Latest news with #Clear
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Owe the IRS? Clear Start Tax Shares Critical Do's and Don'ts to Avoid Costly Mistakes
From Common Myths to Smart Solutions, Clear Start Tax Explains How to Handle IRS Debt the Right Way IRVINE, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Owing money to the IRS can feel overwhelming, and confusion about what to do often leads taxpayers to make costly mistakes. According to Clear Start Tax, a trusted tax resolution firm, many people fall victim to common myths or make panic-driven decisions that worsen their situation. Whether it's ignoring IRS notices, falling for false promises, or assuming there are no options, misunderstanding how IRS debt works can quickly escalate to wage garnishments, levies, or liens. Clear Start Tax is working to educate taxpayers on what's true, what's not, and how to take the right steps toward resolution. Common Myths About Owing the IRS Many taxpayers delay action because they believe misinformation or rely on assumptions about how the IRS operates. These myths can lead to inaction-or worse, decisions that trigger enforcement. Clear Start Tax highlights some of the most common misconceptions that often cause taxpayers to miss out on relief opportunities or face avoidable penalties: "If I ignore it, the IRS will leave me alone."The IRS never forgets-and ignoring notices accelerates enforcement."I shouldn't file if I can't afford to pay."Not filing triggers additional penalties, even if you owe nothing upfront."Tax relief is only for people in extreme hardship."Many taxpayers qualify for relief programs without being in financial crisis."I can negotiate directly with the IRS without risk."A single error on financial forms can lead to denial, delays, or tougher terms. "The biggest mistake we see is taxpayers believing they have no options-or believing the wrong ones," said the Head of Client Solutions at Clear Start Tax. "Understanding the facts is the first step to avoiding serious consequences." Step-by-Step: How to Start Resolving IRS Debt the Right Way Once taxpayers understand what not to believe, the next challenge is knowing where to begin. The IRS does offer programs to help, but they require proactive effort and accurate information. Clear Start Tax recommends following these essential steps to avoid enforcement and move toward a manageable resolution: Open Every IRS Letter - Important deadlines and warnings are often missedFile All Outstanding Returns - Staying current is critical, even without paymentReview Your Finances Honestly - Know what you can actually affordExplore IRS Programs - Options like Offer in Compromise, Installment Agreements, or CNC status can offer real reliefConsult a Licensed Tax Professional - Expert guidance prevents errors and maximizes your chances of approval "The IRS provides relief options, but navigating them correctly is critical," added the Head of Client Solutions at Clear Start Tax. "We help taxpayers avoid costly mistakes and ensure they get the best possible outcome." Clear Start Tax: Guiding Taxpayers Away From Mistakes-and Toward Relief Successfully resolving IRS debt isn't just about knowing what options exist-it's about avoiding missteps and following the right process from start to finish. Many taxpayers lose time, money, or face enforcement simply because they misunderstood IRS procedures or submitted incomplete information. Clear Start Tax provides the expertise and support needed to navigate complex tax issues confidently and efficiently. IRS notice review and strategic next stepsApplication support for relief programs like OIC and CNCCustomized payment solutions based on real financial situationsDirect IRS communication to prevent enforcement actions About Clear Start Tax Clear Start Tax is a full-service tax liability resolution firm that serves taxpayers throughout the United States. The company specializes in assisting individuals and businesses with a wide range of IRS and state tax issues, including back taxes, wage garnishment relief, IRS appeals, and offers in compromise. Clear Start Tax helps taxpayers apply for the IRS Fresh Start Program, providing expert guidance in tax resolution. Fully accredited and A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, the firm's unique approach and commitment to long-term client success distinguish it as a leader in the tax resolution industry. Need Help With Back Taxes? Click the link below: Contact Information Clear Start TaxCorporate Communications Departmentseo@ 535-1627 SOURCE: Clear Start Tax
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Will DWI corruption criminals have to pay victims?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The public may never know exactly how much money was pocketed from the DWI corruption scheme that went on for decades in New Mexico. Now, victims of the scheme are suing the culprits in response. But as KRQE Investigative Reporter Gabrielle Burkhart reports, there's a hurdle in their path to justice. Latest from KRQE Investigates Will DWI corruption criminals have to pay victims? DWI corruption case: Why can't we see officers plead guilty in federal court? 'We're not done yet': FBI discusses future of DWI scandal as another APD officer takes a plea Take a look at the plea deals in New Mexico's DWI scandal Disgraced Albuquerque lawyer let off the hook in construction zone speeding case What the feds call the 'DWI Enterprise' has operated for decades behind the scenes in New Mexico's criminal justice system. Officers would refer their DWI arrestees to a defense attorney, who'd guarantee a botched criminal case for a price. So far, there are eight convicted criminals in the DWI corruption scheme, including a defense attorney, his paralegal, and six former law enforcement officers. How much money did they all pocket over the years? The public may never know that answer. But today, some of the victims of the corruption scheme are taking the criminals to civil court. 