was charged with a failure to comply with a “condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act,” the statement outlined.Thunberg had been attending a demonstration organized by climate group Fossil Free London outside the Intercontinental Hotel in London’s Park Lane, protesting the annual summit that gathers chief executives from oil and gas companies.The police said a total of 26 people were charged following the protest Tuesday.“The protestors were asked to move from the road onto the pavement, which would enable them to continue with their demonstration without breaching the conditions,” the statement added.CNN has reached out to representatives for Thunberg, who is due to appear at Westminster Mag...

Patriots-Bills injury report: Rhamondre Stevenson among 20 players listed after Wednesday practice

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

The Patriots listed 20 players on their injury report Wednesday.Yes, 20.Seventeen players on the Pats’ active roster made the list, meaning more than 26% of the team is hurt. Among the unexpected additions were left tackle Trent Brown (chest), safety Jabrill Peppers (knee) and center David Andrews (ankle).In Buffalo, ex-Patriots running back Damien Harris and defensive tackle Ed Oliver were out.Both teams’ complete injury reports are below.NEW ENGLANDDid not participateOT Trent Brown, ChestTE Hunter Henry, AnkleCB Jonathan Jones, AnkleOL Riley Reiff, KneeLB Josh Uche, KneeDL Keion White, ConcussionLimited participationRB Rhamondre Stevenson, AnkleDB Jabrill Peppers, KneeWR JuJu Smith-Schuster, ConcussionsC David Andrews, AnkleRelated ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots get bad news at Wednesday practice ahead of Bills game New England Patriots | Patriots QB Mac Jones sticking with routine despite early-season struggles New England Patr...

House speaker live updates | Next round of voting set for Thursday after Jordan comes up short again

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jim Jordan lost the second round of balloting for House speaker on Wednesday, failing to convince his Republican detractors to support him to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy.Jordan lost 20 Republican votes in the first round of balloting Tuesday and lost 22 on Wednesday. A third round of voting is expected on Thursday.Jim Jordan’s rapid rise has been cheered by Trump and the far rightHow the vote for a new speaker worksScalise ends bid to become speaker as holdouts refuse to back himMcCarthy was an early architect of the GOP majority that became his downfallThere will be no further votes for House speaker on Wednesday after Republicans reached an impasse on how to move forward with picking a leader, according to a person familiar with the matter.The next speaker vote will take place on Thursday, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.Jordan, who was nominated by the Republican conference las...

'Suspicious device' prompts evacuations in Coronado

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

CORONADO, Calif. -- Coronado police detained one person Wednesday after a "suspicious device" was found.Police were investigating a domestic violence incident at a home in the 300 block of H Avenue when they were led to believe there was a suspicious package there, Capt. Dustin Kulling said to FOX 5.Police evacuated the surrounding homes while a bomb squad was called to inspect the device. Body found as crews respond to brush fire off Interstate 5 Officers have detained a subject for questioning, Kulling said.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Toronto councillors, mayor frustrated over continued broken garbage bin problem

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

City councillors and Mayor Olivia Chow are frustrated at the lack of progress by the company contracted to maintain the city’s garbage bins, an issue that has been plaguing neighbourhoods across Toronto.Councillor Mike Colle, who first raised the issue last year, said from his perspective, the attempt by Astral Out of Home to fix the problem has been very marginal.“[They’re] in disrepair. The doors are falling off, and that is still there. It hasn’t been fixed yet. So I’m going to be after them again. We’ve got to make those the bins work,” said Colle.Astral has two years left on a 20-year contract with the city in 2007. The city is responsible for garbage collection. Astral tells CityNews they complete maintenance work, including weekly cleaning and inspections, twice weekly in high-density areas on city streets.In May 2022, the city council requested that the replacement of bins be expedited and that quarterly numbers be collected for the ...

Young lobsters show decline off New England, and fishermen will see new rules as a result

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The population of young lobsters has declined nearly 40% in some of the most critical fishing waters off New England, officials said Wednesday, triggering new restrictions for the fishermen who harvest the valuable crustaceans.Officials with the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission said surveys have detected a 39% decline in young lobsters in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank areas for 2020-22 compared to 2016-18. The areas are among the most important lobster fishing grounds in the world.The drop in lobster recruitment is a continuation of a recent trend off New England, said Caitlin Starks, senior fisheries management plan coordinator with the commission.“I wouldn’t say it’s very surprising just given that we’ve seen a declining trend for a number of years now,” Starks said. “We’re seeing decline in those recruits.”The commission announced the drop in young lobsters just months after adopting new rules designed to b...

Sen. Bob Menendez’s co-defendants, including his wife, plead not guilty to revised bribery charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Four defendants in the criminal bribery case against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty Wednesday in New York City to a revised indictment alleging that the senator, his wife and a third defendant conspired to use him as an agent of the Egyptian government.The senator, who gave up his position as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after his arrest last month, was excused from the Manhattan federal court proceeding until Monday because of Senate business.The defendants entering the pleas included his wife, Nadine Menendez, and a businessman, Wael Hana.The senator, his wife and Hana were charged in the rewritten indictment last week with a new charge of conspiring to utilize the senator as an agent of the Egyptian government even though he was prohibited from acting as one as a member of Congress.The earlier indictment charged Menendez and his wife with participating in a bribery conspiracy by accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car fro...

From hospital, to shelter, to deadly inferno: Fleeing Palestinians lose another sanctuary in Gaza

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The courtyard of al-Ahli hospital, where thousands of Palestinians had sought shelter or medical treatment, is now a blackened expanse of charred cars, stretchers coated in ash and shredded dolls.That’s all that remains after an explosion on Tuesday turned it into an inferno, tearing apart men, women and children, and burning people alive. Images of the aftermath ignited protests across the region, threatening to broaden the war between Israel and Hamas.Mohammed al-Hayek had stepped away to fetch some coffee, making his way through the crowd of displaced people who were singing, praying or sleeping after fleeing to the Gaza City hospital in fear of Israeli airstrikes. Seeking the warm drink on a cold night saved his life.“I returned to find them torn in pieces,” al-Hayek said of his five cousins. He pointed to the mound of debris where they had been sitting, to their blood on the walls.“This is where Shahir was. This is where Mutasim was,” he said of the young men i...

Starbucks sues Workers United union, saying pro-Palestinian post damaged its reputation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

Starbucks sued the union organizing its workers Wednesday, saying a pro-Palestine social media post from a union account early in the Israel-Hamas war angered hundreds of customers and damaged its reputation.Starbucks is suing for trademark infringement, demanding that Workers United stop using the name Starbucks Workers United for the branch that is organizing the coffee company’s workers. Starbucks also wants the group to stop using a circular green logo that resembles Starbucks’ logo.On Oct. 9, two days after Hamas militants rampaged across communities in southern Israel, Starbucks Workers United posted “Solidarity with Palestine!” on X, formerly known as Twitter. Workers United — a Philadelphia-based affiliate of the Service Employees International Union — has said the post was up for no more than 40 minutes before it was deleted.But posts and retweets from local Starbucks Workers United branches supporting Palestinians and condemning Israel were still visible on X Wednesd...