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Millionaire’s Tax targeted to close loophole, too soon critics say

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

The groups behind the state’s new Millionaire’s Tax say lawmakers need to get onto the same page regarding a loophole that could allow thousands of high-income taxpayers to avoid paying hundreds of millions in surtaxes, while tax watchdogs say it’s too soon to make changes to a brand new law.Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition behind an amendment that taxes incomes over $1 million an extra 4%, says that a proposal by the state Senate to eliminate a “single-filer loophole” allowing couples to file a joint federal tax return but separate returns in Massachusetts needs to be taken up by both chambers of the Legislature.“Some of the state’s richest taxpayers are using a tax loophole that exists only in Massachusetts to double their exemptions under Fair Share, costing the state as much as $600 million a year,” Andrew Farnitano, a spokesperson for the group, told the Herald. “That’s up to $600 million every year that would otherwise be available to fund schools, repai...

Phoenix could get a mild break from the extreme heat, as record spell nears the 30-day mark

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

By WALTER BERRY and TERRY TANG (Associated Press)PHOENIX (AP) — Longtime Phoenix residents know that sweltering Julys are to be expected, but no one could have predicted the brutal heat wave that has enveloped the country’s fifth largest city this summer.Phoenix this month shattered its record for consecutive days in which the temperature reached at least 110 degrees (43 Celsius), standing at 26 days and counting as of Tuesday, when the forecast called for a high of 118 (48 C). The record was likely to grow Wednesday, with a high of 119 degrees (48 C) expected.A bit of relief might be on the horizon, though, after this week.“It seems unlikely we’ll see over 110 every day through the end of the month,” said meteorologist Isaac Smith, of the National Weather Service in Phoenix. “We are expecting to see the highs fall through this weekend, with chances for monsoon rains rising to 40-50%. By next Monday, we expect a high of 108.”Before this year...

Red Sox notebook: Kiké Hernández traded to Los Angeles Dodgers for two pitching prospects

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

Kiké Hernández’s time with the Red Sox has reached its end.The versatile super-utility player, who played a key part in Boston’s 2021 playoff run before his role was diminished over the past two seasons due to injuries and underperformance, has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for two pitching prospects, the club announced Tuesday.Ken Rosenthal and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic were first to report the news. The Red Sox will also send $2.5 million in cash to Los Angeles to cover a portion of Hernández’s remaining salary, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.The Red Sox will receive right-handed relievers Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman in the deal. Robertson, 25, is ranked as the Dodgers’ No. 25 prospect according to Baseball America and has posted a 2.54 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 28.1 innings at Triple-A. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Robertson has also made nine big league appearances and pairs a mid-90s fastball with a quality slider...

Massachusetts faces heat advisory with heat index values soaring above 100 degrees, Michelle Wu declares heat emergency for Boston

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

A/Cs and fans are going to be working overtime in the next few days.A heat wave is expected to start on Wednesday, with it likely feeling north of 90 degrees each day through Saturday.Heat index values could soar above 100 degrees, even hitting 104 at the peak of the heat wave.As a result, the National Weather Service has issued a “Heat Advisory” for Massachusetts from 11 a.m. on Thursday to 8 p.m. on Friday. The worst of the conditions are expected to be from noon to 6 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday.Hot temps and high humidity may spark heat illnesses, the meteorologists warn.“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the National Weather Service wrote in its alert. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”Due to the hot weather in the forecast, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a heat emergency for the city for...

Putting a floating barrier in the Rio Grande to stop migrants is new. The idea isn’t.

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — In the final months of the Trump administration, a new plan to seal off the United States’ southern border started gaining steam: a floating water barrier to discourage migrants from trying to cross from Mexico. The idea never materialized. But three years later, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has put it into action. The state installed a floating barrier of bright orange, wrecking ball-sized buoys on the Rio Grande this month, stretching roughly the length of three soccer fields. It is an untested strategy of deterring migrants along the U.S. border that is already fortified in wide sections by high steel fencing and razor wire. The rollout of the buoys on the Rio Grande has thrust Texas into a new standoff with the Biden administration over immigration on the state’s 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) border with Mexico. The Justice Department has asked a federal court to order Texas to remove the buoys, saying the water barrier poses humanitarian and...

