Criminals have electronically filed thousands of false tax returns with made-up incomes and have received hundreds of millions of dollars in wrongful refunds.
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ID Thieves Loot Tax Checks, Filing Early and Often
A New York woman who pretended to have terminal cancer to pay for an extravagant wedding and honeymoon has been ordered to give back thousands of dollars she received from sympathetic donors.
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Bride who faked cancer must pay up
Millions of dollars in outside money began pouring into Congressional contests around the country in April, while spending by presidential “super PACs” dropped off.
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Campaign Spending Reports Released for April
Prizes, not patents. That could be the slogan for a radical idea that leading economists say would lower the price of new drugs for treating HIV/AIDS. Treating AIDS costs tens of thousands of dollars per patient annually in the United States, and more and more patients are unable to afford the life-saving drugs, according to figures from the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The waiting list for the program, which is jointly funded by federal and state governments and provides medicines to low-income patients, now stands at 2,759, up from 361 in 2010. Read full article > >
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‘Radical’ bill seeks to reduce cost of AIDS drugs by awarding prizes instead of patents
The spread of dollar stores through Vermont has caught chain-store opponents off guard, but some residents of Chester are fighting Dollar General’s plans to build in the town.
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Dollar Store Plans Divide Vermont Residents
The State Department could jettison a multibillion-dollar training effort by the end of 2012 that has emerged as the latest high-profile example of America’s waning influence in the country.
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U.S. May Scrap Costly Effort to Train Iraqi Police
Jamaica’s main political parties are examining a claim that a fraudster donated millions of dollars to their coffers in 2007.
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Jamaica parties to probe funding
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said millions of dollars from the “extreme right wing” in the United States helped oust him from government and derailed a peace plan with the Palestinians.
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Olmert: U.S. right wing derailed peace
5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe. There's no time for a siesta; Saturday is the big fiesta! Kick off your Cinco de Mayo in style with Chef Josh Gentry of the Little Donkey restaurant in Homewood, Alabama. Five Dishes and Cocktails You Need to Have at Your Fiesta: Josh Gentry 1. Stock up “First, having a six-pack of Tecate and key limes to go with it is vital to getting geared up for the party! This doesn’t need to be viewed as your beverage for the day, it’s really just hydration. The key limes are essential because they are so much more tart and refreshing than Persian limes. Make sure the beer stays on ice because when the craving for a hot tamale hits, an ice-cold beer with a shot of lime is the perfect refresher. Or, it may just end up being a chaser for some good tequila later. While you’re getting your bar in order for the party, make sure the margaritas are also ready for high consumption. The main thing about the margarita is keeping your eye on three simple ingredients : great tequila, fresh lime juice and orange. I like to get the orange flavor from Agavero, an agave liqueur that has the fragrance of bottled orange blossoms. Bottom line, margaritas are best in their classic preparation, so don’t mess with it because everyone at the party will slam at least two. If you do want a tequila-based drink that is outside the norm of a classic margarita, try a paloma. Good tequila, fresh lime juice and some grapefruit soda is all you need – and the result is completely refrescante !” 2. Cool down “Sometimes it’s easy to forget when you’re having an epic party, but there are other ways to chill out than ice-cold beer and tequila. Popsicles are totally on the sweet side of Mexican street food and are also super refreshing. They are also a super cool way to enjoy a mix and match of fun flavors. Jalapeño and watermelon or habanero and raspberry are a couple of ways to bring sweet and spicy flavors together in a fun way. It’s also really easy to make popsicles at home for a party.” 3. Lend me your ears “When planning your menu, think street food. One of the quintessential foods you’ll find on the street in Mexico is elote: Corn on the cob that has been rubbed with mayonnaise , seasoned with a chili powder and covered in grated cotija cheese. It is one of the great treats of Mexico and a perfect snack during the cerveza- and tequila-charged festivities.” 