Newswire, courtesy Associated Press

As the end of the year approaches, people start looking forward to 
their tax refunds. Many use these refunds to restock their emergency 
savings, invest, make big purchases, and travel. But the IRS can take a 
long time to get your refund to you, even if you sign up for direct 
deposit. If you need the money faster, you may have considered a tax 
refund loan. This article will explain how <a href="https://www.advanceamerica.net/money-saving-tips/money-management/pros-and-cons-of-a-tax-refund-loan">tax refund loans</a> work and their benefits and drawbacks. Then, we'll dive into a few tax refund loan alternatives for your consideration.

Tax
 refund loans let taxpayers who qualify for a tax refund borrow against 
that refund. After filing your taxes with a tax preparer, you can apply 
for one of these loans with no credit check. If approved, they're 
typically disbursed to you via prepaid card or check within 24 hours of 
filing your return.

You don't repay these — instead, the lender 
opens a temporary bank account and tells the IRS to deposit the refund 
into it. They then take the loan amount plus fees and tax prep costs out
 of the refund before paying you the remainder. These loans are often 
interest-free. However, you may owe a fee, depending on the lender or 
tax filing service you work with.

Tax
 refund loans can be hard to compare since you can often only get one 
from your tax preparer. They're also fairly costly in some cases. Plus, 
there's always the chance your tax return has an error that, when 
corrected, reduces your refund. You may owe money if you borrowed more 
than your correct refund. So, if you need your refund fast but don't 
want a tax refund loan, consider these alternatives:

Cash
 advances are fast, small-dollar loans that you can use to cover 
expenses until your next payday. Many lenders have less strict 
requirements and will consider factors like your income and current 
debts in addition to your credit score. This means you can still get 
this type of loan with poor or fair credit.

If approved for a cash
 advance, you can often get the funds as soon as the same day you apply.
 Then, you'll repay what you owe plus interest in two to four weeks. You
 can also roll over the loan for an additional fee if you can't repay.

Installment
 loans let you borrow large lump sums and repay them in fixed monthly 
principal and interest payments. These tend to offer better interest 
rates and are easy to budget for, thanks to their predictable payments.

Plus,
 installment loans have longer timelines. This lets you borrow more and 
spread it out over a longer amount of time in case you need more than 
your tax refund amount. There are installment loans available to 
borrowers with a wide variety of credit scores and histories.

If
 you own your car outright, a title loan lets you borrow against your 
vehicle's title for a quick loan. Lenders appraise your vehicle, verify 
your income, and then offer you a loan worth 25% to 50% of your car's 
value. You can then get your funds that same day and continue driving 
your vehicle during repayment.

Consider a loan while you wait for your tax refund

Tax
 refund loans make it easy to access your money ASAP if you need it 
quickly. However, they can come with fees, and it's hard to compare 
options. Luckily, if you don't want a tax refund loan, there are plenty 
of alternatives.

Cash advances are one of the fastest short-term 
options for anyone, whereas title loans could be more suited for people 
who own vehicles outright. Installment loans may work well for people 
with larger refunds or who need to borrow more and want fixed payments. 
Whichever option you choose, make sure you budget for the loan. This 
will help you minimize costs and financial stress while allowing you to 
take advantage of the extra funds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Newswire, courtesy Associated PressAs the end of the year approaches, people start looking forward to 
their tax refunds. Many use these refunds to restock their emergency 
savings, invest, make big purchases, and travel. But the IRS can take a 
long time to get your refund to you, even if you sign up for direct 
deposit. If you need the money faster, you may have considered a tax 
refund loan. This article will explain how <a href="https://www.advanceamerica.net/money-saving-tips/money-management/pros-and-cons-of-a-tax-refund-loan">tax refund loans</a> work and their benefits and drawbacks. Then, we'll dive into a few tax refund loan alternatives for your consideration.How does a tax refund loan work?Tax
 refund loans let taxpayers who qualify for a tax refund borrow against 
that refund. After filing your taxes with a tax preparer, you can apply 
for one of these loans with no credit check. If approved, they're 
typically disbursed to you via prepaid card or check within 24 hours of 
filing your return.You don't repay these — instead, the lender 
opens a temporary bank account and tells the IRS to deposit the refund 
into it. They then take the loan amount plus fees and tax prep costs out
 of the refund before paying you the remainder. These loans are often 
interest-free. However, you may owe a fee, depending on the lender or 
tax filing service you work with.Tax refund loan alternativesTax
 refund loans can be hard to compare since you can often only get one 
from your tax preparer. They're also fairly costly in some cases. Plus, 
there's always the chance your tax return has an error that, when 
corrected, reduces your refund. You may owe money if you borrowed more 
than your correct refund. So, if you need your refund fast but don't 
want a tax refund loan, consider these alternatives:1. Cash advancesCash
 advances are fast, small-dollar loans that you can use to cover 
expenses until your next payday. Many lenders have less strict 
requirements and will consider factors like your income and current 
debts in addition to your credit score. This means you can still get 
this type of loan with poor or fair credit.If approved for a cash
 advance, you can often get the funds as soon as the same day you apply.
 Then, you'll repay what you owe plus interest in two to four weeks. You
 can also roll over the loan for an additional fee if you can't repay.2. Installment loansInstallment
 loans let you borrow large lump sums and repay them in fixed monthly 
principal and interest payments. These tend to offer better interest 
rates and are easy to budget for, thanks to their predictable payments.Plus,
 installment loans have longer timelines. This lets you borrow more and 
spread it out over a longer amount of time in case you need more than 
your tax refund amount. There are installment loans available to 
borrowers with a wide variety of credit scores and histories.3. Title loansIf
 you own your car outright, a title loan lets you borrow against your 
vehicle's title for a quick loan. Lenders appraise your vehicle, verify 
your income, and then offer you a loan worth 25% to 50% of your car's 
value. You can then get your funds that same day and continue driving 
your vehicle during repayment.Consider a loan while you wait for your tax refundTax
 refund loans make it easy to access your money ASAP if you need it 
quickly. However, they can come with fees, and it's hard to compare 
options. Luckily, if you don't want a tax refund loan, there are plenty 
of alternatives.Cash advances are one of the fastest short-term 
options for anyone, whereas title loans could be more suited for people 
who own vehicles outright. Installment loans may work well for people 
with larger refunds or who need to borrow more and want fixed payments. 
Whichever option you choose, make sure you budget for the loan. This 
will help you minimize costs and financial stress while allowing you to 
take advantage of the extra funds.

