Latest news with #MichaelSullivan
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cross-country run for veterans travels through Northwest Arkansas
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A 3,000-mile cross-country run for veterans in the United States traveled through Northwest Arkansas. The Siloam Springs Police Department and the local chapter of Team Red, White & Blue welcomed a team of runners into Arkansas that are making their way to Washington, D.C. Team RWB is a non-profit focused on the health and wellness of veterans across the country. On May 2, a select number of veterans picked up the flag for the Old Glory Ultra Relay, aimed at raising $1 million in donations. The group entered NWA through Siloam Springs and celebrated at the halfway point in Springdale. 'Getting out here and going across the nation has been incredible. It's an amazing way to see the United States,' said Michael Sullivan with Team RWB. Alex Warren coming to Walmart AMP later this summer The runners will continue east through northern Arkansas, eventually reaching the nation's capital city. 'We've had cross-country kids come out and run with the flag, people with signs on the side of the road,' Sullivan said. 'It's just inspiring to see the nation come together to rally around this flag, moving from one side to the other.' To keep up with these runners' journey before they make their descent on D.C., click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Man hospitalized with serious injuries following single-vehicle rollover in Wakefield
A man was hospitalized with serious injuries following a single-vehicle rollover in Wakefield on Saturday morning. Around 6:27 a.m., the Wakefield Fire and Police Departments received a call reporting that a car crashed and rolled over in the area of 384 Vernon St. The crash occurred amid snowy weather conditions and wet roads. Upon arrival, firefighters and police observed a car upside down on its roof in the roadway, along with a wooden utility pole that was snapped as a result of the crash. The single occupant of the car was still inside the vehicle. Firefighters took about three minutes to remove the person from the vehicle. He was then transported by ambulance to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington with serious injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Wakefield Police Department. Wakefield firefighters stretched a hose line as a precaution in case of a fire due to the spread of vehicle fluids on the ground. After that, firefighters applied Speedy Dry absorbent on the affected area to soak up the vehicle fluids, before cleaning up the debris from the scene. The Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department was called to the scene to repair the broken utility pole. The incident resulted in a power outage in the neighborhood that lasted for about two hours. 'I'd like to give our firefighters credit for a quick response to this rollover crash,' said Fire Chief Michael Sullivan. 'We were able to extricate the occupant very quickly from the vehicle and get him off to the hospital shortly after the crash. This incident is a reminder to all drivers to be extra cautious when operating on roads that are wet and snowy. As always, we thank our partners at the Wakefield Police Department for their assistance and professionalism in responding to this crash.' The cause of the crash is under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michael Sullivan drops out of race to become Phoenix Police Chief
The Brief The interim chief of the Phoenix Police Department, Michael Sullivan, says he is no longer in the running to be the department's next permanent chief. The department announced four finalists not long ago, with his name being one of them. The city says the recruitment process will restart to "find the right person for the job." PHOENIX - Michael Sullivan says he's dropped out as a candidate for the city's new police chief. Sullivan has been with the department for nearly three years as interim chief after Jeri Williams resigned. "Chief Sullivan shared that, after nearly three years in the role, he believes stepping aside is in the best interest of the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department and the city he served," the city said in a news release. What they're saying Sullivan remarked on his departure. "When I accepted this role, the department was under a Department of Justice (DOJ) Pattern and Practice investigation and facing significant challenges," Sullivan said. "Throughout my tenure, I've worked diligently to navigate that process while focusing on crime reduction, strengthening community trust, and building a culture of continuous improvement. I am incredibly proud of the progress we've made as a department and of the dedication demonstrated by our officers and staff." What's next His last day is April 18. Executive Assistant Chief Dennis Orender will serve as acting police chief until the city manager appoints a chief. The city manager says the search for the next chief will restart. There were four finalists, one of whom was Sullivan. Why restart the process? The city of Phoenix says, "The City Manager has determined that to find the right person for the job, there needs to be a new recruitment process." Read more about his announcement by clicking here.
