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Taxpayers in these states see the largest refunds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

(SmartAsset) - As we progress through the 2023 tax season, many Americans have their eyes on a potential tax refund. But getting money back from the government can actually be a double-edged sword.Earning a large tax refund may mean that you gave Uncle Sam an interest-free loan throughout the course of the year instead of putting that money to work for you in other ways.Still, the majority of people who file a U.S. tax return every year end up getting a refund. For the 2021 tax year, which involved tax returns filed in 2022, U.S. individual taxpayers logged an average federal refund of $1,798.To determine where taxpayers receive the largest refunds, SmartAsset analyzed the average dollar amount of 2021 federal tax refunds for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Though it did not play a role in our rankings, the analysis also examined state and local income tax refunds for tax year 2020.For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our ...

Northwest Indiana man accused of beating woman to death, sexually violating her body

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

WINFIELD, Ind. — A 65-year-old man from Merrillville is accused of beating a Winfield woman to death with a rubber mallet and performing sexual acts on her after her death. Raju Rawal was taken into custody on Monday by the Winfield Police Department and is charged with murder. Man charged after Northwest Indiana woman found beaten to death According to court documents, Rawal worked at a Marathon gas station in Winfield and had a known relationship with the deceased — identified as 36-year-old Haley Losinski. Police said Losinski's body was found by her mother on Feb. 27 at her home on Pike Place in Winfield. Court documents reveal Losinkski was found kneeling over a bed with her pants pulled down to her ankles. Blood stained the bed and a rubber mallet was later found hidden beneath a pillow under the bed near where Losinski had been kneeling. An autopsy determined that Losinski had been beaten to death, with doctors suspecting the mallet as the murder weapon along with the poss...

$20 million security grant benefiting Illinois non-profits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) -- Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency announced that millions in grant funding will be benefiting Illinois non-profits.According to a press release, the 2023 Nonprofit Security grant program will award $20 million to help 116 organizations strengthen efforts to protect against public safety and security threats.Many of the organizations that are receiving funds are places of worship, reproductive health providers, cultural institutions, and education centers that were deemed to be at high risk of a terrorist attack. Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Chicago, according to Tripadvisor “As Governor, my top priority has always been—and will continue to be—keeping Illinoisans safe,” Governor JB Pritzker said. “This $20 million investment will provide grantees—from mosques and synagogues to education centers and cultural institutions—the resources they need to enhance safety measures amidst the rising tide of extremism. From Skokie ...

Fashion designer who dressed Lady Gaga was victim of drugging, theft, homicide: officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) – In a case with eerie similarities to those of multiple victims of Manhattan club druggings, the July 2022 death of fashion designer Kathryn Marie Gallagher – known professionally as Katie Gallagher – was ruled a drug-facilitated theft and homicide by the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Nexstar's WPIX confirmed on Friday.Gallagher, 35, was a popular designer who had dressed the likes of Lady Gaga and Laverne Cox. Her collections were featured at Fashion Weeks in New York and Paris, and she'd been profiled in Vogue, Elle and multiple other magazines.The medical examiner wrote that Gallagher died from acute intoxication caused by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-flurofentanyl, and ethanol. A neighbor found Gallagher dead on her bed on July 24, two days after he'd helped her into her building on Eldridge Street in Lower Manhattan, according to police sources.A police source told WPIX the initial NYPD report said, "Witness states (the woman) was seen ...

Police: Minnesota man fatally stabs wife during Bible study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota man is accused of fatally stabbing his wife during a Bible study session.Police in St. Paul called to a home around 9 p.m. Tuesday found Corinna Woodhull with knife wounds to her torso, chest and arms and people holding down her husband, 40-year-old Robert Castillo, authorities say in charging documents.Woodhull, 41, was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.Castillo, 40, was charged with second-degree murder. It wasn’t clear Friday if he has an attorney. Police haven’t disclosed a possible motive for the attack. One of the oldest surviving Bible could be yours — for $30 million Castillo’s sister told officers that she hosts a Bible study for relatives at her home on Tuesdays. Woodhull and Castillo sat together on a couch, according to the charging document.During this week’s session, Castillo held his wife’s hand and kissed her, then whispered something to Woodhull. When she shook her head no, he pulled out a hunting knife and began...

