A major escalation of the tensions between the U.S. and North Korea has led to the US sending the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and several warships toward the Korean Peninsula. The Carl Vinson and three guided-missile destroyers and cruisers to the peninsula were sent only days after North Korea launched its latest ballistic missile test. This missile reportedly flew only 37 miles.
North Korea has condemned the U.S. for bringing the aircraft carrier group and other nuclear-armed assets into the region, and threatened an assault on South Korea, Japan and U.S. bases. A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that “We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions. North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.”
U.S. intelligence officials believe North Korea is preparing its sixth nuclear weapons test, possibly as early as Saturday, April 15 which coincides with the 105th anniversary of the birth of the country’s founder, Kim Il-sung.
North Korean senior officials have accused the Trump administration of wanting to “annihilate” their country and blamed the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula squarely on the U.S. and South Korea. Han Song Ryol, North Korea’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs stated in an interview that if North Korea felt they were going to be attacked they would use nuclear weapons.
Experts say the sixth nuclear test could come at any time and is part of the Kim Jong Un regime’s quest to build a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Most analysts believe North Korea is still at least several years away from that capacity, but Pyongyang already has weapons that pose a serious threat to U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, and U.S. troops based in those countries.
North Korea’s nuclear weapons development program has been a primary focus and a tense topic for years. Just last month North Korea successfully launched four ballistic missiles into the waters off northwest Japan. State media in Pyongyang said it was just a dry run of a nuclear attack against US military bases in Japan and experts say this exercise was defensive, not offensive.
A North Korea official stated Pyongyang intends to “relentlessly strengthen” the country’s nuclear weapons. Experts say North Korea’s goal in advancing their nuclear program and developing nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the US is a deterrent for a US invasion.
Experts have debated whether North Korea possesses a nuclear warhead it can mount to a short or medium-range missile. North Korea claims that it has miniaturized a nuclear warhead and is capable of mounting it to a short, medium, or long-range missile – has never been independently verified. Kim said in his New Year’s address that the country had reached “the final stages” of that weapon’s development.
While analysts say it is unlikely that North Korea possesses an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching West Coast cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle, they are well on their way to developing such a weapon.
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In an effort to broaden the company’s “social interaction” with our clients and FaceBook fans, Daily Trivia Questions are posted on both of our business pages. Here are the weekly standings for this past week, and the winner of the Sunday night Weekly Drawing for an AmEx gift card!
Congratulations – To this past week’s Trivia Contest Winner!! Our latest contest winner for the weekly FaceBook HealthInsurance4Everyone/Health & Life Solutions, LLC Trivia Contest, drawn randomly by computer late Sunday evening, April 16th, 2017 was:
SEAN STOVER
Winner Of A $25.00 AmEx Gift Card
Each day, fans of either of our company FaceBook pages (HealthInsurance4Everyone or Health & Life Solutions LLC) are able to test their skills with our Daily TRIVIA QUESTION. The first 20 winners who post the correct answer to the TRIVIA QUESTION, will then get entered into the weekly drawing held late on Sunday evenings for a $25.00 Am Ex Gift. Card
Weekly Gift Card winners will be posted in our blog at this site. Remember to become a FaceBook “fan” on either of our company pages to enter and post your answers.