Risk and reward: How fast can I get a tax refund loan?

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:

All votes counted in Maricopa County, despite online claims

CLAIM: Uncounted ballots that got mixed with counted ballots at voting sites in Arizona’s Maricopa County were not included in the final midterm election results.

THE FACTS: While such ballots were mixed at two separate voting centers on Election Day, they were properly vetted and accurately tabulated, officials said. During November’s midterm elections, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-arizona-4e15278b82452878d6f6aa45b2984579">printing malfunction</a>&nbsp;caused tabulation machines at dozens of voting sites in Maricopa County to reject ballots on Election Day. Poll workers advised voters whose ballots were rejected to put them in a secure drop box referred to as “door 3” or “box 3” to be counted later at the county’s central tabulation facility. And while poll workers were trained to keep such yet-to-be-counted votes separate from those tabulated on-site, the ballots were “returned together,” Megan Gilbertson, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Elections Department, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. As the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-arizona-biden-cabinet-phoenix-government-and-politics-29f0883bf2a47743d55d1b45ec43cbbf">certified its results</a>&nbsp;this week, posts continued to circulate on social media falsely claiming that those ballots were never counted in the final results, with users citing a video of a self-described poll observer speaking at a Nov. 28 Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting. The woman in the video said that such ballots were combined at her voting site located “off of Camelback and 7th street.” “They commingled the un-tabulated ballots of drawer 3 with the tabulated ballots,” the woman says in the clip, referring to box 3. “There is no way to ever sort that and track that. Those are lost votes. Those are lost voices.” But, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-space-exploration-science-arizona-7037da2cf999f54587b59319a5a4a3ae">the county explained</a>&nbsp;in the days after the election, there is a way to sort and track such ballots, and the votes were counted in the final results. Additionally, such ballot mixing only occurred at two voting locations: Desert Hills Community Church in North Phoenix and the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS in Gilbert, according to Gilbertson. There is no record of such ballot mixing occurring at other voting centers, and the county never received a report of the issue occurring at the voting site described by the woman, Gilbertson told the AP by phone on Wednesday. An attempt to reach the woman who made the claim during the Nov. 28 meeting was unsuccessful. At the sites where mixing did occur, affected ballots were isolated and audited to make sure no votes were missed or double counted, Gilbertson wrote in an email this week. That process, called audit reconciliation, involves checking that the total number of ballots from a given vote center matches with the number of voters who checked-in at the site. Observers from both political parties were present. All Election Day ballots are required to undergo the process. “We have redundancies in place that help us ensure each legal ballot is only counted once,” Gilbertson wrote. “This process ensures that no ballot was double counted and that all ballots cast at the Vote Center were counted.” In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/80026/Maricopa-County-Response-11-27-2022">November report</a>&nbsp;responding to questions from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Maricopa County Elections Department similarly asserted it “retabulated the entire batch of ballots” from the two affected voting centers to ensure the accuracy of the count. Gilbertson said in the days after the election that similar mistakes have been made before, and the process to address it has been in place for decades,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-space-exploration-science-arizona-7037da2cf999f54587b59319a5a4a3ae">the AP reported</a>. “Every single polling location in Maricopa County has a reconciliation audit that’s completed for every single election,” said Tammy Patrick, a former federal compliance officer for the county election department. “It’s been that way literally for 30 years or more.”

— Associated Press writer Josh Kelety in Phoenix contributed this report.

Patent application doesn’t show COVID test was developed in 2015

CLAIM: A COVID-19 test patent application is dated 2020 but was actually filed in 2015.

THE FACTS: The patent application, for a system to determine if someone has a viral infection such as COVID-19, notes that a related provisional patent application was filed in 2015. But while the earlier provisional application is related to the technology in the 2020 application, it made no mention of COVID-19. Social media users are sharing the inaccurate claim through a meme, which implies that COVID-19 was actually known years before it emerged in late 2019. The meme also suggests such information is being censored on social media. “The patent of the covid testkit is hold by Richard A. Rothchild,” a meme shared on Instagram reads, incorrectly spelling the last name of the inventor, Rothschild. “It’s dated in 2020 but was filled 10/13/2015 and it’s called US2020279585(A1).” But the&nbsp;<a href="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/61/a3/0d/3d91325d909386/US20200279585A1.pdf">patent application</a>&nbsp;in question was filed in May 2020 and describes a method of using biometric data to “to determine whether the user is suffering from a viral infection, such as COVID-19.” Under a section titled “Related U.S. Application Data,” the application makes note of a provisional application filed on Oct. 13, 2015. What that means, though, is that the patent is related to the provisional application that was filed years ago. They are not one in the same. A provisional application is essentially a placeholder for an intention to file a formal patent application, said Jonathan D’Silva, an assistant professor of clinical law and director of the Intellectual Property Law Clinic at Penn State University. Inventors may file a provisional application for different reasons, such as raising money or publicly disclosing their idea as they work on it, he said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://patentcenter.uspto.gov/applications/62240783/ifw/docs">provisional application</a>&nbsp;in 2015 was for a “System and Method for Using, Processing, and Displaying Biometric Data.” The 2020 patent application, meanwhile, was a “continuation-in-part” of a previous patent application, which means that new material was added, D’Silva said. In this case, the new material included the references to COVID-19. “Generally, you don’t have to guess what was in these other patent applications,” he said, since they’re publicly available. And in the earlier parent applications, “there was no mention of COVID-19.”

— Associated Press writer Angelo Fichera in Philadelphia contributed this report.

Post distorts facts on registered voters in Arizona

CLAIM: Arizona has 9,871,525 registered voters but its population is 7,270,000.

