WASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded low- to moderate-income 
taxpayers, especially those who don't normally file a tax return, to 
consider IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> to prepare their own federal tax return to potentially receive overlooked tax credits or refunds.

The 2023 federal tax filing deadline for individuals is next Tuesday,
 April 18. The only way to get a refund is to file a tax return.

IRS Free File allows qualified individuals to file electronically and
 get a refund by direct deposit – all for free. The program is a 
public-private partnership between the IRS and several tax preparation 
software companies who provide their online tax preparation and filing 
software for free. The software is safe, easy and accurate, and must be 
accessed through IRS.gov.

It offers two ways for taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free:

Not required to file doesn't mean shouldn't file

Generally, taxpayers with gross income less than $12,950 for single 
filers, and $25,900 for married filing jointly, are not required to file
 a federal tax return. However, low-income individuals may mistakenly 
assume that since they owe no tax, they're not entitled to a refund. In 
fact, they may get money back if they file a tax return. For example, if
 an individual qualifies for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/who-qualifies-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)</a> or if their employer withheld taxes from their paycheck, they may be owed a refund when they file their taxes.

The IRS encourages everyone to consider taking advantage of the speed and convenience of IRS Free File, including:

In order to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/electronic-filing-pin-request">validate and successfully submit an electronically filed tax return to the IRS</a>,
 taxpayers will need their AGI from their most recent tax return. If 
using the same tax preparation software as last year, this field will 
auto-populate. However, first-time filers over the age of 16 should 
enter zero as their AGI.

Don't have a bank account to direct deposit a refund?

Filing a tax return electronically and choosing direct deposit is the fastest way to get a refund. 

The <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/getbanked/">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)</a> and the National Credit Union Administration's <a href="https://mapping.ncua.gov/">Credit Union Locator Tool</a> have information on where to find a bank or credit union to open an account online.

Veterans should use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a> for access to financial services at participating banks.

Many reloadable prepaid cards have account and routing numbers that can be used for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> as well.

Only one place guarantees IRS Free File for free

While there are many offers for free tax filing software, the only 
guaranteed place to find IRS Free File software is IRS.gov. Anyone can 
use IRS Free File by accessing a computer or similar device. Even 
without a computer, IRS Free File products support <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">mobile phone access</a> too.

For those not comfortable doing their own tax return, IRS-trained community volunteers offer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">free tax help</a>
 through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling 
for the Elderly (TCE) programs to qualified individuals at thousands of 
locations nationwide. The IRS website has a <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/">special tool</a> for finding the nearest site. Taxpayers can also call <a href="tel:800-906-9887">800-906-9887</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded low- to moderate-income 
taxpayers, especially those who don't normally file a tax return, to 
consider IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> to prepare their own federal tax return to potentially receive overlooked tax credits or refunds.The 2023 federal tax filing deadline for individuals is next Tuesday,
 April 18. The only way to get a refund is to file a tax return.IRS Free File allows qualified individuals to file electronically and
 get a refund by direct deposit – all for free. The program is a 
public-private partnership between the IRS and several tax preparation 
software companies who provide their online tax preparation and filing 
software for free. The software is safe, easy and accurate, and must be 
accessed through IRS.gov.It offers two ways for taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free:<ul>
 <li>Guided Tax Preparation:&nbsp;Provides taxpayers whose&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/definition-of-adjusted-gross-income">Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) </a>is
 $73,000 or less with free online tax preparation that guides people 
through the tax return process. It uses a straightforward 
question-and-answer format for each section of their tax return. IRS 
Free File partners deliver this service at no cost to qualifying 
taxpayers. Some partners charge a fee for filing a state tax return.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Free File Fillable Forms:&nbsp;Provides a free option to 
taxpayers whose&nbsp;AGI&nbsp;is greater than $73,000. These are electronic 
federal tax forms, equivalent to a paper 1040 form. This option is 
generally intended for those comfortable preparing their own tax return 
using instructions and IRS publications as needed.</li>
 </ul><h2>Not required to file doesn't mean shouldn't file</h2>Generally, taxpayers with gross income less than $12,950 for single 
filers, and $25,900 for married filing jointly, are not required to file
 a federal tax return. However, low-income individuals may mistakenly 
assume that since they owe no tax, they're not entitled to a refund. In 
fact, they may get money back if they file a tax return. For example, if
 an individual qualifies for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/who-qualifies-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)</a> or if their employer withheld taxes from their paycheck, they may be owed a refund when they file their taxes.The IRS encourages everyone to consider taking advantage of the speed and convenience of IRS Free File, including:<ul>
 <li>Low- to moderate-income workers and working families who don't normally file a return. They may miss out on certain <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">credits for individuals</a>, including the EITC, the Child Tax Credit, the Child &amp; Dependent Credit and the Premium Tax Credit if they don't file.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>People experiencing homelessness (the address of a friend, 
relative or trusted service provider, such as a shelter, drop-in day 
center or transitional housing program, may be used on the tax return).</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Students just entering the workforce or who may have only worked part time.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>All eligible parents of qualifying children born or 
welcomed through adoption or foster care in 2022. They may be eligible 
for the Child Tax Credit.</li>
 </ul>In order to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/electronic-filing-pin-request">validate and successfully submit an electronically filed tax return to the IRS</a>,
 taxpayers will need their AGI from their most recent tax return. If 
using the same tax preparation software as last year, this field will 
auto-populate. However, first-time filers over the age of 16 should 
enter zero as their AGI.<h2>Don't have a bank account to direct deposit a refund?</h2>Filing a tax return electronically and choosing direct deposit is the fastest way to get a refund. The <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/getbanked/">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)</a> and the National Credit Union Administration's <a href="https://mapping.ncua.gov/">Credit Union Locator Tool</a> have information on where to find a bank or credit union to open an account online.Veterans should use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a> for access to financial services at participating banks.Many reloadable prepaid cards have account and routing numbers that can be used for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> as well.<h2>Only one place guarantees IRS Free File for free</h2>While there are many offers for free tax filing software, the only 
guaranteed place to find IRS Free File software is IRS.gov. Anyone can 
use IRS Free File by accessing a computer or similar device. Even 
without a computer, IRS Free File products support <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">mobile phone access</a> too.For those not comfortable doing their own tax return, IRS-trained community volunteers offer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">free tax help</a>
 through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling 
for the Elderly (TCE) programs to qualified individuals at thousands of 
locations nationwide. The IRS website has a <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/">special tool</a> for finding the nearest site. Taxpayers can also call <a href="tel:800-906-9887">800-906-9887</a>.

IRS: No filing requirement? Don't forget overlooked tax credits, refunds

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced today that nearly
 1.5 million people across the nation have unclaimed refunds for tax 
year 2019 but face a July 17 deadline to submit their tax return.

The IRS estimates almost $1.5 billion in refunds remain unclaimed 
because people haven't filed their 2019 tax returns yet. The average 
median refund is $893 for this year, and the IRS has done a special 
state-by-state calculation to show how many people are potentially 
eligible for these refunds.

"The 2019 tax returns came due during the pandemic, and many people 
may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds," said IRS 
Commissioner Danny Werfel. "We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, 
but time is running out. People face a July 17 deadline to file their 
returns. We recommend taxpayers start soon to make sure they don't miss 
out."

Under the law, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim 
their tax refunds. If they don't file within three years, the money 
becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

But for 2019 tax returns, people have more time than usual to file to
 claim their refunds. Usually, the normal filing deadline to claim old 
refunds falls around the April tax deadline, which is April 18 this year
 for 2022 tax returns. But the three-year window for 2019 unfiled 
returns was postponed to July 17, 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
emergency. The IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/irb/2023-11_IRB#NOT-2023-21">Notice 2023-21</a> on Feb. 27, 2023, providing legal guidance on claims made by the postponed deadline.

The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential unclaimed refunds 
for 2019 to be $893. That means half of the refunds are more than $893 
and half are less.

"With the pandemic taking place when the 2019 tax returns were 
originally due, people faced extremely unusual situations. People may 
have simply forgotten about tax refunds with the deadline that year 
postponed all the way into July," Werfel said. "We frequently see 
students, part-time workers and others with little income overlook 
filing a tax return and never realize they may be owed a refund. We 
encourage people to review their records and start gathering records 
now, so they don't run the risk of missing the July deadline."

By missing out on filing a tax return, people stand to lose more than
 just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2019. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2019, the credit was worth as much as $6,557. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds in 2019. Those who are potentially eligible for EITC in 2019 
had incomes below:

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2019 tax refund that their 
checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2020 and 2021.
 In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to 
the IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child 
support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) and instructions are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms, Instructions &amp; Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free <a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-TAX-FORM</a> (800-829-3676).

