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☆ ‘US will be out of NATO’ in second Trump term, former senior adviser warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Jim Sciutto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“The point is, he saw absolutely no point in NATO,” Kelly said in the book. “President Trump got our allies to increase their NATO spending by demanding they pay up, but Joe Biden went back to letting them take advantage of the American taxpayer. Kelly said he tried to explain the importance of NATO to Trump in terms he believed the president would understand. In the case of withdrawing from NATO, Kelly tried to convey to Trump that both applied. “US support for Ukraine would end,” said the senior US official who served under Trump and Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Powers, Joe Biden, ” John Bolton, “, ”, John Kelly, ” Kelly, Vladimir, Putin, Kim, Jong, Putin wouldn’t, ’ ”, Trump, Obama, Biden, ” Trump, Jason Miller, can’t, Kelly, Mark Milley, Mark Esper, Bolton, I’d, what’s, ’ Organizations: CNN, NATO, Trump, US, Biden, ”, South, White, Russia, “, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Joint Chiefs, Fox News Locations: Russia, South Korea, Japan, North Korea, Europe, Brussels, “, Ukraine, Taiwan, China, Bolton

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are critical of diversity and inclusion programs within the federal government and elsewhere, but they see recruiting women and minority candidates, along with veterans, as key to expanding their slim majority in November. “These are not run-of-the-mill generic Republicans," Hudson said. And so we’re using that same formula.”When asked what she makes of the House Republican focus on recruiting females and minorities, the chair of the campaign arm for House Democrats was skeptical. It's not just House Republicans seeking to end such programs. Hudson sidestepped on whether the focus on attracting female and minority candidates as House Republican candidates clashes with efforts to clamp down on diversity and inclusion programs within the federal government and elsewhere.

Persons: Richard Hudson, Prasanth Reddy, Alison Esposito, Hudson, George Logan, there's Kevin Lincoln, Mayra Flores, prognosticators, ” Hudson, “ That’s, “, ”, Suzan DelBene, It's, Hudson sidestepped, George Santos, Tom Suozzi, Mazi, She's, Elise Stefanik's, Alexandria Ocasio, ” Stefanik, ” Steven Horsford, ” Horsford Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, National Republican Congressional Committee, GOP, House Democrats, Democrats, Republican, “, Associated, Democratic, Ethiopian, Pew Research Center, PAC, Republican Party, Congressional Black Caucus, Women, Puerto Rico Locations: India, Kansas, New York, Guatemala, Connecticut, Stockton , Calif, Mexican, ”, Alexandria, Cortez, Puerto

☆ Joe Biden is looking for ways to get his message to break through. He’s hoping his Cabinet can play a key role.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Betsy Klein | Camila Dechalus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Nevertheless, the Biden White House and legal team has taken pains to ensure compliance – an effort to highlight its commitment to ethics and draw a sharp contrast with Trump, who skirted the rule with abandon. And the Biden White House has issued “extensive guidance to and conducts trainings for agencies” on the Hatch Act and how to avoid potential missteps, the official said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for instance, delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention while on official travel in Jerusalem. “Voters of color can see themselves in leaders like Secretary Cardona, Secretary Fudge, and (EPA) Administrator (Michael) Regan. President Biden was intentional about assembling a Cabinet that reflects the diversity of America, and we continue to see how that diversity translates into real political strength,” he told CNN.

Persons: Washington CNN — Janet Yellen isn’t, Joe Biden’s, Biden, SSRS –, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Yellen, Robert Hur’s, Pete Buttigieg, Gina Raimondo, Jennifer Granholm, Miguel Cardona, they’ve, “, Biden’s, they’re, Jeff Zients, “ Biden, ” Caitlin Legacki, Granholm, Buttigieg, Raimondo, “ We’re, ” Buttigieg, That’s, Mike Pompeo, Biden White, – you’ve, ” Legacki, Julie Su, Isabel Casillas Guzman, Marcia Fudge –, –, Marjory Stoneman, Gevin Reynolds, Kamala Harris, Secretary Cardona, Fudge, Michael, Regan, Young, Tom Vilsack Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Economic, of Chicago, Midwest, Treasury, White, Transportation, Democratic, GOP, Cabinet, Biden White, Republican National Convention, Coalition, SSRS, Biden, Trump, Labor, Democrats, Small, Urban, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Palmetto State’s, Education, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, “ Locations: Yellen, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee , Louisiana , California, Delaware, New York, Jerusalem, American, Pacific Islander, Nevada, South Carolina, Iowa

