Florida
Florida ranks 5th for highest tax refunds in US
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — April 18 is tax day. Forward of the deadline, a examine by LendingTree discovered that amongst all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Florida taxpayers have the fifth highest refunds within the nation.
LendingTree stated the typical refund for 2019 was $3,651 throughout the nation. In response to their examine, Floridians often get again about $4,300 on common, with 75% of taxpayers getting a refund. Wyoming get’s essentially the most again, at $5,027.
“After Wyoming, the states with the most important common tax refunds had been Connecticut, New York, the District of Columbia and Florida,” LendingTree reported. “With illustration from the Northeast, South and West, no single area obtained a disproportionate common refund quantity.”
Rank
State
% Getting a Refund
Common Refund Quantity
Common owed
1
Wyoming
77%
$5,027
$7,541
2
Connecticut
74%
$4,461
$7,063
3
New York
75%
$4,444
$6,247
4
District of Columbia
73%
$4,356
$6,781
5
Florida
75%
$4,301
$6,902
The LendingTree information relies on evaluation of 2019 tax data from the Inner Income Service. The corporate stated in 2019, a bit greater than one-fifth of Individuals owed the federal government cash, with Massachusetts main the states with highest quantities owed at $7,605.
Whereas the deadline to file your taxes is arising in only a few days, the previous two years have been sophisticated resulting from financial upheaval throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With further gadgets like stimulus checks, youngster tax credit score funds, and emergency rental help, generally submitting could be a wrestle.
“Generally, regardless of how exhausting we strive, we are able to’t make the deadline. If that’s the case, you may request a six-month extension to file till Oct. 17, 2022,” LendingTree stated. “Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply you get an extension to pay your taxes — in truth, you’ll need to pay estimated taxes to keep away from any late charges. Extension requests are due by April 18, the usual submitting deadline.”
In response to the corporate’s chief credit score analyst, Matt Schulz, a essential purpose to ask for an extension is to scale back penalties for paying your tax invoice late.
“You’ll nonetheless be charged curiosity and a late-payment penalty when you pay late, however the quantity you owe can be considerably much less if you’re granted an extension,” Schulz stated.
The IRS permits extensions to be filed, giving taxpayers till October to pay up, but it surely means you’ll nonetheless need to pay them one thing. The extension will be requested with a Type 4868. The IRS stated in a reminder in regards to the tax deadline that they count on about 15 million taxpayers will ask for an extension.
The federal company additionally stated there was about $1.5 billion from 2018 that was by no means claimed, with 1.5 million taxpayers by no means submitting their taxes that 12 months. If these Individuals don’t file their taxes for 2018 by the April 18 deadline this 12 months, the $1.5 billion will belong to the U.S. Treasury Division. So long as the 2018 tax return is postmarked by April 18, 2022, the cash can nonetheless be claimed, even when it’s despatched as a hard-copy submitting.
A full rating of the 2019 tax refunds and quantities owed will be learn under.
