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3 tax prep firms shared 'extraordinarily sensitive' data about taxpayers with Facebook's parent, lawmakers say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of congressional Democrats reported Wednesday that three large tax preparation firms sent “extraordinarily sensitive” information on tens of millions of taxpayers to Facebook parent company Meta over the course of at least two years.Their report urges federal agencies to investigate and potentially go to court over the wealth of information that H&R Block, TaxAct and Tax Slayer shared with the social media giant.In a letter to the heads of the IRS, the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS watchdog, seven lawmakers say their findings “reveal a shocking breach of taxpayer privacy by tax prep companies and by Big Tech firms.”Their report said highly personal and financial information about sources of taxpayers' income, tax deductions and exemptions was made accessible to Meta as taxpayers used the tax software to prepare their taxes.That data came to Meta through its Pixel code, which the tax firms installed on their websi...

Twins may make deadline additions but don’t expect an overhaul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

Shortly after watching his team get drubbed to cap off the first half of the season, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli professed his faith in the group of players within the Twins clubhouse.“I couldn’t believe in our team any more. I don’t know any other way to say that,” Baldelli said. “That’s pretty straightforward. We have a lot of not just ability, but character and leadership. And all the things we want as a staff, as a manager, that you have in a roster, we have it.”What they don’t have is an offense that has performed consistently, nor a winning record.The Twins (45-46) entered this week’s all-star break in second place, one game under .500 as a result, with a pitching staff that has been among the best in the major leagues, and an offense that is on the other end of the spectrum.But while the Twins may be on the lookout for a bat ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey made it clear that most of the contribut...

Rotterdam native David J signs with Sony Music Nashville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Now to an exciting update to a story NEWS10 first told you about! In June, it was announced David J, a country musician from Rotterdam, signed a record deal with one of the biggest labels in the country: Sony Music Nashville.Sony Music Nashville announced the label signed David J in June. Runner Music and founder Ryan Tedder are joining in partnership with the label as Tedder is an avid supporter of the country-pop phenom, according to a press release issued by the label. Rotterdam musician rising on the country charts NEWS10 caught up with the teen last year at his family home in Rotterdam before he made the big move big to Nashville. The past year he's been traveling from city to city, writing and recording music. David J will be on tour with Lauren Alaina later this month and hopes to release a new album by the end of the year.

Lake Shore Drive in East Greenbush now a one-way

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Beginning July 12, Lake Shore Drive in East Greenbush is a one-way street. The Department of Public Works has begun striping the one-way and pedestrian pathway along the road as well. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Traffic should enter Lake Shore Drive using the East Side entrance from Hampton Avenue and drive clockwise around the lake. If you are entering from the side streets, make sure to turn left onto Lake Shore Drive."We understand that this will change a number of residents traffic patterns and will take time to get used to, we ask that everyone please use caution, be patient and watch out for pedestrians," said the Town of East Greenbush.

Great American Beer Festival 2023 tickets on sale today — and, yes, there will be seltzer this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

The Great American Beer Festival returns to Denver on Sept. 21-23, roughly two weeks earlier than last year’s dates, for just its second iteration since the COVID-19 pandemic.Tickets, which cost $95 — the same price as last year — go on sale to the general public today at 10 a.m., but it’s anyone’s guess how quickly they will sell. Between 2012 and 2017, they were one of the hottest tickets in town, selling out within hours, even minutes, online. That began to change in 2018, though, as beer festival fatigue set in. Last year, the first post-pandemic GABF since 2019, tickets were still on sale for some sessions until the days of the event.Related ArticlesThings To Do | This brewery and taco truck keep it real in the Vail Valley | Opinion The Boulder-based Brewers Association, which hosts GABF, didn’t release the number of tickets available this year — a spokesperson said only that it would be between 40,000 and 50,000 across ...