Scholz arrived in Washington ready to amplify an argument Biden himself has been making for months now: A Russian win in Ukraine would imperil the West and its allies. He's also looking to highlight that Germany continues to provide robust funding for Ukraine despite budget constraints. Scholz is emphasizing the stakes of the debate for Europe and beyond as House Republicans have blocked new U.S. funding. Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund in Washington, said that Scholz will be looking to hear from Biden on his “Plan B” if Congress remains at loggerheads over funding for Ukraine. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Biden would make clear to Scholz that despite the “dysfunction” in the House over Ukraine funding, there's broad bipartisan support to continue to back Kyiv.

Persons: Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Biden, He's, “, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Heather Conley, ” Conley, John Kirby, ”, ” Kirby, ” Scholz, Tracy Brown, Moulson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Ukraine, Republicans, Israel, Union, German Marshall Fund, . National Security, Washington, NATO, AP Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Washington, Germany, United States, Kyiv, Russian, Israel, U.S, underscoring, House, Kyiv . U.S, Berlin

The report comes as access to sensitive taxpayer information has sparked calls for investigations — and calls for reform on taxes for the wealthy. Littlejohn had applied to work as a contractor to get Trump’s tax returns and carefully figured out how to search and extract tax data to avoid triggering suspicions internally, prosecutors said in court documents. Werfel said that since the agency has received funding through Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, it has been able to markedly improve the security of sensitive information, including audit trail deficiencies. “Our data security and environment is dramatically better today than it was in 2017 to 2020 when this unauthorized access occurred," Werfel said. "And it’s dramatically better today because we now have the resources to make the right investments to strengthen our data security.

Persons: Daniel Werfel —, —, ”, “, TIGTA, Charles Edward Littlejohn of, Donald Trump, Littlejohn, Jason Smith, Werfel, Lindsay Whitehurst Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Treasury, Associated Press, Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington, Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington , D.C, New York Times, Associated Locations: Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington ,

Hur cleared Biden of criminal wrongdoing in the 345-page report but inserted many unflattering references to Biden personally – calling him a "well-meaning, elderly man" with trouble remembering things. The Best Political Cartoons on Joe Biden View All 270 ImagesThe White House came back to the issue Friday with a fury. He noted that on Page 2 of the report, Hur argued that Biden "willfully" retained materials – but "buried way later on Page 215," the report said there was a shortage of evidence to support that. "I would call it a backhanded exoneration of President Biden. Former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade said Hur "seems to go out of his way to smear Joe Biden.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's, Robert Hur, Donald Trump, Merrick Garland, Hur, Biden, –, Beau, Joe Biden, Harris, Ian Sams, Sams, It's, Norm Eisen, Eisen, Barbara McQuade, McQuade, Trump, Garland Organizations: White, Biden, Trump, Former Justice Department, Department, GOP Locations: Israel, Maryland

We have people that are willing and able to work, but finding child care was an obstacle.”Republicans historically have been lukewarm about using taxpayer money for child care, even as they have embraced prekindergarten. Nebraska and Indiana have both pitched programs to make child care free for child care workers. Child care advocates say the investments are not enough and called on Congress to authorize a new round of money to keep the child care industry afloat. GOP resistance to child care spending dates to the 1970s, when President Richard Nixon vetoed a bill to establish a national child care system, invoking fears of communism and saying it had “family-weakening implications.” Many of those arguments persist. But during the pandemic, many child care workers left the industry for better-paying jobs, and some child care centers closed for good, exacerbating the problem.

Persons: Emily O'Brien, Lennon, O'Brien, Jolene, Doug Burgum's, ” O'Brien, —, Mike Parson, Brenda Shields, ” Shields, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, Glenn Youngkin, Richard Nixon, “, Kristi Noem, ” Noem Organizations: Republican, Gov, Republicans, Democratic, Republican Gov, Pro, Virginia Gov, U.S . Chamber of Commerce Foundation, KWAT, Associated Press Locations: North Dakota, Forks, Bismarck, New Mexico, Vermont, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Nebraska, Indiana, Idaho, U.S, South Dakota, Watertown , South Dakota, AP.org

☆ Your next landlord may be a pro sports team
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But team owners in recent years have turned to real estate development to bring in extra cash and drive up the asset values of their franchises. “It makes perfect sense for a team owner to play real estate,” said Propheter. “That means that team owners do have a lot of leverage,” he said. “Stadium subsidies transfer wealth from the general tax base to billionaire team owners, millionaire players, and the wealthy cohort of fans” who regularly attend games. “Generally speaking, the people who come off well are the team owners and the developers,” Zimbalist said.

