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Did you pay to file taxes? IRS being pushed to create free, electronic system for all

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s that time of year when throngs of taxpayers are buckling down to file their income tax returns before Tuesday’s filing deadline. Many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&R Block.Almost one-quarter of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes.There could be a new, free option in future years. The IRS has been tasked with looking into how to create a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system for all. But that doesn’t sit well with the big tax-prep companies.The idea has been batted around and hotly debated for a long time. Congress now has directed the IRS to report in on how such a system might work.The order came as part of the $80 billion infusion of money for the tax agency over the next 10 years under the Democrats' flagship climate and health care measure, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, that President Joe Biden signed last summer. It gave the IRS nine mont...

Travis County investigating overnight homicide

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Travis County Sheriff's Office said it was investigating a homicide reported in the northeastern part of the county early Sunday morning.Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call just after midnight Sunday morning. The call originated in the 19400 block of Wearyall Hill Lane, located in Pflugerville.Once arrived, deputies found the body of a woman in her 40s who had suffered from a gunshot wound, per a TCSO release. Deputies also found a man in his 40s in critical condition after having sustained a gunshot wound. He was taken to an area hospital, per the release.The investigation is ongoing, with TCSO officials noting "evidence indicates this was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public."

KXAN wins 7 Texas Broadcast News Awards, including Overall Excellence

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Saturday, the Texas Association of Broadcasters presented KXAN with seven Texas Broadcast News Awards, with several KXAN team members recognized for their projects and achievements.In March, KXAN was announced as a winner in three categories, as well as named as a finalist in a few others.“The Texas Broadcast News Awards recognize outstanding local journalism produced by TAB Member Radio and TV stations serving local communities throughout the state,” TAB said. PREVIOUS: KXAN wins 3 Texas Broadcast News Awards, named finalist for Overall Excellence The awards were in the following Television categories:Public Affairs – Josh Hinkle and John ThomasInvestigative Report – Matt Grant, Dalton Huey, Chris Nelson and Josh HinkleCarole Kneeland Award – Matt Grant, Dalton Huey, Chris Nelson and Josh HinkleMultimedia/Digital Storytelling – Josh Hinkle, Kate Winkle, Haley Cihock and John ThomasPolitics/Election Coverage – Josh Hinkle, John Thomas, Jackie Kingston and Laney ...

Frida Friday ATX celebrates 6th anniversary, Selena's birthday

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Las Ofrendas and The Brewtorium are celebrating Friday Friday ATX's sixth anniversary, while also commemorating beloved Tejano artist Selena's birthday. The event, running Sunday through 6 p.m. at The Brewtorium, will include drag performances, food and drinks, live painting, a live Selena cover band and a Frida Friday market featuring local artists, per a release. Those featured artists include five local drag performers, 50 Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) artists and entrepreneurs and music by local Selena cover band Las Chicas en 512. “We believe in creating the world we want to live in, which celebrates diversity and supports Austin’s creative future, a future which depends on the vibrant contributions of all our community members," Las Ofrendas owner TK Tunchez said in a statement. "This year, we are celebrating our annual Bidi Bidi birthday on Tejano Queen, Selena’s birthday. She was such a stellar example of a go-getter creative and we are proud...

Yankees’ Gerrit Cole outduels Twins’ Pablo López in series finale

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

NEW YORK — There wasn’t much offense to be found at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the series finale in the Bronx.The Twins, for the second time in this young season, saw an opposing starting pitcher deal a complete-game shutout against them. The first time, it was the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara in Miami. This time, it was Gerrit Cole, whose efforts led the Yankees to a 2-0 victory Sunday.Donovan Solano’s single in the fifth inning was the first hit of the game off Cole, and one of just two on the day. Cole struck out 10 on the day.Twins starter Pablo López had another nice day in his six-inning outing, but on a day where his teammates provided no offensive support, it wasn’t enough.Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu brought home the team’s first run of the day with an RBI single in the third inning and added a home run to the short porch in right in the sixth, providing all of New York’s offense on the night.Related ArticlesMinnesota Twins | Domingo German thro...

