BY NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON — "HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis" is coming to the Fox in Hutchinson on Friday night.

The
 evening begins with hypnotist Asad Mecci welcoming 20 volunteers on 
stage to be hypnotized. The most receptive to hypnosis then join Colin 
Mochrie, improv comedian from TV's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" to improvise 
the rest of the show, while hypnotized.

"It's a totally different 
experience," Mochrie said. "When I worked with the guys from Whose Line,
 even though we're making it up, I can usually tell what joke they are 
going to head for, what kind of ending they are going to head for in the
 scene. I don't have that with these people. They just immediately react
 to whatever is happening in the moment. They are all about the present,
 not about the future."

Friday's performance is the tour's only 
Kansas date and Mecci is excited about bringing the one of a kind style 
to the Sunflower State.

"How many more plays are you going to see?
 How many more musicals are you going to see?," Mecci said. "You will 
never, ever, and I guarantee this, see a show like Hyprov in your life, 
because it is completely unique. It is made up every single night. Our 
cast members are people from the audience, random volunteers from the 
audience who come up on stage, get hypnotized and then improvise with 
Colin Mochrie from Whose Line. It is like nothing you've ever seen 
before."

Being hypnotized is not the same for all who go under, but Mochrie and Mecci have ways of involving the subjects.

"We've
 tried to come up with games, that even the ones who may be under 
different types of hypnosis, sometimes they get very sluggish and their 
reactions are very slow," Mochrie said. "We've found ways that we can 
use everyone that ended up as part of the improv troupe, so everybody 
gets the chance to do something."

<a href="https://ci.ovationtix.com/35908/pr/1127661/pe/11102589?deepLink=true&amp;overlay=true">Tickets are still available and you can book online</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678142383592.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON — "HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis" is coming to the Fox in Hutchinson on Friday night.The
 evening begins with hypnotist Asad Mecci welcoming 20 volunteers on 
stage to be hypnotized. The most receptive to hypnosis then join Colin 
Mochrie, improv comedian from TV's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" to improvise 
the rest of the show, while hypnotized."It's a totally different 
experience," Mochrie said. "When I worked with the guys from Whose Line,
 even though we're making it up, I can usually tell what joke they are 
going to head for, what kind of ending they are going to head for in the
 scene. I don't have that with these people. They just immediately react
 to whatever is happening in the moment. They are all about the present,
 not about the future."Friday's performance is the tour's only 
Kansas date and Mecci is excited about bringing the one of a kind style 
to the Sunflower State."How many more plays are you going to see?
 How many more musicals are you going to see?," Mecci said. "You will 
never, ever, and I guarantee this, see a show like Hyprov in your life, 
because it is completely unique. It is made up every single night. Our 
cast members are people from the audience, random volunteers from the 
audience who come up on stage, get hypnotized and then improvise with 
Colin Mochrie from Whose Line. It is like nothing you've ever seen 
before."Being hypnotized is not the same for all who go under, but Mochrie and Mecci have ways of involving the subjects."We've
 tried to come up with games, that even the ones who may be under 
different types of hypnosis, sometimes they get very sluggish and their 
reactions are very slow," Mochrie said. "We've found ways that we can 
use everyone that ended up as part of the improv troupe, so everybody 
gets the chance to do something."<a href="https://ci.ovationtix.com/35908/pr/1127661/pe/11102589?deepLink=true&amp;overlay=true">Tickets are still available and you can book online</a>.

Colin Mochrie and hypnotist head ot Hutch for Kansas show

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service issued a consumer alert 
today to warn taxpayers of new scams that urge people to use wage 
information on a tax return to claim false credits in hopes of getting a
 big refund.

One scheme, which is circulating on social media, encourages people to use tax software to manually fill out <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2">Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement</a>,
 and include false income information. In this W-2 scheme, scam artists 
suggest people make up large income and withholding figures as well as 
the employer it is coming from. Scam artists then instruct people to 
file the bogus tax return electronically in hopes of getting a 
substantial refund – sometimes as much as five figures – due to the 
large amount of withholding.

The IRS along with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 partners in the tax industry and the states, are actively watching for 
this scheme and others. In addition, the IRS works with payroll 
companies and large employers – as well as the Social Security 
Administration – to verify W-2 information.

With National Consumer Protection Week&nbsp;starting Monday, the IRS and Summit partners warn people not to fall for these scams.

"We are seeing signs this scam is increasing, and we worry that 
innocent taxpayers could be at risk of being tempted into falling into a
 trap that puts them at risk of financial and criminal penalties," said 
Acting IRS Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "The IRS and Security Summit 
partners remind people there is no secret way to get free money or a big
 refund. People should not make up income and try to submit a fraudulent
 tax return in hopes of getting a huge refund."

Two variations of this scheme are also being seen by the IRS; both 
involve misusing Form W-2 wage information in hopes of generating a 
larger refund:

The IRS reminds people who try this that they face a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">wide range of penalties</a>. This may include a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/the-truth-about-frivolous-tax-arguments-section-i-d-to-e">frivolous return penalty of $5,000</a>. Filers also run the risk of criminal prosecution for filing a false tax return.

For anyone who has participated in one of these schemes, there are several options that the IRS recommends. People can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc308">amend</a> a previous tax return or consult with a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">trusted tax professional</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service issued a consumer alert 
today to warn taxpayers of new scams that urge people to use wage 
information on a tax return to claim false credits in hopes of getting a
 big refund.One scheme, which is circulating on social media, encourages people to use tax software to manually fill out <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2">Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement</a>,
 and include false income information. In this W-2 scheme, scam artists 
suggest people make up large income and withholding figures as well as 
the employer it is coming from. Scam artists then instruct people to 
file the bogus tax return electronically in hopes of getting a 
substantial refund – sometimes as much as five figures – due to the 
large amount of withholding.The IRS along with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 partners in the tax industry and the states, are actively watching for 
this scheme and others. In addition, the IRS works with payroll 
companies and large employers – as well as the Social Security 
Administration – to verify W-2 information.With National Consumer Protection Week&nbsp;starting Monday, the IRS and Summit partners warn people not to fall for these scams."We are seeing signs this scam is increasing, and we worry that 
innocent taxpayers could be at risk of being tempted into falling into a
 trap that puts them at risk of financial and criminal penalties," said 
Acting IRS Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "The IRS and Security Summit 
partners remind people there is no secret way to get free money or a big
 refund. People should not make up income and try to submit a fraudulent
 tax return in hopes of getting a huge refund."Two variations of this scheme are also being seen by the IRS; both 
involve misusing Form W-2 wage information in hopes of generating a 
larger refund:<ul>
 <li>One variation involves people using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-7202">Form 7202, Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals</a>,
 to claim a credit based on income earned as an employee and not as a 
self-employed individual. These credits were available for self-employed
 individuals for 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic; they are not 
available for 2022 tax returns.</li><li>A similar variation involves people making up fictional employees employed in their household and using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-h-form-1040">Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment Taxes</a>,
 to try claiming a refund based on false sick and family wages they 
never paid. The form is designed to report household employment taxes if
 a taxpayer hired someone to do household work and those wages were 
subject to Social Security, Medicare or FUTA taxes, or if the employer 
withheld federal income tax from those wages.</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds people who try this that they face a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">wide range of penalties</a>. This may include a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/the-truth-about-frivolous-tax-arguments-section-i-d-to-e">frivolous return penalty of $5,000</a>. Filers also run the risk of criminal prosecution for filing a false tax return.For anyone who has participated in one of these schemes, there are several options that the IRS recommends. People can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc308">amend</a> a previous tax return or consult with a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">trusted tax professional</a>.

IRS: New scam involving W-2 forms promises big refund

By MADDY ROHR K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – Contrary to its name, there isn’t actually corn in corned beef.&nbsp;

Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee said the name comes from dry-curing beef brisket with salt crystals the size of corn. ‘Corning’ the beef was originally used as a preservation technique during winter months or during lent, but corned beef can be found year-round now.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It is traditionally served with cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day, but also a tasty meat for sandwiches,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;

Most corned beef can be bought in a salt brine with spices, ready to cook. But you can also find ready-to-eat corned beef in the deli section of your grocery store.&nbsp;

“Use a long, moist cooking method either in the oven, on top of the stove or a slow cooker,” Blakeslee said. “It should be tender with an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit when done.”&nbsp;

Blakeslee said corned beef may look pink when cooked because of the nitrates used during the brining process.&nbsp;

Once cooked, “let it rest at least 10 minutes and cut corned beef into slices against the grain,” she said.&nbsp;

Blakeslee, who is also coordinator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/">K-State’s Rapid Response Center for food science</a>, publishes a monthly newsletter called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/newsletter">You Asked It!</a>&nbsp;that provides numerous tips on being safe and healthy.&nbsp;

More information also is available from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.&nbsp;

By MADDY ROHR K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;MANHATTAN – Contrary to its name, there isn’t actually corn in corned beef.&nbsp;Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee said the name comes from dry-curing beef brisket with salt crystals the size of corn. ‘Corning’ the beef was originally used as a preservation technique during winter months or during lent, but corned beef can be found year-round now.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It is traditionally served with cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day, but also a tasty meat for sandwiches,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;Most corned beef can be bought in a salt brine with spices, ready to cook. But you can also find ready-to-eat corned beef in the deli section of your grocery store.&nbsp;“Use a long, moist cooking method either in the oven, on top of the stove or a slow cooker,” Blakeslee said. “It should be tender with an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit when done.”&nbsp;Blakeslee said corned beef may look pink when cooked because of the nitrates used during the brining process.&nbsp;Once cooked, “let it rest at least 10 minutes and cut corned beef into slices against the grain,” she said.&nbsp;Blakeslee, who is also coordinator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/">K-State’s Rapid Response Center for food science</a>, publishes a monthly newsletter called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/newsletter">You Asked It!</a>&nbsp;that provides numerous tips on being safe and healthy.&nbsp;More information also is available from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.&nbsp;

Luck o' the Irish? Food scientist shares tips on preparing corned beef 

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded businesses 
with income from farming or fishing that have not already made their 
estimated tax payments to file and pay their entire tax due on or before
 Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

Taxpayers can pay from their bank account using their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> or they can schedule payments in advance using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>.

