United States Government News RSS Feed

Last Updated: May 14, 2012 - 7:15:44 AM

Announcements
FBI Releases 2011 Preliminary Statistics for Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty
According to preliminary statistics released today by the FBI, 72 of our nation’s law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in during 2011.
May 14, 2012 - 7:13:16 AM

IRS Tax Tips
IRS Accepting Applications for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Grants
The Internal Revenue Service today announced the opening of the 2013 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant application process.
May 3, 2012 - 8:45:26 AM

Announcements
Cramming Your Phone Bills, FCC Adopts Rules To Help Consumers Identify And Prevent Unauthorized Mystery Fees, Known As "Cramming

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today took steps to protect Americans from difficult-to-detect fraudulent charges on their landline phone bills.   The new rules combat “cramming,” the illegal placement of unauthorized charges on a consumer’s monthly phone bill.    The Commission also asked for comment on additional ways consumers can protect themselves against this troubling activity.

IRS Tax Tips
Eight Facts to Know if You Receive an IRS Letter or Notice
The IRS sends millions of letters and notices to taxpayers for a variety of reasons. Many of these letters and notices can be dealt with simply, without having to call or visit an IRS office.
Apr 19, 2012 - 7:45:40 PM

IRS Tax Tips
IRS: Last-Minute Filers: Avoid Common Errors
The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers to review their tax returns for common errors that could delay the processing of their returns. Here are some ways to avoid common mistakes
Apr 17, 2012 - 3:42:13 AM

IRS Tax Tips
Tax Tips for Parents and Students; Don’t Overlook College Tax Benefits
Two tax credits and a tax deduction are available to taxpayers who paid tuition and other expenses for an eligible student during 2011. Because an eligible student can be the taxpayer, spouse or dependent, these benefits can, for example, help workers taking continuing education courses and people returning to school, as well as parents paying for their children’s college education.
Apr 11, 2012 - 7:57:09 PM

IRS Tax Tips
IRS: Need Extra Time to Complete Your Tax Return? File for an Extension
Even though the tax filing deadline is later than usual this year – April 17 – many taxpayers may still need more time to file their tax return. If you need extra time, you can get an automatic six-month extension of time to file from the IRS.
Apr 11, 2012 - 7:42:49 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Child Heatstroke: Where's baby? Look before you lock
NHSTA today announced its first-ever national campaign to prevent child heatstroke deaths in cars, urging parents and caregivers to think "Where's baby? Look before you lock. " Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle related deaths for children under the age of 14, with at least 33 fatalities reported in 2011 alone
Apr 4, 2012 - 9:16:49 AM

CDC Health Advisory Notices & Announcements
World Salt Awareness Week Focuses on Link between Sodium and Stroke
About 9 in 10 Americans aged 2 years and older eat too much sodium. Most of the sodium we eat comes from packaged, processed, store-bought and restaurant food. There is strong evidence that eating too much sodium raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke.
Apr 1, 2012 - 10:04:08 AM

Announcements
Los Angeles Fire Department joins Cal/OSHA’s confined space awareness campaign
Cal/OSHA launched a statewide confined space awareness campaign in February with the goal of helping employers and workers understand the hazards of confined spaces.
Mar 28, 2012 - 6:10:34 PM

Announcements
Cal Grant Awards Reinstated in California
With the enactment of Senate Bill 70 (SB 70), Cal Grant recipients renewing for the 2011-12 academic year, like new applicants, had to meet income and asset ceilings and minimum need requirements. This resulted in about 16,000 Cal Grant recipients being disqualified during the renewal process for not meeting the new requirements. About 5,500 former Cal Grant B recipients met both the Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B program requirements at the time they were initially awarded the Cal Grant B.
Mar 23, 2012 - 7:12:36 PM

IRS Tax Tips
IRS Creates Online Search Tool for Easier Check on Information About Exempt Organizations
The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new online search tool,  Exempt Organizations Select Check, to help users more easily find key information about tax-exempt organizations, such as federal tax status and filings.
Mar 16, 2012 - 9:51:31 AM

IRS Tax Tips
IRS 2012 Summer Internship Application Deadline Extended to March 16.

