Elderly, tax breaks, parents, children, elderly, deduction, file, taxes, sandwich generation, sandwich
by John Simons

April 9, 2024

If You’re Caring For An Elder You Qualify For These Tax Benefits

Uncle Sam has a few tax breaks this season to ease pressure on the so-called Sandwich Generation.

Originally Published Apr. 6, 2011.

Uncle Sam has a few tax breaks this season to ease pressure on the so-called Sandwich Generation.

Demographic trends and the sour economy are forcing families to come together to provide for older relatives. The number of young adults “sandwiched” between raising young children and aiding elderly parents is 23%, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. Another 7 to 10 million adults are caring for aging parents long-distance. Caregivers are spending thousands yearly to care for elderly family members. The same survey found that more than a third of caregivers were forced to quit jobs, take early retirement, reduce hours, or take a leave-of-absence to provide elder care themselves.

Unfortunately, many taxpayers remain unaware that tax laws allow them to write off some of the expense of elder care. “Whether you’re providing that care yourself, or you’ve hired a caregiver, you should take advantage of the tax breaks that are a true gift in these troubled economic times,” says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers, a leading provider of in-home senior care.

If you’re caring for elderly parents, here are two things you can do this season to reduce your tax burden, according to Perspective Accounting Services, a Raleigh, North Carolina tax preparation consultancy:

Claim your parent as a dependent

Your parent’s income, excluding Social Security, must be less than the amount of the personal exemption. For 2023, the personal exemption was $4,700. For 2024 tax year, it’s $5,050. In addition, you must provide more than 50% of a parent’s financial support to claim them as a dependent. You can claim more than one parent as a dependent if both meet the income and support guidelines. If a parent lives with you, you can include a percentage of your mortgage and utilities.

Deduct your parent’s medical expenses

If you contribute to a parent’s health care expenses and pay the health care provider yourself (versus giving your parent the money to pay), you may qualify to deduct costs – even if you can’t claim the parent as a dependent. To claim this deduction, you must provide at least 50% of your parent’s financial support. You don’t have to meet the income threshold. This deduction is limited to medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Nursing home costs, in-home health care, dental care, and prescription drugs are some of the expenses that qualify. Also, you can include your own unreimbursed medical expenses when calculating these total costs.

Before making any deductions on your taxes, be sure to consult a trained tax consultant.

RELATED CONTENT: Two-Thirds Of Americans Believe They Pay Too Much In Taxes

Terrence Howard
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 9, 2024

Terrence Howard (and His Hair) Emerges from Retirement, Confusing the Internet

Terrence Howard got attention with his latest interview after wearing a feathered wig while discussing his legal woes and industry gripes.

Terrence Howard got the attention he was seeking with his latest interview after wearing a Farrah Fawcett-esque wig while discussing his legal woes and industry gripes.

The Oscar-nominated actor got candid about why he was forced out of retirement to pay millions in a criminal tax evasion lawsuit and his complaints against Creative Arts Agency (CAA), Disney, and Fox. In a nearly two-hour interview on Straight Talk with host Daphne Joy, Howard explained his legal pursuit against the media giants due to his complaints of pay disparity and having his Hustle & Flow persona used without his permission during his time starring on the hit scripted series Empire.

“I had an issue at Fox and Disney because…the image that you see of us in Empire, profile, that came from a still shot from Hustle & Flow, they took that, flipped that, and put it on everything,” Howard claimed.

“They took the trademark of it, sold it around the world, didn’t ask my permission…That image is worth $100 million at least for how much money that they made from it. We got a forensic photographer to find the actual frame.”

With the Iron Man star being represented by CAA while starring on Empire, he’s going after the mega-agency for allegedly taking part in the shady business dealings that garnered a lowball payout when compared to his white counterparts on the Big Bang Theory.

“They were getting $2 million, damn near $3 million an episode. Those white kids…that had no name recognition, no Oscar nominations, none of that. We have 28 million viewers, and these jokers are paying me $325,000 an episode.”