Persons: ”, Geoffrey Propheter, Daniel Slim, “, Andrew Zimbalist, Louis, Harry Cabluck, Bruce Ratner, Stan Kroenke, Matthew Grimes Jr, Steve Cohen, Mark Cuban’s, Adelson, “ I’m, ” Zimbalist Organizations: New, New York CNN, Professional, Billionaire, University of Colorado Denver, Sofi, Getty, Washington Wizards, Capitals, Sweet, Smith College, Riverfront, Busch, Baltimore Orioles, Camden, Barclays Center, Nets, Los Angeles Rams, “ Battery, Atlanta Braves, Golden State Warriors ’ Chase Center, Texas Rangers, Globe, Arlington, New York Mets, Hard, Citi Field . Dallas Mavericks, Vegas Sands Corp, Management Locations: New York, North America, Inglewood , California, AFP, Washington, Alexandria , Virginia, Cincinnati, St, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, New Jersey, ”, “ Battery Atlanta ”, Truist, Atlanta, San Francisco, “, City, Arlington , Texas, ” Cuban

☆ King Charles’ cancer diagnosis: How much should the public be told?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +26 min

King Charles and Queen Camilla are seen leaving Clarence House in London on February 6, the day after it was announced King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. But Queen Elizabeth and King Charles, they do not want to become the story, they still want to serve their public. In the fullness of time, I would like to think King Charles will talk about his treatment.”Britain's King Charles III poses for a portrait in Buckingham Palace's Throne Room after his official coronation in May 2023. From left are Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Queen Elizabeth II; Prince Philip; Prince William; and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. From left are Prince Charles; the Queen; Prince Louis; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Princess Charlotte.

Persons: London CNN — Britain’s King Charles III, Buckingham, Charles, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Clarence, Toby Melville, King, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, “, Sunak’s, Charles ’, Chris Jackson, ”, Kate Williams, Joe Biden, Matthew Chattle, survivorship, “ Jill, “ You’re, Anil Rustgi, Herbert, ” Rustgi, Sally Bedell Smith, George VI, ” King George VI, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Emily Nash, It’s, Princes William, Harry, Andrew, Edward, Anne, Beatrice, Nash, Princess, Wales, She’s, hasn’t, Catherine, ” Williams, Kristina Kyriacou, ITV’s, They’ve, Kyriacou, she’d, Queen Elizabeth, ” Britain's King Charles III, Hugo Burnand, Princess Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, Eddie Worth, Margaret, Hulton, Sir Gerald Creasy, Paul Popper, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince, Popperfoto, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Richard Nixon, William Lovelace, Serge Lemoine, David McFall, Anwar Hussein, Tim Graham, Camilla Parker Bowles, Lady Diana Spencer, Princess Diana, William, Diana, David Levenson, Johnny Eggitt, Nelson Mandela, David Thomson, Princess Diana's, Jayne Fincher, Thomas Coex, Adrian Dennis, Chris Ison, Prince of, Camilla, Matt Dunham, Prince William, Kate Middleton, James Devaney, FilmMagic, Andrew Milligan, Barack Obama, Chris Radburn, Duchess of Cornwall, Catherine , Duchess of Cambridge, Dominic Lipinski, Alessandro Bianchi, Mohd Rasfana, Andrew Parsons, Prince Charles , Prince Andrew, Duchess Camilla, Meghan Markle, Jonathan Brady, Max Mumby, He's, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Meghan, PoolAP Charles, Tim P, Paul Chiasson, Ben Stansall, Duchess, Cambridge, Hannah McKay, Reuters Charles, Liz Truss, Yui Mok, Queen Consort, Victoria Jones, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Aaron Chown, Handout, Dan Kitwood, Andrew Matthews, Sarah Tilotta, Toby Hancock, CNN Charles, Giles, Jane Barlow, Emmanuel Macron, Benoit Tessier, Peter Nicholls, Britain's King Charles III, Estelle Paranque Organizations: London CNN, Clarence House, Reuters, CNN, BBC, British, Getty, Royal, Publishing, Macmillan Cancer, Cancer Research, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer, Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Topical Press Agency, Royals, CNN’s Royal, Buckingham Palace, Central Press, Hulton, Hulton Deutsch, Westminster Abbey, Keystone, Royal Navy, Queen, Trinity College , Cambridge, Bettmann, Hulton Royals, Cheshire Regiment, Spice, Westminster Hall, Royal Horticultural Society's, Chelsea, London Palladium, BBC Scotland's, Office, Zephyr, Army Air Corps, Sandringham, Royal Air Force, Whitby, Imperial State Crown, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Cathedral, Scotland, King, London Clinic, Northeastern University London Locations: London, British, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom, NewYork, Queen, Windsor, Wales, Buckingham, Malta, Westminster, France, Washington, Kenya, West Berlin, Canada, Cirencester, England, Canterbury, India, Manchester, Papua New Guinea, Toronto, AFP, Balmoral, Balmoral , Scotland, Paris, Ashbourne, Ranville, Prince of Wales, Amatrice, Borneo, St, John's, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nyamata, Rwanda, St James's, Hamburg, Germany, Edward's, Edinburgh, Scotland, of Versailles, Versailles

