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Colorado is deciding if homeowner tax relief can come out of a refund that's one-of-a-kind in the US

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Colorado residents are deciding whether to siphon off a state tax refund that’s unique in the U.S. to help homeowners offset hikes in property taxes after years of rising home prices.If passed in the election Tuesday, the proposition would lessen property tax increases for homeowners over the next decade in return for decreasing a state tax refund called the Taxpayer Bill of Rights or TABOR.TABOR caps Colorado's tax revenue and requires the surplus to be redistributed to residents. Last year, TABOR provided $750 to each taxpayer. What to know before voting on Prop HH Under the measure, property taxes won’t drop below previous levels, but the expected future increases in bills would be dampened.The owner of a $500,000 home would pay anywhere from $186 to $276 less in property taxes this year than they would if the ballot measure didn’t pass, depending on local tax rates, according to estimates by legislative analysts.In exchange, after an initial increase in the taxpa...

What to watch for in Tuesday’s elections

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

(CNN) — Abortion rights are on the ballot Tuesday as Americans head to the polls for state and local races that will set the stage for next year’s presidential election.Fiercely fought contests in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio could offer a 2024 roadmap for both parties.Democrats have largely succeeded in running on the issue in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision last year to overturn Roe v. Wade, which effectively punted abortion law to the states. For the most part, they have done so by framing the debate as one of personal freedom – and leaving Republicans to haggle over the politically painful particulars.A victory for abortion rights advocates in Ohio – where voters could enshrine a constitutional amendment protecting abortion access – along with success in high-stakes races for governor, the state Supreme Court and control of the state legislature in other states, could further demonstrate the potency of the issue.Meanwhile, the gubernatorial election in...

Charles III gets to trot out Conservative slogans in first King’s Speech

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

LONDON — Pomp, ceremony, and a bored-looking monarch: it must be the King’s Speech.King Charles III opened the new session of parliament for the first time as king on Tuesday — and while there weren’t any fireworks, he did get the chance to deliver some Conservative campaign slogans with a poker face.The King’s Speech — a fixture of the U.K. political calendar — sees the monarch read out the government’s upcoming legislative agenda, signaling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s key priorities for the next year.In doing so, King Charles, who must remain politically neutral, got to reel off phrases like “long-term decisions” and “strengthening the social fabric” plucked straight from government talking points. He spoke about the need to make “difficult” calls and resist demands for “greater spending or borrowing.”“By taking these long-term decisions, my government will change this country and build a better future,”...

Portuguese PM António Costa in crisis after cops raid residence

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

Portuguese police raided Prime Minister António Costa’s official residence and detained his chief of staff, Vítor Escária, as part of a corruption investigation, Portugal’s attorney general said Tuesday.The probe is linked to lithium exploration schemes in the north of the country and a green hydrogen mega-project in Sines. Police searches of the prime minister’s residence and the Ministries of Environment and Infrastructure are ongoing. In addition to Escária, Costa’s personal adviser Diogo Lacerda — one of the prime minister’s closest confidants — and Nuno Mascarenhas, the socialist mayor of Sines, have also been detained, according to local media reports.Costa’s Socialist government has enthusiastically backed numerous schemes to extract lithium in different areas of Portugal as part of the EU’s wider drive to secure critical raw materials, but those projects have been mired in controversy because of the low quality of the elements s...

Column: USC quarterback Caleb Williams can cry if he wants to

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

In Saturday’s Top 25 college football matchup between Washington and USC, quarterback Caleb Williams — a past Heisman Trophy winner and projected 2024 NFL draft first-round pick — passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) in the 52-42 loss.He was strip-sacked late in the second quarter and three plays later, the Huskies went up 35-28 before the half. It was the fifth time in the last six games the Trojans defense gave up at least 40 points.After the game, Williams, 21, was shown sitting on a railing in the stands and embracing his mother with his face covered by a poster. He was visibly overcome by emotion, likely from the frustration of seeing his conference championship hopes dissipate despite his own best efforts. As he cried in his mother’s arms, the national broadcast cameras stayed there for a minute as ABC announcers Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, in tones suitable for the situation, provided context to what William...

