Nation

IRS Warns Of Dishonest Tax Preparers

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IRS News:

PHOENIX – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today warned taxpayers to be on the lookout for unscrupulous return preparers, one of the most common “Dirty Dozen” tax scams seen during tax season.

The vast majority of tax professionals provide honest high-quality service. But there are some dishonest preparers who set up shop each filing season to perpetrate refund fraud, identity theft and other scams that hurt taxpayers. That’s why unscrupulous preparers who prey on unsuspecting taxpayers with outlandish promises of overly large refunds make the Dirty Dozen list every Read More

Heinrich Applauds Approval Of SunZia Southwest

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Katherine Hammack, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, and senior Bureau of Land Management officials Saturday to announce the approval of the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line in New Mexico.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell

The $2 billion infrastructure project will connect and deliver electricity generated in New Mexico and Arizona to population centers across the Read More

Udall: Amendment To Keystone Pipeline Bill Emphasizes Homegrown Renewable Energy

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

Amendment would create thousands of clean energy jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced that he has introduced an amendment to the Keystone XL Pipeline bill to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that would create more than 250,000 jobs, reduce pollution and save consumers billions of dollars.

The legislation, which would help the United States become energy independent while establishing our leadership in clean energy production, would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity Read More

IRS Warns Phone Scams Continue To Be Serious Threat

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IRS News:

The IRS reminds taxpayers to guard against all sorts of con games that arise during filing season

PHOENIX – The InternaI Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain near the top of the annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for the 2015 filing season.

The IRS has seen a surge of these phone scams in recent months as scam artists threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation and other things.

“If someone calls unexpectedly claiming to be from the IRS with aggressive threats Read More

Dealing With And Enjoying Winter At Bandelier

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New snow on the mesa tops and San Miguel Mountains at Bandelier. Courtesy/NPS

Snow falling on the canyon walls and Ponderosa Pines in Frijoles Canyon at Bandelier. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

With the steep entrance road, stairs among the cavates, and other potential hazards for visitors, sometimes on wintry days the Frijoles Canyon area of Bandelier National Monument around the Visitor Center just cannot avoid being closed to allow the staff to clear away the snow.

Just like school districts, Bandelier has to decide very early in the morning whether there must be a delay or closure, so the Read More

Energy Secretary Unveils More Than $55 Million To Advance Fuel Efficient Vehicle Technologies

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Energy Secretary Earnest Moniz

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the State of the Union Address Tuesday, Jan. 20 – in which President Obama highlighted the surge in U.S. manufacturing and the strong growth in the auto industry – Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced more than $55 million to develop and deploy cutting-edge vehicle technologies that strengthen the clean energy economy.

These technologies will play a key role in increasing fuel efficiency and reducing petroleum consumption, and support the Energy Department’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in Read More

Heinrich Meets Defense Secretary Nominee Carter

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich meets with Defense Secretary Nominee, Dr. Ash Carter Thursday in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo

 

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement Thursday after meeting with Defense Secretary nominee, Dr. Ashton Carter:

“We need strong leadership to address the many evolving national security threats that the United States and our allies must confront around the world, particularly in the Middle East, Europe and the Asia Pacific.

“Having Read More

IRS Warns About Phishing Scams

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IRS News:

PHOENIX – The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to watch out for fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information.

These “phishing” schemes continue to be on the annual IRS list of “Dirty Dozen” tax scams for the 2015 filing season.

“The IRS won’t send you an email about a bill or refund out of the blue. Don’t click on one claiming to be from the IRS that takes you by surprise,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “I urge taxpayers to be wary of clicking on strange emails and websites. They may be scams to steal your personal information.”

Compiled annually, Read More

IRS Begins 12 Day List Of ‘Dirty Dozen’ Tax Scams

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IRS News:

PHOENIX – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues its list of “Dirty Dozen” tax scams annually around the beginning of the tax filing season.

This year for the first time, the IRS will issue the individual Dirty Dozen scams during the next 12 business days to further raise consumer awareness.

The news releases will be available on IRS.gov each day, beginning today through Feb. 6.

Tax scams can happen any time during the year but frequently spike during tax time when people are working to complete and file their returns, and frequently hiring someone else to help them.

“We are doing everything Read More

WIPP: Roof Separation Highlights Bolting Priority

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Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

Mining and Ground Control Engineers at WIPP discovered Jan. 15 that a portion of the ceiling in the Panel 3 access drift had fallen in a restricted access area.

The roof fall was discovered during routine ground control and bulkhead inspections conducted by WIPP geotechnical staff, and the section that fell was estimated to be approximately 8’ long by 8’wide and 24” thick. Access to this area has been restricted since November 2014 due to ground control concerns, and no WIPP personnel were present at the time of the fall. The area where the fall occurred is also known to Read More