THE FACTS: The state had about 4 million registered voters, which is millions less than its population of about 7 million people. A popular Instagram post is using the erroneous claim to suggest potential election fraud in the state, which has been home to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-arizona-biden-cabinet-phoenix-government-and-politics-29f0883bf2a47743d55d1b45ec43cbbf">midterm election controversy</a>. “9,871,525 is the number of registered voters in AZ according to FB,” the post reads, “AZ population is 7,270,000.” A caption with the post reads, “ballot harvesting?” — the pejorative term for ballot collection. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-government-and-politics-8eaf001732ac25976f0560a3e49ed500">laws around dropping off ballots</a>&nbsp;for other voters varies by state and in Arizona, only caregivers, family members or household members can drop off a ballot for someone else. But the post’s claim about registered voters in Arizona is false. Arizona actually logged 4,143,929 voters for the Nov. 8 midterm elections, according to data from the Arizona Secretary of State’s office. The total population in Arizona was 7,276,316, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/AZ">July 2021 estimate</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Fabricated tweets originated from account impersonating Hallie Biden

CLAIM: President Joe Biden’s daughter-in-law Hallie Biden tweeted that former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. She also tweeted that on election night, first lady Jill Biden phoned election workers to stop counting ballots and “rush in fake ballots.”

THE FACTS: The account that made these tweets is “fraudulent,” said the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children, whose board Hallie Biden chairs.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-officials-elections-most-secure-66f9361084ccbc461e3bbf42861057a5">President Joe Biden defeated Trump</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 presidential election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-270-electoral-college-vote-d429ef97af2bf574d16463384dc7cc1e">earning 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232</a>, and there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voter-fraud-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-7fcb6f134e528fee8237c7601db3328f">no evidence of widespread fraud</a>. The fabricated tweets attributed to Hallie Biden — the widow of the president’s deceased son Beau Biden — resurfaced after circulating in past months. The fake tweets claim that on election night in 2020, Jill Biden was on the phone with “state legislators and the people who tabulate the vote” to stop the count and execute a deal to “rush in fake ballots.” "President Trump won that election and my entire family knows it,” one of the fabricated tweets reads. “Ms. Hallie Biden does not have a Twitter account,” the foundation said in an emailed statement. “Any account bearing her name is fraudulent.” An internet archive search for the Twitter account that posted the tweets, @HallieBiden, shows that it was suspended for violating the platform’s rules between&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220831070720/https://twitter.com/HallieBiden">late August</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220902113558/https://twitter.com/halliebiden">early September</a>&nbsp;2022. The platform had a policy against impersonation, which it has continued to prioritize under new ownership. Archived versions of the account show that it posted numerous false and unverified claims about the election being stolen and about Presidents Biden and Obama and their families.

— Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed this report.

Traffic plan in Oxfordshire, England, isn’t a ‘climate lockdown’

CLAIM: The county of Oxfordshire, England, which includes the city of Oxford, is imposing a “climate lockdown” that will confine residents to their neighborhoods.

THE FACTS: Oxfordshire has approved a plan to put “traffic filters” on some main roads, restricting drivers’ access during daytime hours and freeing up space for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. But car owners can apply for daylong permits to bypass the new rules, and many other vehicles are exempt. All parts of the county will remain accessible by car, officials said. Last week, local leaders in Oxfordshire voted to try a&nbsp;<a href="https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022">new traffic reduction system</a>&nbsp;in an effort to reduce congestion in the county’s namesake city. Some on social media have since likened the scheme to stringent government COVID-19 containment policies. “UK. - Oxfordshire Council, part of the 15 minute city club, has passed a plan to trial a Climate lockdown,” tweeted one user, alongside a screenshot of an article warning that “residents will be confined to their local neighbourhood.” The plan “would control movements in a gated city, allowing only 100 car journeys in &amp; out per car &amp; monitoring all movements,” the tweet continued. But Oxfordshire’s “traffic filters” will not block access to any part of the city of Oxford or the rest of the county, let alone lock people in their neighborhoods, the county government told The Associated Press. “Everywhere in the city will still be accessible by car,” Paul Smith, spokesperson for the Oxfordshire County Council, wrote in an email. “Nobody will need permission from the county council to drive or leave their home.” The “traffic filters” are license plate recognition cameras, not physical barriers. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., drivers in private cars will be automatically fined if they cross through the filters without a permit. Motorists who live in Oxford will be able to apply for 100 daylong permits to drive through the filters per year. The “15 minute city club” referenced by one of the misleading tweets is an unrelated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.15minutecity.com/">urban planning framework</a>&nbsp;under which city residents would ideally be able to reach essential services within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their home. Officials with the city of Oxford have&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/OxfordCity/status/1582295424768962560">separately proposed</a>&nbsp;pursuing these goals. But some on social media have incorrectly linked the two, suggesting the traffic rules will also bar residents from leaving their neighborhoods. The city and county emphasized in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/2332/joint_statement_from_oxfordshire_county_council_and_oxford_city_council_on_oxford_s_traffic_filters">joint statement</a>&nbsp;that the traffic restrictions will not “be used to confine people” to a given area. “Everyone can go through all the filters at any time by bus, bike, taxi, scooter or walking,” the statement added. Many vehicles, like vans and motorcycles, are exempt from the new rules. Disabled drivers and first responders will likewise not be affected. Drivers who lack a permit will also still be able to access all of the city without being fined. They “might just need to use a different route or drive through the ring road to avoid the traffic filters,” Smith wrote.

