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HEALTH CARE HELP COMES TO SOUTH FLORIDA page 33

ALSO INSIDE I-TEAM : JMH Worker Investigated For Patient Theft page 5 - local section

Con Artist Counting On 2010 Census page 21 - consumer section

Is Now The Best Time To Buy A Home? page 25 - real estate section

Medicaid Drops Coverage For Mom With Cancer page 29 - health section

How Does Your Pay Stack Up Against The Stars? page 35 - entertainment section

New Tiger Ad Plays “The Daddy Death Card” page 39 - sports section

Trading Your Auto Lease May Be The Relief You Need page 41 - automotive section

April 16, 2010

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I-Team: JMH Worker Investigated For Patient Theft On November 3 Jackson quietly fired Clarke.

allegedly stealing patient money, he was given a glowing review.

The CBS4 I Team heard about the incident. At the time, we didn’t know Clarke’s name. So we asked hospital administrators to provide it, but they refused.

Clarke “understands his role in accomplishing the Jackson Health System Standard of Excellence,” his supervisor wrote, adding that Clarke performs his duties in “an ethical and honest manner.”

Instead we had to request a list of all fired employees and track it down ourselves.

It even says he should be granted a merit pay increase.

But it turns out. we weren’t the only ones interested. The Miami Dade Inspector General’s Office had started its own investigation.

The only hint of a problem is the line where Clarke was supposed to sign his name, it says instead: “Employee no longer employed.”

Just last year he was praised as a “very diligent employee” who “interacts with patients and families with a caring attitude.”

And sure enough, what they found was hardly surprising. Sources familiar with the investigation say there are at least a dozen and possibly as many as 20 other patients who thought they were paying their hospital bills only to have their checks deposited in Clarke’s bank account.

A Jackson official recently told CBS4 News that it is important to keep in mind that Jackson has 12,000 employees and Clarke’s actions are not indicative of the hospital’s workforce.

Another recent evaluation noted, “he takes pride in helping others.”

We asked Clarke how so those checks could have ended up in his bank account.

But according to a report prepared by the Miami Dade Police Department, as well as an ongoing investigation by the Miami Dade Inspector General’s Office, Clarke not only helped the patients with their problems, he also helped himself to their money.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I really don’t want to explain. This is so unexpected.”

Reporting Jim DeFede MIAMI (CBS4 I-TEAM) Ñ For fifteen years Michael Clarke worked at Jackson Memorial Hospital. A valued employee, Clarke’s personnel file is filled with glowing evaluations.

In one instance last May, a patient came in to pay his hospital bill. The patient had written the check out to Jackson Memorial Hospital, but Clarke, a patient care associate at the hospital, allegedly instructed them to tear up the check and make out a new check instead to “CashJMH.” Detectives later discovered the check for $1,298.50 was deposited into Clarke’s bank account at Dade County Federal Credit Union, which is located just across the street from the Ryder Trauma Center.

Clarke didn’t want to discuss the incident.

“It’s still an ongoing investigation,” he said outside his home.

Actually, Miami Dade Police are not the ones investigating. The detective who initially handled the complaint decided Jackson was so screwed up it wasn’t worth pursuing, so in September he wrote a police report and filed it away.

He said he did not believe that 20 people had been defrauded. When he was asked how many individuials may have been victimized, Clarke shook his head and said, “I don’t know sir.”

He then walked away and refused to answer any other questions.

Investigators and prosecutors are still reviewing the case. A decision on whether to charge Clarke is expected to be made in the next two weeks. The total amount of money the hospital may have lost is believed to be relatively small -somewhere around $20,000 according to sources.

But as if this story wasn’t bad enough, there’s more. If you ever wanted to understand how deep and pervasive the problems at Jackson are, all you would need to do is look at a copy of Clarke’s last employee evaluation.

The evaluation was filed on December 11, 2009.

Six weeks AFTER he was fired for

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April 16, 2010

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April 16, 2010

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Florida House Debating Teacher Merit Pay Bill Joan Leroy a middle school teacher said, “Really and truly this is bad legislation. If it’s signed I don’t know what will happen to our children.”

House Republicans championed the bill as a way to get rid of “bad teachers.” The bills from both houses of the legislature make it easier to fire teachers based upon the scores students get on standardized tests.

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) Ñ Hundreds of teachers lined University Drive in Tamarac to protest the merit pay bill that will tie their salaries to test scores. All this was going on while the Florida House of Representatives continued to debate the much-ballyhooed bill to tie teacher’s pay and employment to student performance.

The vote will follow days of growing protests from teachers, students, and parents who vehemently oppose the new bill. A vote is expected Thursday night.

“It’s a slap in the face to say your education doesn’t mean anything,” Broward Teacher’s union vice-president Bernie Schultz said. “I think we’ll lose teachers and no one will come here because of no tenure and no job security.”

As lawmakers took up debate in Tallahassee the teachers held signs and urged drivers to honk their support.

In addition, teachers would work year to year until they had been teaching for three years when they could be given multiyear contracts. It would also do away with tenure for teachers.

While this is the final legislative hurdle for the new law to overcome, it still has another possible roadblock in Governor Charlie Crist’s office. Governor Crist indicated he might veto the new bill. Crist said teacher concerns are affecting his thinking on supporting the bill.

Crist has not given a firm statement on whether he’d veto a bill impacting teachers, but he said the rising outcry from so many residents is impacting his decision.

Part of the concern amongst teachers is that sometimes even the greatest teacher in the world may not be able to raise the test scores in some schools; while at the same time; bad teachers at good schools could get rewarded.

According to the South Florida SunSentinel, Crist’s possible shift is fueling “Capitol buzz that Crist is weighing whether to run as an independent rather than face Marco Rubio in a Republican primary.”

Crist is in striking distance of Rubio who is coming under increased scrutiny since taking the lead in the GOP race. Governor Crist’s people have repeatedly said Crist will not change parties or run as an independent.

On Wednesday, dozens of protests over the legislation were held from Hialeah to Tamarac.

“I don’t see how they can do that,” said Barbara Goleman High School teacher Leonard Patrick. “They don’t have to take into consideration the parents, the students themselves, the socio-economics, the language barrier.”

“You are teaching 19, 20, 30 years and now you will be told it doesn’t matter if you have a bachelors, a masters, or anything else and you will still be given no respect and no money,” said Barbara Goleman teacher Naiomi Ellenbgon.

BTU members also plan a “Black Friday” protest, when BTU members and their colleagues will wear black apparel on Friday, April 9 to protest SB6 and HB 7189.

If Crist chooses to veto the bill, he will

likely face problems with conservatives who support the bill and weakening the power the teacher’s union has in the state.

On the flip side, a Crist veto would appeal to moderate and independent voters, and even some moderate Democrats, which make up the Governor’s base voters.

CBS4’s Joan Murray contributed to this report. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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April 16, 2010

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I-Team : Prosecutor Questions Arrests In Corruption Probe than complete a court-ordered program.

According to prosecutors, the men did not commit petty theft because the money Brown and Cobham are accused of stealing was given to them by undercover officers. It can’t be theft if the money was freely given.

Reporting Jim DeFede MIAMI (CBS4) Ñ A day after Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and Miami Police Chief Miguel Exposito announced the arrests of eight individuals on public corruption charges, questions persisted about whether four of the cases would ever make it into a courtroom.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle revealed Thursday she had warned the police that the alleged activities did not constitute crimes.

“With respect to this particular announcement there is a lot of confusion involved because we were not consulted on some of the cases,” Rundle said.

That confusion persisted Friday. Rundle said she had been asking for information from the police chief and the city manager, but they had not responded to her emails and phone calls At issue is the arrest of Johnnie Brown and Vincent Cobham -- who worked for a non profit agency, called the Alternative Programs.

The men were arrested on charges of petty theft and organized fraud. Police claim the men took money to falsify paperwork for court ordered community service.

Police presented the case to prosecutors last month. Joe Centorino, the head of the State Attorney’s Office Public Corruption Unit, explained to police that they could not prosecute the case.

“Based on what we saw at the time we did not believe state law covered it as a crime,” Rundle said. “It doesn’t mean we like what they did, but they were not specifically excluded from doing it by state statute.”

Police claim Brown and Cobham accepted money from an undercover officer rather

Second, prosecutors say the crimes do not amount to fraud because Brown and Cobham gave the undercover officer exactly what they promised. In return for the money, they didn’t have to complete the program. So, prosecutors say, there is no fraud.

They also can’t charge the men with bribery because the men are not city employees and bribery – under the law – can only take place if the person receiving the bribe is a government employee. In this case the men worked for a non profit organization.

The only possible crime that might have occurred is if the men sent false reports to the judge advising that the individual had in fact completed their community service.

But the program never sent those notices to the judge. So they never lied or committed perjury to the courts.

It appears that similar cases were also made against two other individuals, Laura Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez, who operated another nonprofit called Vecinos en Accion – or Neighbors in Action. They are accused of accepting $250 from an undercover informant to falsify his community service records.

Rundle worried that the police, rather than following the law, decided to move ahead with the arrests in order to bolster the press conference Exposito and Regalado held Thursday afternoon.

“You know I hope not,” Rundle said when she was asked if the press conference seemed to be driving the arrests. “I’m hopeful we get to the bottom of this and see what mis-communication or misunderstanding there was. I know Mr. Centorino and others in my office would be very disturbed if it was an affirmative decision to proceed knowing that based on what we saw there was not a crime.”

But that appears to be exactly what the Miami Police did.

