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House and Senate budget and tax cut negotiators are running out of time to reach a deal and end the legislative session on time.Local cheerleaders with Special Olympics show their skills at CapitolSpecial Olympics athletes demonstrate their cheerleading skills during Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run and ceremony at Capitol courtyard.The House and Senate disagree on tax cut plans, with differing approaches and overall amounts.The legislative session's deadline is approaching, with budget and tax cut negotiations still ongoing.One of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ main gripes with the House in his ongoing feud...

Texting was already available, but now a translation service is offeredThe Dover Police Department is one of the first in the U.S. to use the enhanced 911 service for sharing of photos and videos, and text translation.A real estate agent impersonates a seller and pockets $3 million from fraudulent property sales. A Los Angeles homeowner loses their house to an international identity theft ring. In Florida, during a scheduled video call with the seller, a title company is met with an AI-generated fake.These stories may sound sensational, but the crimes...

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...

Protesters in Toms River rally against Trump policies: 'Hands Off'Demonstrators gathered in front of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs building on Hooper Avenue to express their concerns about Trump's policies.Hundreds of protests are planned across the country Saturday to push back against what organizers and supporters argue is a dangerous Trump administration.Organized by the 50501 Movement, a grassroots initiative born on social media, nearly 700 protests are planned April 19 as a "sustained resistance in order to make a difference." The group is hoping to keep the momentum following...

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agrees with Donald Trump on manufacturing, not widespread tariffsMichigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered a speech in Washington, D.C. for “Build, America, Build."Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer criticized President Trump's tariff policy as a "blunt tool" that threatens economic "paralysis".Whitmer advocated for a strategic approach to re-industrialization, focusing on industries like shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, and semiconductor chips.She highlighted the negative impact of tariffs on Michigan's auto industry, citing job losses and higher costs.Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday blasted President Donald Trump's indiscriminate use of import tariffs as threatening economic...

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,...

Joshua Fechter and Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune  |  Wichita Falls Times Record NewsProperty tax cuts aren’t free. In fact, they’re costing Texas a fortune.The Texas House is considering a budget that would shell out $51 billion — 15% of the state's total two-year spending plan — to maintain and provide new property tax cuts. That number, more than the state allocates to transportation or higher education, is making even some Republicans nervous about the state’s ability to afford the tax relief if there’s an economic downturn.If it were its...

Some industry participants call this the policy that the National Association of Realtors should have put out.Protect yourself from these common real estate scamsReal estate scams are on the rise. Here’s how to protect your home and your wallet from the most common cons.A battle over how homeowners list their properties for sale is shaking up the housing industry, with big implications for sellers and buyers.On April 10, the massive real estate company Zillow announced it would not accept any listings that have been previously offered for sale in a...

Donna Marie Elkins, 59, was charged with assault and imprisonment after drawing a weapon on teens she said were fishing on her Florida property. The incident raised questions about property rights.Melbourne woman charged with holding teens at gunpointBrevard County Sheriff's deputies say Donna Marie Elkins, 59, drew a weapon on two teens she believed were fishing on her property.It was a sight that left Mike Jones sick to his stomach.There, live on his phone, was his son lying in the grass as a woman clutching a long pellet gun screamed,...