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Rep. Armando "Mando" Martínez, D-Weslaco, featured in Edinburg last year with Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, has secured House passage of his legislation that would prevent the sale and distribution in Texas of flame-producing lighters that look like toys – mechanisms that have been linked to injuries and deaths of children nationwide. His House Bill 90, which was approved by the House of Representatives on Friday, May 1, now goes to the Senate for its consideration and action. The bill defines "toy-like lighter" to mean a mechanical or electrical device typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that resembles in physical form or function articles designed or intended for play by children under 10 years of age. "HB 90 would protect the public, and especially children," said Martínez, who is a firefighter, licensed paramedic, critical care flight paramedic, and Texas Department of Health instructor and coordinator. "Deadly fires have been caused across the country by these lighters. These objects are easily mistaken for toys and are enticing to children. They do not have disclaimers and are inherently dangerous." Gonzáles is a co-author of Martínez’ legislation. See story later in this posting.
Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo/McAllen, right, met with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday, May 7, in Washington, D.C., to discuss border security and the appointments of U.S. District Judges, U.S. Marshalls, and U.S. Attorneys. The gathering was part of a meeting between the Texas congressional delegation and Holder. Also on May 7, Cuellar, during a separate event, joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act. The bill, which cracks down on predatory lending practices and ensures that the mortgage industry follows basic principles of sound lending, responsibility, and consumer protection, passed the U.S. House on a 300-114 vote. See story on the mortgage legislation later in this posting.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, and Rep. Aaron Pena, D-Edinburg, on Tuesday, May 5, marked the Texas Senate’s passage of legislation that would require convicted sex offenders to provide their online and cellular telephone account information to the state’s Sex Offender Registry. Senate Bill 689 passed the Senate on Monday, May 4, and is now pending in the Texas House of Representatives, where the Edinburg lawmaker will carry it as the sponsor. “This legislation will help protect children by ensuring that state law keeps up with modern technology,” Abbott said. “By requiring sexual predators to provide their electronic identities, the Legislature is simply improving existing registration requirements – which require convicted sex offenders to provide their addresses to the Department of Public Safety. As Attorney General, I am grateful to Sen. Shapiro and Rep. Peña for their innovative approach and commitment to Texas children.” See story later in this posting.
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Rio Grande Valley members of the Juvenile Justice Association of Texas are featured behind the Senate chamber, greeted by Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, during their visit to the Texas Capitol on April 29. The group was in Austin to attend a conference. From left: Linda M. Luna of Brownsville; Abel Zapata of La Feria; Sen. Lucio; Al Elizondo of San Benito; Luis Flores of Harlingen; and Javier Losoya of Harlingen.
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NEW YORK – A school assistant principal who was sick for several days with swine flu on Sunday became the city's first death linked to the virus and the nation's sixth.
Mitchell Wiener, who worked at an intermediate school in Queens, died Sunday evening, Flushing Hospital Medical Center spokesman Andrew Rubin said. Wiener, who had been hospitalized and on a ventilator, had been sick with the virus for nearly a week before his school was closed on Thursday. Complications besides the virus likely played a part in his death, Rubin said.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the death of Wiener, who was 55 and had taught for decades, "is a loss for our schools and our city."
"He was a well-liked and devoted educator," Bloomberg said in a statement.
Wiener was hired as a substitute teacher in March 1978, then as a mathematics teacher, working in that position until 2007. Since then, Wiener had been employed as an assistant principal at I.S. 238, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Intermediate School, in the Hollis neighborhood.
Besides Wiener, no one else in New York City has become seriously ill from the virus. As of Sunday afternoon, health officials had reported five other deaths in the U.S.: three in Texas, one in Washington state and one in Arizona.
Most people sickened from the swine flu, or the H1N1 virus, have complained of mild, seasonal flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue.
The city's first outbreak of swine flu occurred three weeks ago, when about 700 students and 300 other people associated with a Catholic high school in Queens began falling ill following the return of several students from vacations in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak. The school was closed.
(NAPSI)-Cristina Gardner, a 27-year-old accountant, and her husband Nick just purchased their first home. Like most people, they are feeling the pressure of the economy. "Buying your first home is always stressful and having our budget tighten makes it even harder," Cristina said.
There is good news for people like the Gardners. President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law in February. The stimulus package will benefit 95 percent of Americans, including first-time homebuyers such as Cristina and Nick.
Who benefits and how:
• Workers: The Making Work Pay Credit could mean up to an additional $40 a month in a worker's paycheck, which adds up to as much as $400 for single taxpayers and $800 if married.
• New-Car Buyers: Taxpayers who purchase a new car between February 17 and December 2009 may be able to deduct some or all of their car sales tax. This deduction is available to taxpayers who itemize or who take the standard deduction.
• First-Time Homebuyers: The First-Time Homebuyers Credit could mean a credit of up to $8,000 to taxpayers who purchase their first home between January and November 2009. This is a credit and does not need to be repaid.
• College Students and Their Families: The Hope Credit for college costs, books and tuition has been increased to $2,500 per college student and is now available for all four years of college.
• Families: Changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) may mean more money to taxpayers who are married or families that have three or more qualifying children.
• Homeowners: The Energy-Saving Credit has been raised from 10 to 30 percent, which could mean up to $1,500 for taxpayers making energy-efficient improvements, such as doors, windows and water heaters, to their homes.
"There are tax breaks out there for almost everyone," said Bob Meighan, CPA and vice president of TurboTax. "It is important for people to make sure they are getting every dollar they deserve. Going online to TurboTax to prepare their tax return is the easy way to make sure they are getting every deduction and credit possible."
For more information on the economic stimulus package, you can go to www.turbotax.com.
Many families may find themselves with more money thanks to recent tax law changes.
THE ECONOMI STIMULUS PACKAGE:
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
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