By JAMES POLLARD Associated Press/Report for America

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's embattled top accountant will 
step down next month after a $3.5 billion error in the year-end 
financial report he oversaw, according to a resignation letter written 
Thursday that was obtained by The Associated Press.

Republican 
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom's decision to leave the post he has
 held for 20 years came after intense scrutiny of his performance 
following the blunder and amid rising calls for him <a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-accounting-error-comptroller-d86a4db4b85b1d64e4c482bf2e7e2283">to either quit or be removed.</a>

The
 Senate panel investigating the financial misstatement issued a damning 
report last week accusing Eckstrom of "willful neglect of duty.” As 
recently as last week, however, Eckstrom had said he would not resign.

“I
 have never taken service to the state I love or the jobs to which I 
have been elected lightly, endeavoring to work with my colleagues ... to
 be a strong defender of the taxpayer and a good steward of their 
hard-earned tax dollars,” Eckstrom wrote in the letter to South Carolina
 Gov. Henry McMaster. “They deserve nothing less.”

The governor accepted the resignation, effective April 30.

The
 Senate report concluded that Eckstrom was solely responsibile for the 
mapping error, which happened during the state's transition to a new 
internal information system from 2011 to 2017. State officials testified
 that Eckstrom ignored auditors' yearslong warnings of a “material 
weakness” in his office and flawed cash reporting.

Eckstrom has 
said the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report exaggerated the state's 
cash balances for a decade by double counting the money sent to colleges
 and universities. The mistake went unsolved until a junior staffer 
fixed the error this fall.

Officials have said the overstatement did not affect the state budget. But lawmakers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-carolina-state-government-e26ddb69b68e54067a9e30fd87ebd430">alarmed by Eckstrom's inconsistent testimony</a> slammed his failure to fulfill one of his primary constitutional duties: to publish an accurate account of state finances.

The fallout for the state agency that typically flies under the radar is expected to continue. A Senate subcommittee recently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/35-billion-comptroller-south-carolina-4e3cb862eeb304df10d507ffcccd1b52">approved a joint resolution</a>
 that would let voters decide whether the comptroller general should 
continue as an elected position or be appointed by the governor. 
Eckstrom reiterated his support for that change Thursday in his 
resignation letter.

The next comptroller general may also lead a 
much weaker office. The investigating panel suggested its 
responsibilities be transferred to one or more agencies. State Treasurer
 Curtis Loftis, an elected Republican, has testified that his office 
could absorb the main tasks.

Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who led
 the investigation, said the comptroller general’s office could also be 
“done away with altogether.”

Grooms thanked Eckstrom for doing the
 “honorable thing” and sparing the General Assembly from using an 
obscure state constitutional provision to remove him from office.

Between
 a 104-7 House vote to cut the comptroller general’s annual salary to $1
 and the Senate’s scheduled April 11 vote to oust Eckstrom, Grooms 
suggested the rising heat had grown too intense for him to remain on the
 job.

The Senate must now select a replacement to serve out the 
rest of Eckstrom’s term, which ends in 2027. Grooms said the next 
comptroller general should be someone who recognizes that their job is 
to spend the next three years overseeing the office’s incorporation into
 other state agencies. He does not anticipate any other heads will roll.

“The buck stopped with him,” Grooms said. “The accountability was with him.”

A
 certified public accountant, Eckstrom, 74, spent four years as state 
treasurer before assuming his current office. He has run unopposed in 
the past two elections and last faced a Republican primary challenger in
 2010.

McMaster — who had resisted calls for impeachment and 
endorsed elections as the proper vehicle for accountability — thanked 
Eckstrom for his 24 years of “dedicated service.” The governor 
previously served as the state's attorney general alongside Eckstrom 
early in the comptroller general's tenure.

“The Eckstrom and 
McMaster families have been dear friends for decades,” McMaster said 
Thursday in a letter accepting the resignation. “I know that your every 
wish has been, and always will be, prosperity and happiness for the 
people of South Carolina.”

James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. <a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a> is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679678288234.jpeg" alt="South Carolina Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom holds up a book he wanted to present to his new Chief of Staff James Holly during his introduction at a Budget and Control Board meeting in 2009, (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)" />
 <figcaption>South Carolina Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom holds up a book he wanted to present to his new Chief of Staff James Holly during his introduction at a Budget and Control Board meeting in 2009, (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES POLLARD Associated Press/Report for AmericaCOLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's embattled top accountant will 
step down next month after a $3.5 billion error in the year-end 
financial report he oversaw, according to a resignation letter written 
Thursday that was obtained by The Associated Press.Republican 
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom's decision to leave the post he has
 held for 20 years came after intense scrutiny of his performance 
following the blunder and amid rising calls for him <a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-accounting-error-comptroller-d86a4db4b85b1d64e4c482bf2e7e2283">to either quit or be removed.</a>The
 Senate panel investigating the financial misstatement issued a damning 
report last week accusing Eckstrom of "willful neglect of duty.” As 
recently as last week, however, Eckstrom had said he would not resign.“I
 have never taken service to the state I love or the jobs to which I 
have been elected lightly, endeavoring to work with my colleagues ... to
 be a strong defender of the taxpayer and a good steward of their 
hard-earned tax dollars,” Eckstrom wrote in the letter to South Carolina
 Gov. Henry McMaster. “They deserve nothing less.”The governor accepted the resignation, effective April 30.The
 Senate report concluded that Eckstrom was solely responsibile for the 
mapping error, which happened during the state's transition to a new 
internal information system from 2011 to 2017. State officials testified
 that Eckstrom ignored auditors' yearslong warnings of a “material 
weakness” in his office and flawed cash reporting.Eckstrom has 
said the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report exaggerated the state's 
cash balances for a decade by double counting the money sent to colleges
 and universities. The mistake went unsolved until a junior staffer 
fixed the error this fall.Officials have said the overstatement did not affect the state budget. But lawmakers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-carolina-state-government-e26ddb69b68e54067a9e30fd87ebd430">alarmed by Eckstrom's inconsistent testimony</a> slammed his failure to fulfill one of his primary constitutional duties: to publish an accurate account of state finances.The fallout for the state agency that typically flies under the radar is expected to continue. A Senate subcommittee recently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/35-billion-comptroller-south-carolina-4e3cb862eeb304df10d507ffcccd1b52">approved a joint resolution</a>
 that would let voters decide whether the comptroller general should 
continue as an elected position or be appointed by the governor. 
Eckstrom reiterated his support for that change Thursday in his 
resignation letter.The next comptroller general may also lead a 
much weaker office. The investigating panel suggested its 
responsibilities be transferred to one or more agencies. State Treasurer
 Curtis Loftis, an elected Republican, has testified that his office 
could absorb the main tasks.Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who led
 the investigation, said the comptroller general’s office could also be 
“done away with altogether.”Grooms thanked Eckstrom for doing the
 “honorable thing” and sparing the General Assembly from using an 
obscure state constitutional provision to remove him from office.Between
 a 104-7 House vote to cut the comptroller general’s annual salary to $1
 and the Senate’s scheduled April 11 vote to oust Eckstrom, Grooms 
suggested the rising heat had grown too intense for him to remain on the
 job.The Senate must now select a replacement to serve out the 
rest of Eckstrom’s term, which ends in 2027. Grooms said the next 
comptroller general should be someone who recognizes that their job is 
to spend the next three years overseeing the office’s incorporation into
 other state agencies. He does not anticipate any other heads will roll.“The buck stopped with him,” Grooms said. “The accountability was with him.”A
 certified public accountant, Eckstrom, 74, spent four years as state 
treasurer before assuming his current office. He has run unopposed in 
the past two elections and last faced a Republican primary challenger in
 2010.McMaster — who had resisted calls for impeachment and 
endorsed elections as the proper vehicle for accountability — thanked 
Eckstrom for his 24 years of “dedicated service.” The governor 
previously served as the state's attorney general alongside Eckstrom 
early in the comptroller general's tenure.“The Eckstrom and 
McMaster families have been dear friends for decades,” McMaster said 
Thursday in a letter accepting the resignation. “I know that your every 
wish has been, and always will be, prosperity and happiness for the 
people of South Carolina.”James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. <a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a> is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

South Carolina's top accountant to resign after $3.5B error

By JONATHAN LANDRUM JR. AP Entertainment Writer

LOS
 ANGELES — Hip-hop became a cultural phenomenon against the 
backdrop of American history, and now Public Enemy’s Chuck D has 
committed himself to explore the artform's origins.

Chuck D 
rounded up several rap greats — including Ice-T, Run DMC and MC Lyte — 
who offered their firsthand accounts ahead of this year's 50th 
anniversary of hip-hop. Their reflections are explored in the four-part 
docuseries <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/fight-power-how-hip-hop-changed-world/">“Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World,”</a> that aired on PBS and is available to stream on its platforms and YouTube with a premium subscription.

