On Saturday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James hosted a successful gun buyback program, resulting in over 3,000 firearms being surrendered across the state. The program, which offered gift cards in exchange for firearms, was held at nine locations throughout New York, including two in New York City. Among the surrendered firearms were assault-style rifles and “ghost guns.” In Syracuse, where homicides have seen a significant increase this year, 751 firearms were turned over by community residents. The buyback program aims to curb gun violence and protect communities across New York state. Mayor Ben Walsh of Syracuse has recently spoken out against the proliferation of guns in his community, citing it as a contributing factor to the rise in violent crime. The success of the program was described by Attorney General James as a “landmark event” in the fight against gun violence.
The Atlanta Police Department is currently investigating suspected burglars who went to great lengths to steal personal items from a home in Atlanta. The burglary took place on April 14 between the hours of 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. According to the police report, the suspects shattered a window to gain entry and then proceeded to cut off the home’s power. Once inside, they took jewelry including watches and cuff links and also stole a shotgun. This incident highlights a disturbing trend where burglars are using sophisticated methods to break into homes and steal personal belongings. Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information about the suspects involved in this Atlanta burglary. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta through their tip line or online platform. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may even be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspects.
The highly anticipated SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket experienced a last-minute abort during its triple satellite launch attempt on April 28. The rocket was just 59 seconds away from lifting off at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida when the abort was called. The cause of the abort is still unknown, but SpaceX propulsion engineer Atticus Vadera confirmed that the vehicle and payload were healthy. The launch has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 30, when SpaceX will attempt its sixth flight of the heavy-lift booster. The primary payload for this mission is a 14,000-pound satellite designed to offer broadband services for Viasat. The weather forecast is currently favorable for launch.
A Dutch court has ordered a hefty fine of approximately $110,000 to be paid by a prolific sperm donor if he attempts to donate again. Jonathan Jacob Meijer, aged 41, has fathered over 500 children through sperm donations, despite making promises to limit the risk of accidental incest by stopping his donation process. A lawsuit was launched by one of the mothers who used his sperm, revealing that Meijer had misled them about adhering to legal limits. The court has now ordered Meijer to cease all further donations and instruct any clinic where he has donated to destroy his samples immediately. This ruling raises important questions about sperm donation regulations and oversight, as well as the consequences for violating such regulations.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is investigating a Facebook romance scam that targeted a 75-year-old Georgia woman, who lost nearly $100,000. According to a police report, the woman had met a man on Facebook in March who had been asking for money. As their relationship became more serious, the man asked her for cash, which she sent to an address in Ralston, Nebraska using FedEx and UPS. The woman even sold her house to send the money that the man needed. The police are yet to identify any suspects in this incident. If you suspect that you or someone you know has been a victim of a romance scam, make sure to report it to the authorities.
The manhunt continues for Mexican national Francisco Oropeza, who is accused of fatally shooting five of his neighbors in Cleveland, Texas. The FBI is assisting with the multi-agency search for the suspect who is considered armed and dangerous. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers warned that Oropeza “could be anywhere” and urged the public to report any tips about his whereabouts. The deceased victims include an 8-year-old child and have been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman, Diana Velazquez Alvarado, Julisa Molina Rivera, and Jose Jonathan Casarez. Oropeza was known to shoot his AR-15 Style 223 outside his home, according to Sheriff Capers. The investigation continues to widen as authorities search for Oropeza in the Texas shooting case.
According to Morgan Stanley’s Chief US Economist, Ellen Zentner, the housing market has bottomed, providing a soft landing for the economy. In her note on April 21, Zentner stated that while affordability remains a challenge, it hasn’t worsened and has even improved over the past three months. Housing inventory remains low, but it’s not getting worse. Tight lending standards are likely to prevent any significant increase in housing activity, but there is no catalyst for another leg lower either. As a result, the US GDP component related to residential investment could turn neutral during the third quarter of this year. Other indicators, such as building permits and housing starts, have displayed weakness amid elevated rates. Morgan Stanley expects negative comparisons in housing activity for the rest of the first half of this year, but they should wane in the second half. Home prices are expected to fall 4% this year, but the housing shortage has prevented a significant drop in prices. This, coupled with healthy consumer balance sheets and spending, has boosted Morgan Stanley’s outlook. The housing market bottom provides a cushion for the soft landing thesis, says Zentner.
