Minnesota
New Minnesota tax credit pays up to $1,750 per child
DETROIT LAKES
— If you’re a Minnesota parent, make sure you file your state income tax this year, even if you don’t have to: The state is offering tax credits up to $1,750 per child in a move designed to cut its child poverty rate by a third.
“It’s a big deal, and we think there are nearly 300,000 Minnesota families who are eligible for this tax cut,”
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan
said at a news conference in Detroit Lakes on Monday, Feb. 26.
Nathan Bowe/Tribune
It was held at Mahube-Otwa Community Action, which offers free tax preparation for those with an adjusted gross income of $63,000 or less.
So far,
Flanagan
said, $240 million has been claimed through the new child tax credit, with the average credit being $1,291. About 191,000 children have benefited from the program so far, she said.
“So this is real money to families that can make a tremendous difference,” she said.
Filing taxes can be frustrating, tedious and mysterious,
Flanagan
said. That’s why people should take advantage of the free volunteer tax preparation available at 170 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the state, including at Mahube-Otwa in Detroit Lakes and at White Earth. Volunteers at these sites help prepare federal and state income tax and property tax refund returns.
Nathan Bowe/Tribune
“Volunteers talk about how exciting it is when folks, especially folks on fixed incomes, qualify for tax credits,”
Flanagan
said. “If you’ve never filed taxes before, this is the year to start.”
The new tax credits could mean thousands of dollars a year, which can really make a difference for a family, she added. “If it’s that new pair of shoes, if it’s auto repairs, if it’s catching up on bills – it can really be life-changing for folks.”
White Earth has the only volunteer tribal tax site in the state, said White Earth Tribal Chairman Michael Fairbanks. “This (child tax program) isn’t a one-time event,” he added. “It should go on for many years – but you must file taxes to get the credit.”
Minnesota has made about $900 million available for the new child tax credit, which went into effect this year as part of a tax bill passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature and
signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz last year.
Former State Rep. Paul Marquart of Dilworth, who is now the state tax commissioner, said the program could be a real game-changer for children in poverty.
“In my 23 years down here in state government, I have never seen such a single program that could have such a transformational, generational impact on our families and children as this one single program,” he said.
“What I’ve always appreciated about Mahube-Otwa is their focus on child poverty,” Marquart added. While Minnesota does better than many other states when it comes to child poverty, “it’s probably two or three times higher in this area than the state average.”
While the maximum income to qualify for the full credit is $35,000 a year for a couple with one child filing jointly, “it phases out relatively slowly,” he said. For instance, a couple with three children would receive partial credit up to a combined income of $82,000.
The maximum income levels for each credit are as follows:
• One child: $52,500.
• Two children: $67,000.
• Three children: $82,000.
• Four children: $96,000.
• One child: $47,000.
• Two children: $61,500.
• Three children: $76,000.
• Four children: $91,000.
There’s no limit on the number of children eligible in a family. Only children under age 18 qualify, but there is also a credit for families with qualifying children older than 17, starting at $925 for one qualifying child, using the same income formula for benefits.
Other state tax programs to pay attention to are the working family credit and the revamped renter’s credit,
Flanagan
said.
And Marquart pointed to an expanded K-12 education credit and the Social Security tax exemption, which now covers three-quarters of the state’s filers. “Now up to 76% of people who receive Social Security will not pay a dime on their Social Security taxes,” he said.
Mahube-Otwa offers free tax preparation at four sites — Detroit Lakes, Mahnomen, Park Rapids and Wadena, said Lisa Stroschein, who manages the four sites along with Kristina McGee.
There are seven volunteer tax preparers at Mahube-Otwa in Detroit Lakes, all of whom are certified by the IRS and certified through the VITA program, Stroschein said. It’s not necessary to have an accounting degree to work as a tax volunteer. “We will train you,” she said. “It’s a misconception that they need an accounting background.” For more information on tax help, check out
Mahube.org.
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
-
Austin, TX3 minutes agoStorms dump small hail throughout Austin area Saturday
-
Alabama9 minutes agoYMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort
-
Alaska15 minutes ago
Bear injures two US soldiers during military training in Alaska | The Jerusalem Post
-
Arizona21 minutes agoNFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals
-
Arkansas27 minutes agoNo. 6 Arkansas ends top-ranked OU’s 31-game home winning streak with 3-2 decision
-
California33 minutes ago
Billionaire Steyer’s spending binge dwarfs rival campaigns in California governor’s race
-
Colorado39 minutes agoLandeskog – April 18 | Colorado Avalanche
-
Connecticut45 minutes agoOvernight Forecast for April 19