Denver weather: Temps to reach 100 degrees in parts of southeastern Colorado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

Summer heat will engulf metro Denver and other cities along Colorado’s Front Range Wednesday under sunny blue skies mostly devoid of clouds, according to the National Weather Service.Breezes in the afternoon, with wind gusting at speeds up to 18 miles per hour, are expected to help disperse ground-level ozone air pollution that tends to increase in hot weather.The high temperature in Denver will be 93 degrees on Wednesday, decreasing to 63 degrees at night, weather service forecasters said. On Thursday, the high temperature is expected to be 94 degrees.Temperatures approaching 100 degrees were forecast for parts of southeastern Colorado on Wednesday.In the mountains west of the Front Range, a few sudden rain showers may develop, bringing bursts of wind at speeds up to 45 mph, forecasters said. These showers, if they happen, most likely would occur over South Park, in the southern mountain foothills, and along the Palmer Divide between Denver and Colorado Springs.More rain may ...

Huntington Beach lifeguard suffers spinal injury; family grateful for support

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

The family of Huntington Beach lifeguard Elizabeth Lovat, who sustained a spinal injury while lifeguarding earlier this month, reached out Tuesday to thank people for their support.“Thank you to all those who have sent their love, prayers, and well wishes over the last week. Our family is enormously grateful for the outpouring of support we have received not just from our Huntington Beach community, but from all over," Lovat's family posted in a Twitter update Tuesday.Elizabeth Lovat sustained a spinal injury on Monday, July 3, while lifeguarding. (Huntington Beach Fire Department Outreach Foundation)"Please know that your words of encouragement are so comforting to all of us during this difficult time, keep them coming," the post went on to say.Lovat was injured on July 3 while performing her duties as a Huntington Beach lifeguard. License plate designed to irk Californians is revoked by Nevada DMV No details about the injury were provided but Lovat had to be transported to a lo...

Hot gadgets for summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

Summer is here and that means dealing with heat, outside events, and the struggle to keep our devices powered up. I test a lot of gadgets and here are some of my recent favorites.Follow Rich on Instagram for more tech news, tips and reviews.Keep Your Phone Cool with PhoozySummer heat can take a toll on your smartphone. An insulated bag called Phoozy aims to keep it cool. To test it out, I left my phone in the sun. Within 10 minutes, it overheated and displayed a temperature warning. But when I put my phone in a Phoozy thermal bag, it kept cool even in direct sunlight. The pouch can protect your phone from too much heat, cold, sun or snow. Phoozy starts at $30.Blaze Apple Watch Band from NomadNomad makes some of the most unique accessories for your Apple devices. Their new limited edition Blaze sport band for Apple Watch has a vibrant orange color inspired by the California coast. The durable rubber material looks great for summer activities. At $60, this band will give your Apple Wa...

How often should you poop? The answer might not be what you think

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

By Kristen Rogers | CNNEveryone poops, but it turns out we don’t all need to poop every day.That’s a misconception, said gastroenterologist Dr. Folasade May, an associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.“I even have people who try and make appointments, because they say, ‘Oh, I stopped having a bowel movement every single day a few years ago,’” May said. “And I have to remind people that there’s really not a fixed or normal number of bowel movements.”That notion probably stems from a Victorian-era belief that having a bowel movement daily makes you healthier, said Dr. Michael Camilleri, a consultant and professor in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.Not necessarily. “Most people will have anywhere between a bowel movement up to three times a day to three times per week,” May added. “Anywhere in that range, we consider normal.”When it comes to bowel movements as a measure of he...

5 hidden gems on San Francisco’s historic Hyde Street Pier

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:29 GMT

San Francisco’s Hyde Street Pier is perhaps best known for its century-old ships and incredible views. But since the pandemic restrictions ended, the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park — which includes the historic pier, vintage wooden vessels and the World War II-era USS Pampanito, a maritime museum and the Aquatic Park beach and cove — has fully reopened and is hoping to provide something new for its 4 million visitors a year.“It’s about bringing people together, uplifting their spirits and giving them the community people have been itching for,” said Dale Dualan, the park’s public information officer.Yes, we’re talking sea chanteys.Everyone knows about the historic sailing ship Balclutha, but don’t miss these hidden delights while you’re there:1. The Farallon lens, a 19th-century lighthouseAny trip to this national park site should start at the visitors center across the street from the Hyde Street Pier entrance. Open on Fridays and weekends, it offers a fr...