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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has officially announced that the 2025 tax season will begin on Jan. 27. As the season kicks off, the agency is expanding free programs that help taxpayers file directly with the IRS, providing more tools and better customer service to make the process smoother.

IRS Direct File Program Expands to 25 States for 2025 Tax Season

For the 2025 tax season filing, the IRS is rolling out its Direct File Program in 25 states. This program allows taxpayers to calculate and file their returns directly with the IRS—no need for third-party tax preparation software. According to The Associated Presss, only 12 states participated when the IRS launched the pilot program last year. That pilot was a success, with taxpayers receiving more than $90 million in refunds.

The expansion aims to make filing easier and more affordable, especially for taxpayers in states where tax preparation services can be costly. While details on the participating states are still emerging, the IRS plans to make this tool widely accessible.

The IRS has upgraded its “Where’s My Refund?” tool to help taxpayers track their 2024 income tax refunds more efficiently. If you file online, you can check your refund status within 24 hours of submitting your return. For those who file paper returns, updates become available after about four weeks.

This improvement ensures that taxpayers can stay informed about their refund status throughout the 2025 tax season filing period.

IRS Customer Service Overhaul Targets Faster Support

Backed by billions of dollars from the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in 2022, the IRS is stepping up its customer service game for the 2025 tax season filing. The agency is focusing on implementing new technology and expanding resources to improve the taxpayer experience.

Some of the key improvements include:

Reduced Wait Times: The IRS aims to cut customer service wait times to under five minutes.

Extended Office Hours: The agency will offer 10,000 extended office hours to assist more taxpayers.

Rural Outreach Expansion: The IRS plans to increase its rural outreach program by 20%, helping underserved communities access free tax preparation services.

Raising Awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel emphasized the agency’s focus on promoting critical tax credits, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Werfel told the AP that about 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers fail to claim the credit—often because they aren’t aware they qualify or don’t know the credit exists.

The IRS plans to launch outreach campaigns to inform taxpayers about EITC eligibility, ensuring more people can benefit from this valuable credit during the 2025 tax season filing.

IRS Urges Taxpayers to Watch Out for Scams

With the 2025 tax season filing underway, the IRS continues to warn taxpayers about scams that target sensitive information. Scammers use fake emails, calls, and websites to trick people into sharing personal data.

The IRS advises taxpayers to:

Never share Social Security numbers or banking details over the phone or email.

Verify any suspicious communications by visiting IRS.gov directly.

Stay updated on common scams through official IRS alerts.

Preparing for the 2025 Tax Season Filing

To make the most of the IRS’s new tools and avoid delays, taxpayers should:

Gather all necessary documents early.

Check if they qualify for free filing programs like Direct File.

Use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool for updates after submitting returns.

By staying informed and prepared, taxpayers can navigate the 2025 tax season filing with less stress and more confidence.

Public Enemy rapper Chuck D asks fans to stop using the group’s “Burn Hollywood Burn” song when posting videos of the wildfires tearing through Los Angeles.

The hip-hop icon shared his request on Instagram, urging people to learn the history of the track and commenting that it “has nothing to do with families, losing everything they have in a natural disaster.”

He also took a moment to pray for those affected by the wildfires.

“🙏🏽 PRAYERS UP. BE SAFE. EVACUATE,” Chuck D captioned a photo of an LA neighborhood in flames.

Stemming from the 1990 Public Enemy album Fear of a Black Planet, “Burn Baby Burn” is associated with the Watts Riots, also known as the Watts Rebellion, which occurred in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in August 1965. The movement was in response to police brutality against a Black man named Marquette Frye when the California Highway Patrol pulled him over for allegedly drinking and driving.

When bystanders believed the law officials’ treatment of Frye and his family to be excessive, tensions began to rise, ultimately leading to six days of unrest from Aug. 11 to Aug. 16, 1965.

As previously reported by Blavity, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John and singer Jhené Aiko are among the many people who have lost their homes to the LA wildfires.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Palisades Fire has covered over 20,000 acres (almost 27 square miles), and the Eaton Fire has affected over 13,000. The fires have destroyed at least 1,000 structures, and evacuation orders affected roughly 180,000 people. CNN reported the death toll has now risen to at least 10 people.

The future of TikTok in the United States looks increasingly uncertain as the Supreme Court signals support for banning the popular social media app. Following Congress’s approval of the ban in April, a majority of justices now appear inclined to uphold the measure. The court’s stance became clearer during a recent session of oral arguments involving TikTok’s legal team and content creators, CNN reported.

First Amendment Concerns vs. National Security Risks

TikTok supporters argue that the ban infringes on First Amendment rights, but the court maintains that the China-based app poses a national security risk.

“The law is only targeted at this foreign corporation, which doesn’t have First Amendment rights,” Justice Elena Kagan told TikTok’s lawyers, per CNN. She compared the situation to past concerns about foreign influence, saying, “In the mid-20th century, we were very concerned about the Soviet Union, and what the Soviet Union was doing in this country.”

Representing the Biden administration, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued that TikTok’s vast data collection could be exploited by China for surveillance and manipulation.

“For years, the Chinese government has sought to build detailed profiles about Americans—where we live and work, who our friends and coworkers are, what our interests are, and what our vices are,” Prelogar stated, according to CNN.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh echoed these concerns, highlighting that China could use Americans’ personal data for blackmail or influence.