The
 series delves into the history of hip-hop including the genre’s radical
 rise from the New York City streets, creating a platform for political 
expression and being a leading voice for social justice

“Fight the
 Power” touches on how the hip-hop has played an impactful role in 
speaking up against injustice in the aftermath of America’s racial and 
political reckoning in 2020 after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-george-floyd-minneapolis-police-reform-d109eb0d3094119ddbcb560676467f19">George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police</a>.
 The series, executive produced by Chuck D, features archival footage 
and insightful interviews from of rap’s most integral figures including 
Fat Joe, Lupe Fiasco, Grandmaster Caz, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Melle 
Mel, will.i.am, John Forte, Roxanne Shanté and Abiodun Oyewole of The 
Last Poets.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Chuck
 D talked about hip-hop’s cultural growth in 50 years, the genre being 
the backbone for Black men’s voices and how rap could last for another 
half century.

Remarks have been edited for clarity and bravery. 
___ AP: You mentioned in your docuseries that hip-hop was a catalyst for
 the Black Lives Matter movement. How so?

CHUCK D: It’s a 
collective where people felt the same way. It spoke politically to the 
injustice regarding George Floyd and was a spark that connected around 
the world. Hip-hop has done the same thing. Hip-hop ties human beings 
for their similarities and knocks the differences to the side. It’s a 
movement, when you talk about collective people feeling similar, enact 
upon something and still even stay within the constraints of the law. 
Younger people say, “OK, listen, we’re going to speak truth to power 
right now. We’re going to protest march. We're going to show you numbers
 that you ain’t seen in a long time about something you probably didn’t 
care about." That’s hip-hop, right?

AP: During the birth of hip-hop, how do it help encourage Black voices?

CHUCK
 D: Black men didn’t have a voice. You might’ve sung records for people 
who were fortunate to become recording artists. Our music has always 
been code. Hip-hop is the term for our creativity, maybe for the last 50
 years. But before that, we always was creative and musicianship, 
vocalization, arts and craft, and also the movement of dance. Just that 
the elements had gotten refined in another period in the '70s out of 
another Big Bang Theory of socio political environments. That’s where 
that voice came out and it came out culturally. It still speaks loudly, 
culturally.

AP: How does your documentary amplify that notion?

CHUCK
 D: Some people like to deal with hip-hop where they first started. I 
think what this documentary series says is “Nah, this is where it 
started.” You might have picked up on it after you were born in the 
1990s and picked up maybe 2000, but it started before you.

AP: What do you want people to take away from your documentary?

CHUCK
 D: I don’t want people to do what they don’t want to do. If you say you
 love hip-hop, then you should be able to know about what you love. You 
don’t have to love hip-hop. I used to ask people straight out, “Do you 
love hip-hop?” They would respond “Oh yeah. I love it.” Then I was ask, 
“Do you love Black people?” They would say “What’s that got to do with 
it?” I’m here to tell you that the culture and the music comes out of 
the people. Sometimes your love of it got to infuse and give something 
back to the people. That’s the cycle.

AP: How do you feel about hip-hop being misinterpreted at times?

CHUCK
 D: I’m 12 years older than hip-hop, so I’m not in awe of it. I’ve seen 
the trajectory and my involvement in it was to see if I can make it go 
head-to-head, stand shoulders and shoulders next to everything else that
 gets bragged and talked about. I’m a big sports fan. You know, a lot of
 people in New York broke up because the Giants lost. That’s how they 
tied into their loyalty for something that they say that they love. 
Well, people love music, too. They seem to know less about it than they 
know about sports, because sports make sure you’re not stupid. Stephen 
A. Smith now is a superstar journalist who makes sure that if you come 
in the room, you’re not stupid about sports. You can’t go off the top of
 your head and freestyle what you think when it’s fact. This four-part 
series at least deals with facts, especially in this misinformation age.
 Facts are important. Facts is not opinion, bro.

CHUCK
 D: Africa is the future of hip-hop. It’s 54 African nations. Not only 
are they spitting like crazy, but they’re also braiding languages. 
Hip-hop is going to like 3.0 when you talk about Africa. Hip-hop is 
there. So that’s the sustaining power if you want to pay attention to 
it.

AP: Do you feel like rappers can still be commercially successful while being socially conscious?

CHUCK
 D: Depends on where they are and who they’re talking to. If you’re in 
France, it might work for you. Each level that you get into it, you got 
to go deeper because you build a fan base that’s three times harder than
 you. If you’re an activist, you’re going to bring on activists that's 
really doing this. You as an artist could engage on it and group them 
together.

Now, as far as what’s going to make that artists keep a 
light on or go out and get the Lamborghini, that’s a personal thing. 
Money is relative. There’s pressure put on the arts. That’s an illusion.
 It’s a little unfair to any art — which is not supposed to bring you an
 industry. It’s supposed to be able to bring a canvas to the world.

AP: What’s it going to take for hip-hop to live for another 50 years?

CHUCK
 D: Commitment collective, people recognizing that this is a part of us 
and recognizing more parts of us that have been part of our cultural 
history around the world. We got to recognize the world too.

By JONATHAN LANDRUM JR. AP Entertainment WriterLOS
 ANGELES — Hip-hop became a cultural phenomenon against the 
backdrop of American history, and now Public Enemy’s Chuck D has 
committed himself to explore the artform's origins.Chuck D 
rounded up several rap greats — including Ice-T, Run DMC and MC Lyte — 
who offered their firsthand accounts ahead of this year's 50th 
anniversary of hip-hop. Their reflections are explored in the four-part 
docuseries <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/fight-power-how-hip-hop-changed-world/">“Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World,”</a> that aired on PBS and is available to stream on its platforms and YouTube with a premium subscription.The
 series delves into the history of hip-hop including the genre’s radical
 rise from the New York City streets, creating a platform for political 
expression and being a leading voice for social justice“Fight the
 Power” touches on how the hip-hop has played an impactful role in 
speaking up against injustice in the aftermath of America’s racial and 
political reckoning in 2020 after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-george-floyd-minneapolis-police-reform-d109eb0d3094119ddbcb560676467f19">George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police</a>.
 The series, executive produced by Chuck D, features archival footage 
and insightful interviews from of rap’s most integral figures including 
Fat Joe, Lupe Fiasco, Grandmaster Caz, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Melle 
Mel, will.i.am, John Forte, Roxanne Shanté and Abiodun Oyewole of The 
Last Poets.In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Chuck
 D talked about hip-hop’s cultural growth in 50 years, the genre being 
the backbone for Black men’s voices and how rap could last for another 
half century.Remarks have been edited for clarity and bravery. 
___ AP: You mentioned in your docuseries that hip-hop was a catalyst for
 the Black Lives Matter movement. How so?CHUCK D: It’s a 
collective where people felt the same way. It spoke politically to the 
injustice regarding George Floyd and was a spark that connected around 
the world. Hip-hop has done the same thing. Hip-hop ties human beings 
for their similarities and knocks the differences to the side. It’s a 
movement, when you talk about collective people feeling similar, enact 
upon something and still even stay within the constraints of the law. 
Younger people say, “OK, listen, we’re going to speak truth to power 
right now. We’re going to protest march. We're going to show you numbers
 that you ain’t seen in a long time about something you probably didn’t 
care about." That’s hip-hop, right?AP: During the birth of hip-hop, how do it help encourage Black voices?CHUCK
 D: Black men didn’t have a voice. You might’ve sung records for people 
who were fortunate to become recording artists. Our music has always 
been code. Hip-hop is the term for our creativity, maybe for the last 50
 years. But before that, we always was creative and musicianship, 
vocalization, arts and craft, and also the movement of dance. Just that 
the elements had gotten refined in another period in the '70s out of 
another Big Bang Theory of socio political environments. That’s where 
that voice came out and it came out culturally. It still speaks loudly, 
culturally.AP: How does your documentary amplify that notion?CHUCK
 D: Some people like to deal with hip-hop where they first started. I 
think what this documentary series says is “Nah, this is where it 
started.” You might have picked up on it after you were born in the 
1990s and picked up maybe 2000, but it started before you.AP: What do you want people to take away from your documentary?CHUCK
 D: I don’t want people to do what they don’t want to do. If you say you
 love hip-hop, then you should be able to know about what you love. You 
don’t have to love hip-hop. I used to ask people straight out, “Do you 
love hip-hop?” They would respond “Oh yeah. I love it.” Then I was ask, 
“Do you love Black people?” They would say “What’s that got to do with 
it?” I’m here to tell you that the culture and the music comes out of 
the people. Sometimes your love of it got to infuse and give something 
back to the people. That’s the cycle.AP: How do you feel about hip-hop being misinterpreted at times?CHUCK
 D: I’m 12 years older than hip-hop, so I’m not in awe of it. I’ve seen 
the trajectory and my involvement in it was to see if I can make it go 
head-to-head, stand shoulders and shoulders next to everything else that
 gets bragged and talked about. I’m a big sports fan. You know, a lot of
 people in New York broke up because the Giants lost. That’s how they 
tied into their loyalty for something that they say that they love. 
Well, people love music, too. They seem to know less about it than they 
know about sports, because sports make sure you’re not stupid. Stephen 
A. Smith now is a superstar journalist who makes sure that if you come 
in the room, you’re not stupid about sports. You can’t go off the top of
 your head and freestyle what you think when it’s fact. This four-part 
series at least deals with facts, especially in this misinformation age.
 Facts are important. Facts is not opinion, bro.AP: How have you seen hip-hop transcend?CHUCK
 D: Africa is the future of hip-hop. It’s 54 African nations. Not only 
are they spitting like crazy, but they’re also braiding languages. 
Hip-hop is going to like 3.0 when you talk about Africa. Hip-hop is 
there. So that’s the sustaining power if you want to pay attention to 
it.AP: Do you feel like rappers can still be commercially successful while being socially conscious?CHUCK
 D: Depends on where they are and who they’re talking to. If you’re in 
France, it might work for you. Each level that you get into it, you got 
to go deeper because you build a fan base that’s three times harder than
 you. If you’re an activist, you’re going to bring on activists that's 
really doing this. You as an artist could engage on it and group them 
together.Now, as far as what’s going to make that artists keep a 
light on or go out and get the Lamborghini, that’s a personal thing. 
Money is relative. There’s pressure put on the arts. That’s an illusion.
 It’s a little unfair to any art — which is not supposed to bring you an
 industry. It’s supposed to be able to bring a canvas to the world.AP: What’s it going to take for hip-hop to live for another 50 years?CHUCK
 D: Commitment collective, people recognizing that this is a part of us 
and recognizing more parts of us that have been part of our cultural 
history around the world. We got to recognize the world too.