The Best Man star is convinced that his agents at CAA were profiting from the pay disparity he faced at Fox and is going after them for over $100 million in what he feels he’s owed.

“Every year, I’m asking my agents what’s going on…I didn’t know that the packaging deal…my agents were incentivized to keep my pay low. They owe me over $120 million based on what would’ve been paid to white counterparts, so now I’m in the process of suing them,” he shared.

He also calls out a $666 paycheck he allegedly received after demanding his back-owed funds from CAA.

“When I asked about my money, they sent me a check for $666 dollars….666 exactly…So I was like, y’all trying to threaten me. This is a threat right here. And y’all think I’m scared? Y’all think I’m going to be quiet? Because I wonder what you’re doing to every other Black artist,” Howard said.

Elsewhere, Howard opened up about his tax evasion case that resulted in a federal judge in Philadelphia ordering him to pay a $1 million penalty in back taxes last month. The actor is accused of trying to dodge his tax payments due to his belief that it is “immoral” to tax the descendants of slaves.

As serious as the talking points in Howard’s interview were, his choice of wearing a feathered wig during the tell-all has the internet in shambles. After a clip of the interview surfaced online, many clowned Howard’s hairpiece instead of supporting his gripes against the entertainment industry.

“What’s up with the pimp hair cut,” one user wrote.

“Charlie’s angels hair is crazy 😂,” added someone else.

Howard might’ve wanted to attract buzz around his latest interview and opted to pull out the feathery look to garner attention.

RELATED CONTENT: Terrence Howard Claims He Reinvented Physics With ‘New Hydrogen Technology’ He Wants To Gift to Uganda

partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, sun, moon, watchers, solar, celestial
by Rafael Pena

April 9, 2024

Skywatchers Unite: The Solar Eclipse Captured America’s Attention For 4.5 Minutes

Celestial enthusiasts geared up for Monday's solar eclipse with excitement among those eager to witness the dance between the moon and the sun.

As celestial enthusiasts geared up for the April 8 solar eclipse, excitement brewed among those eager to witness the cosmic dance between the moon and the sun. While some lucky individuals basked in the full glory of totality, others could still marvel at the celestial spectacle, albeit through a partial view, according to WSBTV.

According to NASA, a significant portion of the contiguous U.S. was able to experience varying degrees of the eclipse, with certain states falling within the path of totality, including Texas, New York, Maine, and others. Viewers saw a breathtaking display in these regions as the moon completely obscured the sun, revealing the elusive solar corona.

NASA offered a user-friendly tool that provides insights based on zip code. Univision also provided an interactive simulation, allowing users to visualize the eclipse’s progression across the sun.

However, clear skies were essential for optimal viewing, and predicting favorable conditions was challenging. The Wall Street Journal developed a tool harnessing weather data to help enthusiasts identify cloud-free areas, crucial for an unobstructed view of the eclipse. While long-range forecasts may be unreliable, experts advised monitoring local forecasts daily, particularly in the days leading up to the event.

According to The Wall Street Journal, seasoned eclipse chaser Jay Anderson emphasized the importance of consistent forecast patterns, suggesting that reliable predictions typically emerge three to five days before the eclipse.

“Everything is going to plug up as people get into the eclipse track. So you pretty much have to plan early and don’t plan massive amounts of driving on the day of,” stated Anderson to The Wall Street Journal.

 Brian Brettschneider of the National Weather Service highlights the significance of the 48-hour mark, signaling a dependable forecast for eclipse gazers to finalize their travel plans.

Die-hard eclipse chasers like Anderson meticulously analyzed cloud cover to secure prime viewing spots with clear skies. Understanding cloud dynamics is crucial, as these atmospheric phenomena could obscure the eclipse’s brilliance. With approximately 70% of the Earth shrouded in clouds at any given time, strategic planning was essential to maximize viewing opportunities.

While millions across North America witnessed a partial eclipse, those who sought an unparalleled experience positioned themselves within the path of totality, stretching from central Mexico to northeastern Newfoundland; the path offered a front-row seat to the celestial spectacle, with the moon enveloping the sun for up to 4 ½ minutes.

