14.04.2011
Family still misses slain Va. lacrosse player
The family statement came the day before former lacrosse player George Huguely was due in court Monday for a preliminary hearing in the killing. Huguely, of Chevy Chase, Md., is charged with murder in the May 3, 2010, death of Yeardley Love, 22, of Cockeysville, Md.
Love was found dead her apartment after suffering from blunt-force trauma to the head. Huguely is accused of kicking in Love's door and slamming her head into a wall.
"It is truly devastating to wake up each day and realize she is no longer here," said a statement attributed to Love's mother, Sharon Love, and her sister, Lexie. "Yeardley's contagious smile, kind spirit and gentle touch have left this world but we know heaven now has an angel like no other."
The family also thanked supporters.
"We have faith in the justice system and trust that the truth will prevail," the statement said.
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Boat delay disrupts Jordan Rally
The decision to shelve the day's six special stages was taken after a meeting between the constructors Ford and Citroen, the promoters of the championship and motor sports governing body the FIA.
Despite losing the first day the remaining 14 special stages on Saturday and Sunday and the 260 kilometres distance is sufficient for full points to be awarded.
The vessel transporting the equipment for the fourth leg of the 2011 World Rally Championship (WRC) season did not dock in Haifa, Israel, until Wednesday morning.
Sven Smeets, team manager of Citroen Racing, told a French journalist on Wednesday that tugs had been sent to assist the boat after its engines failed three days after leaving Italy.
The boat was carrying equipment belonging to the teams and production company North One, the WRC's host broadcaster.
Unloading the equipment in Haifa was expected to take three hours and it will then need to be transported to Amman -- a journey of four hours -- meaning it is unlikely to arrive before Wednesday evening.
The 'shakedown' practice session would therefore have to take place on Thursday morning, which is when the race itself is currently scheduled to start.
The rally had initially been under threat due to the political turmoil and popular uprisings in the Middle East, notably in neighbouring Syria.
The FIA reportedly considered cancelling the event but were subsequently given assurances from race organisers that it was safe for it to go ahead.
The reconnaissance of the course took place as planned between Monday and Wednesday, with reigning champion Sebastien Loeb forced to analyse the track from a hired 4x4 due to the late arrival of Citroen's reconnaissance cars.
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Michigan plan would tax retirees up to age 67
The Republican governor had wanted to tax all retirement income the same as normal income in a bid to raise $900 million to help pay for a business tax cut, but many lawmakers balked after seniors made their displeasure clear. More than a thousand angry seniors protested at the Capitol a month ago, and many had told lawmakers during a recent legislative recess that the taxes would be a hardship.
Snyder has been working to reach a compromise with top Republican lawmakers, and they joined him at his announcement Tuesday. Although neither Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville or House Speaker Jase Bolger promised the votes were there for the revised plan, both said it was likely the two chambers' Republican majorities would pass the bills.
Michigan currently exempts all Social Security and public pension benefits from income taxes, as well as up to $45,120 a year for a single return and $90,240 on a joint return in private retirement and pension benefits, a cap that increases annually with inflation. Those are the most generous senior tax breaks in the country, costing the state nearly $1 billion a year in lost revenue.
Under Snyder's plan, anyone born before 1946 — those age 67 and over as of Jan. 1, 2012 — would continue to get those same tax breaks. Those born between the beginning of 1946 and the end of 1952 — retirees aged 60 to 66 as of Jan. 1 — would see some of their retirement income exempted from the tax. The ceiling would be $20,000 for single filers and $40,000 for joint filers and include money from public and private pensions, 401(k)s and IRAs.
Social Security payments would not be taxed. When those in the middle group turn 67, they'll qualify for a senior tax exemption of $20,000 for a single filer and $40,000 for joint filers, regardless of whether the money comes from retirement or from a current job.
Anyone born after 1952 would have all retirement income taxed the same as other income, although Social Security would not be taxed. Michigan's income tax rate currently is 4.35 percent and would drop to 4.25 percent on Jan. 1, 2013, under the tentative agreement. When these filers turn 67, they would qualify for the same senior tax exemption of $20,000 for single filers and $40,000 for joint filers.
"It would create a great transitional plan," said Snyder, who has argued the current tax breaks pushed too much of the tax burden onto younger taxpayers.
Snyder's original plan would have caused retirees to pay about $900 million annually in state income taxes on retirement income that's now exempt. His revised plan would raise a third of that. Michigan would still be in the top 10 nationally as far as tax breaks for seniors.
To fill the gap, he's proposing delaying a small income tax cut for a year, to 2013, saving $170 million; coming up with $150 million more in budget cuts, which have not yet been announced; lowering the eligibility level of the homestead tax credit, a savings of $200 million; and gaining $60 million through technical changes to business taxes.
Democratic legislative leaders have opposed taxing retirement income. They issued a sharply worded response called the revised plan "nothing but a bait-and-switch that offers little relief in exchange for yet another tax increase on residents."
"It does nothing to resolve the concerns and frustrations that have brought people to the Capitol by the thousands in recent weeks to voice their opposition to his agenda," said a statement from Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer and House Democratic Leader Richard Hammel.
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