— Associated Press writer Graph Massara in San Francisco contributed this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1572956883313.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Associated PressA roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:All votes counted in Maricopa County, despite online claimsCLAIM: Uncounted ballots that got mixed with counted ballots at voting sites in Arizona’s Maricopa County were not included in the final midterm election results.THE FACTS: While such ballots were mixed at two separate voting centers on Election Day, they were properly vetted and accurately tabulated, officials said. During November’s midterm elections, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-arizona-4e15278b82452878d6f6aa45b2984579">printing malfunction</a>&nbsp;caused tabulation machines at dozens of voting sites in Maricopa County to reject ballots on Election Day. Poll workers advised voters whose ballots were rejected to put them in a secure drop box referred to as “door 3” or “box 3” to be counted later at the county’s central tabulation facility. And while poll workers were trained to keep such yet-to-be-counted votes separate from those tabulated on-site, the ballots were “returned together,” Megan Gilbertson, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Elections Department, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. As the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-arizona-biden-cabinet-phoenix-government-and-politics-29f0883bf2a47743d55d1b45ec43cbbf">certified its results</a>&nbsp;this week, posts continued to circulate on social media falsely claiming that those ballots were never counted in the final results, with users citing a video of a self-described poll observer speaking at a Nov. 28 Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting. The woman in the video said that such ballots were combined at her voting site located “off of Camelback and 7th street.” “They commingled the un-tabulated ballots of drawer 3 with the tabulated ballots,” the woman says in the clip, referring to box 3. “There is no way to ever sort that and track that. Those are lost votes. Those are lost voices.” But, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-space-exploration-science-arizona-7037da2cf999f54587b59319a5a4a3ae">the county explained</a>&nbsp;in the days after the election, there is a way to sort and track such ballots, and the votes were counted in the final results. Additionally, such ballot mixing only occurred at two voting locations: Desert Hills Community Church in North Phoenix and the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS in Gilbert, according to Gilbertson. There is no record of such ballot mixing occurring at other voting centers, and the county never received a report of the issue occurring at the voting site described by the woman, Gilbertson told the AP by phone on Wednesday. An attempt to reach the woman who made the claim during the Nov. 28 meeting was unsuccessful. At the sites where mixing did occur, affected ballots were isolated and audited to make sure no votes were missed or double counted, Gilbertson wrote in an email this week. That process, called audit reconciliation, involves checking that the total number of ballots from a given vote center matches with the number of voters who checked-in at the site. Observers from both political parties were present. All Election Day ballots are required to undergo the process. “We have redundancies in place that help us ensure each legal ballot is only counted once,” Gilbertson wrote. “This process ensures that no ballot was double counted and that all ballots cast at the Vote Center were counted.” In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/80026/Maricopa-County-Response-11-27-2022">November report</a>&nbsp;responding to questions from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Maricopa County Elections Department similarly asserted it “retabulated the entire batch of ballots” from the two affected voting centers to ensure the accuracy of the count. Gilbertson said in the days after the election that similar mistakes have been made before, and the process to address it has been in place for decades,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-space-exploration-science-arizona-7037da2cf999f54587b59319a5a4a3ae">the AP reported</a>. “Every single polling location in Maricopa County has a reconciliation audit that’s completed for every single election,” said Tammy Patrick, a former federal compliance officer for the county election department. “It’s been that way literally for 30 years or more.”— Associated Press writer Josh Kelety in Phoenix contributed this report.___Patent application doesn’t show COVID test was developed in 2015CLAIM: A COVID-19 test patent application is dated 2020 but was actually filed in 2015.THE FACTS: The patent application, for a system to determine if someone has a viral infection such as COVID-19, notes that a related provisional patent application was filed in 2015. But while the earlier provisional application is related to the technology in the 2020 application, it made no mention of COVID-19. Social media users are sharing the inaccurate claim through a meme, which implies that COVID-19 was actually known years before it emerged in late 2019. The meme also suggests such information is being censored on social media. “The patent of the covid testkit is hold by Richard A. Rothchild,” a meme shared on Instagram reads, incorrectly spelling the last name of the inventor, Rothschild. “It’s dated in 2020 but was filled 10/13/2015 and it’s called US2020279585(A1).” But the&nbsp;<a href="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/61/a3/0d/3d91325d909386/US20200279585A1.pdf">patent application</a>&nbsp;in question was filed in May 2020 and describes a method of using biometric data to “to determine whether the user is suffering from a viral infection, such as COVID-19.” Under a section titled “Related U.S. Application Data,” the application makes note of a provisional application filed on Oct. 13, 2015. What that means, though, is that the patent is related to the provisional application that was filed years ago. They are not one in the same. A provisional application is essentially a placeholder for an intention to file a formal patent application, said Jonathan D’Silva, an assistant professor of clinical law and director of the Intellectual Property Law Clinic at Penn State University. Inventors may file a provisional application for different reasons, such as raising money or publicly disclosing their idea as they work on it, he said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://patentcenter.uspto.gov/applications/62240783/ifw/docs">provisional application</a>&nbsp;in 2015 was for a “System and Method for Using, Processing, and Displaying Biometric Data.” The 2020 patent application, meanwhile, was a “continuation-in-part” of a previous patent application, which means that new material was added, D’Silva said. In this case, the new material included the references to COVID-19. “Generally, you don’t have to guess what was in these other patent applications,” he said, since they’re publicly available. And in the earlier parent applications, “there was no mention of COVID-19.”— Associated Press writer Angelo Fichera in Philadelphia contributed this report.___Post distorts facts on registered voters in ArizonaCLAIM: Arizona has 9,871,525 registered voters but its population is 7,270,000.THE FACTS: The state had about 4 million registered voters, which is millions less than its population of about 7 million people. A popular Instagram post is using the erroneous claim to suggest potential election fraud in the state, which has been home to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-arizona-biden-cabinet-phoenix-government-and-politics-29f0883bf2a47743d55d1b45ec43cbbf">midterm election controversy</a>. “9,871,525 is the number of registered voters in AZ according to FB,” the post reads, “AZ population is 7,270,000.” A caption with the post reads, “ballot harvesting?” — the pejorative term for ballot collection. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-government-and-politics-8eaf001732ac25976f0560a3e49ed500">laws around dropping off ballots</a>&nbsp;for other voters varies by state and in Arizona, only caregivers, family members or household members can drop off a ballot for someone else. But the post’s claim about registered voters in Arizona is false. Arizona actually logged 4,143,929 voters for the Nov. 8 midterm elections, according to data from the Arizona Secretary of State’s office. The total population in Arizona was 7,276,316, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/AZ">July 2021 estimate</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Census Bureau.— Angelo Fichera___Fabricated tweets originated from account impersonating Hallie BidenCLAIM: President Joe Biden’s daughter-in-law Hallie Biden tweeted that former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. She also tweeted that on election night, first lady Jill Biden phoned election workers to stop counting ballots and “rush in fake ballots.”THE FACTS: The account that made these tweets is “fraudulent,” said the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children, whose board Hallie Biden chairs.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-officials-elections-most-secure-66f9361084ccbc461e3bbf42861057a5">President Joe Biden defeated Trump</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 presidential election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-270-electoral-college-vote-d429ef97af2bf574d16463384dc7cc1e">earning 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232</a>, and there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voter-fraud-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-7fcb6f134e528fee8237c7601db3328f">no evidence of widespread fraud</a>. The fabricated tweets attributed to Hallie Biden — the widow of the president’s deceased son Beau Biden — resurfaced after circulating in past months. The fake tweets claim that on election night in 2020, Jill Biden was on the phone with “state legislators and the people who tabulate the vote” to stop the count and execute a deal to “rush in fake ballots.” "President Trump won that election and my entire family knows it,” one of the fabricated tweets reads. “Ms. Hallie Biden does not have a Twitter account,” the foundation said in an emailed statement. “Any account bearing her name is fraudulent.” An internet archive search for the Twitter account that posted the tweets, @HallieBiden, shows that it was suspended for violating the platform’s rules between&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220831070720/https://twitter.com/HallieBiden">late August</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220902113558/https://twitter.com/halliebiden">early September</a>&nbsp;2022. The platform had a policy against impersonation, which it has continued to prioritize under new ownership. Archived versions of the account show that it posted numerous false and unverified claims about the election being stolen and about Presidents Biden and Obama and their families.— Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed this report.___Traffic plan in Oxfordshire, England, isn’t a ‘climate lockdown’CLAIM: The county of Oxfordshire, England, which includes the city of Oxford, is imposing a “climate lockdown” that will confine residents to their neighborhoods.THE FACTS: Oxfordshire has approved a plan to put “traffic filters” on some main roads, restricting drivers’ access during daytime hours and freeing up space for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. But car owners can apply for daylong permits to bypass the new rules, and many other vehicles are exempt. All parts of the county will remain accessible by car, officials said. Last week, local leaders in Oxfordshire voted to try a&nbsp;<a href="https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022">new traffic reduction system</a>&nbsp;in an effort to reduce congestion in the county’s namesake city. Some on social media have since likened the scheme to stringent government COVID-19 containment policies. “UK. - Oxfordshire Council, part of the 15 minute city club, has passed a plan to trial a Climate lockdown,” tweeted one user, alongside a screenshot of an article warning that “residents will be confined to their local neighbourhood.” The plan “would control movements in a gated city, allowing only 100 car journeys in &amp; out per car &amp; monitoring all movements,” the tweet continued. But Oxfordshire’s “traffic filters” will not block access to any part of the city of Oxford or the rest of the county, let alone lock people in their neighborhoods, the county government told The Associated Press. “Everywhere in the city will still be accessible by car,” Paul Smith, spokesperson for the Oxfordshire County Council, wrote in an email. “Nobody will need permission from the county council to drive or leave their home.” The “traffic filters” are license plate recognition cameras, not physical barriers. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., drivers in private cars will be automatically fined if they cross through the filters without a permit. Motorists who live in Oxford will be able to apply for 100 daylong permits to drive through the filters per year. The “15 minute city club” referenced by one of the misleading tweets is an unrelated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.15minutecity.com/">urban planning framework</a>&nbsp;under which city residents would ideally be able to reach essential services within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their home. Officials with the city of Oxford have&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/OxfordCity/status/1582295424768962560">separately proposed</a>&nbsp;pursuing these goals. But some on social media have incorrectly linked the two, suggesting the traffic rules will also bar residents from leaving their neighborhoods. The city and county emphasized in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/2332/joint_statement_from_oxfordshire_county_council_and_oxford_city_council_on_oxford_s_traffic_filters">joint statement</a>&nbsp;that the traffic restrictions will not “be used to confine people” to a given area. “Everyone can go through all the filters at any time by bus, bike, taxi, scooter or walking,” the statement added. Many vehicles, like vans and motorcycles, are exempt from the new rules. Disabled drivers and first responders will likewise not be affected. Drivers who lack a permit will also still be able to access all of the city without being fined. They “might just need to use a different route or drive through the ring road to avoid the traffic filters,” Smith wrote.— Associated Press writer Graph Massara in San Francisco contributed this report.