RELATED CONTENT: New York Inmates Allowed To See The Upcoming Eclipse Following Lawsuit Win

Tina Knowles and Beyoncé, CÉCRED, school, scholarship, cosmetology,
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 9, 2024

Beyoncé Invests In Cosmetology School Her Mother Attended With Cécred x BeyGOOD Student Scholarship Fund

Beyoncé is investing in the next generation of barbers and hairstylists with her newly launched Cécred x BeyGOOD Student Scholarship Fund.

Beyoncé is investing in the next generation of barbers and hairstylists with her newly launched Cécred x BeyGOOD Student Scholarship Fund.

As part of the initiative, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer will donate $500,000 to five cosmetology schools across the U.S., including the Black-owned haircare institute her mom, Tina Knowles, graduated from back in the 1980s, Franklin Institute, CBS News reports. Other recipients include Beaver Beauty Academy in Atlanta, Trenz Beauty Academy in Chicago, Universal College of Beauty in Los Angeles, and Janas Cosmetology Academy in New Jersey.

Each school will receive a business grant with the Cécred x BeyGOOD Salon Business Grant, giving 25 students from each institute $10,000 in financial aid scholarships and another 25 salon owners $10,000 in grants. The schools, selected based on market research, will help bridge the gap in an industry that requires an average investment of $14,000 in Texas and $20,000 nationally to get started.

“One of the foundations of BeyGOOD is economic equity. And so to think about that, the underbelly is that there is an inequity,” Ivy McGregor, executive director of BeyGOOD, said.

“We believe that everybody has the right to thrive. And so the thing that we’re excited about, while our tenets are education and entrepreneurship, both of them converge through this program.”

It’s a full-circle moment for Houston’s Franklin Institute. It helped set Tina Knowles on the path to opening her Headliners Salon, which served as Beyoncé’s first performance stage during her childhood.

“She had a wonderful salon here in Houston. It wasn’t that she just graduated from Franklin; she actually really impacted the Houston community with her salon,” fourth-generation Franklin Institute owner Ron Jemison Jr. says.

His great-grandmother, Madam Nobia Franklin, founded the school as a hair salon in San Antonio, Texas, in 1915. Since then, the Franklin Beauty Culture School has been in Fort Worth and Houston in Texas and Chicago before moving back to Houston in 1934, where it serves as one of the country’s oldest Black-owned businesses still standing.

In recent years, Jemison has revamped the school to Franklin Institute, where they teach hair stylists and provide barbershop classes to a diversified racial makeup of students.

“This is the foundation. You’re talented, but you have to know the rules and regulations. You have to pass this test to move forward because you have people in your hands,” he said.

“You’re actually putting chemicals on their hair that could actually have a reverse [effect], and all the hair falls out. So, that’s why it’s so important to go to school. We call them doctors; they’re hair doctors.”

Coming on the heels of Beyoncé’s launch of her Cécred haircare line, the scholarship fund falls in alliance with her new entrepreneurial endeavor and her affinity for the haircare industry through her hairstylist mother. Franklin Institute’s inclusion gives the Knowles family a chance to pay it forward to their hometown in a full-circle way.

“In her hometown of Houston, her commitment has never wavered, right? Every opportunity to give, first on her list is home. And so we’re super excited to have this opportunity to really make an impact that will be sustainable,” McGregor said.

“And that’s part of the goal; not just to create a ripple that is just for now, but to create something that for years and years and years to come, we can look back and say, ‘We started the fire, but the fire is still burning, and the fire is still lit.'”

RELATED CONTENT: Big Bank Beyoncé Donates $500K To Cosmetology Schools Nationwide

Elderly abuse, americas dad, John Amos, K.C. Amos, elderly abuse,
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 9, 2024

John Amos Elder Abuse Investigation Closed, Police Call It A Family Dispute

Police have closed the "neglect of care" investigation surrounding actor John Amos, crediting it as a family dispute.

Police have closed the “neglect of care” investigation surrounding actor John Amos, crediting it to a family dispute.