The 41-year-old heir to the throne temporarily stepped away from public duties last month to help care for Kate and their children following her operation for an undisclosed condition. The Princess of Wales, formerly Kate Middleton, isn’t expected to resume public duties until April. But Charles’ cancer diagnosis earlier this week is putting extra pressure on the royal family, with the king suspending his own public appearances to focus on treatment and recovery. While receiving treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, Charles will continue with behind-the-scenes work such as reviewing and signing state papers. Harry arrived in London from California less than 24 hours after Buckingham Palace announced the king’s cancer diagnosis.

Persons: William, Kate, Kate Middleton, isn’t, Charles ’, Charles, “, ”, Sally Bedell Smith, “ Prince Charles, Princess, Prince Harry, Harry, Meghan Markle, Meghan Organizations: Windsor, London’s Air Ambulance, Clarence House, Buckingham Locations: Wales, Windsor, London, California

(AP) — Missouri senators on Wednesday voted against amending the state's strict law against abortions to allow exceptions in cases of rape and incest. The state banned almost all abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade. “What we’re saying is, ‘We don’t care,’” McCreery said of the state's current abortion ban. St. Louis resident Jamie Corley is leading a campaign to amend the state constitution to allow abortions for any reason up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. If Corley's amendment is enacted, abortions would also be allowed in cases of rape, incest and fatal fetal abnormalities until viability, which typically is around 24 weeks.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Sen, Tracy McCreery, ’ ” McCreery, “ We’re, ” McCreery, GOP Sen, Rick Brattin, let’s, ” Brattin, Republican Sen, Mike Moon, Louis, Jamie Corley Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, —, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Republican, GOP Locations: Mo, — Missouri, Missouri

Hinds County Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin blocked the law in October 2022 after Parents for Public Schools sued the state. The nonprofit group argued the grants would give private schools a competitive advantage over public schools. “Any appropriation of public funds to be received by private schools adversely affects schools and their students,” Martin wrote. Tate Reeves created a grant program to help private schools pay for water, broadband and other infrastructure projects. State attorneys also wrote that the Mississippi Constitution only blocks the Legislature from sending money directly to private schools.

Persons: JACKSON, Crystal Wise Martin, ” Martin, Tate Reeves, general's, “, lopsidedly, Martin Organizations: Mississippi Supreme, Public Schools, Mississippi’s Republican, Republican Gov, Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, Public, American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, Mississippi Center for Justice, Democracy Forward, Mississippi Department of Finance, Administration, DFA, Mississippi Constitution, Mississippi Adequate Education Locations: Miss, Mississippi, Hinds County

☆ Senate probe zeroes in on Harlan Crow tax deductions for superyacht used for Clarence Thomas vacations
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