True or false: DE Montez Sweat’s debut with the Chicago Bears was encouraging

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

The Chicago Bears lost their seventh game of the season Sunday in New Orleans, coming unraveled late and committing three of their five turnovers in the fourth quarter of a 24-17 loss to the Saints.Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent had three interceptions and a lost fumble in the game and no Bears player was able to deliver the game-on-the-line playmaking impact the team has lacked for the past two seasons.The Bears will now make a quick turnaround before their Week 10 Thursday night home game against the Carolina Panthers.As the dust settles from Week 9, Tribune writers Dan Wiederer and Colleen Kane sift through four notable topics in “true or false” format.Kane: True or false? Montez Sweat’s debut as a Bear was encouraging Sunday in New Orleans.Wiederer: True. The “encouraging” label fits. Officially, Sweat played 41 of the team’s 63 defensive snaps and flashed some of his most valuable gifts. He was credited with a pass defensed in the third quar...

NFL power rankings, Week 10: Ravens are the best team in football

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL teams. The rankings will take into account not just weekly performance, injuries and roster depth, but how well each team measures up as Super Bowl contenders.Here are the rankings heading into Week 10:1. Ravens (7-2, No. 3 last week)Last week: Win vs. Seahawks, 37-3Up next: vs. BrownsThere isn’t a more complete team than Baltimore. Led by a dominant defense and an MVP-caliber quarterback, the Ravens have completely dismantled two NFC title contenders at home over the past three weeks. Coordinator Mike Macdonald’s defense is playing at a historically high level, getting a combined 16 sacks from Justin Madubuike, Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy and a league-leading six interceptions from safety Geno Stone to pair with the league’s best linebacker tandem in Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen and dangerous Swiss Army knife Kyle Hamilton. On offense, the Ravens have the most versatile attack in the leagu...

Patriots-Commanders film review: The Patriots are tracking to become the NFL’s worst team

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

Imagine Bill Belichick breaking down the Patriots as an opponent right now.How does that sound?Flowery, to be sure. Historically, there’s been a strong correlation between how long Belichick glowingly rambles about the Pats’ next opponent in his weekly press conferences and how crummy that opponent is. Before the Patriots’ rematch with Miami a couple weeks ago, he captured the Dolphins using just four words: “A pretty explosive team.”Last week, however, Washington received a minutes-long breakdown that touched on the coaching staff, their goal-line defense and even the returners.So what about the Patriots? They might earn a damn dissertation.As it stands, the Pats are trending toward becoming the worst team in the league. Offensively, only the Jets and Giants are worse by Expected Points Added (EPA). Defensively, the Pats rank 25th.The Patriots may never reach the league’s basement, thanks to the injury-plagued Giants and tanking Cardinals. But th...

6 takeaways from the Chicago Bulls’ 130-113 win over the Utah Jazz, including Andre Drummond’s 10K rebound milestone

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

The Chicago Bulls snapped a short losing skid with a decisive 130-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.It was a season-high in scoring for the Bulls as eight players scored in double digits. Zach LaVine logged 24 points and DeMar DeRozan added 21 points while Coby White dished out eight assists.Here are six takeaways from the game:1. Bulls capitalize on Jazz mistakesOne single scoring margin set the tone for the entire game — points off turnovers.The Bulls dominated this category, taking advantage of a plentiful supply of Utah mistakes. The Jazz turned the ball over 22 times resulting in 30 points. The Bulls turned the ball over eight times, but the Jazz only scored one point off those mistakes.Scoring off opponent mistakes had already been a strong suit for the Bulls, who averaged 19 points (11th in the NBA) off turnovers entering Monday’s game. But this was their most clinical display of making an opponent pay for their errors.2. Heating up behind the arcThe Bull...

Lightning strike causes house fire in Milton, leaving large hole in roof

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:45:00 GMT

A family in Milton is facing a major repair job after a rare November lightning strike is believed to have set their home ablaze, leaving a sizeable hole in the roof.Emergency crews were called to the fire at a townhome on Speyer Circle, in the area of Derry Road and Bronte Street, around 3:30 a.m. Monday afternoon after a thunderstorm rolled through the area.The small fire that began on the roof spread through the attic of the home. Fire crews reported a large hole in the roof they believe was caused by the lightning strike.Crews were able to extinguish the fire. Three were occupants inside the home at the time of the fire but no injuries were reported.A lightning strike believed to be cause of fire at a townhouse on Speyer Circle in Milton. Neighbours say their homes shook. The bang was heard blocks away. No one hurt but it’s left a large hole in the roof. It’s the only unit in complex with metal tv antenna mounted on the roof pic.twitter.com/r9YvyWqXxB— carl hanstke (@carlC...