The Good Times star was involved in a case of alleged neglect of his care. But according to authorities, the case is now closed after they found no evidence of a crime being committed, TMZ reports.

The Los Angeles Police Department recently launched an investigation after Amos’ daughter Shannon told Adult Protective Services that her 84-year-old father was struggling with his health and accused her brother Kelly C “K.C.” of not providing him with proper care. However, when considering the public feud between Shannon and K.C. and Amos’ good health, cops determined there was nothing to investigate and closed the case.

News of the closed case comes one month after Amos denied the “false and unmerited” neglect claims.

“I want to first say that I am feeling well and working diligently on various projects that I am involved in at this time, including the docuseries that my son and I are producing, along with a music release,” Amos told People.

“I’d like to add that everywhere we go together, people refer to my son K.C. as my twin. I’m proud of him for who he is as a person: a caring, thoughtful human being who respects me and him. Now, I will say this for now: This story about neglect is false and unmerited. The real truth will come out soon, and you will hear it from me. Believe it.”

Amos’ statement seemingly hinted at his amicable ties with his son, K.C. and possibly severed relationship with his daughter. However, Shannon followed up with a statement claiming that her concerns about her father’s health were being “downplayed despite multiple hospitalizations.”

“People think this is about money and rivalry… it is not,” Shannon said.

“We went through this before with my Mother, who also suffered tremendous neglect. We are trying to prevent the same thing from happening to my Father. I love my brother, and I hope he will get the help he needs, but we need to prioritize the safety of my father, who is vulnerable, first and foremost. Anything else can be addressed within our family.”

It was July 2023 when Amos accused Shannon of elder abuse and of “taking advantage” of him. His claim at the time came one week after Shannon made a public plea against her brother, accusing him of elder abuse against their father.

Now, after getting the cops involved, authorities determined it’s family drama rather than abuse.

RELATED CONTENT: John Amos Shares Love For Daughter Despite ‘Elderly Abuse’ Claims

NYPD, 'Windshield Boots'
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 9, 2024

NYPD Debuts ‘Windshield Boots’ For Parking Scofflaws

The "Barnacle Device" is a 17-pound tool that sticks to the windshield like a commercial-grade suction.

New York City’s Police Department has revealed a new weapon called “windshield boots,” also known as the “Barnacle Device,” to force scofflaws to settle the debt on their parking tickets that have gone into judgment.

The NYPD debuted the new enforcement instruments on April 4. The windshield boots are a 17-pound device that sticks to the windshield like a commercial-grade suction and cannot be removed until the owner/scofflaw pays the fine associated with the vehicle. It attaches to the windshield glass with 1,000 pounds of force.

Unlike previous devices placed on car tires, this one is purposefully placed on the driver’s side of the windshield to prevent the driver from seeing, thus preventing them from attempting to drive with the device.

“The use of the Barnacle device is part of a pilot program,” an NYPD spokeswoman said. “The NYPD has leased four devices, and we will use them to target illegally parked trucks and vehicles with excess fines.”

These devices are used in several cities, including Greeley, Colorado, and Charleston, South Carolina. According to Barnacle Parking, the company that makes the devices, some parking companies and universities also utilize the “windshield boots.” The yellow panels are made of polycarbonate and can only be removed after a code is given to them once a scofflaw pays the fine.

Anyone who attempts to drive the car with the device attached will be met with a “blaring alarm.” The device is also GPS-enabled. Drivers will have to pay a $200 deposit for the device, which will be refunded after they return it to a drop box.

Drake
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 9, 2024

Drake Continues Gifting Fans On Tour As He Promises To Pay For Someone’s Divorce

'I'm going to get you a good lawyer, and we’re gonna pay for your divorce tonight'

Drake is back on tour, rewarding people who attend his shows with gifts they may not have received if they weren’t in the audience.

The Canadian recording artist was at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on April 4 for his “It’s All a Blur” tour. As he has done on recent tour stops over the past year, the “Best I Ever Had” rapper promised a woman who is presumably going through a divorce the gift of paying for it.