Resort famous for Elvis' 'Blue Hawaii' movie will be rebuilt

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Demolition will soon begin on a resort once favored by Elvis Presley and other Hollywood royalty before it was heavily damaged by a hurricane three decades ago. The Coco Palms Resort on the island of Kauai will be torn down for a new 350-room hotel, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The resort is best known in movie lore as the location where Presley and Joan Blackman’s characters married in the 1961 movie “Blue Hawaii.” It’s also the site of other key scenes in the movie, including the last where Presley sings the “Hawaiian Wedding Song” and holds Blackman’s hand while they board a raft to cross a lagoon.In its heyday, it was famed for being frequented by other Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Bing Crosby. The 46-acre grounds were also once home to Kauai’s last queen, Deborah Kapule, who died in 1853. Name-that-tune game Heardle dropped by Spotify ...

Wolves president Tim Connelly admits matchup vs. Nuggets is weird: “These people are like family.”

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

Before Wolves executive Tim Connelly began his rare pre-postseason news conference hours before Game 1 between his new team and his old one, he stopped to engage a handful of media members who’d covered him before he left last offseason to Minnesota.Back in Denver where he’d established himself as one of the top talent evaluators in the league, Connelly admitted Sunday night was going to be “weird” for him. Perhaps even more so for his family, who’d trekked from Minnesota back to Denver in anticipation of this No. 1 vs. No. 8 series.The Timberwolves were scheduled to hold a shootaround roughly 30 minutes before Denver’s on Sunday morning, but when Connelly’s news conference ran late, and overlapped with the Nuggets’ time slot, no local reporters was there. The Nuggets weren’t enthused with the mix-up.Asked about his connections and relationships with the Nuggets’ organization, Connelly said there hadn’t been much trash talk between him and Denver’s personnel.“Nah, not really, friend...

2 killed in rollover crash in San Bernardino County

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

Traffic detectives are investigating after two people died in a single-vehicle rollover crash in San Bernardino County early Sunday morning.The deadly crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on the 800 block of Pioneer Avenue in Redlands.Firefighters from the Redlands Fire Department were the first to arrive on scene and found a white Toyota sedan on its roof with two people trapped inside.Crews used heavy equipment to cut the two occupants free, but discovered that both were killed in the crash.Two men were pronounced dead Sunday morning following a rollover crash in Redlands on April 16, 2023. (Redlands Fire Department)Two men were pronounced dead Sunday morning following a rollover crash in Redlands on April 16, 2023. (Redlands Fire Department)Two men were pronounced dead Sunday morning following a rollover crash in Redlands on April 16, 2023. (Redlands Fire Department)Two men were pronounced dead Sunday morning following a rollover crash in Redlands on April 16, 2023. (Redlands Fire Dep...

Clippers star Paul George expected to miss entirety of opening round of Western Conference Playoffs: report

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

The Los Angeles Clippers are already considered the underdogs in their NBA Western Conference opening round series against the Phoenix Suns, and recent reports indicate they're unlikely to have their co-leading scorer return in time for the series.Clippers wing Paul George, who has been out of the lineup since mid-March after suffering a right knee sprain, is not expected to return to the team for its opening series against the new-look Phoenix Suns, headlined by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul.ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report that George will likely miss the entire series as he recovers from his knee injury. ‘I couldn’t walk’: Clippers star Paul George discusses close call that almost ended season Woj reports that the Clippers organization is expecting to be without George, the 8-time NBA All Star, and the team's leading scorer, alongside co-star Kawhi Leonard, who himself has missed 30 games this season.George, 32, averaged 23.8 points, 5.1 assists and...

Coachella Highlights, Part 2

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:12:25 GMT

Coachella Highlights, Part 2: On the way into the festival in the morning, we heard some people discussing who they were looking forward to checking out. Blackpink was not on that list. “Respect to the music, but it’s just not me,” said that guy. Apparently, he was in the minority.The crowd was simply ecstatic to see Blackpink on Saturday evening, and so they should be. The South Korean pop band have performed at Coachella before but this was the year that they truly arrived. They’re big league, top of their game, and other relative and appropriate superlatives. The light show was spectacular, the songs super-catchy — it was just a joy to behold.The early airborne part of that light show was provided by SKYMAGIC, which saw 500 drones create magic (pictured above). “The 8-minute display opened with a celebration of Coachella favorites from the past twenty years, before transitioning into the world of BLACKPINK, as the global sensation arrived on th...