Need to file a 2019 tax return? Several options to get key documents

Although it's been several years since 2019, the IRS reminds 
taxpayers there are ways they can still gather the information they need
 to file this tax return. But people should start early to make sure 
they have enough time to file before the July deadline for 2019 refunds.
 Here are some options:

Based on tax information currently available, the IRS estimated 
how many people in each state may be entitled to a tax refund. The 
actual refund amount will vary based on a household's tax situation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced today that nearly
 1.5 million people across the nation have unclaimed refunds for tax 
year 2019 but face a July 17 deadline to submit their tax return.The IRS estimates almost $1.5 billion in refunds remain unclaimed 
because people haven't filed their 2019 tax returns yet. The average 
median refund is $893 for this year, and the IRS has done a special 
state-by-state calculation to show how many people are potentially 
eligible for these refunds."The 2019 tax returns came due during the pandemic, and many people 
may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds," said IRS 
Commissioner Danny Werfel. "We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, 
but time is running out. People face a July 17 deadline to file their 
returns. We recommend taxpayers start soon to make sure they don't miss 
out."Under the law, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim 
their tax refunds. If they don't file within three years, the money 
becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.But for 2019 tax returns, people have more time than usual to file to
 claim their refunds. Usually, the normal filing deadline to claim old 
refunds falls around the April tax deadline, which is April 18 this year
 for 2022 tax returns. But the three-year window for 2019 unfiled 
returns was postponed to July 17, 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
emergency. The IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/irb/2023-11_IRB#NOT-2023-21">Notice 2023-21</a> on Feb. 27, 2023, providing legal guidance on claims made by the postponed deadline.The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential unclaimed refunds 
for 2019 to be $893. That means half of the refunds are more than $893 
and half are less."With the pandemic taking place when the 2019 tax returns were 
originally due, people faced extremely unusual situations. People may 
have simply forgotten about tax refunds with the deadline that year 
postponed all the way into July," Werfel said. "We frequently see 
students, part-time workers and others with little income overlook 
filing a tax return and never realize they may be owed a refund. We 
encourage people to review their records and start gathering records 
now, so they don't run the risk of missing the July deadline."By missing out on filing a tax return, people stand to lose more than
 just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2019. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2019, the credit was worth as much as $6,557. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds in 2019. Those who are potentially eligible for EITC in 2019 
had incomes below:<ul>
 <li>$50,162 ($55,952 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children;</li><li>$46,703 ($52,493 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children;</li><li>$41,094 ($46,884 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child, and;</li><li>$15,570 ($21,370 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2019 tax refund that their 
checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2020 and 2021.
 In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to 
the IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child 
support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) and instructions are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms, Instructions &amp; Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free <a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-TAX-FORM</a> (800-829-3676).<h2>Need to file a 2019 tax return? Several options to get key documents</h2>Although it's been several years since 2019, the IRS reminds 
taxpayers there are ways they can still gather the information they need
 to file this tax return. But people should start early to make sure 
they have enough time to file before the July deadline for 2019 refunds.
 Here are some options:<ul>
 <li>Request copies of key documents: Taxpayers who 
are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years 2019, 2020 or 
2021 can request copies from their employer, bank or other payers.</li><li>Use Get Transcript Online at IRS.gov. Taxpayers 
who are unable to get those missing forms from their employer or other 
payers can order a free wage and income transcript at IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a> tool. For many taxpayers, this is by far the quickest and easiest option.</li><li>Or request a transcript. Another option is for people to file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them">Form 4506-T</a>
 with the IRS to request a "wage and income transcript." A wage and 
income transcript shows data from information returns received by the 
IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, Form 5498 and IRA contribution 
information. Taxpayers can use the information from the transcript to 
file their tax return. But plan ahead – these written requests can take 
several weeks; people are strongly urged to try the other options first.</li>
 </ul>Based on tax information currently available, the IRS estimated 
how many people in each state may be entitled to a tax refund. The 
actual refund amount will vary based on a household's tax situation.

Time running out to claim $1.5B in refunds for tax year 2019

NEW YORK — Dust off your eclipse glasses: It’s only a year until a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America.

On
 April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the 
U.S., Mexico and Canada, plunging millions of people into midday 
darkness.

It's been less than six years since a total solar eclipse cut across the U.S., from coast to coast. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-ap-top-news-us-news-oregon-north-america-11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">That was on Aug. 21, 2017.</a>

If
 you miss next year's spectacle, you'll have to wait 20 years until the 
next one hits the U.S. But that total eclipse will only be visible in 
Montana and the Dakotas.

Here’s what to know to get ready for the 2024 show:

Next year's eclipse will slice a diagonal line across North America on April 8, which falls on a Monday.

It will start in the Pacific and first reach land over Mexico around 11:07 a.m. local time, <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/where-when/">NASA predicts</a>. Then, it’ll cross over into Texas and move across parts of the Midwest and Northeast in the afternoon.

All
 in all, it will hit parts of 13 U.S. states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
 Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, 
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Cities in its path include Dallas; 
Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis; Cleveland and Buffalo, New York.

Parts
 of Canada — including Quebec and Newfoundland — will also get a glimpse
 before the eclipse heads out to sea in the early evening.

A total
 eclipse will be visible within a 115-mile wide swath — the path of 
totality. Outside that path, you can still see a partial solar eclipse, 
where the moon takes a bite out of the sun and turns it into a crescent 
shape.

Total eclipses happen about every 18 months, but a lot of times they cross over remote areas where few people see them.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light from reaching us.

Even
 though the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, it’s also 
about 400 times closer to Earth, explained University of Colorado 
astronomer Doug Duncan. So when the orbits line up just right, the 
little moon can block out the whole sun. Those who are standing in the 
right spots will experience totality: when the moon casts its shadow 
over the landscape.

“In just seconds, you go from bright, bright 
daylight to like the middle of the night,” said Dr. Debby Brown, who saw
 her first total eclipse in 2017 with Duncan in Grand Teton National 
Park in Wyoming.

“The stars are out. All of a sudden, all the animals are quiet,” recalled Brown, of Arlington, Virginia.

During the 2024 eclipse, totality will stretch to around four and a half minutes — almost twice as long as in 2017.

To
 catch the full eclipse experience, planning ahead is key, Duncan said. 
Weather could be a big factor since the eclipse is coming in the spring,
 when conditions are unpredictable. That’s why Duncan selected Texas for
 his eclipse tour next year, where there are better odds of clear skies.

Your
 choice also depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for, said
 Bob Baer, who’s coordinating eclipse plans at Southern Illinois 
University in Carbondale.

Carbondale — in the crossroads of both 
the 2017 and 2024 eclipse paths — will hold a viewing event at the 
school's stadium again. It’s a big group experience, Baer said: “The 
last 20 minutes before totality, the stadium gets as loud as a football 
game.”

But you can find eclipse events of all different flavors 
planned along the eclipse path: luxury cruises in Mexico, music 
festivals in Texas, farm camping in Arkansas, planetarium visits in 
upstate New York.

“The goal, at the end of the day, is to get as 
many people outside as possible, looking up during totality,” said Dan 
Schneiderman, who is helping the Rochester Museum and Science Center 
plan events. “Hopefully with their close friends and loved ones.”

You’ll want to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-mo-state-wire-ia-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-fd679ae2684b4c35b8ba64531cab2e80">grab eclipse glasses</a>
 to see the partial phases before and after totality, Schneiderman 
added. Looking at the partially covered sun without protection can cause
 serious eye damage.

Brown and her husband are planning to join Duncan’s eclipse tour in Austin. Her first eclipse experience flew by.

“I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy this even longer,” Brown said. “To be able to just lean into the moment.”

WHAT OTHER ECLIPSES ARE COMING UP?

The
 U.S. will get some eclipse action ahead of the big event in 2024. There
 will be an annular eclipse — when the sun isn’t completely covered, but
 appears like a ring of fire in the sky — later this year, on <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20the%20annular,at%2012%3A03%20p.m.%20CDT.&amp;text=The%20path%20of%20the%20annular%20solar%20eclipse%20next%20visits%20Mexico,Honduras%2C%20Nicaragua%2C%20and%20Panama.&amp;text=The%20annular%20eclipse%20crosses%20into%20South%20America%20in%20Colombia.">Oct. 14</a>.

The path of that eclipse will cross from Oregon down through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Later this month, there will be a rare <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2023-april-20">hybrid eclipse</a>,
 which switches between a total and an annular eclipse at different 
points along its path. But few people will see it. The April 20 eclipse 
is mostly over the Indian Ocean, and only crosses over a few slivers of 
Australia and Southeast Asia.

With a 20-year gap until the next 
total solar eclipse in the U.S., Duncan says it will be worth it to be 
in the path of totality next year. He’s witnessed 12 total eclipses so 
far.

Seeing a partial eclipse — even if it’s 90% covered — means “you missed all the good stuff,” he said.