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

By LINDSEY TOOMER <a href="https://coloradonewsline.com/">Colorado Newsline</a>

Now that Colorado voters passed the <a target="_blank" href="https://coloradonewsline.com/2022/10/17/proposition-122-colorado-voters-mushrooms/">Natural Medicine Health Act</a>, the state has several steps to get through before Colorado will actually see a regulated industry for psychedelic mushrooms.

The measure allows for licensed “healing centers” to provide access 
to psilocybin and psilocyn, the psychoactive compounds found in many 
species of fungi, for therapeutic purposes. It also decriminalizes the 
“personal use” of the substances, allowing people to possess and grow 
psychedelic mushrooms in their own homes.

The first step on the itinerary is developing an advisory board, 
which will include appointees from Gov. Jared Polis tasked with helping 
the Department of Regulatory Agencies implement the new program.

According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2021-2022/58Final.pdf">act’s text</a>,
 the board will include 15 members: At least seven are expected to have 
expertise and experience in topics including but not limited to natural 
medicine therapy and research, emergency medical services, health care 
insurance and policy, or harm reduction. At least eight members are 
expected to have experience with religious and traditional indigenous 
uses of natural medicines, issues impacting veterans, disparities in 
health care access, or criminal justice reform in Colorado.

“We will follow the will of the voters and will be appointing a 15 
member advisory board to oversee the regulatory process around this new 
voter-approved measure,” Melissa Dworkin, a spokesperson with the 
governor’s office, said in an email.

Josh Kappel, an attorney who chaired Natural Medicine Colorado’s 
campaign committee and helped draft Proposition 122, said he trusts that
 the governor will appoint a board that’s inclusive of all relevant 
stakeholders. He said the board’s initial purpose is to provide DORA 
with recommendations around implementing the program.

“We are excited to work with all relevant stakeholders and the state 
government to implement Prop 122 in a safe, responsible and equitable 
manner that provides access to this much needed tool to address our 
state’s mental health crisis,” Kappel said.

After working with DORA to develop the program, the board will make 
annual recommendations regarding public health approaches for natural 
medicine, educational campaigns, research on efficacy and regulation, 
training programs, equitable and culturally responsible access, and data
 collection and reporting. Kappel added that the board will likely 
create regular reports analyzing the effectiveness of the program.