Exposito admitted Friday he knew Rundle and her prosecutors did not think the arrest should go forward, but they decided to

anyway.

“Well this is her opinion,” Exposito said of Rundle. “We got different opinions from other attorneys and obviously the judge who signed the warrant.”

Exposito did not identify who the other attorney was or why the opinion of someone other than the State Attorney – who would actually be responsible for prosecuting the case – would matter.

Exposito also did not say if his officers told the judge that Rundle’s office had already passed on the case.

agency could be looking as substantial liability under the civil rights laws,” Udolf said.

In other words, the police department’s actions may have opened the city up to a lawsuit by the individuals arrested.

“We stand by these arrests,” Exposito said.

“I certainly would have issues with the fact that I had to spend a night in jail and had to make bond on an arrest where I knew the officer had been told there was no case there,” Udolf said. “I would maintain the officer acted in bad faith. It’s a laudable thing to want to be opposed to corruption and want to clean up corruption, but you have to play by the rules.”

Bruce Udolf is the former head of the public corruption unit for US Attorney’s office in Miami. He said it is dangerous whenever police move ahead with arrests when prosecutors have warned them not to.

Rundle said she is still waiting for paperwork from the police; but that if the cases against the four non profit employees are what they saw earlier, then prosecutors will likely refuse to file charges and the case will be dismissed.

“That is a very dicey situation for the investigators because if the prosecutor is right and the case does get thrown out for the same reason that the prosecutor initially opined, then the law enforcement

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April 16, 2010

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I-Team: Golden Beach Lt. Found Guilty Of Battery wearing a badge, despite the violent felony charges he faced. Victims’ advocates criticized the department for not suspending the cop in light of the domestic violence charges.

Barrio now faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing set for next month and the revocation of his police license.

Reporting Gary Nelson GOLDEN BEACH (CBS4 I-TEAM) ÑA Gainesville jury found a Golden Beach Police lieutenant guilty of kidnapping and battery on his wife in an incident that occurred last year.

Lt. Roberto Barrio was found guilty in connection with the attack on May of last year. He is guilty of false imprisonment, kidnapping and battery.

The I-Team’s Gary Nelson revealed in December that Barrio was allowed to remain on the job, packing a gun and

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in Alachua County. The CBS4 News investigation revealed that Barrio was charged with battering his wife during an assault in Newberry, a small town west of Gainesville.

A police report on the May 10th incident says Barrio was enraged that his wife was looking for numbers on his cell phone during an argument over possible infidelity in their marriage. The police report says Barrio “grabbed (his wife) by her shoulders and threw her to the ground.” The report says the officer carried his wife over his shoulder and “threw her” into the back seat of his GMC truck. When the wife ran from the truck back into the house, the police report says

Barrio again “picked her up over his shoulder and threw her” into his vehicle.

The report says the woman’s screaming drew the attention of neighbors who witnessed Barrio “slinging and shoving” his wife into the car and “holding her inside the vehicle as he was driving away” with their children in the back seat.

When police stopped the car, they found the wife crying hysterically, with “noticeable red marks” on her body.

Golden Beach Mayor Glenn Singer issued the following statement: “The town of Golden Beach affords all of its employees the right to due process. Given the verdicts reached in this case, the town has relieved Lieutenant Barrio of all duties, effective immediately.” (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Fake Cop Robs Man In Miami-Dade County

Reporting Gary Nelson MIAMI (CBS4) ÑHe looked like the real deal: An imposing man in a blue police uniform, complete with gun belt, gun, cuffs, badge, the whole package. But Miami-Dade police say the man who waved over a motorist Tuesday night was a fraud; a highwayman who posed as a cop to victimize a car salesman on his way home from work.

Carlos Castro had just finished closing a

late sale at Headquarter Toyota by the Palmetto Expressway near Red Road and was driving west-bound along 167th Street about 10:30 Tuesday night. The “cop” stepped out in the road in front of him, signaling him to pull over. The man, in full police-type regalia, emerged from behind a black Dodge Charger parked on the side of the road with its emergency flashers on, but no visible blue police light.

“It was really bad,” Castro told CBS4 News’ Gary Nelson. “I’m lucky to be alive. I could have been killed.”

Police say when Castro pulled over, the fake cop ordered him out of his car and immediately snatched the gold chain from around his neck. A second man appeared brandishing a knife, demanding that Castro surrender his bracelet and rings.

Before he could comply, police say the second man slashed at Castro, the knife tip ripping his shirt,inflicting a small cut on his abdomen. The robbers took off in the Charger, leaving Castro on the side of the road.

At Miami Police Supply on Southwest 8th street, manager Javier Alfonso said the company’s policy is to sell only to law enforcement officers, but that there’s no legal prohibition against selling to anyone. “It’s legal for somebody to own police gear and items that say ‘police’” Alfonso said. “Some people even have extensive collections of police badges.”

Masquerading as a police officer is not that difficult a thing to do. The law prohibits the sale of blue and red emergency lights to anyone but police officers. But police hats, shirts, gun belts, handcuffs and even badges can be sold to the public.

Miami-Dade police say it would be very unusual for a uniformed officer, in an unmarked car, to attempt to flag down a

motorist, absent some emergency circumstances. In any case, they say, if in doubt don’t pull over on the side of a dark road.

“If you don’t know that it’s a police officer, you should drive on to a well-lit area, where there are other people around,” said Detective Williams.

Police say the man masquerading as a cop in Tuesday night’s robbery was a big guy, about 6’2” tall and weighing upwards of 300 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 305-471TIPS(8477). (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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April 16, 2010

13

I-Team: Probe Uncovers FIU Police Radio Problems Motorola 1250 LS Series is now a discontinued model, recommended for industries like entertainment and construction.

Rivera says of the radio system, “You might as well get two cans and a string, you’d probably do a better job.”

One union concern is that the FIU radios don’t have a lockout feature to prevent officers from talking over each other while responding to emergencies.

Reporting Natalia Zea WEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4 I-TEAM) Ñ The on-campus murder of FIU football player Kendall Berry showed students that serious crimes can happen there.

But what students don’t know, is that some police officers say they don’t have the communications equipment they need to protect them on campus.

“This is a public safety issue, the students are not safe,” Miami-Dade Police Union President John Rivera told CBS4’s Natalia Zea. Rivera says FIU officers call him weekly with concerns about the police radios they’ve had for the past 5 years. The

Sources tell Zea that as Berry lay dying on the ground outside FIU’s Rec Center, FIU police were using their radios to call for help. At the same time officers were chasing two separate suspects across campus.

Everyone jumped on their radios, and talked over each other leading to confusion and chaos, according to that source.

Rivera says the miscommunication problem is why suspect Quentin Wyche initially was not caught, he also says it affected medical response for Berry.

“Not only did he get away because communications was poor, but we could not provide that student fire rescue, medical students earlier.”

Quentin Wyche turned himself in the next day.

FIU Police Chief Bill King acknowledges there were some communication issues, but he told Zea it did not affect response.

“I’m very satisfied with the way our officers responded, I am very satisfied with how quickly things were handled,” he said.

But this wasn’t the first communication concern.

The CBS4 I-Team uncovered dozens of emails sent by FIU police officers raising red flags about the radio system since 2006.

While responding to crimes, the officers wrote that they have dealt with intermittent, garbled, broken communication, the entire radio system going down for hours at a time on both the main campus and the Biscayne Bay campus.

One sergeant wrote, “I believe this madness with the current radio system has gone on long enough. Somebody is going to get hurt.

Somebody is going to get killed.”

But Chief King says they have addressed the problems, though Rivera disagrees.

“Any time we’ve had any kind of issue with the radio, we’ve made steps to improve and correct any type of deficiencies.”

But FIU radios are on their own system,

which means officers can’t talk with other departments.

Chief King bought enough Miami-Dade police radios for officers on shift, but sources say the night of Berry’s murder, only a handful were up and running.

Still the Chief says the system works.

“For this size campus, and the type of law enforcement we do, the radio system we have right now is adequate, are we looking at other types of ways to better communicate? Yes we are, we constantly do that.”

Student Gina Carranza was concerned about possible communication lapses.

“If you’re gonna call them and they can’t get their in time because the radios aren’t working, then there’s really no point to the call.”

Student Jenai Alexis said, “It’s something that needs to be addressed, I hope they do address it as soon as possible.” (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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April 16, 2010

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Seminole Tribe Signs Gambling Deal reached with the Seminoles, but the first time leaders from the state legislature also gave their approval.

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) Ñ The Seminole Tribe of Florida approved and signed a new 20-year gambling compact with the state of Florida that will guarantee the state $1.3 billion over the next five years. “We have agreed, explained Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen, “over the next 5 years, in addition to $288 million that will be in escrow as of June, there’s another one billion dollar guarantee.”

The pact will be a victory for Governor Crist who has sought to put together a deal with the Seminoles for a few years.

It was the third time an agreement was

The deal has the Seminole tribe paying a minimum of $1 billion over five years in exchange for the exclusive operation of blackjack, chemin de fer, and baccarat at its casinos. Brighton and Big Cypress casinos will not have the aforementioned games, here in South Florida, it will allow the additional games at all Seminole casinos in Broward. In addition, class III slots will continue at all Seminole casinos.

According to CBS4 news partner Herald, the payments are as follows: $150 million per year in the first two years of the deal, $233 million for years three and four, and $234 million in the last year of the pact.

But, the tribe will have to pay 10 percent of its net revenue to the state over the last three years of the contract, which has staffers estimating payments will have an additional $102 million in the final years.