'This cop had put me in so much financial debt that I constantly have to continue borrowing money from my family,' Carlos Smith explained to KRQE Investigates in an interview last year. Smith was one of the first to come forward after news of the scandal broke in 2024, revealing how the scheme worked. His arresting officer, former APD officer Joshua Montaño, stopped him for speeding in 2023, charged him with DWI, then handed off his bracelet to defense attorney Tom Clear's office, where Smith recorded the offered deal from Clear's paralegal, Rick Mendez. Below is a transcript of a portion of Smith's interaction with who he says is Rick Mendez: Paralegal: If you need to get off of this –Smith: I do. Paralegal: Okay. You're at the right place. If you're one of those people that can live with it, then go hire a cheap We're not the cheapest. Smith didn't end up paying Clear and Mendez for their $8,500 guaranteed dismissal. Instead, he dealt with a pending DWI for months, until it was dismissed by the District Attorney's office last year after Montaño was no longer a trusted witness in court. Montaño, Clear, and Mendez have since pleaded guilty in federal court to Rico conspiracy charges, and Smith is suing them for civil rights violations. 'He needs to definitely pay for what he did to me and for anybody else that he did this to,' Smith said. However, in the latest courtroom twist, there's now another party involved; one tied to money that could go to potential victims, like Smith. Thomas Clear III's insurance company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, has now filed its own lawsuit in federal court. 'We have to go back to what is covered by these kinds of insurance policies,' explained Albuquerque attorney Deena Buchanan. Buchanan is not involved with this case in any way, but she has a lengthy track record litigating cases involving insurance companies. Buchanan explains what Travelers is doing with its lawsuit against both Clear and Smith in federal court. Travelers claims Clear lied on his insurance application while engaging in a criminal enterprise, therefore, the former defense attorney's insurance policy should be null and void. 'Every year we have to resubmit to the insurance company and we have to get an updated policy,' Buchanan explained. 'And they ask us a series of questions that just say, 'Hey, do you know of any claims that could be brought against you? Do you know of anything that you might have done wrong in the last year that you need to report to us?' Travelers is citing Clear and Mendez's federal plea deals, showing Clear admitted to running the DWI scheme in his law office since 1995. 'So Travelers looked at that and said, first of all, if this law firm was doing a criminal enterprise and it was using our insurance to cover it while it was engaging in this criminal enterprise, that contract of insurance is invalid,' Buchanan explained. KRQE News 13 reached out to the attorneys in Smith's case against Montaño, the City of Albuquerque, Albuquerque Police Department, and Clear and Mendez. KRQE also reached out to attorneys for Travelers, but none of the parties would comment on the pending lawsuits. 'The judge is going to have to decide, are the acts the same?' Buchanan said. 'And has the plaintiff made allegations that are negligence, just pure negligence that are covered by the policy? Or are all of the allegations really about the criminal conduct or the intentional acts?' What does this insurance lawsuit mean for victims who are now coming forward? KRQE asked Buchanan if there would be compensation for them. 'Well, you know, it's difficult in a civil action,' she explained. 'Even if there's no insurance, you can still go after someone's personal assets. When there's no coverage, it always raises the question of potential bankruptcy,' Buchanan added. Clear's law office was seized by the feds as part of its investigation into the criminal enterprise. And today, Smith isn't alone in coming forward. Other victims of the scheme have joined a class action lawsuit against key players in the criminal enterprise. And victims suing the government – meaning APD and the City of Albuquerque – Buchanan explains, that's a different story in civil court if the judgment goes their way. 'Yes, bottom line, the government would be responsible for paying,' said Buchanan. 'And our city has a lot of challenges right now, the police department has a lot of challenges right now, so it does concern me as a taxpayer that that's where the money would come from.' Each of these lawsuits is still making its way through the court process. Buchanan said in cases like the one involving Clear's insurance company, a judge could make a decision within a few months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WWII-era mural from Camp Crowder saved by Neosho Arts Council