Advocates of the ballot measure point to research showing that 
psychedelic substances can be effective in treating depression, anxiety,
 post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. The 
federal Food and Drug Administration has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921789#:~:text=The%20US%20Food%20and%20Drug,ingredient%20in%20%22magic%20mushrooms.%22">designated psilocybin</a> as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

Coloradans can start applying for center licenses in September 2024

Ben Unger, who works with New Approach, an organization involved in passing both <a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2022/08/08/many-oregon-voters-will-have-to-decide-again-on-a-psilocybin-program/">Oregon’s Measure 109</a>
 and Colorado’s Proposition 122, said in an email his greatest hope for 
the advisory board is that “it’s filled with experts that can guide a 
regulatory process that maximizes safety and promotes equitable access 
for all that can benefit.”

For initial appointments that need to be made by Jan. 31, 2023, seven
 members will be appointed to a two-year term while eight will be 
appointed to a four-year term. After that initial board, all members 
will be appointed to four-year terms and can serve two consecutive 
terms.

After appointees are named, the board will kick off an 18-month 
rulemaking process to develop regulations around facilitator licensing, 
training and the operation of healing centers, Kappel said. He said 
Natural Medicine Colorado will continue to be a resource for the state 
as it looks to implement Proposition 122 in a “responsible, equitable 
and safe manner.”

“We hope to be able to work with everyone — the government 
stakeholders, even those who opposed us — to help create a program that 
is both safe, but also provides the mental health treatment and options 
that Coloradans are expecting after passing Prop 122,” Kappel said.

Unger noted that the proposition language says Coloradans can start 
applying for healing center licenses in September 2024, meaning licensed
 therapeutic services would likely start six or seven months after that.
 Over the next year or so, he said interested stakeholders should keep 
their eyes open for development of regulations for facilitators and 
safety rules for clients.

“It’s reasonable to expect that services could begin in the summer of
 2025,” Unger said in an email. “It’s important that the state work with
 experts to develop processes that promote safety while protecting 
access for people that can benefit.”

By LINDSEY TOOMER <a href="https://coloradonewsline.com/">Colorado Newsline</a>Now that Colorado voters passed the <a target="_blank" href="https://coloradonewsline.com/2022/10/17/proposition-122-colorado-voters-mushrooms/">Natural Medicine Health Act</a>, the state has several steps to get through before Colorado will actually see a regulated industry for psychedelic mushrooms.The measure allows for licensed “healing centers” to provide access 
to psilocybin and psilocyn, the psychoactive compounds found in many 
species of fungi, for therapeutic purposes. It also decriminalizes the 
“personal use” of the substances, allowing people to possess and grow 
psychedelic mushrooms in their own homes.The first step on the itinerary is developing an advisory board, 
which will include appointees from Gov. Jared Polis tasked with helping 
the Department of Regulatory Agencies implement the new program.According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2021-2022/58Final.pdf">act’s text</a>,
 the board will include 15 members: At least seven are expected to have 
expertise and experience in topics including but not limited to natural 
medicine therapy and research, emergency medical services, health care 
insurance and policy, or harm reduction. At least eight members are 
expected to have experience with religious and traditional indigenous 
uses of natural medicines, issues impacting veterans, disparities in 
health care access, or criminal justice reform in Colorado.“We will follow the will of the voters and will be appointing a 15 
member advisory board to oversee the regulatory process around this new 
voter-approved measure,” Melissa Dworkin, a spokesperson with the 
governor’s office, said in an email.Josh Kappel, an attorney who chaired Natural Medicine Colorado’s 
campaign committee and helped draft Proposition 122, said he trusts that
 the governor will appoint a board that’s inclusive of all relevant 
stakeholders. He said the board’s initial purpose is to provide DORA 
with recommendations around implementing the program.“We are excited to work with all relevant stakeholders and the state 
government to implement Prop 122 in a safe, responsible and equitable 
manner that provides access to this much needed tool to address our 
state’s mental health crisis,” Kappel said.After working with DORA to develop the program, the board will make 
annual recommendations regarding public health approaches for natural 
medicine, educational campaigns, research on efficacy and regulation, 
training programs, equitable and culturally responsible access, and data
 collection and reporting. Kappel added that the board will likely 
create regular reports analyzing the effectiveness of the program.Advocates of the ballot measure point to research showing that 
psychedelic substances can be effective in treating depression, anxiety,
 post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. The 
federal Food and Drug Administration has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921789#:~:text=The%20US%20Food%20and%20Drug,ingredient%20in%20%22magic%20mushrooms.%22">designated psilocybin</a> as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of major depressive disorder.<h2>Coloradans can start applying for center licenses in September 2024</h2>Ben Unger, who works with New Approach, an organization involved in passing both <a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2022/08/08/many-oregon-voters-will-have-to-decide-again-on-a-psilocybin-program/">Oregon’s Measure 109</a>
 and Colorado’s Proposition 122, said in an email his greatest hope for 
the advisory board is that “it’s filled with experts that can guide a 
regulatory process that maximizes safety and promotes equitable access 
for all that can benefit.”For initial appointments that need to be made by Jan. 31, 2023, seven
 members will be appointed to a two-year term while eight will be 
appointed to a four-year term. After that initial board, all members 
will be appointed to four-year terms and can serve two consecutive 
terms.After appointees are named, the board will kick off an 18-month 
rulemaking process to develop regulations around facilitator licensing, 
training and the operation of healing centers, Kappel said. He said 
Natural Medicine Colorado will continue to be a resource for the state 
as it looks to implement Proposition 122 in a “responsible, equitable 
and safe manner.”“We hope to be able to work with everyone — the government 
stakeholders, even those who opposed us — to help create a program that 
is both safe, but also provides the mental health treatment and options 
that Coloradans are expecting after passing Prop 122,” Kappel said.Unger noted that the proposition language says Coloradans can start 
applying for healing center licenses in September 2024, meaning licensed
 therapeutic services would likely start six or seven months after that.
 Over the next year or so, he said interested stakeholders should keep 
their eyes open for development of regulations for facilitators and 
safety rules for clients.“It’s reasonable to expect that services could begin in the summer of
 2025,” Unger said in an email. “It’s important that the state work with
 experts to develop processes that promote safety while protecting 
access for people that can benefit.”

