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Democrats accuse tax prep firms of undermining new IRS effort on electronic free file tax returns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 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 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.Warren and Porter are seeking specifics on the amount of money firms have made since being members of...

Maui has released the names of 388 people still missing after deadly wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui County released the names of 388 people still missing Thursday more than two weeks after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, and officials asked anyone who knows a person on the list to be safe to contact authorities.The FBI compiled the list of names. The number of confirmed dead after fires on Maui that destroyed the historic seaside community of Lahaina stands at 115, a number the county said is expected to rise. “We also know that once those names come out, it can and will cause pain for folks whose loved ones are listed,” Police Chief John Pelletier said in a statement. “This is not an easy thing to do, but we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to make this investigation as complete and thorough as possible.”Names on the list were deemed validated if officials had a person’s first and last name and a verified contact for the person who reported them missing, officials said.An additional 1,732 people who had be...

Texas trial over Biden policy letting migrants from 4 countries into US to wrap up Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A trial over a lawsuit seeking to end a key element of President Joe Biden’s immigration policy that allows a limited number of people from four countries in the Americas to enter the U.S. on humanitarian grounds was set to conclude Friday.However, U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton in Victoria, Texas, was not expected to rule immediately on the legality of the humanitarian parole program once closing arguments wrap up. A decision could come months down the road.At stake is whether the federal government can continue a program that is allowing up to 30,000 people into the U.S. each month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Migrants paroled under the program have sponsors in the country who vouch for them financially.The program has been successful at reducing migration and a humanitarian crisis on the southwest border and has also allowed federal agents to focus on border security, Brian Ward, a prosecutor with the U.S. Justice Department, said during closing argu...

Friday Forecast: Mostly cloudy with wide temp range

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Mostly cloudy Friday with a slight chance for showers. Wide temp range, highs between 83/77 degrees. Winds: NNE 5-10. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Partly cloudy tonight with slight chance of thunderstorms. Winds: E 5-10. Low: 68.Saturday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, cooler lakeside. Winds: NNE 5-15 G25. High: 77/74.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

March on Washington turns 60 with miles to go

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

On Aug. 28, 1963, more than a quarter million people walked in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom — the same march that saw the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. give his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Now, 60 years later, the march is being recreated as advocates highlight the fight still ahead for equality.The 1963 march helped lead to a host of new laws, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The landmark legislation banned segregation in public places and prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. But the fight for those rights was hard won. Despite President Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, Black Americans had been forced to live a life of second-class citizenship for decades. They were also constantly terrorized and brutalized by white Americans. Those who fought for their freedoms were arrested, beaten and threatened, while others — like Medgar Evers, Fred Hampton, Malcolm X, and, o...

Fund for homeless students finds success after name change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Homeless Student Assistance Fund, once known as the Public School Energy Assistance Fund, increased in the number of donations and donors after a vital name change made earlier this year. The money in the fund, which is made up of donations from Austinites through their utility bill, will go to eight school districts in the Austin area to help students who do not have a permanent home and are facing obstacles. A name change makes a big difference In 2013, the City of Austin Utilities started three programs that residents could donate to. Those included the Customer Assistance Program, the Parks and Libraries Fund, and the Public School Energy Assistance Fund. The energy assistance fund would allow school districts to pay for things such as energy upgrades to buildings or electric bills. Scott Johnson, a private citizen who volunteered to build up the Parks and Libraries Fund, saw the energy assistance fund was not successful. Johnson said the fund would bring in...

Silver Alert issued for woman out of Copperas Cove

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

COPPERAS COVE, Texas (KXAN) — A Silver Alert was issued Friday for a Copperas Cove woman diagnosed with a cognitive impairment.The Copperas Cove Police Department said it was searching for Norma Mistic, an 83-year-old woman.She was described as being 5’05” and weighing 132 lbs. with grey hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing pink pajamas and shoes, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.Officials said Mistic was last seen shortly after midnight Friday in the 1100 block of Morning Dove Trail in Copperas Cove. Law enforcement officials said they believed her disappearance posed a credible threat to her own health and safety.Anyone with information regarding this missing person was asked to contact the Copperas Cove Police Department at 254-547-8222.

Isolated weekend storms... but heat still an issue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Extreme heat continues to be the focus, but isolated rain chances aren't something we'll totally write off this weekend.Afternoon highs climb to 100° or hotter across Central Texas today, prompting another round of Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories.Friday afternoon forecast temperaturesHeat alerts in effect Friday afternoon & eveningIsolated storms will be possible late day as the heat ridge that's kept the majority of us dry this summer is finally far enough to not squash our rain chances. Not everyone gets rain today, in fact - most of us won't, but a few spots of light rain are possible in our area late this afternoon into the early evening.Future radar Friday eveningTemperatures will hover in the low 100s through the weekend, but hit and miss storms will be possible both Saturday and Sunday afternoon/early evening.Isolated storms possible both Saturday and SundayA cool front is expected to move our way early next week, focusing shower and thunderst...

Places in Texas that don't feel like Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some believe Texas to be an entirely flat, barren wasteland full of tumbleweeds, and while there are parts of the Lone State State that embody that stereotype (i.e. parts of West Texas), it is not entirely accurate for other parts of the state. ‘It’s a Texas thing’: Why do Texans love Texas so much? Here are a few places in Texas that don't exactly feel like Texas.Big BendStunning sunset in Big Bend National Park featuring bright orange Ocotillo blooms in the foreground (Getty Images)Big Bend National Park, located in Brewster County, is more than 800,000 acres, and it is the 15th largest in the national park system, according to the National Park Service.The park was authorized by Congress in 1935 to preserve and protect a representative area of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations."Ernst Tinaja in Big Bend feels pretty otherworldly," one viewer said.Lost MaplesFall colors seen at Garner State Pa...

Annual Day of Giving exceeds $850K goal, Salvation Army says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Salvation Army said Thursday its recent fundraiser, the Annual Day of Giving, exceeded its $850,000 goal. According to the Salvation Army, Wednesday's fundraiser supports two family shelters, The Austin Shelter for Women and Children and The Rathgeber Center for Families. Both shelters are at capacity each night, according to the army, and have an extensive waitlist.93% of those sheltered in these facilities are women and children, according to a statement.According to the army, all funds received will support families experiencing homelessness by providing shelter, warm meals and the critical resources they need to regain self-sufficiency.The Salvation Army is still accepting online donations.