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WASHINGTON — Count 30-year-old Ethan Miller among that subset of Americans who are actually eager to file their taxes once income tax filing season opens on Monday. The financial planner who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, is looking forward to claiming the new deductions that will come from buying a home. He also wants to get a jump on a tax season that promises to bring lots of extra headaches and delays for filers this year. “I’m trying to get a head start on my taxes as much as possible,” Miller said, adding that he is not too nervous about forecasts of extra delays because he will file online and will not be waiting for too big a refund. Plenty of other filers, though, may be in for more heartburn. An IRS worker shortage, an enormous workload from administering pandemic-related programs and stalled legislation that would have given the agency billions of dollars for more expeditiously processing returns will combine to cause taxpayers pain this filing season. “The … [Read more...] about Taxpayers face overloaded IRS as filing season opens Monday

3 HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The death of a 13-year-old student who apparently overdosed on fentanyl at his Connecticut school has drawn renewed pleas for schools to stock the opioid antidote naloxone, as well as for training of both staffers and children on how to recognize and respond to overdoses. The seventh grader died Jan. 15 after falling ill at a Hartford school that did not have naloxone on hand. City officials vowed Wednesday to put the antidote in all city schools, as part of a wider drug use and overdose prevention strategy. “Naloxone should be available in all schools, and there should be education on signs and symptoms of overdose and how to use this,” said Dr. Craig Allen, vice president of addiction services for Hartford HealthCare’s Behavioral Health Network. “Unfortunately, a horrible incident like this happens and suddenly everyone’s vision is 20/20.” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said that because of the student's young age, an opioid … [Read more...] about Youth’s overdose death renews pleas for Narcan in schools

26 BRUSSELS (AP) — Police fired water cannons and thick clouds of tear gas Sunday in Brussels to disperse people protesting COVID-19 vaccinations and government restrictions that aim to curb the fast-spreading omicron variant. Police said the protest in the Belgian capital drew an estimated 50,000 people, some traveling from France, Germany and other countries to take part. Protesters yelled “Liberty!” as they marched and some had violent confrontations with police. Video showed black-clad protesters attacking a building used by the European Union’s diplomatic service, hurling projectiles at its entrance and smashing windows. A much smaller number of anti-vaccination demonstrators marched in Barcelona. The protests followed demonstrations in other European capitals on Saturday against vaccine passports and … [Read more...] about Water cannon, tear gas at COVID-19 protests in Brussels

Jesse Tyler Ferguson , one of the stars of “Modern Family,” is once again searching for a buyer for his Manhattan pied-à-terre. It’s back on the market for $1,449,000. In 2018, the actor placed the renovated apartment on the market for $1.5 million. But with no takers, he eventually removed the listing. Now, it’s back with a slightly lower price tag. Ferguson and his husband, Justin Mikita , purchased the place in early 2015 for $1.23 million. Small size, big statement Although it's only about 900 square feet, the custom space is big on style. The couple added their quirky touches before deciding to sell in 2018. That year, Architectural Digest featured the apartment and dubbed the space “eclectic." In a building from 1931, the unit has a single bedroom and two bathrooms. It still boasts period details, including beamed ceilings, French doors, and hardwood floors stained a rich, dark brown. Many of the walls are a shade of aqua blue and offer a cool contrast to … [Read more...] about ‘Modern Family’ Star Jesse Tyler Ferguson Lists NYC Apartment for $1.45M

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist, said he is "as confident as you can be" about the prospect of most states reaching a peak of omicron cases by mid-February. "You never want to be overconfident when you're dealing with this virus, Fauci told ABC's "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz, adding that the COVID-19 virus has "surprised us in the past." "Things are looking good. We don't want to get overconfident, but they look like they're going in the right direction right now," he said. Fauci said there are states in the northeast and in the upper midwest where cases have already peaked and declined "rather sharply" but that cases are still rising in southern and western states. MORE: Fauci says US must prepare for omicron variant: 'Inevitably it will be here' "There may be a bit more pain and suffering with hospitalizations in those areas of the country that have not been fully vaccinated or have not gotten boosters," he warned. … [Read more...] about Fauci optimistic omicron will peak in February

