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Tyler Perry took to Instagram on Sunday to call out insurance companies for failing to cover homeowners who are losing their property amid the wildfires in Los Angeles. Perry specifically shared the story of a woman who was using a garden hose to protect her parents’ uninsured home.

“Watching a daughter use a garden hose to try and protect her 90-year-old parents’ home because their insurance was canceled was just gut-wrenching to me,” Perry wrote on Instagram, per Page Six.

Major Insurers Withdraw Coverage in California

According to the Los Angeles Times, insurance companies such as Allstate, Tokio Marine America Insurance Co., and Trans Pacific Insurance Co. have stopped providing policies in California. State Farm General Insurance also announced in March that it will no longer cover 30,000 homes and condominiums in the state once their policies expire.

In Pacific Palisades, where the fire has burned about 24,000 acres, at least 1,600 homes are reportedly uninsured, Page Six reported.

Perry Condemns Corporate Greed Amid Crisis

“Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on?” Perry wrote. “People who have paid premiums all of their lives are left with nothing because of pure greed.”

Perry Pledges Support to Affected Communities

As fires continue to ravage several regions—including northeast Los Angeles, where the Eaton Fire has burned 14,000 acres—Perry expressed his commitment to supporting impacted communities.

“As I am in the process of trying to figure out what steps to take to do all I can to help as many as I can, I am keeping everyone in my prayers,” the 55-year-old filmmaker said.

Thousands Evacuated as Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles

At least 100,000 Los Angeles residents have been evacuated due to the wildfires. The flames have devastated several high-profile areas, as well as underserved neighborhoods, leaving widespread destruction in their wake.

According to a report from Fast Company, Waffle House saves anywhere from $15.6 million to $46.8 million annually by not appropriately paying its employees for responsibilities performed on and off the clock. Those responsibilities include mopping floors, cleaning toilets and […]

U.S. taxpayers who didn’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax return may be eligible to receive a stimulus check in January. According to a statement from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), records indicate that millions of eligible taxpayers failed to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit after filing their returns.

“Looking at our internal data, we realized that one million taxpayers overlooked claiming this complex credit when they were actually eligible,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement, according to USA Today. “To minimize headaches and get this money to eligible taxpayers, we’re making these payments automatic, meaning these people will not be required to go through the extensive process of filing an amended return to receive it.”

How Will the IRS Send Out Stimulus Payments?

Eligible taxpayers will automatically receive their stimulus payments through direct deposit or paper check in late January. Before the payments are sent out, the IRS will notify recipients with a letter confirming the upcoming stimulus check.

To check their IRS stimulus checks eligibility, taxpayers can review their 2021 tax returns to see if the Recovery Rebate Credit section was left blank or marked as $0. While the IRS will distribute a total of $2.4 billion, some individuals may receive as much as $1,400.

Can Non-Filers Still Claim Their Stimulus Check?

People who did not file a 2021 tax return may still qualify for a stimulus check. However, they must file their 2021 tax return and claim the credit by April 15, 2025, to receive payment.

“Eligible taxpayers who did not file must file a tax return to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit, even if their income from a job, business, or other source was minimal or non-existent,” the IRS stated.

Breakdown of Previous IRS Stimulus Checks

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS issued three rounds of stimulus payments to assist families affected by economic challenges. Here’s a breakdown of the payments:

First Round (March 2020 – CARES Act): Eligible taxpayers received up to $1,200 per individual and $500 per child.

Second Round (December 2020 – Consolidated Appropriations Act): Payments of $600 per taxpayer and $600 per child were distributed.

Third Round (March 2021 – American Rescue Plan Act): Provided $1,400 per taxpayer and $1,400 per child.

How To Check Your IRS Stimulus Checks Eligibility

To confirm eligibility, taxpayers should review their 2021 tax return for the Recovery Rebate Credit entry. If it’s blank or listed as $0, they may be among those set to receive automatic payments. For non-filers, submitting a 2021 return before the April 15, 2025, deadline is necessary to claim the credit.

Sam Moore, the legendary soul singer who influenced Michael Jackson and other music icons, has died at 89. According to the Associated Press, publicist Jeremy Westby confirmed Moore died Friday in Coral Gables, Florida, due to complications from surgery.

Sam & Dave’s Rise to Fame

Moore rose to fame in the 1960s as part of the duo Sam & Dave with Dave Prater. The group performed hits like “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’.” Moore and Prater were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Their energetic performances and soulful music inspired artists such as Michael Jackson, Al Green, and Bruce Springsteen.

Sam Moore’s Legacy and Influence

Beyond their biggest hits, Sam & Dave recorded classics like “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” and “I Thank You,” many of which were written and produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.

Though Sam & Dave broke up in 1970, “Soul Man” gained renewed popularity in the late 1970s when Blues Brothers John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd covered the song with original musicians.

Legal Battles and Personal Struggles

After Prater’s death in 1988, Moore filed a lawsuit against his late partner, claiming Prater had replaced him with a substitute and toured as the New Sam & Dave. In a 2006 interview with the AP, Moore admitted his struggles with drugs contributed to their conflict. He overcame addiction with the support of his wife, Joyce, whom he married in 1982.

In the 1990s, Moore sued multiple record companies, alleging he was cheated out of retirement benefits. Speaking to the AP in 1994, Moore revealed his pension totaled only $2,285 despite his records generating millions.

“Two thousand dollars for my lifetime?” Moore told the AP at the time. “If you’re making a profit off me, give me some too. Don’t give me cornbread and tell me it’s biscuits.”

In 1996, Moore wrote “Dole Man,” inspired by “Soul Man,” for Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole. He also performed at Donald Trump’s inaugural festivities in 2017.

Moore is survived by his wife, Joyce; his daughter, Michell; and two grandchildren.

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.