“China is accessing information about millions of Americans—tens of millions of Americans—including teenagers and people in their twenties,” Kavanaugh said. “A generation from now, those same individuals could be working in the FBI, CIA, or State Department.”

Dissenting Views on the TikTok Ban

Justice Neil Gorsuch expressed skepticism about the ban, emphasizing free speech protections.

“Don’t we normally assume that the best remedy for problematic speech is counter speech?” Gorsuch questioned. He even suggested that TikTok could post a disclaimer on its platform, warning users of potential manipulation by China.

Potential Impact of the TikTok Ban

If upheld, the ban would require TikTok to cease operations in the U.S. by Jan. 19, and the app would be removed from app stores.

“But in addition, what the act says is that all of the other types of service providers can’t provide service either,” Attorney Noel Francisco explained to CNN. “Now, there’s enormous consequences for violating that for the service providers.”

While new users wouldn’t be able to download TikTok, existing users could continue using the app—though without updates, it may pose security risks.

Political Uncertainty Surrounding the Ban

President-elect Donald Trump has previously hinted that he may pause the TikTok ban, but it remains unclear how his administration will proceed once he takes office.

As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles, historic Black neighborhoods are experiencing catastrophic damage. In Altadena, one of the city’s historic Black communities, a 66-year-old man tragically died while attempting to save his family home of 55 years. According to Capital B News, the man was holding a garden hose when he succumbed to the Eaton Fire.

The wildfires are also exacerbating health issues for Black residents in these neighborhoods, many of whom already suffer from asthma and other respiratory conditions, Capital B News reports.

The Altadena Senior Center burns as the Eaton Fire moves through the area on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Eaton Fire has grown to over 10,000 acres and has destroyed many homes and businesses. | Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Destruction of Black-Owned Institutions and Insurance Challenges

In addition to the loss of homes, the fires have destroyed cherished Black-owned churches, restaurants, and cultural institutions in Altadena. A significant challenge for residents is the lack of adequate insurance coverage. Many major insurance providers do not offer fire insurance in Altadena, leaving residents reliant on California’s basic insurance plan. This limited coverage makes it difficult for many families to afford the cost of rebuilding.

A California Highway Patrol officer assists a resident with her groceries at a checkpoint into the Eaton Fire evacuation area on January 10, 2025 in Altadena, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Eaton Fire has grown to over 13,000 acres and has destroyed over 5,000 homes and businesses. Five people have lost their lives in the fire. | Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Two leading Black law firms in California, The Cochran Firm and Ivie McNeil Wyatt Purcell and Diggs, have partnered with community leaders to launch a GoFundMe campaign titled “LA Fires: The Impacted Black Community Urgently Needs Help!” The campaign pledges to distribute 100% of the funds directly to affected residents in Altadena and Pasadena.

According to the fundraiser, these communities are home to a diverse Black population, with families who have lived there for six generations and others who have recently joined the area.

“The impact on these Black residents has been devastating as a large population of these families has lost everything,” the GoFundMe page states.

Valerie Robinson inspects burned jewelry she found in the rubble of her family’s home that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 10, 2025 in Altadena, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Eaton Fire has grown to over 13,000 acres and has destroyed over 5,000 homes and businesses. Five people have lost their lives in the fire. | Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Highlighting the Disparities in Disaster Coverage

While national media coverage has largely focused on the destruction of million-dollar homes in affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods, The Cochran Firm and its partners are bringing attention to the severe impact on underserved Black communities.

“Many of these homes that were burned in the fires were not insured for fire disasters, whether due to insurance companies recently canceling thousands of fire insurance policies or homeowners not securing fire insurance because it was not required without a mortgage,” the organizers shared.

Former Louisiana State University wide receiver Kyren Lacy is facing an arrest warrant after being accused of causing a crash that killed a 78-year-old man. Lacy, 24, transferred to LSU in 2022 after spending two seasons at the University of Louisiana. He declared for the NFL Draft two days after the crash.

Details of the Kyren Lacy Hit-and-Run Incident

According to ESPN, Louisiana State Police said Lacy was driving a 2023 Dodge Charger on the highway when he allegedly fled the scene after causing a fatal crash and failed to call authorities. Police stated they are “in communication with Lacy and his legal representation to turn himself in,” as reported by WAFB reported.

Authorities allege that Lacy was recklessly driving at a high speed when he crossed the centerline and entered the northbound lane in a designated no-passing zone.

“As Lacy was illegally passing other vehicles, the driver of a northbound pickup truck abruptly braked and swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision with the approaching Dodge,” police said in a statement, according to ESPN.

The driver of a 2017 Kia Cadenza, following behind the pickup, also tried to avoid a collision with Lacy’s vehicle but collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento. After the crash, Lacy allegedly fled “without stopping to render aid, call emergency services, or report his involvement in the crash,” ESPN reported.

Victim Identified and Ongoing Legal Developments

The man killed in the crash has been identified as 78-year-old former Marine Herman Hall, who was a passenger in the Kia Sorento. Lacy now faces charges of negligent homicide and felony hit-and-run as authorities continue their investigation.

Police are actively working with Lacy’s legal team to facilitate his surrender. The case remains under investigation as officials gather more information about the events leading up to the crash.

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