LABELLE, FLORIDA -- Florida's Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is urging Florida taxpayers to check if they may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a special federal tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The EITC helps taxpayers whose incomes are below $38,348 for families with two or more children, $34,001 for individuals with one child and $14,120 for individuals who have no children.
"Every year, millions of dollars in tax relief are forfeited because eligible Americans fail to claim their share of the Earned Income Tax Credit," said CFO Sink. "This is money that could be used to pay down debt, make a down payment on a home, or open a college fund. This is the taxpayers� money; it doesn�t belong to the government,� said CFO Sink. �We�re doing everything we can to help put money back in the hands of eligible, hard-working taxpayers so they can take advantage of Florida�s boundless opportunities.�
According to the Internal Revenue Service�s Web site, taxpayers must meet certain requirements to qualify and must file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return. In addition to filing an EITC claim for the most recent tax year, Floridians can go back three years to claim prior refunds for which they were eligible. Further, the IRS Web site states that in most cases, EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for most assistance programs, including Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and food stamps. Consumers can visit http://www.irs.gov/ and search �Earned Income Tax Credit� to find out more about the tax credit and determine if they qualify.
There are many free tax preparation sites throughout Florida. To find the nearest free tax assistance site, call 1-800-829-1040.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Glades County Group Joins FPL Coal Power Protest
"Save It Now Glades" Joins Miami Protest
MOORE HAVEN, FLORIDA -- Environmental & social justice activists from across Florida and the South, including "Save It Now Glades" will this week protest the "Coaltrans Americas" 2007 annual international coal industry convention in Miami, Florida. The Coaltrans convention, happening on January 31st and February 1st in Key Biscayne's Ritz-Carlton resort, will bring business leaders and government officials from the energy, utilities, banking, transportation, and insurance sectors together in Miami from throughout the Americas.
The purpose of this Coaltrans "International Networking Event for the North & South American Coal Markets" event is to promote coal development throughout the Western Hemisphere. Activist groups will rally to present loud & visible creative protest actions that will: urge investors to pursue clean energy development instead of coal; demand that coal producers immediately cease environmental destruction including "mountain-top removal" coal-mining and global warming pollution; and highlight the urgent crisis of human rights abuses and violent exploitation committed by the coal industry on rural and indigenous communities, and mineworkers, throughout the Americas.
The environmental coalition says major coal industry decision-makers & representatives attending the "Coaltrans Americas" convention are responsible for human rights violations against coalfield communities and mineworkers, as well as high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution leading to an epidemic of children suffering asthma, and massive expanses of irreplaceable land destroyed by mining. "Despite the fact that global warming is accelerating every day, over 150 new coal power plants are now planned to be built in the United States," including one in Florida's Everglades, the proposed coal power plant in Glades County, Florida. They say, "Local, regional and worldwide grassroots opposition to these irresponsible, deadly practices of the coal industry is intense and growing, from the Everglades and Appalachia in the southern US to Colombia and Venezuela in South America. A diverse alliance of local Miami and regional Southern activists will – for the first time – protest the annual Coaltrans Americas convention, in order to raise public awareness about the problems with coal and give voice to a common demand for rapid society-wide transitioning away from harmful, unsustainable coal use & towards clean, renewable energy sources."
The Wednesday January 31st protest will focus on coal issues in North America. The Thursday February 1st protest will focus on coal issues in Latin America. A public event open-to-all featuring speakers & films critical of coal will take place this Thursday evening at the Wallflower Gallery in downtown Miami (starting 7 pm; location: 10 NE 3rd St).
MOORE HAVEN, FLORIDA -- Environmental & social justice activists from across Florida and the South, including "Save It Now Glades" will this week protest the "Coaltrans Americas" 2007 annual international coal industry convention in Miami, Florida. The Coaltrans convention, happening on January 31st and February 1st in Key Biscayne's Ritz-Carlton resort, will bring business leaders and government officials from the energy, utilities, banking, transportation, and insurance sectors together in Miami from throughout the Americas.
The purpose of this Coaltrans "International Networking Event for the North & South American Coal Markets" event is to promote coal development throughout the Western Hemisphere. Activist groups will rally to present loud & visible creative protest actions that will: urge investors to pursue clean energy development instead of coal; demand that coal producers immediately cease environmental destruction including "mountain-top removal" coal-mining and global warming pollution; and highlight the urgent crisis of human rights abuses and violent exploitation committed by the coal industry on rural and indigenous communities, and mineworkers, throughout the Americas.
The environmental coalition says major coal industry decision-makers & representatives attending the "Coaltrans Americas" convention are responsible for human rights violations against coalfield communities and mineworkers, as well as high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution leading to an epidemic of children suffering asthma, and massive expanses of irreplaceable land destroyed by mining. "Despite the fact that global warming is accelerating every day, over 150 new coal power plants are now planned to be built in the United States," including one in Florida's Everglades, the proposed coal power plant in Glades County, Florida. They say, "Local, regional and worldwide grassroots opposition to these irresponsible, deadly practices of the coal industry is intense and growing, from the Everglades and Appalachia in the southern US to Colombia and Venezuela in South America. A diverse alliance of local Miami and regional Southern activists will – for the first time – protest the annual Coaltrans Americas convention, in order to raise public awareness about the problems with coal and give voice to a common demand for rapid society-wide transitioning away from harmful, unsustainable coal use & towards clean, renewable energy sources."
