Category: Sacramento

I can’t help but dream this time of the year. It’s the thick of winter, you see, which means I’m spending hours huddled in my home office getting a million tax details in order for my CPA. And I’m dreaming of tax simplification. President Trump has shared a bold vision to potentially replace the income tax entirely in favor of tariffs. Though I can’t imagine that ever happening, he has also promised to simplify tax filing to such a degree that “nine out of 10 Americans will be able to file their taxes on a single, little, beautiful sheet of paper.” Could tax filing become as simple as it was for my father in 1959? My dad kept a work draft of his return that he filled out in pencil, then completed the final version in ink before sending it to the IRS. I still can’t believe how simple his tax form was. In 1959, he paid a measly 5 percent in federal taxes. Though the top income tax rate was 91 percent that year — President Kennedy would slash rates a few years later

When I wake up and after starting my morning coffee, I walk through my house room-by-room to greet the many members of the green kingdom that share my home. Yes, I garden. The Peace Lily, Angel Wing Begonia, Crossandra, Boston Fern, and Norfolk Island Pine all enjoy their morning mist; the little Rat Tail Cactus eyeing me with disdain as I move past, mister in hand. The Norfolk Island Pine is the most recent addition to my household, acquired the week after Christmas when living trees are plentiful and generously marked down at the local retail store. Since he is quite slow-growing and currently only 20 inches tall, I take him to the kitchen sink, relieve him of his drip pan and turn the faucet on low and cold for a drink while misting from above, simulating a moist, sub-tropical environment. Visually, the water drips gently from the holes in the bottom of the planter, ensuring the tree drains well in porous soil. The soil should be kept damp but not soggy. The Australian or Norfolk Pine is softly textured with flowing foliage that grows

This week, as I reached into the mailbag, I pulled out two questions, neither of them with easy answers. I was tempted to set them aside and try again, but I decided to tackle both, knowing that my letter-writers are not the only ones facing these kinds of financial situations. Dear Mary: If my parents are in debt and they die, who pays the bills? I am terrified of inheriting my parents’ debts. — Bethany Dear Bethany: First, let me be clear that I am not an attorney, so what follows is my opinion. When a person dies, creditors can only look to his or her estate (the assets that person owned upon his or her death) for the payment of debts. If the debts are shared legally with another person still living, as in the case of a spouse in a community property state, or someone else who can sign on the account, that person may be responsible for part or all of the debt. Having said that, generally, unless you are a cosigner with your parents on their credit cards and other debts

Israel remains noncommittal as Hamas says it’s ready to negotiate and President Trump’s envoy voices optimism the Gaza ceasefire “will get to stage two.”

LUBBOCK, Texas — An unvaccinated school-aged child in Texas has died of measles, the first death associated with an outbreak in the western part of the state that has infected more than 100 people. Lubbock city spokesperson Lauren Adams confirmed the death to ABC News on Wednesday. In a press release, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said the child was hospitalized in the northwestern city of Lubbock last week and tested positive for measles. As of Wednesday, 124 cases of measles have been confirmed associated with the outbreak, according to data from DSHS. Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, and 18 people have been hospitalized so far, DSHS said. Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases with 62, followed by 39 cases among children ages 4 and under. The outbreak began in Gaines County, which has become the epicenter, with 80 cases confirmed among residents, according to DSHS. The outbreak has since spread to several counties in the region and is “suspected” to have spread

Thursday, February 27, 2025 7:23AM An investigation is underway after a woman was found dead in a central Fresno home on Wednesday. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — An investigation is underway after a woman was found dead in a central Fresno home on Wednesday. The woman’s body was discovered around 3:15 p.m. in a home near Olive Avenue and 11th Street. The Fresno Police Department says the woman in her 40s was found with injuries. Investigators are working to determine her exact cause of death. Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, February 27, 2025 6:16AM Host Conan O’Brien plans to set right tone on Oscar Sunday, using humor while addressing LA fires LOS ANGELES — The Eaton and Palisades fires will be acknowledged during the Oscar ceremony on Sunday. It’s personal to host Conan O’Brien, whose assistant lost her home in Altadena. “The Oscars is a show that is very much a hometown show. It’s a Los Angeles show, so what’s happened here needs to be addressed,” O’Brien said while wearing a shirt that read Altadena. “It’s a celebration of hard work that’s been done by many people.” O’Brien thinks the Oscars should lift people up and get people back to work. “There’s a needle to thread, there’s a line to walk, and I’m determined to do that correctly,” he said. “But I want to make sure there’s humor, that we have some fun, and that we have some joy.” O’Brien was asked about a promotional poster that sees him transformed into an Oscar statue. “Isn’t it cool? I can say that because it wasn’t my idea,” laughed O’Brien. “All I’ve ever wanted to do