Here are the daily contestants from last week’s Trivia Contest that were entered into the Sunday drawing:
4/10/17
Dana Dilaura
Pamela White Brearley
Jennifer Saavedra
Crystal Young
Kendra George
Brandy Marie Williams
Stephanie Beckwith
Kimberly Taylor Hall
Jennifer Vega
Althea Thomas
Paula Rousseau
Sarah Harrison
Kim Floyd
Darbie Brown
Lotorya Patrick
Chris Maxwell
Juanita Williams-Jones
Nikki Hunsaker
Adaria Johnson
Jade Good
Bea Patrick
Brittany Marie Thompson
Lisa J Wright
Angela Nicole
4/11/17
Kristina Harris
Priscilla Shimp
Bobbie J Rittenhouse
Megan Rhyne
Sherri Kidwell
Brandi Chaney
Cherilyn White
Rhonda Nicholson
Brandy Marie Williams
Ashley Stamey Phillips
Tara Lennox
Geri Rus
Kevin Cusack
Kimberly Snyder
Holly Cajigas
Steve Hardy
Susanne Killion
Brooke Scott
Valerie Kuehn
Kathi Taylor
4/12/17
Cheryl Hall
Kayla Clemons
Sheila Carvell
Jennifer Downing
Brittany Marie Thompson
Rebecca Fauteux
Kendra George
Lori Capobianco
Jakara Jackson
Kimberly Snyder
Amy Conyers
Isis Sample
Karen Jaras
Susan Clarke Jette
Kathleen Hickman
Mike Adamski
Chelcie Malow
Jennifer Ramlet
Karyn Koehler
Terri Llexxes
4/13/17
Tonya Velazquez
Kimberly Taylor Hall
Misty Shallcross
Justin Wilcox
Chelcie Malow
Samantha Brwn Ramos
Shelley LaClear
Sherri Kidwell
Deborah Farris
Mya Murphy
Margaret Primos
Isis Sample
Kayla Clemons
Erica Hansen
Allyson Becker
Christine Domingue
Misty Dawn Moores
Karen Jaras
Pamela White Brearley
Heather Marie Stacy
4/14/17
Amy Marie Wilkinson
Kimberly Taylor Hall
Priscilla Shimp
Jodi Stevens
Juanita Williams-Jones
Brandy Marie Williams
Cheryl Hall
Crystal Young
Brooke Scott
Jackie Poole
Shawna Poole
Sean Stover
Karen Bondehagen
Lori Capobianco
Stephanie Beckwith
Alisa Jones
Jennifer Ramlet
Rebecca Fauteux
Kathleen Hickman
Janice Cash
4/15/17
Brandy Marie Williams
Karen Jaras
Althea Thomas
Sarah Bellestri Shih
Allyson Becker
Tracy Shafer
Jennifer Lang
Karen Goodwin Delaney
Jonnalyn Gates
Amanda Saltsman
Myranda Medlin
Phyllis Hines
Kendra George
Jennifer Kinner
Samantha Brwn Ramos
Amy Chavis
Jessica Miller
Beth Cleveland
Nai Merri
Terri Llexxes
4/16/17
Alexandria Tinnon
Erica Hansen
Sherri Kidwell
Valerie Kuehn
Paula Rousseau
Amy Conyers
Shelby Lynn
Brandy Marie Williams
Belinda Haas
Jennifer Mason
Kaitlyn Rutherford
Allyson Becker
Anne Hanson
Kayla Clemons
Kimberly Taylor Hall
Phyllis Hines
Jackie Poole
Peggy Burdick Buchanan
Lena Perry
Jeanine Jones
Glenna Zanaglio
Tracy Shafer
Brandi Chaney
Michelle Hughes
Be sure to watch both of our FaceBook pages for your chance to win and enter again next week, with questions posted daily on HealthInsurance4Everyone or at Health & Life Solutions, LLC!! 
Remember that if you try your hand at answering the Trivia Question several days each week, your odds of winning the Sunday weekly drawing are much better. You may also find that if you “Like” both of the business pages, you will receive faster notifications of the other players as they post their answers to compete with you!
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At Health Insurance 4 Everyone, we not only want to improve our customer service but also interact with our customers on a social media level that wasn’t available before. Interested in connecting with us? Look us up on….
Twitter: Healthinsurane4 (Follow Us On Twitter To Receive Faster Notifications When Daily Trivia Questions Posted, & To Be Immediately Notified When Weekly AmEX & HI4Eshop Gift Card 
Winners Are Announced!!)
