Latest news with #Atticus
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nearly Half of Self-Employed Americans Fear Social Security Won't Be Around in Retirement
SrdjanPav / Tesla CEO Elon Musk has grabbed a lot of headlines this year as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a non-official organization created by President Donald Trump to slash the federal government. Musk said he will soon 'step back' from DOGE, but his work there has already raised numerous red flags — including its potential impact on Social Security. Read More: 4 Things To Watch For as Elon Musk Takes on Social Security Try This: The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing Many Americans worry that DOGE's work to cut spending within Social Security could lead to benefit cuts or worse. In fact, nearly half (45%) of self-employed Americans fear Social Security won't even exist when they retire, according to a new survey from public interest law firm Atticus. Next, find out what promises Musk has made about Social Security. How Social Security Payroll Taxes Work The survey of 1,006 self-employed Americans, conducted in February 2025 and released in late April, aimed to gauge how these workers view Social Security. Many of the questions centered on tax issues. The self-employed must pay a 15.3% rate to cover Social Security and Medicare taxes. That's double what W-2 employees pay, mainly because self-employed workers must pay both the employee and employer portions of these taxes. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Atticus' survey respondents said Social Security taxation is 'unfair' compared with W-2 employees. Seven in 10 believe the government should provide 'special tax breaks' to offset their Social Security burden, while 42% would prefer to opt out of Social Security and invest privately. Find Out: 3 Changes That Could Be Coming to Social Security Now That Congress Is Republican Unease Over Social Security's Future The survey also uncovered growing unease over Social Security's future, especially given recent events. Already this year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced plans to cut more than 7,000 jobs and close at least 10 field offices. Musk himself has suggested that Social Security is a 'Ponzi scheme' rife with waste and fraud and might be a good candidate for a massive overhaul. Cuts to Social Security's spending could not have come at a worse time for the embattled agency. One of the biggest risks right now has to do with the looming depletion of Social Security's Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund. The fund is expected to run out of money in about a decade, leaving Social Security solely dependent on payroll taxes for funding. Those taxes currently fund about 77% of benefits.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Detroit Zoo's new baby penguin, Atticus, finally viewable to public: When you can see him
On the heels of last week's World Penguin Day, the Detroit Zoo is marking a milestone with the public debut of its newest king penguin chick, Atticus – who weighs a whopping 40 pounds at just eight months old! Baby Atticus' egg was laid in June 2024. King penguin chicks develop for an average of 50 days; he hatched on Aug. 19, 2024. 'His parents had raised a chick before, so they had experience,' said Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) bird department supervisor Lindsay Ireland. 'Whenever our king penguins lay eggs in the habitat, we move them to an area not visible, an off-exhibit holding area, so they can incubate their eggs safely and quietly and not be disturbed by the other birds. King penguins co-parent, so they'll take turns incubating the egg and turns feeding the chick once it's hatched. Once the penguin is older, they spend less time sitting on their parents' feet being brooded, which is just them kind of hunching over and keeping the chick warm.' Now, at eight months, Atticus has begun molting, losing his feathers to completely replace his feather coating. 'Atticus is very curious,' Ireland said of the chick's personality. 'Chunk is his father, and King 25 is his mother. They're both very calm birds, so he kind of inherited that from them. Kings, overall, are a little more standoffish with us. They don't really like to be handled or come up to interact with us a lot, but these parents and Atticus are a little more in tune with what we're doing and they want to know what's going on. 'He likes enrichment that the keepers give to him, so when the parents are out in the habitat and he's in the holding space by himself, the keepers give him mirrors to look at. They give him bubbles and little balls to play with, and he loves all that.' More: Detroit Zoo celebrates World Penguin Day with wild penguin conservation work More: Detroit Zoo announces immersive, 7-acre Discovery Trails project to open in 2026 While still spending most of his time behind the scenes, Atticus has, in fact, made his public debut, to the delight of many zoogoers. Ireland shared when guests might catch a glimpse of the chick, and speculated on what's to come in his next six months. 'He's starting his introductions three times a week, where the public can see him,' she said. 'Every time we have divers in our pool, we bring Atticus out so he can get a little more comfortable with all the other birds in the habitat, so if guests come first thing in the morning on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, they have a chance of seeing him before he goes back in when our dive team is done. 