The debate over how people can reduce their tax bills has shifted to a new focus. Senate Finance Committee members are now asking the IRS to dig into tax advice that may have helped wealthy clients skip over $100 million in federal taxes. The critics say the advice came from two big law firms,
Last fall, Michigan schools opened their doors without knowing how much money they'd get from the state. The legislature missed a July 1 deadline—something they're legally required to do—and didn't finish the budget until October. That delay forced schools to start the year guessing about staffing,
A growing number of Americans now see certain authoritarian governments as better on human rights than their own country. Polls show this shift is especially strong among younger Democrats, who view Iran, Israel, and even China in similar negative ways—or sometimes even favor China over the U. S. Th
Lawmakers in Washington are talking a lot about audits these days, but there’s a smarter way to catch fraud before it drains public funds. A bill proposed by Rep. David Hackney aims to reward whistleblowers who expose cheating in government programs—not just Medicaid. Right now, Washington is one of
Lawmakers squared off this week over future funding for the nation’s main pollution watchdog, the EPA. Democrats argued the agency is abandoning its job to keep air and water clean, warning that half-funding requests would gut state programs that test wells, treat wastewater, and track cancer-causin
A king and queen’s tour through Virginia last week didn’t just pass through famous landmarks—it wove together small-town charm and national memories. King Charles III and Queen Camilla ended their U. S. trip with stops in Front Royal, a quiet town at the edge of Shenandoah National Park. Instead of
Before the next big election season, a warning is going around about fake fundraising groups calling themselves PACs. These groups often pretend to support political causes but actually pocket most of the money they collect. With fundraising reaching a peak during midterm elections, these scams beco
In 2026, dozens of top scientists received an unexpected message ending their roles on a key government board. The emails came without warning, saying their jobs were over immediately. Many had been picked for these positions years earlier. They were about to start work on a major report about Ameri
At a recent meeting, city finance leaders shared a small rise in first-quarter income tax collections for 2026. The bump was tiny—just half a percent higher than the same time last year, adding $3, 872. Most of that extra cash came from people filing personal tax returns, business estimates, and pay
A major shake-up hit the Venice Art Biennale just days before its grand opening. Days after the event’s five-member jury decided to skip awarding prizes to artists from Russia and Israel—citing human rights concerns—the entire panel quit in protest over what they saw as unfair treatment of certain c