The Herald reported that because of the $287 million currently in the bank from

the tribe added on top of the future payments; the state estimates a total payout from the Seminole Tribe will be roughly $1.5 billion over the term of the deal.

If the deal fell apart and blackjack was banned, it would have cost thousands of jobs. “If it happened, we would have been laying off 3000 people,” said Allen. “So I think it’s great we’ve been able to navigate through this….In addition, we’re going to be hiring thousands of people more in the future.”

The Seminole Tribal Council approved the deal late Monday after it was finalized in a marathon negotiating session Friday between Florida Rep. Bill Galvano, Sen. Dennis Jones, and lawyers for the governor and representatives of the tribe.

“The new compact is good for the Seminole Tribe and good for the State of Florida, so we can all have confidence in the future,” said Seminole Tribe Chairman Mitchell Cypress.

have gambling also benefit from the plan.

It calls for allowing 24 hour poker on the weekends and up to 18 hours a day during the week. It would also reduce the tax rate casinos pay from 50% to 35%. “It allows us to expand our business,” explained Steve Calabro from Gulfstream Park.

“We’re allowed to add purses to our horse racing business and ultimately, as we grow our business, to expand in the number of jobs we offer at Gulfstream Park.”

The deal still has to be passed by the entire Florida Legislature, though both House and Senate leaders assured the governor the votes are there to pass the deal. (© MMX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report) NEWS POWERED BY

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In Your Community: Camp for Special-Needs Kids “It feels good, normal,” said Cory Harrison, a camper who spent Wednesday morning bowling with other kids as part of a week of activities for a camp he has attended for nine years.

Reporting Jorge Estevez MIAMI (CBS4) Ñ Family vacations are common during Spring Break, but for some South Florida families, this week is more than time off. The week provides a way for them and their special needs children to feel like everyone else.

It was not a split decision at Bird Bowl in Miami-Dade County. It was unanimous. The kids were scoring big.

Bowling is just one of the activities offered by V.A.C.C. Camp, a week-long camp for ventilation-assisted children.

Some of the children and their families are from South Florida; others come from across the country.

“I feel better than the usual every day,” Harrison told CBS4’s Jorge Estevez.

Harrison feels better because he and 50 kids spend a week doing the things that their conditions prevent them from doing. V.A.C.C. camp is a camp for children who need technology to live out their daily activities.

In Harrison’s case, a car crash 10 years ago made him a quadriplegic.

The Miami Children’s Hospital program invites their patients and others from across the country, plus their entire families, to a week of activities for free.

Wednesday morning it was bowling, thanks to Bank Atlantic and Bird Bowl, who sponsored the event.

“This week enables them to meet other parents with similar problems and other siblings with similar problems. This is a family affair,” said Dr. Moises Simpser, Camp Director.

The program’s success has to do, in part, with the teenage volunteers who partner with the patients. “Camp ends this week.

I can guarantee you, for the next year, they will be interacting with each other.

We will visit them. They will visit us.

They come hang out with us at our home,” said Maurice Harrison, Cory’s father.

“It is not that easy for him on a day-today basis to make friends. Here (at the camp) he does not have to search for friends and make friends. They are there already,” said Nadine Harrison, Cory’s mother. She is grateful to have this week with her son where he feels like any other teenager.

V.A.C.C. Camp is always looking for donations. They estimate it costs $125,000 to run the camp. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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April 16, 2010

16

Get a Jump on Next Year’s Taxes!

You don’t provide receipts to the IRS when you file but you want to have them on hand in case you’re audited.

Keeping Your Receipts: Use a Shoe box: If you’re really lazy, at least use a shoebox, though it’s time-consuming and expensive to sort through.

Better: An Accordion file folder, tabbed by type of expense

Five Tips to Help the Process Go More Smoothly Next April Than, Odds Are, It Went This Time Around (CBS) The taxman cometh, and cometh, and cometh . . .

Whether you’re recovering from this year’s bout with your return or still in the midst of it, it’s never too early to make things less taxing for you in the future, starting with the return you file in 2011 for the current tax year.

On “The Early Show Saturday Edition”, Redbook columnist Beth Kobliner, author, of “Get a Financial Life,” shared tips for the tax -challenged that could help guarantee many happy returns: Tip #1: GET ORGANIZED -- Use an Accordion File for Key Paper Receipts Keeping your receipts organized will enable you to easily add up your expenses to see how much you can deduct come tax time next year. Use your credit card statements to help.

If you use paper receipts, try to organize them by expense type; you’ll need to tally up the dollar amount in each expense category. (If you use your credit card statement, make multiple copies and circle the expense and file it in the respective folders.) That will save you time when you’re filling out the tax forms (when you’ll have to enter your expenses by type), and it will ensure that you’ve included every deductible dollar in your tallies.

Put your file in an easy-to-access place at home, and just pop your receipts in there as they’re acquired. That means no scrambling through your wallet and envelopes scattered all over the house next year.

Deductible Expenses: It’s very tricky and you have do your own research. Use the Internal Revenue Service Web site. The IRS describes legitimate business expense as something that is “ordinary and necessary” for your business. If your employer reimburses you, it is not a deduction. Deductible expenses can include travel for work that you wouldn’t have normally taken, sbscriptions to trade publications, union dues, a tuxedo if you need it for your business (one accountant I spoke with said if you’re a band leader and you need a tux or you’re required to go to black tie benefits, but you wear it to your sister’s wedding once, it’s still deductible) Expenses that aren;t deductible: A suit or dress you’re going to wear to work; your briefcase; meals; commuting expenses.

The point being: You’d have to feed and clothe yourself and get to and from work, no matter what. And that Tuxedo you wear to company holiday party because you choose to? Not deductible Tip #2: E-FILE: The Software is Deductible and Helps You Organize There are so many people who are techphobic. If you’re one of them, make 2010 your year to get over it. It’s common to pay hundreds of dollars to a tax adviser.

Many people tell me how surprised they are to learn how programs like Turbotax, Tax Act and H&R Block at home offer prompts such as, ‘Do you have kids? Are you self employed?’ Etc. And that makes it easy to get deductions and credits you qualify for.

Big benefits: You get your refund in half the time if you file online. If you ask the IRS to direct-deposit your refund (an option available with e-filing or paper filing), you’ll get your refund at least one week faster. The software is tax deductible when you itemize. You can

even import data from Quicken directly into TurboTax, for example.

2009 Refund

With the unemployment rate continuing to hover just below 10 percent, many people are trying to make a go of working for themselves, full- or part-time. Most parttime and freelance workers file as “sole proprietors” of their business, which requires attaching a “Schedule C” form to their 1040.

It’s feels great when you get a refund check. The average refund has been $2,978 this year so far. But the fact is, a refund just means the IRS was holding onto your money while you could have had it and been earning interest on it.

You’re better off getting a much smaller refund and having had the money throughout the year. (You could have either paid off high-rate credit card debt or put it into a 401k with matching employer contributions or stashed into an emergency savings cushion that earned you interest.)

Since your taxes are more complicated than the average, it may be a good investment to hire an accountant. They can often save you more than you make!

Look for one who specializes in freelancer issues.

Increase the number of withholding allowances you claim, usually by 1 or 2 (don’t claim more than you deserve; if you pay less than 90% of the tax you really owe, you might be hit with a penalty and interest)

Be aware that the IRS tends to audit selfemployed workers more frequently, so you’ll want to back up your expenses.

To make the change, file a new W-4 form with your employer

Tip #3 PART-TIMERS AND FREELANCERS: CONSIDER USING AN ACCOUNTANT; You’re at Higher Risk for Audit

Self-employed people often have to pay estimated taxes every quarter Take advantage of the home office deduction, but be careful; it’s tricky! You may be able to deduct a portion of rent, utilities, insurance, etc. but it’s still very tough. It must be used exclusively and regularly for business and has to be your primary place of business or a separate structure not attached to your home. One example: You may be able to deduct a particularly percentage of your rent, etc. based on the square footage of your home that qualifies as an office.

If you sit on your bed with your laptop, don’t think it’s easy to claim your bedroom as a home office!

Other possible deductions: meals or drinks for clients, travel expenses, and health care premiums.

Segregate business expenses from personal expenses. Have separate credit cards and bank accounts. This will help with deductions. Start tracking purchases with Mint.com. Consider also maintaining a separate phone line.

Tip #4 REWORK YOUR W-4: Adjust Your Withholding, Depending on Your

Tip #5 DON’T FORGET 2009 FEDERAL TAX CREDITS; Several Carry Over to 2010 Energy-Saving Improvements: You’ll get a 30 percent credit (capped at $1,500) for the cost of many energy-saving improvements you make on your home this year (but it’s but slated to go down to 10 percent (capped at $500, in 2011).

Such items include: insulation and airsealing products, energy-efficient windows, heat pump water heaters.

School Tax Credits: If you’re still thinking about going back to school either full- or half-time, 2010 is the year to do it, tax-wise: The American Opportunity Credit, an education credit worth up to $2,500 per college student, expires at the end of 2010. You can qualify for the full credit for families with joint returns earning under $160,000. You need to be enrolled at least half-time for one academic period to claim this. © MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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April 16, 2010

17

Owe Taxes But Can’t Pay? You Have Options Even if you cannot pay some or all of your taxes owed, you should always file your tax return (or file for an extension) on time. The penalty for filing late is a stiff 5 percent per month up to a maximum of 25 percent of the amount of tax due on the tardy return.