IRS Exempt Organizations (EO) has extended the application deadline for its summer internship program for graduate students to Friday, March 16.

IRS Tax Tips
Don’t Fall for Phony Tax Refunds Schemes. IRS offers 7 tips

The Internal Revenue Service  is warning taxpayers of the following seven tips to help taxpayers avoid an the latest scheme enticing senior citizens and other taxpayers to file tax returns claiming fraudulent refunds. 

IRS Tax Tips
IRS Announces New Penalty Relief Program for Taxpayers
The Internal Revenue Service today announced a major expansion of its "Fresh Start" initiative to help struggling taxpayers by taking steps to provide new penalty relief to the unemployed and making Installment Agreements available to more people.
Mar 7, 2012 - 4:57:45 PM

IRS Tax Tips
Tax Scam Warning: Beware of Phony Refund Scheme Abusing Popular College Tax Credit
The IRS warned senior citizens and other taxpayers to beware of an emerging scheme tempting them to file tax returns claiming fraudulent refunds.
Mar 6, 2012 - 4:06:55 PM

Announcements
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum.Tomorrow, March 1 st , marks the beginning of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection of colorectal cancer offers the best chance – a great chance – of survival but detection is extremely difficult without screening.
Mar 1, 2012 - 10:01:49 PM

Announcements
March is National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month, and beginning March 1, 2012, ground or chopped meat and poultry products, such as ground turkey and hamburger, will be required to have nutrition facts panels on their packages, just like the ones seen on most other foods at the grocery store.

Health News | Health Resources
The Flu, the Common Cold, and Complementary Health Practices:

Each year, approximately 5 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu. Although a lot recuperate without incident, flu-related complications generate over 200,000 of hospital stays and between 3,000 and 49,000 deaths each year. Colds normally do not cause severe complications, but they happen to be among the leading causes for seeing a specialist and for skipping school or hard work.

Announcements
New At Risk Program for Girls from Department of Justice

WASHINGTON – The Depart m ent of Justice announces a new resource "the National Girls Institute website" to better meet the needs of at- risk and delinquent girls, their fa milies and the agencies and organizations that serve the m. The institute is supported by the National Council on Cri me and Delinquency (NCCD) through a grant fr om the Depart m ent’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinq uency Preve ntion (OJJD P ).

Announcements
New Rules to Protect Airline Passengers
New Ailine Passenger rules and regulations have recently gone into effect to  help ensure that consumers are treated fairly when they travel by air, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today.  Among the new provisions, part of the airline consumer rule issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation in April 2011, are requirements that airlines and ticket agents include all mandatory taxes and fees in published airfares and that they disclose baggage fees to consumers buying tickets .
Feb 10, 2012 - 1:18:09 AM

IRS Tax Tips
New Smartphone App: IRS Unveils New Version of Smartphone App; IRS2Go 2.0 Offers Videos, Tax Help
The Internal Revenue Service announced today the availability of IRS2Go 2.0, an expanded version of its smartphone application designed to provide taxpayers easier access to practical tools and information.
Feb 9, 2012 - 6:31:39 PM

IRS Tax Tips
Free Tax Help:New IRS Online Tool Helps Low- and Moderate-Income Taxpayers Find Locations for Help

As part of a continuing effort to improve service to taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service announced today the availability of a new online tool to help people easily find a location for volunteer tax preparation assistance.

Announcements
Government Free Credit Reports
It's never too late, or too early, to get your financial house in order, and a great way to start is with a review of your credit reports. You are entitled to a free report from each of the three reporting agencies once a year. But don’t fall for offers of free reports that aren’t really free. There is onlyone authorized source  to get your free reports under federal law
Feb 6, 2012 - 11:42:56 AM

IRS Tax Tips
IRS Tax Refunds: IRS Recommends Direct Deposit for your Tax Refunds
According to the IRS, Direct deposit is the fastest, safest way to receive your tax refund. When a taxpayer combines e-file and direct deposit, the IRS will likely issue your refund in as few as 10 days.
Feb 6, 2012 - 11:20:45 AM