Latest news with #Veteran
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Watch as monster truck wheel goes airborne, bounces away mid-stunt
Things got a little chaotic and dangerous when a rogue wheel momentarily became the star of a monster truck show. The monster truck "The Veteran," much to the dismay of the crowd, lost a wheel after landing a jump in the last section of a Malicious Monster Truck Tour show, which is a three-day event at Thunderbird Stadium in Bremerton, Washington, on July 20. The Veteran's wheel broke off, bouncing its way across the venue, over a wall, and into the neighboring parking lot, where event attendees parked their vehicles. Footage captured by an attendee shows both the moment leading up to the tire mishap and the moment right after, when the front left wheel of The Veteran, painted red, white and blue, went airborne and bounced its way over the stadium's east wall and into the neighboring parking lot. According to reporting by the Kitsap Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network, the wheel came to a full stop after hitting two vehicles — one of which was completely crushed — and a tree. "There were no injuries," Bill Payne, co-owner and operator of event host Straight Up Racing, told the Kitsap Sun. "But the Kia is probably not going to live." Straight Up Racing, a Port Orchard-based monster truck team, has held the event at the stadium, located inside the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, for five years. 'If we can afford it, then we're going to just do it out of pocket," Payne said. "If it's something that is unreasonable, then we'll turn it into our insurance and hope for the best that we can continue having these events." Watch the moment monster truck 'The Veteran' loses its wheel Michael Groth, who decided to leave the show a little early, was making his way across the parking lot with his son when he heard a loud noise. "We heard a loud pop, and we turned around, and this huge tire was bouncing over the wall, then over a fence and smashed a car," Groth told the Sun. "We were there five or so seconds before." As soon as the coast was clear, Groth went to check if anyone had been inside the vehicle. "It was pretty scary, we got going pretty quick after," Groth told the Sun. Monster truck team releases statement after tire mishap The Port Orchard-based monster truck team formally addressed the tire incident on social media, writing that they wanted to get in front of the situation so fans could hear about what happened from them, not "any uninformed or sensationalized source on TV or online." "Motorsports are unpredictable," Straight Up Racing said in a statement. "The truck involved was running industry-standard wheel restraints. Fact is, there is no piece of metal in existence that will always stand up to the forces involved in monster truck competition." The group said they "quickly" made contact with both the Kitsap County Fair Board and a fencing company to "collaborate on a plan of action to help reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future." "Accidents happen, even unprecedented incidents such as this & we will always do everything we can to help further the safety of this great sport we all love," the statement reads. "Our backflip ramp Camera captured the most dramatic angle of the incident. We wanted to prove we are hiding from nothing & want to be as transparent & open about it as possible." Contributing: Jessica Baugh/ Kitsap Sun This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video shows monster truck lose tire mid-stunt Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Gmegan Launches Practical Tax Planning Guide Tailored for Small Business Owners
Tax time need not be an occasion of worry for a small businessman like you. Managing your business and attending to daily activities leaves little time for contemplating the vast world of taxation. Good news: with a little advance planning and a few clever tactics, you can make tax time less stressful and earn a few extra dollars. Here, we will introduce you to a few practical and realistic ideas of tax planning specially designed to suit the needs of small business owners like you. Solo operator, veteran—our ideas shall keep you organised, make you earn maximum deductions, and keep your earnings just where you want them to be—in your pocket. Tax Deduction Understanding One of your best weapons in tax planning is to identify and take advantage of tax deductions. Tax deductions can reduce your taxable income by a very significant amount, thereby paying less tax. The question that lingers, though, is, as a small business entity, can one deduct anything? First, let us define a tax deduction. A deduction is an item that the IRS can deduct from your total income, lowering the taxable portion. In the case of small business ventures, usual deductions include office expenses such as rent, utilities, and office equipment and supplies such as computers and printers; travel and meal deductions when exclusively for business only; advertising and marketing expenses; and professional fees. To make your deductions as high as possible, keeping very detailed records of all of your business expenditures is important. That involves saving receipts, tracking mileage for business trips, and keeping track of other costs associated with owning a business. Small business accounting software or apps can make this easier to do. Deduction rules are convoluted, and not all costs can be deducted. This is why hiring a professional accountant can significantly enhance your experience. They can guide you through the details and help