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Porter, Warren accuse tax prep firms of undermining new IRS effort on electronic free file tax returns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Democrats are accusing big tax preparation firms including Intuit and H&R Block of undermining the federal government's upcoming electronic free file tax return system and are demanding lobbying, hiring and revenue data to determine what's going on.The lawmakers accuse the companies of lobbying against the new program, hiring former government workers to sway public interest against free file for all, and deliberately sabotaging a government program that had previously offered free tax prep services, according to letters obtained by The Associated Press.On Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., sent letters to the executives of Intuit, H&R Block, the American Coalition for Taxpayer Rights and the Free File Alliance, a group of tax preparation companies that provide free online services through the IRS website. Adam Schiff visits Half Moon Bay to shed light on farmworker conditions Warren and Port...

Adam Schiff visits Half Moon Bay to shed light on farmworker conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

(KRON) -- Rep. Adam Schiff was in Half Moon Bay on Thursday to attend a roundtable discussion intended to bring attention to the conditions faced by farmworkers in the region. At the event, which was hosted by the nonprofit ALAS, the Burbank representative heard from survivors of the deadly mass shootings at the mushroom farms earlier this year. Schiff also spent time touring the San Mateo County coast on Thursday to learn more about the impacts of climate change on the region, according to the Half Moon Bay Review. The California Senatorial candidate also reportedly traveled to Pacifica where he surveyed damage from the winter storms back in January, including a damaged pier, along with vulnerable seawalls and streets. Porter, Warren accuse tax prep firms of undermining new IRS effort on electronic free file tax returns "We need to find ways to live without burning fossil fuels," Schiff told the HMB Review.As he reportedly also did at a campaign stop in Santa Cruz two days earlie...

Donald Trump was listed 6'3 215 lbs. Here are the athletes that have the same height and weight as Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

(WTRF) Donald Trump was arrested and booked in the Fulton County Jail in Georgia after being charged with 13 felony accounts. On the former President's booking sheet, Trump is listed as 6 feet 3 inches tall and 215 pounds. Here are some athletes that have a similar build as the former President: Cameron Maybin Maybin is listed as 6 feet 3 inches tall and 215 pounds, according to Baseball Reference. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)John ElwayThe Hall of Fame quarterback is listed as 6 feet 3 inches tall and 215 pounds, according to Pro Football Reference.(Photo by Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images)Larry FitzgeraldAccording to Pro Football Reference, the former Pitt Panther Larry Fitzgerald is listed as 6 feet 3 inches tall and 218 pounds. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)Eric GordonCurrent NBA star Eric Gordon is listed as 6 feet 3 inches tall and 215 pounds, according to Basketball Reference. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Lamar JacksonCurrent NFL player and ...

Experts warn against wave of fake news ahead of Mexico’s 2024 presidential election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — With the 2024 Mexican presidential election less than a year away, political analysts and academics warn of a wave of fake news and disinformation making the rounds on the internet, a trend they deem especially worrisome as some of the falsehoods seem to come from the party in power —and the president himself.Fake news has long been disseminated during electoral campaigns in Mexico and the current electoral cycle is far from being the exception.Since June, when Mexico’s ruling party, Morena, and the country’s main opposition parties launched their internal proceedings to pick their contenders for the 2024 race, The Associated Press Spanish-language fact-checking team found about 40 fake publications across social media platforms, favoring or discrediting members of both sides of the political spectrum.Political observers and academics say it is worrisome that, on occasions, unsubstantiated accusations against members of the opposition have come f...

3M to pay more than $6.5M for violating certain provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

3M has agreed to pay more than $6.5 million to resolve charges that it violated the books and records and internal controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Friday.The SEC order found that employees of a 3M subsidiary based in China arranged for Chinese government officials employed by state-owned health care facilities to attend overseas conferences, educational events, and health care facility visits, presumably as part of the Chinese subsidiary’s marketing efforts. However, the arrangements were often a pretext to provide the officials with overseas travel to induce them to purchase 3M products.According to the order, from at least 2014 to 2017 3M’s Chinese subsidiary provided Chinese government officials with overseas travel that included guided tours, shopping visits, day trips to nearby sights, and other leisure activities. In several instances, the tourism activities were scheduled at the same time as the events the ...

