progree
progree's JournalMinnesota restaurant (and bar?) defies shutdown orders
Havens Garden in Lynd, Minnesota (in the low populated southwest part of the state).
Governor Walz ordered partial shutdown of bars/restaurants on effective November 13 (10 pm closing times and the physical bars themselves to be closed - people can still be served food and alcohol who are seated at tables).
And then he ordered all bars and restaurants closed period effective Saturday November 21 (2 weeks ago).
But they've defied all that. Have gotten their food license suspended by Southwest Health and Human Services Department on November 27, and a letter from Attorney General Keith Ellison on November 23, but no matter. They haven't had a liquor license since October 2019, but no matter, They remain open and maybe still serves alcohol (I can't find anything in their self-presentation about alcohol, but one recent review had "classic cocktails" ).
They've become a darling of the right wing, been on Fox, and a lot of right-wing kooks on their Facebook page, but fortunately there's some pushback.
https://www.facebook.com/havensgardenmn
This article from December 4:
https://www.marshallindependent.com/news/local-news/2020/12/they-want-me-to-comply/
Minnesota ranked number one in the U.S. Saturday morning with the highest per capita number of new cases, 7 day moving average (I just looked at it now and Minnesota is #2 after Rhode Island at the moment).
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
and Lyon County, where this restaurant is located, is even worse in that metric (148 per 100k people per day) than the Minnesota average (104 per 100k people per day).
The IRS says I didn't report income that I reported 👀 😲😭💔
I'm slightly altering numbers for privacy and also using very round numbers ...
I also did my taxes that year using Turbo Tax (might be a factor)
Yesterday I got a CP2000 notice from the IRS claiming that I didn't report $10,000 in Beneficiary IRA RMD distributions for 2018 taxes, thus under-reporting my taxable income by $10,000. So I owe $2,900 in taxes due to that and some secondary effects that I won't bother to go into and including $190 in penalty interest.
Anyway they clearly enumerate the IRA RMD amounts from the 1099-R from Fidelity that they claim I didn't report.
Then they say my "Retirement income taxable" that I reported is $16,000 (true) but the correct figure, the IRS says, is $26,000, for a difference of $10,000.
I don't know why they didn't specify which line on my tax return had the problem, but "Retirement income taxable" fits 1040 Line 4b which has $16,000 on it. Line 4b is "IRAs, pensions, and annuities, taxable amount". So it all matches.
WELL, DAMMIT, EXCEPT THAT the $16,000 on my Line 4b INCLUDES the $10,000 in the Beneficiary IRA RMD distributions, as well as $6,000 in taxable annuity income. It's very specifically shown in some of the "Keep For Your Records" pages of the full tax return PDF file that TurboTax generated.
Now as what Turbo Tax sends to the IRS, who knows, but I'm pretty sure it's a lean version that doesn't show these "Keep For Your Records" pages.
Anyway, my question is, has anyone gotten a goofy IRS notice that some income or some other item was not reported, when it was?
And when one points out THEIR error, do they concede, or do they go full Trump?
I will be responding just by explaining that the $16,000 on 1040 Line 4b includes the $10,000 in Beneficiary IRA RMD distributions that they say I didn't report, plus the $6,000 in annuity income, and I will also send them the "Keep For Your Records" pages that enumerate both of these. (They want my response in writing, they don't say anything about responding by phone and saying "hey guys...", so I'll give it in writing).
I'll say if this isn't satisfactory, can you please enumerate why you think $26,000 is the right number for Line 4b? (Who knows, maybe Fidelity sent the 1099-R to the IRS twice).
I've read many reports that they are severely understaffed (Republicans want the IRS understaffed so they can cheat on their taxes, and so that their "hard-earned" money doesn't go to supporting "those people", i.e. the "multicultural types" ), but I haven't noticed this kind of carelessness from the IRS before.
I'll put it on my calendar to let you all know how it turns out, I suspect it'll be a month at least before I hear anything back.
Edited Feb. 5 to add: Got a snail mail response from them, received Feb 5, in essence, "Before we resolve this matter, we need to process all of your information. We'll send you our complete response within 90 days". See #17 below for more details.
Edited May 8 to add: Got a snail mail response from them, received Feb 5, in essence, "Before we resolve this matter, we need to process all of your information. We'll send you our complete response within 90 days".
Edited Nov 16 to add Got another response - IRS 8/2/21 letter received 8/3/21 - same as above
Got a letter 8/26/21 - "we're pleased to tell you that the information you provided resolved the tax issue in question and that our inquiry is now closed".
