| Seniors, disabled must file to get tax rebates
Giving them a role in jump-starting the flagging economy, Congress decided seniors and the disabled would get tax-rebate checks as part of a $168 billion economic stimulus plan passed earlier this year. The only problem: Many of them either don't know it or don't know they need to file a tax return to get their share, local community advocates fear. As a result, potentially thousands of the 3.2 million Floridians whose sole income is from Social Security or disability payments might not get the $300 checks pledged by the government. Other taxpayers will be sent checks for $600 automatically when they file returns, $1,200 for couples filing jointly. ''We know many seniors in Florida are struggling now with the increased cost of gas, healthcare and insurance .
Armed robbery, 10-year prison sentences and the downfall of two Wando ...
But first they need cash. Someone suggests robbing a business. The idea takes root. Sean, Mike and a group of friends gather on the night of Aug. 26, 2006, at Max Hartwell's home to plot their strategy. They target a Food Lion not far from the high school. Their friend Christopher Cousins worked at the store and knows its layout and schedule. The teens buy masks, walkie-talkies, a pellet gun and other supplies at a Wal-Mart. They have decided that Sean will be the gunman while the rest serve as lookouts. He's the youngest in the group and has no record with the police. Sean turned 16 just a month earlier. If he's caught, they figure he'll just get a slap on the wrist, maybe a few months in juvenile hall. Sean stalks into the store wearing a mask and a black hooded sweatshirt.
Can Obama break their prison bars?
The calculations are based on figures for 2003 (the latest available from the Council of Europe). With a prison population in England and Wales of 80,000, if we imprisoned at the same rate as France, the prison population would be 91,113. If custody were used at the same rate as in Scotland, there would be 88,142 in jail. Socialist Spain has the highest rate per 1,000 crimes and if her rate applied in England and Wales the prison population would be about 369,000." .
Dan Rather Backs 'Outstanding' NYT Journos on McCain Hit Piece
The idea of appearing on television, radio or print I have no interest in at all. I have turned down offers as I like anonymous and have nothing to prove. It is all kind of sad when you think of Dan Rather shilling on Chris Matthews, because his nowhere cable network went tits up. He still grabs for the light when he should be grabbing for God's Light. Normal people just like to fade away from the world and are content to do it.......others like Dan Rather are addicts feeding low self esteem. I would wager when President Bush leaves office it will be about the last time the world sees of him as he likes being a guy. His old man only showed up for the kids........there is vast difference between Bush and Rather. Dan Rather like Bill Clinton should have quit when they were ahead.......now they are quit upon and looking like the old actress looking for her close up.
Economy's slowdown could worsen, market watchers say
Specialist Charles Jenness rubs his head as he works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday morning, Jan. 22, 2008. An unusual emergency interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve gave Wall Street a partial rebound Tuesday from a precipitous early decline - and perhaps the first steps toward a long-term recovery. The Dow Jones industrial average, down 465 points shortly after trading began, bounced around throughout the session before closing with a milder drop of 128.11, or 1.06 percent, at 11,971.19. .
Spin the Black Circle: Auto Club 500
I'd also grab Matt Kenseth in the Stock Car Challenge. Kenseth's value in that game went from $22.6 million to $22.1 million because he crashed out of the 500 in a wreck not of his own making and finished 36th. I'm wagering that'll be the last time you get the No. 17 at such a discount, so jumping on his bandwagon here locks you in at a discount on Kenseth, at least until the game's second segment. (That would also be an argument for using Johnson and Jeff Gordon, who'll also be strong this weekend, but I'm riding the Roush drivers hard.) Kenseth has won two of the past three Fontana Cup events, though he probably had the second-best car here in his win last spring, but Tony Stewart sped in the pits. It remains to be seen whether Roush's past excellence here will translate in the "Car of Tomorrow," but lacking any other data, that's where I'm placing my fantasy bets this weekend.
Minister dismisses more tax power for Holyrood
The Scotland Office minister yesterday said there is no case for giving Holyrood major new tax powers, putting him on a collision course with Labour colleagues north of the border. In an exclusive interview with The Herald, David Cairns made it clear Labour had to "reclaim" devolution from Alex Salmond and an ascendant SNP. Yet he brushed aside talk of substantial new powers for Holyrood as an inward-looking "McChattering classes" issue, saying Labour should be concentrating on how best to deliver core services and on creating a superior vision for Scotland's future to those of the Nationalists, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. His intervention will ruffle feathers north of the border, particularly those of Wendy Alexander, the party's beleaguered leader in Scotland, who is a driving force behind the Scottish Constitutional Commission, which brings together the three major unionist parties.
KUOW Program Archive
The U.S. Senate could vote as early as tomorrow (Wednesday) on its own economic stimulus package. The House late last month passed a bipartisan plan that would give tax rebates of about $600, among other things. The Senate version has some differences and costs about $40 million dollars more. To find out more about it, KUOW's Derek Wang spoke with Washington Senator Maria Cantwell. Cantwell sits on the Senate's Finance Committee. © Copyright 2008, KUOW .
Kevin Johnson to Run for Mayor of the City He Loves
Over the years, I've resisted getting involved in politics, but over the last couple of months, I've been thinking a lot about my grandfather. He taught me the importance of being an active citizen. He always said that when you saw something wrong, you couldn't stand on the sidelines. You had an obligation to stand up and do something about it. "After weeks of soul-searching, I've come to the unequivocal conclusion that I have to do this because we need change in this city, and we need it now. I am here today to announce my candidacy for mayor of Sacramento because I believe I can lead this change, and together we can spark this change throughout the city. "I believe Sacramento can be one of the most vibrant, growing cities in the country. I believe that we can be a first-rate city in this great nation.
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