Associated PressNEW YORK — Dust off your eclipse glasses: It’s only a year until a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America.On
 April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the 
U.S., Mexico and Canada, plunging millions of people into midday 
darkness.It's been less than six years since a total solar eclipse cut across the U.S., from coast to coast. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-ap-top-news-us-news-oregon-north-america-11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">That was on Aug. 21, 2017.</a>If
 you miss next year's spectacle, you'll have to wait 20 years until the 
next one hits the U.S. But that total eclipse will only be visible in 
Montana and the Dakotas.Here’s what to know to get ready for the 2024 show:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680886783788.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>WHERE CAN I SEE IT?Next year's eclipse will slice a diagonal line across North America on April 8, which falls on a Monday.It will start in the Pacific and first reach land over Mexico around 11:07 a.m. local time, <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/where-when/">NASA predicts</a>. Then, it’ll cross over into Texas and move across parts of the Midwest and Northeast in the afternoon.All
 in all, it will hit parts of 13 U.S. states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
 Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, 
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Cities in its path include Dallas; 
Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis; Cleveland and Buffalo, New York.Parts
 of Canada — including Quebec and Newfoundland — will also get a glimpse
 before the eclipse heads out to sea in the early evening.A total
 eclipse will be visible within a 115-mile wide swath — the path of 
totality. Outside that path, you can still see a partial solar eclipse, 
where the moon takes a bite out of the sun and turns it into a crescent 
shape.Total eclipses happen about every 18 months, but a lot of times they cross over remote areas where few people see them.WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ECLIPSE?Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light from reaching us.Even
 though the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, it’s also 
about 400 times closer to Earth, explained University of Colorado 
astronomer Doug Duncan. So when the orbits line up just right, the 
little moon can block out the whole sun. Those who are standing in the 
right spots will experience totality: when the moon casts its shadow 
over the landscape.“In just seconds, you go from bright, bright 
daylight to like the middle of the night,” said Dr. Debby Brown, who saw
 her first total eclipse in 2017 with Duncan in Grand Teton National 
Park in Wyoming.“The stars are out. All of a sudden, all the animals are quiet,” recalled Brown, of Arlington, Virginia.During the 2024 eclipse, totality will stretch to around four and a half minutes — almost twice as long as in 2017.WHAT'S THE BEST SPOT?To
 catch the full eclipse experience, planning ahead is key, Duncan said. 
Weather could be a big factor since the eclipse is coming in the spring,
 when conditions are unpredictable. That’s why Duncan selected Texas for
 his eclipse tour next year, where there are better odds of clear skies.Your
 choice also depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for, said
 Bob Baer, who’s coordinating eclipse plans at Southern Illinois 
University in Carbondale.Carbondale — in the crossroads of both 
the 2017 and 2024 eclipse paths — will hold a viewing event at the 
school's stadium again. It’s a big group experience, Baer said: “The 
last 20 minutes before totality, the stadium gets as loud as a football 
game.”But you can find eclipse events of all different flavors 
planned along the eclipse path: luxury cruises in Mexico, music 
festivals in Texas, farm camping in Arkansas, planetarium visits in 
upstate New York.“The goal, at the end of the day, is to get as 
many people outside as possible, looking up during totality,” said Dan 
Schneiderman, who is helping the Rochester Museum and Science Center 
plan events. “Hopefully with their close friends and loved ones.”You’ll want to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-mo-state-wire-ia-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-fd679ae2684b4c35b8ba64531cab2e80">grab eclipse glasses</a>
 to see the partial phases before and after totality, Schneiderman 
added. Looking at the partially covered sun without protection can cause
 serious eye damage.Brown and her husband are planning to join Duncan’s eclipse tour in Austin. Her first eclipse experience flew by.“I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy this even longer,” Brown said. “To be able to just lean into the moment.”WHAT OTHER ECLIPSES ARE COMING UP?The
 U.S. will get some eclipse action ahead of the big event in 2024. There
 will be an annular eclipse — when the sun isn’t completely covered, but
 appears like a ring of fire in the sky — later this year, on <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20the%20annular,at%2012%3A03%20p.m.%20CDT.&amp;text=The%20path%20of%20the%20annular%20solar%20eclipse%20next%20visits%20Mexico,Honduras%2C%20Nicaragua%2C%20and%20Panama.&amp;text=The%20annular%20eclipse%20crosses%20into%20South%20America%20in%20Colombia.">Oct. 14</a>.The path of that eclipse will cross from Oregon down through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.Later this month, there will be a rare <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2023-april-20">hybrid eclipse</a>,
 which switches between a total and an annular eclipse at different 
points along its path. But few people will see it. The April 20 eclipse 
is mostly over the Indian Ocean, and only crosses over a few slivers of 
Australia and Southeast Asia.With a 20-year gap until the next 
total solar eclipse in the U.S., Duncan says it will be worth it to be 
in the path of totality next year. He’s witnessed 12 total eclipses so 
far.Seeing a partial eclipse — even if it’s 90% covered — means “you missed all the good stuff,” he said.

Save the date: One year until total solar eclipse sweeps US

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission this week announced a series of enhancements to the online consumer application system for the Affordable Connectivity Program to make it easier for eligible consumers to apply and enroll in the program.  The nation’s largest-ever broadband affordability effort, the ACP is now supporting internet connections in 17 million households.  The program, authorized and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.  

“As of today, seventeen million households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.  No small feat.  But we aren’t stopping there.  We continue to look for ways to reach more people who could benefit from its support,” said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “Our application enhancements roll-out is part of our ongoing work to improve the consumer experience with the program, so even more families can get the support they need to get online and stay online.” 

 “We partnered with the Federal Communications Commission to advance the President’s mission to lower internet cost and expand internet for all, ensuring that every household has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.  The Affordable Connectivity Program application enhancements will streamline the process and ensure that benefits reach as many households as possible with as little friction as possible,” said U.S. Digital Service Deputy Administrator Cori Zarek.  “Our focus on simplifying the applicant's experience will help get affordable internet to more households, ensuring families can do their homework, work from home, and access critical government services.”

The enhancements are designed to reduce the time it takes to enroll by providing clear instructions, to decrease steps and to simplify language while continuing to protect against waste, fraud and abuse and guarding the integrity of the program.&nbsp; Enhancements were developed in consultation with digital navigators, digital equity advocates, and Internet Service Providers.&nbsp; The FCC will continue to make improvements to ensure that all qualifying consumers can easily access the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission this week announced a series of enhancements to the online consumer application system for the Affordable Connectivity Program to make it easier for eligible consumers to apply and enroll in the program. The nation’s largest-ever broadband affordability effort, the ACP is now supporting internet connections in 17 million households. The program, authorized and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. “As of today, seventeen million households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. No small feat. But we aren’t stopping there. We continue to look for ways to reach more people who could benefit from its support,” said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “Our application enhancements roll-out is part of our ongoing work to improve the consumer experience with the program, so even more families can get the support they need to get online and stay online.” “We partnered with the Federal Communications Commission to advance the President’s mission to lower internet cost and expand internet for all, ensuring that every household has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet. The Affordable Connectivity Program application enhancements will streamline the process and ensure that benefits reach as many households as possible with as little friction as possible,” said U.S. Digital Service Deputy Administrator Cori Zarek. “Our focus on simplifying the applicant's experience will help get affordable internet to more households, ensuring families can do their homework, work from home, and access critical government services.”The enhancements are designed to reduce the time it takes to enroll by providing clear instructions, to decrease steps and to simplify language while continuing to protect against waste, fraud and abuse and guarding the integrity of the program.&nbsp; Enhancements were developed in consultation with digital navigators, digital equity advocates, and Internet Service Providers.&nbsp; The FCC will continue to make improvements to ensure that all qualifying consumers can easily access the Affordable Connectivity Program.

More than 17M households enrolled in discounted internet program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This Easter, Americans will devour more 
than 1 billion Peeps — those radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance
 on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters">the Masters</a>.

What
 makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on
 ingredient labels as Red No. 3. It's one of several chemicals, along 
with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in 
the country — including Skittles and Hot Tamales.

Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators <a href="https://apnews.com/article/83322a29c173c2756755c0a2e9311064">banned Red No. 3 from makeup</a>. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups.

Now,
 a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in 
California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like 
tortillas and some store brand sodas.

The bill, scheduled for its 
first public hearing next week, has prompted headlines around the world 
declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. 
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he 
wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative
 ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in 
Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there.

“They
 still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is 
they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with 
something else,” Gabriel said. “What we really want is for these 
companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that 
they made in Europe and elsewhere.”

The National Confectioners 
Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says it's 
not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just 
because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesn't mean it will be 
received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a
 hardship for regional candy makers who don't sell their products 
overseas, according to the trade group.

“There's a lot more here 
at play than a simple soundbite solution,” said Christopher 
Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. “We need a 
comprehensive look at this to make sure there aren't unintended 
consequences for chocolate and candy companies.”

In addition to 
erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate 
and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated 
vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas.

The U.S. 
has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, 
researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time 
developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, 
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics.

Consumer
 safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the 
chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical
 to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and 
other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 
report from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of 
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The International 
Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that 
California study was “based on insufficient scientific evidence.”

Titanium
 dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make 
colors appear brighter. It's been used for 100 years in products like 
paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The 
International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide 
as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers 
Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in 
humans.

The candy industry insists the chemicals California is 
considering banning “have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and 
state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to 
be deemed safe,” according to a letter signed by various industry trade 
groups.

“These scientifically based regulatory processes should be
 allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes,” the letter
 stated.

Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental 
affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only 
reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is 
because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He 
says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new 
science.

“The confectioners and the food industry know the review 
process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for 
decades. We shouldn't let them hide behind it anymore," Faber said. “If 
FDA won’t fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous 
chemicals in our food, it’s up to states like California to keep us 
safe.”

Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania-based company that makes 
Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and
 gets their “ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable 
suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards.”

The 
company noted its development team is looking for other options, 
“including colors derived form natural sources that can deliver the same
 visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts.”

Associated PressSACRAMENTO, Calif. — This Easter, Americans will devour more 
than 1 billion Peeps — those radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance
 on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters">the Masters</a>.What
 makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on
 ingredient labels as Red No. 3. It's one of several chemicals, along 
with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in 
the country — including Skittles and Hot Tamales.Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators <a href="https://apnews.com/article/83322a29c173c2756755c0a2e9311064">banned Red No. 3 from makeup</a>. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680886645163.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Now,
 a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in 
California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like 
tortillas and some store brand sodas.The bill, scheduled for its 
first public hearing next week, has prompted headlines around the world 
declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. 
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he 
wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative
 ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in 
Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there.“They
 still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is 
they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with 
something else,” Gabriel said. “What we really want is for these 
companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that 
they made in Europe and elsewhere.”The National Confectioners 
Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says it's 
not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just 
because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesn't mean it will be 
received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a
 hardship for regional candy makers who don't sell their products 
overseas, according to the trade group.“There's a lot more here 
at play than a simple soundbite solution,” said Christopher 
Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. “We need a 
comprehensive look at this to make sure there aren't unintended 
consequences for chocolate and candy companies.”In addition to 
erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate 
and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated 
vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas.The U.S. 
has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, 
researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time 
developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, 
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics.Consumer
 safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the 
chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical
 to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and 
other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 
report from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of 
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.The International 
Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that 
California study was “based on insufficient scientific evidence.”Titanium
 dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make 
colors appear brighter. It's been used for 100 years in products like 
paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The 
International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide 
as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers 
Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in 
humans.The candy industry insists the chemicals California is 
considering banning “have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and 
state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to 
be deemed safe,” according to a letter signed by various industry trade 
groups.“These scientifically based regulatory processes should be
 allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes,” the letter
 stated.Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental 
affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only 
reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is 
because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He 
says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new 
science.“The confectioners and the food industry know the review 
process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for 
decades. We shouldn't let them hide behind it anymore," Faber said. “If 
FDA won’t fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous 
chemicals in our food, it’s up to states like California to keep us 
safe.”Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania-based company that makes 
Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and
 gets their “ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable 
suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards.”The 
company noted its development team is looking for other options, 
“including colors derived form natural sources that can deliver the same
 visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts.”