Farmers and fishers who did not pay all their 2022 estimated taxes by
 Jan. 17 must file their 2022 tax return and pay the entire tax due by 
March 1.

Only those that have paid their estimated tax payments by Jan. 17 can
 file by the regular April 18 deadline and avoid estimated tax 
penalties. This special rule generally applies when income from farming 
or fishing makes up at least 2/3 of the total gross income in either the
 current or the preceding tax year.

Disaster-area taxpayers, including farmers and fishers, have more 
time to file and pay. Currently, taxpayers in most of California and 
parts of Alabama and Georgia, have until Oct.16, 2023, to file their 
2022 return and pay any tax due. This extension is automatic; taxpayers 
don't need to file any paperwork or call the IRS to get it.

Like other taxpayers, those in a disaster area who need more time can request a tax-filing extension. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">IRS.gov/extensions</a> for details.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 allows individuals to make same-day payments from a checking or savings
 account. Taxpayers can also see their payment history, balance and 
payment plan information, and digital copies of certain notices sent 
from the IRS.

Taxpayers can use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>
 to schedule a payment from their bank account for their tax deadline 
with no registration or login required. Those who want to pay business 
taxes should enroll in and use the (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>.

For more information about these and other payment options visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded businesses 
with income from farming or fishing that have not already made their 
estimated tax payments to file and pay their entire tax due on or before
 Wednesday, March 1, 2023.Taxpayers can pay from their bank account using their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> or they can schedule payments in advance using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>.Farmers and fishers who did not pay all their 2022 estimated taxes by
 Jan. 17 must file their 2022 tax return and pay the entire tax due by 
March 1.Only those that have paid their estimated tax payments by Jan. 17 can
 file by the regular April 18 deadline and avoid estimated tax 
penalties. This special rule generally applies when income from farming 
or fishing makes up at least 2/3 of the total gross income in either the
 current or the preceding tax year.<h2>Special rules for disaster areas</h2>Disaster-area taxpayers, including farmers and fishers, have more 
time to file and pay. Currently, taxpayers in most of California and 
parts of Alabama and Georgia, have until Oct.16, 2023, to file their 
2022 return and pay any tax due. This extension is automatic; taxpayers 
don't need to file any paperwork or call the IRS to get it.Like other taxpayers, those in a disaster area who need more time can request a tax-filing extension. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">IRS.gov/extensions</a> for details.<h2>Paying online is safe, fast and easy</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 allows individuals to make same-day payments from a checking or savings
 account. Taxpayers can also see their payment history, balance and 
payment plan information, and digital copies of certain notices sent 
from the IRS.Taxpayers can use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>
 to schedule a payment from their bank account for their tax deadline 
with no registration or login required. Those who want to pay business 
taxes should enroll in and use the (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>.For more information about these and other payment options visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.<h2>Forms and publications to use</h2><h2>Farmers</h2><ul>
 <li>Use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-f-form-1040">Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming</a> to report income and expenses.</li><li>Use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-se-form-1040">Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax</a> to figure self-employment tax if net earnings from farming are $400 or more.</li><li>See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc554">Topic No. 554, Self-Employment Tax</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p225">Publication 225, Farmer's Tax Guide</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/agriculture-tax-center">Agriculture Tax Center</a> for more information.</li>
 </ul><h2>Fishers</h2><ul>
 <li>Use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-c-form-1040">Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship)</a> to report income and expenses.</li><li>Use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-se-form-1040">Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax</a> to figure self-employment tax if net earnings from fishing are $400 or more.</li><li>See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p334">Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business</a> for commercial fishers who file Schedule C.</li>
 </ul><h2>Related items</h2><ul>
 <li>For fishers and farmers operating as a partnership or corporation see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p541">Publication 541, Partnerships</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p542">Publication 542, Corporations</a>.</li><li>For information on estimated tax, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p505">Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc416">Tax Topic 416, Farming and Fishing Income</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5034esp.pdf">Publication 5034 (en-sp), Need to Make a Payment?</a>PDF</li><li>For filing information on the Quarterly Federal Excise Tax for manufacturers of sport fishing equipment, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-510">Publication 510, Excise Taxes</a>, and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-720">Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return</a>.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

Important tax deadline for farmers, fishers is Wednesday

Since its debut in 1971, an anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native
 American attire shed a single tear at the sight of smokestacks and 
litter taking over a once unblemished landscape has become an indelible 
piece of TV pop culture.

It's been referenced over the decades 
since on shows like “The Simpsons” and “South Park” and in internet 
memes. But now a Native American advocacy group that was given the 
rights to the long-parodied public service announcement is retiring it, 
saying it has always been inappropriate.

The so-called “Crying 
Indian” with his buckskins and long braids made the late actor Iron Eyes
 Cody a recognizable face in households nationwide. But to many Native 
Americans, the public service announcement has been a painful reminder 
of the enduring stereotypes they face.

The nonprofit that 
originally commissioned the advertisement, Keep America Beautiful, had 
long been considering how to retire the ad and announced this week that 
it's doing so by transferring ownership of the rights to the National 
Congress of American Indians.

“Keep America Beautiful wanted to be
 careful and deliberate about how we transitioned this iconic 
advertisement/public service announcement to appropriate owners,” Noah 
Ullman, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said via e-mail. “We spoke to 
several Indigenous peoples’ organizations and were pleased to identify 
the National Congress of American Indians as a potential caretaker.”

NCAI plans to end the use of the ad and watch for any unauthorized use.

“NCAI
 is proud to assume the role of monitoring the use of this advertisement
 and ensure it is only used for historical context; this advertisement 
was inappropriate then and remains inappropriate today,” said NCAI 
Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “NCAI looks forward to putting this
 advertisement to bed for good.”

When it premiered in the 1970s, 
the ad was a sensation. It led to Iron Eyes Cody filming three follow-up
 PSAs. He spent more than 25 years making public appearances and visits 
to schools on behalf of the anti-litter campaign, according to an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/9581117ee9e621d4232b5a32aad8eb97">Associated Press obituary.</a>

From
 there, Cody, who was Italian American but claimed to have Cherokee 
heritage through his father, was typecast as a stock Native American 
character, appearing in over 80 films. Most of the time, his character 
was simply “Indian,” “Indian Chief” or “Indian Joe.”

His movie 
credits from the 1950s-1980s included “Sitting Bull,” The Great Sioux 
Massacre," Nevada Smith, “A Man Called Horse” and “Ernest Goes to Camp."
 On television, he appeared in “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke” and “Rawhide” among
 others. He also was a technical adviser on Native American matters on 
film sets.

Dr. Jennifer J. Folsom, a journalism and media 
communication professor at Colorado State University and a citizen of 
the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, remembers watching the public service 
announcement as a child.

“At that point, every single person who 
showed up with braids and buckskins, on TV or anywhere in the movies, I 
glommed on to that because it was such a rare thing to see,” said 
Folsom, whose areas of study include Native American pop culture. “I did
 see how people littered, and I did see how the creeks and the rivers 
were getting polluted.”

But as she grew up, Folsom noticed how media devoted little coverage to Native American environmental activists.

“There’s
 no agency for that sad so-called Indian guy sitting in a canoe, 
crying,” Folsom said. “I think it has done damage to public perception 
and support for actual Native people doing things to protect the land 
and protect the environment.”

She applauded Keep America 
Beautiful's decision as an “appropriate move.” It will mean a trusted 
group can help control the narrative the ad has promoted for over 50 
years, she said.

The ad's power has arguably already faded as 
Native and Indigenous youths come of age with a greater consciousness 
about stereotypes and cultural appropriation. TikTok has plenty of 
examples of Native people parodying or doing a takedown of the 
advertisement, Folsom said.

Robert “Tree” Cody, the adopted son of Iron Eyes Cody, said the advertisement had “good intent and good heart” at its core.

“It
 was one of the top 100 commercials,” said Robert Cody, an enrolled 
member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona.

And, it reminded him of time spent with his father, said Cody, who lives at Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico.

“I
 remember a lot, even when he went on a movie set to finish his movies 
and stuff,” Cody said. “I remember going out to Universal (Studios), 
Disney, places like that.”

His wife, Rachel Kee-Cody, can't help 
but feel somewhat sad that an ad that means so much to their family will
 be shelved. But she is resigned to the decision.

“You know, times
 are changing as well. You keep going no matter how much it changes,” 
she said. “Disappointment. ... It'll pass.”