Rank
State
P.c Getting Refund
Common Quantity
Proportion who owe
Common quantity owed
1
Wyoming
77%
$5,027
20%
$7,541
2
Connecticut
74%
$4,461
22%
$7,063
3
New York
75%
$4,444
22%
$6,247
4
District of Columbia
73%
$4,356
25%
$6,781
5
Florida
75%
$4,301
21%
$6,902
6
Massachusetts
74%
$4,175
23%
$7,605
7
Texas
78%
$4,123
19%
$6,458
8
California
70%
$4,010
26%
$6,690
9
New Jersey
74%
$3,986
23%
$6,572
10
Nevada
76%
$3,874
20%
$6,716
11
Illinois
77%
$3,708
20%
$5,548
12
Washington
73%
$3,692
23%
$7,145
13
Louisiana
78%
$3,660
19%
$5,029
14
Maryland
72%
$3,583
25%
$4,913
15
North Dakota
76%
$3,564
21%
$6,851
16
Colorado
72%
$3,537
25%
$6,319
17
Oklahoma
77%
$3,503
19%
$5,095
18
Alaska
73%
$3,485
24%
$4,872
19
Georgia
74%
$3,461
23%
$5,372
20
Virginia
74%
$3,424
23%
$5,597
21
Utah
75%
$3,413
22%
$5,593
22
South Dakota
76%
$3,383
20%
$6,547
23
Tennessee
79%
$3,361
19%
$6,133
24
Arizona
73%
$3,352
23%
$5,266
25
Mississippi
79%
$3,322
18%
$4,117
26
Alabama
77%
$3,298
20%
$4,689
27
Kansas
76%
$3,292
20%
$5,345
28
Arkansas
77%
$3,291
19%
$4,595
29
Hawaii
73%
$3,271
23%
$4,612
30
New Hampshire
77%
$3,240
20%
$7,084
31
Pennsylvania
79%
$3,232
18%
$5,638
32
Michigan
77%
$3,229
18%
$4,466
33
Missouri
77%
$3,187
19%
$4,843
34
Rhode Island
78%
$3,172
19%
$5,118
35
New Mexico
76%
$3,159
19%
$4,993
36
South Carolina
74%
$3,147
23%
$4,837
37
Delaware
76%
$3,132
21%
$4,830
38
North Carolina
76%
$3,130
21%
$5,326
39
Indiana
80%
$3,100
16%
$4,829
40
Nebraska
76%
$3,092
20%
$5,484
41
Kentucky
80%
$3,085
17%
$4,467
42
Montana
72%
$3,058
22%
$5,464
43
Idaho
73%
$3,046
22%
$5,875
44
Minnesota
74%
$3,045
23%
$5,124
45
Ohio
79%
$3,023
18%
$4,414
46
Wisconsin
76%
$2,976
20%
$4,856
47
West Virginia
82%
$2,963
14%
$4,092
48
Iowa
77%
$2,952
20%
$4,304
49
Vermont
75%
$2,924
20%
$5,196
50
Oregon
71%
$2,896
25%
$5,189
51
Maine
76%
$2,752
20%
$4,735
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Florida
Five Central Florida fire stations hit by burglars while firefighters are on shift
![Five Central Florida fire stations hit by burglars while firefighters are on shift](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox35orlando.com/www.fox35orlando.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1280/720/3ECC31C372AE763B4BE92EB1FFCDE0EC.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Are suspected car burglars targeting Florida fire stations?
More than a dozen vehicles have been damaged or broken into at fire stations in Central Florida.
Burglars are targeting firefighters in Central Florida. According to officials, criminals are breaking into firefighter’s cars while they are on shift.
“It’s unconscionable, it’s criminal and it’s preying on folks that are literally taking an oath and willing to give their life to help serve the community,” John Westmoreland of Orange County Fire Rescue said. “The thought of their vehicles being broken into it’s sickening, and it’s maddening.”
Three fire stations in Orange County were targeted between June 30 and July 1: OCFRD Station 34 (4000 Winter Garden Vineland Road), OCFRD Station 44 (14230 Reams Road), and OCFRD Station 33 (1700 S. Apopka Vineland Road).
According to the Seminole County Fire Department, two of their stations (Stations 12 & 14) were hit on July 1.
“These crimes have been happening after midnight,” Westmoreland said. “There’s some indication that we’ve had some false calls and then the break-ins occurring afterwards.”
It’s a trend nationwide, according to Westmoreland. Over the last six months, a rash of similar incidents have been reported in Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, and Colorado.
Last year, FOX 35 reported half a dozen other instances of car burglaries targeting firefighters again in Orange and Seminole counties. That was when Seminole County firefighter John Baker had a gun stolen from his truck.
Now, stations in Seminole and Orange counties are taking steps to improve or reinforce security measures.
Most fire stations do have security cameras. There is no word yet on whether any of the burglaries were caught on camera.
FOX 35 was told no guns were reported stolen from the Seminole County stations. We’re still waiting to hear back from Orange County regarding the same question.