Click-On for LinkedIn To Follow Our Posts: LinkedIn 
Like us on facebook: HealthInsurance4Everyone or Health & Life Solutions, LLC
Over 54,000 Combined Fans/Followers To Our Social Media Sites, & We’re Growing Daily!
Follow Mark Shuster, Founder/Owner at Health & Life Solutions, LLC for daily health tips!
Mark Shuster FaceBook Link
Follow our word press blog and read about everything from health insurance and reform news to healthy living and current events!
Company Blogs
Find out more about LegalShield, our corporate partner which gives you the power to talk to an attorney about any legal issue, and offering high-quality Identity Theft plans.
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In an escalating dispute over the death penalty cases in Florida, Governor Rick Scott has removed Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala from 21 more cases from District 9 to a special prosecutor. The governor’s spokeswoman said in a statement “State Attorney Ayala’s complete refusal to consider capital punishment for the entirety of her term sends an unacceptable message that she is not interested in considering every available option in the fight for justice,” Ayala’s office, in response, is saying Scott blindsided her and is calling the decision an abuse of power.
All of the cases removed from Ayala have been reassigned to State Attorney Brad King. Ayala has filed a motion in state circuit court indicating her intent to challenge Scott’s decision and disputing the governor’s authority to remove her simply because he disagrees with her valid exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
Ayala, an elected prosecutor in central Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, took office in January, to begin a four-year term. In March, Ayala announced she would no longer seek the death penalty in any murder cases, including in the case of Markeith Loyd, who’s accused of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend and then Orlando police officer Debra Clayton. Scott removed Ayala from that case shortly after.
Her decision sparked an outcry with many Republican leaders claiming Ayala violated her oath of office by taking the death penalty off the table. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi called Ayala’s move “a blatant neglect of duty and a shameful failure to follow the law,” while members of the state legislature threatened to reduce her office’s funding.
There were also some who backed Ayala’s decision including more than 100 judges, former prosecutors and legal experts who have expressed their support for Ayala, saying Scott has overstepped his legal authority by removing her from cases, and saying she has the legal discretion to not seek the death penalty.
Capital punishment remains legal in 31 states, but death penalty sentences have dropped dramatically over the past few decades. Of the nation’s 2,300 prosecutors, only 27 sentenced a person to death last year. Capital punishment in Florida has been on hold since Jan. 12 when the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the state’s sentencing system as a violation of a defendant’s right to a jury trial. Florida’s old law allowed a jury to recommend the death penalty by a simple majority vote. Every other state with the death penalty except for Delaware requires juries to be unanimous in recommending a sentence of death.
In March, Governor Scott attempted to restart executions last month by signing a bill which took effect immediately-that requires jury recommendations to be unanimous before a death penalty can be imposed by a judge. After signing the legislature, Scott said he hopes that executions could soon resume in Florida. “My foremost concern is always for the victims and their loved ones,” Scott’s statement said. “I hope this legislation will allow families of these horrific crimes to get the closure they deserve.”
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In an effort to broaden the company’s “social interaction” with our clients and FaceBook fans, Daily Trivia Questions are posted on both of our business pages. Here are the weekly standings for this past week, and the winner of the Sunday night Weekly Drawing for an AmEx gift card!
Congratulations – To this past week’s Trivia Contest Winner!! Our latest contest winner for the weekly FaceBook HealthInsurance4Everyone/Health & Life Solutions, LLC Trivia Contest, drawn randomly by computer late Sunday evening, April 9th, 2017 was:
SHEILA CARVELL
Chatsworth, GA
Winner Of A $25.00 AmEx Gift Card
Each day, fans of either of our company FaceBook pages (HealthInsurance4Everyone or Health & Life Solutions LLC) are able to test their skills with our Daily TRIVIA QUESTION. The first 20 winners who post the correct answer to the TRIVIA QUESTION, will then get entered into the weekly drawing held late on Sunday evenings for a $25.00 Am Ex Gift. Card
Weekly Gift Card winners will be posted in our blog at this site. Remember to become a FaceBook “fan” on either of our company pages to enter and post your answers.