'Eventually, once he is fully molted and has his waterproof features, he will start going out every day and will start increasing that time. He might just be out for a few hours in the morning and start increasing that to where he's out full-time during the day when our keepers are in the building. We see him, in this timeframe, getting in and out of the pool really well.' Another notable thing about Atticus is his size: At just six months old in February, the chick weighed in at a large-and-in-charge 35.42 pounds – more than either of his parents, and equivalent to the weight of a three- or four-year-old. 'Yeah, he's a big boy,' said Ireland. 'At his heaviest, which was about a week and a half ago, he was over 43 pounds. He's just under 40 pounds right now, which is on the average or a little more than average for kings. But, as soon as he's done molting and starts moving around, he'll start losing weight and become a nice, trim male king penguin.' Ireland also spoke about how Atticus' birth and study fit into DZS' larger goal of promoting and facilitating penguin conservation globally. 'Anytime that we can raise a penguin in captivity, it really helps us be able to spread that message of what it's like in the wild for penguins – specifically (as pertains to) breeding,' she said. 'A lot of wild penguins' food resource is starting to get depleted because of overfishing and climate change, so we can highlight the troubles that penguins in the wild are starting to have, which is starting to cause a decline in their numbers. 'Everybody's really excited about a king penguin chick, or any penguin chick, so we can really start to highlight the conservation side and what's needed to help protect the wild penguins.' The Detroit Zoo is located at 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak. General admission is $27, with a reduced youth and senior rate of $24. To learn more or plan your visit, go to Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Zoo's new baby penguin now viewable: How you can see him
The Courier
24-04-2025
- The Courier
Student's thumb bitten off in 'terrifying' Dundee attack by suspected Pitbull
An American exchange student has recalled the moment her thumb was bitten off in a 'terrifying' dog attack at a Dundee park. Leah Satterlee moved to the city with her two service dogs – Siberian Husky Hamlet and Great Dane mix Atticus – at the beginning of the year. However, just a few weeks later she took her dogs to Beechwood Park in Lochee, where she sustained the 'life-changing' injury. The 37-year-old said: 'I was on the phone with my friend at the park when, all of a sudden, I heard a dog bark from the other side of the park. 'It managed to push through the gate and headed straight for Hamlet, quickly grabbing him by the throat. 'I dropped my phone and Atticus and ran over as fast as we could. 'I kept trying to hit the other dog with my left hand until it turned black and blue. 'It finally let go of his throat before turning to bite Atticus when it bit my right hand instead. 'I felt the bite at the time but with the adrenaline pumping, I didn't realise the severity of it. 'At this point, I managed to kick it away before it ran off and I tried to calm down my dogs.' Leah says there was 'blood everywhere' at this point before she looked down and noticed her thumb was missing. 'I was almost sick looking at it, it was completely severed,' she added. 'I ran to grab my phone and turned on the torch to search for my severed thumb, finding it on the ground. 'All I had on me was poo bags so I put it in there. 'In my panic I called 911 – the emergency number in America – but thankfully it was directed to the local control room. 'At this point, I began to have a panic attack and an asthma attack but the police and paramedics arrived a short time later.' The Dundee University history and anthropology student says the offending dog was dark-coloured and possibly a Pitbull. There was no sign of the dog's owner. Leah spent four days in Ninewells Hospital after the attack. She underwent reconstructive surgery on her thumb and doctors were able to save her nailbed. Following the attack, officers stayed with Hamlet and Atticus before taking them to the vets. Atticus was left with superficial wounds, including a swollen snout that 'looked like he had been stung by bees several times'. Meanwhile, Hamlet 'nearly lost his eye' after suffering a puncture wound. Leah said the incident left her shaken and has made her dogs more anxious around other canines. She said: 'I've been battling depression since I lost my thumb, it's definitely lowered my self-confidence. 'It hurts when I wake up, for a split second I forget all about it, but then I look down and I'm hit by a wall of emotions. 'I often try to hide it when I'm out and about and will switch hands in public so people don't see it. 'It still feels different and weird, I'm embarrassed by it.' Leah has set up a GoFundMe page, having spent most of the money she came to Scotland with on vet bills, medicine and paying others to walk her dogs while she was out of action. She wants to make others aware of her experience so it doesn't happen to them. Leah added: 'It certainly was a terrifying experience. 'I have worked with dogs for many, many years and never had experienced anything like this. 'I know Pitbull's are not inherently dangerous and can be sweet and loving dogs. 'Given the attack happened in an area with a lot of kids and elderly people it's important to make people aware of the severity of situations like this.' Police Scotland say there has been no trace of the offending dog, or its owner three months later. A spokesperson said: 'At 8.10pm on Friday, 31 January, 2025 we received a report of a woman being injured by a dog at a park near Calderwood Close, Lochee. 'A 37-year-old woman was taken to Ninewells Hospital for treatment and later released. 'Officers attended and extensive enquiries were carried out. 'However, the dog has not been traced.'