Q&A: Chuck D talks rap's rise through 'Fight the Power' doc

WASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service reaches out in multiple ways to educate 
taxpayers while ensuring it fairly enforces the nation's tax laws. There
 are important factors to keep in mind about when the IRS may initiate 
direct contact with a taxpayer.

For people who owe taxes, the IRS provides many different payment 
options to help taxpayers meet their obligations. Taxpayers can avoid 
late filing and interest penalties by submitting their tax return and 
using one of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide-using-electronic-payment-and-agreement-options-for-taxpayers-who-owe-can-help-avoid-penalties-and-interest">these options</a> to pay what they owe by April 18.

For those struggling to pay in full by the deadline, the IRS offers several different <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">options</a>. For example, most individual taxpayers qualify for a payment plan and can use the IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/paymentplans">Online Payment Agreement</a> to set up a payment plan (including an installment agreement) to pay off an outstanding balance over time.

People encountering a tax issue, such as an unpaid bill or a question
 about their taxes, will typically receive multiple letters in the mail 
from the IRS. People are encouraged to respond to these letters quickly,
 since interest and penalties can compound quickly.

Most IRS contacts with taxpayers are through regular mail delivered 
by the United States Postal Service. However, there are limited <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-if-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">circumstances</a>
 when the IRS will come to a home or business as part of a collection 
investigation, an audit or an ongoing criminal investigation.

IRS employees that may make face-to-face visits outside an IRS office
 include revenue officers, revenue agents and IRS Criminal Investigation
 special agents. IRS employees are trained to respect taxpayer rights, 
and there are some important facts to keep in mind about the different 
types of visits.

Revenue officers are IRS civil 
enforcement employees who work to resolve compliance issues such as 
unfiled returns and/or taxes owed – all situations where the taxpayer 
typically would have received multiple IRS letters in advance.

These in-person visits may be unscheduled and can be to share 
information, inform taxpayers of their tax filing and payment 
obligations and work with taxpayers to resolve their tax issues and 
bring them into compliance.

They conduct interviews to gather financial information and provide 
taxpayers with the necessary steps to become and remain compliant with 
the tax laws.

Revenue agents usually conduct in-person field 
audits that are normally at the taxpayer's home, place of business 
or&nbsp;accountant's office where the organization's financial books and 
records are located. Revenue agents will make contact via mail or phone 
prior to any visit.

Revenue officers and agents always carry two forms of official 
credentials with a serial number and their photo. Taxpayers have the 
right to see each of these credentials and can also request an 
additional method to verify their identification.

Remember, taxpayers should know they have a tax issue before these visits occur since multiple mailings occur.

More information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-if-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">identifying legitimate IRS representatives and how to report scams</a> can be found at IRS.gov.

IRS-CI special agents investigate potential criminal
 violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes. 
IRS-CI's investigative jurisdiction includes tax, money laundering and 
Bank Secrecy Act laws. IRS-CI special agents always present their law 
enforcement credentials when conducting investigations.

IRS-CI may visit a taxpayer's home or business unannounced during an 
investigation. However, they will not demand any sort of payment. Learn 
more <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/about-criminal-investigation">about IRS-CI</a> on IRS.gov.

If a person doesn't have a previously known tax issue and suspects 
someone is trying to impersonate an IRS employee, there are a variety of
 options to report phone, email and other impersonation scams:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service reaches out in multiple ways to educate 
taxpayers while ensuring it fairly enforces the nation's tax laws. There
 are important factors to keep in mind about when the IRS may initiate 
direct contact with a taxpayer.For people who owe taxes, the IRS provides many different payment 
options to help taxpayers meet their obligations. Taxpayers can avoid 
late filing and interest penalties by submitting their tax return and 
using one of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide-using-electronic-payment-and-agreement-options-for-taxpayers-who-owe-can-help-avoid-penalties-and-interest">these options</a> to pay what they owe by April 18.For those struggling to pay in full by the deadline, the IRS offers several different <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">options</a>. For example, most individual taxpayers qualify for a payment plan and can use the IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/paymentplans">Online Payment Agreement</a> to set up a payment plan (including an installment agreement) to pay off an outstanding balance over time.People encountering a tax issue, such as an unpaid bill or a question
 about their taxes, will typically receive multiple letters in the mail 
from the IRS. People are encouraged to respond to these letters quickly,
 since interest and penalties can compound quickly.Most IRS contacts with taxpayers are through regular mail delivered 
by the United States Postal Service. However, there are limited <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-if-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">circumstances</a>
 when the IRS will come to a home or business as part of a collection 
investigation, an audit or an ongoing criminal investigation.<h2>IRS in-person visits</h2>IRS employees that may make face-to-face visits outside an IRS office
 include revenue officers, revenue agents and IRS Criminal Investigation
 special agents. IRS employees are trained to respect taxpayer rights, 
and there are some important facts to keep in mind about the different 
types of visits.Revenue officers are IRS civil 
enforcement employees who work to resolve compliance issues such as 
unfiled returns and/or taxes owed – all situations where the taxpayer 
typically would have received multiple IRS letters in advance.These in-person visits may be unscheduled and can be to share 
information, inform taxpayers of their tax filing and payment 
obligations and work with taxpayers to resolve their tax issues and 
bring them into compliance.They conduct interviews to gather financial information and provide 
taxpayers with the necessary steps to become and remain compliant with 
the tax laws.Revenue agents usually conduct in-person field 
audits that are normally at the taxpayer's home, place of business 
or&nbsp;accountant's office where the organization's financial books and 
records are located. Revenue agents will make contact via mail or phone 
prior to any visit.Revenue officers and agents always carry two forms of official 
credentials with a serial number and their photo. Taxpayers have the 
right to see each of these credentials and can also request an 
additional method to verify their identification.Remember, taxpayers should know they have a tax issue before these visits occur since multiple mailings occur.More information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-if-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">identifying legitimate IRS representatives and how to report scams</a> can be found at IRS.gov.IRS-CI special agents investigate potential criminal
 violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes. 
IRS-CI's investigative jurisdiction includes tax, money laundering and 
Bank Secrecy Act laws. IRS-CI special agents always present their law 
enforcement credentials when conducting investigations.IRS-CI may visit a taxpayer's home or business unannounced during an 
investigation. However, they will not demand any sort of payment. Learn 
more <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/about-criminal-investigation">about IRS-CI</a> on IRS.gov.<h2>How to report impersonation scams</h2>If a person doesn't have a previously known tax issue and suspects 
someone is trying to impersonate an IRS employee, there are a variety of
 options to report phone, email and other impersonation scams:<ul>
 <li>Report impersonation scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration on the <a href="https://www.tigta.gov/hotline?type=IRSScamsandFraud">TIGTA Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse</a>&nbsp;webpage. Taxpayers can also call <a href="tel:800-366-4484">800-366-4484</a> to report impersonation scams.</li><li>Protect your community by reporting fraud, scams and bad business 
practices. Report phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=IRS">Report Fraud FTC</a>.</li><li>Report an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS or an 
IRS-related system like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to the
 IRS at <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a>.</li><li>For a comprehensive listing of recent tax scams, consumer alerts and how to report them, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts">Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts</a>.</li>
 </ul>

When will the Internal Revenue Service contact me?

WASHINGTON — With the filing deadline quickly approaching, the 
Internal Revenue Service today urged everyone to remain vigilant against
 email and text scams aimed at tricking taxpayers about refunds or tax 
issues.

In day two of the annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>
 tax scams campaign, the IRS again includes a warning about phishing and
 smishing schemes where cybercriminals try to steal a taxpayer's 
information through scam emails or text messages.

"Email and text scams are relentless, and scammers frequently use tax
 season as a way of tricking people," said IRS Commissioner Danny 
Werfel. "With people anxious to receive the latest information about a 
refund or other tax issue, scammers will regularly pose as the IRS, a 
state tax agency or others in the tax industry in emails and texts. 
People should be incredibly wary about unexpected messages like this 
that can be a trap, especially during filing season."