How Crow uses his 160 foot yacht has drawn the attention of Senate Finance Committee investigators, who are probing Crow's financial and personal ties to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Thomas and his wife Ginni Thomas have taken several cruises aboard the ship, the Michaela Rose, including trips around Indonesia and New Zealand. Rochelle Charter, Inc., which was formed by the Crow family to lease out the yacht, reported tax-deductible business losses in 10 of the 13 years for which ProPublic has records. In order for business losses to be deducted from federal income taxes, a company must be engaged in an actual business with paying customers. "Mr. Crow engages professional accounting firms to prepare his tax returns and complies with tax law in good faith.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Al Drago, Harlan Crow's, Crow, Thomas, Ginni Thomas, Michaela Rose, Ron Wyden, Sen, Erin Scott, ProPublic, Wyden, Harlan Crow, Mr Organizations: U.S, Supreme, White, Washington , D.C, Bloomberg, Getty Images WASHINGTON — Billionaire, IRS, CNBC, Finance, Democratic, Reuters Tax, Inc, Internal Revenue Service Locations: Washington ,, Indonesia, New Zealand, Washington, Rochelle

McLEAN, Va. (AP) — A Virginia Senate committee on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have allowed a referendum on a casino in the wealthy suburbs of the nation’s capital. The committee rejected a motion to kill the bill outright, instead opting to carry the bill over to 2025 for future consideration. A study commissioned in 2019 by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee found that a northern Virginia casino could generate $155 million annually in tax revenue, more than any of the other casinos built in Virginia. Virginia voted in 2020 to allow locations in five cities, subject to referendum. Bristol, Danville, Portsmouth and Norfolk all voted for a casino; Richmond voters twice rejected a proposed casino in that city.

Persons: Sen, Louise Lucas, Lucas, ” Sen, Jennifer Boysko, David Marsden, Marsden, ” Marsden, “, Scott Surovell, Connie Hartke, ”, “ We're Organizations: Senate Finance, Assembly, Fortune, Fairfax, Audit, MGM, Reston Citizens Association, Richmond Locations: McLEAN, Va, Virginia, Fairfax County, Tysons, ”, National Harbor, Potomac, Reston, Petersburg, Bristol, Danville, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Richmond

☆ Two Climate Advisers Quit U.S. Export-Import Bank Over Fossil Fuel Plans
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Lisa Friedman | Hiroko Tabuchi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A federal bank that finances projects overseas is set to vote on Thursday on whether to use taxpayer dollars to help drill oil and gas wells in Bahrain, a contentious decision that prompted two of the bank’s climate advisers to resign, according to people with knowledge of their decisions. The project in Bahrain is one of several controversial overseas fossil fuel projects that the Export-Import Bank of the United States is currently considering. The two advisers, who sit on an 18-person board that President Biden created to help the bank take climate change into account when making investments, resigned last week after a meeting about the Bahrain project, according to five current and former bank officials, who spoke on the condition that they not be identified because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations. They described mounting frustration among climate advisory board members, who say they are being kept in the dark about upcoming fossil fuel loans and blocked from making recommendations about whether to approve or even modify a particular project.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Export, Import Bank Locations: Bahrain, United States

(AP) — Mississippi's state auditor filed court papers Monday renewing his call for Brett Favre to repay the state for welfare money that the auditor says was improperly spent on projects backed by the retired NFL quarterback. White said in 2020 that Favre had improperly received $1.1 million in speaking fees from a nonprofit organization that spent welfare with approval from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program was to go toward a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi. “Favre had no legal right to the possession or control of this $1.1 Million,” White's attorneys wrote in the court filing Monday. No criminal charges have been brought against Favre, although a former department director and other people have pleaded guilty to their part in the misspending.

Persons: JACKSON, Brett Favre, Shad, White, Favre, “ Favre, ”, Shannon Sharpe, who's, Pat McAfee, McAfee Organizations: —, NFL, Favre, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Mississippi Department of Human Services, University of Southern, Associated Press, Department of Human Services Locations: Miss, — Mississippi's, Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi

(AP) — Conservative lawmakers who want to intertwine religion with school curriculum in Republican-dominated Nebraska presented a slew of bills Monday to the state Legislature’s education committee. Another measure would change school funding to loop in private school tuition while forbidding the state from interfering in private schools’ curriculum or beliefs. The bill introduced last year was among those that stalled as conservatives focused on passing a bill to allow taxpayer money to be used to fund private school scholarships. Others argued Erdman’s bill would hurt funding for rural school districts like his own, which has fewer than 350 students. Under the bill, out-of-state teachers could gain Nebraska certification by taking a knowledge-testing exam they must pass.

