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A Supreme Court dispute over a $15,000 IRS bill may be aimed at a never-enacted tax on billionaires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Charles and Kathleen Moore are about to have their day in the Supreme Court over a $15,000 tax bill they contend is unconstitutional.The couple from Redmond, Washington, claim they had to pay the money because of their investment in an Indian company from which, as Charles Moore, 62, said in a sworn statement, they “have never received a distribution, dividend, or other payment.”But significant parts of the story they have told to reach this point seem at odds with public records.The Moores are the public face of a high court case backed by business and conservative political interests that could call into question other parts of the U.S. tax code and rule out a much-discussed but never-enacted tax on wealth. The case is set for arguments on Dec. 5. The Moores are the latest example of plaintiffs whose lawsuits seem to simply be exercising their legal rights, but whose cases are backed by others with enormous amounts of money or a consequential social issue at stak...

Top US envoy will return to Israel after stops in Arab nations aimed at avoiding a broader conflict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel this week after completing a frantic six-country rush through Arab nations aimed at preventing the Israel-Hamas war from igniting a broader regional conflict.The U.S. State Department announced Blinken’s plan to travel Monday to Israel — his second visit in five days — as America’s top diplomat arrived in Cairo for talks Sunday with Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. It was the last of Blinken’s meetings with Arab leaders amid increasing fears that an impending Israeli ground offensive into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating humanitarian consequences.Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters traveling with Blinken that the secretary was returning to Tel Aviv “for further consultations with Israeli officials.” Miller did not elaborate.Before landing in Egypt, Blinken met on Sunday morning with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. That meeting followed tal...

Body found on CTA Red Line track after fleeing traffic stop on Dan Ryan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

CHICAGO -- A body was found on a CTA Red Line track after fleeing a trooper on the Dan Ryan Friday night. Illinois State Police said a trooper initiated a traffic stop on I-94 southbound on 95th Street for a code violation when the occupant of the car fled on foot. 8-year-old boy killed, woman injured after stabbing in Plainfield Township The trooper lost sight of the occupant who was then found deceased on the 95th Street Red Line CTA track. There was no additional information provided and policer are investigating the incident.

From 70s to 90s this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Surface high pressure over northwest Kansas is providing a dry north wind for our area. That dry air cools quickly and warms just as fast.A ridge of high pressure aloft over the southwest United States is giving us a dry northwest flow resulting in a clear sky. This high will continue to our west for a few days leading to sunny days and clear nights.We want to thank all who sent us pictures and videos of Saturday's Annular Solar Eclipse. A photo gallery has been created for you to see all the photos. PHOTOS: Solar eclipse passes over Austin area NEXT UP: The Total Solar Eclipse that will be even more incredible on April 8, 2024! Afternoon temperatures will be cooler than normal (low 80s) the next three afternoons with highs in the low to mid 70s today and Monday ... and the mid to upper 70s Tuesday.Mornings will be chilly with most in the mid/upper 40s to low 50s tomorrow morning. Tuesday morning will be coldest with lows in the 40 everywhere. The last time Austin...

Texas cities rank in the top 5 most overworked cities in US, study says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Two Texas cities rank among the most overworked cities in the United States, according to a new study from FinanceBuzz, a financial informational website. Austin and Dallas both rank in the top 5 most overworked cities, according to the study. Austin is ranked at No. 3, and Dallas sits at No. 5. Other cities in the top five include Washington D.C., ranked first, Denver, Colorado at No. 2, and Minneapolis, Minnesota at 4.Other Texas cities weren't spared in the study. The study listed Houston and San Antonio in the top 40. FinanceBuzz ranks the cities based on a number of metrics: Average number of hours worked per weekAverage commute timePercentage of households where two or more people have jobsPercentage of workers that work 50+ weeks per yearPercentage of active workers that are aged 65+Percentage of workers in each city's state who have two or more jobsPercentage of workers with a side hustleAccording to FinanceBuzz, "Austin also has a high percentage of househo...