A combat jet has crashed near a Marine Corps air station in San Diego and a search is underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A military jet crashed near a San Diego base and a search-and-rescue operation was underway, the U.S. Marine Corps said in a statement early Friday.The F/A-18 went down at 11:54 p.m. Thursday in the vicinity of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, a base press release said.“The crash site is on government property east of the air station and there are no indications of damage to property on the ground,” the statement said. Miramar is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of downtown San Diego.The aircraft was not part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered at Miramar but was operating out of the air station, the statement said.The F/A-18 is a multirole combat aircraft flown by the Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and several other nations.Marine Capt. Michael Scaccia, Miramar’s director of communications, said in an email to The Associated Press that there was no additional information.Source

Los Angeles takes on Atlanta, seeks 4th straight road win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks (14-18, 8-10 Western Conference) at Atlanta Dream (16-17, 10-8 Eastern Conference)College Park, Georgia; Friday, 8 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Sparks -1.5; over/under is 161.5BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits Atlanta looking to continue its three-game road winning streak.The Dream are 9-7 in home games. Atlanta ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 84.5 points while holding opponents to 42.6% shooting.The Sparks are 5-10 on the road. Los Angeles is fifth in the Western Conference with 6.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Nneka Ogwumike averaging 1.7.The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Sparks won 85-74 in the last matchup on Aug. 12.TOP PERFORMERS: Rhyne Howard is averaging 17.8 points and 3.2 assists for the Dream. Allisha Gray is averaging 15.5 points over the last 10 games for Atlanta.Ogwumike is scoring 19.3 points per game and averaging 8.9 rebounds for the Sparks. Jordin Canada is averaging 1.7...

Man wanted for indecent exposure near Dillon Reservoir

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Deputies in Summit County are working to locate a man who is wanted for indecent exposure in Silverthorne.The Summit County Sheriff's Office received three reports of a man committing lewd acts near the shoreline of Giberson Bay and the Heaton Bay Campground. The areas are in the town of Silverthorne near Dillon Reservoir.These incidents were reported between Aug. 21-23. Deputies said the incidents happened between 11 and 11:30 a.m. 4 ‘armed and dangerous’ young adults wanted in shoe store robbery The man police are working to contact is described as:Slender white manIn his early 20s5 feet, 9 inches to 6 feet tallEar to shoulder length dirty blond hairThe man was described as possibly wearing:Blue shortsT-shirt, possibly white with graphicsWhite baseball capDeputies did not know if the man was in a vehicle, on a bicycle or on foot.Anyone who knows this person or who has seen this person is asked to call the Summit County 911 Center at 970-668-8600.

Denver Broncos unveil $100M in stadium upgrades, new food

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Saturday marks the end of the 2023 preseason for the Denver Broncos when the Orange and Blue host the Los Angeles Rams at 7 p.m.Ahead of the final preseason game, the Broncos unveiled $100 million in upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High in an event.Officials said the renovations made during the offseason are among the largest in the stadium's 22-year history. Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy injured during joint practice with Los Angeles Rams These upgrades were completed in a single offseason, and some of those changes include:Videoboard enhancements Improvements to the elevatorsWi-Fi serviceChanges to the team store Upgrades in the premium hospitality areasThere are also some new changes to the food and beverages being offered at the stadium. According to the stadium, Empower Field features 12 local restaurants that are available throughout the concourses.

Two Broward County men arrested for allegedly scamming Uber out of $1 million through elaborate fraud scam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

Two men from Broward County have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a million-dollar fraud scheme against Uber. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Roy Blackwood and 21-year-old Trayon Morgan were arrested on charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft. The arrests came after an eight-month investigation by BSO’s Strategic Investigations Division.According to officials, in January 2022, Blackwood and Morgan allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated scam that exploited Uber’s system. The duo reportedly created fake accounts with phony and stolen identities, using the Uber Eats app. Morgan played the roles of both customer and courier, placing grocery orders under fake accounts, and then accepting the orders himself. Uber, unaware of the deception, would provide Morgan with a preloaded credit card for purchase.The investigation further unveiled that after receiving the preloaded card, Morgan would purchase items worth up to $700 in a single...