NEOSHO, Mo. — A piece of American military history has been saved. The Neosho Arts Council says they have completed the first stage of what they call their mission to save a mural that is a piece of American history. WWII-era mural from Camp Crowder saved by Neosho Arts Council Service of Remembrance hosted in honor of fallen officers Former youth football league prez might have clean record after admitting to $55K theft Gov. Kehoe renames highway to honor missionary couple Neosho High seniors make memories with 'paint the hill' event The mural, created by an unknown soldier stationed at Camp Crowder during World War II, has been carefully removed from the structure where it had stood for over eight decades. 'When we learned about this piece of art, we knew it had to be protected and preserved. After consultation with art preservation experts, it was determined that the wall board the mural is on needed to be removed from the structure,' said Sarah Serio, President of the Neosho Arts Council. The first extra step of care the council says it took to ensure the safety of the mural was to choose a local contractor with prior experience in historic restoration. For the job, the council decided on John Clear, owner of Clear Construction. The council says Clear Construction completed on-site assessments of the structural integrity of each panel, also checking the building's structural integrity. Clear's team then carefully removed each panel of the mural's wall. 'I approached this project the same as I've approached other sheetrock or wall board removal, slow and steady,' said Clear. Clear says some elements of the project, like the removal of over 250 individual nails mounting the panels to the stud walls, proved difficult at times, but certainly not impossible. 'Getting the panels off of the wall without breaking proved to be more difficult than anticipated. There were several panels that were cracked, some from age and some from water damage,' Clear added. The Neosho Arts Council tells us another extra precaution team members took was to wear gloves to prevent their skin oils from tarnishing the arts surface while they worked to stabilize and lower each panel. The individual panels were walked to a staging area where a second team carefully wrapped each panel and prepared them for packing into a custom-built wood crate. The council says panels will now be stored until funds can be secured to begin the next phase of preservation. 'We will never find a piece of World War II mural art like this again,' said Serio. 'Before this work is lost, we want to save it, and we need support from the community to accomplish this goal.' Camp Crowder was a Signal Corps training facility during World War II. The Neosho Arts Council tell us at one time it covered over 42,000 acres and housed up to 47,000 soldiers, a number approaching the population of present-day Joplin, for perspective. 'The mural we are working to save is unique in the fact that the artist was unable to complete it,' added Serio. Portions of the mural remain only in their early stages of a detailed sketch, as duty called the artist was forced to answer before he was able to complete the painting. 'The carefully crafted grid is still visible which the artist used to transfer his design from paper to wall,' said Serio. 'Against all odds the detailed pencil sketches that show the artist's true vision for the work are still on the wall.' The artist had just started the process of painting, and the paint pigment he used still holds fast to this mural of American history. The council says it has set a goal of raising $25,000 to remove, restore, and preserve the mural. Donations can be made online at or by mailing a check to Neosho Arts Council, PO Box 605, Neosho, MO 64850. Additional information about the mural and Camp Crowder can be found on the group's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Completely blindsided us'
Cottagers and business owners are angry after Parks Canada flip-flopped and announced a motorized boat ban on Clear Lake this summer to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels. Parks Canada said Friday it made the 'difficult decision' to restrict the use of motorized watercraft in the Riding Mountain National Park lake in 2025. 'This approach is a continuation of Parks Canada's attempts to reduce zebra mussel spread in Clear Lake and the potential damage that may be caused to downstream water bodies and related infrastructure,' the government agency said in a bulletin. TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN FILES Kayakers paddle through the cool water of Clear Lake while a boat passes behind them in Riding Mountain National Park on a hot Thursday in 2023. Scenes like this will not take place this summer as the federal government has banned boats from Clear Lake for the 2025 season. The federal government said in January watercraft, including motorized vessels, would be permitted, as long as they were only used in Clear Lake. That edict was reversed Friday. People are allowed to use non-motorized watercraft — including kayaks and canoes — provided they have an annual permit for use only on Clear Lake or other bodies of water in Riding Mountain National Park. The bulletin said all non-motorized watercraft, fishing equipment, wetsuits and inflatables would have to be inspected. The lake was closed to all watercraft in the summer of 2024. In January, the federal government announced a 'one boat, one lake' policy for Clear Lake, the same policy that was adopted in 2023. Parks Canada said at the time that decision was made after determining it was no longer feasible to attempt to eradicate zebra mussels because they had spread past the lake's marina. The policy change prompted anger Friday. Kelsey Connor, president of the Clear Lake Marina, which offers boat rentals and cruises on the Martese ship, said Parks Canada told him about the reversal an hour before the public release went out. 