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j7OHG7tHrNM"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Associated PressSince its debut in 1971, an anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native
 American attire shed a single tear at the sight of smokestacks and 
litter taking over a once unblemished landscape has become an indelible 
piece of TV pop culture.It's been referenced over the decades 
since on shows like “The Simpsons” and “South Park” and in internet 
memes. But now a Native American advocacy group that was given the 
rights to the long-parodied public service announcement is retiring it, 
saying it has always been inappropriate.The so-called “Crying 
Indian” with his buckskins and long braids made the late actor Iron Eyes
 Cody a recognizable face in households nationwide. But to many Native 
Americans, the public service announcement has been a painful reminder 
of the enduring stereotypes they face.The nonprofit that 
originally commissioned the advertisement, Keep America Beautiful, had 
long been considering how to retire the ad and announced this week that 
it's doing so by transferring ownership of the rights to the National 
Congress of American Indians.“Keep America Beautiful wanted to be
 careful and deliberate about how we transitioned this iconic 
advertisement/public service announcement to appropriate owners,” Noah 
Ullman, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said via e-mail. “We spoke to 
several Indigenous peoples’ organizations and were pleased to identify 
the National Congress of American Indians as a potential caretaker.”NCAI plans to end the use of the ad and watch for any unauthorized use.“NCAI
 is proud to assume the role of monitoring the use of this advertisement
 and ensure it is only used for historical context; this advertisement 
was inappropriate then and remains inappropriate today,” said NCAI 
Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “NCAI looks forward to putting this
 advertisement to bed for good.”When it premiered in the 1970s, 
the ad was a sensation. It led to Iron Eyes Cody filming three follow-up
 PSAs. He spent more than 25 years making public appearances and visits 
to schools on behalf of the anti-litter campaign, according to an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/9581117ee9e621d4232b5a32aad8eb97">Associated Press obituary.</a>From
 there, Cody, who was Italian American but claimed to have Cherokee 
heritage through his father, was typecast as a stock Native American 
character, appearing in over 80 films. Most of the time, his character 
was simply “Indian,” “Indian Chief” or “Indian Joe.”His movie 
credits from the 1950s-1980s included “Sitting Bull,” The Great Sioux 
Massacre," Nevada Smith, “A Man Called Horse” and “Ernest Goes to Camp."
 On television, he appeared in “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke” and “Rawhide” among
 others. He also was a technical adviser on Native American matters on 
film sets.Dr. Jennifer J. Folsom, a journalism and media 
communication professor at Colorado State University and a citizen of 
the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, remembers watching the public service 
announcement as a child.“At that point, every single person who 
showed up with braids and buckskins, on TV or anywhere in the movies, I 
glommed on to that because it was such a rare thing to see,” said 
Folsom, whose areas of study include Native American pop culture. “I did
 see how people littered, and I did see how the creeks and the rivers 
were getting polluted.”But as she grew up, Folsom noticed how media devoted little coverage to Native American environmental activists.“There’s
 no agency for that sad so-called Indian guy sitting in a canoe, 
crying,” Folsom said. “I think it has done damage to public perception 
and support for actual Native people doing things to protect the land 
and protect the environment.”She applauded Keep America 
Beautiful's decision as an “appropriate move.” It will mean a trusted 
group can help control the narrative the ad has promoted for over 50 
years, she said.The ad's power has arguably already faded as 
Native and Indigenous youths come of age with a greater consciousness 
about stereotypes and cultural appropriation. TikTok has plenty of 
examples of Native people parodying or doing a takedown of the 
advertisement, Folsom said.Robert “Tree” Cody, the adopted son of Iron Eyes Cody, said the advertisement had “good intent and good heart” at its core.“It
 was one of the top 100 commercials,” said Robert Cody, an enrolled 
member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona.And, it reminded him of time spent with his father, said Cody, who lives at Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico.“I
 remember a lot, even when he went on a movie set to finish his movies 
and stuff,” Cody said. “I remember going out to Universal (Studios), 
Disney, places like that.”His wife, Rachel Kee-Cody, can't help 
but feel somewhat sad that an ad that means so much to their family will
 be shelved. But she is resigned to the decision.“You know, times
 are changing as well. You keep going no matter how much it changes,” 
she said. “Disappointment. ... It'll pass.”

🎥 Rights to 'Crying Indian' ad to go to Native American group

MEXICO
 CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president posted a photo on his social media 
accounts Saturday showing what he said appeared to be a mythological 
woodland spirit similar to an elf.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador did not seem to be joking when <a href="https://twitter.com/lopezobrador_/status/1629617208899895296">he posted the photo</a> of an “Aluxe,” a mischievous woodland spirit in Mayan folklore.

López
 Obrador wrote the photo “was taken three days ago by an engineer, it 
appears to be an aluxe," adding “everything is mystical.”

The 
nighttime photo shows a tree with a branch forming what looks like a 
halo of hair, and what may be stars forming the figure’s eyes.

López
 Obrador has long expressed reverence for indigenous cultures and 
beliefs. Engineers and workers are in the Yucatan peninsula, 
constructing a tourist train that is the president's pet project.

According
 to traditional Mayan belief, “Aluxes” are small, mischievous creatures 
that inhabit forests and fields and are prone to playing tricks on 
people, like hiding things. Some people leave small offerings to appease
 them.

The ancient Mayan civilization reached its height from 300 
A.D. to 900 A.D. on the Yucatan Peninsula and in adjacent parts of 
Central America, but the Mayas’ descendants continue to live on the 
peninsula.

Many continue speaking the Mayan language and wearing 
traditional clothing, while also conserving traditional foods, crops, 
religion and medicine practices, despite the conquest of the region by 
the Spanish between 1527 and 1546.

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Les comparto dos fotos de nuestra supervisión a las obras del Tren Maya: una, tomada por un ingeniero hace tres días, al parecer de un aluxe; otra, de Diego Prieto de una espléndida escultura prehispánica en Ek Balam. Todo es místico. <a href="https://t.co/Tr5OP2EqmU">pic.twitter.com/Tr5OP2EqmU</a>&mdash; Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) <a href="https://twitter.com/lopezobrador_/status/1629617208899895296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>MEXICO
 CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president posted a photo on his social media 
accounts Saturday showing what he said appeared to be a mythological 
woodland spirit similar to an elf.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador did not seem to be joking when <a href="https://twitter.com/lopezobrador_/status/1629617208899895296">he posted the photo</a> of an “Aluxe,” a mischievous woodland spirit in Mayan folklore.López
 Obrador wrote the photo “was taken three days ago by an engineer, it 
appears to be an aluxe," adding “everything is mystical.”The 
nighttime photo shows a tree with a branch forming what looks like a 
halo of hair, and what may be stars forming the figure’s eyes.López
 Obrador has long expressed reverence for indigenous cultures and 
beliefs. Engineers and workers are in the Yucatan peninsula, 
constructing a tourist train that is the president's pet project.According
 to traditional Mayan belief, “Aluxes” are small, mischievous creatures 
that inhabit forests and fields and are prone to playing tricks on 
people, like hiding things. Some people leave small offerings to appease
 them.The ancient Mayan civilization reached its height from 300 
A.D. to 900 A.D. on the Yucatan Peninsula and in adjacent parts of 
Central America, but the Mayas’ descendants continue to live on the 
peninsula.Many continue speaking the Mayan language and wearing 
traditional clothing, while also conserving traditional foods, crops, 
religion and medicine practices, despite the conquest of the region by 
the Spanish between 1527 and 1546.

Mexican president posts photo of what he claims is an elf

By TERRY TANG Associated Press

Since its debut in 1971, an anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native American attire shed a single tear at the sight of smokestacks and litter taking over a once unblemished landscape has become an indelible piece of TV pop culture. It's been referenced for decades on shows like "The Simpsons" and "South Park" and in internet memes. But the "Crying Indian" public service announcement has been painful for some Native Americans who saw it as a trope. That's why Keep America Beautiful, the nonprofit that originally commissioned the advertisement, announced Thursday that ownership of the ad's rights will be transferred to the National Congress of American Indians. NCAI plans to retire the use.

Since its debut in 1971, an anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native American attire shed a single tear at the sight of smokestacks and litter taking over a once unblemished landscape has become an indelible piece of TV pop culture.

It's been referenced over the decades since on shows like "The Simpsons" and "South Park" and in internet memes. But now a Native American advocacy group that was given the rights to the long-parodied public service announcement is retiring it, saying it has always been inappropriate.

The so-called "Crying Indian" with his buckskins and long braids made the late actor Iron Eyes Cody a recognizable face in households nationwide. But to many Native Americans, the public service announcement has been a painful reminder of the enduring stereotypes they face.

The nonprofit that originally commissioned the advertisement, Keep America Beautiful, had long been considering how to retire the ad and announced this week that it's doing so by transferring ownership of the rights to the National Congress of American Indians.

"Keep America Beautiful wanted to be careful and deliberate about how we transitioned this iconic advertisement/public service announcement to appropriate owners," Noah Ullman, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said via e-mail. "We spoke to several Indigenous peoples' organizations and were pleased to identify the National Congress of American Indians as a potential caretaker."

"NCAI is proud to assume the role of monitoring the use of this advertisement and ensure it is only used for historical context; this advertisement was inappropriate then and remains inappropriate today," said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. "NCAI looks forward to putting this advertisement to bed for good."

When it premiered in the 1970s, the ad was a sensation. It led to Iron Eyes Cody filming three follow-up PSAs. He spent more than 25 years making public appearances and visits to schools on behalf of the anti-litter campaign, according to an Associated Press obituary.

From there, Cody, who was Italian American but claimed to have Cherokee heritage through his father, was typecast as a stock Native American character, appearing in over 80 films. Most of the time, his character was simply "Indian," "Indian Chief" or "Indian Joe."

His movie credits from the 1950s-1980s included "Sitting Bull," The Great Sioux Massacre," Nevada Smith, "A Man Called Horse" and "Ernest Goes to Camp." On television, he appeared in "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke" and "Rawhide" among others. He also was a technical adviser on Native American matters on film sets.

Dr. Jennifer J. Folsom, a journalism and media communication professor at Colorado State University and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, remembers watching the public service announcement as a child.

"At that point, every single person who showed up with braids and buckskins, on TV or anywhere in the movies, I glommed on to that because it was such a rare thing to see," said Folsom, whose areas of study include Native American pop culture. "I did see how people littered, and I did see how the creeks and the rivers were getting polluted."

"There's no agency for that sad so-called Indian guy sitting in a canoe, crying," Folsom said. "I think it has done damage to public perception and support for actual Native people doing things to protect the land and protect the environment."

She applauded Keep America Beautiful's decision as an "appropriate move." It will mean a trusted group can help control the narrative the ad has promoted for over 50 years, she said.

The ad's power has arguably already faded as Native and Indigenous youths come of age with a greater consciousness about stereotypes and cultural appropriation. TikTok has plenty of examples of Native people parodying or doing a takedown of the advertisement, Folsom said.

Robert "Tree" Cody, the adopted son of Iron Eyes Cody, said the advertisement had "good intent and good heart" at its core.

"It was one of the top 100 commercials," said Robert Cody, an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona.

"I remember a lot, even when he went on a movie set to finish his movies and stuff," Cody said. "I remember going out to Universal (Studios), Disney, places like that."

His wife, Rachel Kee-Cody, can't help but feel somewhat sad that an ad that means so much to their family will be shelved. But she is resigned to the decision.

"You know, times are changing as well. You keep going no matter how much it changes," she said. "Disappointment. ... It'll pass."