you use all that's available. On top of that, a skilled accountant will be able to coordinate your tax plan with overall finance planning to set you up for long-term success. Maintaining Accurate Records Good bookkeeping is at the heart of sound tax planning. Without excellent bookkeeping, you can forfeit deductions, pay an excessive amount of tax, or even incur penalties from the Internal Revenue Service. So, what does good bookkeeping entail for a small businessman? First, keep your business and personal finances distinct. Please consider opening a separate business checking account to ensure that business and non-business-related finances remain distinct. With that one simple step, dealing with income and expenditure is just that little bit easier to handle. Then maintain all bills and receipts for all that is business-related—office supplies, machine purchases, automobiles, and other business purchases all in one place. Organise them alphabetically to save a headache later when you need to grab something specific. You can even do this process easier with accounting programmes. Most will sort transactions automatically, create reports, and remind you before tax season starts. If you are not computer-literate, then just a simple spreadsheet will suffice as long as you are reporting regularly. Paperless records aren't an afterthought either. Store electronic bills or receipts with a special computer folder or using cloud storage, and make backups as frequently as you possibly can so that you'll never stand to lose anything. Please ensure that all records are maintained intact for a minimum of three years, as the IRS may audit returns within this timeframe. Some experts recommend keeping records for up to seven years to ensure thoroughness. When you're up to date with current, organised books, tax season isn't quite so hectic, and you're always aware of your company's financial soundness. Quarterly Tax Planning You're probably responsible for quarterly estimated taxes as an entrepreneur. Unlike pay withholding from an employee's wages, business owners and independent contractors are responsible for estimating the burden of tax and making four quarterly payments within a year. Payments can be made with penalty and interest charges for one payment that is missed. This is how to do that. Guess your yearly income. If your income is unstable, you can use last year's income or your best estimate this year. Guess those total taxes you're liable for, including income tax, Social Security and Medicare tax as a self-employed individual, and other taxes you're required to pay. IRS Form 1040-ES can aid with those calculations. Divide that by four to arrive at your quarterly payables, and note payment dates—April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. Pay by computer with the IRS's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, by mail with a check to Internal Revenue made payable with enclosed Form 1040-ES, or by computer using the IRS site. Make payment adjustments if your earnings go up or down within the year. A larger quarter means a larger payment. Better to pay too much than insufficiently—overpayment will yield a refund later, but underpayment will earn penalties. This can be a terrifying task, especially if this is a new thing to you. That is where a taxation accountant can save you. They will make sure that you are making crisp, correct approximations and that you are covering all your requirements without a sweater. When to Consider a Professional You can prepare your own taxes at home, but there are instances that you will need to summon a pro. A tax accountant provides you with expertise, saves you time, and potentially realises deductions or credits that will go unnoticed. Then when is it ideal to introduce one to the equation? If your company still rides shotgun to explosive growth and your tax issue is turning 'all technical, then that's darn tootin'. The same goes for being stuck by deductions or quarterly tax issues, being audited, or getting an IRS notice. Cutting up and making a huge play—like real estate investments or buildouts? Still the best. Aside from taxes, a decent accountant can balance your fiscal plan with company objectives. They can even arrange introductions to mortgage broker companies should you choose to finance a new site or growing operations. When choosing an accountant, select someone who has been familiar with businesses such as yours before. Get recommendations from businessmen or see reviews via the web. Just make sure that they are current with tax legislation as well. Assistance never calls you down for no charge at all—you'll still keep within budget. Think of your accountant as a member of your team who is there to help you navigate your tax issues. Conclusion Tax planning need not make you groan. Knowing your deductions, being fully booked, making quarterly tax plans, and selecting reasonable times to have someone come out to do this work can put you in command of your company's fund flow. Doing this will make tax time less stressful and enable you to keep extra profit. You aren't alone; many entrepreneurs face this, and there are many resources to help. Would you consider trying one of these ideas? I would appreciate it if you could share your ideas or thoughts by leaving a comment at the end of this article. Let's brainstorm with one another and conquer tax season together! Media Contact Company Name: Gmegan Contact Person: Joseph Wilson Email: Send Email Address:Suite 8, Shop 1/4 Benson Ave, Shellharbour City Centre City: Shellharbour State: NSW 2529 Country: Australia Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Gmegan Launches Practical Tax Planning Guide Tailored for Small Business Owners