South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Edwin Tsoi's top pick: To Kill a Mockingbird
Do you have something to share? Send us your letters using this form To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the 1930s in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. The book follows the Finch family: young Scout, her brother Jeremy and their father Atticus. The story is told from Scout's perspective as she navigates the complexities of racial injustice and moral growth in her community. Atticus, a lawyer, defends a black man, Tom Robinson, falsely accused of raping a white woman, which becomes a pivotal point in the narrative. What captivates me about this book is its profound exploration of human nature and the moral fibre of society. The characters, especially Atticus Finch, embody integrity, courage and compassion, making them unforgettable. Scout's innocent yet insightful observations add a unique charm to the story. To Kill a Mockingbird has profoundly impacted me by challenging my perspectives on justice, empathy and the fight against prejudice. It has made me more aware of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a powerful, thought-provoking read. It is especially suitable for readers interested in classic literature and character-driven narratives. The book remains a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers of all ages.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Over Half of Americans Would Pay More in Taxes To Sustain Social Security as Musk Considers Massive Cuts
Americans worried about the future of Social Security under the stewardship of Elon Musk haven't seen those worries ease much lately. The billionaire Tesla CEO recently referred to Social Security as a 'Ponzi scheme' and suggested it was rife with waste and fraud and might be a good candidate for a massive overhaul, NBC News reported. Learn More: Try This: These comments were made by Musk in his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an organization put together by President Donald Trump to slash spending by the federal government. In late February, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced plans to cut about 7,000 jobs and close various field offices. More recently, the SSA said it will eliminate phone services for millions of recipients and applicants and require them to visit offices instead, the AP reported — even as those offices face the cutting knife. Critics say these moves could lead to longer wait times and missed payments. 'Elon Musk's DOGE and the acting Social Security commissioner, whose appointment it orchestrated, are forcing … harmful changes in the name of nonexistent fraud,' wrote Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, in a March 19 press release. 'The change will drive millions of additional Americans, many who have serious mobility issues, into already overcrowded offices for no reason.' Be Aware: Meanwhile, the general public has started weighing scenarios it might not have considered as recently as a few months ago, when Trump campaigned on the promise that he would 'not touch' Social Security if he won a second term to the White House. A recent survey of 1,006 Americans conducted by public interest law firm Atticus found that over half of respondents (55%) would pay 1% more in taxes to sustain Social Security. That compares to 37% who oppose tax increases. The survey, conducted in February, reflected general wariness about the future of Social Security. Concerns over its long-term solvency 'persist,' according to Atticus, while many Americans remain 'skeptical about government action to protect their benefits.' In fact, more than one-third (37%) of respondents 'don't believe Social Security will be solvent' for future generations. Skepticism is highest among Gen X (42%), Gen Z (40%) and millennials (39%). Even positive news concerning Social Security has not done much to boost confidence in the program. Atticus noted that only 28% of survey respondents are aware of the Social Security Fairness Act , which was signed into law by former President Joe Biden in January and reverses past reductions that affected more than 3.2 million post-public service retirees. One provision in the act could lead to an average increase of $360 per month by December 2025, according to Atticus. Despite these adjustments, many retirees 'remain uncertain about whether Social Security alone will provide financial stability.' Here are some other highlights from the Atticus survey: Over 40% of current retirees would still work a part-time job even if they received an extra $360 per month in Social Security benefits. Even with that potential increase, 15% still feel insecure about living comfortably in retirement and 13% are 'financially unstable.' While 41% of Americans believe Social Security is fair, 36% say it's unfair. Baby boomers (49%) have the most faith in its fairness, while Gen Zers have the least (31%). Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates Who Would Benefit the Most from Trump's Social Security Tax Plan 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth This article originally appeared on Over Half of Americans Would Pay More in Taxes To Sustain Social Security as Musk Considers Massive Cuts Sign in to access your portfolio
