Mainstream News

Never throw away your tax returns

"David started working in his teens. Surely, he has 40 credits (or 10 years) in the system? Yes, he does. But having gotten rid of his older tax returns, he can no longer prove it. David asked the IRS for copies of certain missing years, dating back to about 20 years ago. Not only did the IRS not have copies, but they didn’t even have electronic transcripts going that far back. What can David do? Not a thing. He accepted this philosophically, knowing he must work two more years to build up his benefits. How can you avoid this problem? It’s easy. Never, ever throw out a tax return." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNever throw away your tax returns

Bulletproof whiteboards installed in Minnesota school district

"A Minnesota school district where two students were killed in a 2003 shooting unveiled a new device Tuesday aimed at adding a last-ditch layer of safety for teachers and students: bulletproof whiteboards. The Rocori School District has acquired nearly 200 of the whiteboards, made of a material touted by its manufacturer as stronger than that in police-issue bulletproof vests. The 18-by-20-inch whiteboards can be used by teachers for instruction and used as a shield in an emergency. Police Chief Phil Jones demonstrated the whiteboards Tuesday in a school gym by leveling a karate kick at one, whacking it with a police baton and stabbing it with a knife." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBulletproof whiteboards installed in Minnesota school district

U.S. Government Preparing for Major Terrorism Exercises In Three Cities

"Beginning sometime between May 7 and May 29, local, state and top level federal authorities will respond to simulated weapons of mass destruction attacks in three cities — Denver, Portsmouth, N.H., and the Washington, D.C.-area. Volunteers and professional actors will play the roles of victims, who will be rescued, diagnosed, decontaminated and treated over the 10-day period. A 'virtual news network' will be created that will broadcast on the exercises every hour on the hour. This marks the first time that an exercise of this scope, with the participation of top-level federal, state and local officials, has ever been conducted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Government Preparing for Major Terrorism Exercises In Three Cities

Online sales tax overwhelmingly passes cloture vote

"The Marketplace Fairness Act, which would allow states the mechanism to start collecting taxes for online sales, overwhelmingly passed a Senate cloture vote Monday night, circumventing regular order and drawing concern from a minority of Senators. Seventy four Senators voted in favor of the motion, while 20 dissented. Many of those represent states that, like New Hampshire, do not have a state sales tax and argue the passage of this bill will be consequential for their small businesses. One consequence cited was the states’ potential power to collect sales tax on financial transactions done online, specifically on Americans' 401(k) accounts." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOnline sales tax overwhelmingly passes cloture vote

13 corrections officers indicted in Md., accused of aiding gang’s drug scheme

"More than a dozen Maryland state prison guards helped a dangerous national gang operate a drug-trafficking and money-laundering scheme from behind bars that involved cash payments, sex and access to fancy cars, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Thirteen female corrections officers essentially handed over control of a Baltimore jail to gang leaders, prosecutors said. The indictment described a jailhouse seemingly out of control. Four corrections officers became pregnant by one inmate. Two of them got tattoos of the inmate’s first name, Tavon — one on her neck, the other on a wrist." Continue reading →

Continue Reading13 corrections officers indicted in Md., accused of aiding gang’s drug scheme

Napolitano, Graham: U.S. needs more technological entry and exit controls

"US authorities missed Tsarnaev’s trip because his name was misspelled in the system, possibly on a plane ticket. Napolitano acknowledged 'there was a mismatch there,' adding that an immigration reform bill now under consideration would cut down on such problems by requiring passports to be readable electronically. It was not immediately clear whether Tsarnaev’s departure set off a government alert because he was on a terror watchlist or on a broader, central repository of some 500,000 names, known as the TIDE database, maintained by the National Counterterrorism Center." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNapolitano, Graham: U.S. needs more technological entry and exit controls

U.S. Hospitals Quietly Deport Hundreds Of Undocumented Immigrants, Often While Unconscious

"A recent report compiled by immigrant advocacy groups made a rare attempt to determine how many people are sent home, concluding that at least 600 immigrants were removed over a five-year period, though there were likely many more. In interviews with immigrants, their families, attorneys and advocates, The Associated Press reviewed the obscure process known formally as 'medical repatriation,' which allows hospitals to put patients on chartered international flights, often while they are still unconscious. Hospitals typically pay for the flights." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Hospitals Quietly Deport Hundreds Of Undocumented Immigrants, Often While Unconscious

Los Angeles settles with women fired on in Dorner manhunt

"The city of Los Angeles reached a $4.2 million settlement with a mother and daughter who were injured when police mistakenly opened fire on them while they were delivering newspapers during the manhunt for disgruntled ex-cop Christopher Dorner, officials said Tuesday. Margie Carranza and her 71-year-old mother, Emma Hernandez, were delivering papers around 5 a.m. on Feb. 7 when LAPD officers guarding the Torrance home of a target named in an online Dorner manifesto blasted at least 100 rounds at their pickup. Hernandez was shot in the back and Carranza had minor injuries.The settlement means they cannot pursue any future injury claims." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLos Angeles settles with women fired on in Dorner manhunt

The 10 Best Jobs in America

"10. Computer Systems Analyst; Salary: $77,740. 9. Physical Therapist; Salary: $76,310. 8. Optometrist; Salary: $94,990. 7. Occupational Therapist; Salary: $72,320. 6. Dental Hygienist; Salary: $68,250. 5. Financial Planner; Salary: $64,750. 4. Audiologist; Salary: $66,660. 3. Software Engineer; Salary: $90,530. 2. Biomedical Engineer; Salary: $81,540. 1. Actuary; Salary: $87,650" Continue reading →

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Guy Spent $11,000 On A Coding ‘Bootcamp’ And Doubled His Salary

"These intensive training programs are not cheap — charging $10,000 to $15,000 for programs running nine to 12 weeks — and they're highly selective, typically only admitting 10 to 20 percent of applicants. And they're called boot camps for a reason. Students can expect to work 80 to 100 hours a week, mostly writing code in teams under the guidance of experienced software developers. One San Francisco school called App Academy doesn't charge tuition. Instead, it asks for a 15 percent cut of the student's first-year salary. Graduates who can't find jobs don't have to pay, but so far nearly all of them have." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGuy Spent $11,000 On A Coding ‘Bootcamp’ And Doubled His Salary