archivelocal news

Open this photo in gallery:U.S. and Saudi flags flutter along a highway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 12.Hamad I Mohammed/ReutersWhen U.S. President Donald Trump lands in Riyadh on Tuesday, he will be greeted with opulent ceremonies, gilded palaces and the prospect of $1-trillion in investments. But the raging war in Gaza has denied him one goal he has long craved: Saudi-Israel normalization.Behind the scenes, U.S. officials are quietly pressing Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza – one of Saudi Arabia’s preconditions for any restart of normalization...

Aerial video along the Swannanoa River reveals the wrath of Tropical Storm HeleneAerial video along the Swannanoa River between Black Mountain and Asheville reveals the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene.Buncombe County’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 includes a 3.26-cent property tax increase to offset revenue shortfalls in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.The budget prioritizes essential services, including $122 million for education, though still short requests from Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools.ASHEVILLE – Described as a “break-even budget” focused on essential government services and recovery in the...

Reno redevelopment agency approves GSR arena project TIF contractReno's redevelopment agency voted 5-2 to approve the GSR arena project's tax-increment financing contract.The Reno redevelopment agency, which is made up of the city council members, voted in 5-2 to approve the tax-incremental financing contract with the Grand Sierra Resort’s phase one arena project.The deal would require GSR to be reimbursed 90% of its property tax, while the redevelopment agency would keep 10% of the property taxes. It sunsets in 2035.GSR owner Alex Meruelo said he would give the lease to the...

Orange Park Mall could soon be under new ownership.Washington Prime Group plans to sell its entire portfolio of 50 shopping centers, including Orange Park Mall, as it lays off employees at its corporate headquarters, as first reported by Jacksonville Daily Record.This would be the second mall in Jacksonville to recently undergo a sale after Blackwater Development finalized its purchase of Regency Square Mall earlier this month.The property purge includes 10 malls and shopping centers in Florida.The Orange Park Mall turns 50 years old this year and is the Jacksonville area's...

Watch: Indiana public school teachers rally at Indiana StatehouseShaina Terano, a teacher at Belzer Middle School in Lawrence Township, discusses what her students could lose with SB 1, the proposed property tax reform bill.Indiana's SEA 1 will provide property tax relief to homeowners and businesses, with businesses receiving the largest cuts.Local governments can offset property tax revenue by increasing income taxes. That could mean some families pay over $1,000 more per year on income taxes.Cities across Indiana are evaluating the impact of SB 1 and considering measures like hiring freezes...

How can Nashville area balance low taxes, growth and quality services?The 14-county region in the Nashville area grew by more than 3,000 people a month from 2010 to 2020. This growth brings opportunities and challenges.WochitThe average is the result of the latest four-year reappraisal cycle.This is the second time since 2017 that Nashville has set a record-high increase in property values.From here, Nashvillians will wait for the state to establish the certified tax rate and for the Metro Nashville Council to set the local property tax rate to determine their...

Ty Tagami  |  Capitol Beat News ServiceHow do billionaires avoid paying taxes? Here's what we know now.The super wealthy can afford to avoid paying taxes, but how? Here's what we know now.Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment to curb property tax increases by tying them to inflation.Most cities and counties adopted the amendment, but the majority of school districts, which receive the largest share of property taxes, opted out.A new law gives local governments until the end of April to reconsider, but school districts face challenges due to rising education...

Video: Scenes from protest in EugeneCrowds of thousands of people showed up Saturday for a protest outside the Eugene City Hall.Hundreds of protests organized by the 50501 Movement are planned nationwide on April 19, including several in Oregon.The protests aim to address concerns about the Trump administration, including cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency, stock market impacts, immigration and cost of living.The 50501 Movement is a grassroots initiative started on social media, advocating for sustained resistance against the Trump administration.Hundreds of protests are planned across the country April 19...

City Hall is keeping a close watch on its neighbors across the street as several bills this legislative session threaten to deplete Tallahassee's breadwinning source of revenue.Commissioners and staff are scheduled to meet for a budget hearing this week, and on the docket to discuss are five bills that could limit "the local government's ability to generate revenue to fund critical services."With Gov. Ron DeSantis focused on eliminating property taxes in the state of Florida, the City of Tallahassee could be facing a budget overhaul in the years to come,...