As a member of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>,
 the IRS, with state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry, have 
taken numerous steps over the last eight years to warn people to watch 
out for common scams and schemes each tax season that can contribute to 
identity theft. Along with the Security Summit initiative, the Dirty 
Dozen aims to protect taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from 
identity thieves and various hoaxes designed to steal money and 
information.

The Dirty Dozen is an annual IRS list of 12 scams and schemes that 
put taxpayers and the tax professional community at risk of losing 
money, personal data and more. Some items on the list are new, and some 
make a return visit. While the list is not a legal document or a formal 
listing of agency enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert 
taxpayers, businesses and tax preparers about scams at large.

Phish or smish: Avoid getting hooked by either

Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake 
communications posing as legitimate organizations in the tax and 
financial community, including the IRS and states. These messages arrive
 in the form of an unsolicited text or email to lure unsuspecting 
victims to provide valuable personal and financial information that can 
lead to identity theft. There are two main types:

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail and will 
never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media 
regarding a bill or tax refund.

Never click on any unsolicited communication claiming to be the IRS 
as it may surreptitiously load malware. It may also be a way for 
malicious hackers to load ransomware that keeps the legitimate user from
 accessing their system and files.

Individuals should never respond to tax-related phishing or smishing 
or click on the URL link. Instead, the scams should be reported by 
sending the email or a copy of the text/SMS as an attachment to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a>.
 The report should include the caller ID (email or phone number), date, 
time and time zone, and the number that received the message.

Taxpayers can also report scams to the <a href="https://www.tigta.gov/irs-scam-resources">Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration</a> or the <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/">Internet Crime Complaint Center</a>. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing">Report Phishing and Online Scams </a>page&nbsp;at IRS.gov provides complete details. The Federal Communications Commission's <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/smartphone-security">Smartphone Security Checker</a> is a useful tool against mobile security threats.

The IRS also warns taxpayers to be wary of messages that appear to be
 from friends or family but that are possibly stolen or compromised 
email or text accounts from someone they know. This remains a popular 
way to target individuals and tax preparers for a variety of scams. 
Individuals should verify the identity of the sender by using another 
communication method; for instance, calling a number they independently 
know to be accurate, not the number provided in the email or text.

As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages 
people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax 
schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare 
improper returns.

To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF&nbsp;and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center 
Stop MS5040 
24000 Avila Road 
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405 
Fax: 877-477-9135

Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — With the filing deadline quickly approaching, the 
Internal Revenue Service today urged everyone to remain vigilant against
 email and text scams aimed at tricking taxpayers about refunds or tax 
issues.In day two of the annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>
 tax scams campaign, the IRS again includes a warning about phishing and
 smishing schemes where cybercriminals try to steal a taxpayer's 
information through scam emails or text messages."Email and text scams are relentless, and scammers frequently use tax
 season as a way of tricking people," said IRS Commissioner Danny 
Werfel. "With people anxious to receive the latest information about a 
refund or other tax issue, scammers will regularly pose as the IRS, a 
state tax agency or others in the tax industry in emails and texts. 
People should be incredibly wary about unexpected messages like this 
that can be a trap, especially during filing season."As a member of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>,
 the IRS, with state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry, have 
taken numerous steps over the last eight years to warn people to watch 
out for common scams and schemes each tax season that can contribute to 
identity theft. Along with the Security Summit initiative, the Dirty 
Dozen aims to protect taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from 
identity thieves and various hoaxes designed to steal money and 
information.The Dirty Dozen is an annual IRS list of 12 scams and schemes that 
put taxpayers and the tax professional community at risk of losing 
money, personal data and more. Some items on the list are new, and some 
make a return visit. While the list is not a legal document or a formal 
listing of agency enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert 
taxpayers, businesses and tax preparers about scams at large.<h2>Phish or smish: Avoid getting hooked by either</h2>Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake 
communications posing as legitimate organizations in the tax and 
financial community, including the IRS and states. These messages arrive
 in the form of an unsolicited text or email to lure unsuspecting 
victims to provide valuable personal and financial information that can 
lead to identity theft. There are two main types:<ul>
 <li>Phishing is an email sent by fraudsters 
claiming to come from the IRS or another legitimate organization, 
including state tax organizations or a financial firm. The email lures 
the victims into the scam by a variety of ruses such as enticing victims
 with a phony tax refund or frightening them with false legal/criminal 
charges for tax fraud. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Smishing is a text or smartphone SMS message that 
uses the same technique as phishing. Scammers often use alarming 
language like, "Your account has now been put on hold," or "Unusual 
Activity Report" with a bogus "Solutions" link to restore the 
recipient's account. Unexpected tax refunds are another potential target
 for scam artists.</li>
 </ul>The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail and will 
never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media 
regarding a bill or tax refund.Never click on any unsolicited communication claiming to be the IRS 
as it may surreptitiously load malware. It may also be a way for 
malicious hackers to load ransomware that keeps the legitimate user from
 accessing their system and files.Individuals should never respond to tax-related phishing or smishing 
or click on the URL link. Instead, the scams should be reported by 
sending the email or a copy of the text/SMS as an attachment to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a>.
 The report should include the caller ID (email or phone number), date, 
time and time zone, and the number that received the message.Taxpayers can also report scams to the <a href="https://www.tigta.gov/irs-scam-resources">Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration</a> or the <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/">Internet Crime Complaint Center</a>. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing">Report Phishing and Online Scams </a>page&nbsp;at IRS.gov provides complete details. The Federal Communications Commission's <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/smartphone-security">Smartphone Security Checker</a> is a useful tool against mobile security threats.The IRS also warns taxpayers to be wary of messages that appear to be
 from friends or family but that are possibly stolen or compromised 
email or text accounts from someone they know. This remains a popular 
way to target individuals and tax preparers for a variety of scams. 
Individuals should verify the identity of the sender by using another 
communication method; for instance, calling a number they independently 
know to be accurate, not the number provided in the email or text.<h2>Help stop fraud and scams</h2>As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages 
people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax 
schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare 
improper returns.To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF&nbsp;and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.Mail:Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center 
Stop MS5040 
24000 Avila Road 
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405 
Fax: 877-477-9135Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

Scammers using email, texts to trick people during tax season

Newsmax
 is returning to DirecTV after a dispute between the parties saw the 
conservative network removed from the satellite carrier.

The duo 
were initially unable to agree to financial terms on an agreement, which
 led to DirecTV losing the rights to distribute Newsmax programming on 
Jan. 25.

The companies said Wednesday that they've now reached a 
multiyear distribution deal that will see the Newsmax channel return to 
DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse starting on Thursday.

“As
 a stand-alone company, DirecTV helped give Newsmax its start nearly a 
decade ago as it continues to do with upcoming news networks, which is 
why we are pleased to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that will 
deliver our network to DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse customers 
over the next several years,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a 
statement on Wednesday.

Associated PressNewsmax
 is returning to DirecTV after a dispute between the parties saw the 
conservative network removed from the satellite carrier.The duo 
were initially unable to agree to financial terms on an agreement, which
 led to DirecTV losing the rights to distribute Newsmax programming on 
Jan. 25.The companies said Wednesday that they've now reached a 
multiyear distribution deal that will see the Newsmax channel return to 
DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse starting on Thursday.Financial terms were not disclosed.“As
 a stand-alone company, DirecTV helped give Newsmax its start nearly a 
decade ago as it continues to do with upcoming news networks, which is 
why we are pleased to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that will 
deliver our network to DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse customers 
over the next several years,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a 
statement on Wednesday.

Newsmax returns to DirecTV, inks multiyear distribution deal

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A <a href="https://apnews.com/article/teaching-newport-news-education-25cebfde17e46abc435c205210a7073d">Virginia teacher who was shot</a> and wounded by her 6-year-old student said it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day.

“I
 just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he 
pointed the gun directly at me,” first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner said 
during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie about the 
student. “It's changed me. It's changed my life.”

She said she's 
still in shock and can't make sense of it, in a portion of the interview
 that was aired Tuesday morning on “Today."

“I'm not sure when the
 shock will ever go away because of just how surreal it was and the 
vivid memories I have of that day. I think about it daily. Sometimes I 
have nightmares,” she said.

Speaking publicly for the first time 
since the Jan. 6 shooting, Zwerner said in a portion of the interview 
that was aired Monday on “NBC Nightly News" that she's had a challenging
 recovery. She's had four surgeries and has some days when she “can't 
get up out of bed." Other days she can go about her day.

“For 
going through what I've gone through, I try to stay positive. You know, 
try to have a positive outlook on what's happened and where my future's 
heading,” Zwerner said

Zwerner was hospitalized for nearly two 
weeks after being shot in the chest and left hand as she taught her 
class at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. <a is="" href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Summary = A Virginia teacher who was shot and wounded by her 6-year-old student says it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day. First-grade teacher Abby Zwerner spoke publicly for the first time since the Jan. 6 shooting during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie that partially aired Tuesday morning on “Today.” Zwerner said she'll never forget the look on the student's face while he pointed the gun at her. She said she's still in shock and can't make sense of it, but she thinks about it daily and it has changed her life. Body = A Virginia teacher who was shot and wounded by her 6-year-old student said it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day. “I just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he pointed the gun directly at me,” first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner said during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie about the student. “It's changed me. It's changed my life.” She said she's still in shock and can't make sense of it, in a portion of the interview that was aired Tuesday morning on “Today.">The shooting rattled the military shipbuilding community</a> and sent shock waves around the country, with many wondering <a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-school-shootings-crime-teaching-080df45fb792de5c825b151315ba8a8c">how a child so young could get access to a gun</a> and shoot his teacher.