Florida
Former ‘Cafe Risque’ stripper files lawsuit against the state of Florida
![Former ‘Cafe Risque’ stripper files lawsuit against the state of Florida](https://gray-wcjb-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZOXEUPSH7NDODIB6KP7KCBGGNM.png?auth=e1860afd84f1201226eaf316e670e74339066cd71932dd8d15f62a05aee8030d&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
MICANOPY, Fla. (WCJB) -The state of Florida now requires strippers to be at least 21 years of age.
A lawsuit filed by Serenity Bushey, “Cafe Risque”, and two other adult establishments claims the new law violates their First Amendment and equal protection rights.
Bushay’s attorney, Gary Edinger, says the law is unconstitutional.
“The idea that adult residents of the state of Florida don’t have the same rights as people who are a couple of years older than them… it doesn’t make any sense under the constitution.”
The federal suit claims at least nine women under the age of 21 perform at “Cafe Risque” and have since lost their jobs.
Edinger says the law doesn’t only apply to strippers at adult entertainment clubs.
“So whether they are performers, or cooks, or DJs, or security, they can no longer be employed,” he stated. “And that affects what you might think of as strip clubs, it affects adult theaters, and also adult retail stores.”
He also tells TV20 that the consequences are high stakes.
“If someone slips by with a particularly good fake ID that club is strictly liable,” he added. “If it’s a nude club such as ‘Cafe Risque’ in Micanopy that’s a third-degree felony, that means someone’s going to jail for that…”.
Edinger and Bushey are asking for attorney fees and calling for a permanent injunction on the law.
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Copyright 2024 WCJB. All rights reserved.
Florida
Is Florida testing students too much? Why there's not an easy answer
![Is Florida testing students too much? Why there's not an easy answer](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc2f283/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2546x1337+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8e%2F77%2F9332250043709b6ba87d194325c1%2Fscreenshot-2024-07-02-at-3-45-05-pm.png)
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — WPTV is continuing to dig deeper into Florida test scores just released from the state department of education. They show whether students are performing at grade level in a variety of subjects.
Education
Making the grade: Florida education leaders praise student test scores
3:21 PM, Jul 01, 2024
This was Florida’s second year of the progress monitoring testing style, measuring student success three times throughout the year.
Local school district leaders told WPTV education reporter Stephanie Susskind they really like it. But parents Susskind spoke to aren’t so sure yet.
“I just don’t get it. I truly don’t know how taking away one test to add three, there’s no logic to me. It doesn’t make sense,” said Palm Beach County mom of two Sheena Romano.
Romano shares a popular opinion with many parents Susskind heard from on Tuesday: there’s too much testing in school.
“You have the elementary school sitting three times a year for iReady to grade their progress. And then you have the [Florida Assessment of Student Thinking] to grade their progress. So it’s like, can we eliminate one?” Romano said.
North in St. Lucie County, Superintendent Dr. Jon Prince doesn’t disagree.
“Testing in Florida is rigorous,” Prince told Susskind. “I still say we’ve got a little too much assessment going on.”
But he does support the new style of progress monitoring testing using the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, or FAST. It’s given at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year to measure what a student is learning and where they need to focus.
“It’s been a great blessing that we get these results back immediately. So we know exactly where these kids are weak,” Prince said.
Florida education leaders tout this state testing style as the first in the nation. It replaced the high stakes FSA exam, which was given once at the end of the year.
“We are finding there is a lot more interface between parents and schools,” Prince said. “OK, my kid didn’t do very well. What can I do as a parent? And what can we do to partner and help them perform better? So I think it’s helped not just student learning, but that interaction between parents and families and schools.”
While parents like Romano understand that perspective, they still feel there’s too much testing pressure on today’s students.
“I think a good teacher, just like a good parent, should be able to see the progress. If you are honed in on the children,” Romano said.
So why are these tests important? Not only do they measure student progress, but they are used to help determine school and district grades. Those are expected to be released later this summer.
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