“I’m going to get you a good lawyer, and we’re gonna pay for your divorce tonight,” Drake told the young lady. “You gonna be single and ready to mingle.”

After complimenting her and calling her fine, he then told her to find somebody to go out on a date, and he’d take care of that as well.

“While you’re at it, you need to find you somebody to take you out on a date, too. I’ll pay for the date, too, don’t worry about it.”

In March, Drake gave a pregnant woman $25,000 and moved her from her seat in the pit to a VIP section when he performed at Frost Bank Financial Center in San Antonio, Texas. He took action after he noticed her sign which stated, “I’m five months pregnant, can you be my Rich Baby Daddy?”

But instead of granting her wish to have a baby daddy, he opted to give her the $25K.

Two months ago, while performing in St. Louis, the “God’s Plan” rapper promised to cover the hospital bill of a fan who displayed a sign in the audience asking for financial assistance from the recording artist. A week prior to that generous gift, while doing a show in Tennessee, he gifted a cancer patient in Nashville with $100,000 after the woman appeared at his concert with a sign that stated, “Just Finished Chemo.”

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
by Sharelle Burt

April 9, 2024

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Says The ‘Goal Is To Bring Our Country Together’ So He Won’t Be Endorsing Anyone In 2024 

Should more celebrities take this route?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson says endorsing Joe Biden in 2020 was a mistake and will not endorse him — or anyone — in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. 

During an interview with Fox News’s Will Cain, the actor and former WWE wrestler said that he won’t be publicly supporting any White House hopeful as he feels his public support caused “an incredible amount of division in our country.” He says he thought, at the time, endorsing now President Biden was the best thing to do. “The endorsement that I made years ago with Biden was one I thought was the best decision for me at that time,” Johnson said. 

“I thought back then … I’m in this position where I have some influence. I felt like that then, it’s my job now to exercise my influence and share this is who I’m going to endorse.”

People jumped on social media — some to criticize the movie star’s sentiments and others to congratulate him. Many said they stopped listening to Johnson following the devastating fires in Hawaii when he reached out to people for support. “I stopped listening to the rock after he and Oprah begged poor people to help poor people in Hawaii,” @thrillarilla369 wrote. “Yet him and her could do more to help them than all of us combined. Guess they’re [too] busy land grabbing after the fires.”

Another user feels this is a cancellation ploy for The Rock. “Cue cancellation of The Rock in Hollywood in 3, 2, 1…,” @erdoccaa said. 

Johnson said Biden and then-Sen. Kamala Harris were the “best choice to lead our country,” making it the first time the WrestleMania star made a political endorsement. Now the most-followed man on social media in the world said his decision will be “between him and the ballot box.”

“Am I going to do that again this year? That answer’s no. The takeaway after that — months, and months and months later — I started to realize like, ‘oh man, that caused an incredible amount of division in our country,” he continued. 

“In the spirit of that, there’s gonna be no endorsement. Not that I’m afraid of it at all, but it’s just I realize that this level of influence, I’m going to keep my politics to myself. I think it’s between me and the ballot box.” 

The XFL owner once flirted with entering the political world a few years back but with Hollywood keeping him busy with roles in the next installment of Fast & Furious and the live-action Moana, according to Rolling Stone, he’s leaving all that behind. However, the self-described patriot says whoever is elected in November they have his full support.

“I do trust the American people,” Johnson said. “And I trust that whoever they vote for. That’s going to be my president.”

Victoria Monét, JT And GloRilla, Twitter Feud, X, posts, tweet, tweets, social media
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 9, 2024

Victoria Monét Axes Social Media Manager For Response To Hip-Hop Beef

Victoria Monét was forced to terminate a staffer for accidentally liking a post related to rappers JT and GloRilla's recent Twitter war.

Singer Victoria Monét was forced to terminate a member of her team for accidentally liking a post related to rappers JT and GloRilla’s recent Twitter war.