Colorado begins steps to regulate psychedelic mushrooms

By ZHONG-REN PENG <a href="https://theconversation.com/dreaming-of-beachfront-real-estate-much-of-floridas-coast-is-at-risk-of-storm-erosion-that-can-cause-homes-to-collapse-as-daytona-just-saw-194492">The Conversation</a>

Back-to-back hurricanes left an unnerving scene on the Florida coast 
in November 2022: Several houses, and even swimming pools, were left 
dangling over the ocean as waves eroded the land beneath them. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolusiaCountyEmergencyManagement/posts/pfbid02EZ9SbTjdQhrkGtFm452UhzhzjprPu6h6WaQbPLuMLsRNpCLAuPoPKTZDUvjygUb7l">Dozens of homes and condo buildings</a> in the Daytona Beach area were deemed unsafe.

The destruction has raised a disturbing question: How much property 
along the rest of the Florida coast is at risk of collapse, and can it 
be saved?

As the director of <a href="https://dcp.ufl.edu/iadapt/">iAdapt</a>, the International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design at the University of Florida, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ngiXpvgAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">I have been</a> studying climate adaptation issues for the last two decades to help answer these questions.

Living by the sea has a strong appeal in Florida – beautiful beaches,
 ocean views, and often pleasant breezes. However, there are also risks,
 and they are exacerbated by climate change.

Sea level is forecast to rise on average <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html">10 to 14 inches</a> (25-35 cm) on the U.S. East Coast over the next 30 years, and 14 to 18 inches (35-45 cm) on the Gulf Coast, <a href="https://theconversation.com/ipcc-climate-report-profound-changes-are-underway-in-earths-oceans-and-ice-a-lead-author-explains-what-the-warnings-mean-165588">as the planet warms</a>. Rising temperatures are also <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3184/a-force-of-nature-hurricanes-in-a-changing-climate/">increasing the intensity</a> of hurricanes.

With higher seas and larger storm surges, ocean waves more easily 
erode beaches, weaken sea walls, and submerge cement foundations in 
corrosive salt water. Together with <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/194ac159bd1e4be294b14dd882d42dcf_0/about">subsidence</a>, or sinking land, they make coastal living riskier.

The risk of erosion varies depending on the soil, geology and natural
 shoreline changes. But it is widespread in U.S. coastal areas, <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">particularly Florida</a>. Maps produced by engineers at the <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">Florida Department of Environmental Protection</a> show most of Florida’s coast faces critical erosion risk.

Aging or poorly maintained buildings and sea walls, and older or poor construction methods and materials, can dramatically <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/sinking-land-rising-seas-dual-crises-facing-coastal-communities">aggravate the risk</a>.

So, what can be done to minimize the damage?

The first step is to build sturdier buildings and fortify existing ones according to advanced building codes.

Building codes change over time as risks rise and construction 
techniques and materials improve. For example, design criteria in the <a href="https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLBC2020P1">Florida Building Code</a>
 for South Florida changed from requiring some new buildings to be able 
to withstand 146 mph sustained winds in 2002 to 195 mph winds in 2021, 
meaning a powerful Category 5 hurricane.

The town of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/10/01/punta-gorda-hurricane-ian-damage/">Punta Gorda</a>,
 near where Hurricane Ian made landfall in October 2022, showed how 
homes constructed to the latest building codes have a much better chance
 of survival.

Many of Punta Gorda’s buildings had been rebuilt after Hurricane 
Charley in 2004, shortly after the state updated the Florida Building 
Code. When Ian hit, they survived with less damage than those in 
neighboring towns. The updated code required new construction to be able
 to withstand hurricane-force winds, including having shutters or 
impact-resistant window glass.

However, even homes built to the latest codes can be vulnerable, 
because the codes don’t adequately address the environment that 
buildings sit on. A modern building in a low-lying coastal area could 
face damage in the future as sea level rises and the shoreline erodes, 
even if it meets the current flood zone elevation standards.

This is the problem coastal residents faced during Hurricanes Nicole <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-10-06/apocalypse-in-paradise-after-hurricane-ian-a-low-lying-florida-city-contends-with-rising-water">and Ian</a>. Flooding and erosion, exacerbated by sea-level rise, caused the most damage – not wind.

The dozens of beach houses and condo buildings that <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-11-14/florida-county-puts-damage-from-nicole-at-481-million">became unstable or collapsed</a>
 in Volusia County during Hurricane Nicole might have seemed fine 
originally. But as the climate changes, the coastal environment changes,
 too, and one hurricane could render the building vulnerable. Hurricane 
Ian damaged sea walls in Volusia County, and some <a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2022/11/10/tropical-storm-nicoles-fury-washes-away-homes-wilbur-sea/8323351001/">couldn’t be repaired before Nicole</a> struck.

The damage in the Daytona area in 2022 and the <a href="https://miamisao.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GRAND-JURY_202112151434-1.pdf">deadly collapse</a> a year earlier of a condo tower in Surfside should be a wake-up call for all coastal communities.

<a href="https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/topics/vulnerability-assessments.html">Data and tools</a> can show where coastal areas are most vulnerable. What is lacking are policies and enforcement.

Florida recently began requiring that state-financed constructors conduct <a href="https://floridadep.gov/rcp/florida-resilient-coastlines-program/content/resilience-and-coastal-protection-rules-development">a sea-level impact study</a>
 before starting construction of a coastal structure. I believe it’s 
time to apply this new rule to any new construction, regardless of the 
funding source.

A comprehensive sea-level impact study requirement should also allow 
for risk-based enforcement, including barring construction in high-risk 
areas.

Similarly, vulnerability audits – particularly for multistory 
buildings built before 2002 – can check the integrity of an existing 
structure and help spot new environmental risks from sea-level rise and 
beach erosion. Before 2002, the building standard was low and 
enforcement was lacking, so many of the materials and the structures 
used in those buildings aren’t up to the standards of today. 

There is a range of <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">techniques</a> homeowners can use to fortify homes from flood risks.

In some places, that may mean <a href="https://cpo.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/7875/ArticleID/2059/Elevating-Houses-Can-Protect-Against-Damaging-Floods-But-How-High-is-High-Enough">elevating the house</a>
 or improving the lot grading so surface water runs away from the 
building. Installing a sump pump and remodeling with storm-resistant 
building materials can help.