Here are the daily contestants from last week’s Trivia Contest that were entered into the Sunday drawing:
4/3/17
Shelby Lynn
Anna Nichols
Samantha Brwn Ramos
Valerie Kuehn
Sheila Carvell
Angela Hendricks
Becca Dotsun
Jennie Gallagher
Luis Vazquez
Eva Biggs
Kimberly Snyder
Derek Jennings
Shelley LaClear
Christy Hawkes
Althea Thomas
Kizzy Alvarez DeSantis
Nai Merri
Glenna Zanaglio
Megan Rhyne
Tina Auth
Kaitlyn Rutherford
Brandy Marie Williams
Crystal Young
4/4/17
Vickie Gipson
Valerie Kuehn
Brittany Marie Thompson
Leslie Wagner Hobson
Angela Nicole
Lori Capobianco
Sarah Harrison
Katrina Worford
Jennifer Mason
Shelby Lynn
Chris Maxwell
Sherri Kidwell
Cheryl Hall
Rhonda Nicholson
Dean Bruss
Tiffany Borek
Brandy Marie Williams
Dena Baji
Emily Rice Bowersock
Caitlyn Johnson
4/5/17
Tonya Velazquez
Trisha Musgrave
Sara Biason
Megan Rhyne
Brooke Scott
Paula Rousseau
Kristina Harris
Sarah Bellestri Shih
Jonnalyn Gates
Valerie Kuehn
Jennifer Downing
Timothy Simpson
Teena Sierson
Rhonda Nicholson
Samantha Brwn Ramos
Phyllis Hines
Lori Capobianco
Jennifer Mason
Tracy Shafer
Karen Rimiller Presley
Angelique Drummond
Brandy Marie Williams
Candace Candy Lynn
Jessica Davis
4/6/17
Cheryl Hall
Glenna Zanaglio
Preeti Chand
Tonya Valezquez
Jennifer Ramlet
Anna Nichols
Shelby Lynn
Allison Frederick
Jennifer Sparks
Dean Bruss
Leslie Wagner Hobson
Amanda Kyrie’ Ayala
Shelley LaClear
Sheila Carvell
Karron Redfield
Kim Floyd
Ashley Nichole
Brittany Michelle
Crystal Gipson
Kizzy Alvarez DeSantis
Emily Rice Bowersock
Kimberly Snyder
4/7/17
Christy Hawkes
Kaitlyn Rutherford
Brandy Marie Williams
Kendra George
Jamie Shapiro
Kimberly Taylor Hall
Misty Shallcross
Karen Jaras
Angela Nicole
Kayla Clemons
Jennifer Sparks
Jade Good
Tina Auth
Sherri Kidwell
Stephanie Beckwith
Nitasha Shank
Pamela White Brearley
Becca Dotsun
Sandra Sue Blanton
Brooke Scott
Janice Cash
4/8/17
Shelby Lynn
Valerie Kuehn
Jennifer Mason
Hilda Veronica Torres
Melinda Lee
Nelle Bailey
Brandy Marie Williams
Kimberly Snyder
Jade Good
Melissa Barnes Walker
Kelsey Staples
Amy Chavis
Paula Rousseau
Juanita Williams-Jones
Roberta Thomas
Misty Shallcross
Zack Sudler
Crystal Young
Lisa Back
Heather Jacques
4/9/17
Juanita Williams-Jones
Jakara Jackson
Stephanie Beckwith
Kimberly Snyder
Sheila Carvell
Holly Cajigas
Tina Marie
Rebecca Fauteux
D.b. Snyder
Dean Bruss
Mya Murphy
Kathleen Hickman
Nelle Bailey
Brandi Kerr
Thomas Ryan
Carla S-Paige Williams
Dawn Raasch
Andrew W Sauer
Taschia Miller
Nai Merri
Be sure to watch both of our FaceBook pages for your chance to win and enter again next week, with questions posted daily on HealthInsurance4Everyone or at Health & Life Solutions, LLC!!