Tang is a member of The Associated Press' Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at @ttangAP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677380816931.jpeg" alt="Iron Eyes Cody, the ''Crying Indian'' whose tearful face in 1970s TV commercials became a powerful symbol of the anti-littering campaign, is pictured in this 1986 photo. Keep America Beautiful, the nonprofit that originally commissioned the advertisement, announced Thursday that ownership of the ad's rights will be transferred to the National Congress of American Indians. (AP Photo/File)" />
 <figcaption>Iron Eyes Cody, the ''Crying Indian'' whose tearful face in 1970s TV commercials became a powerful symbol of the anti-littering campaign, is pictured in this 1986 photo. Keep America Beautiful, the nonprofit that originally commissioned the advertisement, announced Thursday that ownership of the ad's rights will be transferred to the National Congress of American Indians. (AP Photo/File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TERRY TANG Associated PressSince its debut in 1971, an anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native American attire shed a single tear at the sight of smokestacks and litter taking over a once unblemished landscape has become an indelible piece of TV pop culture. It's been referenced for decades on shows like "The Simpsons" and "South Park" and in internet memes. But the "Crying Indian" public service announcement has been painful for some Native Americans who saw it as a trope. That's why Keep America Beautiful, the nonprofit that originally commissioned the advertisement, announced Thursday that ownership of the ad's rights will be transferred to the National Congress of American Indians. NCAI plans to retire the use.Since its debut in 1971, an anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native American attire shed a single tear at the sight of smokestacks and litter taking over a once unblemished landscape has become an indelible piece of TV pop culture.It's been referenced over the decades since on shows like "The Simpsons" and "South Park" and in internet memes. But now a Native American advocacy group that was given the rights to the long-parodied public service announcement is retiring it, saying it has always been inappropriate.The so-called "Crying Indian" with his buckskins and long braids made the late actor Iron Eyes Cody a recognizable face in households nationwide. But to many Native Americans, the public service announcement has been a painful reminder of the enduring stereotypes they face.The nonprofit that originally commissioned the advertisement, Keep America Beautiful, had long been considering how to retire the ad and announced this week that it's doing so by transferring ownership of the rights to the National Congress of American Indians."Keep America Beautiful wanted to be careful and deliberate about how we transitioned this iconic advertisement/public service announcement to appropriate owners," Noah Ullman, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said via e-mail. "We spoke to several Indigenous peoples' organizations and were pleased to identify the National Congress of American Indians as a potential caretaker."NCAI plans to end the use of the ad and watch for any unauthorized use."NCAI is proud to assume the role of monitoring the use of this advertisement and ensure it is only used for historical context; this advertisement was inappropriate then and remains inappropriate today," said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. "NCAI looks forward to putting this advertisement to bed for good."When it premiered in the 1970s, the ad was a sensation. It led to Iron Eyes Cody filming three follow-up PSAs. He spent more than 25 years making public appearances and visits to schools on behalf of the anti-litter campaign, according to an Associated Press obituary.From there, Cody, who was Italian American but claimed to have Cherokee heritage through his father, was typecast as a stock Native American character, appearing in over 80 films. Most of the time, his character was simply "Indian," "Indian Chief" or "Indian Joe."His movie credits from the 1950s-1980s included "Sitting Bull," The Great Sioux Massacre," Nevada Smith, "A Man Called Horse" and "Ernest Goes to Camp." On television, he appeared in "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke" and "Rawhide" among others. He also was a technical adviser on Native American matters on film sets.Dr. Jennifer J. Folsom, a journalism and media communication professor at Colorado State University and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, remembers watching the public service announcement as a child."At that point, every single person who showed up with braids and buckskins, on TV or anywhere in the movies, I glommed on to that because it was such a rare thing to see," said Folsom, whose areas of study include Native American pop culture. "I did see how people littered, and I did see how the creeks and the rivers were getting polluted."But as she grew up, Folsom noticed how media devoted little coverage to Native American environmental activists."There's no agency for that sad so-called Indian guy sitting in a canoe, crying," Folsom said. "I think it has done damage to public perception and support for actual Native people doing things to protect the land and protect the environment."She applauded Keep America Beautiful's decision as an "appropriate move." It will mean a trusted group can help control the narrative the ad has promoted for over 50 years, she said.The ad's power has arguably already faded as Native and Indigenous youths come of age with a greater consciousness about stereotypes and cultural appropriation. TikTok has plenty of examples of Native people parodying or doing a takedown of the advertisement, Folsom said.Robert "Tree" Cody, the adopted son of Iron Eyes Cody, said the advertisement had "good intent and good heart" at its core."It was one of the top 100 commercials," said Robert Cody, an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona.And, it reminded him of time spent with his father, said Cody, who lives at Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico."I remember a lot, even when he went on a movie set to finish his movies and stuff," Cody said. "I remember going out to Universal (Studios), Disney, places like that."His wife, Rachel Kee-Cody, can't help but feel somewhat sad that an ad that means so much to their family will be shelved. But she is resigned to the decision."You know, times are changing as well. You keep going no matter how much it changes," she said. "Disappointment. ... It'll pass."Tang is a member of The Associated Press' Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at @ttangAP.

Rights to 'Crying Indian' ad to go to Native American group

WASHINGTON — With the 2023 tax filing season in full swing, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers to gather their necessary 
information and visit IRS.gov for updated <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">resources</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">tools</a> to help with their 2022 tax return.

This news release is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional guidance is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals)</a>.

Taxpayers should wait to file until they receive all their proper <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">tax documents</a>, or they risk making a mistake that could cause delays.

They should also review their documents carefully. If any of the information is inaccurate or missing, taxpayers should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc154">contact the payer</a> right away for a correction or to ensure the issuer has their current mailing or email address.

Creating an IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> can help taxpayers securely access information about their federal tax account, including payments, tax records and more.

Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier and may help taxpayers find overlooked <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">deductions or credits</a>.

Taxpayers with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number">ITIN</a>
 may need to renew it if it's expired and is needed on a U.S. federal 
tax return. If they don't renew an expiring or expired ITIN, the IRS can
 still accept their return, but it may delay processing or credits owed.

Changes to credits and deductions for tax year 2022

Unlike 2020 and 2021, there were no new stimulus payments for 2022, 
so taxpayers should not expect to get an additional payment in their 
2023 tax refund.

However, taxpayers may still qualify for temporarily expanded eligibility of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-premium-tax-credit-the-basics">Premium Tax Credit</a>,
 a refundable credit that helps eligible individuals and families cover 
the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health 
Insurance Marketplace. To get this credit, taxpayers must meet <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/eligibility-for-the-premium-tax-credit">certain requirements</a> and file a tax return with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8962">Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit</a>.

Also, eligibility rules changed to claim a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a> under the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>.

Some tax credits return to 2019 levels. This means that taxpayers will likely receive a significantly smaller refund compared with the previous tax year.

Changes include amounts for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit">Child Tax Credit (CTC)</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a> will revert to pre-COVID levels.

Finally, taxpayers that don't itemize and take the standard deduction cannot deduct their charitable contributions this year.

There are no changes to what counts as income or how tax is 
calculated, including income from the sale of personal assets. Taxpayers
 must report all their income on their tax return unless it's excluded 
by law.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-k">Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions</a>,
 is an IRS information return used to report certain payment 
transactions and helps to improve voluntary tax compliance. Taxpayers 
use this information return with their other tax records to determine 
their correct tax liability. 2022 Forms 1099-K should have been 
furnished to the payee by Jan. 31, 2023.

The American Rescue Plan of 2021 changed the reporting threshold for 
third-party settlement organizations, including payment apps and online 
settlement organizations. The new threshold requires reporting of 
transactions in excess of $600 per year; changed from the previous 
threshold of an excess of $20,000 and an excess of 200 transactions per 
year. Third-party settlement organizations are required to report 
payments for goods and services.

On Dec. 23, 2022, the IRS announced that calendar year 2022 will be treated as a transition year for the reduced reporting threshold of $600.

Even though the Form 1099-K reduced reporting requirement for 
third-party settlement organizations is delayed, some individuals may 
still receive a Form 1099-K who have not received one in the past. Some 
individuals may receive a Form 1099-K for the sale of personal items or 
in situations where they received a Form 1099-K in error (i.e. for 
transactions between friends and family, or expense sharing).

Money received as a gift or to reimburse shared meals or rent should 
not be reported on a 1099-K. Payments should indicate whether they are 
personal to family and friends or a business transaction for goods and 
services.

If the information is incorrect on the 1099-K, taxpayers should 
contact the payer immediately. The payer's name appears in the upper 
left corner on the form. The taxpayer should keep a copy of all 
correspondence with the payer with their records.