9 months is a long time to have a $2,900 tax bill plus ever-growing penalty hanging over one's head.
President Trump refuses to concede to President-elect Joe Biden
Source: Yahoo News
Following numerous networks calling the 2020 presidential race for the Democratic nominee, the incumbent president issued a statement saying that he will continue to fight in court to prove he is the rightful winner. The Trump campaign has yet to provide evidence of its claims of fraud. Biden is set to potentially reach 306 electoral votes (the same amount Trump won in 2016) and currently leads Trump by more than 4 million in the popular vote.
Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/live-results-2020-election-day-trump-biden-050117825.html
Short article, no more at link.
But if you do look for the article, scroll down a bit.
No big surprise, but in case anyone was hoping for a slight chance for Trump to concede, well not going to happen, not real soon anyway. I thought people should know, as predictable as it is.
As a side note, if you visit the link, note that Yahoo News uses AP for data and projections, and AP scores Biden/Harris with 290 electoral votes, with only GA (16) and NC (15) left undecided. Picking up Georgia would take it to 306 EV's
New York Times gives Biden/Harris 279 electoral votes, with AZ, GA, and NC left undecided.
Edited to add: Trump's full (fool?) statement:
https://www.wtrf.com/election/elections-candidates/statement-from-president-donald-j-trump-on-biden-win/
[div class"excerpt"]"We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don't want the truth to be exposed. The simple fact is this election is far from over. Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor. In Pennsylvania, for example, our legal observers were not permitted meaningful access to watch the counting process. Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.
"Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters. Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room - and then fight in court to block their access.
"So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands."
- President Donald J. Trump
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Caligula returns to the White House to scenes of crowds celebrating his defeat --
City Pages Shutting Down, Effectively Ending Era Of Alternative Weeklies (ad revenue way down)
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/28/city-pages-shutting-down-according-to-report-from-owner/City Pages, which has been an alternative news and entertainment source for the Twin Cities for more than four decades, is shutting down for good, according to a statement posted from the Star Tribune ownership.
The weekly paper, which is currently owned by the Star Tribune and has been since 2015, is shutting down immediately. The last issue will be distributed this week.
The paper began under the moniker Sweet Potato in 1979 before rechristening as City Pages two years later. It was, along with the Reader, considered the preeminent free alternative newspaper in the metro area for most of the ’80s and ’90s. The Reader was shut down in the late ’90s.
The move was made as a result of the disruption the COVID-19 pandemic has had on restaurants, clubs, theaters and other venues that “form the core of City Pages’ revenue.”
Coronavirus: Germany announces second lockdown for month of November
Source: Yahoo Finance UK
Europe's largest economy is going back into partial lockdown for the entire month of November in an attempt to get control of its spiralling coronavirus infections.
(snip)
She [Angela Merkel] said that the amount of people in intensive care with COVID-19 had doubled in the past 10 days -- and the health system would be at its limit within weeks if infections were not brought under control.
New restrictions include shutting down restaurants, bars, cinemas, gyms, theatres, and other public and leisure spaces.
Only two households are allowed meet, up to a maximum of 10 people, and only outdoors. Travel within Germany on non-essential trips is also forbidden, including to visit relatives.
Read more: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/germany-announces-second-lockdown-for-the-month-of-november-171217232.html
Shops, schools and kindergartens will remain open, and old people in nursing homes can have visitors.
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For some perspective:
Daily new cases, 7 day moving average, per 100,000 people
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps.html
12 Germany
22 U.S.A.
31 Italy
33 U.K.
39 Spain
57 France
117 Belgium
The STOXX Europe 600 closed at its lowest level since May
Radicalism in New Hope, MN - someone holding a sign - "Veterans, you are not losers or suckers ...
42nd Ave. N. just east of Winnetka Ave., New Hope.
Around 420 pm Wednesday 10/21/20
Yes, that's snow on the ground, for you out-of-staters
Unfortunately I cut off the "Vote Vote" orange mini-placard at the top left.
Coincidentally I'm a veteran and had voted just 4 hours before spotting him and taking the photo. I wish I had told him that, but it didn't come to mind until later.
Just a quick update on Covid in Minnesota
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/10/08/latest-on-covid19-in-mn
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But WTH, with people feeling down about the bad news, let's ease up on restrictions
Live music will now be allowed inside Minnesota bars and restaurants large enough to accommodate social distancing, but dancing and karaoke will still be off the table.
That’s according to updated guidelines released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health, which also boosted the occupancy for bars and restaurants and laid out more COVID-19 safety protocols.