LOS ANGELES — Ahead of Sunday’s big show, refresh your memory on the 2025 Oscar nominations. OSCARS 2025: Here’s how to and where to watch the 97th Academy Awards “Emilia Pérez” leads the field of nominations this year with 13 in total. Following close behind with 10 each are “The Brutalist” and “Wicked,” while “A Complete Unknown” and “Conclave” scored eight each. Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang announced the nominees in all 23 categories for the 97th Academy Awards on Jan. 23 from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles. OSCARS 2025: How to watch all 10 films nominated for best picture The nominations ceremony was shared via global live stream on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the academy’s digital platforms. They were also announced on “Good Morning America,” ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. Nominees were initially set to be announced Friday, Jan. 17, but were delayed to Jan. 19 due to the Southern California wildfires, which left at least 29 dead and destroyed thousands of homes across the region. Nominations were then moved for a second time to

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kate Mara, 42; Josh Groban, 44; Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, 54; Donal Logue, 59.Happy Birthday: Take the plunge, follow your heart and use your imagination to devise the best combination to carry out your plans this year. Pull all your resources together and focus on what you want to achieve, and nothing will topple your plans or cause you to fall victim to someone trying to beat you at your own game. A passionate attitude will undermine any adversary you encounter. Your numbers are 9, 17, 23, 30, 34, 42, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Put anger aside and get things done. You have what it takes to reach your goal as long as you refrain from allowing anyone to push emotional buttons that throw you off guard. Tuck yourself away in a safe spot where you can accomplish the most with the least interference. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): A change will open your mind to a host of new ideas and people who can offer specific skills you can utilize. Participate in events that interest or concern you, and you’ll

All new: A romance is cut short when a man is found dead near his mangled car. His newfound love is convinced it was no accident. “48 Hours” correspondent Anne-Marie Green reports Saturday, March 1 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, and wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and their dog were found dead in their home outside Santa Fe, authorities say.

Police and the medical examiner are now investigating and seeking to identify the remains as those of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran.

CORNING — Rolling Hills Casino Event Center will host the second annual Elevate & Inspire Business Summit, presented by the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce March 13. “This Business Summit promises to be an amazing gathering of business leaders and professionals eager to gain valuable insights and elevate their skills. This dynamic event will include a full breakfast and features expert-led presentations by the California Employers Association highly experienced and motivational speakers,” said Dave Gowan, CEO of Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce. Attendees can explore skills for successful employers, engage with new generations in the workforce and discover the art of leading with intention, connect with sponsors and vendors throughout the event who support exceptional business and leadership training in California. The event costs $65 to attend. The event begins at 8 a.m. with registration, breakfast and vendor booths. This is followed by a welcome and introduction by Gowan. The event wraps up at noon. Presenters include Kim Gusman, who will discuss what employees and employers need to be successful. By incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and flexibility to retain top employees and find

By MARCIA DUNN, Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private company launched another lunar lander Wednesday, aiming to get closer to the moon’s south pole this time with a drone that will hop into a jet-black crater that never sees the sun. Intuitive Machines’ lander, named Athena, caught a lift with SpaceX from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It’s taking a fast track to the moon — with a landing on March 6 — while hoping to avoid the fate of its predecessor, which tipped over at touchdown. Never before have so many spacecraft angled for the moon’s surface all at once. Last month, U.S. and Japanese companies shared a rocket and separately launched landers toward Earth’s sidekick. Texas-based Firefly Aerospace should get there first this weekend after a big head start. The two U.S. landers are carrying tens of millions of dollars’ worth of experiments for NASA as it prepares to return astronauts to the moon. “It’s an amazing time. There’s so much energy,” NASA’s science mission chief Nicky Fox told The Associated Press a few hours ahead of the launch. This isn’t

For over a decade, Erin Nelson and her team of professionals and dedicated volunteers at Jessica’s House have been offering support for children and their families who have lost a loved one.

Who starts their first day on a new job with a board meeting followed by a mixer?

The Stanislaus County Commission for Women will honor at an event next month 10 women and one man for their advocacy and service, especially for women and children, in Stanislaus County.

One day you’re an eighth-grader attending a high school orientation meeting, and the next you’re walking into a stadium, wearing a mortar board and tassel as “Pomp and Circumstance” plays in the distance.

There are a number of fun activities for the whole family happening around the region this upcoming weekend.

Intuitive Machines launches its second moon lander, which will use NASA and commercially developed tools to search for ice in the moon’s crust.

After a lot of back-and-forth on Tuesday night, House Republicans were able to narrowly adopt a budget resolution that would advance President Trump’s agenda. The proposal passed in a 217-215 vote. CBS News congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns reports.