| Earned income credit aids low-wage workers - if they take it
Lucy Crane, project director for the EITC regional initiative at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky, said roughly 15 percent to 20 percent of eligible local households don't file and claim the tax credit - leaving an estimated $20 million on the table. "We find a lot of people that don't claim the credit aren't filing taxes period - people think they didn't make much last year, so they won't owe taxes," she said, adding that the irony is they don't realize they are eligible to get money. Of the 4,500 free tax returns processed by the coalition of community groups in the region, the earned income credit provided the biggest boost. The tax credit delivered almost $2.1 million to those 4,500 households - roughly 39 percent of the $5.4 million in total refunds garnered by those households.
Helping underprivileged boys
Miriam Braun came a long way to spread her message to Boca Raton. Her motivating factor was a group of 6 to 15-year-old underprivileged boys who are the key to her heart. "Their families are poverty stricken, dysfunctional, and the children suffered severe physical and emotional abuse and neglect in their earlier years," said Braun. Braun recently visited Boca Raton Synagogue to raise awareness of the Sanhedria Children's Home in Jerusalem, Israel, which is a rehab center for children at risk who have been removed from parents' home by court order and who are referred by Social Services. The children come from dysfunctional households, where there is often a history of alcoholism, physical and verbal abuse, and many come from an underprivileged background.
Commissioners approve renovations to Larimer County Justice Center
The county commissioners on Tuesday approved a proposal to renovate the Larimer County Justice Center in downtown Fort Collins to create courtroom and office space for three new judges. Renovation plans include adding more heating and air conditioning units to the building at 201 LaPorte Ave. The renovation is expected to cost up to $2.5 million.
Money for the project will come from a 0.2 percent sales tax that county voters approved in 1997 to build a new courthouse.
County officials hope to have the work completed by July, when the new judges are expected to come on board. .
Coming Soon: SR to Release E-mail Exchanges ... (Not so fast...)
Moving back to Moscow broke my heart, mostly because of my extreme fondness for cycling in Boise (I should throw a Shout-Out to the Ridges to Rivers system, too, with wonderful mountain biking, too). Moscow just can't compete with that, although the new Latah Trail helps (if they'd just get it paved!) DFO: You've really hit on something here, MM. It's relatively easy to settle on the 7 - 10 natural wonders of Idaho. But what about the manmade ones? The Boise River Greenbelt definitely would be in there. And the North Idaho bike trails (Path of the Hiawatha, Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, North Idaho Centennial Trail) should be, too. What other manmade places would be on a "wonders" list? .
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