In the moments after she was shot, Zwerner said the other first-graders in her class were screaming.

She was terrified. But her concern centered on the children — “I just wanted to get my babies out of there."

“I think they knew as well that they had to get out of there," Zwerner said. "But they were extremely frightened and screaming.”

What happened next is still kind of a blur. Zwerner got the kids out of the classroom.

She knew she needed help. The fire alarm had gone off, heightening her awareness that she'd been shot.

She had trouble breathing. Her vision failed.

“I went to the office and I just passed out,” Zwerner said. “I thought I had died.”

Zwerner
 didn't know it at the time, but her lung had collapsed. Doctors said 
the bullet could have killed her. She likely survived because she had 
put up her hands.

“The initial gunshot went through my left hand 
and ruptured the middle bone as well as the index finger and the thumb,”
 she said. “The gunshot then went into my chest up here where it 
actually still remains. So I have the scar up here. And I still have 
some bullet fragments up here.”

At the hospital, Zwerner called 
her mother “Mommy” for the first time in quite a long time. She lives 
with her twin sister, who's been taking care of her since she returned 
home, from cooking meals to taking her to doctors appointments.

The support from the outside world has been “overwhelming” and difficult to comprehend.

“We have tons of handmade cards, hand-written cards with people’s stories,” Zwerner said.

Zwerner believes she survived for a reason. If she could talk to her first-graders, she'd tell each one she loves them.

“I’m very grateful that they’re all alive,” she said. “And they’re safe, and they’re healthy. And I just miss them dearly.”

Zwerner
 told Guthrie the bullet wounds have scarred over. But she said they're 
still a reminder that, “Hey, this happened to you. This is what your 
body's been through.”

Zwerner intends to sue the district, according to a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-teaching-newport-news-virginia-fd4938bb3097fdbf858f599fc53adc45">legal notice filed by her attorney</a>. Newport News Public Schools did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press on Tuesday seeking comment.

Earlier this month, top Newport News prosecutor Howard Gwynn said his office will not <a href="https://apnews.com/article/6yearold-shoots-teacher-charges-richneck-newport-news-abby-zwerner-04e552e3662c8ed4c1b1a731d20ea205">criminally charge</a>
 the boy because he wouldn’t understand the legal system and what a 
charge means. Gwynn has yet to decide if any adults will be charged.

The boy had fired his mother's gun, which police said was legally purchased. An attorney for the boy’s family has said that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-virginia-newport-news-children-33ed30539f279405f696ad10d4ff46a1">the firearm was secured</a> on a closet shelf and had a lock on it.

During Tuesday's interview, Guthrie asked Zwerner what justice would mean for her.

“That's a tough question to answer,” the teacher said.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A <a href="https://apnews.com/article/teaching-newport-news-education-25cebfde17e46abc435c205210a7073d">Virginia teacher who was shot</a> and wounded by her 6-year-old student said it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day.“I
 just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he 
pointed the gun directly at me,” first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner said 
during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie about the 
student. “It's changed me. It's changed my life.”She said she's 
still in shock and can't make sense of it, in a portion of the interview
 that was aired Tuesday morning on “Today."“I'm not sure when the
 shock will ever go away because of just how surreal it was and the 
vivid memories I have of that day. I think about it daily. Sometimes I 
have nightmares,” she said.Speaking publicly for the first time 
since the Jan. 6 shooting, Zwerner said in a portion of the interview 
that was aired Monday on “NBC Nightly News" that she's had a challenging
 recovery. She's had four surgeries and has some days when she “can't 
get up out of bed." Other days she can go about her day.“For 
going through what I've gone through, I try to stay positive. You know, 
try to have a positive outlook on what's happened and where my future's 
heading,” Zwerner saidZwerner was hospitalized for nearly two 
weeks after being shot in the chest and left hand as she taught her 
class at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. <a is="" href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Summary = A Virginia teacher who was shot and wounded by her 6-year-old student says it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day. First-grade teacher Abby Zwerner spoke publicly for the first time since the Jan. 6 shooting during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie that partially aired Tuesday morning on “Today.” Zwerner said she'll never forget the look on the student's face while he pointed the gun at her. She said she's still in shock and can't make sense of it, but she thinks about it daily and it has changed her life. Body = A Virginia teacher who was shot and wounded by her 6-year-old student said it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day. “I just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he pointed the gun directly at me,” first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner said during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie about the student. “It's changed me. It's changed my life.” She said she's still in shock and can't make sense of it, in a portion of the interview that was aired Tuesday morning on “Today.">The shooting rattled the military shipbuilding community</a> and sent shock waves around the country, with many wondering <a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-school-shootings-crime-teaching-080df45fb792de5c825b151315ba8a8c">how a child so young could get access to a gun</a> and shoot his teacher.In the moments after she was shot, Zwerner said the other first-graders in her class were screaming.She was terrified. But her concern centered on the children — “I just wanted to get my babies out of there."“I think they knew as well that they had to get out of there," Zwerner said. "But they were extremely frightened and screaming.”What happened next is still kind of a blur. Zwerner got the kids out of the classroom.She knew she needed help. The fire alarm had gone off, heightening her awareness that she'd been shot.She had trouble breathing. Her vision failed.“I went to the office and I just passed out,” Zwerner said. “I thought I had died.”Zwerner
 didn't know it at the time, but her lung had collapsed. Doctors said 
the bullet could have killed her. She likely survived because she had 
put up her hands.“The initial gunshot went through my left hand 
and ruptured the middle bone as well as the index finger and the thumb,”
 she said. “The gunshot then went into my chest up here where it 
actually still remains. So I have the scar up here. And I still have 
some bullet fragments up here.”At the hospital, Zwerner called 
her mother “Mommy” for the first time in quite a long time. She lives 
with her twin sister, who's been taking care of her since she returned 
home, from cooking meals to taking her to doctors appointments.The support from the outside world has been “overwhelming” and difficult to comprehend.“We have tons of handmade cards, hand-written cards with people’s stories,” Zwerner said.Zwerner believes she survived for a reason. If she could talk to her first-graders, she'd tell each one she loves them.“I’m very grateful that they’re all alive,” she said. “And they’re safe, and they’re healthy. And I just miss them dearly.”Zwerner
 told Guthrie the bullet wounds have scarred over. But she said they're 
still a reminder that, “Hey, this happened to you. This is what your 
body's been through.”Zwerner intends to sue the district, according to a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-teaching-newport-news-virginia-fd4938bb3097fdbf858f599fc53adc45">legal notice filed by her attorney</a>. Newport News Public Schools did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press on Tuesday seeking comment.Earlier this month, top Newport News prosecutor Howard Gwynn said his office will not <a href="https://apnews.com/article/6yearold-shoots-teacher-charges-richneck-newport-news-abby-zwerner-04e552e3662c8ed4c1b1a731d20ea205">criminally charge</a>
 the boy because he wouldn’t understand the legal system and what a 
charge means. Gwynn has yet to decide if any adults will be charged.The boy had fired his mother's gun, which police said was legally purchased. An attorney for the boy’s family has said that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-virginia-newport-news-children-33ed30539f279405f696ad10d4ff46a1">the firearm was secured</a> on a closet shelf and had a lock on it.During Tuesday's interview, Guthrie asked Zwerner what justice would mean for her.“That's a tough question to answer,” the teacher said.

Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old: 'I thought I had died'

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer

LONDON (AP) — TikTok went on a counteroffensive Tuesday amid increasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">Western pressure over cybersecurity and misinformation concerns</a>,
 rolling out updated rules and standards for content as its CEO warned 
against a possible U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned video sharing app.

CEO
 Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. congressional 
lawmakers, who will grill him about the company’s privacy and 
data-security practices and relationship with the Chinese government.

Chew said in a TikTok video that the hearing “comes at a pivotal moment” for the company, after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tiktok-new-zealand-britain-us-f8ead4d3b05c2f5df5ec4a435961d7f7#">lawmakers introduced measures</a>
 that would expand the Biden administration’s authority to enact a U.S. 
ban on the app, which the CEO said more than 150 million Americans use.

“Some
 politicians have started talking about banning TikTok. Now this could 
take TikTok away from all 150 million of you,” said Chew, who was 
dressed casually in jeans and blue hoodie, with the dome of the U.S. 
Capitol in Washington in the background.

“I’ll be testifying before Congress this week to share all that we’re are doing to protect Americans using the app,” he said.

TikTok app has come under fire in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">the U.S.</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-united-states-government-privacy-business-29a52f0eee4177f6c2a596d12459feec">Europe</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-zealand-tiktok-ban-lawmakers-parliament-workers-36c42f94d236d5d714d4fb0dd8ac2f45">Asia-Pacific</a>,
 where a growing number of governments have banned TikTok from devices 
used for official business over worries it poses risks to cybersecurity 
and data privacy or could be used to push <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tiktok-facebook-influencers-propaganda-81388bca676c560e02a1b493ea9d6760">pro-Beijing narratives and misinformation</a>.