If a Form 1099-K is received in error and a corrected Form 1099-K can't be obtained, follow the IRS' updated guidance at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">Understanding Your Form 1099-K</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — With the 2023 tax filing season in full swing, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers to gather their necessary 
information and visit IRS.gov for updated <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">resources</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">tools</a> to help with their 2022 tax return.This news release is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional guidance is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals)</a>.<h2>Things to consider before filing</h2>Taxpayers should wait to file until they receive all their proper <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">tax documents</a>, or they risk making a mistake that could cause delays.They should also review their documents carefully. If any of the information is inaccurate or missing, taxpayers should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc154">contact the payer</a> right away for a correction or to ensure the issuer has their current mailing or email address.Creating an IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> can help taxpayers securely access information about their federal tax account, including payments, tax records and more.Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier and may help taxpayers find overlooked <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">deductions or credits</a>.Taxpayers with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number">ITIN</a>
 may need to renew it if it's expired and is needed on a U.S. federal 
tax return. If they don't renew an expiring or expired ITIN, the IRS can
 still accept their return, but it may delay processing or credits owed.<h2>Changes to credits and deductions for tax year 2022</h2>Unlike 2020 and 2021, there were no new stimulus payments for 2022, 
so taxpayers should not expect to get an additional payment in their 
2023 tax refund.However, taxpayers may still qualify for temporarily expanded eligibility of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-premium-tax-credit-the-basics">Premium Tax Credit</a>,
 a refundable credit that helps eligible individuals and families cover 
the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health 
Insurance Marketplace. To get this credit, taxpayers must meet <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/eligibility-for-the-premium-tax-credit">certain requirements</a> and file a tax return with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8962">Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit</a>.Also, eligibility rules changed to claim a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a> under the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>.Some tax credits return to 2019 levels. This means that taxpayers will likely receive a significantly smaller refund compared with the previous tax year.Changes include amounts for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit">Child Tax Credit (CTC)</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a> will revert to pre-COVID levels.<ul>
 <li>For the EITC, eligible taxpayers with no children who received roughly $1,500 in 2021 will now get $500 for the 2022 tax year.</li><li>Those who got $3,600 per dependent in 2021 for the CTC will, if eligible, get $2,000 per dependent for the 2022 tax year.</li><li>The Child and Dependent Care Credit returns to a maximum of $2,100 in 2022 instead of $8,000 in 2021.</li>
 </ul>Finally, taxpayers that don't itemize and take the standard deduction cannot deduct their charitable contributions this year.<h2>Transition year for 1099-K reporting</h2>There are no changes to what counts as income or how tax is 
calculated, including income from the sale of personal assets. Taxpayers
 must report all their income on their tax return unless it's excluded 
by law.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-k">Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions</a>,
 is an IRS information return used to report certain payment 
transactions and helps to improve voluntary tax compliance. Taxpayers 
use this information return with their other tax records to determine 
their correct tax liability. 2022 Forms 1099-K should have been 
furnished to the payee by Jan. 31, 2023.The American Rescue Plan of 2021 changed the reporting threshold for 
third-party settlement organizations, including payment apps and online 
settlement organizations. The new threshold requires reporting of 
transactions in excess of $600 per year; changed from the previous 
threshold of an excess of $20,000 and an excess of 200 transactions per 
year. Third-party settlement organizations are required to report 
payments for goods and services.<h2>On Dec. 23, 2022, the IRS announced that calendar year 2022 will be treated as a transition year for the reduced reporting threshold of $600.</h2>Even though the Form 1099-K reduced reporting requirement for 
third-party settlement organizations is delayed, some individuals may 
still receive a Form 1099-K who have not received one in the past. Some 
individuals may receive a Form 1099-K for the sale of personal items or 
in situations where they received a Form 1099-K in error (i.e. for 
transactions between friends and family, or expense sharing).Money received as a gift or to reimburse shared meals or rent should 
not be reported on a 1099-K. Payments should indicate whether they are 
personal to family and friends or a business transaction for goods and 
services.If the information is incorrect on the 1099-K, taxpayers should 
contact the payer immediately. The payer's name appears in the upper 
left corner on the form. The taxpayer should keep a copy of all 
correspondence with the payer with their records.If a Form 1099-K is received in error and a corrected Form 1099-K can't be obtained, follow the IRS' updated guidance at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">Understanding Your Form 1099-K</a>.

Tax Time Guide: Things to consider when filing 2022 tax return

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer

NEW YORK — On Dec. 22, 1985, The Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/1aa23991920be67a37fcb1908001dc0a">reported the following from Blue Ridge, Georgia:</a>

“Investigators
 searching for cocaine dropped by an airborne smuggler have found a 
ripped-up shipment of the sweet-smelling powder and the remains of a 
bear that apparently died of a multimillion-dollar high.”

Police 
found a sad scene. A 175-lb. black bear dead near a duffle bag and some 
$2 million worth of cocaine that had been opened and scattered over a 
hillside. The parachutist, a former Kentucky narcotics investigator, had
 fallen to his death in a backyard in Knoxville, Tennessee. His unmanned
 airplane crashed into a North Carolina mountain. Back in Georgia, the 
bear, examiners said, had overdosed.

The story is in many ways too
 much. Too absurd. Too ’80s. Even the screenwriters of the “Fast &amp; 
Furious” movies would think it far-fetched. The stranger-than-fiction 
tale quickly receded from the headlines and, before some began to stoke 
the myth of “Pablo Escobear,” it mostly stayed buried in news media 
archives.

That changed when screenwriter Jimmy Warden delivered to
 producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller a script titled “Cocaine 
Bear.” They were on board from page one.

“When the movie’s 
pitched, you hear the word ‘Cocaine,’ you’re like I’m not sure what to 
think of this,” Lord says. “Then when you hear the word ‘Bear,’ you’re 
like: I’m all in.”

Yes, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuWEEKeJLMI">“Cocaine Bear”</a>
 is a real movie. And after it opens in theaters Friday, it might even 
be a hit. Since the trailer first debuted for Elizabeth Banks’ very, 
very loosely based-on-a-true-story R-rated comedy has stoked a rabid 
zeitgeist. At a time when much in Hollywood can feel pre-packaged, the 
makers of “Cocaine Bear” think it can be an untamed exception.

“Hopefully the film lives up to the title,” Banks says, smiling. “That was the goal.”

Little
 on the movie calendar has captured the public imagination quite like 
“Cocaine Bear.” Its trailer, watched more than 25 million times, 
immediately went viral. The movie, itself, is like a meme sprung to life
 — a kind of spiritual heir to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkckhcqiwM8">“Snakes on a Plane”</a>
 crossed with a Paddington Bear fever dream. Everything about it is 
propelled by a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and 
can-you-believe-this-is-a-real-movie wink. “I’m the bear who ate 
cocaine,” reads <a href="https://twitter.com/cocainebear?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">one of the film's official tweets</a>. “This is my story.”

While
 most studio movies are driven by well-known intellectual property and 
few original comedies manage to attract audiences in theaters, “Cocaine 
Bear” is here to strike a blow to business-as-usual in Hollywood. 
“Cocaine Bear” is here to be bold. “Cocaine Bear” is here to party.

“You
 have to demonstrate theatricality to get the greenlight. It just means 
you have to swing the bat a little harder,” Lord says. “In this world 
that’s increasingly mechanized, things that don’t feel mechanized have 
really special value.”

Miller and Lord have in recent years shepherded some of the most vibrant and irreverent films to the screen, including <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ed131a86a96848228dd1c58ac29c0f99">“The Lego Movie,”</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/caf272445f4c426797e6093b2b3c7945">“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/reviews-technology-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-d0fe967abc7b9e6ac51979b7bbfe3679">“The Mitchells vs the Machines.”</a> They like to take apart old conventions and give them an absurdist, post-modern spin.

“Certainly,
 this movie was not mandated by a corporation,” Miller says, laughing. 
“It’s a thing we somehow snuck through the system. That’s how we love to
 make all our movies, like: ‘I can’t believe they let us get away with 
this.’”

Warden had been a production assistant on their 2012 
action comedy “21 Jump Street." After hearing about the 1985 story, 
Warden wrote the script on spec and hoped his old bosses would like it. 
Intrigued at the screenplay's possibility, the producers found an 
unexpectedly open reception from Universal Pictures chief Donna Langley.

“What’s
 funny is that we thought it would be difficult because of the subject 
matter. But surprisingly, they were excited right from the jump and 
didn’t shy away from the movie, its tone or even its title,” says 
Miller. “We thought at some point, someone was going to say, ‘Well you 
can’t call it ‘Cocaine Bear.’ You have to call it ‘A Walk in the 
Woods.’"

Since her directorial debut in 2015's “Pitch Perfect 2,” 
Banks has carved out a second career behind the camera. She last helmed 
2019's “Charlie's Angels." With Universal's backing and Lord and Miller 
producing, “Cocaine Bear” struck her as not just a viable, 
actually-happening project but one where she could marry a gory animal 
attack movie with comedy.

“Most people are surprised that it is a 
real thing, and very surprised that I’m the person that made it,” says 
Banks, laughing. “I just got a text from someone who was like, ‘I’ve 
been hearing about this movie and I had no idea you made it.’”

Though
 the title meant “Cocaine Bear” would be limited from some advertising 
platforms, the filmmakers describe the studio as interested in leaning 
into what made the film distinct from the all the options viewers are 
inundated with. Nothing, it turned out, could cut through all the noise 
like “Cocaine Bear.”

“They love things with strong flavor. That’s 
the word I hear a lot in my marketing meetings," Banks says. “It’s 
harder and harder to find things that are theatrically exciting. The 
hope was that we were making something people needed to leave their 
house to see.”

The film, itself, takes the basis of the real story
 and imagines what might have transpired if the bear didn't quickly die 
but went on a coke-fueled rampage through a national forest, terrorizing
 park wardens, campers and drug dealers seeking the lost shipment. After
 an initial taste, the bear goes after more cocaine with all the zeal of
 Yogi pursuing a picnic basket.

The bear, named Cokie, was a CGI 
concoction created by Weta FX with Allen Henry, a stunt man and student 
of Andy Serkis, performing motion capture. He wore all black and walked 
on all fours with prosthetic arms. The rest of the cast includes Keri 
Russell, Margo Martindale, Alden Ehrenreich, O'Shea Jackson and Ray 
Liotta. It's one of Liotta's final performances before his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ray-liotta-dead-46f9582dce224a3e51d3bba1663b3c05">death last May</a>, and one that connects back to his similarly cocaine-laced performance in “Goodfellas."

“I’ve
 said that this film felt very risky. The risk was: I was never going to
 have the lead character of the movie on the set of the movie,” Banks 
says. “That was truly what scared me the most. If the bear didn’t work, 
the movie falls apart.”

Lord and Miller hope that there's a rising
 realization within the film industry that movies that are audaciously 
original can pack theaters. Lord points to the Academy Awards favorite 
"Everything Everywhere All at Once” as recent proof.

“It could win
 best picture and it’s the zaniest idea out there,” Lord says. “For the 
scale of that movie, it’s a huge hit. What we’re after is demonstrating 
that these movies can be original and fun and surprising and they can be
 hits.”

“I can’t think of a movie that came out last year that 
wouldn’t have been maybe a little bit better if there had a been a 
cocaine-fueled bear on a rampage as part of it," adds Miller. "Imagine 
if ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ had a big bear just running through 
biting that guy’s fingers off.”