From showers to sun, with rain hints in the forecast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- We have a few light showers out there this morning as a little wave works its way southeast across Missouri. Today will be another cool one, with highs maxing out in the upper 50s. Scattered light rain/sprinkles at times, breezy, and mostly cloudy. Clouds may start to break up a little bit this afternoon and evening. Sprinkles come to an end this evening but tonight will still be a bit breezy and lows will fall to the low to mid-40s. On Monday, the metro (and most of the area) should see decent sunshine. Three metros on the verge of passing St. Louis in size We'll possibly have clouds move back into some of our south-central Illinois counties. Highs near 60. Temperatures climb to the low 70s by Wednesday and at least slight shower chances return late this week.

Will Kroenke finally build a true game-day experience around the Colorado Rapids’ stadium?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

COMMERCE CITY — The weather-beaten Victory Crossing sign with its peeling laminate stands in a dirt field near Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, where the only inhabitants are prairie dogs and the occasional piece of wind-blown trash.There’s nothing here to indicate a win for Commerce City, even though the sign has stood for nearly a decade. Instead, the barren field has been described as “unsightly” and “disgusting,” something that “tarnishes the city’s image.”And that’s just what the mayor said.Commerce City Mayor Benjamin Huseman gave that summary when he went on a rant during a City Council meeting earlier this year, as frustration boiled over with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment over failed promises to develop the land into a town center filled with retail stores, restaurants, offices and a hotel.On that Monday night in May, Kroenke Sports representatives appeared before Commerce City’s council to support a th...

Colorado-grown mushroom farming ready for a comeback in San Luis Valley

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

Colorado shoppers would see heaps more fresh mushrooms in grocery stores under a $5 million deal floated in federal bankruptcy court to revive a collapsed mega-farm in the San Luis Valley.Colorado Mushroom Farm owner Baljit Nanda declared in U.S. Bankruptcy Court that he secured sufficient financing and will make a comeback.But the workers who for three decades propelled his farm — women and men who fled war in Guatemala decades ago and speak the indigenous language Q’anjob’al — haven’t been paid for nine months. They’ve been scrambling to sustain themselves and their families since Nanda declared bankruptcy in December. Some now are creating an alternative, worker-run Sand Dunes Mushroom Cooperative.Colorado Department of Labor and Employment investigators looked into what happened following news reports earlier this year. State enforcers have ordered back pay and are imposing penalties of $463,076 against the Colorado Mushroom Farm for illegally exploitin...

Newsom signs off on bills to increase California housing production, bolster tenant protections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

Starting next year in California, homeowners can sell the granny unit in their backyard. Religious institutions can build housing on their land. And developers can add more homes along the coast in places that were once off-limits.The sweeping initiatives were among more than 50 housing bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom intended to expedite the state’s housing supply and protect tenants from evictions in the face of a statewide housing crisis.The flurry of housing bills this year passed with the support of labor interests who came together with housing advocates to break through opposition from local governments that stand to lose control over approving housing.“It’s simple math — California needs to build more housing and ensure the housing we have is affordable,” Newsom said in a statement. “These 56 bills build on that work, supporting tenants and ensuring cities are held accountable to plan for and permit their fair share of housing.”Despite years of legislation, Cal...

Drivers exploit unfinished restriping job, create traffic headache: Roadshow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

Q: There’s a problem stemming from a new building that has recently become occupied at the corner of Leigh and Moorpark Avenues in San Jose. It seems the city failed to complete restriping work on northbound Leigh Avenue to restore the right turn pocket that was closed off during construction of the building. There is no red curb or signage indicating that parking is prohibited at any time within the pocket. As a result, a solid line of vehicles is parked in the pocket 24×7, causing right-turning traffic to back up into the adjacent through lane.I called the city and was advised it could take six to eight weeks just for someone to take a look at the situation. I’m hoping you can get them moving on this ASAP, since someone in the streets department dropped the ball and should correct the problem post haste.D.J. Martin, San JoseA: There will be “No Stopping Anytime” signs installed at this location. The work order is in and they should be installed soon.Q:...