Remember that if you try your hand at answering the Trivia Question several days each week, your odds of winning the Sunday weekly drawing are much better. You may also find that if you “Like” both of the business pages, you will receive faster notifications of the other players as they post their answers to compete with you!
—————————————————————-
At Health Insurance 4 Everyone, we not only want to improve our customer service but also interact with our customers on a social media level that wasn’t available before. Interested in connecting with us? Look us up on….
Twitter: Healthinsurane4 (Follow Us On Twitter To Receive Faster Notifications When Daily Trivia Questions Posted, & To Be Immediately Notified When Weekly AmEX & HI4Eshop Gift Card Winners Are Announced!!)
Click-On for LinkedIn To Follow Our Posts: LinkedIn
Like us on facebook: HealthInsurance4Everyone or Health & Life Solutions, LLC
Over 54,000 Combined Fans/Followers To Our Social Media Sites, & We’re Growing Daily!
Follow Mark Shuster, Founder/Owner at Health & Life Solutions, LLC for daily health tips!
Mark Shuster FaceBook Link
Follow our word press blog and read about everything from health insurance and reform news to healthy living and current events!
Company Blogs
Find out more about LegalShield, our corporate partner which gives you the power to talk to an attorney about any legal issue, and offering high-quality Identity Theft plans.
LegalShield
Read more
Five people have died and dozens were injured in a terrorist attack outside the Houses of Parliament in London including a police officer and the attacker. The attacker is believed to have acted alone but police are investigating possible associates and do not further attacks on the public are planned. ISIS has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, calling the attacker “a soldier of Islamic State”.
The attack began when 52 year old Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge. He struck and killed three people – two of whom died at the scene and one who later died of his injuries in the hospital. Masood crashed the vehicle into a wall outside the parliament, where he ran into New Palace Yard. Armed with two knives, he attacked two police man at the security gates as he tried to enter the building. There, he stabbed an unarmed police officer multiple times and was subsequently shot by police.
At least 50 people were injured, with 31 requiring hospital treatment. Two victims remain in a critical condition, one with life-threatening injuries. Two police officers are among those still in hospital. Victims killed in the attack have been identified as 43 year old mother of two Aysha Frade who was hit by a bus while fleeing the attack and 75 year old Leslie Rhode who succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Also killed was 54 year old Utah resident Kurt Cochran. He and his wife, Melissa, were on the last day of a trip to Europe to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Melissa remains in hospital with serious injuries. Forty-eight year old Police Officer Keith Palmer who was a husband and father, had 15 years of service with the parliamentary and diplomatic protection service.
British-born attacker Khalid Masood was known to police and had been investigated a few years ago by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism but police have said he was not part of any current investigation at the time of the attack. Masood, who was born in Kent, a county east of London, had several aliases including his birth name “Adrian Russell Ajao”. He had a range of previous convictions for assaults- including grievous bodily harm, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences. His most recent arrest was in December 2003 for possession of a knife.
London mayor Sadiq Khan, led a vigil attended by thousands in Trafalgar Square where he vowed “Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism”. World leaders condemned the attack and offered condolences. The US president, Donald Trump promised full support by the US government to the UK in responding to the attack. Leaders of Canada, France, Germany and Spain were among others who sent messages of solidarity.
In the aftermath of the attack, London has been doubled the number of armed police and increased the number of unarmed officers. Police raided properties in Birmingham — where the culprit’s vehicle was rented from Enterprise — and London. Defense Minister Michael Fallon described the attack as a “lone-wolf attack” but said investigators were still checking whether others were involved.
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Oil could start flowing through the highly contested $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline as early this week. The company building the Dakota Access pipeline says the project remains on track to start moving oil this week despite recent “coordinated physical attacks” along the line. Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners didn’t detail the attacks, but said they “pose threats to life, physical safety and the environment.”
