| Rebates a hot subject on tax call-in hot line
Rebates were on the minds of most people who used the Akron Beacon Journal's call-in hot line Wednesday to ask tax questions. The program was sponsored by the newspaper and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. Six licensed CPAs from Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Co. said the most frequently asked question was: Do you have to file a tax form to receive the rebate? The answer: Yes. The IRS will use information on the 2007 return to determine how much a taxpayer is eligible to receive. The Internal Revenue Service will begin sending payments in May. Taxpayers who file late or after filing an extension will receive payments later. No rebate checks will be issued after Dec. 31. Accountant Todd Easton provided additional information: Qualifying income includes Social Security benefits, certain railroad retirement benefits, certain veterans' benefits and earned income, such as income from wages, salaries, tips and self-employment.
Bellevue's staying up late
At Lucky Strike lanes, runway lights flash as the balls roll toward the pins, which stand beneath large-screen TVs. Bowlers nosh on finger food and sip beer on low-slung couches at tables lit by candles and huge red lanterns. It's a Wednesday night. The 12 lanes are full, and the adjacent lounge has a crowd. Lucky Strike is all about hipster bowling. It's not for hard-core score mavens, especially not at $75 an hour for a lane on prime weekend nights. Really, it's a 23,000-square-foot gathering spot for 450, with an ultralounge feel, in an upscale mall, just across the way from two furniture stores in Lincoln Square. Elsewhere, this might not be the definition of nightlife, but in Bellevue, where after-dark activities have been largely synonymous with premium shopping, it's a big deal.
Penn State prof dies in campus pool
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- A Penn State professor has died in a campus pool. Sixty-eight-year-old Michael Rothkopf was taking a break during a swim at McCoy Natatorium yesterday when lifeguards noticed his face had turned toward the water. University acquatics director Tom Griffiths says staff tried to revive Mr. Rothkopf. An ambulance then took him to Mount Nittany Medical Center. He was pronounced dead about an hour later. The county coroner says Mr. Rothkopf likely had a heart attack. Mr. Rothkopf arrived at Penn State in the fall and was a professor of supply chain and information systems. He previously taught at Rutgers and the University of California, Berkeley. .
Showing her true colours
Nine studio albums later she is still touring, most recently alongside artists including Debbie Harry, the Dresden Dolls, Rufus Wainwright and the Gossip, for the True Colours tour of the US, a human rights tour which she organised. A strong supporter of gay rights (her sister is a lesbian), Lauper will perform at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardis Gras this year, as well as doing her own shows. There's also a new CD in the pipeline – her first collection of new music since 2003's Shine, which "never even made it out of the box", because it was released only in Japan. "I'm under the crunch to get it done," Lauper says of her new, as yet unnamed, CD. "I worked with people from all over the world, which kind of makes it a little more interesting, but harder to get everything together.
Worm castings and pest control
Come on, Alice, help us find our way out of this surreal situation caused by the Coastal Commission.June KristapovichOceansideAn American traitorBrent Wilkes is an American traitor. They should put him in jail and dispose of the key ("Prosecutors seek life sentence for Brent Wilkes," Feb. 16). This is some of my tax money he took.Fred ScottEscondidoRon Paul cares about important issuesWhen the presidential candidates and/or media pundits say they want to discuss the important issues, they really don't. Important issues! Are they kidding me? They can't handle important issues!The only candidate willing to face important issues is Ron Paul -- so the media shun him. He embarrasses both liberals and conservatives into silence. While they tap dance around the surge vs. pull-out question, Dr. Paul wants to discuss a failed foreign policy we can no longer afford.
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