So
 far, there is no evidence to suggest this has happened or that TikTok 
has turned over user data to the Chinese government, as some of its 
critics have argued it would do.

Norway and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-netherlands-ban-cybersecurity-df5b67d59875a3b4f48c494ab26fe682">the Netherlands</a>
 on Tuesday warned apps like TikTok should not be installed on phones 
issued to government employees, both citing security or intelligence 
agencies.

There’s a “high risk” if TikTok or Telegram are 
installed on devices that have access to “internal digital 
infrastructure or services,” Norway’s justice ministry said, without 
providing further details.

TikTok also rolled out updated rules 
and standards for content and users in a reorganized set of community 
guidelines that include eight principles to guide content moderation 
decisions.

“These principles are based on our commitment to uphold
 human rights and aligned with international legal frameworks,” said 
Julie de Bailliencourt, TikTok’s global head of product policy.

She said TikTok strives to be fair, protect human dignity and balance freedom of expression with preventing harm.

The guidelines, which take effect April 21, were repackaged from TikTok's existing rules with extra details and explanations.

Among
 the more significant changes are additional details about its 
restrictions on deepfakes, also known as synthetic media created by 
artificial intelligence technology. TikTok more clearly spells out its 
policy, saying all deepfakes or manipulated content that show realistic 
scenes must be labeled to indicate they're fake or altered in some way.

TikTok
 had previously banned deepfakes that mislead viewers about real-world 
events and cause harm. Its updated guidelines say deepfakes of private 
figures and young people are also not allowed.

Deepfakes of public
 figures are OK in certain contexts, such as for artistic or educational
 content, but not for political or commercial endorsements.

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business WriterLONDON (AP) — TikTok went on a counteroffensive Tuesday amid increasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">Western pressure over cybersecurity and misinformation concerns</a>,
 rolling out updated rules and standards for content as its CEO warned 
against a possible U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned video sharing app.CEO
 Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. congressional 
lawmakers, who will grill him about the company’s privacy and 
data-security practices and relationship with the Chinese government.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596810871119.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Chew said in a TikTok video that the hearing “comes at a pivotal moment” for the company, after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tiktok-new-zealand-britain-us-f8ead4d3b05c2f5df5ec4a435961d7f7#">lawmakers introduced measures</a>
 that would expand the Biden administration’s authority to enact a U.S. 
ban on the app, which the CEO said more than 150 million Americans use.“Some
 politicians have started talking about banning TikTok. Now this could 
take TikTok away from all 150 million of you,” said Chew, who was 
dressed casually in jeans and blue hoodie, with the dome of the U.S. 
Capitol in Washington in the background.“I’ll be testifying before Congress this week to share all that we’re are doing to protect Americans using the app,” he said.TikTok app has come under fire in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">the U.S.</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-united-states-government-privacy-business-29a52f0eee4177f6c2a596d12459feec">Europe</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-zealand-tiktok-ban-lawmakers-parliament-workers-36c42f94d236d5d714d4fb0dd8ac2f45">Asia-Pacific</a>,
 where a growing number of governments have banned TikTok from devices 
used for official business over worries it poses risks to cybersecurity 
and data privacy or could be used to push <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tiktok-facebook-influencers-propaganda-81388bca676c560e02a1b493ea9d6760">pro-Beijing narratives and misinformation</a>.So
 far, there is no evidence to suggest this has happened or that TikTok 
has turned over user data to the Chinese government, as some of its 
critics have argued it would do.Norway and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-netherlands-ban-cybersecurity-df5b67d59875a3b4f48c494ab26fe682">the Netherlands</a>
 on Tuesday warned apps like TikTok should not be installed on phones 
issued to government employees, both citing security or intelligence 
agencies.There’s a “high risk” if TikTok or Telegram are 
installed on devices that have access to “internal digital 
infrastructure or services,” Norway’s justice ministry said, without 
providing further details.TikTok also rolled out updated rules 
and standards for content and users in a reorganized set of community 
guidelines that include eight principles to guide content moderation 
decisions.“These principles are based on our commitment to uphold
 human rights and aligned with international legal frameworks,” said 
Julie de Bailliencourt, TikTok’s global head of product policy.She said TikTok strives to be fair, protect human dignity and balance freedom of expression with preventing harm.The guidelines, which take effect April 21, were repackaged from TikTok's existing rules with extra details and explanations.Among
 the more significant changes are additional details about its 
restrictions on deepfakes, also known as synthetic media created by 
artificial intelligence technology. TikTok more clearly spells out its 
policy, saying all deepfakes or manipulated content that show realistic 
scenes must be labeled to indicate they're fake or altered in some way.TikTok
 had previously banned deepfakes that mislead viewers about real-world 
events and cause harm. Its updated guidelines say deepfakes of private 
figures and young people are also not allowed.Deepfakes of public
 figures are OK in certain contexts, such as for artistic or educational
 content, but not for political or commercial endorsements.

TikTok updates rules; CEO on charm offensive for US hearing

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — There's a moment in the new PBS documentary about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/anthony-fauci-announces-retirement-7efdacac6a9ff7aa6e2f870b551fe508">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a> when a protester holds up a handmade sign reading, “Dr. Fauci, You Are Killing Us."

It
 says something about Fauci that it's not initially clear when that sign
 was waved in anger — in the 1980s as AIDS made its deadly rise or in 
the 2020s with COVID-19 vaccine opponents.

<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/anthony-fauci-documentary/23072/">“American Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci,”</a>
 offers a portrait of an unlikely lightning rod: A government infectious
 disease scientist who advised seven presidents. Fauci hopes it can 
inspire more public servants like him.

“I just felt that there 
needed to be a story of people understanding what public health 
officials go through, but also I hope as a source of inspiration for 
young people who are either in science or interested in going into 
science,” he told The Associated Press. The documentary airs Tuesday and
 later streams.

Fauci allowed a film crew to follow him for 23 
months starting in January 2021. The documentary covers his career and 
its crises, especially the way COVID-19 was handled by the Trump 
administration.

“When you talk about all of the different things 
coming together for a disaster, that’s what happened: A divided country,
 a president who amplified the division and then a public health crisis —
 you couldn’t ask for a worse combination of things,” he said.

<a href="http://room608.com/portrait-photos">Director Mark Mannucci</a>
 offers an intimate look at his subject, with images of Fauci running 
from meeting to meeting and wolfing down Wheat Thins between Zooms. His 
wife attests to the stress by pointing out their security detail due to 
threats.

“The story illuminates — and he’d be the first to say it —
 some very dark stuff about this country and how a person who has 
devoted his life to helping individuals got so twisted in this current 
climate,” said Mannucci.

Michael Kantor, executive producer for the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/">American Masters series</a>,
 says Fauci is a figure who has been central to American life for 
decades and deserves an examination, even if some virulently oppose him.

“Dr.
 Fauci is a very controversial figure, and there are going to be people 
who are going to voice — just as in the film — great displeasure about 
what he’s done and about his approach to things. But isn’t that the 
whole point of public media? It is intended to make that conversation 
happen in the best possible way.”

COVID-19 may have introduced 
Fauci to millions of Americans, but his long career at the National 
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was marked by numerous 
previous health scares, among them HIV, SARS, MERS, Ebola and even the 
nation’s 2001 anthrax attacks.

The film shows that Fauci learned a
 lesson in humility with AIDS, as the disease stubbornly persisted and 
activists argued not enough was being done from the government. “I went 
from a world of success and gratification to a world of frustration and 
failure,” he says in the film.

Mannucci's camera flashes-forward 
to today, with Fauci cordially meeting up with the former AIDS activists
 who once decried him. They have long since reconciled; they were all on
 the same side, after all — science.

“I put aside the 
confrontational behavior and the attacks on me and listen to what they 
were saying,” Fauci explained in the interview. “And what they were 
saying was making perfect sense. It made me feel if I were in their 
shoes, I’d be doing exactly what they were doing.”

That's not the 
case when protesters in recent years began attacking Fauci for mask 
mandates, school closures, quarantines and bizarre claims about the 
COVID-19 vaccines.

“There’s one sign that says, ‘Fauci, You’re 
Killing Us’ and the other sign that says ‘Fauci, You’re Killing Us’ but 
the rationale for those from the 1980s to 2023 is enormously different,”
 Fauci said. “They couldn't be more different.”

In one remarkable 
sequence in the documentary, Mannucci presses Fauci on whether he might 
have handled things differently looking back — like asking Americans to 
adopt masks sooner or ordering quarantines faster. “Maybe I should have 
done that,” he says. “Yeah, I was wrong.”

Mannucci relied on 10 
long sit-downs with Fauci to develop trust with his subject and didn't 
clutter the documentary with testimonials from talking heads, wanting to
 focus on Fauci's experiences.

“I hope it’s not viewed as a 
partisan message, but as a portrait of who he is and what he went 
through,” said the director. “I hope that people on the other side, even
 if they never end up agreeing with him, will at least see somebody who 
is a real person, who’s a thinking person, who’s somebody maybe they can
 even relate to.”