Two American Indian tribes have battled the $3.8 billion pipeline in court for months, arguing it’s a threat to water. The company has said the pipeline will be safe. An appeals court rejected the Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River Nations’ request for an emergency injunction to stop the pipeline from becoming operational.
Judge James Boasberg of the US District Court for the District of Columbia cleared the way for the startup, when he turned down two North Dakota tribes’ request for a preliminary injunction to prevent oil from flowing under Lake Oahe.
The 1,172-mile, four-state pipeline constructed almost entirely on private land is 99 percent complete, but a federal easement which was obtained in February-was required in order to finish the final 1,100-foot stretch in North Dakota. When complete, the pipeline will move crude oil from the Bakken field in North Dakota to a shipping point in Patoka, Illinois via 30-inch diameter pipes, and then connect to an existing reconfigured pipeline.
The pipeline consists of more than 700 miles of existing pipeline that has been converted to crude oil service from Patoka to Nederland, Texas. The two pipelines are expected to be in service in the second quarter of 2017.
The approval in February was granted after President Trump issued an executive order to expedite the process. The US Army Corps of Engineers originally granted the easement for the pipeline in July, but withdrew it in December under political pressure from thousands of protesters camped near the construction site at Cannon Ball, North Dakota.
The Corps abandoned the additional environmental review launched in December and argued in court that it undertook a two-year review of the project’s impact on water quality and historic relics, including 389 meetings with 55 tribes. The company rerouted the pipeline 140 times in response to concerns raised.
Greenpeace and a group of more than 160 scientists dedicated to conservation and preservation of threatened natural resources and endangered species have spoken out against the pipeline. Many Sioux tribes say that the pipeline threatens the Tribe’s environmental and economic well-being, and would damage and destroy sites of great historic, religious, and cultural significance.
Protests at sites in North Dakota began in the spring of 2016 and drew indigenous people from throughout North America creating the largest gathering of Native Americans in the past hundred years. In January, the Morton County Sheriff’s Department released figures showing the state and local policing of the protests have cost $22.3 million since August 10 2016.
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Newly released research shows hate crimes in major cities across the United States rose by more than 20% in 2016. The data released by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, shows there were more than 1,000 hate-related crimes committed in 2016—a 23% increase over 2015.
Another report released in February 2017 by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) monitoring group showed that the total number of hate groups in the US in 2016 grew to 917 from 892 a year earlier. There are now more anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT, white nationalist, neo-Nazi, neo-Confederate and black separatist organizations. The sharpest increase was among anti-Muslim groups, which grew from 37 in 2015 to 101 in 2016. The number of Ku Klux Klan (KKK) chapters, racist skinhead groups and anti-government militias and political groupings has declined, according to the report.
The overall number of hate groups likely understates the real level of organized hatred in America as a growing number of extremists operate mainly online and are not formally affiliated with hate groups. In the first 10 days after Trump’s election, the SPLC documented 867 bias-related incidents, including more than 300 that targeted immigrants or Muslims.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity.”
Many major cities are reporting an increase in hate crimes since the start of 2017. In New York City, there were 100 hate crimes from January 1 through March 5, compared with 47 during the same period last year. In Chicago, the police department tallied 13 during the first five weeks of 2017 — more than triple the number recorded in the first five weeks of last year.
A coalition of civil and human rights organizations has created a national database and a hotline aimed at getting victims help — including lawyers. The effort, led by the Leadership Conference Education Fund and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, is intended to build upon the work of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the nation’s leading watchdog against hate groups.
