Taxes

This week as many people prepared for spring something else was also prepared- Tax Forms. April 15^th was the deadline for filing taxes, and since there is little state/federal news in the Missoulian today here is some tax information.

Where are your taxes going? Find out with the Federal Taxpayer Receipt. This calculator will give you an idea of where the money goes.

Are you expecting a refund? The IRS has a tool: check the status of your refund. 

Did you miss the deadline? Check this webpage for information on filling past due tax returns. The IRS even has videos!

Think you don’t need to pay taxes? Check out this article from Forbes: Ten Tax Protester Claims To Avoid

Human Trafficking/ President's Budget/ BP Insider Trading/ Employment

Missoulian: Montana AG: State, federal agencies step up efforts to fight human trafficking
Montana Attorney General- Human Trafficking

Missoulian: CBO on Obama budget: Higher deficits than claimed
An Analysis of the President's 2015 Budget

Forbes: SEC Accuses Former BP Employee Of Insider Trading During Deepwater Horizon Spill
SEC Charges Former BP Employee with Insider Trading During the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Employment Situation Summary
“In March, the number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 10.5 million, and the unemployment rate held at 6.7 percent. Both measures have shown little movement since December 2013. Over the year, the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate were down by 1.2 million and 0.8 percentage point, respectively. (See table A-1.)”
Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers are $796 in 1st quarter 2014

Health Care/ SpaceX

Missoulian: DC extends deadline to enroll in health plans
Can I still get health insurance through DC Health Link after March 31?
“DC Health Link remains open for all applications.  This allows individuals and families to learn what they may be eligible for now OR during the next open enrollment period.”
Still open – Coverage in Medicaid and CHIP
“You can apply for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, even though Marketplace Open Enrollment for 2014 is over.

Medicaid and CHIP are joint state and federal programs that provide coverage to millions of Americans with limited incomes and some people with disabilities.”

 SpaceX’s Dragon Headed to Space Station to Create Astronaut Farmers

Missoulian: SpaceX will try again Fri. to launch station cargo
SpaceX Launch of NASA Cargo to Space Station Set for Friday, Spacewalk Wednesday
“NASA and SpaceX are targeting a 3:25 p.m. EDT launch on Friday, April 18, of SpaceX's third cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA Television coverage will begin at 2:15 p.m.
The company's April 14 launch to the orbiting laboratory was scrubbed due to a helium leak in the Falcon 9 rocket that will launch the Dragon spacecraft to the space station.”

Women in Artillery Units

Army 2nd Lt. Taylor Cardosi receives guidance from senior advisors during a training rotation at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Jan. 16, 2014. Cardosi is the first female fire direction officer in an M777A1 howitzer cannon unit. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chris McCullough  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Missoulian: First women move to Army platoon artillery jobs
Face of Defense: Officer Blazes Field Artillery Trail for Women
“The predominately male discipline of field artillery has had a few firsts for women, such as fire direction officers in Mobile Launch Rocket System teams and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System crews. But when Army 2nd Lt. Taylor Cardosi arrived at the 7th Infantry Division’s 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., she became one of the first women to serve as a fire direction officer in an M777A1 howitzer cannon unit.”