Persons: LINCOLN, Sen, Dave Murman, Steve Erdman’s, Erdman, ” Ron Cunningham, Lincoln, Loren Lippincott’s, “, Omaha Sen, Kathleen Kauth —, Jim Pillen Organizations: — Conservative, Republican, Nebraska Legislature’s, Democratic, Omaha, Gov Locations: Neb, Nebraska, Glenvil, Arizona

Bill Lee on Monday stood before the GOP-dominant Legislature with a much more ambitious pitch: Make school vouchers universal throughout the state. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesThe governor floated his school voucher proposal during his annual State of the State address. Yet Lee's school vouchers push has quickly attracted the most attention. Under Lee's ambitious expansion plan, the state would create a new tier of school vouchers called “education freedom” scholarships. The first year of the program would cost $144 million to offer 20,000 scholarships to Tennessee families.

Persons: Bill Lee, Lee, Lee's, ” Lee, it's Organizations: Tennessee Gov, Monday, GOP, Democratic Locations: Tenn, It's, Tennessee, Tennessee's, Davidson, Shelby, Nashville, Memphis, Hamilton County, Chattanooga

☆ Here's how to pick the best free tax filing option this season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

IRS Free FileA public-private partnership between the IRS and Free File Alliance, a nonprofit comprised of tax software companies, IRS Free File offers free guided tax prep software for eligible filers. If you're comfortable with tax software, Free File has eight partners this season, with varying income eligibility — and some offer free linked state filings. Volunteer tax prep from IRS programsIf you're looking for more guidance, you may also qualify for free tax prep from IRS programs with trained volunteers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program offers free tax prep for taxpayers typically making up to $64,000, in addition to filers with disabilities and limited English proficiency. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide also offers free tax prep for low- to moderate-income older adults.

Persons: Tim Hugo, Hugo, Steven Hamilton Organizations: U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Taxpayers, IRS, Alliance, National Taxpayer, Volunteer, Internal Revenue, The George Washington University, Social Locations: Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

☆ It’s not just the Super Bowl. Catching a game is becoming unaffordable
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In 2023, the average NFL ticket climbed 8.6% to $120, according to Team Marketing Report, a sports market research company. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the Super Bowl, is the third smallest NFL stadium. The closing of the upper deck in Oakland helped the Athletics raise ticket prices during the early 2000s, for example. Five of the most recent seven NFL stadiums have seating for 71,000 or less. Relatively small, that ranks it 27th out of 30 NFL stadiums in capacity.

Persons: ”, Victor Matheson, Lionel Messi’s, Todd Kirkland, ” Matheson, Kirby Lee, Dennis Coates Organizations: New, New York CNN, Super, NFL, College of, Nebraska, Lionel Messi’s MLS, Atlanta Braves, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, Ticketmaster, New York Yankees, USA, Reuters, Athletics, Oakland, Las, University of Maryland, Minnesota Twins, Florida Marlins, NFL’s Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers Locations: New York, Las Vegas, Oakland, Baltimore County

☆ Former Tesla director Larry Ellison invited Elon Musk to Hawaii to 'dry out' from drugs, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's drug use worries his business associates and board members, The Wall Street Journal reported. Former Tesla director Larry Ellison urged Elon Musk to visit Hawaii to "dry out," per The Journal. Ellison's proposal came amid increasing concerns among Musk's friends and associates that Musk's drug use was getting worse, per The Journal. Despite proclaiming that he doesn't "like doing illegal drugs," Musk's drug use has previously put him and his companies on notice. The company spent $5 million in taxpayer money to properly train its employees on the rules, the Journal reported.