Ray Martin Describes Avenues Open to You (CBS) A helping hand extended by Uncle Sam has unwittingly resulted in many people owing more in taxes than they’re able to pay. But, explains “Early Show” money maven Ray Martin in this column, there are steps you could take to make settling your tax debt less burdensome than you might think.

This year, more folks will fall into the trap of unexpectedly owing taxes when they complete their 2009 tax returns.

It’s estimated that more than 15.4 million taxpayers could fall into that category as an untended consequence of the new Making Work Pay Credit, according to a report by the Treasury inspector General for Tax Administration.

This is happening because last year, the government directed employers to decrease the federal income tax withheld from the paychecks of millions of workers in anticipation of those taxpayers applying for the Making Work Pay Credit on their 2009 tax return. The problem this is causing is that the decrease in tax withholding was, for many workers, more that the tax credit they are eligible for. As a result, many folks will ultimately owe taxes when filing their 2009 tax returns. If folks are not financially prepared and cannot pay, they could incur tax penalties and interest for not paying on time.

Folks most likely to fall into this trap are those who work two jobs, married couples who both work, and individuals who work and are also claimed as dependents.

According to the report, the amounts owed could range from $200 to more than $1,000.

Always File On Time

If you file your tax return (or an extension) on time, but you don’t have enough money to pay your taxes in full, the penalty for paying late is much less onerous - half a percent per month, up to a maximum of 25 percent of the amount due on the return. Suffice is to say, filing and paying late can get expensive. But if you don’t pay at all, the IRS will not go lightly on you - it will typically commence a collection action to levy your wages and place liens on your property for the amount of the unpaid taxes, penalties and interest.

When You Can’t Pay All of the Taxes Due Alternatives include seeking a loan from a bank or credit union. But if you can’t afford to pay the taxes you owe, you probably are not going to be able to get a loan. You could also ask for a loan from a relative or friend. You could tap a home equity line of credit, if that is available.

Current interest rates on home equity lines are low and repayment terms are flexible.

You can pay your taxes using your debit or credit card. Using this option will avoid the IRS penalties for not paying at all, but you’ll pay convenience fees in the range of 2-to-4 percent of the amount charged.

And if you don’t pay your credit card balance in full, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars of interest on the balance you carry on your credit card at a rate that is higher than the IRS interest rate for installment payments.

need to speak with the IRS before it can determine your eligibility for an installment agreement, the OPA application also includes an address and a toll-free phone number to contact the IRS.

rate. Also, as a condition of the installment agreement, any future tax refunds will be automatically applied against the amount you owe until the balance is paid off.

When submitting an Online Payment Agreement Application, there are three payment options:

If the IRS determines that you cannot pay your tax debt, it may temporarily delay collection until your financial condition improves. During the payment delay, your tax debt will continue to increase due to the penalties and accrual of interest until your balance is paid in full. The IRS may also file a Notice of Tax Lien to assert the government’s interest in your assets.

• Pay in full: This avoids additional fees, penalties, and interest • Short Term Extension: If approved, you will get an extension of up to 120 days to pay and will avoid any applicable payment fees.

• Monthly Payment Plan: If you cannot pay in full within 120 days, you may be permitted to make monthly installment payments. There are strings attached: You must have filed all of your prior year’s tax returns and pay a user fee of $105 ($52 if the payments are automatically deducted from a bank account). You’ll also pay the IRS interest on the unpaid balance, which is currently an annual rate of 4 percent.

When you request a Short Term Extension or Monthly Payment Plan, the IRS will send written confirmation within 10 days, so you’ll know your request has been approved.

If you owe more than $25,000, you may still request and qualify for a payment plan, but the process requires filing several additional forms. You’ll need to attach a completed Collection Information Statement, Form 433F and include a payment proposal on a Request for Installment Agreement, Form 9465 with your tax return. The IRS will reply with a written notification letter explaining whether the proposed payment terms have been accepted or need to be changed.

IRS Payment Options The IRS offers a few payment options for folks who can only afford to pay over time: Installment Payments If you are in a short-term cash squeeze or you owe less than $25,000, you can complete and submit an Online Payment Agreement Application, or OPA, at the IRS Web site. Taxpayers or their representatives can apply and receive immediate notification of approval.

Because there may be situations when you

The IRS charges a user fee for setting up an installment agreement of up to $105 ($52 if payments are set up to be automatically deducted from your bank account, and even less for folks with incomes below certain levels.) You have up to five years to pay under the Installment Agreement and you’ll have to pay all future taxes in full and on time.

You’ll pay penalties and interest on the taxes you owe until the agreement is paid off. However, depending on your individual circumstances, the IRS could offer a payment plan at a reduced interest

Offer In Compromise The option of last resort is the Offer In Compromise, or OIC. This is an agreement in which the IRS and taxpayer settle the tax liability for less than the full amount owed. In connection with an OIC, the reduced amount allowed to be paid must equal what the IRS believes it can reasonably collect from the sale of your assets, such as real property, automobiles, bank accounts, etc. The IRS may grant an OIC on the grounds that there is legitimate doubt that the taxpayer could ever pay the full amount of tax owed (doubt as to collectability), or there is doubt that the amount owed is correct (doubt as to liability). Also, if collection of the tax owed would create an economic hardship, the IRS may consider an OIC. To request an OIC, you must send a completed Form 656, Offer in Compromise, and include a $150 application fee.

And don’t go for those pitchmen claiming their services will settle your tax debts for “pennies on the dollar!” The IRS only accepted 21 percent of OIC applications in 2009, down from the previous two years.

The bottom line is that the IRS may offer some of the better options for folks who need to pay their tax debts over time.

Making a partial payment of what you owe and filing an Online Payment Agreement Application is better than not. © MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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April 16, 2010

19

Clunker Appliances Rebate Program Website Launched Friday style blitz when the program kicks of on April 16.

The program gives incentives to replace your old fridge, washing machine or dishwasher for newer energy-efficient appliances.

Reservations Needed As Program May Run Out Of Funds Quickly TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) Ñ Floridians looking for answers about the upcoming “cash for clunker appliances” program can now log onto the programs website to find answers about the rebates. But, Floridians hoping to take advantage of the “cash for clunker appliances” rebate program better be ready for a Black

“I encourage Floridians considering the purchase of a new appliance to plan to do so beginning April 16, in order to take the first step towards qualifying for a rebate,” Governor Charlie Crist said. “Making these purchases this month will benefit consumers, businesses, and our entire state economy, as well as increase energy and water savings for year to come.”

dishwashers and gas tankless water heaters. Stoves, ovens and clothes dryers are not covered.

sure you are aware of the store’s return policy if you choose not to purchase the appliance.

The rebates only apply to purchases made between April 16 through April 25. Any receipts you file to get a rebate must be dated.

If you’re lucky enough to get into the system, you will download a rebate application available on the program’s website.

The state said there’s enough federal money for roughly 66,000 rebates and you’ll need to request a priority number, which was previously known as a reservation, according to the SunSentinel. However, you can’t request a number until you buy the appliance.

In return, you will receive an American Express prepaid card, but the card can be converted to cash. There’s a $75 bonus if you send your old appliance to the landfill for recycling.

Here’s how the program will work:

The program will end when the federal money runs out.

Appliances that are covered include: refrigerators, freezers, room airconditioners, washing machines,

Once you get a number, the system will tell you if there is a rebate available for you. If you fail to get a number, make

Consumers can receive rebates of up to $1,500 per household. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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The Top Phone Apps For Smartphones We waded through some of the most popular and came up with a list of the ‘must have’ apps.

Pandora: Pandora radio is one of the most downloaded free apps for a reason. It’s your iPod only better. Type in a favorite song or artists and it will create a radio station that plays only the music it thinks you will like. Give each song a thumbs up or thumbs down to better tune your taste.

Reporting Al Sunshine MIAMI (CBS) ÑIn the past two decades, the cell phone changed the way we live.

Now, the smart phone is doing it again.

Applications or ‘apps’ can make your phone do almost anything.

“The Apple store boasts 150,000 apps and this is not just an apple story,” explained Carl Howe of the Yankee group. iPhone, Android, Blackberry, they all have apps and more and more people are getting hooked every day.

Tripit: Tripit keeps track of all your travel itineraries. That means no more fumbling for sheets of paper while you are trying to check in or trying to remember your hotel confirmation number.

Bump: If you meet someone on a trip and want to exchange contact information, just ‘bump’ your phones together and the information is transferred from phone to phone.

Findmycar: We have all walked out of a mall clueless as to where we left the car.

‘Findmycar’ uses GPS to mark your car’s location and will guide you back when

your shopping is done.

Urbanspoon: Need a restaurant? Urban spoon will make suggestions in your area; choose by food type, location and price.

DinnerSpinner: DinnerSpinner is perfect for when you are at the grocery store and find pork chops on sale but you have no idea how to prepare them. DinnerSpinner will search for recipes on the spot and you can gather the rest of the ingredients while you are at the store.

CardBank: CardBank is for anyone who is tired of carrying around all those tattered rewards cards, library and gym membership cards on their key chain. Just load them onto CardBank and you can scan the barcode right off your phone.

Background Checker: This app will quickly tell you if a potential babysitter or new boyfriend has a criminal record.

Flashlight: Flashlight is the simplest app that everyone seems to love. It just turns your smart phone screen into a solid, bright light. Perfect for reading directions at night or anytime you are in the dark.

Research shows only 17% of Americans have smart phones, but that’s expected to soar in the next few years. That means the app craze is only just beginning. “I think everyone started with the idea that this (phone) is a great device to make phone calls. Not so much anymore,” Carl Howe said. “Apps have really changed the way we look at the world.