The American Rescue Plan of 2021 has lowered the 1099-K reporting threshold from $20,000 over 200 transactions to just $600 from any number of transactions, effective January 1. This new tax rule, which requires third-party settlement organizations and credit card companies to report payments for goods and services exceeding $600 per year, has raised concerns from lawmakers. Even casual sellers on popular platforms such as Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, or Etsy could face penalties if their transactions total $600 or more in a year. According to a MoneyMagnify survey, nearly 40% of Americans sold items online early in the pandemic, netting about $1,800 on average. Therefore, it is essential for those who continue to sell goods online to have a proper understanding of the new tax rules. The Coalition for 1099-K Fairness, a group of online marketplaces opposing the new rule, believes that the new $600 rule is unfair, burdensome, and confusing for many casual sellers and gig economy workers across the country. If you sell handmade jewelry, art, home decor, or personal items like a car, refrigerator, furniture, stereo, or even clothes, and your transactions for the year add up to $600 or more, you should report this income on IRS form 8949, schedule D, and via your 1099-K if you meet the IRS threshold. However, the loss on the sale of a personal item is not deductible. The IRS originally planned to introduce the $600 rule on Jan 1, 2022, but after certain politicians and groups like the Coalition for 1099-K Fairness called for the rule change to be scrapped and for commonsense tax regulations to govern the resale market, the IRS announced an eleventh-hour delay, pushing implementation back by one year. In January, Rep. Carol Miller reintroduced the Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act with the support of 13 Republican colleagues to reverse the unwarranted and unfair lowering of the 1099-K reporting threshold. The act aims to protect Americans who use online payment platforms, gig economy workers, and small e-commerce sellers from being taken advantage of and ensure they continue to have access to reliable income streams.
Texas law enforcement has launched a manhunt for the suspect in a deadly mass shooting that occurred on Friday night. The suspect, Francisco Oropesa, allegedly used an AR-15 style rifle to shoot and kill five of his neighbors after being asked to stop firing the weapon. The victims, including an 8-year-old boy, were shot in the head in what authorities described as an “almost execution-style” attack. Over 200 law enforcement officers have conducted an extensive search for the suspect, who is currently on the loose. Officials are offering an $80,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Oropesa’s name has been changed by law enforcement to better reflect his identity in their systems. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge.
The New Face of Florida: Professionals are Fueling the State’s Booming Growth
It’s not just retirees seeking warmer weather: Florida’s become one of the biggest booming states in the South — here’s why more Americans are migrating. Professionals are a big part of the pandemic-era growth.
Florida is no longer just for grandparents and retirees, according to a new report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, it recently beat New York as the most jobs of any state — a first since the Bureau began to report these numbers in 1982. Over 400,00 people moved to Florida from July 2021 to July 2022, which was an increase of over 180,000 from the year before. A good portion of the new residents are not just there to relax either.
The Sunshine State ended last year with 9,578,500 non-farming industry jobs, compared to 9,576,100 in the Empire State. While the gap has been closing for a while, it takes some digging to understand why. It’s not as though an obvious guess — pre-retirees riding the pandemic to move south — is a top reason. “Florida is no longer God’s waiting room,” said Craig Studnicky, CEO of ISG World, a real estate firm that specializes in South Florida luxury residential developments.
Studnicky’s wording includes an important clue to who’s driving the growth in Florida: “Young people,” not their grandparents or parents. But if the age demographics are shifting, the pandemic still acted as a catalyst for people of all ages to move south.