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Maximize your tax refund: Smart strategies for financial success
Maximize your tax refund: Smart strategies for financial success Show Caption Hide Caption BBB warns of stimulus check text message scam The IRS is issuing $1,400 tax rebate checks to eligible taxpayers, but scammers are sending fake texts pretending to be the IRS. Fox - Fox 29 This is the time of year when millions of Americans receive their biggest annual financial windfall. It's not a winning lottery ticket or a favorable bet on March Madness but, rather, a federal income-tax refund, and possibly a state refund, too. Nearly two in three taxpayers got a federal refund for 2023, averaging $3,167. Many of these households also are living hand to mouth, suggesting that they haven't put refunds from past years to good use. Here are some suggestions for making the most of this financial opportunity. Pay off high-interest debt If there's one recommendation on which advisers nearly universally agree, it's this one. 'It's an immediate return on investment by reducing interest costs and improving financial stability while also providing peace of mind and a sense of relief from financial stress,' said Sam Swift, a certified financial planner and CEO of TCI Wealth Advisors in Tucson, Arizona. Tackling high-cost debt is imperative given that credit cards can carry interest charges of 22% or higher, noted Michael Sullivan, a personal finance consultant at Take Charge America, a credit-counseling and debt-management company in Phoenix. Tax season tips: Need a tax extension? What to know about filing one. "Payday-loan interest rates or auto title debt can be much higher,' he added. 'These are the first debts to be attacked, with all available funds directed at the highest-interest debt.' Start or add to an emergency fund Many Americans haven't set aside money in an account devoted to meeting unexpected obligations. Saving even modest amounts of money can be difficult. Nearly half of Americans are stressed in this area, according to a February survey by that found 13% of respondents have no such savings at all, while another 33% have some savings — but even higher credit-card balances. Sullivan considers $1,000 the minimum target for which you should aim. "If there is less than $1,000, (it's not) an emergency fund at all because even one accident or illness with a trip to the emergency room can easily cost more than $1,000,' he said. 'Without (adequate) savings, emergencies turn into high-interest debt.' Steven Conners of Conners Wealth Management in Scottsdale considers emergency funds to be more important now than in recent years because of all the turmoil and uncertainty in the economy, such as tariffs and ongoing layoffs of federal workers. 'Be more conservative than you'd normally be,' he suggests. Savers should strive to find accounts yielding at least 4%, he said. You can earn that on money market mutual funds and some bank and credit union vehicles, especially if you ask for better deals, he added. Put money into a retirement account Assuming your short-term needs are covered with an emergency fund and you are paring your credit-card debts, you can turn your attention to longer-term goals. Retirement accounts such as Individual Retirement Accounts or 401(k)-style plans fit the bill, providing tax incentives. With traditional IRAs or 401(k) plans, you generally can reduce your taxable income by the amount of your contributions. With Roth versions of these accounts, you don't get a front-end benefit, but the money comes out tax-free years later, when you withdraw it. Thus, you sacrifice some near-term tax help for benefits down the road. Swift considers retirement vehicles, especially Roth accounts, to be good choices for tax refunds if you can afford to fund them. 'Even small contributions can grow significantly over time, helping you build wealth tax-free for your future,' he said. If your employer offers matching funds on contributions to a 401(k) account, you can stretch your tax refunds even further. 'Always at least contribute up to the amount your company is matching — (it's) free money," Swift said. Others smart moves to ponder And there are other considerations when it comes to tax refunds. If you get a large amount, Sullivan suggests changing your withholding percentage by filling out a new W-4 form through your human-resources department. Why do this? Because refunds represent money that you essentially have loaned, interest-free, to the Internal Revenue Service and perhaps a state tax agency. To complete the picture, he suggests taking the dollar amount by which your future paychecks increase through lowered withholding, then depositing that money automatically into a high-interest savings account. It's a move that essentially spreads out your refund, gives it to you earlier and allows you to earn interest sooner. But the strategy would backfire if you spend, rather than save, the incremental amounts. Excessive spending is the root of the problem for most anyone with high debts or low savings. Solving this issue requires discipline, which isn't easy. But there are ways to add guardrails, such as delaying certain purchases to wring some emotions out of the decision. If there's something you really want to buy like new golf clubs, consider a cooling-off period of perhaps a week or 10 days, Connors suggested. Chances are, you will abandon certain purchases. But if you really want to buy something after after that time, "You will at least know your emotions are less involved,' he said. Reach the writer at
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Getting a tax refund? Here are the best ways to use it.