The Wednesday January 31st protest will focus on coal issues in North America. The Thursday February 1st protest will focus on coal issues in Latin America. A public event open-to-all featuring speakers & films critical of coal will take place this Thursday evening at the Wallflower Gallery in downtown Miami (starting 7 pm; location: 10 NE 3rd St).
Discovering Artists - The Alice Project
We've been searching for new artists and we'll share the song files and feature them here on on the Sunday Morning News blog.
Here's a New York based band that specializes in melodic, hooky, tuneful pop/rock. Alice Leon is the singer and songwriter. Click on the song link below to play one of her songs.
For dozens of more Alice Project songs to play online or purchase and band information click here: The Alice Project
Sunday, January 28, 2007
$125,000 Win For Okeechobee Contest Angler
Fisherman Career Winnings More Than $2.2 Million
CLEWISTON, Fl. – Team Castrol pro David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $125,000 in the $1 million Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 64-2.
The catch gave him the win by a solid 7-pound, 7-ounce margin over Team Fuji pro Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., who caught a total of 20 bass weighing 56-7 and earned $50,000.
Rounding out the top five pros are Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C. (20 bass, 54-6, $40,000); Team National Guard pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla. (14 bass, 45-9, $30,000) and Jim Dillard of West Monroe, La. (15 bass, 41-11, $20,000).
"No matter how many classes or seminars you attend, you can't teach instinct," said Dudley, who increased his winnings in FLW Outdoors events to more than $1.9 million and his total career winnings to more than $2.2 million. "It comes through trial and error. And this week that experience made all the difference."
Dudley became the youngest angler to surpass $2 million in career winnings in 2006 at the age of 30. He is second on the all-time money list behind the legendary Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo.
"I look back at some of the decisions I've made while fishing and I chuckle to myself," Dudley said. "When you're fishing, you have to listen to your instincts and what the Lord is telling you."
Dudley's instincts told him that shallow water wouldn't hold quality fish after a cold front moved through the area Thursday. Dudley searched for areas that bass would migrate to and hold in once the water temperatures cooled. He found fish in 12 to 15 feet of water in canals and exploited the discovery. Dudley fished five spots in the J & S canal on the east side of the lake.
CLEWISTON, Fl. – Team Castrol pro David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $125,000 in the $1 million Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 64-2.
The catch gave him the win by a solid 7-pound, 7-ounce margin over Team Fuji pro Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., who caught a total of 20 bass weighing 56-7 and earned $50,000.
Rounding out the top five pros are Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C. (20 bass, 54-6, $40,000); Team National Guard pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla. (14 bass, 45-9, $30,000) and Jim Dillard of West Monroe, La. (15 bass, 41-11, $20,000).
"No matter how many classes or seminars you attend, you can't teach instinct," said Dudley, who increased his winnings in FLW Outdoors events to more than $1.9 million and his total career winnings to more than $2.2 million. "It comes through trial and error. And this week that experience made all the difference."
Dudley became the youngest angler to surpass $2 million in career winnings in 2006 at the age of 30. He is second on the all-time money list behind the legendary Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo.
"I look back at some of the decisions I've made while fishing and I chuckle to myself," Dudley said. "When you're fishing, you have to listen to your instincts and what the Lord is telling you."
Dudley's instincts told him that shallow water wouldn't hold quality fish after a cold front moved through the area Thursday. Dudley searched for areas that bass would migrate to and hold in once the water temperatures cooled. He found fish in 12 to 15 feet of water in canals and exploited the discovery. Dudley fished five spots in the J & S canal on the east side of the lake.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
How Much Will Insurance Cuts Be?
New Insurance Laws Hodgepodge Of Legaleze
LABELLE, FLORIDA -- Homeowners have been asking "How much will my insurance premiums go down?" after the Florida legislature passed new insurance rules this week. With much hoopla and bravado, the Governor and state politicians raved on how great the new law would be to save Floridians money on home insurance.
Unfortunately, the politicians are not telling the whole story. Chances are the average homeowner will not save any money on insurance. The new law basically allows homeowners to elect higher deductibles and to waive windstorm coverage. However, for those who wish to increase their risk while saving a few dollars, many hoops have to be passed, including getting permission from your mortgage company.
Other reasons for why any immediate savings are not going to happen are included in the 176 pages of new rules as published by the state legislature. The lawyers, legislators, and lobbyists who had a hand in writing this, included a dizzying display of differing dates as to when the many parts of the new laws go into effect, March 1, April 1, August 1, etc. It will take many months for industry lawyers to figure out exactly what is supposed to happen in respect to the new regulations for insurance companies.
In summary, don't expect to save any money on your home insurance unless you are willing, and have permission from your mortgage company, to take on more risk in the form of higher deductibles or eliminating windstorm damage coverage.
Once again citizens flim-flammed by the insurance industry and politicians?
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