Feds warn Alberta clinic will violate medicare by charging for faster doctor access

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

Health Canada says a Calgary medical clinic that soon plans to charge its patients a fee to gain faster access to a family doctor would be breaching medicare laws.The federal agency says Alberta risks losing federal transfer health payments if it doesn’t do something about it.“Canadians should have access to primary health-care services based on medical need and not on their ability, or willingness, to pay,” Health Canada said in a statement Tuesday.“The Government of Canada does not support a two-tiered health-care system where patients may choose, or be required, to pay membership fees to access insured primary care services at clinics, or to gain expedited access to those services.”The issue surrounds the Marda Loop Medical Clinic, which has told its patients that starting next week, it will still see patients for free one day a week. The other four days will be dedicated to patients who pay annual membership fees such as $2,200 for an individual and $4,800 for a family.For that ...

Port strike will take two months for recovery, CN says, as wildfires dent earnings

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

MONTREAL — Canada’s largest railway said the B.C. port strike will take two months to recover from, adding to the headaches of a company that lowered its earnings forecast amid falling profits brought on by a sluggish economy and a slew of natural disasters.Canadian National Railway Co. said Tuesday it now expects flat to slightly negative adjusted diluted earnings in 2023, instead of the mid-single-digit growth it predicted three months ago.Lower consumer demand as well as disruptions caused by wildfires reduced freight service over the second quarter, especially for containers and lumber products, CN said.“The heat and the wildfires in parts of both Eastern and Western Canada over the last few months have impacted our operations and the operations of some of our customers, and that’s had a temporary impact on volume. And we’ve seen more generally a softer volume market economically, particularly in some of our commodities segments,” chief executive Tr...

Trial date set for Canadian anti-crime researcher detained in Algeria since February

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

MONTREAL — A Canadian researcher who has been detained in Algeria since February on charges that he published secret information and accepted money to commit offences against public order will stand trial next month.Raouf Farrah’s trial has been set for Aug. 8 in the eastern Algerian city of Constantine, his lawyer Kouceila Zerguine said Tuesday, adding that his client is innocent.“He didn’t commit the two crimes that he has been charged with,” Zerguine said during an interview from Algeria. “During the inquiry, we submitted all the material evidence that refutes the charges.”Farrah’s 67-year-old father, Sebti Farrah, a Montreal-area resident, was arrested with his son while they were visiting relatives in Algeria and is scheduled to stand trial at the same time. Released on bail in mid-April after his health deteriorated, the father is also charged with receiving funds to commit offences against public order.Zerguine said the younger Farrah...

Man behind Mississauga mosque attack sentenced to 8 years in prison

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

A man accused of attacking several people inside a Mississauga mosque last year has been sentenced to eight years in prison.Mohammed Moiz Omar, 24, of Mississauga, pleaded guilty to three of seven charges last week, including administering a noxious substance and assault with a weapon. Investigators later upgraded the charges, saying the offences Omar is charged with constitute terrorist activity under the criminal code.The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) ruled that Omar’s sentencing “is significantly higher than sentences usually received for the substantive offences because of the terrorism component.”“This was a targeted attack on all the congregants of the Islamic Centre. The worshippers present at the time and on some of the values held dear by Canadians. Those values include freedom to gather and pray and freedom of religion,” said federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh.“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and society&#...

Judge vacates desertion conviction for former US soldier captured in Afghanistan

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:12:00 GMT

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday vacated the military conviction of Bowe Bergdahl, a former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban.The ruling from U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington says that military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over the court-martial, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest.Walton noted that former President Donald Trump had strongly criticized Bergdahl during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bergdahl’s lawyers argued that Trump’s comments placed undue command influence on Nance.Walton rejected the specific argument surrounding undue command influence, but he said a reasonable person could question the judge’s impartiality under the circumstances. Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after...