The film ends with Fauci's retirement from the 
NIAID late last year. Kantor suspects only time will tell where history 
will judge a man who dedicated his life to public service.

“I 
think 10 years from now, hopefully the furor over him as a controversial
 figure will die down. But the legacy of the approach to pandemics and 
so on will still be super valuable,” he said.

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment WriterNEW YORK (AP) — There's a moment in the new PBS documentary about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/anthony-fauci-announces-retirement-7efdacac6a9ff7aa6e2f870b551fe508">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a> when a protester holds up a handmade sign reading, “Dr. Fauci, You Are Killing Us."It
 says something about Fauci that it's not initially clear when that sign
 was waved in anger — in the 1980s as AIDS made its deadly rise or in 
the 2020s with COVID-19 vaccine opponents.<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/anthony-fauci-documentary/23072/">“American Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci,”</a>
 offers a portrait of an unlikely lightning rod: A government infectious
 disease scientist who advised seven presidents. Fauci hopes it can 
inspire more public servants like him.“I just felt that there 
needed to be a story of people understanding what public health 
officials go through, but also I hope as a source of inspiration for 
young people who are either in science or interested in going into 
science,” he told The Associated Press. The documentary airs Tuesday and
 later streams.Fauci allowed a film crew to follow him for 23 
months starting in January 2021. The documentary covers his career and 
its crises, especially the way COVID-19 was handled by the Trump 
administration.“When you talk about all of the different things 
coming together for a disaster, that’s what happened: A divided country,
 a president who amplified the division and then a public health crisis —
 you couldn’t ask for a worse combination of things,” he said.<a href="http://room608.com/portrait-photos">Director Mark Mannucci</a>
 offers an intimate look at his subject, with images of Fauci running 
from meeting to meeting and wolfing down Wheat Thins between Zooms. His 
wife attests to the stress by pointing out their security detail due to 
threats.“The story illuminates — and he’d be the first to say it —
 some very dark stuff about this country and how a person who has 
devoted his life to helping individuals got so twisted in this current 
climate,” said Mannucci.Michael Kantor, executive producer for the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/">American Masters series</a>,
 says Fauci is a figure who has been central to American life for 
decades and deserves an examination, even if some virulently oppose him.“Dr.
 Fauci is a very controversial figure, and there are going to be people 
who are going to voice — just as in the film — great displeasure about 
what he’s done and about his approach to things. But isn’t that the 
whole point of public media? It is intended to make that conversation 
happen in the best possible way.”COVID-19 may have introduced 
Fauci to millions of Americans, but his long career at the National 
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was marked by numerous 
previous health scares, among them HIV, SARS, MERS, Ebola and even the 
nation’s 2001 anthrax attacks.The film shows that Fauci learned a
 lesson in humility with AIDS, as the disease stubbornly persisted and 
activists argued not enough was being done from the government. “I went 
from a world of success and gratification to a world of frustration and 
failure,” he says in the film.Mannucci's camera flashes-forward 
to today, with Fauci cordially meeting up with the former AIDS activists
 who once decried him. They have long since reconciled; they were all on
 the same side, after all — science.“I put aside the 
confrontational behavior and the attacks on me and listen to what they 
were saying,” Fauci explained in the interview. “And what they were 
saying was making perfect sense. It made me feel if I were in their 
shoes, I’d be doing exactly what they were doing.”That's not the 
case when protesters in recent years began attacking Fauci for mask 
mandates, school closures, quarantines and bizarre claims about the 
COVID-19 vaccines.“There’s one sign that says, ‘Fauci, You’re 
Killing Us’ and the other sign that says ‘Fauci, You’re Killing Us’ but 
the rationale for those from the 1980s to 2023 is enormously different,”
 Fauci said. “They couldn't be more different.”In one remarkable 
sequence in the documentary, Mannucci presses Fauci on whether he might 
have handled things differently looking back — like asking Americans to 
adopt masks sooner or ordering quarantines faster. “Maybe I should have 
done that,” he says. “Yeah, I was wrong.”Mannucci relied on 10 
long sit-downs with Fauci to develop trust with his subject and didn't 
clutter the documentary with testimonials from talking heads, wanting to
 focus on Fauci's experiences.“I hope it’s not viewed as a 
partisan message, but as a portrait of who he is and what he went 
through,” said the director. “I hope that people on the other side, even
 if they never end up agreeing with him, will at least see somebody who 
is a real person, who’s a thinking person, who’s somebody maybe they can
 even relate to.”The film ends with Fauci's retirement from the 
NIAID late last year. Kantor suspects only time will tell where history 
will judge a man who dedicated his life to public service.“I 
think 10 years from now, hopefully the furor over him as a controversial
 figure will die down. But the legacy of the approach to pandemics and 
so on will still be super valuable,” he said.

Anthony Fauci documentary on PBS covers a career of crises

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
 today announced that they are soliciting feedback for upcoming guidance
 regarding the tax treatment of a nonfungible token (NFT) as a 
collectible under the tax law. Today's guidance also requests comments 
on the treatment of NFTs as collectibles and describes how the IRS 
intends to determine whether an NFT is a collectible until the further 
guidance is issued.

A nonfungible token (NFT) is a unique digital identifier that is 
recorded using distributed ledger technology and may be used to certify 
authenticity and ownership of an associated right or asset. Distributed 
ledger technology, such as blockchain technology, uses independent 
digital systems to record, share and synchronize transactions, the 
details of which are recorded simultaneously on multiple nodes in a 
network. A token is an entry of data encoded on a distributed ledger. A 
distributed ledger can be used to identify ownership of both NFTs and 
fungible tokens, such as cryptocurrency, as described in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/irb/2019-44_IRB#REV-RUL-2019-24">Rev. Rul. 2019-24</a>.

Section 408(m)(2) of the tax code provides for a specific list of 
items that constitute collectibles for certain purposes. Acquisition of a
 collectible by an individual retirement account (IRA) or 
individually-directed account of a qualified plan is treated as a 
distribution from the account equal to the cost to the account of the 
collectible. Generally, collectibles also do not have as advantageous 
capital-gains tax treatment as other capital assets.

Until additional guidance is issued, the IRS intends to determine 
when an NFT is treated as a collectible by using a "look-through 
analysis." Under the look-through analysis, an NFT is treated as a 
collectible if the NFT's associated right or asset falls under the 
definition of collectible in the tax code. For example, a gem is a 
collectible under section 408(m); therefore, an NFT that certifies 
ownership of a gem is a collectible.

In <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-23-27.pdf">Notice 2023-27</a>PDF,
 the Treasury Department and the IRS are requesting comments on any 
aspect of NFTs that might affect the treatment of an NFT as a 
collectible as well as certain comments specifically set out in the 
notice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
 today announced that they are soliciting feedback for upcoming guidance
 regarding the tax treatment of a nonfungible token (NFT) as a 
collectible under the tax law. Today's guidance also requests comments 
on the treatment of NFTs as collectibles and describes how the IRS 
intends to determine whether an NFT is a collectible until the further 
guidance is issued.A nonfungible token (NFT) is a unique digital identifier that is 
recorded using distributed ledger technology and may be used to certify 
authenticity and ownership of an associated right or asset. Distributed 
ledger technology, such as blockchain technology, uses independent 
digital systems to record, share and synchronize transactions, the 
details of which are recorded simultaneously on multiple nodes in a 
network. A token is an entry of data encoded on a distributed ledger. A 
distributed ledger can be used to identify ownership of both NFTs and 
fungible tokens, such as cryptocurrency, as described in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/irb/2019-44_IRB#REV-RUL-2019-24">Rev. Rul. 2019-24</a>.Section 408(m)(2) of the tax code provides for a specific list of 
items that constitute collectibles for certain purposes. Acquisition of a
 collectible by an individual retirement account (IRA) or 
individually-directed account of a qualified plan is treated as a 
distribution from the account equal to the cost to the account of the 
collectible. Generally, collectibles also do not have as advantageous 
capital-gains tax treatment as other capital assets.Until additional guidance is issued, the IRS intends to determine 
when an NFT is treated as a collectible by using a "look-through 
analysis." Under the look-through analysis, an NFT is treated as a 
collectible if the NFT's associated right or asset falls under the 
definition of collectible in the tax code. For example, a gem is a 
collectible under section 408(m); therefore, an NFT that certifies 
ownership of a gem is a collectible.In <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-23-27.pdf">Notice 2023-27</a>PDF,
 the Treasury Department and the IRS are requesting comments on any 
aspect of NFTs that might affect the treatment of an NFT as a 
collectible as well as certain comments specifically set out in the 
notice.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

IRS issues guidance on crypto, nonfungible tokens

HONG KONG — Public screenings of a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winnie-the-pooh-copyright-blood-and-honey-batman-mickey-717bf5a77eed30fe02283f1439ca6cd7">slasher film that features Winnie the Pooh</a> were scrapped abruptly in Hong Kong on Tuesday, sparking discussions over increasing censorship in the city.

Film
 distributor VII Pillars Entertainment announced on Facebook that the 
release of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” on Thursday had been 
canceled with “great regret” in Hong Kong and neighboring Macao.

In
 an email reply to The Associated Press, the distributor said it was 
notified by cinemas that they could not show the film as scheduled, but 
it didn't know why. The cinema chains involved did not immediately reply
 to a request for comment.