NPR cancels 4 podcasts amid layoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

(The Hill) -- NPR is canceling four of its podcasts as it lays off 10 percent of its staff members and tries to close a budget shortfall. The cuts will mean the end of the seasonal podcasts “Invisibilia,” “Louder Than a Riot” and “Rough Translation” and the comedy podcast “Everyone & Their Mom.” The number of employees being laid off is the largest for the company since the Great Recession in 2008. John Lansing, the chief executive of NPR, told the outlet in an interview that the decisions to cut the podcasts and lay off the workers are “existential” to NPR’s ability to continue operating. "We literally are fighting to secure the future of NPR at this very moment by restructuring our cost structure. It's that important," he said. NPR’s budget deficit is more than $30 million, according to the outlet. “Louder Than a Riot” had just begun its second season and was being widely promoted on social media before the podcast announced the decision on Twitter. The pod...

APD: Man accused of shooting girlfriend, arrested in east Austin murder investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said an arrest was made Thursday in connection to a Wednesday murder investigation in the 5800 block of Techni Center Drive.APD said the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force members and United States Marshals Service arrested 33-year-old Timothy Pace, who is suspected of killing his girlfriend, Shahre-Ka Mays, 27.Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Specialists with APD said Pace shot Mays and then left the area. RELATED: Woman dies in east Austin shooting According to police, Pace faces a first-degree murder charge.Anyone with information regarding this investigation was asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.  According to APD, this case was being investigated as Austin’s 20th homicide of 2023.

Kaxan, beloved KXAN mascot, dies after brain cancer battle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows the behind-the-scenes of making the 'Top Dogs' Super Bowl commercial starring Kaxan.AUSTIN (KXAN) – KXAN’s beloved mascot Kaxan, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in February, has died.Over the past decade, Kaxan has served as the handsome ball of fluff that appeared alongside KXAN Senior Forecaster Jim Spencer. Kaxan wins community service award Kaxan was found in an alleyway behind the KXAN studios more than a decade ago. He was taken to Austin Animal Center by Spencer, and his former owners were notified. They decided to surrender Kaxan back to the shelter, and Spencer decided to make Kaxan a part of his family and KXAN’s.  KXAN mascot finalist for Capitol of Texas awards Kaxan began radiation treatment in February after his diagnosis.Toward the end of 2022, Kaxan’s story was adapted into a children’s novel called “Becoming Kaxan."Read Kaxan's obituary below:Kaxan poses for a photo (KXAN Photo/Jim Spencer)Kaxan at a book reading for...

Amber Alert: Teenage girl missing from Robinson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

Robinson (FOX 44/KWKT) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued an Amber Alert for a 14-year-old girl from Robinson.Police say Cadence Masterpool disappeared with a young woman Thursday afternoon. She was last seen in the 500 block of Celeste Drive.Cadence MasterpoolCadence was last seen wearing a black dress, white and grey leggings, and dark blue crocs. She has two tattoos: 5300 Brauswood on her left chest and a 'Hello Kitty' tattoo on her stomach. She also has lip and nose piercings.Police say she may be with a woman who is between 18 and 24, with brown eyes. They may be in a silver car with Mexican license plate GAC-513-C.If you've seen her, call Robinson Police at 254-662-2310.

Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov still hasn’t started skating

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:56 GMT

Kirill Kaprizov still has a few weeks to get healthy before the playoffs begin. As of Friday afternoon, though, he still hasn’t started skating.Asked if he has anything new to report regarding Kaprizov’s recovery process, coach Dean Evason responded, “Nope.”It’s been a couple of weeks since Kaprizov suffered the lower-body injury in a March 8 win over the rival Winnipeg Jets. It occurred when Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, and his 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame, landed directly on top of Kaprizov, turning his legs into a pretzel on the ice in the process.The following day the Wild announced that Kaprizov would miss three to four weeks, which, likely by design, coincided with the end of the regular season.As much as the Wild have managed to get by without Kaprizov as of late — largely because Matt Boldy is blossoming into a star — they certainly could have used him in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.Nyqui...