If it's successful, “Cocaine Bear”
 could, of course, become a franchise of its own. A sequel isn't out the
 question. “LSD Armadillo”? “Quaalude Tortoise”? Banks, for now, is 
deferring.

“Somebody will put something into the AI chat bot and 
it will spit out something ridiculous and the internet will write it for
 us.”

By JAKE COYLE AP Film WriterNEW YORK — On Dec. 22, 1985, The Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/1aa23991920be67a37fcb1908001dc0a">reported the following from Blue Ridge, Georgia:</a>“Investigators
 searching for cocaine dropped by an airborne smuggler have found a 
ripped-up shipment of the sweet-smelling powder and the remains of a 
bear that apparently died of a multimillion-dollar high.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1572956883313.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Police 
found a sad scene. A 175-lb. black bear dead near a duffle bag and some 
$2 million worth of cocaine that had been opened and scattered over a 
hillside. The parachutist, a former Kentucky narcotics investigator, had
 fallen to his death in a backyard in Knoxville, Tennessee. His unmanned
 airplane crashed into a North Carolina mountain. Back in Georgia, the 
bear, examiners said, had overdosed.The story is in many ways too
 much. Too absurd. Too ’80s. Even the screenwriters of the “Fast &amp; 
Furious” movies would think it far-fetched. The stranger-than-fiction 
tale quickly receded from the headlines and, before some began to stoke 
the myth of “Pablo Escobear,” it mostly stayed buried in news media 
archives.That changed when screenwriter Jimmy Warden delivered to
 producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller a script titled “Cocaine 
Bear.” They were on board from page one.“When the movie’s 
pitched, you hear the word ‘Cocaine,’ you’re like I’m not sure what to 
think of this,” Lord says. “Then when you hear the word ‘Bear,’ you’re 
like: I’m all in.”Yes, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuWEEKeJLMI">“Cocaine Bear”</a>
 is a real movie. And after it opens in theaters Friday, it might even 
be a hit. Since the trailer first debuted for Elizabeth Banks’ very, 
very loosely based-on-a-true-story R-rated comedy has stoked a rabid 
zeitgeist. At a time when much in Hollywood can feel pre-packaged, the 
makers of “Cocaine Bear” think it can be an untamed exception.“Hopefully the film lives up to the title,” Banks says, smiling. “That was the goal.”Little
 on the movie calendar has captured the public imagination quite like 
“Cocaine Bear.” Its trailer, watched more than 25 million times, 
immediately went viral. The movie, itself, is like a meme sprung to life
 — a kind of spiritual heir to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkckhcqiwM8">“Snakes on a Plane”</a>
 crossed with a Paddington Bear fever dream. Everything about it is 
propelled by a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and 
can-you-believe-this-is-a-real-movie wink. “I’m the bear who ate 
cocaine,” reads <a href="https://twitter.com/cocainebear?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">one of the film's official tweets</a>. “This is my story.”While
 most studio movies are driven by well-known intellectual property and 
few original comedies manage to attract audiences in theaters, “Cocaine 
Bear” is here to strike a blow to business-as-usual in Hollywood. 
“Cocaine Bear” is here to be bold. “Cocaine Bear” is here to party.“You
 have to demonstrate theatricality to get the greenlight. It just means 
you have to swing the bat a little harder,” Lord says. “In this world 
that’s increasingly mechanized, things that don’t feel mechanized have 
really special value.”Miller and Lord have in recent years shepherded some of the most vibrant and irreverent films to the screen, including <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ed131a86a96848228dd1c58ac29c0f99">“The Lego Movie,”</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/caf272445f4c426797e6093b2b3c7945">“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/reviews-technology-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-d0fe967abc7b9e6ac51979b7bbfe3679">“The Mitchells vs the Machines.”</a> They like to take apart old conventions and give them an absurdist, post-modern spin.“Certainly,
 this movie was not mandated by a corporation,” Miller says, laughing. 
“It’s a thing we somehow snuck through the system. That’s how we love to
 make all our movies, like: ‘I can’t believe they let us get away with 
this.’”Warden had been a production assistant on their 2012 
action comedy “21 Jump Street." After hearing about the 1985 story, 
Warden wrote the script on spec and hoped his old bosses would like it. 
Intrigued at the screenplay's possibility, the producers found an 
unexpectedly open reception from Universal Pictures chief Donna Langley.“What’s
 funny is that we thought it would be difficult because of the subject 
matter. But surprisingly, they were excited right from the jump and 
didn’t shy away from the movie, its tone or even its title,” says 
Miller. “We thought at some point, someone was going to say, ‘Well you 
can’t call it ‘Cocaine Bear.’ You have to call it ‘A Walk in the 
Woods.’"Since her directorial debut in 2015's “Pitch Perfect 2,” 
Banks has carved out a second career behind the camera. She last helmed 
2019's “Charlie's Angels." With Universal's backing and Lord and Miller 
producing, “Cocaine Bear” struck her as not just a viable, 
actually-happening project but one where she could marry a gory animal 
attack movie with comedy.“Most people are surprised that it is a 
real thing, and very surprised that I’m the person that made it,” says 
Banks, laughing. “I just got a text from someone who was like, ‘I’ve 
been hearing about this movie and I had no idea you made it.’”Though
 the title meant “Cocaine Bear” would be limited from some advertising 
platforms, the filmmakers describe the studio as interested in leaning 
into what made the film distinct from the all the options viewers are 
inundated with. Nothing, it turned out, could cut through all the noise 
like “Cocaine Bear.”“They love things with strong flavor. That’s 
the word I hear a lot in my marketing meetings," Banks says. “It’s 
harder and harder to find things that are theatrically exciting. The 
hope was that we were making something people needed to leave their 
house to see.”The film, itself, takes the basis of the real story
 and imagines what might have transpired if the bear didn't quickly die 
but went on a coke-fueled rampage through a national forest, terrorizing
 park wardens, campers and drug dealers seeking the lost shipment. After
 an initial taste, the bear goes after more cocaine with all the zeal of
 Yogi pursuing a picnic basket.The bear, named Cokie, was a CGI 
concoction created by Weta FX with Allen Henry, a stunt man and student 
of Andy Serkis, performing motion capture. He wore all black and walked 
on all fours with prosthetic arms. The rest of the cast includes Keri 
Russell, Margo Martindale, Alden Ehrenreich, O'Shea Jackson and Ray 
Liotta. It's one of Liotta's final performances before his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ray-liotta-dead-46f9582dce224a3e51d3bba1663b3c05">death last May</a>, and one that connects back to his similarly cocaine-laced performance in “Goodfellas."“I’ve
 said that this film felt very risky. The risk was: I was never going to
 have the lead character of the movie on the set of the movie,” Banks 
says. “That was truly what scared me the most. If the bear didn’t work, 
the movie falls apart.”Lord and Miller hope that there's a rising
 realization within the film industry that movies that are audaciously 
original can pack theaters. Lord points to the Academy Awards favorite 
"Everything Everywhere All at Once” as recent proof.“It could win
 best picture and it’s the zaniest idea out there,” Lord says. “For the 
scale of that movie, it’s a huge hit. What we’re after is demonstrating 
that these movies can be original and fun and surprising and they can be
 hits.”“I can’t think of a movie that came out last year that 
wouldn’t have been maybe a little bit better if there had a been a 
cocaine-fueled bear on a rampage as part of it," adds Miller. "Imagine 
if ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ had a big bear just running through 
biting that guy’s fingers off.”If it's successful, “Cocaine Bear”
 could, of course, become a franchise of its own. A sequel isn't out the
 question. “LSD Armadillo”? “Quaalude Tortoise”? Banks, for now, is 
deferring.“Somebody will put something into the AI chat bot and 
it will spit out something ridiculous and the internet will write it for
 us.”

REVIEW: 'Cocaine Bear' is here to strike a blow to staid Hollywood

Singer/songwriter Lisa Brokop in her warm, rich voice and 
accompanying band will pay homage to one of country music’s greatest 
ladies, Patsy Cline, with many of her classic hits including “Sweet 
Dreams” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.”

This Golden Belt Community 
Concert featuring Brokop and the Patsy Cline Project is set for 7:30 
p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and 
Stone. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Brokop created The Patsy Cline 
Project in 2016 as a collection of Cline’s well-known country and pop 
music hits of the 1950s and 1960s. She also will sing a couple of her 
own songs that she has composed in Cline’s well-known vocal style.

“I’ll
 be coming full circle with this project,” Brokop says, “When I started 
singing, I would sing some of Patsy’s songs because I didn’t have my 
own. They are still some of my favorites today and I am so excited to 
have the opportunity to honor this amazing lady and the incredible music
 she gave us.”

Program highlights will also include “I Fall to 
Pieces,” “Your Cheating Heart,” “Strange,” “Faded Love,” “Back in My 
Baby’s Arms,” and “Blue Moon Over Kentucky.”

This GBCCA event is 
open to association members. No single concert tickets are available. 
Anyone who is not a member and wishes to purchase a season membership 
may do so at this concert. Because the concert association encourages 
music education in the schools, full-time students of any age will be 
admitted to the concert for a $5 donation at the door.

Season 
memberships are $50 per adult; $10 for any full-time enrolled student; 
$110 for a Family Membership (two adults and all dependent children 
living in the same household); and $110 for a Grandparent Package (two 
adults and up to four minor grandchildren).

The GBCCA 2022-2023 
season will continue with Forever Simon and Garfunkel, March 14, and 
Beginnings, the ultimate Chicago Tribute Band, April 22.