California lawmaker wants Peeps to change its ingredients

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service wrapped up the annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>
 list of tax scams for 2023 with a reminder for taxpayers, businesses 
and tax professionals to watch out for these schemes throughout the 
year, not just during tax season.

Many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare 
their tax returns. In reality, these scams can occur throughout the year
 as fraudsters look for ways to steal money, personal information, data 
and more.

To help people watch out for these scams, the IRS and the Security 
Summit partners are providing an overview recapping this year's Dirty 
Dozen scams.

"Scammers are coming up with new ways all the time to try to steal 
information from taxpayers," said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. "People
 should be wary and avoid sharing sensitive personal data over the 
phone, email or social media to avoid getting caught up in these scams. 
And people should always remember to be wary if a tax deal sounds too 
good to be true."

Working together as the Security Summit, the IRS, state tax agencies 
and the nation's tax industry, including tax professionals, have taken 
numerous steps since 2015 to warn people about common scams and schemes 
during tax season and beyond that can increase the risk of identity 
theft. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>&nbsp;initiative is committed to protecting taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from scammers and identity thieves.

Some items on this year's list were new and some made a return visit.
 While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency 
enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers and the tax 
professional community about various scams and schemes.

Taxpayers should be aware of aggressive pitches from scammers who promote large refunds related to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit">Employee Retention Credit (ERC)</a>.
 The warning follows blatant attempts by promoters to con ineligible 
people to claim the credit. The IRS highlighted these schemes from 
promoters who have been blasting ads on radio and the internet touting 
refunds involving Employee Retention Credits. These promotions can be 
based on inaccurate information related to eligibility for and 
computation of the credit. Additionally, some of these advertisements 
exist solely to collect the taxpayer's personally identifiable 
information in exchange for false promises. The scammers then use the 
information to conduct identity theft.

Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake 
communications from those posing as legitimate organizations in the tax 
and financial community, including the IRS and the states. These 
messages arrive in the form of an unsolicited text (smishing) or email 
(phishing) to lure unsuspecting victims to provide valuable personal and
 financial information that can lead to identity theft. The IRS 
initiates most contacts through regular mail and will never initiate 
contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill 
or tax refund.

Online account help from third-party scammers

Swindlers pose as a "helpful" third party and offer to help create a taxpayer's IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>&nbsp;at
 IRS.gov. In reality, no help is needed. The online account provides 
taxpayers with valuable tax information. But third parties making these 
offers will try to steal a taxpayer's personal information this way. 
Taxpayers can and should establish their own online account through 
IRS.gov.

The fuel tax credit is meant for off-highway business and farming use
 and, as such, is not available to most taxpayers. However, unscrupulous
 tax return preparers and promoters are enticing taxpayers to inflate 
their refunds by erroneously claiming the credit. The IRS has seen an 
increase in the promotion of filing certain refundable credits using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4136">Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels</a>.

Bogus charities are a perennial problem that gets bigger whenever a 
crisis or natural disaster strikes. Scammers set up these fake 
organizations to take advantage of the public's generosity. They seek 
money and personal information, which can be used to further exploit 
victims through identity theft.

Taxpayers who give money or goods to a charity might be able to claim
 a deduction on their federal tax return if they itemize deductions, but
 charitable donations only count if they go to a qualified tax-exempt 
organization recognized by the IRS.

Most tax preparers provide outstanding and professional service. 
However, people should be careful of shady tax professionals and watch 
for common warning signs, including charging a fee based on the size of 
the refund. A major red flag or bad sign is when the tax preparer is 
unwilling to sign the dotted line. Avoid these "ghost" preparers, who 
will prepare a tax return but refuse to sign or include their IRS 
Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) as required by law. Taxpayers 
should never sign a blank or incomplete return.

Social media: Fraudulent form filing and bad advice

Social media can circulate inaccurate or misleading tax information, 
and the IRS has recently seen several examples. These can involve common
 tax documents like Form W-2 or more obscure ones like Form 8944. While 
Form 8944 is real, it is intended for a very limited, specialized group.
 Both schemes encourage people to submit false, inaccurate information 
in hopes of getting a refund. Taxpayers should always remember that if 
something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Spearphishing and cybersecurity for tax professionals

Phishing is a term given to emails or text messages designed to get 
users to provide personal information. Spearphishing is a tailored 
phishing attempt to a specific organization or business.

The IRS is warning tax professionals about spearphishing because 
there is greater potential for harm if the tax preparer has a data 
breach. A successful spearphishing attack can ultimately steal client 
data and the tax preparer's identity, allowing the thief to file 
fraudulent returns.

Offers in Compromise are an important program to help people who 
can't pay to settle their federal tax debts. But "mills" can 
aggressively promote Offers in Compromise in misleading ways to people 
who clearly don't meet the qualifications, frequently costing taxpayers 
thousands of dollars. A taxpayer can check their eligibility for free 
using the IRS <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/oic_pre_qualifier/">Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool</a>.

Where appropriate, the IRS will challenge the purported tax 
benefits from these types of transactions and impose penalties. The IRS 
Criminal Investigation Division is always on the lookout for promoters 
and participants of these types of schemes. Taxpayers should think twice
 before including questionable arrangements like this on their tax 
returns. After all, taxpayers are legally responsible for what's on 
their return, not a promoter making promises and charging high fees. 
Taxpayers can help stop these arrangements by relying on reputable tax 
professionals they know and trust.

As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages 
people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax 
schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare 
improper returns.

To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF&nbsp;and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center 
Stop MS5040 
24000 Avila Road 
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405 
Fax: 877-477-9135

Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service wrapped up the annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>
 list of tax scams for 2023 with a reminder for taxpayers, businesses 
and tax professionals to watch out for these schemes throughout the 
year, not just during tax season.Many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare 
their tax returns. In reality, these scams can occur throughout the year
 as fraudsters look for ways to steal money, personal information, data 
and more.To help people watch out for these scams, the IRS and the Security 
Summit partners are providing an overview recapping this year's Dirty 
Dozen scams."Scammers are coming up with new ways all the time to try to steal 
information from taxpayers," said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. "People
 should be wary and avoid sharing sensitive personal data over the 
phone, email or social media to avoid getting caught up in these scams. 
And people should always remember to be wary if a tax deal sounds too 
good to be true."Working together as the Security Summit, the IRS, state tax agencies 
and the nation's tax industry, including tax professionals, have taken 
numerous steps since 2015 to warn people about common scams and schemes 
during tax season and beyond that can increase the risk of identity 
theft. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>&nbsp;initiative is committed to protecting taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from scammers and identity thieves.Some items on this year's list were new and some made a return visit.
 While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency 
enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers and the tax 
professional community about various scams and schemes.<h2>2023 Dirty Dozen summary:</h2><h2>Employee Retention Credit claims </h2>Taxpayers should be aware of aggressive pitches from scammers who promote large refunds related to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit">Employee Retention Credit (ERC)</a>.
 The warning follows blatant attempts by promoters to con ineligible 
people to claim the credit. The IRS highlighted these schemes from 
promoters who have been blasting ads on radio and the internet touting 
refunds involving Employee Retention Credits. These promotions can be 
based on inaccurate information related to eligibility for and 
computation of the credit. Additionally, some of these advertisements 
exist solely to collect the taxpayer's personally identifiable 
information in exchange for false promises. The scammers then use the 
information to conduct identity theft.<h2>Phishing and smishing</h2>Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake 
communications from those posing as legitimate organizations in the tax 
and financial community, including the IRS and the states. These 
messages arrive in the form of an unsolicited text (smishing) or email 
(phishing) to lure unsuspecting victims to provide valuable personal and
 financial information that can lead to identity theft. The IRS 
initiates most contacts through regular mail and will never initiate 
contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill 
or tax refund.<h2>Online account help from third-party scammers</h2>Swindlers pose as a "helpful" third party and offer to help create a taxpayer's IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>&nbsp;at
 IRS.gov. In reality, no help is needed. The online account provides 
taxpayers with valuable tax information. But third parties making these 
offers will try to steal a taxpayer's personal information this way. 
Taxpayers can and should establish their own online account through 
IRS.gov.<h2>False Fuel Tax Credit claims</h2>The fuel tax credit is meant for off-highway business and farming use
 and, as such, is not available to most taxpayers. However, unscrupulous
 tax return preparers and promoters are enticing taxpayers to inflate 
their refunds by erroneously claiming the credit. The IRS has seen an 
increase in the promotion of filing certain refundable credits using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4136">Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels</a>.<h2>Fake charities</h2>Bogus charities are a perennial problem that gets bigger whenever a 
crisis or natural disaster strikes. Scammers set up these fake 
organizations to take advantage of the public's generosity. They seek 
money and personal information, which can be used to further exploit 
victims through identity theft.Taxpayers who give money or goods to a charity might be able to claim
 a deduction on their federal tax return if they itemize deductions, but
 charitable donations only count if they go to a qualified tax-exempt 
organization recognized by the IRS.<h2>Unscrupulous tax return preparers</h2>Most tax preparers provide outstanding and professional service. 
However, people should be careful of shady tax professionals and watch 
for common warning signs, including charging a fee based on the size of 
the refund. A major red flag or bad sign is when the tax preparer is 
unwilling to sign the dotted line. Avoid these "ghost" preparers, who 
will prepare a tax return but refuse to sign or include their IRS 
Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) as required by law. Taxpayers 
should never sign a blank or incomplete return.<h2>Social media: Fraudulent form filing and bad advice</h2>Social media can circulate inaccurate or misleading tax information, 
and the IRS has recently seen several examples. These can involve common
 tax documents like Form W-2 or more obscure ones like Form 8944. While 
Form 8944 is real, it is intended for a very limited, specialized group.
 Both schemes encourage people to submit false, inaccurate information 
in hopes of getting a refund. Taxpayers should always remember that if 
something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.<h2>Spearphishing and cybersecurity for tax professionals</h2>Phishing is a term given to emails or text messages designed to get 
users to provide personal information. Spearphishing is a tailored 
phishing attempt to a specific organization or business.The IRS is warning tax professionals about spearphishing because 
there is greater potential for harm if the tax preparer has a data 
breach. A successful spearphishing attack can ultimately steal client 
data and the tax preparer's identity, allowing the thief to file 
fraudulent returns.<h2>Offer in Compromise mills</h2>Offers in Compromise are an important program to help people who 
can't pay to settle their federal tax debts. But "mills" can 
aggressively promote Offers in Compromise in misleading ways to people 
who clearly don't meet the qualifications, frequently costing taxpayers 
thousands of dollars. A taxpayer can check their eligibility for free 
using the IRS <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/oic_pre_qualifier/">Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool</a>.<h2>Schemes aimed at high-income filers </h2><ul>
 <li>Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT): <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-remainder-trusts">Charitable Remainder Trusts</a>
 are irrevocable trusts that let individuals donate assets to charity 
and draw annual income for life or a specific period. Unfortunately, 
these trusts are sometimes misused by promoters, advisors and taxpayers 
to try to eliminate ordinary income and/or capital gain on the sale of 
the property.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Monetized Installment Sales: In these 
potentially abusive transactions, promoters find taxpayers seeking to 
defer the recognition of gain upon the sale of appreciated property. 
They facilitate a purported monetized installment sale for the taxpayer 
in exchange for a fee.</li>
 </ul><h2>Bogus tax avoidance strategies</h2><ul>
 <li>Micro-captive insurance arrangements: A 
micro-captive is&nbsp;an insurance company whose owners elect to be taxed on 
the captive's investment income only. Abusive micro-captives involve 
schemes that lack many of the attributes of legitimate insurance. These 
structures often include implausible risks, failure to match genuine 
business needs and, in many cases, unnecessary duplication of the 
taxpayer's commercial coverages.</li><li>Syndicated conservation easements: A conservation 
easement is a restriction on the use of real property. Generally, 
taxpayers may claim a charitable contribution deduction for the fair 
market value of a conservation easement transferred to a charity if the 
transfer meets the requirements of Internal Revenue Code 170. In abusive
 arrangements, which generate high fees for promoters, participants 
attempt to game the tax system with grossly inflated tax deductions.</li>
 </ul><h2>Schemes with international elements </h2><ul>
 <li>Offshore accounts and digital assets: The IRS 
continues to scrutinize attempts to hide assets in offshore accounts and
 accounts holding digital assets, such as cryptocurrency. The IRS 
continues to identify individuals who attempt to conceal income in 
offshore banks, brokerage accounts, digital asset accounts and nominee 
entities. Asset protection professionals and unscrupulous promoters 
continue to lure U.S. persons into placing their assets in offshore 
accounts and structures saying they are out of reach of the IRS. These 
assertions are not true. The IRS can identify and track anonymous 
transactions of foreign financial accounts as well as digital assets.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Maltese individual retirement arrangements misusing treaty:
 These arrangements involve U.S. citizens or residents who attempt to 
avoid U.S. tax by contributing to foreign individual retirement 
arrangements in Malta (or potentially other host countries). The 
participants in these transactions typically lack any local connection 
to the host country. By improperly asserting the foreign arrangement as a
 "pension fund" for U.S. tax treaty purposes, the U.S. taxpayer 
misconstrues the relevant treaty provisions and improperly claims an 
exemption from U.S. income tax on gains and earnings in and 
distributions from the foreign individual retirement arrangement.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Puerto Rican and foreign captive insurance:
 U.S. business owners of closely held entities participate in a 
purported insurance arrangement with a Puerto Rican or other foreign 
corporation in which the U.S. business owner has a financial interest. 
The U.S. business owner (or a related entity) claims a deduction for 
amounts paid as premiums for "insurance coverage" provided by a fronting
 carrier, which reinsures the "coverage" with the Puerto Rican or other 
foreign corporation. Despite being labeled as insurance, these 
arrangements lack many of the attributes of legitimate insurance.</li>
 </ul>Where appropriate, the IRS will challenge the purported tax 
benefits from these types of transactions and impose penalties. The IRS 
Criminal Investigation Division is always on the lookout for promoters 
and participants of these types of schemes. Taxpayers should think twice
 before including questionable arrangements like this on their tax 
returns. After all, taxpayers are legally responsible for what's on 
their return, not a promoter making promises and charging high fees. 
Taxpayers can help stop these arrangements by relying on reputable tax 
professionals they know and trust.<h2>Help stop fraud and scams</h2>As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages 
people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax 
schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare 
improper returns.To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF&nbsp;and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.Mail:Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center 
Stop MS5040 
24000 Avila Road 
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405 
Fax: 877-477-9135Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

IRS: Scams, schemes target taxpayers even after filing season

LOS
 ANGELES (AP) — Travis Kelce is living his best life: On the heels of 
winning the Super Bowl and hosting “Saturday Night Live,” the Kansas 
City Chiefs superstar tight end will cap his successful string with a 
music festival this month.

The two-time Super Bowl winner 
announced Tuesday that he’ll host his first-ever festival called “Kelce 
Jam” during NFL Draft weekend. The inaugural event will be held April 28
 at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas — a metropolitan 
area of Kansas City.

The event will feature performances by Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, DJ duo Loud Luxury and Kansas City rap legend Tech N9ne.

“With
 the draft coming to KC, I think it’s perfect timing for me to throw the
 biggest music festival that’s ever come here,” said Kelce, who believes
 the festival could lure around 15,000 attendees. “We’ll have some 
unreal stage productions, Kansas City’s best food, tons of attractions 
and football-related games. This will be a whole lot of fun.”

Kelce said he’s taking advantage of his surging popularity after the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">Super Bowl 57</a>
 in February. Last month, he hosted “Saturday Night Live” and he 
co-hosts a flourishing podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, who plays 
for the Eagles.

In this moment, Kelce is enjoying “every bit of it” and feels ecstatic about his upcoming music festival.

“Every
 door that’s been opened because of winning the Super Bowl, I’ve been 
running through them,” he said. “It’s not going to stop anytime soon – 
especially with Kelce Jam. I think this will be the nail-in-the-coffin 
for the 2022 season.”

Kelce said he wanted to bring some of his 
favorite artists including Machine Gun Kelly – who is an Ohio native 
like himself. He felt inspired to host his own music festival after he 
attended four-time Super Bowl champion <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-gronkowski">Rob Gronkowski</a> ’s Gronk Beach during the NFL Draft in Las Vegas last year.

“I
 took note from what Gronk did last year,” he said. “I want to throw a 
big party knowing that the draft is coming to Kansas City. It’s a 
special event for the city to host. … I’m going to need Kansas City to 
come out and be electric with me.”

LOS
 ANGELES (AP) — Travis Kelce is living his best life: On the heels of 
winning the Super Bowl and hosting “Saturday Night Live,” the Kansas 
City Chiefs superstar tight end will cap his successful string with a 
music festival this month.The two-time Super Bowl winner 
announced Tuesday that he’ll host his first-ever festival called “Kelce 
Jam” during NFL Draft weekend. The inaugural event will be held April 28
 at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas — a metropolitan 
area of Kansas City.The event will feature performances by Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, DJ duo Loud Luxury and Kansas City rap legend Tech N9ne.“With
 the draft coming to KC, I think it’s perfect timing for me to throw the
 biggest music festival that’s ever come here,” said Kelce, who believes
 the festival could lure around 15,000 attendees. “We’ll have some 
unreal stage productions, Kansas City’s best food, tons of attractions 
and football-related games. This will be a whole lot of fun.”Kelce said he’s taking advantage of his surging popularity after the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">Super Bowl 57</a>
 in February. Last month, he hosted “Saturday Night Live” and he 
co-hosts a flourishing podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, who plays 
for the Eagles.In this moment, Kelce is enjoying “every bit of it” and feels ecstatic about his upcoming music festival.“Every
 door that’s been opened because of winning the Super Bowl, I’ve been 
running through them,” he said. “It’s not going to stop anytime soon – 
especially with Kelce Jam. I think this will be the nail-in-the-coffin 
for the 2022 season.”Kelce said he wanted to bring some of his 
favorite artists including Machine Gun Kelly – who is an Ohio native 
like himself. He felt inspired to host his own music festival after he 
attended four-time Super Bowl champion <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-gronkowski">Rob Gronkowski</a> ’s Gronk Beach during the NFL Draft in Las Vegas last year.“I
 took note from what Gronk did last year,” he said. “I want to throw a 
big party knowing that the draft is coming to Kansas City. It’s a 
special event for the city to host. … I’m going to need Kansas City to 
come out and be electric with me.”

