North Carolina
North Carolina joins IRS Direct File
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that North Carolina will be the latest state to join the IRS Direct File free tax program in filing season 2025.
The free online filing system was pilot tested last tax season in 12 states, and the IRS
The Treasury and the IRS have been working with interested states to offer Direct File to their taxpayers with North Carolina being the latest state to join, following Oregon, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Connecticut. At least 1.25 million North Carolinians will be eligible to use the free online filing tool next filing season.
Natalia Bratslavsky/Adobe
“Direct File will save North Carolinians time and money and help ensure they receive the tax benefits they are owed,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement Friday. “After a successful pilot this filing season, we are pleased to expand the program as a permanent offering and welcome North Carolina as the latest new state to offer this free option to taxpayers.”
“Filing taxes is often stressful, expensive, and time-consuming for North Carolina taxpayers and families,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper in a statement. “The IRS Direct File tool helps remove unnecessary hurdles and fees by allowing taxpayers to file directly with the IRS for free, keeping more money in their pockets. This resource will help ensure qualifying families receive tax credits. We are grateful to the United States Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service for developing this tool and making it available as a no-cost option for North Carolinians for filing season 2025.”
However, Cooper, a Democrat, is term limited and won’t be leading the state next tax season. If he is succeeded next year by a Republican, the program could be curtailed.
ABERDEEN, N.C. (WTVD) — Authorities are taking extra precautions after someone threw a flashbang at a early voting site Wednesday afternoon in Moore County.
At 2:30 p.m., the Aberdeen Police Department responded to reports of a loud noise and small explosion near the early voting poll at Aberdeen Lake Park. Witnesses reported the incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. and initially believed a transformer had blown.
Investigators later found a civilian-style flash bang several feet from the roadway at US-1 and Lake Shore Drive, about 150 yards from the voting site.
Police say 30 witnesses were interviewed with many saying the device appeared to have been thrown from a moving vehicle headed southbound on US-1. There was no suspect or vehicle description provided.
No injuries or property damage were reported. In response, the Aberdeen Police Department has increased patrols and maintained a presence out of an abundance of caution.
Authorities believe this is an isolated incident with no additional threats reported.
The investigation is ongoing, and evidence will be sent to the State Crime Lab for testing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Captain Blackburn at 910-944-4566, send tips via Facebook messenger, or leave anonymous tips at 910-944-4561. A $500 reward is being offered for verifiable information leading to an arrest.
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The City of Asheville is preparing to start a $3 million sidewalk project along Johnston Boulevard in West Asheville.
Crews will construct a mile-long stretch of sidewalk going from Patton Avenue and will end at Iona Circle in front of Johnston Elementary. According to the City of Asheville, this was one of several transportation projects prioritized by city residents during public outreach for the 2016 bond referendum.
“We need a sidewalk. Pedestrians walk that area a lot, and it’s a windy, curvy road between Patton and Bear Creek and Johnston Elementary School,” said Peter Barrett, who lives off Johnston Boulevard.
SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR LEXINGTON AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE
He attended a community meeting hosted by the city, where neighbors had the opportunity to ask questions about the project.
Barrett said the 18-month construction project will be inconvenient for neighbors and drivers.
“Luckily, it will only be at most one lane closed in either direction for the 18-month period. It will take some adjusting for all of us who live in this area to find the detours. It will probably increase traffic,” said Barrett.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY SECURES $979K GRANT TO IMPROVE BEACON VILLAGE SIDEWALKS AND BOOST SAFETY
Dustin Clemens with the City of Asheville said this project will also construct a new stormwater system, curb and gutter, and will repave this stretch of the roadway where the sidewalks will be.
“Johnston Boulevard is a really narrow roadway. It connects a very busy Patton Avenue corridor to a school. So there’s a real need for a safe pedestrian connection through that area. So this is a project that’s been in planning for a long time,” said Clemens.
The project is expected to start in the next few weeks.
In North Carolina, college students in Guilford County took to the streets to protest a ruling about elections. They reacted after a federal judge’s ruling meant there wouldn’t be early voting polling sites on campus. Bethany Cates spoke with frustrated students.
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