'This news has completely blindsided us,' he said. 'We were planning to open our business in the coming days. We've hired dozens of excited, eager staff for the summer, made bookings and reservations for families and groups on the Martese, and spent significant sums of capital preparing to reopen the business for 2025.' Connor said his company lost money when the lake was closed in 2024, and they were hoping to bounce back this year. 'Parks Canada managers and staff have straight up lied to and misled me over the phone, face to face, and eye to eye leading up to this announcement,' he said. 'No warning. No heads up. No reasoning. Now what… I must ruminate on this until Tuesday when Parks Canada staff are back at work. I sure hope that they have a great long weekend. Frankly, I'm disgusted with the Parks Canada organization and those who conduct it.' A local Parks Canada official referred questions to officials in Ottawa. No one from Ottawa responded before deadline. Tory MP Dan Mazier, who represents the Riding Mountain riding, which includes the park, called the decision unacceptable. 'Earlier this year, Parks Canada indicated the ban would be lifted, yet now, with no warning or clear explanation, they've reversed course during one of the busiest weekends of the year…. the constant flip-flopping has created chaos and deep uncertainty in a community that deserves timely answers — not surprise announcements buried on a holiday weekend,' Mazier said in a statement. Mazier vowed to bring the matter up with newly appointed federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin. Cottager David Bastable said he held off paying thousands of dollars to buy a boat until Parks Canada announced motorized watercraft would be allowed this summer. 'They said one boat, one lake and literally the next week I bought the boat,' Bastable said. 'We were so excited. The kids couldn't even use the kayaks and paddleboat we bought last year. 'I probably spent six grand on accessories alone to go with the boat, including insurance for the boat and the trailer, and then they changed their decision. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to sell the boat. It is so ridiculous — the zebra mussels are already in the lake.' Bastable blames Parks Canada for helping to spread zebra mussels last summer because, at first it told people they could swim and use flotation devices only around the marina — where the aquatic pests were first found — before telling people that was the only place they couldn't use them. 'So people ended up going all over the lake. This couldn't have been managed worse.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Another cottager, Kyle Bazylo, said he doesn't own a boat, but he empathizes with people who do. 'People last year with boats didn't even come back to their cottages last year,' Bazylo said. 'People thought this year it would be back to normal, but it isn't. 'It was disappointing last year, but at least we knew what was happening so we adapted to it, but this has come at the last minute… between last year and now this, you lose complete faith in the park and the government.' Parks Canada had said it engaged with stakeholders, Indigenous partners and the public on how to best manage water activities at Clear Lake in 2025. Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Carys Davies wins the Ondaatje prize for Clear, a ‘masterpiece of exquisite, craggy detail'
Clear by Carys Davies has won this year's Ondaatje prize for writing that 'best evokes the spirit of a place'. The Welsh novelist's third novel is set on a Scottish island during the Highland Clearances, and follows two men as they form an unlikely bond. On winning the £10,000 award, Davies gave particular thanks to the Faroese linguist Jakob Jakobsen, as his dictionary of the now-extinct Shetland language, first published in 1908, was an invaluable source when she was writing. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion 'According to the UN, one of the 6,700 languages spoken across the world is lost every two weeks,' Davies said. 'I'm so delighted that this prize can celebrate how we experience the world through the words we use to perceive it.' Davies was announced as winner of the award, which is run by the Royal Society of Literature (RSL), on Thursday evening at an event in London. The prize's 2021 winner, Ruth Gilligan, chaired the judging panel alongside transgender activist and author Charlie Craggs and poet Roy McFarlane. 'Clear is a genuine masterpiece,' said Gilligan. Island life is 'rendered in exquisite, craggy detail,' she added, yet the novel 'also manages to be a universal reflection on the meaning of home, of belonging, of family'. 'At its finest, Clear is a love letter to the scorching power of language,' wrote Clare Clark in her Guardian review of Clear. She praised the way Davies 'writes with amazing economy: in a few words she can summon worlds'. Davies' previous novels and short stories have garnered positive critical attention; she has won a number of prizes including the Frank O'Connor international short story award, the Wales book of the year fiction award and the RSL's VS Pritchett short story prize. Also on the shortlist for this year's Ondaatje prize were The Catchers by Xan Brooks, No Small Thing by Orlaine McDonald, American Anthem by Kelly Michels, Night Train to Odesa by Jen Stout and Private Revolutions by Yuan Yang. Previous winners of the prize have included Hisham Matar, Lea Ypi and Rory Stewart. Last year's winner was Ian Penman for Fassbinder, a study of the late German film-maker.