Persons: Elon, Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, Musk's, —, Musk, Ellison, Alex Spiro, Christopher Muzzi, Joe Rogan Organizations: Street Journal, Service, Elon, Wall Street, Oracle, Hollywood Hills, Business, The, NASA, SpaceX, CNBC Locations: Hawaii, Hollywood, Silicon Valley

☆ Nearly 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers don't claim this 'valuable credit,' IRS says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Laylabird | E+ | Getty ImagesTens of millions of Americans file tax returns every year — and many are missing a "valuable credit," according to the IRS. In 2022, roughly 23 million filers received $57 billion from the earned income tax credit, or EITC, a tax break for low- to moderate-income workers. But nearly 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers don't claim the EITC, which averaged $2,541 in 2022, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters during a press call last week. How the earned income tax credit works"The credit is reasonably complex," said Steven Hamilton, assistant professor of economics at The George Washington University. There's a 'high improper payments rate'"Millions of eligible taxpayers fail to claim the EITC, while other taxpayers claim amounts for which they are not eligible, leading to a high improper payments rate," National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins wrote in the 2023 Purple Book of legislative recommendations.

Persons: Danny Werfel, you've, Steven Hamilton, Hamilton, There's, Erin Collins Organizations: The George Washington University, IRS, Center, Black, Stanford University Locations: U.S

☆ Embattled Georgia prosecutor Willis will not recuse from Trump election case amid affair allegations, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Despite calls by some legal experts to recuse herself from the case to protect its integrity, she is not expected to do so, the sources told CNN. Still, a source familiar with the thinking inside the DA’s office told CNN they would be “mystified” if it succeeds in removing her. “I think a lot of what I’ve read is more of a distraction and not legally substantive,” James told CNN in a sit-down interview. I think it’s very unlikely that we’ll see any criminal action come out of that,” Kreis told CNN. If Willis ultimately survives the current push to disqualify her, the case would effectively be back on track, sources told CNN.

Persons: Willis, Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Nathan Wade, Trump, Mike Roman, Scott McAfee, Wade, Erik S, Norm Eisen, Obama, Wade —, Willis —, “, ” Eisen, Eisen, Willis ‘, Robert James, ” James, Donald J, Elijah Nouvelage, James, I’m, ’ ” James, Anthony Michael Kreis, –, Brian Kemp, ” Kreis, “ It’s, It’s, McAfee, Jack Smith, CNN’s Nick Valencia, Jason Morris Organizations: CNN —, CNN, Trump, White, Georgia State University, Kreis, GOP, Georgia Republicans, Republican, Georgia’s Republican Gov Locations: Georgia, CNN — Fulton County, Cobb County, Fulton County, Atlanta , Georgia, Miami, San Francisco, DeKalb County

(AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker behind a new law that allows millions in state income tax to go to private school tuition scholarships is now targeting the referendum petition process that could allow state voters to repeal it. The bill would allow a person to have their name removed by sending a signed letter to the Nebraska Secretary of State. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesThe new law does not appropriate taxpayer dollars directly to private school vouchers. Instead, it allows businesses and individuals to donate up to $100,000 per year of their owed state income tax to organizations that award private school tuition scholarships. When I told them that the petition was against school choice, they were upset.

Persons: LINCOLN, Omaha Sen, Lou Ann Linehan, Linehan, “, ”, Bob Evnen, Clarice Jackson, Jackson, they'd, Sen, Danielle Conrad, Conrad Organizations: —, Nebraska, State, Government, Military, Veterans Affairs Committee, Republican, Nebraska Legislature, American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska Locations: Neb, Nebraska, Omaha

They are among nearly a dozen witnesses who were subpoenaed, including other Fulton County prosecutors, Willis’s assistant and bodyguard, and Wade’s current and former law partners. CNN first reported last week that Willis, Wade and others were expected to receive subpoenas to testify at the February 15 hearing. The other prosecutors who were subpoenaed are Deputy District Attorney Sonya Allen and Executive District Attorney Daysha Young. Both are members of Willis’ executive team, according to the Fulton County website. Mike Roman, one of Trump’s co-defendants, is suing the Fulton County district attorney’s office, accusing prosecutors of withholding information that the lawsuit claims could prove allegations of an improper romantic relationship.

Persons: Fani Willis, Nathan Wade, Donald Trump, Wade, Willis, Sonya Allen, Daysha Young, Michael Hill, Tia Green, Mike Roman, Trump’s, Roman, they’ve, Willis’s, –, Scott McAfee, McAfee, Mr, ”, Roman’s, Trump Organizations: CNN, Executive, Fulton, ”, Records Locations: Fulton County, Georgia, Fulton

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