4. Be the top dog “Hot Dogs! Going into the Mexican markets and getting a Cuban-style torta with sliced hot dogs on it is kind of a cool way to enjoy hot dogs. And here in America, hot dogs are obviously staples of our grilling feasts and holiday celebrations. Sear a hot dog in a cast iron pan over the fire and reinvent an American classic with some smoked habanero sauce, a touch of mayo, ancho chili powder and chopped tomatoes piled up in a soft bun. It is a great coming together of two fine food cultures.” 5. Good golly, hot tamale! “Tamales, probably more than any other Mexican staple, signify a party or a special occasion. There are so many ways to enjoy tamales . Mexicans enjoy them with sweet and savory fillings alike. Here in the South, we really relate to them because the combination of cornbread (or masa) and slow-cooked meats speaks to folks from all walks of life. Even when it’s not Cinco de Mayo, a platter full of tamales and a cooler full of beer becomes an immediate gathering place. It’s almost a mental trigger to slow down, relax and enjoy letting time pass. If that’s not what a party like Cinco de Mayo is all about, then I don’t know what is. Or, there's always queso fundido. Please be careful as it may fulfill your caloric needs for a week, but it’s simple and completely worth the effort.” Queso Fundido Ingredients 8 oz poblano chiles, roasted 8 oz white onion, roasted 2 cloves garlic, roasted 1 tsp Mexican oregano 1 tsp Kosher salt 1 lb smoked chorizo, chopped 1 lb semi-hard cheese, like cotija, fontina or asiago 1 lb soft cheese, like mozzarella or Oaxaca Cooking Directions Roast the poblanos by placing directly on the grill until charred. Let the peppers steam in a bowl covered with plastic to help the skin release itself from the goodness. Peel them and remove the stems and seeds. Roast the onions by nestling them down in the coals on the same grill. This should take 20-30 minutes and the outside will be black or charred, but the inside will be very moist. Dry roast the garlic on the grill until it is scorched and a deep rich brown color on the side against the fire. The center should still be its natural color, though. When both vegetables are roasted and cool enough to touch, peel them into pieces about the size of a silver dollar. Place the pieces of onion and poblano in a bowl and toss with the oregano, garlic and salt. In a ceramic, glass or ceramic baking dish, place the chorizo evenly across the bottom of the dish. Then, cover the sausage with the poblano/onion mixture and spread the cheese on top. Place the dish in an oven on broil for approximately 6 minutes or until the top has spots of dark brown. This a simple dish and details can be altered to suit you and your guests needs. You can chop the vegetables finer if you like or do in strips. You can mix the cheeses or layer them. Either way you MUST serve these with fresh homemade tortillas ! Nothing else highlights a fresh warm tortilla like fundido melting all down your arm! Is there someone you'd like to see in the hot seat? Let us know in the comments below and if we agree, we'll do our best to chase 'em down.
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5@5 – Cinco de Mayo menu essentials
After Japan was devastated by a tsunami and nuclear disaster last year, charities raised millions of dollars simply by asking for donations from cellphone users. “Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone,” said one appeal from the American Red Cross. Read full article > >
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The Influence Industry: Text to donate to your favorite candidate
Two British tourists from Wales have been fined a thousand Australian dollars for stealing a penguin named Dirk from a theme park in Brisbane.
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VIDEO: Britons fined for penguin theft
Faced with high shipping costs, Zimbabwe hardly has any coins, making it a headache for millions of people to try to get every transaction to add up to a whole dollar.
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Using U.S. Dollars, Zimbabwe Finds a Problem: No Change
In an era of prosperity that has made the Washington area the nation’s most affluent region , the home going up in an exclusive Great Falls neighborhood could be its most potent and polarizing symbol yet: a 25,424-square-foot mansion modeled on the Palace of Versailles. Read full article > >
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Planned palace upsets some neighbors in tony D.C. suburb
Health insurance giant WellPoint is the latest target of an increasingly aggressive campaign to force disclosure of corporate political and lobbying expenditures, including payments to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has become more active in elections over the past decade. Read full article > >
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WellPoint is focus of aggressive effort to force political spending disclosures
‘Radical’ bill seeks to reduce cost of AIDS drugs by awarding prizes instead of patents
Saturday, May 19th, 2012The Influence Industry: Text to donate to your favorite candidate
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012WellPoint is focus of aggressive effort to force political spending disclosures
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