This is the time of year when millions of Americans receive their biggest annual financial windfall. It's not a winning lottery ticket or a favorable bet on March Madness but, rather, a federal income-tax refund, and possibly a state refund, too. Nearly two in three taxpayers got a federal refund for 2023, averaging $3,167. Many of these households also are living hand to mouth, suggesting that they haven't put refunds from past years to good use. Here are some suggestions for making the most of this financial opportunity. If there's one recommendation on which advisers nearly universally agree, it's this one. 'It's an immediate return on investment by reducing interest costs and improving financial stability while also providing peace of mind and a sense of relief from financial stress,' said Sam Swift, a certified financial planner and CEO of TCI Wealth Advisors in Tucson. Tackling high-cost debt is imperative given that credit cards can carry interest charges of 22% or higher, noted Michael Sullivan, a personal finance consultant at Take Charge America, a credit-counseling and debt-management company in Phoenix. "Payday-loan interest rates or auto title debt can be much higher,' he added. 'These are the first debts to be attacked, with all available funds directed at the highest-interest debt.' It's not especially difficult to put aside money in an account devoted to meeting unexpected obligations, yet many Americans haven't done it. Saving even modest amounts of money can be difficult. Nearly half of Americans are stressed in this area, according to a February survey by that found 13% of respondents have no such savings at all, while another 33% have some savings — but even higher credit-card balances. Sullivan considers $1,000 the minimum target for which you should aim. "If there is less than $1,000, (it's not) an emergency fund at all because even one accident or illness with a trip to the emergency room can easily cost more than $1,000,' he said. 'Without (adequate) savings, emergencies turn into high-interest debt.' Steven Conners of Conners Wealth Management in Scottsdale considers emergency funds to be more important now than in recent years because of all the turmoil and uncertainty in the economy, such as tariffs and ongoing layoffs of federal workers. 'Be more conservative than you'd normally be,' he suggests. Savers should strive to find accounts yielding at least 4%, he said. You can earn that on money market mutual funds and some bank and credit union vehicles, especially if you ask for better deals, he added. Assuming your short-term needs are covered with an emergency fund and you are paring you credit-card debts, you can turn your attention to longer-term goals. Retirement accounts such as Individual Retirement Accounts or 401(k)-style plans fit the bill, providing tax incentives. With traditional IRAs or 401(k) plans, you generally can reduce your taxable income by the amount of your contributions. With Roth versions of these accounts, you don't get a front-end benefit, but the money comes out tax-free years later, when you withdraw it. Thus, you sacrifice some near-term tax help for benefits down the road. Swift considers retirement vehicles, especially Roth accounts, to be good choices for tax refunds if you can afford to fund them. 'Even small contributions can grow significantly over time, helping you build wealth tax-free for your future,' he said. If your employer offers matching funds on contributions to a 401(k) account, you can stretch your tax refunds even further. 'Always at least contribute up to the amount your company is matching — (it's) free money," Swift said. And there are other considerations when it comes to tax refunds. If you get a large amount, Sullivan suggests changing your withholding percentage by filling out a new W-4 form through your human-resources department. Why do this? Because refunds represent money that you essentially have loaned, interest-free, to the Internal Revenue Service and perhaps a state tax agency. To complete the picture, he suggests taking the dollar amount by which your future paychecks increase through lowered withholding, then depositing that money automatically into a high-interest savings account. It's a move that essentially spreads out your refund, gives it to you earlier and allows you to earn interest sooner. But the strategy would backfire if you spend, rather than save, the incremental amounts. Excessive spending is the root of the problem for most anyone with high debts or low savings. Solving this issue requires discipline, which isn't easy. But there are ways to add guardrails, such as delaying certain purchases to wring some emotions out of the decision. If there's something you really want to buy like new golf clubs, consider a cooling-off period of perhaps a week or 10 days, Connors suggested. Chances are, you will abandon certain purchases. But if you really want to buy something after after that time, "You will at least know your emotions are less involved,' he said. Reach the writer at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here are the best ways to use your tax refund money.