The Grammy award-winning singer was minding her business rehearsing for her upcoming set at Coachella when she caught wind of her good name getting intertwined into the messy back and forth between JT and GloRilla. In a short video shared online Friday, April 5, Monét clears up any confusion for fans who might’ve been triggered by her Twitter likes related to JT and Glo’s X, formally Twitter, spat.

“I have an entire team logged into my account to make tweets and posts for me when I’m busy,” she explained. “I got pulled out of rehearsal to be told that someone on my social media team did something that they weren’t supposed to do, thinking that they were logged into their account.”

The “On My Mama” singer explained how the since-terminated staffer had been logging in and out of their personal and work accounts when they mistakenly got caught up in the rap feud on Monét’s behalf.

“I guess they were going back and forth between their account and my account, and pressed some buttons that they shouldn’t have fu*king pressed,” the singer said.

“Which is really irritating because I really have no problem with either of them [GloRilla and JT]. I’m sending so much love. I don’t fu*k with Black women beefing online. I want everyone to love each other, hug each other, support each other.”

Noting the backlash she was receiving for the slip-up, Monét said her fans had every right to “cuss me out” since they were under the impression she was liking the shady tweets about the female rap beef.

But the “Jaguar 2” singer confirms that “I would never do that. I support my Black women. I only uplift them.”

She concluded her video post by confirming that the staffer who liked the shady tweets under her account has since been “fired.”

JT has been involved in a series of X/Twitter feuds in the last week including one messy back-and-forth with Memphis rapper GloRilla and most recently her own City Girls group member Yung Miami. The feud with GloRilla took new heights after the rapper name-dropped JT on her “Ehhthang Ehhthang” track “Aite.”

GloRilla was recently asked about her Twitter spat with JT while attending the 2024 CMT Music Awards, to which she seemingly responded with a subtle plug to her latest musical release.

“Everything just always everything,” she told Billboard. “At the end of the day, that day gon’ motherf—in’ end. Everything is everything. That day gotta end.”

RELATED CONTENT: GloRilla Stays Mum On Politics During CNN Appearance After Meeting Biden And Harris

Money, Basic Income Program, Black Women, income
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 9, 2024

Georgia Finds Success In Basic Income Program For Black Women

Georgia's success in its Universal Basic Income program for Black women is contributing to a national push for its expansion.

Georgia’s installment of a universal basic income (UBI) program has found success among its Black women participants. Its favorable outcome could lead to an expansion of similar programs nationwide.

The In Your Hands initiative started through the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity (GRO) fund. The nonprofit selected 654 women in a lottery system to receive an average of $850 a month to help with everyday expenses, as reported by Daily Kos. The women will collect the monthly allotments for two years, with the GRO fund partnering with another nonprofit, Give Directly in New York, for the operation.

Most of the women with In Your Hands have children, all earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level. The additional money was significantly used toward their children’s needs, such as childcare and groceries. However, the participants were also 60% more likely to enroll in higher education programs. The realities of this program further dismantle the “welfare queen” trope historically associated with Black women who use public assistance.

Data collected from the participants showed that many spend the additional funds to lessen the stress of living expenses in Georgia. The findings detailed that 45% allocated the money toward bills, while nearly a third were able to pay off debt. Almost 30% used the extra cash to create a “rainy day” fund for any unexpected emergency.

The results hope to prove the value of implementing guaranteed UBIs for Americans. Currently, private sources fund the Georgia-based In Your Hands and other initiatives in cities like Washington, D.C. However, their findings seek to encourage lawmakers in enacting federally-supported programs across the country.

“The vast majority of people [receiving guaranteed income] don’t leave their jobs, and they use the money either to pursue their goals or to supply staples on the table,” explained social policy professor Stephen Roll at Washington University in St. Louis.

UBIs continue to aid communities of color while defying conservative beliefs that it prompts people to abuse the funds. Its next step, beyond cities’ implementing UBI in their budgets, would be for these programs to build wealth for individuals.

RELATED CONTENT: $13M ‘In Her Hands’ Initiative Empowers Struggling Women With Guaranteed Income In Georgia Communities

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