For many residents, the Winnie the Pooh
 character is a playful taunt of China's President Xi Jinping and 
Chinese censors in the past had briefly banned social media searches for
 the bear in the country. In 2018, the film “Christopher Robin,” also 
featuring Winnie the Pooh, was reportedly denied a release in China.

The film being pulled in Hong Kong has prompted concern on social media over the territory’s shrinking freedoms.

The movie was initially set to be shown in about 30 cinemas in Hong Kong, VII Pillars Entertainment wrote last week.

The
 Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration said it had 
approved the film and arrangements by local cinemas to screen approved 
films “are the commercial decisions of the cinemas concerned." It 
refused to comment on such arrangements.

A screening initially 
scheduled for Tuesday night in one cinema was canceled due to “technical
 reasons," the organizer said on Instagram.

Kenny Ng, a professor 
at Hong Kong Baptist University’s academy of film, refused to speculate 
on the reason behind the cancellation, but suggested the mechanism of 
silencing criticism appeared to be resorting to commercial decisions.

Hong
 Kong is a former British colony that returned to China's rule in 1997, 
promising to retain its Western-style freedoms. But China imposed a 
national security law following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, 
silencing or jailing many dissidents.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-hong-kong-censorship-7f468deea7ab0e637b2ee58fbe28c031">In 2021, the government tightened guidelines</a> and authorized censors to ban films believed to have breached the sweeping law.

Ng
 said the city saw more cases of censorship over the last two years, 
mostly targeting non-commercial movies, such as independent short films.

“When there is a red line, then there are more taboos,” he said.

Associated PressHONG KONG — Public screenings of a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winnie-the-pooh-copyright-blood-and-honey-batman-mickey-717bf5a77eed30fe02283f1439ca6cd7">slasher film that features Winnie the Pooh</a> were scrapped abruptly in Hong Kong on Tuesday, sparking discussions over increasing censorship in the city.Film
 distributor VII Pillars Entertainment announced on Facebook that the 
release of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” on Thursday had been 
canceled with “great regret” in Hong Kong and neighboring Macao.In
 an email reply to The Associated Press, the distributor said it was 
notified by cinemas that they could not show the film as scheduled, but 
it didn't know why. The cinema chains involved did not immediately reply
 to a request for comment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679421169582.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For many residents, the Winnie the Pooh
 character is a playful taunt of China's President Xi Jinping and 
Chinese censors in the past had briefly banned social media searches for
 the bear in the country. In 2018, the film “Christopher Robin,” also 
featuring Winnie the Pooh, was reportedly denied a release in China.The film being pulled in Hong Kong has prompted concern on social media over the territory’s shrinking freedoms.The movie was initially set to be shown in about 30 cinemas in Hong Kong, VII Pillars Entertainment wrote last week.The
 Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration said it had 
approved the film and arrangements by local cinemas to screen approved 
films “are the commercial decisions of the cinemas concerned." It 
refused to comment on such arrangements.A screening initially 
scheduled for Tuesday night in one cinema was canceled due to “technical
 reasons," the organizer said on Instagram.Kenny Ng, a professor 
at Hong Kong Baptist University’s academy of film, refused to speculate 
on the reason behind the cancellation, but suggested the mechanism of 
silencing criticism appeared to be resorting to commercial decisions.Hong
 Kong is a former British colony that returned to China's rule in 1997, 
promising to retain its Western-style freedoms. But China imposed a 
national security law following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, 
silencing or jailing many dissidents.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-hong-kong-censorship-7f468deea7ab0e637b2ee58fbe28c031">In 2021, the government tightened guidelines</a> and authorized censors to ban films believed to have breached the sweeping law.Ng
 said the city saw more cases of censorship over the last two years, 
mostly targeting non-commercial movies, such as independent short films.“When there is a red line, then there are more taboos,” he said.

'Winnie the Pooh' film pulled from Hong Kong cinemas

FRISCO,
 Colo. (AP) — A community in Illinois is in mourning a day after two 
local teens were killed while sledding at a Colorado ski resort.

Paula
 Crane, superintendent of the Prairie Central school district in 
Fairbury, confirmed Monday that two students from Prairie Central High 
School died in a “tragic accident.”

She declined to identity them 
out of respect for their families. A local church will be offering 
counseling for any students or staff.

The two students, ages 18 and 17, had been on spring break.

The
 young men were riding in tandem down the halfpipe at Copper Mountain 
Ski Resort in Summit County when they launched off a large snowbank at 
the bottom, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say both teens then landed on hard ice and suffered blunt force trauma. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

“Our
 thoughts and condolences go out to the families and friends of the 
individuals involved in this tragic incident," Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons 
said.

The teens' bodies have been turned over to the county 
coroner's office, which will determine the exact cause and manner of 
death.

Authorities did not release further details.

Copper 
Mountain Ski Resort, which lies roughly 75 miles west 
of Denver, is a popular draw for skiers and riders with over 2,500 
acre of high alpine terrain.

FRISCO,
 Colo. (AP) — A community in Illinois is in mourning a day after two 
local teens were killed while sledding at a Colorado ski resort.Paula
 Crane, superintendent of the Prairie Central school district in 
Fairbury, confirmed Monday that two students from Prairie Central High 
School died in a “tragic accident.”She declined to identity them 
out of respect for their families. A local church will be offering 
counseling for any students or staff.The two students, ages 18 and 17, had been on spring break.The
 young men were riding in tandem down the halfpipe at Copper Mountain 
Ski Resort in Summit County when they launched off a large snowbank at 
the bottom, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office.Authorities say both teens then landed on hard ice and suffered blunt force trauma. They were pronounced dead at the scene.“Our
 thoughts and condolences go out to the families and friends of the 
individuals involved in this tragic incident," Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons 
said.The teens' bodies have been turned over to the county 
coroner's office, which will determine the exact cause and manner of 
death.Authorities did not release further details.Copper 
Mountain Ski Resort, which lies roughly 75 miles west 
of Denver, is a popular draw for skiers and riders with over 2,500 
acre of high alpine terrain.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid035JSjxNbk45DCAE9tvnJ6XfUGRMEn8pVLH65LF9zWd79md89o5SnHjcpGxy1F3aRnl%26id%3D100027213447067&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="230" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Teens on spring break dead after sledding at Colorado ski resort

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Taylor Swift opened her U.S. concert series with a three-hour tour of her career.

Swift
 kicked off the first concert of the 52-date Eras Tour with a six-song 
set from her album “Lover” on Friday night at State Farm Stadium in 
Glendale, Arizona, where the Super Bowl was played a month ago.

“I
 don’t know how to address the way this is making me feel right now,” 
Swift, who hasn't toured since 2018, said early in the show.

She ended the concert with a seven-song set from her latest album “Midnights," closing with the song “Karma.”

In
 between she played clusters of songs from most of her albums — and just
 one, “Tim McGraw,” from her 2006 self-titled debut. In the end it took 
44 songs and just over three hours for her to span her 17-year career.

Having
 not toured for her previous three albums, this concert series is 
intended to play catchup by providing the live debut of many of those 
songs. When <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-phoebe-bridgers-e960c7caddace9a05374ddc7a53211aa">Swift announced the tour</a> in November she called it “a journey through the musical eras of my career (past and present!).”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-af5d58d2a8c6def368ded1bd2ddd8a6f">Swift seemed to acknowledge</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-business-taylor-swift-tennessee-e157badef297f7c302615b3a6080ba2a">the Ticketmaster furor</a> that sullied the run-up to the tour when she told the crowd of more than 70,000 that she understands it took <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">“considerable effort” for them to be there</a>.

Associated PressGLENDALE, Ariz. — Taylor Swift opened her U.S. concert series with a three-hour tour of her career.Swift
 kicked off the first concert of the 52-date Eras Tour with a six-song 
set from her album “Lover” on Friday night at State Farm Stadium in 
Glendale, Arizona, where the Super Bowl was played a month ago.“I
 don’t know how to address the way this is making me feel right now,” 
Swift, who hasn't toured since 2018, said early in the show.She ended the concert with a seven-song set from her latest album “Midnights," closing with the song “Karma.”In
 between she played clusters of songs from most of her albums — and just
 one, “Tim McGraw,” from her 2006 self-titled debut. In the end it took 
44 songs and just over three hours for her to span her 17-year career.Having
 not toured for her previous three albums, this concert series is 
intended to play catchup by providing the live debut of many of those 
songs. When <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-phoebe-bridgers-e960c7caddace9a05374ddc7a53211aa">Swift announced the tour</a> in November she called it “a journey through the musical eras of my career (past and present!).”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-af5d58d2a8c6def368ded1bd2ddd8a6f">Swift seemed to acknowledge</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-business-taylor-swift-tennessee-e157badef297f7c302615b3a6080ba2a">the Ticketmaster furor</a> that sullied the run-up to the tour when she told the crowd of more than 70,000 that she understands it took <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">“considerable effort” for them to be there</a>.After
 another show at the same venue Saturday night, the tour moves on to 
Allegiant Stadium outside Las Vegas and then AT&amp;T Stadium near 
Dallas.It concludes with two Los Angeles-area shows in August.

Misc