For more 
information about GBCCA and to see video previews of the new season’s 
concerts, go to the website, www.goldenbeltcca.org, or call 
620-793-2748.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677018098017.jpeg" alt="Lisa Brokop will sing the music of Patsy Cline in the Golden Belt Community Concert presentation, The Patsy Cline Project, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone. The performance is open to GBCCA members. Memberships will be available for purchase at the concert." />
 <figcaption>Lisa Brokop will sing the music of Patsy Cline in the Golden Belt Community Concert presentation, The Patsy Cline Project, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone. The performance is open to GBCCA members. Memberships will be available for purchase at the concert.</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy Great Bend PostSinger/songwriter Lisa Brokop in her warm, rich voice and 
accompanying band will pay homage to one of country music’s greatest 
ladies, Patsy Cline, with many of her classic hits including “Sweet 
Dreams” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.”This Golden Belt Community 
Concert featuring Brokop and the Patsy Cline Project is set for 7:30 
p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and 
Stone. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.Brokop created The Patsy Cline 
Project in 2016 as a collection of Cline’s well-known country and pop 
music hits of the 1950s and 1960s. She also will sing a couple of her 
own songs that she has composed in Cline’s well-known vocal style.“I’ll
 be coming full circle with this project,” Brokop says, “When I started 
singing, I would sing some of Patsy’s songs because I didn’t have my 
own. They are still some of my favorites today and I am so excited to 
have the opportunity to honor this amazing lady and the incredible music
 she gave us.”Program highlights will also include “I Fall to 
Pieces,” “Your Cheating Heart,” “Strange,” “Faded Love,” “Back in My 
Baby’s Arms,” and “Blue Moon Over Kentucky.”This GBCCA event is 
open to association members. No single concert tickets are available. 
Anyone who is not a member and wishes to purchase a season membership 
may do so at this concert. Because the concert association encourages 
music education in the schools, full-time students of any age will be 
admitted to the concert for a $5 donation at the door.Season 
memberships are $50 per adult; $10 for any full-time enrolled student; 
$110 for a Family Membership (two adults and all dependent children 
living in the same household); and $110 for a Grandparent Package (two 
adults and up to four minor grandchildren).The GBCCA 2022-2023 
season will continue with Forever Simon and Garfunkel, March 14, and 
Beginnings, the ultimate Chicago Tribute Band, April 22.For more 
information about GBCCA and to see video previews of the new season’s 
concerts, go to the website, www.goldenbeltcca.org, or call 
620-793-2748.

The Patsy Cline Project with Lisa Brokop in Great Bend

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue 
Service today issued final regulations amending the rules for filing 
returns and other documents electronically (e-file). These regulations 
will require certain filers to e-file beginning in 2024.

<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2023-03710/electronic-filing-requirements-for-specified-returns-and-other-documents">T.D. 9972</a>
 affects filers of partnership returns, corporate income tax returns, 
unrelated business income tax returns, withholding tax returns, certain 
information returns, registration statements, disclosure statements, 
notifications, actuarial reports and certain excise tax returns. The 
final regulations reflect changes made by the Taxpayer First Act (TFA) 
to increase e-filing without undue hardship on taxpayers.

To help with this process, the IRS created a new, free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-opens-free-portal-to-file-information-returns-new-electronic-option-can-reduce-millions-of-paper-forms-1099-estimated-to-be-filed-by-businesses-in-2023">online portal</a>
 last month to help businesses file Form 1099 series information returns
 electronically. Known as the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS), 
this free electronic filing service is secure, accurate and requires no 
special software. Though available to any business of any size, IRIS may
 be especially helpful to any small business that currently sends their 
1099 forms on paper to the IRS.

In recent years there has been tremendous growth in the availability 
of e-file services and the use of e-file across the tax filing spectrum.
 In 2021, about 82% of all corporate income tax returns were e-filed, 
and almost 90% of partnership tax returns were e-filed. Further reducing
 the volume of paper returns filed frees up staff and resources to 
further enhance services for taxpayers and improves overall efficiencies
 while reducing postage, printing, shipping and storage and their 
associated costs and burdens.

In 2021, about 82% of all corporate income tax returns were e-filed, 
and almost 90% of partnership tax returns were e-filed. The IRS receives
 nearly 4 billion information returns per year and expects to receive 
nearly 5 billion by 2028. In 2019, the IRS still received nearly 40 
million paper information returns, even though approximately 99% of all 
information returns for that year were e-filed.

The final regulations generally provide hardship waivers for filers 
that would experience hardship in complying with the e-filing 
requirements and administrative exemptions from the e-filing 
requirements to promote effective and efficient tax administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue 
Service today issued final regulations amending the rules for filing 
returns and other documents electronically (e-file). These regulations 
will require certain filers to e-file beginning in 2024.<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2023-03710/electronic-filing-requirements-for-specified-returns-and-other-documents">T.D. 9972</a>
 affects filers of partnership returns, corporate income tax returns, 
unrelated business income tax returns, withholding tax returns, certain 
information returns, registration statements, disclosure statements, 
notifications, actuarial reports and certain excise tax returns. The 
final regulations reflect changes made by the Taxpayer First Act (TFA) 
to increase e-filing without undue hardship on taxpayers.Specifically, the final regulations:<ul>
 <li>reduce the 250-return threshold enacted in prior regulations to 
generally require electronic filing by filers of 10 or more returns in a
 calendar year. The final regulations also create several new 
regulations to require e-filing of certain returns and other documents 
not previously required to be e-filed;</li><li>require filers to aggregate almost all information return types 
covered by the regulation to determine whether a filer meets the 
10-return threshold and is required to e-file their information returns.
 Earlier regulations applied the 250-return threshold separately to each
 type of information return covered by the regulations;</li><li>eliminate the e-filing exception for income tax returns of 
corporations that report total assets under $10 million at the end of 
their taxable year, and</li><li>require partnerships with more than 100 partners to e-file 
information returns, and they require partnerships required to file at 
least 10 returns of any type during the calendar year to e-file their 
partnership return.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>To help with this process, the IRS created a new, free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-opens-free-portal-to-file-information-returns-new-electronic-option-can-reduce-millions-of-paper-forms-1099-estimated-to-be-filed-by-businesses-in-2023">online portal</a>
 last month to help businesses file Form 1099 series information returns
 electronically. Known as the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS), 
this free electronic filing service is secure, accurate and requires no 
special software. Though available to any business of any size, IRIS may
 be especially helpful to any small business that currently sends their 
1099 forms on paper to the IRS.In recent years there has been tremendous growth in the availability 
of e-file services and the use of e-file across the tax filing spectrum.
 In 2021, about 82% of all corporate income tax returns were e-filed, 
and almost 90% of partnership tax returns were e-filed. Further reducing
 the volume of paper returns filed frees up staff and resources to 
further enhance services for taxpayers and improves overall efficiencies
 while reducing postage, printing, shipping and storage and their 
associated costs and burdens.In 2021, about 82% of all corporate income tax returns were e-filed, 
and almost 90% of partnership tax returns were e-filed. The IRS receives
 nearly 4 billion information returns per year and expects to receive 
nearly 5 billion by 2028. In 2019, the IRS still received nearly 40 
million paper information returns, even though approximately 99% of all 
information returns for that year were e-filed.The final regulations generally provide hardship waivers for filers 
that would experience hardship in complying with the e-filing 
requirements and administrative exemptions from the e-filing 
requirements to promote effective and efficient tax administration.

IRS, Treasury issue final regulations on e-file for businesses

K-State horticulture expert gets you ready for planting this year’s crop

K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN –&nbsp;It’s still nearly three months before Kansas gardeners begin to put tomato plants into the ground. Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham says that’s an opportunity for gardeners to set themselves up for a bountiful season.&nbsp;

“Most of the varieties available to home gardeners are either indeterminate or semi-determinate,” Upham said.&nbsp;

Indeterminate plants are traditional tomatoes that never stop growing. They are capable of producing fruit throughout the season unless disease stops production or frost kills the plant.&nbsp;

Semi-determinate plants are more compact, but also are capable of producing fruit throughout the season. Another classification is known as determinate, or those varieties that produce one large crop but then virtually nothing afterwards.&nbsp;

“Gardeners with limited space will likely prefer indeterminate or semi-determinate types to stretch out the harvest season,” Upham said. “If there is space, you may want to grow a combination of all three, with the determinates used to produce a large harvest for canning or tomato juice, and the remainder for fresh eating.”&nbsp;

In Kansas, tomatoes are generally planted in early- to mid-May, or when daytime temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the state has passed the frost-free date. In some areas, such as the northwest part of the state, conditions might not be right for planting tomatoes until the middle of May or a bit later, according to Upham.&nbsp;

Even though indeterminate and semi-determinate varieties produce fruit throughout the season, “our hot Kansas summers often cause a dry spell in production in both types,” Upham said.&nbsp;

Tomatoes are less likely to set fruit when night temperatures remain above 75 F and day temperatures are above 95 F. Hot, dry winds make the situation worse, Upham said.&nbsp;

Each year,&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/master-gardeners/" target="_blank">Kansas Master Gardeners</a>&nbsp;plant and rate a number of tomato varieties. Upham noted that a subsequent trial is conducted by a colleague with the University of Missouri extension service.&nbsp;

Results of trials conducted by Kansas’ Master Gardeners vary by county. Interested persons are encouraged to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">contact their local extension office</a>&nbsp;for more information on varieties that perform well in their area.&nbsp;

Upham said the University of Missouri trials also give valuable information on varieties that perform well in this region. The data from Missouri’s extension service showed that the top 10 varieties (based on pounds of fruit harvested per plant) are:&nbsp;

Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html" target="_blank">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;

Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">local extension office</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612708754292.jpeg" alt="It's time to start thinking about tomatoes.&nbsp;Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>It's time to start thinking about tomatoes.&nbsp;Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>K-State horticulture expert gets you ready for planting this year’s crop</h2>K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;MANHATTAN –&nbsp;It’s still nearly three months before Kansas gardeners begin to put tomato plants into the ground. Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham says that’s an opportunity for gardeners to set themselves up for a bountiful season.&nbsp;“Most of the varieties available to home gardeners are either indeterminate or semi-determinate,” Upham said.&nbsp;Indeterminate plants are traditional tomatoes that never stop growing. They are capable of producing fruit throughout the season unless disease stops production or frost kills the plant.&nbsp;Semi-determinate plants are more compact, but also are capable of producing fruit throughout the season. Another classification is known as determinate, or those varieties that produce one large crop but then virtually nothing afterwards.&nbsp;“Gardeners with limited space will likely prefer indeterminate or semi-determinate types to stretch out the harvest season,” Upham said. “If there is space, you may want to grow a combination of all three, with the determinates used to produce a large harvest for canning or tomato juice, and the remainder for fresh eating.”&nbsp;In Kansas, tomatoes are generally planted in early- to mid-May, or when daytime temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the state has passed the frost-free date. In some areas, such as the northwest part of the state, conditions might not be right for planting tomatoes until the middle of May or a bit later, according to Upham.&nbsp;Even though indeterminate and semi-determinate varieties produce fruit throughout the season, “our hot Kansas summers often cause a dry spell in production in both types,” Upham said.&nbsp;Tomatoes are less likely to set fruit when night temperatures remain above 75 F and day temperatures are above 95 F. Hot, dry winds make the situation worse, Upham said.&nbsp;Tomato trials&nbsp;Each year,&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/master-gardeners/" target="_blank">Kansas Master Gardeners</a>&nbsp;plant and rate a number of tomato varieties. Upham noted that a subsequent trial is conducted by a colleague with the University of Missouri extension service.&nbsp;Results of trials conducted by Kansas’ Master Gardeners vary by county. Interested persons are encouraged to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">contact their local extension office</a>&nbsp;for more information on varieties that perform well in their area.&nbsp;Upham said the University of Missouri trials also give valuable information on varieties that perform well in this region. The data from Missouri’s extension service showed that the top 10 varieties (based on pounds of fruit harvested per plant) are:&nbsp;Anna RussianCherokee PurpleGerman JohnsonBeef MasterEarly GirlBig BoyBrandywine BlackJet StarCelebrityBig BeefUpham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html" target="_blank">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">local extension office</a>.&nbsp;

It’s February: Are you thinking about tomatoes yet?

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — At age 103, Sister Jean awakes daily at 5 a.m. She 
sits up quickly to avoid going to sleep again — "I’ve got too much to 
do,” she says. After prayers for the day ahead, she reads the Gospel on 
her tablet.

“I guess there aren’t too many 103-year-old nuns using
 iPads these days – there aren’t too many 103-year-olds, period,” she 
writes in her memoir that will be published Feb. 28. “But I’m pretty 
comfortable with modern technology. I’ve always said, ‘If you’re not 
moving forward, you’re going to get left behind real quick.’ 
Adaptability is my superpower.”

In “Wake Up with Purpose: What 
I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years,” Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt 
tells her life story, offers spiritual guidance and shares some of the 
lessons she's learned.

The beloved Catholic nun captured the sports world’s imagination and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jean-north-america-ap-top-news-basketball-college-sports-d9353b1405bc46e2be0b9506d2fb23a9">became something of a folk hero</a> as the chaplain for the Loyola Chicago men’s basketball team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 2018.

She has been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/5039ad4aaf5d4fb5b7dfda18a13e0f5f">featured by newspapers and TV stations</a> across America. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jean-north-america-ap-top-news-mi-state-wire-college-sports-c3e72770c49645af8da02971e170b16b">Her NCAA news conference</a>,
 she was told, had more journalists than Tom Brady drew at the Super 
Bowl. Her likeness appears on socks, bobbleheads, even a Lego statue at <a href="https://www.luc.edu/luma/collections/srjeandoloresschmidtbvmgallery/">her gallery in Loyola’s art museum</a>.
 She sees the attention as a holy opportunity to tell her story and 
share what she’s learned; to help others wake up with purpose. Among her
 priorities, there’s little that she enjoys more than talking with young
 people.

“I love life so much and enjoy being with young people,” 
she told The Associated Press. “They’re the ones who keep me going 
because they bring such joy into my life -- and they keep you updated on
 what’s happening in their world.”

She arrived in a wheelchair for
 the interview at her office in the university's student center. She 
wore purple Nike Air Max sneakers with the words “Sister” and “Jean” 
written on the back, and her maroon and gold Loyola scarf that often 
gets compared to Harry Potter’s. She smiled warmly and waved to 
prospective students and shook hands with current students, asking them 
about their classes.

“What’s your dream?” she asked some of them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676641480416.jpeg" alt="Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the Loyola University men's basketball chaplain and school celebrity, sits for a portrait in The Joseph J. Gentile Arena, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)" />
 <figcaption>Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the Loyola University men's basketball chaplain and school celebrity, sits for a portrait in The Joseph J. Gentile Arena, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)</figcaption>
 </figure>By LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated PressCHICAGO (AP) — At age 103, Sister Jean awakes daily at 5 a.m. She 
sits up quickly to avoid going to sleep again — "I’ve got too much to 
do,” she says. After prayers for the day ahead, she reads the Gospel on 
her tablet.“I guess there aren’t too many 103-year-old nuns using
 iPads these days – there aren’t too many 103-year-olds, period,” she 
writes in her memoir that will be published Feb. 28. “But I’m pretty 
comfortable with modern technology. I’ve always said, ‘If you’re not 
moving forward, you’re going to get left behind real quick.’ 
Adaptability is my superpower.”In “Wake Up with Purpose: What 
I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years,” Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt 
tells her life story, offers spiritual guidance and shares some of the 
lessons she's learned.The beloved Catholic nun captured the sports world’s imagination and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jean-north-america-ap-top-news-basketball-college-sports-d9353b1405bc46e2be0b9506d2fb23a9">became something of a folk hero</a> as the chaplain for the Loyola Chicago men’s basketball team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 2018.She has been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/5039ad4aaf5d4fb5b7dfda18a13e0f5f">featured by newspapers and TV stations</a> across America. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jean-north-america-ap-top-news-mi-state-wire-college-sports-c3e72770c49645af8da02971e170b16b">Her NCAA news conference</a>,
 she was told, had more journalists than Tom Brady drew at the Super 
Bowl. Her likeness appears on socks, bobbleheads, even a Lego statue at <a href="https://www.luc.edu/luma/collections/srjeandoloresschmidtbvmgallery/">her gallery in Loyola’s art museum</a>.
 She sees the attention as a holy opportunity to tell her story and 
share what she’s learned; to help others wake up with purpose. Among her
 priorities, there’s little that she enjoys more than talking with young
 people.“I love life so much and enjoy being with young people,” 
she told The Associated Press. “They’re the ones who keep me going 
because they bring such joy into my life -- and they keep you updated on
 what’s happening in their world.”She arrived in a wheelchair for
 the interview at her office in the university's student center. She 
wore purple Nike Air Max sneakers with the words “Sister” and “Jean” 
written on the back, and her maroon and gold Loyola scarf that often 
gets compared to Harry Potter’s. She smiled warmly and waved to 
prospective students and shook hands with current students, asking them 
about their classes.“What’s your dream?” she asked some of them.Samuel
 Grebener, a 19-year-old freshman, told her he was thinking about 
medical school. They then talked about their shared love for the Loyola 
Ramblers. “She knows more about basketball than me,” Grebener said.It
 was 9 a.m. and by then, she had already written her usual scouting 
report and emailed the players on the team to congratulate them on a 
victory.“I believe this was a turning point and that we’re now in
 a winning streak” she wrote. “Our next game will be challenging, but 
just keep working hard. I will be there in prayer and in spirit and 
bless your hands virtually.”In her office — surrounded by 
bobbleheads, posters and pins with her image — she studied game stats 
carefully in preparation to meet with the team at practice. Before a 
pizza lunch at the nearby cafeteria, she met other students.Catharina
 Baeten, a 20-year-old-junior, told Sister Jean she had decided to 
attend Loyola because of its excellent programs in psychology and 
women-and-gender studies. “And also because of you,” she told the nun.“Everyone
 loves Sister Jean,” Baeten said later, recalling that she first met the
 nun during a tour of Loyola when she was in high school. “There’s not a
 single unkind bone in her body and she represents our values… she’s the
 embodiment of compassion.”Born in San Francisco in 1919, Sister 
Jean grew up in a devoutly Catholic family. She witnessed the impact of 
the Great Depression, World War II and the building of the Golden Gate 
Bridge, which she recalls crossing on foot when it opened in 1937.Her
 religious calling, she said, came at the age of 8. She was in third 
grade when she met a kind, joyful teacher who belonged to the Sisters of
 Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Brimming with admiration, she would
 pray every day: “Dear God, help me understand what I should do, but 
please tell me I should become a BVM sister,” she recounts in her 
memoir, co-written with sportswriter/broadcaster Seth Davis.“I guess God listened to me on that one,” she writes.She
 followed her calling to the order’s motherhouse in Dubuque, Iowa, where
 she made her vows. She went on to teach at Catholic schools in Chicago 
and southern California, where she also coached girls’ basketball, 
before she ended at Mundelein College — on the Chicago lakefront —in the
 1960s. The school became affiliated with Loyola in 1991, and Sister 
Jean was hired to help students with the transition.In 1994, she 
was asked to help student basketball players boost their grades – “the 
booster shooter” she called herself, and later that year she was named 
chaplain of the men’s basketball team. The role, she writes in her 
memoir, became "the most transformational and transcendent position” of 
her life.“Sports are very important because they help develop 
life skills,” she said. “And during those life skills, you’re also 
talking about faith and purpose.” Her motto: “Worship, Work, Win.”“I know that God will call me when he wants me. So, I just feel I have a lot more work to do,” she said.During
 a recent practice, she watched from the sideline in her wheelchair. On a
 break, the players on the men's and women’s teams took turns shaking 
her hand.“Her consistency is incredible,” said senior forward Tom
 Welch, 22. “She does it every day, every game. She brings the same 
energy to our pregame prayers.”She also breaks down the strengths
 and weaknesses of the rivals in her scouting report. She’s “letting us 
know who’s good at shooting, who to send to the free throw line… pretty 
in-depth details,” Welch said. “And then sometimes, you know, she’ll 
make us laugh, feel good for a game.”The laughter has been needed this season. The team is 9-16 overall and last in the Atlantic 10 conference with a 3-10 record.Allison Guth, the women’s basketball coach, called Sister Jean a legend.“Every
 day I walk in the office and she’s in her office. You talk about being 
there at 103. It’s because it’s a passion for her. It’s about love,” 
Guth said. “I think they should be telling stories about her forever.”

Misc