Chiefs' Travis Kelce to host music festival in Kansas City

DETROIT (AP) — About 5,000 white-collar workers at General Motors took the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-salaried-worker-buyout-cost-cuts-e479be59daf1b000ff9fbe79ce9baf3d">company's buyout offers</a>, which the automaker says is enough to avoid layoffs at this time.

GM
 said Tuesday that the offers will save about $1 billion per year in 
costs, about half of the $2 billion it wants to cut annually by the end 
of 2024. The company now has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.

The
 buyouts come at an uncertain time for the auto industry, which is in 
the midst of a transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles.
 GM has a goal of selling only electric passenger vehicles by 2035.

The
 Detroit automaker and its competitors are making huge capital outlays 
to develop and build new electric vehicles, all while continuing to make
 cars, trucks and SUVs with gasoline engines. They're also spending big 
to get scarce minerals and parts needed for EV batteries.

"The 
steps we are taking will allow us to maintain momentum, remain agile, 
and create a more competitive GM,” the company said in a prepared 
statement.

GM hopes to get the remaining $1 billion in savings by 
reducing vehicle complexity and expanding use of shared parts on 
internal combustion and electric vehicles. It also plans to cut spending
 across the company, including for travel and marketing, the statement 
said.

At a Bank of America conference Tuesday, GM Chief Financial 
Officer Paul Jacobson said the company will take a $1 billion 
first-quarter charge because of the buyouts, but said it will save $1 
billion per year as the workers leave later in in 2023. “You’ve got a 
pretty quick payback,” Jacobson said.

Last month GM offered 
buyouts to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, and
 global executives who have been with the company at least two years.

Jacobson
 said the number of workers taking the buyouts is about what GM 
expected. The company made the offers in an effort to reach cost goals 
without layoffs, he said.

“It’s important that we were willing to 
pay for the voluntary program to incent people to go who maybe were 
closer to retirement or had just decided they wanted a change in career 
or lifestyle, at the same time to do everything we can to try to avoid 
involuntaries or layoffs," he said. “And I think we’re in a position 
where we’re going to be able to do that.”

GM's statement didn't 
completely rule out layoffs in the future, though, saying that 
"involuntary separations are not a consideration at this point.”

Employees taking the buyouts had to sign up by March 24, and those who are approved for the packages have to leave by June 30.

U.S.
 salaried workers are being offered one month of pay for every year of 
service, up to 12 months. They’ll also get COBRA health care and part of
 the bonuses they would receive this year.

DETROIT (AP) — About 5,000 white-collar workers at General Motors took the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-salaried-worker-buyout-cost-cuts-e479be59daf1b000ff9fbe79ce9baf3d">company's buyout offers</a>, which the automaker says is enough to avoid layoffs at this time.GM
 said Tuesday that the offers will save about $1 billion per year in 
costs, about half of the $2 billion it wants to cut annually by the end 
of 2024. The company now has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.The
 buyouts come at an uncertain time for the auto industry, which is in 
the midst of a transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles.
 GM has a goal of selling only electric passenger vehicles by 2035.The
 Detroit automaker and its competitors are making huge capital outlays 
to develop and build new electric vehicles, all while continuing to make
 cars, trucks and SUVs with gasoline engines. They're also spending big 
to get scarce minerals and parts needed for EV batteries."The 
steps we are taking will allow us to maintain momentum, remain agile, 
and create a more competitive GM,” the company said in a prepared 
statement.GM hopes to get the remaining $1 billion in savings by 
reducing vehicle complexity and expanding use of shared parts on 
internal combustion and electric vehicles. It also plans to cut spending
 across the company, including for travel and marketing, the statement 
said.At a Bank of America conference Tuesday, GM Chief Financial 
Officer Paul Jacobson said the company will take a $1 billion 
first-quarter charge because of the buyouts, but said it will save $1 
billion per year as the workers leave later in in 2023. “You’ve got a 
pretty quick payback,” Jacobson said.Last month GM offered 
buyouts to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, and
 global executives who have been with the company at least two years.Jacobson
 said the number of workers taking the buyouts is about what GM 
expected. The company made the offers in an effort to reach cost goals 
without layoffs, he said.“It’s important that we were willing to 
pay for the voluntary program to incent people to go who maybe were 
closer to retirement or had just decided they wanted a change in career 
or lifestyle, at the same time to do everything we can to try to avoid 
involuntaries or layoffs," he said. “And I think we’re in a position 
where we’re going to be able to do that.”GM's statement didn't 
completely rule out layoffs in the future, though, saying that 
"involuntary separations are not a consideration at this point.”Employees taking the buyouts had to sign up by March 24, and those who are approved for the packages have to leave by June 30.U.S.
 salaried workers are being offered one month of pay for every year of 
service, up to 12 months. They’ll also get COBRA health care and part of
 the bonuses they would receive this year.

About 5K GM salaried workers take buyouts, avoiding layoffs

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday met with his council of advisers on science and technology about the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-risks-petition-elon-musk-steve-wozniak-534f0298d6304687ed080a5119a69962">risks</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-bard-ai-14ee02cb71b32f0e1fc87a4173c03796">opportunities</a> that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence development pose for individual users and national security.

Biden said that “tech companies have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe before making them public."

“AI
 can help deal with some very difficult challenges like disease and 
climate change, but it also has to address the potential risks to our 
society, to our economy, to our national security,” Biden told the 
group.

The White House said the Democratic president would use the
 AI meeting to “discuss the importance of protecting rights and safety 
to ensure responsible innovation and appropriate safeguards" and to 
reiterate his call for Congress to pass legislation to protect children 
and curtail data collection by technology companies.

Artificial 
intelligence burst to the forefront in the national and global 
conversation after the release of the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot, which 
helped spark <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-software-dd445694f34a6b7a0444db9988330229">a race</a>
 among tech giants to unveil similar tools, while raising ethical and 
societal concerns about new tools that can generate convincing prose or 
imagery that looks like it's the work of humans.

Italy last week 
temporarily blocked ChatGPT over data privacy concerns, and European 
Union lawmakers have been negotiating new regulators to limit high-risk 
AI products.

The U.S. so far has taken a different approach. The 
Biden administration last year unveiled a set of far-reaching goals 
aimed at averting harms caused by the rise of AI systems, including 
guidelines for how to protect people’s personal data and limit 
surveillance.

The Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights notably did 
not set out specific enforcement actions, but instead was intended as a 
White House call to action for the U.S. government to safeguard digital 
and civil rights in an AI-fueled world.

Biden's council, known as 
PCAST, is composed of science, engineering, technology and medical 
experts and is co-chaired by the Cabinet-ranked director of the White 
House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arati Prabhakar.

Asked if AI is dangerous, Biden said Tuesday, “It remains to be seen. Could be.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday met with his council of advisers on science and technology about the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-risks-petition-elon-musk-steve-wozniak-534f0298d6304687ed080a5119a69962">risks</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-bard-ai-14ee02cb71b32f0e1fc87a4173c03796">opportunities</a> that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence development pose for individual users and national security.Biden said that “tech companies have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe before making them public."“AI
 can help deal with some very difficult challenges like disease and 
climate change, but it also has to address the potential risks to our 
society, to our economy, to our national security,” Biden told the 
group.The White House said the Democratic president would use the
 AI meeting to “discuss the importance of protecting rights and safety 
to ensure responsible innovation and appropriate safeguards" and to 
reiterate his call for Congress to pass legislation to protect children 
and curtail data collection by technology companies.Artificial 
intelligence burst to the forefront in the national and global 
conversation after the release of the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot, which 
helped spark <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-software-dd445694f34a6b7a0444db9988330229">a race</a>
 among tech giants to unveil similar tools, while raising ethical and 
societal concerns about new tools that can generate convincing prose or 
imagery that looks like it's the work of humans.Italy last week 
temporarily blocked ChatGPT over data privacy concerns, and European 
Union lawmakers have been negotiating new regulators to limit high-risk 
AI products.The U.S. so far has taken a different approach. The 
Biden administration last year unveiled a set of far-reaching goals 
aimed at averting harms caused by the rise of AI systems, including 
guidelines for how to protect people’s personal data and limit 
surveillance.The Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights notably did 
not set out specific enforcement actions, but instead was intended as a 
White House call to action for the U.S. government to safeguard digital 
and civil rights in an AI-fueled world.Biden's council, known as 
PCAST, is composed of science, engineering, technology and medical 
experts and is co-chaired by the Cabinet-ranked director of the White 
House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arati Prabhakar.Asked if AI is dangerous, Biden said Tuesday, “It remains to be seen. Could be.”

Biden says tech companies must ensure AI products are safe

By BECCA FLESHER <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2023/02/01/county-farm-bureaus-in-kansas-teach-kids-about-agriculture">Kansas Living</a>

Ask your kids where their Chick-fil-A nuggets came from, or how their
 McDonald’s hamburger ended up on their plate, or where chocolate milk 
comes from. As adults, we know they come from chickens, beef cattle and 
dairy cows, but learning where our food comes from was an integral part 
of our education as children. Kids today will be in grocery stores one 
day, purchasing products for their own families. Teaching kids about 
food, farming and agriculture along the way helps them make good choices
 as they grow older.

Kansas Farm Bureau’s mission is to strengthen agriculture and the 
lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. County Farm 
Bureaus across the state support that mission in many ways, including by
 offering interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for kids.