Most of the apps we featured are free. The vast majority of paid apps are only a dollar or two. If you want Pandora without ads, you’ll have to pay a subscription, anywhere from $.99 to $3 a month, depending on the services you want.

Don’t forget CBS4.COM has an app too.

CuteMath, StateCapitalQuiz: From math facts to geography, there are dozens of apps to help your kids in school.

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Con Artists Counting on Census estimated they had received about 50 reports in the last month, including one that asked for a $5 bill to be stapled to the questionnaire. The Chicago regional office reported that they had received intermittent reports throughout the year of people claiming to be Census workers knocking on doors and asking for personal information.

Written by Sarah Fitzpatrick, CBS News Investigative Unit.

Before you fill out your 2010 Census form, make sure it’s the real thing.

Regional U.S. Census offices around the country are receiving reports of fraudulent forms asking for Social Security numbers, banking details, and in some cases asking for checks or cash to be included in the return envelope.

The Greater Los Angeles Regional Census office told CBS News that they had received “around 100” reports of fraudulent forms being received in the region. The Kansas City Regional office

“Because the Census goes to every single person in the United States, it could present an opportunity for people to use it as a model for illegitimate purposes” said Stephen Buckner, a spokesman for the U.S. Census.

“It was very realistic,” said Jim Blankenship, 58, of the form that appeared in his mailbox in early March.

“I filled it out and got to the part where it asked for your Social Security number, I thought it was a little strange but I went ahead and filled it in anyway,” he told CBS News. After hearing on the local news that the Census did not ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers, he realized he had filled out a fraudulent form.

there are people out there will take advantage any opportunity for a scam,” he said.

President Obama signed legislation yesterday which aims to crack down on solicitations that imitate official census forms.

The “Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act” prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from delivering nongovernmental mail bearing the word “census” on the envelope.

The legislation was prompted in part by a mailing from the Republican National Committee seeking donations, that some believed could be confused with the official 2010 Census.

The Census Bureau urges citizens to familiarize themselves with the 10question form on the Census Bureau website, and report fraudulent forms to their regional Census office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (1-877-8762455).

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“It makes you think, oh my goodness,

Dade Medical College Offers Memorial Scholarship watched as she battled cancer, but Soza lost her fight last year.

lives through a scholarship that we have set up in her name,” said Perez.

“I didn’t want it to accept it until the last moment. I still don’t accept it,” said Diana Hislop, Gildiana’s mother.

The winner will be chosen and receive up to a $60,000 medical education. The goal is to give a person like Hislop, who has suffered so much through her daughter’s battle, their life back and remember the determination of a little girl.

The six-year-old had brain cancer. At the time, her mom did whatever necessary to fight for this little girl’s life. “I had to lose my job. I had to lose everything. I didn’t care my daughter was first,” Hislop said.

Reporting Jorge Estevez MIAMI (CBS4) ÑCBS4 viewers have an opportunity to get a medical degree for free. Together with Dade Medical College, CBS4.com is running a scholarship contest all in the memory of a little girl who lost her battle with cancer.

Gildiana Soza stole our hearts. We

As a result, the single mother was left homeless and still caring for her family; soon, Dade Medical College took notice.

Ernesto Perez founder of Dade Medical College offered Hislop a free education.

Since then, he has created a scholarship program in Soza’s name for other people in need of a life-changing opportunity.

“Even though it is very hard for us, but if it is for a good cause, we’ll have to deal with it,” said Hislop.

Log on to cbs4.com/future to find out all about how to enter the contest and learn more about Gildiana’s foundation. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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“In passing, she will have an opportunity to have an impact on a lot of people’s

April 16, 2010

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April 16, 2010

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Is Now the Best Time to Buy a Home?

Business and Economics Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis said people who have been waiting to buy need to know that the era of rock-bottom mortgage rates is over.

She said, “Rates are going higher from here.”

Home Buyer Tax Credit Deadlines, How Higher Mortgage Rates Will Change Monthly Payments, If Purchasing Now is Right for You (CBS) Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke acknowledged yesterday that, while the economy is improving, the housing market still has a way to go.

However, there are some factors in play that suggest now might be the right time to buy a home.

Jarvis cited the Mortgage Bankers Association, saying, “The average 30year fixed-rate mortgage is at about 5.3 percent. That’s already up half a percent from last year. And with the economy on the road to improvement, the Obama administration doing less that keep mortgage rates lower, we’ll see them go higher from here.

“Early Show” co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez pointed out potential buyers be aware that if mortgage rates go up even slightly, that could make a big difference as far as payments.

Jarvis added, “A very small difference in a mortgage rate makes a big difference in

your monthly payment. So take a $300,000 mortgage, what you’re looking at in a five percent interest payment is $1,600 a month. Bump that up one percent to six percent mortgage, you’re looking at a payment of $1,800 a month.

And over a year, we’re talking about more than $2,000.”

As for the Home Buyer Tax Credit, the April 30 deadline is now closing in quickly.

in. Before you make an offer, be certain that it’s the right house at the right price in the right location for you. And know that you’re planning to live in it for at least five years.” © MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Jarvis explained, “You have to close out your paperwork by April 30, to get $8,000 if it you’re a new buyer, $6,500 if you’re a second-time or third-time buyer. And you have to close on the purchase by June 30.”

She continued, “While mortgage rates are almost certainly going higher, home prices can still come down. Even though we’re seeing signs of stabilization in the overall market, it’s important to really know the market you’re looking to buy

On “The Early Show,” CBS News

S. Fla. Real Estate Showing Signs Of Stabilization double-digit growth. Single family homes are up around 47% over 2009, with multifamily condos skyrocketing by 81.5%.

“The market has been very active but prices are way down under their 2008 peak, down basically about 50%,” said Oliver Ruiz of Fortune Int’l Realty.

Reporting Al Sunshine MIAMI (CBS4) Ñ If you drive around local neighborhoods in South Florida, you’re likely to see there are fewer for sale signs than just a few months ago.

Aided by rock-bottom bargains, cheap financing and federal tax incentives, South Florida real estate is seeing some solid improvements according to newly released real estate figures.

According to the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beches, pending sales around South Florida are showing

But the latest figures show single family home prices are finally starting to climb up again, even though condo prices may still be bottoming out. Some local analysts are now predicting once those federal tax credits expire at the end of the month; residential sales could slow down again.

“It’s going to impact us hard here,” Ruiz said. “The weather’s been bad up north and we’ve had some good sales, but when the credits expire, there’ll be fewer people afford to afford buying a home or condo due to not having those Tax Credits.”

But there are other big questions that have to be answered to understand the future of local real estate. It’s still not clear how many more homes will enter the market

through the foreclosure process which is still forecast to worsen.

It’s clear while sales are improving; South Florida’s overall residential real estate market is still suffering from the glut of inventory of over-built and unsold condos.

But for the first time, single-family home prices are stabilizing and it looks like South Florida’s residential real estate market may be close to finally bottoming

out, if it hasn’t already.

But with those tax credits set to end and the usually-slow summer months just around the corner, it may not be until later in the fall before we start seeing local real estate values really start growing again. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Broward Creates Foreclosure Mediation Program Tobin says the most important element is for the banks to have a person with the authority at the mediation table to modify loans or find solutions to homeowners’ problems.

Reporting Carey Codd FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) Ñ A new program is in the works to help Broward County homeowners save their homes from foreclosure. Later this summer, a mediation program will go into effect, aimed at bringing struggling homeowners and banks together as soon as a foreclosure action is filed.

The program is the result of a study by the Florida Supreme Court seeking ways to reduce the crushing backlog of foreclosure cases in the courts and find solutions to the foreclosure crisis.

Broward County Chief Judge Victor Tobin put together the mediation program for Broward County, which has 40,000 pending foreclosures in the court system.

“The hope is that the bank, together with the homeowner, at a neutral site can sit down with someone with authority to work out the loan and work out a payment schedule,” Tobin told CBS4’s Carey Codd.

The program will work like this: Once a foreclosure case is filed, it will be referred to a case manager from the company handling the mediation program, American Arbitration Association. The homeowner will be notified and, if they agree to mediation, will undergo credit counseling sessions. The homeowner and the bank will begin the process of trying to work out a resolution, which could mean reducing principal, reducing the interest rate or letting go of the home.

There is no guarantee each case will come to a resolution.

The process is expected to take 4 months.

The cost of the mediation sessions -which could cost up to $750 -- will be borne by the bank that files the foreclosure action.

India Johnson, Senior Vice President of American Arbitration Association, said they will encourage homeowners to take part in the mediation program. She said they have seen success rates of 50-60% when homeowners and lenders get into the same room to work out a solution to a foreclosure. “(We’re) trying to bring order out of chaos,” Johnson said. “Have someone nudging, nagging and organizing the parties.”

Michael Sherman is hoping the program is a success. He has been struggling through foreclosure on his Ft. Lauderdale home

for the past two years. Sherman suffered two heart attacks and couldn’t work. Then the recession hit his interior design business hard. He said his home, which he bought in 2001 for $305,000, is now worth $150,000.

“I have some hope at this point but it’s been a long road,” Sherman said. “I’m hoping this helps to change things for people. I hope it helps change things for me.”

Sherman has poured $80,000 into fixing up his home and doesn’t want to lose it.

“That roof over my head is the only place for me to be,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Foreclosure defense attorney George Castrataro is representing Sherman. He believes the mediation program will help

homeowners facing foreclosure but he says the ultimate success depends on the banks.