USA Today
5 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
Watch as monster truck wheel goes airborne, bounces away mid-stunt
Things got a little chaotic and dangerous when a rogue wheel momentarily became the star of a monster truck show. The monster truck "The Veteran," much to the dismay of the crowd, lost a wheel after landing a jump in the last section of a Malicious Monster Truck Tour show, which is a three-day event at Thunderbird Stadium in Bremerton, Washington, on July 20. The Veteran's wheel broke off, bouncing its way across the venue, over a wall, and into the neighboring parking lot, where event attendees parked their vehicles. Footage captured by an attendee shows both the moment leading up to the tire mishap and the moment right after, when the front left wheel of The Veteran, painted red, white and blue, went airborne and bounced its way over the stadium's east wall and into the neighboring parking lot. According to reporting by the Kitsap Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network, the wheel came to a full stop after hitting two vehicles — one of which was completely crushed — and a tree. "There were no injuries," Bill Payne, co-owner and operator of event host Straight Up Racing, told the Kitsap Sun. "But the Kia is probably not going to live." Straight Up Racing, a Port Orchard-based monster truck team, has held the event at the stadium, located inside the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, for five years. 'If we can afford it, then we're going to just do it out of pocket," Payne said. "If it's something that is unreasonable, then we'll turn it into our insurance and hope for the best that we can continue having these events." Watch the moment monster truck 'The Veteran' loses its wheel Michael Groth, who decided to leave the show a little early, was making his way across the parking lot with his son when he heard a loud noise. "We heard a loud pop, and we turned around, and this huge tire was bouncing over the wall, then over a fence and smashed a car," Groth told the Sun. "We were there five or so seconds before." As soon as the coast was clear, Groth went to check if anyone had been inside the vehicle. "It was pretty scary, we got going pretty quick after," Groth told the Sun. Monster truck team releases statement after tire mishap Our statement about the tire incident in Bremerton. The Port Orchard-based monster truck team formally addressed the tire incident on social media, writing that they wanted to get in front of the situation so fans could hear about what happened from them, not "any uninformed or sensationalized source on TV or online." "Motorsports are unpredictable," Straight Up Racing said in a statement. "The truck involved was running industry-standard wheel restraints. Fact is, there is no piece of metal in existence that will always stand up to the forces involved in monster truck competition." The group said they "quickly" made contact with both the Kitsap County Fair Board and a fencing company to "collaborate on a plan of action to help reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future." "Accidents happen, even unprecedented incidents such as this & we will always do everything we can to help further the safety of this great sport we all love," the statement reads. "Our backflip ramp Camera captured the most dramatic angle of the incident. We wanted to prove we are hiding from nothing & want to be as transparent & open about it as possible." Contributing: Jessica Baugh/ Kitsap Sun
Business Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Iron Bow Technologies Announces Acquisition of SoldierPoint Digital Health, LLC by GovCIO
HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Iron Bow Technologies (Iron Bow), a leading provider of innovative IT solutions to government, commercial, education, and healthcare markets, today announced the sale of its affiliate, SoldierPoint Digital Health, LLC (SoldierPoint) to GovCIO, a trusted provider of IT and digital solutions across the federal landscape. "This transaction underscores our commitment to aligning mission-driven outcomes," said Rene LaVigne, President and CEO of Iron Bow. SoldierPoint, a spinout of Iron Bow, is exclusively focused on digital health solutions supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In collaboration with VA, SoldierPoint has transformed a telehealth program launched in 2010 into one of the world's most effective and successful digital health programs. VA serves an enrolled Veteran population of over 9 million constituents, of which more than 2.7 million leverage the solutions developed and enabled by SoldierPoint. GovCIO, who already has a significant presence in VA, will enable SoldierPoint to further invest in next-generation solutions in support of advancing Veteran health. The transaction also allows Iron Bow to concentrate on its core technology solutions business, where it is recognized as an industry leader. Iron Bow designs and implements mission-critical IT modernization, cybersecurity, AI, and cloud solutions through innovative consumption models. "This transaction underscores our commitment to aligning mission-driven outcomes," said Rene LaVigne, President and CEO of Iron Bow. "GovCIO, with over 3,000 employees and a highly admired partner of VA, is uniquely positioned to support SoldierPoint's future growth within VA and other public and commercial healthcare sectors. The divestiture positions Iron Bow to accelerate its efforts in its core business at a time when markets are in transition. In essence, we're both sharpening our focus to deliver even greater value to our customers and the marketplace." Alex Mujica, Vice President of SoldierPoint, added, "GovCIO provides an ideal environment for SoldierPoint to thrive. Our customers will benefit from enhanced capabilities and alignment with a recognized VA leader, and our employees will gain new opportunities for growth, all while continuing to serve the mission they know so well." All SoldierPoint employees will join GovCIO as part of the transaction, with the current leadership team remaining in place to ensure continuity, ongoing support for existing customer programs, and lead anticipated growth. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, pending customary regulatory approvals. Jefferies LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Iron Bow and SoldierPoint in connection with the transaction. About Iron Bow Technologies Iron Bow Technologies is a leading IT solutions provider dedicated to successfully transforming clients' technology investments into robust business capabilities across government, commercial, education, and healthcare markets. The Iron Bow team brings a depth of technical expertise and domain knowledge to deliver the right solution and ensure successful business outcomes. Iron Bow's global reach and strategic partnerships with industry leaders and disruptive technology partners empower clients to implement the latest cutting-edge technology to support mission-critical objectives. Learn more at
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Grieving mom testifies about Marine vet son's death at hands of violent illegal aliens
In testimony to Congress on Tuesday, a mother shared the heartbreaking details of how her son, a U.S. Marine veteran, was gunned down by illegal immigrants on their property in South Texas under the Obama administration. Marie Vega, a legal immigrant from Mexico, shared the harrowing experience in testimony in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee's hearing on "Biden's Border Betrayal" on Tuesday. According to Vega's testimony, her family was enjoying a barbecue on their property in La Feria, Texas, when two illegal immigrants "ambushed" them without any warning in July 2014. "Our beautiful day turned into a nightmare when two criminal illegal aliens decided to ambush us in an attempt to steal both four-wheel drive trucks. The two illegals jumped out of the stolen vehicle they were driving, and without hesitation or a warning, they began shooting at us," she shared. Her son and husband attempted to return fire. But in the attack, her son, Javier "Harvey" Vega Jr., a former Marine and Border Patrol officer, was killed. Her husband, meanwhile, suffers from permanent injuries from the incident. Besides the death and physical injuries her family sustained, she said that she, her daughter-in-law and young grandchildren were left traumatized. "Open borders have consequences," Vega said. "And you can see from what I have experienced because of the crimes committed by illegals, the pain lives with us for the rest of our lives." Vega said she attempted to protect her grandchildren and watched helplessly as her son was shot in the chest. Through tears, Vega asked, "Do you know what it is like to see your son go down after being shot? Do you know what it is like to hear the gunshots, bullets whizzing past you? Do you know what it's like when your mind is trying to process everything, telling your grandchildren to duck while thinking your son is on the ground with a bullet in his chest? "Do you know what it's like to hear your son's last words to his father? 'Keep shooting, Dad.' Keep shooting were his last words," she asked, adding, "That should never have happened." She called the ordeal a "nightmare," saying, "Had my husband and I not returned fire, the illegals would have killed everyone there, leaving no witnesses." According to Vega's testimony, the two illegals had prior criminal records, had menaced other neighbors in their community and had been previously deported. She said that she continues to live with "survivor's guilt" and struggles to sleep at night because of the trauma. "Open borders have consequences. And you can see from what I have experienced because of the crimes committed by illegals, the pain lives with us for the rest of our lives." "11 years is how much I have struggled to survive without my baby," she said. "11 years I have lived with flashbacks during every waking moment. 11 years we have celebrated the boys' birthdays, graduations, weddings, starting new families, new careers, and amazing accomplishments, without my baby. "Illegal aliens have impacted American lives in a very negative way," Vega went on. "They have no regard for human life. As I witnessed firsthand, the illegals that killed Harvey also shot my husband in the back and shot at innocent children and women. My grandbabies and their friend were only eight and 11 years old. Take a moment and imagine your child or grandchild witnessing this horror." She concluded that "had our immigration laws been enforced, our son would be here." "Barack Obama failed me, my family and our community and our nation," she said. Addressing the senators on the subcommittee, Vega said, "You took an oath to uphold the Constitution and work for we the people. That means working with your fellow politicians regardless of which side of the aisle you are on. You are supposed to work together, representing us, ensuring that those coming in are obeying our immigration laws. They need to be properly vetted, not only for their safety, but yours and ours."
