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IRS vows to audit more wealthy folks, provide better service

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

By Fatima Hussein | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The IRS released details Thursday on how it plans to use an infusion of $80 billion for improved operations, pledging to invest in new technology, hire more customer service representatives and expand its ability to audit high-wealth taxpayers.While some Republicans have suggested without evidence that the money from the Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill would help create a mob of armed auditors to harass middle-class taxpayers, new IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said it will not include spending for new agents with guns.The agency’s newly released strategic operating plan lays out the specifics of how the IRS will allocate the $80 billion, through fiscal year 2031, that was approved in that legislation.Some improvements have been long expected, such as bringing more paper-based systems online and answering taxpayers’ phone calls promptly. Others are more ambitious: continuing to explore ways to...

Jury can’t decide if Pittsburg man killed exploited Oakley teen, but acquits him of first-degree murder

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

OAKLAND — Nearly seven years after a 17-year-old girl was gunned down behind a recreation center along International Boulevard, her accused killer finally had his day in court.But at the end of a trial that spanned nearly two months, jurors were unable to reach a complete verdict for 28-year-old Pittsburg resident Darion Brown. They did acquit Brown of first-degree murder, but couldn’t decide on second-degree murder or manslaughter, according to court records.The partial result led to a mistrial in Brown’s case, which could now either be tried again, set for plea bargaining, or dismissed outright. Brown is charged with killing 17-year-old Alexis Leann Ervin, an Oakley girl who was shot a half-dozen times a little before 7 a.m. on June 8, 2016, behind the Rainbow Recreation Center, 5800 International Blvd. in Oakland.During Brown’s trial, which began in February, his attorney argued there were several other people present during the shooting, any one of whom c...

Suspects at large after UPS driver robbed outside sporting goods store in Brentwood

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

(KRON) -- A UPS driver was robbed last week outside of Sportsman's Warehouse, and the suspects are still at large, the Brentwood Police Department said in a Facebook post. The alleged robbery happened around 9:58 a.m. on March 30 when there was a reported strong-arm robbery behind the store. Attempted car break-in leads to Brentwood shootout Police said the UPS driver was robbed as they were unloading merchandise that was being delivered to the sporting goods store. The UPS driver was not injured, but the department said several firearms were stolen in the robbery.As of Thursday, there are two male suspects in the robbery -- both wearing masks and gloves. One suspect was wearing a black hoodie and black pants. The other was wearing a gray hoodie and dark-colored pants.Police believe there could have been a third suspect inside the suspect vehicle. A picture of the suspect vehicle was posted by Brentwood police (below).Police believe this Toyota Camry is the suspect vehicle in the...

1 dead, 1 injured in Highway 101 crash in San Marin

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

(BCN) — One person died and another suffered major injuries in a crash on U.S. Highway 101 in San Martin in Santa Clara County on Thursday morning, a California Highway Patrol spokesperson said. The crash was reported shortly before noon on southbound Highway 101 south of East Middle Avenue. San Francisco’s Great Highway blocked by sand in both directions CHP investigators determined a 2000 Lexus was heading south in the far left lane when the vehicle veered out of control, overturned in the median and hit the metal guardrail. The driver, a 72-year-old man from Del Rey Oaks, died at the scene while a 73-year-old female passenger was taken to a hospital with major injuries, CHP Officer Alfredo Uribe said. The name of the man who died was not immediately available. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the CHP's Hollister-Gilroy area office at (408) 427-0700. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved.

Masters 13th hole goes from relative gimme to hardest par 5

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The 13th hole at Masters went from the easiest of the four par 5s a year ago to the most difficult in Thursday’s first round following modifications at Augusta National.“I birdied it today, so I didn’t not like it today,” defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler said with a laugh.Augusta National Golf Club went to great lengths to add a little toughness to what has been a relative gimme for the world’s top players.The modifications withstood the first test.There were three eagles, 36 birdies, 33 pars, 11 bogeys and three double bogeys or worse at the hole on Thursday for an average score of 4.721. “I feel like it takes a little bit of the decision-making out just because before, the difference between an OK drive and a good drive wasn’t too drastic,” Scheffler said. “Now if I hit an OK drive, I’m probably laying up. If I hit a great drive, I’m probably going for it. So that makes the decision a little bit easier.”The 13th got a new look after year...