Finney, Johnson and Lincoln County Farm Bureaus have made a 
significant impact on their communities and local youth by hosting 
day-long events that feature the farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses in
 their areas.

Finney County Farm Bureau has held an annual Friends on the Farm 
event for nearly 24 years, and County Coordinator Jennifer Gerber has 
led the charge for 11 of those. She was at the helm Jan. 24, 2022, when 
approximately 730 southwest Kansas fourth graders from Finney, Haskell, 
Kearney and Gray counties traveled to the Finney County Exhibition 
Building to learn about the agriculture industry.

“We set the day up to have two sessions in the morning and one in the
 afternoon,” Gerber says. “Each session hosts 250 kids and twelve 
presenters.”

Thanks to the support of local agriculture businesses, extension 
agents, FFA programs and Collegiate Farm Bureau members, Finney County 
had more than 70 volunteers and a variety of activities and 
presentations for the kids. These activities included a soil tunnel with
 edible “soil” for a snack, a presentation on hydroponics, a milking 
demonstration, interaction with baby goats, a lesson about soybean 
byproducts, an interactive book reading and an up-close look at 
combines, tractors, hay equipment and crop sprayers.

“At our ag experience days, kids get to meet the local farmers and 
ranchers behind the presentations,” Gerber says. “They get to learn 
specifics of hydroponics from students in the Garden City FFA chapter 
who are learning how to grow plants through those systems.”&nbsp;

Teachers, parents and Farm Bureau members have seen the widespread benefits of the event.

“The kids don’t forget what they learn at our event,” Gerber says. “Kids still recognize me and recall what they learned when I substitute teach.”

Gerber says giving kids an opportunity to see and understand what 
farmers do every day is important to shed light on the challenging work 
done for something as common as a hamburger.

“This truly gives kids a glimpse of what agriculture is all about,” 
Gerber says. “Agriculture is the hub of southwest Kansas, so it’s 
incredibly important our youth know where their food and clothes come 
from.”

The Johnson County Farm Bureau invites every fourth grade class in 
the county to its Slice of Ag event, drawing thousands of kids to learn 
about what goes into creating pizza.

“We have eight different stations the kids interact with: grain and 
crops, fruits, vegetables, conservation, milk, beef, pork and the kids’ 
favorite — machinery,” Lyneda Rogers, county coordinator, says. “We 
bring in a combine and let kids explore the equipment and also sit in a 
cab to watch a harvesting simulation.”

The grain and crops station features visuals of ingredients that make
 pizza crust, along with 56 loaves of bread to illustrate what can be 
created from one bushel of wheat. KC metro-area kids get to touch wheat 
kernels and visualize just how much food that bushel can produce. A 
table full of fruits and vegetables highlights their contribution to a 
slice of pizza. A station on conservation showcases how farmers care for
 the soil before planting or harvesting, while a live milking 
demonstration shows the origin of cheese, and live cattle and pigs 
represent beef and sausage toppings. To top the day off, the kids enjoy 
some pizza.

The Slice of Ag event has become so popular that following the 
COVID-19 pandemic, two events were created for 2022 to provide the 
experience to the class that missed it the year before. The events were 
held at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in April and September, and local
 FFA chapters and county board members jumped at the chance to 
volunteer.

“FFA members take the kids around to sessions, help them climb into 
the combine or help run a station,” Rogers says. “Those students and 
other volunteers make it a success. Most of these FFA students aren’t 
from farms either, but they want to learn about agriculture and how it 
will impact their future careers.

“My favorite station is the Southwest Dairy Farmers mobile dairy 
classroom,” Rogers adds. “The milk goes through a clear tube up into a 
bottle and the light bulb goes off in their heads. You watch the kids 
realize the milk came out of the cow and went into the bottle, then it 
will eventually go to their house. I love giving them the opportunity to
 see a true farm-to-table experience.”

Since 2009, Johnson County Farm Bureau has led this program along 
with Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, Johnson County 
Conservation District, ADM, Southwest Dairy Farmers and countless 
volunteers. Rogers notes the importance of this event and how much the 
community has evolved.

“We’re an urban county — the kids don’t typically get to see 
agriculture in motion,” she says. “While kids in southwest Kansas pass 
livestock and farms all the time, this program gives our urban kids a 
hands-on event that focuses on agriculture.”

Nearly 80 third, fourth and fifth graders from Lincoln and 
Lucas-Sylvan Unified elementary schools in north-central Kansas have the
 chance to experience agriculture each year, thanks to Lincoln County 
Farm Bureau’s Day on the Farm. The event is hosted at Rosebrook Farms in
 Lincoln every second Thursday of September. Katie Lyne, county 
coordinator, planned the 11th year of the program.

“The purpose of the day for us is to expose local youth to 
agriculture and show them all the different opportunities it has to 
offer,” Lyne says. “We host kids with diverse backgrounds — there are 
kids who have never been around tractors and others who regularly help 
on their family farm.”

Students experience farm life through eight sessions that are led by local businesses, farmers and volunteers.

The first station shows how corn is grown and how technology like 
drones can be used. Students then learn about water conservation and 
water cycles. A farm equipment station lets kids see the different 
tractors, drills and cattle trailers farmers and ranchers utilize to 
make the food they eat. A new safety station allows kids to see what 
happens when a grain cart strikes a powerline and how dangerous 
electricity is when we aren’t careful.

There’s a bee farm that emphasizes the importance of pollinators and 
offers honey samples, and a station that outlines the life cycle of 
poultry and displays the various sizes and colors of eggs.

One of the students’ favorite stations, according to Lyne, is the 
veterinarian station where kids get ultrasound goggles and watch a live 
ultrasound on a cow.

“You would think kids from a very small community come with the 
experience and knowledge of where milk or eggs come from, but that isn’t
 always the case,” Lyne says. “Seeing how surprised some kids are 
that&nbsp;chickens lay eggs is unexpected, but we’re happy to provide that 
education for anyone who isn’t already aware.”

Because the same three school classes are invited each year, Lyne 
rotates the stations to keep the experience unique and educational. 
Other stations consist of butter making, learning about grain sorghum 
(milo) and making ice cream in a bag. Their volunteers are local FFA 
students, board members, ag extension agents and farmers.

“Our event is special because of the farmers who help put it on,” 
Lyne says. “The event falls in the busiest time of year for our area 
farmers because of harvest, but they’re willing to donate their time and
 expertise to educate youth.

“Our hope is for kids to walk away knowing agriculture is more than just cows and tractors,” Lyne says. “While those things are important parts of agriculture, seeing how diverse yet connected agriculture is opens kids’ eyes to different possibilities.”

Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) is committed to teaching about agriculture, 
no matter what age you are. Many county-level events and programs can 
enhance Kansans’ ag literacy, and KFB supports those efforts with a 
dedicated team that’s passionate about ag education. Find activities, 
lesson plans and other fun ideas in these locations:

KFB Website: <a href="https://www.kfb.org/education" target="_blank">www.kfb.org/education</a>.
 You can also learn about KFB’s ag-accurate children’s book series, 
“Kailey’s Ag Adventures,” and find important lessons about safety in 
agriculture.

Pinterest:<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ksfarmbureau/ag-ed-ahead/"> www.pinterest.com/ksfarmbureau/ag-ed-ahead</a>.
 We all know the power of Pinterest! Browse ideas on our board and keep 
track of those you want to try by pinning to your own boards.

Ag Education from the Sunflower State Newsletter: email <a href="mailto:martins@kfb.org">martins@kfb.org</a>.
 Subscribe to KFB's quarterly e-newsletter for coordinators, educators 
and members. It also contains coordinator features and updates on ag 
education work at KFB.

Ag Education Classroom Kits: <a href="https://www.kfb.org/Education/Classroom-Kits" target="_blank">www.kfb.org/classroomkits</a>. Implement one of these fun and informative kits in your classroom. KFB has two $25 kits designed for a class size of 25.

• Food and Farm Facts, for grades four through six. Includes a book 
for each student, activity cards, trivia deck, worksheets and activity 
supplies for five lessons.