“Are lenders really going to be willing in mediation to do things like change the principal, reduce the interest rate to address really large past due balances to allow people to stay in their homes,” he said.

Castrataro also said homeowners need to do some soul searching before reaching the mediation table.

“For homeowners they have a difficult decision -- are they gonna keep their house or decide if they’re gonna surrender it?” he said. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Freddie Mac Eases Some Condo Rules In Florida high delinquency association fees.

rates

for

condo

The change, intended to increase financing availability for Florida condos, is effective Thursday. To qualify, the closing date for the new mortgage must be on or before March 31, 2011.

MIAMI (CBS4) Ñ The governmentbacked corporation that often fronts the money for mortgages is making things a bit easier for owners looking to buy or sell condominiums in Florida’s inflated real estate market. Freddie Mac is waiving some of the lending rules that made it harder to buy and sell units in many condo buildings.

Freddie Mac said Wednesday it will back mortgages on units in financially troubled condo developments as long as the seller’s loan is already owned or securitized by the mortgage finance company.

The announcement is a reversal by Freddie Mac, which had been rejecting mortgages for units in condo developments with low occupancy and

Florida’s once-burgeoning condo market has been hit hard by foreclosures, falling prices and high inventory caused by overbuilding. Condo prices have fallen by half since 2006 in many parts of the state.

Condo associations with a glut of empty units have struggled to collect fees, causing buildings to fall into disrepair and forcing associations to delay improvements.

The condo market woes led Freddie Mac to implement rules governing mortgages in troubled buildings. Units in condo developments where at least 15 percent of owners were delinquent on their association fees could not get Freddie Mac financing. Also, Freddie Mac would not guarantee mortgages in developments unless at least 70 percent of the units were occupied.

building was in good shape and there were enough owners to pay for maintenance and preserve the value of the property.

But those same rules led to complaints from buyers as well as condo associations and developers, who saw them as obstacles to getting empty units sold and occupied.

Developers may now have an easier time selling units.

“Without a doubt, the condo developers that already have Freddie Mac loans in their buildings will be dancing a jig tonight because its the best news they can get,” said Jack McCabe, president of McCabe Research & Consulting, a real estate research firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Freddie Mac’s sibling company Fannie Mae announced a separate plan for Florida condos earlier this year.

Fannie Mae is reviewing hundreds of condo projects in the state that currently don’t qualify for its loans. Buildings deemed stable after the review will be given a special approval.

The rules were meant to ensure that a

Dr. Gray Predicts Above Average Hurricane Season named storms for the 2010 hurricane season. Of those 15 storms Gray is predicting; 8 will be hurricanes and 4 of those 8 hurricanes will be major hurricanes.

the climatological peak of the hurricane season from August to October. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Gray’s team says that there’s a 45 percent chance that at least one major hurricane, Category 3 or above, will strike the U.S. East Coast including Florida. That rate is nearly 15 percent above the average for the last 100 years.

Reporting Tim Kephart FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) Ñ Dr. William Gray of Colorado State University released his revised outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season on Wednesday and if his prediction is accurate, it will be a busy hurricane season on the East Coast.

Gray’s team is predicting a total of 15

According to Gray, the reason the storm season is likely to be more active is that El Niño conditions are moderating and there is a “very strong anomalous warming of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.”

The team at Colorado State will issue seasonal updates to their 2010 Atlantic hurricane forecast on June 2 and August 4.

There will also be two-week forecasts for Atlantic tropical cyclone activity during

If projects receive special approval, lenders will be allowed to offer mortgages to homebuyers and sell those loans to Fannie Mae, which pools them into bonds and sells them to investors. (© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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Medicaid Drops Coverage For Mom With Cancer when she says, the Social Security Administration contacted her – without her soliciting it -- and told her that her three year-old son was entitled to receive Social Security disability payments. Even though she didn’t ask for it, she signed the form and received her son’s first check check.

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) Ñ A woman battling a cancer battle was dealt a surprise blow by Uncle Sam this month.

In April, Medicaid canceled her universal health care policy because her income level had risen with her son’s payments – making her ineligible for the insurance program.

Diana Smith has gone through six months of radiation and chemotherapy -- one week out of every month. She is in remission and had a donor for a transplant; being in remission is prerequisite for the transplant.

The problem is Jackson Memorial Hospital cannot provide the procedure because the risk is too high. The universal policy from Medicaid helps shield the hospital from liability in this kind of case.

Without it, they are subject to liability issues.

But her hopes of receiving the transplant were dashed in March,

Even though Smith offered to cancel her son’s disability benefits, she was

told it’s too late.

“She’s gone through six months worth of radiation and chemo, her body can’t take anymore. If they don’t allow her to have this transplant coming up right now next week, they’re in effect signing her death warrant,” said her friend Tom Noonan.

“I want to live to see my son grow up and get on with my life,” Smith told CBS4’s Ted Scouten.

As a result of the WFOR CBS 4 report, State Sen. Dave Aronberg is prepared to take action over the weekend. Social Security officials are also looking into the case to make the surgery happen on Tuesday as had been planned. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Insurance Industry Relents On Kids’ Coverage Gap

NEW YORK (CBS) Ñ The insurance industry says it won’t fight President Obama over fixing a coverage gap for kids in the new health care law.

In a letter Monday to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the industry’s top lobbyist says insurers will accept new regulations to dispel uncertainty over a much publicized guarantee that children with pre-existing medical problems can get coverage starting this year.

The president of America’s Health

Insurance Plans said the industry will “fully comply” with the regulations, expected within weeks.

interpretation. Republicans say Democrats botched the language in the bill in their rush to pass it.

The law was signed last week, but the fine print was not clear on whether kids with health problems were guaranteed coverage starting this year, or if they might have to wait until 2014.

“Children will not get the coverage they were promised,” said Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.). “This is the inevitable result of a closed, partisan process.”

The bill says insurers “may not impose any pre-existing condition exclusion” for children under 19 as of Sept. 23, 2010. Insurance companies say that just means if they choose to cover a child they have to cover the pre-existing condition and its costs, but they don’t actually have to offer new coverage to any child with preexisting conditions until 2014.

Last week the Associated Press reported that spokespersons for two Congressional committees, controlled by Democrats, that helped write the legislation agreed with the insurance industry

The White House sent a letter to the insurance industry to clarify the bill.

“We don’t want to leave any ambiguity,” says Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. “This won’t be up to insurance companies to interpret. Parents can rest assured.” (© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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April 16, 2010

29

The Adtimes Newspaper - HEALTH

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April 16, 2010

31

Rare Breast Cancers You & Your Doc Should Know lives.

“I would get my annual mammogram and it would usually come back negative,” said 52-year old Eileen Soler of Miramar.

Soler said she’s vigilant about getting her mammograms because she has her family has an extensive history of cancer. A sibling’s recent bout with the disease prompted her to undergo an ultrasound and MRI “just in case.”

Reporting Shannon Hori MIRAMAR (CBS4) Ñ Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Each year approximately forty thousand women will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society.

In addition to regular screenings and mammograms women should be aware of two rare forms of breast cancer, a knowledge of which could save their

“And luckily for me that “just in case” came back with a positive, well actually, it’s kind of a suspicious report from the first MRI,” added Soler.

Certain words in her medical report left her searching for clues about her breast health.

“I went to my computer and just kept putting in words, breast cancer mastitis, breast cancer inflammation and breast cancer with the webbing and it just kept

pointing cancer.”

back

inflammatory

breast

Medical oncologist Dr. Carmen Calfa with Memorial Breast Cancer Center says inflammatory breast cancer or IBC only occurs in about 2% of patients. Symptoms of IBC present as a sore, red and swollen breast and should not be ignored.

“The majority of patients will get a course of two weeks of antibiotics to see if the symptoms improve and if the symptoms don’t improve it’s very important to continue to ask for the answer of why is my breast not looking normal,” explained Calfa.

She says a woman’s breast will also not look normal if she has Paget’s disease which accounts for up to 3% of breast cancer cases. The symptoms include nipple pain and discharge and it can be difficult to diagnose.

“So the diagnosis can be delayed again

just like inflammatory breast cancer because the presentation is somehow not what everybody’s aware of and usually it’s in one breast not in both breasts,” added Calfa.

With IBC and Paget’s disease Dr. Calfa suggests patients push for a diagnosis.

Soler was proactive and while she was not diagnosed with IBC she did have those suspicious cells removed.

“I feel if I didn’t push as hard as I did if I didn’t ask those questions then I don’t know where I’d be right now,” said Calfa.

Because of the difficulty diagnosing these forms of breast cancer, they are often caught late in stage 3 and beyond. Calfa says knowing what to look for could save your life. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Report: Doctors Give Psychedelics Second Look According to a New York Times report, preliminary research has shown that hallucinogens - such as psilocybin, which is derived from certain mushrooms - have proven effective at treating a range of psychiatric disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and end-of-life anxiety.

Early Research Shows Hallucinogens May Be Effective at Treating a Range of Psychiatric Disorders, New York Times Reports (CBS) For many, mentioning the term psychedelic likely conjures images of long-haired hippies from the 1960s immersed in a drug culture typified by Timothy Leary’s slogan “Turn on, tune in, drop out.” But a recent reexamination of hallucinogens’ medicinal benefits may be changing that.

In the case of Clark Martin, a retired clinical psychologist battling kidney cancer and a serious bout of depression, hallucinogens provided relief that more mainstream antidepressants didn’t.

Taking part in an experiment at Johns Hopkins medical school last year, the 65year-old Martin had his first psychedelic experience, which involved psilocybin, a blindfold and headphones pumping out classical music.