Eleven organizations have joined the effort, representing African Americans, Latinos, Muslims, Arabs, women and the LGBTQ community. Calling themselves Communities Against Hate, they will aggregate data in an effort to document hate crimes and provide victims with social services and pro-bono attorneys. In addition, a new Muslim-Jewish coalition is pushing the government to provide more data on hate crimes and focus on punishing offenders. The group represents an effort to get advocates to stand up for people of other faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
In recent months, incidents of hate have been directed against transgender women, Jews, African Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, Hindu Americans, Sikh Americans and others. Recently, 156 civil and human rights groups urged Trump in writing to respond faster and more forcefully to hate-based incidents. In his recent address to a joint session of Congress, the president condemned “hate and evil in all of its very ugly forms,” but critics have said he had taken too long to issue that statement.
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President Trump’s proposed budget has received criticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers. The 2018 budget calls for an unprecedented $54 billion increase in military spending while slashing environmental, housing, diplomatic and educational programs. It also calls for a 31% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency and the elimination of 3,200 jobs. If approved, the EPA’s budget would become the smallest it’s been in 40 years.
The Environmental Protection Agency, the State Department and the Agriculture Department took the hardest hits. The State Department would see a 29% decrease in funding, eliminating climate-change prevention programs, reducing funding for U.N. peacekeeping, reducing funding for development banks and reducing most cultural-exchange programs.
The Agriculture Department would lose 4.7 billion (21%) of its funding, eliminating the $200 million McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program, eliminating the $500 million Water and Wastewater loan and grant program, reducing the budget for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition assistance from $6.4 billion to $6.2 billion and cuts $95 million from the Rural Business and Cooperative Services program.
The budget proposes cutting 6.2 billion in funding (13%) for the Department of Housing and Urban Development-eliminating the $3 billion Community Development Block Grant program and eliminates the $35 million of funding for Section 4 Community Development and Affordable Housing. The cuts would also eliminate the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Choice Neighborhoods program and the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program.
The Department of Health and Human Services would lose 18% of its funding. The Education Department would see $9 billion (14%) cut from its funding, with a decrease of $3.7 billion in grants for teacher training, after-school and summer programs, and aid programs to first-generation and low-income students. While “school choice” programs would receive $1.4 billion more in funding, increasing the budget for charter schools and spending $1 billion to encourage districts to allow federal dollars meant for low-income students to follow those students to the public school of their choice.
The Department of Labor stands to lose 2.6 billion (21%) in funding which would eliminate the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which helps low-income seniors find work. The budget cuts would close poor-performing centers for Job Corps, a job-training program for disadvantaged youth and eliminate grants that help nonprofit groups and public agencies pay for safety and health training.
The proposal also eliminates funding for 19 agencies including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports public radio and TV stations nationwide; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the Legal Services Corporation, which funds free legal aid nationwide.
These cuts are not set in stone just yet but they do show where President Trump’s priorities are. Congress will still have to draft a formal budget and Trump’s proposed budget is expected to face fierce opposition in Congress. Congress completely by-passed President Obama’s budget proposal last year while drafting the formal budget.
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In January, President Trump said he wanted to empower local law enforcement to act as immigration officers and help with the “investigation, apprehension, or detention” of immigrants in the country illegally. Traditionally, local police departments are not involved in immigration enforcement and those duties are carried out by federal authorities.
Police chiefs from cities across the U.S. are resisting the move by the administration to enlist local police officers to help deport undocumented immigrants. In a joint letter sent to Congress, 61 sheriffs and police chiefs wrote, “We can best serve our communities by leaving the enforcement of immigration laws to the federal government. Threatening the removal of valuable grant funding from jurisdictions that choose not to spend limited resources enforcing federal immigration law is extremely problematic.” The White House plan would also withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Some of the cities that have vowed not to participate in the involvement of immigration laws include Los Angeles, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Providence and Denver. Many expressed concerns that immigrants already wary of reporting crimes or being interviewed as witnesses will retreat further into the shadows.
Trump’s plan is not a new idea but is not regularly practiced throughout the country. A 1996 federal law opened up the possibility for local agencies to participate in immigration enforcement on the streets and do citizenship checks of people in local jails. Immigration and Customs Enforcement trained and certified roughly 1,600 officers to carry out these checks from 2006 to 2015.