... Expect to see tables on the dance floor. Dancing won’t be allowed if the establishment is still serving food or drinks. Additionally, the guidelines say all indoor guests must be seated.
Still, music-lovers will be able to see more people inside venues, as the new guidelines boosted indoor occupancy to 50%, with a maximum of 250 individuals. Maximum outdoor seating was also increased to 250 people.
At bars, tables will be able to accommodate parties up to four people. In dining rooms, parties as big as 10 will be able to be seated together. ((previously the limit was 6 at a table if from the same household, otherwise 4 at a table -Progree))
More: https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/10/08/live-music-now-allowed-inside-minnesota-bars-and-restaurants-but-no-dancing/
Survey: 52% of local restaurants, bars will close in 4-6 months if restrictions aren't eased, KSTP (ABC), 10/9/20
https://kstp.com/business/survey-52-of-local-restaurants-bars-will-close-in-4-6-months-if-restrictions-arent-eased/5888577/?utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=thumbnails&utm_source=zetaglobal
Looks like a matter of survival of bars and restaurants vs. survival of people, and people come in second.
Florida man who tried to get ballot for dead wife charged
Source: AP
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Florida authorities say they've filed a voter fraud charge against a man who said he said he "wanted to test the system" when he tried to obtain a mail-in ballot for his deceased wife.
Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett said he contacted the sheriff's office after a review of voter rolls showed that Larry Wiggins' wife had been dead for two years. Staffers determined that Wiggins forged his late wife's name on the ballot request, according to the Bradenton Herald.
Wiggins, who was arrested last Thursday on a voter fraud charge, told deputies that he was "testing the system to see if worked."
Bennett said such attempts are unusual in Manatee County. Researchers say that voter fraud in general is rare in the U.S.
Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/florida-man-tried-ballot-dead-143948761.html
Emphasis added by Progree. Bennett made clear that any attempt at voter fraud will be prosecuted.
The back story, where he appears to be encouraging people in North Carolina to vote twice -- once by mail and once in person --
When Trump was asked by local news station WECT in Wilmington, North Carolina, whether he was confident in the state's absentee voting system, the President launched into a somewhat rambling answer.
"Well, they'll go out and they'll go vote, and they're going to have to go and check their vote by going to the poll and voting that way, because if it tabulates, then they won't be able to do that," Trump said on the tarmac in front of Air Force One. "So, let them send it in, and let them go vote, and if the system is as good as they say it is, then obviously they won't be able to vote. If it isn't tabulated, they won't be able to vote. So that's the way it is. And that's what they should do."
The President later told people to send in their ballots, saying, "Send them in strong, whether it's solicited or unsolicited. The absentees are fine. You have to work to get them, you know."
"And you send them in, but you go to vote. And if they haven't counted it, you can vote. So that's the way I feel," he said.
More: https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/02/politics/donald-trump-north-carolina-voter-fraud/index.html
So the fuckwad-in-chief is not only infecting people, he's getting them in trouble.
According to North Carolina law, it's a felony "for any person with intent to commit a fraud to register or vote at more than one precinct or more than one time, or to induce another to do so, in the same primary or election, or to vote illegally at any primary or election."
Total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending Sept 5 was 26.0 M
blah blah 824,542 blah blah
USA TODAY is now using non-seasonally adjusted jobless claims numbers because the Labor Department has switched to a different method to adjust the data based on seasonal factors, such as school workers losing jobs in June. The old method resulted in adjustments that dramatically inflated the number of claims filed during the global health crisis.
More: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/09/24/unemployment-claims-824-542-file-jobless-benefits-amid-covid-19/3505241001/
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From the source, 830 am ET 9/24/20
https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf
... The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending September 12 was 12,580,000, a decrease of 167,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up 119,000 from 12,628,000 to 12,747,000. The 4-week moving average was 13,040,750, a decrease of 478,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 29,750 from 13,489,000 to 13,518,750.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 824,542 in the week ending September 19, an increase of 28,527 (or 3.6 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected an increase of 23,891 (or 3.0 percent) from the previous week. There were 175,394 initial claims in the comparable week in 2019. In addition, for the week ending September 19, 52 states reported 630,080 initial claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending September 5 was 26,044,952, a decrease of 3,723,513 from the previous week. There were 1,488,601 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2019. [Unfortunately there's a 2 1/2 week lag in this statistic. The week ending Sept 5 is the latest there is for this -Progree]
Covid era Restaurant closures in Minnesota - map, list
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/restaurantclosures/(they apparently keep an up-to-date running tally)
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