“All of a sudden, everything familiar started evaporating,” he told the Times.

“Imagine you fall off a boat out in the open ocean, and you turn around, and the boat is gone. And then the water’s gone.

And then you’re gone.”

Martin has credited the treatment with changing his outlook on life and improving his personal relationships.

Others administered psilocybin have also reported, more than a year later, greater satisfaction with their lives.

According to the report, researchers are drawing some parallels between patients’ psychedelic experiences and the lifechanging revelations of religious mystics.

The results, while not physical, appear to be a greater sense of peace with oneself.

“Under the influences of hallucinogens individuals transcend their primary identification with their bodies and experience ego-free states before the time of their actual physical demise, and return with a new perspective and profound acceptance of the life constant: change,” writes Dr. Charles Grob, a psychiatrist involved in the experiment at U.C.L.A. Despite early positive results, researchers

are cognizant of overcoming the negative stereotype often conferred upon the psychedelic movement’s previous incarnation. To that end, the drugs are administered using strict safety protocols.

Researchers are also hopeful that with other new age trends like yoga and meditation becoming mainstream, acceptance of psychedelic medical treatment isn’t far behind.

According to the report, studies are currently underway at Hopkins, the University of Arizona, Harvard, New York University, U.C.L.A., among other places. Researchers from around the world are meeting in San Jose this week to discuss the results. © MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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April 16, 2010

33

“Superhero” Trauma Units Fight For Your Life pronounced dead at the scene of an accident. The Hollywood resident was driving his car when he was hit by an 18wheeler. Rescue workers thought he was dead until they heard him cough nearly two hours later.

“They took me directly to the trauma unit at Memorial Regional Hospital,” Carter explained. “I was in the coma for about 2 1/2 months and I got progressively worse.

After my initial week being in the hospital my organs started to fail.”

Reporting Cynthia Demos HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) Ñ If you have watched Miami Medical you have seen HFour years ago, Howard Carter was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident. Hollywood’s view of what it’s like working in a trauma unit. Well, in the real world, lives are saved and lost every hour of every day in trauma units across the country. For one local man, his survival story is all thanks to trauma unit professional he calls, “superheroes.”

Four years ago, Howard Carter was

But as things started to look the bleakest, Howard just woke up.

“Everything just started to come together after about 7 days. The pathways to my brain started to reconnect,” Howard said.

“So I was able to do things immediately and that was very shocking. A lot of the doctors at that time were telling me, ‘wow this is amazing I have no explanation for your recovery.’”

The doctors said they had no explanation, but Howard credits the skills of all the workers in the trauma unit.

“They are superheroes. They save lives every day,” Howard explained. “So when I go in there, it’s as if I were to walk in a league of superheroes; and I feel grateful that they exist.”

“Every day is day by day, minute by minute. Anything can change in a moment’s notice, said Maggie Gonzalez, a Trauma Physician Assistant at Memorial Regional Hospital. “Our trauma team is always prepared to handle any kind of crisis. We have a whole team of attendants, trauma physician assistant’s, residents, students and nurses.”

accident. He’s a real survivor of trauma,” Gonzalez said.

The folks in the trauma unit tell CBS4 that the first 60 minutes after a trauma, also known as the Golden Hour, is a crucial point in time when the patient must arrive in the trauma center to get the care they need to survive. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Howard visits his superheroes every now and then to thank them for saving his life.

And he’s not the only one that’s grateful.

“That’s why we do this so we can see (healthy patients return). You guys come back and show us everything that we’ve done,” said one of the trauma unit professionals who nursed Howard back to life.

“Looking at him now it’s truly remarkable how he recovered from his

4 Your Money: Health Care Help Comes To S. Fla. “I cannot afford it,” said the woman, who wanted to remain nameless. “The monthly premium as of May 1st will be almost $3,000.”

She was shopping for a better deal than she has at the moment.

The Center, run by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, which is a non-forprofit organization, vows to do more than just sell insurance; their mission is education.

Reporting Jorge Estevez MIAMI (CBS4) Ñ A new health center has opened its doors in south Florida. The center promises to do more for South Florida families than just sell insurance. It promises to give them health care help.

When CBS4 News cameras entered the new Florida Blue Health Center at The Falls shopping center one woman was shopping for insurance. For her, health insurance has gotten out of control.

“We want to help South Floridians understand how to shop well, choose well, and live well in this really complex world environment,” said Penny Shaffer, Marketing President for South Florida.

The center offers free interactive screenings, games that teach you about health, and a library full of information.

The most stand-out feature, though, is the collection of real people who can answer your health care questions, including any about new health care law just signed by

the president.

“They are curious about how this means to my life, whether it is an employer and individual or somebody about to go into the Medicare rank. They want to know, ‘what does this mean to me?’” Shaffer explained to CBS4’s Jorge Estevez.

for people like this woman who need some direction. The center also has free weekly seminars and monthly health fairs. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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In the end, there seems to be a new place

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The Adtimes Newspaper - ENTERTAINMENT / DINING

April 16, 2010

35

How Does Your Pay Stack Up Against the Stars’?

The real money was in Hollywood.

“Twilight” series actress Kristen Stewart got a $16 million payout last year. But the brains behind the project made three times that -- series creator and author, Stephenie Meyer, made $50 million.

Parade Magazine Looks at How the Average Joe’s Income Compares to That of Celebrities (CBS) Each year, Parade magazine releases its annual “What People Earn” survey, offering a look at the income of some of the biggest boldface names of 2009, as well as those of everyday folks.

And “The Early Show” and Parade offered a look at the earnings of some of 2009’s biggest names. Although Tiger Woods ended the year embroiled in a sex scandal and lost roughly $30 to $40 million in endorsement cash, he still managed to swing earnings upwards of $110 million.

Nicole “Snookie” Polizzi, star of reality TV’s “Jersey Shore,” grabbed headlines, but not much money. She made just $2,200 dollars in 2009.

However, the king of Parade’s list is the 25-year-old who started an experiment in college that became Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, founder and chief executive officer, got a whopping $3 billion payday in 2009.

Parade’s executive editor, Lamar Graham, said on “The Early Show” that, when they compared the 106 “regular” people’s salaries to the celebrities in the magazine, they discovered a “jawdropping” fact: The celebrities made more than 450 times the “normal” folks’ salaries.

“We’ve been doing this for 27 years, and every single year it’s clear famous people make substantially bigger paychecks than the ordinary guy,” he said. “ ... It’s very astonishing, the amount of money Americans are willing to spend to be entertained versus the amount they’ll pay for the important things - health care, child care, defending our country.”

Parade compiles its list by garnering

celebrity salaries based on public information available, such as endorsement deals, movie deals, and other earnings. Then, several months before the magazine is published, the magazine discusses which celebrities -particularly ones that have been in the news -- will appear in the issue.

Graham said, “This year we included Jay Leno, who was also in the headlines a lot, and Ellen DeGeneres, who added to her talk show duties with her spot as a fourth judge on ‘American Idol.’”

As for selecting the everyday people to feature in the magazine, Graham said it can be a bit “tricky.”

He explained, “After this issue is published, thousands of people will call, write, e-mail saying they want to be part of next year’s issue. So we’ll hang on to their info, then six or nine months from now, we call and see if they’re still interested. Once we start asking for salary information, a photograph, etc., we get a lot of cold feet, but we have an elaborate research process. The aim is not to have a scientific survey; it’s a snapshot of how people are doing across the country. We want all 50 states represented and good range of people.

Gender, age and income are all important.”

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April 16, 2010

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Dennis Quaid: Medical Errors Happen “Too Often” Heparin.

Following a Medical Mistake that Threatened His Newborn Twins’ Lives, Actor Talks About His Turn as a Patient Advocate (CBS) Actor Dennis Quaid said on “The Early Show” he always felt safe in hospitals. But that’s all changed since he and his wife almost lost their newborn twins to medical error.

Thomas and Zoe Quaid were born in 2007. The Quaids were elated. But that joy turned to outrage when a drug mix-up at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles caused the twins to be given a massive overdose of the blood thinner

him. Since the incident, he’s become the celebrity face of patient advocacy.

In a “60 Minutes” interview with correspondent Steve Croft in 2008, Dennis said, “It was the scariest, most frightening day, I think, either of us have ever been through.”

He told “Early Show” co-anchor Harry Smith, “(Health care mistakes) happen too often in hospitals all over this country.”

The newborns were supposed to get a pediatric blood thinner named Hep-lock.

Instead, they were given two doses of Heparin, the adult version, that’s 1,000 times stronger.

He added that “health care harm,” if hospital-acquired infection is counted, is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. “The amazing part about it is, it’s preventable.”

On “60 Minutes,” Dennis said, “The nurse didn’t bother to look at the dosage on the bottle. It was 10 units that our kids were supposed to get. They got 10,000.

What it did was it turned their blood to the consistency of water.”

Since the incident with the twins, the Quaids have founded The Quaid Foundation to raise awareness and address the problem of preventable human medical errors. Quaid has testified to Congress on behalf of patients’ rights, and Monday, he was to speak at the National Press Club to address the problem of dangerous medical mistakes.

After undergoing extensive medical tests, both children now show no signs of permanent damage.

Quaid said on “The Early Show” Monday his nearly 2-and-a-half year-olds are doing well. “I can hardly keep up with them,” he said.

Quaid is also producing a documentary on the subject called “Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm.” It will air on the Discovery Channel on April 24.

The error, however, has left an impact on

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention reports an estimated 99,000 deaths every year are due to preventable medical errors.