The Obama administration phased out all the arrest power agreements in 2013, but still let agencies check whether people jailed in their jurisdiction were citizens. If an inmate is found to be in the country illegally, the department typically notifies federal authorities or hands them over to immigration officers. Today, more than 30 local agencies participate in the jail program.
Experts said Trump’s outreach to local law enforcement will create an even bigger split between sanctuary cities that keep police out of immigration enforcement and those eager to help the new president bolster deportations.
During the election, Trump found support among some law enforcement officers who viewed him as more pro-police than his Democratic opponent. But even officers who privately said they had voted for him- are not eager to help with his immigration agenda. Many officers feel that they have enough on their plate. They are too busy answering 911 calls, arresting robbers, stopping erratic drivers and solving homicides to add federal immigration enforcement to their to-do lists.
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The Costliest Tax Scams & Mistakes Of 2017
Earlier this month the IRS released its “Dirty Dozen” tax scams for 2017. The Canada Revenue Agency also offers resources for detecting tax scams and fraud. Click here to access the Canada Revenue Agency website. Common scams include return preparer fraud, tax collection scams and phishing scams. In addition, many filers wait until the last minute, which can lead to costly mistakes and missed deductions.
Whether you hire a professional tax service, use software, file online or via mail, it is important to make sure you understand the most common scams and mistakes.
- Identity Theft Scams. For the sixth year in a row identity theft makes the list of top scams. IDShield offers Tax ID Theft Consultation services ready that arm you with the knowledge and guidance you need to spot identity theft risks or issues. If issues occur, IDShield will help place alerts, walk you through the Tax Resolution guide, IRS Resolution packet and much more. If you do not yet have a LegalShield IDShield membership, visit LegalShield to learn how IDShield is there for you during tax season.
- Beware of dishonest or inept tax professionals. There are many wonderful tax professionals who can help you file accurate and timely returns. Tax preparation services can be invaluable to businesses and individuals with complex personal finances. If you decide to utilize a professional tax preparer find someone you can trust and always make sure they sign your return. Taking a little extra time to consider your preparer before you hire them could save you a great deal trouble. The IRS has a webpage to help you select a preparer and check his or her credentials.
- Do not fall for fake tax collection scams. Tax collection scams often start with a threatening phone call or email. They may claim you owe thousands of dollars in back taxes and that IRS agents are on the way to your home to take you into custody. They will demand immediate payment via wire transfer or credit card. Do not engage with these scammers, hang up the phone or delete the email. The IRS will not call your home or email you. The IRS initiates contact with taxpayers via postal mail. You may report tax collection scams to the U.S. Treasury Department.
- Failing to file and make payment on time. In the U.S. taxes are due on April 18th 2017. In Canada returns are due by April 30th. The IRS does allow a six-month filing extension until October 17th. You must file Form 4868 before the April 18th deadline to request an extension. If you owe money, you will be subject to late fees if the full amount is not paid by April 18th. The Canadian Revenue Agency does not allow for late filing; however, if you cannot make your full payment you can avoid late-filing penalties if you file your return before the April 30th deadline.
- Last minute filing mistakes. Many individuals put off filing their taxes until the last minute. The cost of some tax preparation services may increase as filing deadlines approach. Disorganized late filers may pay late fees, miss out on key deductions or make mistakes. Online tax preparation and filing is a great way to complete your return quickly and with time to spare. You may even be eligible for free online filing if you meet certain income requirements (learn more U.S. and Canada).
- Do not claim a deduction you cannot back up with proper documentation. Underpaying your taxes could subject you to costly fines and penalties. You must be able to show proof of your deductions in the event of an audit. Save copies of your return as well as all of the receipts and other documents you use to prepare your taxes. Keep the documents in a safe and accessible location.
Find out more about LegalShield, our corporate partner which gives you the power to talk to an attorney about any legal issue, and offering high-quality Identity Theft protection plans.
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