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., on Sunday defended the Biden administration's response to the standoff between Russia and Ukraine and weighed in on sanctions as a deterrent. "You sponsored legislation supported by the White House to impose crippling sanctions if Russia invades. Why not impose sanctions now?" ABC's "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz asked the senator. "We should take up a bipartisan bill to show resolve and determination. And apply some sanctions now. But the very strongest sanctions, the sort of sanctions we used to bring Iran to the table, is something we should hold out as a deterrent to prevent Putin from taking the last step of invading Ukraine," Coons said. Asked about reports that British intelligence believes Russia plans to install a pro-Moscow government in Ukraine, Coons highlighted the Biden administration's support for Ukraine's current leadership. "One of the things that we are doing to show resolve and bipartisan determination is engagement … [Read more...] about Sen. Chris Coons defends Biden administration’s response to Russia

A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business' Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here . New York (CNN Business) The Bank of England has already started to raise interest rates to fight inflation. The Federal Reserve is likely to follow soon. But how aggressive will America's central bank be? Investors will be looking for clues when chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference after the Fed's meeting on Wednesday. Investors are not expecting the Fed to make a move this week. That's more likely to happen in March. It would be the first time the Fed has changed interest rates since slashing them to near zero at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. The central bank hasn't hiked rates since December 2018 . Higher interest rates make it more expensive for most people and companies to borrow money. That, in turn, leads to a slowdown in consumer and business spending, which usually puts a … [Read more...] about Inflation is soaring. Should the Fed unleash ‘shock and awe’?

By Kara Fox, CNN Updated 1414 GMT (2214 HKT) January 23, 2022 In the west of Ireland lies a medieval market town, its roots steeped in legend. Beyond the labyrinth of narrow streets of the center are the chimney stacks of housing developments that still puff coal and peat. Past those homes, on the outskirts of Ennis, is an unremarkable but huge plot of land, nestled between a power station and farmland where cattle and sheep graze. This is where a mysterious company has applied to develop a new data center the size of 22 American football fields. If approved, it would be one of the country's biggest. A Dublin-based company called Art Data Centres Ltd. submitted the planning application for the center in July. Not much is known about the company, which was set up in 2018. Its director and secretary have been involved in more than 6,500 other listed Irish companies — over 3,000 of which have since closed, according to the Irish company records checking site SoloCheck. CNN was … [Read more...] about Ireland’s data centers are an economic lifeline. Environmentalists say they’re wrecking the planet

New York (CNN Business) From M&Ms' mascots becoming more inclusive to a bologna face mask, there was lots of wild food news this week. We've done the dutiful task of rounding it all up if you need a change of pace from the doom and gloom of all that other "news." Here's what happened: Bologna mask It quickly sold out. Oscar Mayer debuted a bologna-inspired face mask that quickly sold out. The new product isn't actually a slab of meat. Rather, Kraft Heinz ( KHC ) partnered with Seoul Mamas, a Korean skin care company, to create a "hydrating and restoring hydrogel" mask that promotes skin elasticity, improves hydration and moisture retention. The $5 skin care product was created as a "playful spin on the often serious 'New Year, New You' trope with its meaty take on the self-care space," Kraft Heinz said in a press release. It will be restocked on Amazon in the coming days. Read More M&Ms' makeover … [Read more...] about Bologna face masks and new M&Ms: 4 ways your food got weird this week

(CNN) Gunfire rang out from several military camps in Burkina Faso early on Sunday, the government said, but it denied the military had seized power. Heavy arms fire at the capital Ouagadougou's Sangoule Lamizana camp, which houses the army's general staff and a prison whose inmates include soldiers involved in a failed 2015 coup attempt, began at least as early as 5:00 a.m. (midnight ET), a Reuters reporter said. The reporter later saw soldiers firing into the air in the camp. A witness also reported gunfire at a military camp in Kaya, around 100 kilometers north of Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso's government confirmed gunfire at some military camps but denied reports on social media that the army had seized power. "Information on social networks suggests a takeover by the army. The government, while confirming gunfire at certain barracks, denies this information and calls on the population to remain calm," government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga said … [Read more...] about Heavy gunfire heard in Burkina Faso barracks, government denies army takeover