Dr. Charles Denham, chairman of Texas Medical Institute of Technology (TMIT), is one of the experts Quaid met while researching medical errors.

He said on “The Early Show” honest errors can happen. “We don’t have bad people. We have bad systems,” he said.

“And we just haven’t caught up with our support systems to the complexity of care that we deliver. So, human error happens all the time, but they’re spread over thousands of hospitals. And without these support systems, human error ... can happen.”

What what can you do to lower the risk of medical error? Click on the video below for Denham’s tips for hospital stays. © MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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The Adtimes Newspaper - SPORTS

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Report: No Single Reason for Deadly Luge Crash games opened, as a one-off that could not have been foreseen.

He said Wednesday that the report will show the crash was caused by “an amalgamation of a lot of different things.”

Luge officials will finalize the report this weekend before delivering it to the International Olympic Committee.

Photos: Tragedy at the Olympics Sport’s Governing Body Completes Investigation, Blames Death of 21-YearOld Georgian at Olympics on Combination of Factors (CBS/AP) The secretary general of luge’s governing body says an official investigation into the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili at the Vancouver Olympics will find no single reason that can explain his fatal accident.

Svein Romstad tells the Associated Press that the International Luge Federation report is set to describe the 21-year-old Georgian’s crash at 145 kph (90 miles) on Whistler’s sliding track, hours before the

Kumaritashvili died when he lost control of his sled, flew off the course and slammed into a steel pole at nearly 90 mph. After the crash, the poles were wrapped in padding and the course was altered to make it slower.

The International Olympic Committee and luge officials took criticism during the Olympics for blaming the accident on Kumaritashvili’s failure to make tactical corrections during his run, and for saying they were changing the course not to make it safer but to soothe the emotions of the athletes.

worried the track was too dangerous, but insisted on competing because he had come to the games to try to win.

“He told me: I will either win or die,” David Kumaritashvili told The Associated Press in February. “But that was youthful bravado, he couldn’t be seriously talking about death.”

“He told me: Dad, I really fear that curve,” the elder Kumaritashvili said.

“I’m a former athlete myself, and I told him: ‘You just take a slower start.’ But he responded: `Dad, what kind of thing you are teaching me? I have come to the Olympics to try to win.”‘ The luger was the pride of his hometown, where he was known for his high spirits and generosity. The village of 1,500 was one of the sites Georgia proposed in its failed bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

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Kumaritashvili’s father said that his son

New Tiger Ad Plays “The Daddy Death Card” you learn anything.”

As he does, the black-and-white commercial shows an ultra-seriouslooking Woods.

The ad, says Adweek advertising critic Barbara Lippert, is “definitely powerful.

Creepy and cynical. But it does what Nike needed to do.”

Adweek Advertising Critic Discusses Controversial Nike Commerical (CBS) A controversial new ad for Nike features not only Tiger Woods, but the voice of his late father.

Earl Woods is heard saying, “I want to find out what your thinking was, I want to find out what your feelings are, and did

same time, I don’t think anyone expected them to play the daddy death card.”

Lippert said that “with the big puppy dog eyes” Tiger has in the commercial, “it’s kind of scary to look at him. You don’t know exactly where he is, in another world or something. But it’s like the church of the holy swoosh is giving him absolution and exonerating him so they can move on.

On “The Early Show” Thursday, Lippert observed to co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez that, “For Nike, Tiger is like one of the banks on Wall Street. He’s like Citibank.

He’s too big to fail. They have to prop him up and they have to show that he’s learned a lesson and that he’s been scolded.

“ … They want to get this over with, address it in some way indirectly, so that they can start selling clubs and pants and shirts and hats again. And they feel like this was the best way to address it, although it brings up another irony (with) the reputation of his father.

“As the corporate parent, they can’t do it.

The needed his real parent. But at the

“The credibility of the whole ad is at stake if you really know about his father.

No one wants to speak ill of the dead, but, in fact, he was no paragon of marital fidelity either.

“But at the same time, it’s a very powerful piece of film. It’s very polarizing. The people who love Tiger and are pumped that he’s playing again will love it and the people who hate Tiger will really hate it. And they’re already venting on the Internet.”

Either way, Rodriguez noted, they’ll talk about it, which is what Nike wants.

“Exactly,” Lippert agreed. © MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved NEWS POWERED BY

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Trading Your Auto Lease May Be The Relief You Need Forced to lay off 40 employees and close offices in three states, Smith’s next move was to get rid of the company cars, three leased BMWs. But how?

Smith says “We were paying about $700 a month.”

That’s for each car, until Smith says he found Leasetrader.com.

Reporting Gwen Belton Getting rid of an auto lease might be a dream for many people braving today’s tough economy, but a new program might give hope to many, without ruining your credit.

Such was the case for Kevin Smith and his partners at Spine 3D, an animation and renderings company in Miami.

“I can see in this economy people a looking to shave down cost,” Smith told CBS4’s Gwen Belton.

The online company matches up a person wanting to get out of a lease with a person looking to take over the deal.

John Sternal, with Leasetrader.com says “person have various lifestyle changes and we’re able to help them avoid breaking the lease ruining their credit, by going repossession and really expensive fees that come along with breaking a lease. For the person that wants to take over, they are getting a car in good condition because leases are maintained and there is no money out of pocket, there is not money down.

Sternal says they’re getting lots of customers these days, from business

owners like Kevin Smith, to people who lease for personal reasons but can no longer afford the payment.

In 2006, he says they did $20 thousand transactions nationwide; this year they expect to do more than $70 thousand.

Smith and his partners are now leasing less expensive vehicles and saving hundreds of dollars a month.

“Actually more features than the car I had, and $300 less a month, I like that,” says Smith.

There is a fee involved for signing up with Leasetrader.com, about $250, but Smith says it was well worth it for him and his partners trying to stay afloat and on the road in a tough economy. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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Horoscopes provided by www.astrology-online.com

THE ADTIMES

NEWSPAPER NEWS POWERED BY

Aries

Taurus

(Mar. 21-Apr. 20)

(Apr. 21-May 21)

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Pleasure trips will be favorable and bring about possible romance. Arguments with relatives may lead to a split in the family. Don’t hesitate to present your unique ideas. You’re intuitive this month; however, this attribute could get you in trouble if you tactlessly say what you think. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Rewards, gifts, or money from investments or taxes can be expected. Stress coupled with diet will add to stomach problems. Try not to overspend on luxury items. Sudden trips may take you by surprise; try to include your mate, mixing business with pleasure. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

You may be thinking of starting your own business. Stretch the truth, and you may get blamed for something you didn’t do.

Extravagance will be a problem. You may want to get involved in financial investments presented to you. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

PUBLISHER Tony Gambirazio ART DIRECTOR Tammy Kukic DIRECTOR OF SALES Cesar Rodriguez ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Oscar Alvarado Ines Collado Cleo Saenz INSIDE SALES Ileana Patuto Sarah White OFFICE MANAGER Montserrat Surroca

Cancer

Leo

(June 22-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 23)

You will meet exciting new people through interest groups or functions that you attend with your children.

Plan a day of enjoyment with them. Opportunities for romance may develop through dealing with groups that have a purpose.You will have difficulties spreading yourself between your work and your home. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 22)

Try to iron out any friction over money with your mate or conflicts could prevail. Don’t overspend or give too freely to others. Don’t overreact if your partner has a poor attitude.

Complete those hobbies you started a long time ago. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

Libra

Scorpio

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Don’t make any rash decisions that may affect friendships. You are ready to blow up and your stress level has gone into over drive. You will get along well in social situations. Your desire for excitement and adventure may be expensive. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Spend time getting to know each other. Real estate investments will payoff. Your need to put great detail into everything you do may cause you to miss the overall picture. You must consider yourself for a change. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Arguments could prevail. If they don’t like the plan, suggest that they con tribute a little.

Opportunities for romance will develop through activities with large groups. You can make money, but try not to let it slip through your fingers. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

Do not confront situations unless you are sure you have a good understanding of the dilemma. New methods and innovative technology will make your job far easier than you anticipated. You will enjoy events that lean toward theater, art, or music this month. Your ability to dazzle others with your unique and innovative ideas will attract attention.Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

FRANCHISING Tony Gambirazio

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Capricorn

Aquarius

(Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

(Jan. 21-Feb. 18)

You may find that your mate is well aware of the circumstances. Love could develop at social events that are work relate. Opportunities to get together with friends will be enlightening and entertaining. Make sure you concentrate if operating machinery or vehicles.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

1 7 4 9 5 8 6 3 2

(Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

Secret affairs may be brought out in the open. Get back into a routine that promises a better looking, more aware individual. You may find that purchases or entertainment could be expensive.You need to mingle with people who can spark enthusiasm and confidence in you.Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

You can’t make things better if you don’t know what to fix. Involve yourself in group endeavors. You are best to work behind the scenes on projects that require detail or precision. A residential move may be in order. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3x3 box Iin black borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

March 5th Solution

3 9 5 2 6 7 8 4 1

Pisces

8 2 6 1 3 4 7 9 5

5 3 9 7 1 2 4 6 8

7 6 8 4 9 5 1 2 3

2 4 1 6 8 3 9 5 7

6 1 2 5 7 9 3 8 4

9 5 3 8 4 1 2 7 6

4 8 7 3 2 6 5 1 9

4 8 4 9 7

9 5 2

1 8

5 9

Look For Our Next Edition: MAY 7, 2010

3 9

6 8

3 1 8 7 2 4 4 6

Sudoku provided by www.puzzles.about.com

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