The opening round of the Masters at a glance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A brief look at the opening round of the Masters:AT THE TOP: Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland shot rounds of 7-under 65 to sit atop the leaderboard, while Cameron Young and Jason Day were two shots back of them on a good day for scoring at Augusta National.CHASING: Defending champion Scottie Scheffler was in a pack at 4 under that includes major winners Shane Lowry and Adam Scott, who is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his Masters triumph. Xander Schauffele also was in that group.LIMPING: Tiger Woods had just three birdies against five bogeys and opened with a 74, leaving the the five-time champion in danger of missing the cut at the Masters for the first time as a professional.GOING LOW: U.S. Amateur champion Sam Bennett is also at 4 under after a pair of birdies and a chip-in eagle during his bogey-free round. It was the lowest by an amateur in a major since Hovland shot 67 in the final round of the 2019 U.S. Open.GONE HOME: Will Zalatoris withdre...

Bucks won’t have most key players Friday vs. Grizzlies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks won’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo and several other notable players Friday night when they host the Memphis Grizzlies, who can take the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a victory.Milwaukee already wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NBA and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs with its 105-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.The injury report released Thursday lists Antetokounmpo as out with a sore right knee. Other Bucks unavailable to play are: Jrue Holiday (rest), Khris Middleton (sore right knee), Brook Lopez (rest), Grayson Allen (sprained right ankle) and Pat Connaughton (sprained right ankle).Middleton left the Bulls game after hurting his knee. An injury to his right knee had caused Middleton to miss 19 straight games earlier this season.Allen will be missing a third straight game after hurting his ankle Sunday in a 117-104 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers. Antetokounmpo and Connaughton didn’t play a...

Biden propone reglamento que impediría a instituciones académicas imponer vetos a atletas transgénero

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

WASHINGTON – El Gobierno de Joe Biden propuso este jueves un reglamento que impediría a escuelas y universidades de Estados Unidos imponer vetos a atletas transgénero, aunque los equipos sí podrían imponer límites en algunos casos.El Departamento de Educación subrayó que la participación en deportes escolares “es un componente importante de la educación y brinda valiosos beneficios físicos, sociales, académicos y de salud mental” y apuntó que la normativa ofrece un marco para desarrollar criterios de elegibilidad para proteger a los estudiantes de que se les niegue igualdad de oportunidades”.Bajo la regulación propuesta, no se permitiría que los centros educativos apliquen una política única que prohíba “categóricamente” a los estudiantes transgénero participar en equipos coherentes con su identidad de género”. Biden firma orden ejecutiva que prohíbe a las agencias federales utilizar el “spyware” Bide...

Mets placing Narváez on IL, Álvarez could be called up

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets catcher Omar Narváez will be placed on the injured list with a strained left calf that will likely sideline him several weeks.The Mets announced Thursday that Narváez had an MRI that revealed a medium- to high-grade strain. The team said the typical timeline for recovery from that kind of injury is eight to nine weeks.Narváez being sidelined will likely open a roster spot for Mets top prospect Francisco Álvarez, who hit two home runs in four games for Triple-A Syracuse. The power-hitting catcher is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball.Álvarez debuted in the majors late last September and went 2 for 12 with a homer, a double and two walks in five regular-season games. He was included on the Mets’ playoff roster and struck out in his only postseason appearance in the NL wild-card round against San Diego.The 31-year-old Narváez left the Mets’ 7-6 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday with what he told reporters was “tightness.” He wa...

Severe thunderstorms packing damaging winds and hail pound DC area

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:37:21 GMT

Strong winds and hail, as large as a golf ball in some areas, hammered parts of the D.C. region late Thursday afternoon and early evening, as severe thunderstorms developed from the west.The strongest weather moved east of D.C. and cleared out before 9 p.m. Thursday. Showers lingered later into the evening.The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the entire D.C. area until 10 p.m., but the watch was lifted around 8 p.m., except in two Southern Maryland counties.Current weather advisoriesSevere thunderstorm watch for Calvert and St. Mary’s counties until 10 p.m.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for areas along & east of the Blue Ridge through 10 pm EDT. Primary threats include scattered gusts up to 70 mph along with isolated large hail. #MDwx #VAwx #WVwx #DCwx pic.twitter.com/Oi40DcLAwg— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 6, 2023The first severe thunderstorm warning in the region was issued for Spotsylvania County, Virgin...