• Tales of a Dairy Godmother, for kindergarten through grade two. 
Includes a book for the classroom, an educator’s guide with lesson plans
 and related magazines, worksheets and activity supplies for four to 
five lessons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278491456.png" alt="Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECCA FLESHER <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2023/02/01/county-farm-bureaus-in-kansas-teach-kids-about-agriculture">Kansas Living</a>Ask your kids where their Chick-fil-A nuggets came from, or how their
 McDonald’s hamburger ended up on their plate, or where chocolate milk 
comes from. As adults, we know they come from chickens, beef cattle and 
dairy cows, but learning where our food comes from was an integral part 
of our education as children. Kids today will be in grocery stores one 
day, purchasing products for their own families. Teaching kids about 
food, farming and agriculture along the way helps them make good choices
 as they grow older.Kansas Farm Bureau’s mission is to strengthen agriculture and the 
lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. County Farm 
Bureaus across the state support that mission in many ways, including by
 offering interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for kids.Finney, Johnson and Lincoln County Farm Bureaus have made a 
significant impact on their communities and local youth by hosting 
day-long events that feature the farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses in
 their areas.<h2>Finney County</h2>Finney County Farm Bureau has held an annual Friends on the Farm 
event for nearly 24 years, and County Coordinator Jennifer Gerber has 
led the charge for 11 of those. She was at the helm Jan. 24, 2022, when 
approximately 730 southwest Kansas fourth graders from Finney, Haskell, 
Kearney and Gray counties traveled to the Finney County Exhibition 
Building to learn about the agriculture industry.“We set the day up to have two sessions in the morning and one in the
 afternoon,” Gerber says. “Each session hosts 250 kids and twelve 
presenters.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278540017.png" alt="Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine</figcaption>
 </figure>Thanks to the support of local agriculture businesses, extension 
agents, FFA programs and Collegiate Farm Bureau members, Finney County 
had more than 70 volunteers and a variety of activities and 
presentations for the kids. These activities included a soil tunnel with
 edible “soil” for a snack, a presentation on hydroponics, a milking 
demonstration, interaction with baby goats, a lesson about soybean 
byproducts, an interactive book reading and an up-close look at 
combines, tractors, hay equipment and crop sprayers.“At our ag experience days, kids get to meet the local farmers and 
ranchers behind the presentations,” Gerber says. “They get to learn 
specifics of hydroponics from students in the Garden City FFA chapter 
who are learning how to grow plants through those systems.”&nbsp;Teachers, parents and Farm Bureau members have seen the widespread benefits of the event.“The kids don’t forget what they learn at our event,” Gerber says. “Kids still recognize me and recall what they learned when I substitute teach.”Gerber says giving kids an opportunity to see and understand what 
farmers do every day is important to shed light on the challenging work 
done for something as common as a hamburger.“This truly gives kids a glimpse of what agriculture is all about,” 
Gerber says. “Agriculture is the hub of southwest Kansas, so it’s 
incredibly important our youth know where their food and clothes come 
from.”<h2>Johnson County</h2>The Johnson County Farm Bureau invites every fourth grade class in 
the county to its Slice of Ag event, drawing thousands of kids to learn 
about what goes into creating pizza.“We have eight different stations the kids interact with: grain and 
crops, fruits, vegetables, conservation, milk, beef, pork and the kids’ 
favorite — machinery,” Lyneda Rogers, county coordinator, says. “We 
bring in a combine and let kids explore the equipment and also sit in a 
cab to watch a harvesting simulation.”The grain and crops station features visuals of ingredients that make
 pizza crust, along with 56 loaves of bread to illustrate what can be 
created from one bushel of wheat. KC metro-area kids get to touch wheat 
kernels and visualize just how much food that bushel can produce. A 
table full of fruits and vegetables highlights their contribution to a 
slice of pizza. A station on conservation showcases how farmers care for
 the soil before planting or harvesting, while a live milking 
demonstration shows the origin of cheese, and live cattle and pigs 
represent beef and sausage toppings. To top the day off, the kids enjoy 
some pizza.The Slice of Ag event has become so popular that following the 
COVID-19 pandemic, two events were created for 2022 to provide the 
experience to the class that missed it the year before. The events were 
held at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in April and September, and local
 FFA chapters and county board members jumped at the chance to 
volunteer.“FFA members take the kids around to sessions, help them climb into 
the combine or help run a station,” Rogers says. “Those students and 
other volunteers make it a success. Most of these FFA students aren’t 
from farms either, but they want to learn about agriculture and how it 
will impact their future careers.“My favorite station is the Southwest Dairy Farmers mobile dairy 
classroom,” Rogers adds. “The milk goes through a clear tube up into a 
bottle and the light bulb goes off in their heads. You watch the kids 
realize the milk came out of the cow and went into the bottle, then it 
will eventually go to their house. I love giving them the opportunity to
 see a true farm-to-table experience.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278592382.png" alt="Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine</figcaption>
 </figure>Since 2009, Johnson County Farm Bureau has led this program along 
with Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, Johnson County 
Conservation District, ADM, Southwest Dairy Farmers and countless 
volunteers. Rogers notes the importance of this event and how much the 
community has evolved.“We’re an urban county — the kids don’t typically get to see 
agriculture in motion,” she says. “While kids in southwest Kansas pass 
livestock and farms all the time, this program gives our urban kids a 
hands-on event that focuses on agriculture.”<h2>Lincoln County</h2>Nearly 80 third, fourth and fifth graders from Lincoln and 
Lucas-Sylvan Unified elementary schools in north-central Kansas have the
 chance to experience agriculture each year, thanks to Lincoln County 
Farm Bureau’s Day on the Farm. The event is hosted at Rosebrook Farms in
 Lincoln every second Thursday of September. Katie Lyne, county 
coordinator, planned the 11th year of the program.“The purpose of the day for us is to expose local youth to 
agriculture and show them all the different opportunities it has to 
offer,” Lyne says. “We host kids with diverse backgrounds — there are 
kids who have never been around tractors and others who regularly help 
on their family farm.”Students experience farm life through eight sessions that are led by local businesses, farmers and volunteers.The first station shows how corn is grown and how technology like 
drones can be used. Students then learn about water conservation and 
water cycles. A farm equipment station lets kids see the different 
tractors, drills and cattle trailers farmers and ranchers utilize to 
make the food they eat. A new safety station allows kids to see what 
happens when a grain cart strikes a powerline and how dangerous 
electricity is when we aren’t careful.There’s a bee farm that emphasizes the importance of pollinators and 
offers honey samples, and a station that outlines the life cycle of 
poultry and displays the various sizes and colors of eggs.One of the students’ favorite stations, according to Lyne, is the 
veterinarian station where kids get ultrasound goggles and watch a live 
ultrasound on a cow.“You would think kids from a very small community come with the 
experience and knowledge of where milk or eggs come from, but that isn’t
 always the case,” Lyne says. “Seeing how surprised some kids are 
that&nbsp;chickens lay eggs is unexpected, but we’re happy to provide that 
education for anyone who isn’t already aware.”Because the same three school classes are invited each year, Lyne 
rotates the stations to keep the experience unique and educational. 
Other stations consist of butter making, learning about grain sorghum 
(milo) and making ice cream in a bag. Their volunteers are local FFA 
students, board members, ag extension agents and farmers.“Our event is special because of the farmers who help put it on,” 
Lyne says. “The event falls in the busiest time of year for our area 
farmers because of harvest, but they’re willing to donate their time and
 expertise to educate youth.“Our hope is for kids to walk away knowing agriculture is more than just cows and tractors,” Lyne says. “While those things are important parts of agriculture, seeing how diverse yet connected agriculture is opens kids’ eyes to different possibilities.”Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) is committed to teaching about agriculture, 
no matter what age you are. Many county-level events and programs can 
enhance Kansans’ ag literacy, and KFB supports those efforts with a 
dedicated team that’s passionate about ag education. Find activities, 
lesson plans and other fun ideas in these locations:KFB Website: <a href="https://www.kfb.org/education" target="_blank">www.kfb.org/education</a>.
 You can also learn about KFB’s ag-accurate children’s book series, 
“Kailey’s Ag Adventures,” and find important lessons about safety in 
agriculture.Pinterest:<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ksfarmbureau/ag-ed-ahead/"> www.pinterest.com/ksfarmbureau/ag-ed-ahead</a>.
 We all know the power of Pinterest! Browse ideas on our board and keep 
track of those you want to try by pinning to your own boards.Ag Education from the Sunflower State Newsletter: email <a href="mailto:martins@kfb.org">martins@kfb.org</a>.
 Subscribe to KFB's quarterly e-newsletter for coordinators, educators 
and members. It also contains coordinator features and updates on ag 
education work at KFB.Ag Education Classroom Kits: <a href="https://www.kfb.org/Education/Classroom-Kits" target="_blank">www.kfb.org/classroomkits</a>. Implement one of these fun and informative kits in your classroom. KFB has two $25 kits designed for a class size of 25.• Food and Farm Facts, for grades four through six. Includes a book 
for each student, activity cards, trivia deck, worksheets and activity 
supplies for five lessons.• Tales of a Dairy Godmother, for kindergarten through grade two. 
Includes a book for the classroom, an educator’s guide with lesson plans
 and related magazines, worksheets and activity supplies for four to 
five lessons.

County Farm Bureaus in Kansas teach kids about agriculture

Popular food delivery website Door Dash seemingly was overwhelmed by a fast-food restaurant's hour-long offer and was unavailable as of early Friday evening.

Wendy's announced its "Biggie Power Hour" <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/food/2023/03/wendys-has-a-biggie-deal-with-doordash-to-get-up-to-30-off-your-order-this-week.html">earlier this week</a> — $30 off of an order than included a Biggie Bag — but only from 5 to 6 p.m. Central.

<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/doordash/">DownDetector</a>, which monitors the status of popular websites, showed a dramatic spike in reports from Door Dash users beginning just before 5 p.m. Central.&nbsp;

Via its Twitter account, Door Dash said it was working to resolve the issue and advised users to use the mobile app rather than the website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680302036119.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Popular food delivery website Door Dash seemingly was overwhelmed by a fast-food restaurant's hour-long offer and was unavailable as of early Friday evening.Wendy's announced its "Biggie Power Hour" <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/food/2023/03/wendys-has-a-biggie-deal-with-doordash-to-get-up-to-30-off-your-order-this-week.html">earlier this week</a> — $30 off of an order than included a Biggie Bag — but only from 5 to 6 p.m. Central.<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/doordash/">DownDetector</a>, which monitors the status of popular websites, showed a dramatic spike in reports from Door Dash users beginning just before 5 p.m. Central.&nbsp;Via its Twitter account, Door Dash said it was working to resolve the issue and advised users to use the mobile app rather than the website.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are currently experiencing issues with our consumer platform. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.&mdash; DoorDash Help (@DoorDash_Help) <a href="https://twitter.com/DoorDash_Help/status/1641928254360801280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680301883800.png" alt="Via DownDetector.com" />
 <figcaption>Via DownDetector.com</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680302243165.png" alt="Via DownDetector.com" />
 <figcaption>Via DownDetector.com</figcaption>
 </figure>— Post News Network

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