<a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">FEMA</a>
 suggests other measures to protect against coastal erosion, such as 
replenishing beach sand, strengthening sea walls and anchoring the home.
 Engineering can help communities, temporarily at least, through sea 
walls, ponds and increased drainage. But in the long term, communities 
will have to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas. Sometimes the 
answer is <a href="https://theconversation.com/managed-retreat-done-right-can-reinvent-cities-so-theyre-better-for-everyone-and-avoid-harm-from-flooding-heat-and-fires-163052">to relocate</a>.

However, there’s a disturbing trend after hurricanes, and we’re 
seeing it with Ian: Many damaged areas see lots of money pouring in to 
rebuild in the same vulnerable locations. An important question 
communities should be asking is, if these are already in high-risk 
areas, why rebuild in the same place?

Zhong-Ren Peng is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the&nbsp; University of Florida.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h6Fvx6Cw4tE"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Drone footage shows homes close to collapsing into the ocean. WPLG/YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZHONG-REN PENG <a href="https://theconversation.com/dreaming-of-beachfront-real-estate-much-of-floridas-coast-is-at-risk-of-storm-erosion-that-can-cause-homes-to-collapse-as-daytona-just-saw-194492">The Conversation</a>Back-to-back hurricanes left an unnerving scene on the Florida coast 
in November 2022: Several houses, and even swimming pools, were left 
dangling over the ocean as waves eroded the land beneath them. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolusiaCountyEmergencyManagement/posts/pfbid02EZ9SbTjdQhrkGtFm452UhzhzjprPu6h6WaQbPLuMLsRNpCLAuPoPKTZDUvjygUb7l">Dozens of homes and condo buildings</a> in the Daytona Beach area were deemed unsafe. The destruction has raised a disturbing question: How much property 
along the rest of the Florida coast is at risk of collapse, and can it 
be saved?As the director of <a href="https://dcp.ufl.edu/iadapt/">iAdapt</a>, the International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design at the University of Florida, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ngiXpvgAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">I have been</a> studying climate adaptation issues for the last two decades to help answer these questions.<h2>Rising seas, aging buildings</h2>Living by the sea has a strong appeal in Florida – beautiful beaches,
 ocean views, and often pleasant breezes. However, there are also risks,
 and they are exacerbated by climate change.Sea level is forecast to rise on average <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html">10 to 14 inches</a> (25-35 cm) on the U.S. East Coast over the next 30 years, and 14 to 18 inches (35-45 cm) on the Gulf Coast, <a href="https://theconversation.com/ipcc-climate-report-profound-changes-are-underway-in-earths-oceans-and-ice-a-lead-author-explains-what-the-warnings-mean-165588">as the planet warms</a>. Rising temperatures are also <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3184/a-force-of-nature-hurricanes-in-a-changing-climate/">increasing the intensity</a> of hurricanes.With higher seas and larger storm surges, ocean waves more easily 
erode beaches, weaken sea walls, and submerge cement foundations in 
corrosive salt water. Together with <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/194ac159bd1e4be294b14dd882d42dcf_0/about">subsidence</a>, or sinking land, they make coastal living riskier.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669240214504.png" alt=" Florida’s erosion risk map shows most of the state’s coastline at critical risk. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, CC BY-SA " />
 <figcaption> Florida’s erosion risk map shows most of the state’s coastline at critical risk. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, CC BY-SA </figcaption>
 </figure>The risk of erosion varies depending on the soil, geology and natural
 shoreline changes. But it is widespread in U.S. coastal areas, <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">particularly Florida</a>. Maps produced by engineers at the <a href="https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/FDEP::coastal-critical-erosion-areas/about">Florida Department of Environmental Protection</a> show most of Florida’s coast faces critical erosion risk.Aging or poorly maintained buildings and sea walls, and older or poor construction methods and materials, can dramatically <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/sinking-land-rising-seas-dual-crises-facing-coastal-communities">aggravate the risk</a>.<h2>Designing better building codes</h2>So, what can be done to minimize the damage?The first step is to build sturdier buildings and fortify existing ones according to advanced building codes.Building codes change over time as risks rise and construction 
techniques and materials improve. For example, design criteria in the <a href="https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLBC2020P1">Florida Building Code</a>
 for South Florida changed from requiring some new buildings to be able 
to withstand 146 mph sustained winds in 2002 to 195 mph winds in 2021, 
meaning a powerful Category 5 hurricane.The town of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/10/01/punta-gorda-hurricane-ian-damage/">Punta Gorda</a>,
 near where Hurricane Ian made landfall in October 2022, showed how 
homes constructed to the latest building codes have a much better chance
 of survival.Many of Punta Gorda’s buildings had been rebuilt after Hurricane 
Charley in 2004, shortly after the state updated the Florida Building 
Code. When Ian hit, they survived with less damage than those in 
neighboring towns. The updated code required new construction to be able
 to withstand hurricane-force winds, including having shutters or 
impact-resistant window glass.However, even homes built to the latest codes can be vulnerable, 
because the codes don’t adequately address the environment that 
buildings sit on. A modern building in a low-lying coastal area could 
face damage in the future as sea level rises and the shoreline erodes, 
even if it meets the current flood zone elevation standards.This is the problem coastal residents faced during Hurricanes Nicole <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-10-06/apocalypse-in-paradise-after-hurricane-ian-a-low-lying-florida-city-contends-with-rising-water">and Ian</a>. Flooding and erosion, exacerbated by sea-level rise, caused the most damage – not wind. The dozens of beach houses and condo buildings that <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-11-14/florida-county-puts-damage-from-nicole-at-481-million">became unstable or collapsed</a>
 in Volusia County during Hurricane Nicole might have seemed fine 
originally. But as the climate changes, the coastal environment changes,
 too, and one hurricane could render the building vulnerable. Hurricane 
Ian damaged sea walls in Volusia County, and some <a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2022/11/10/tropical-storm-nicoles-fury-washes-away-homes-wilbur-sea/8323351001/">couldn’t be repaired before Nicole</a> struck. <h2>How to minimize the risk</h2>The damage in the Daytona area in 2022 and the <a href="https://miamisao.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GRAND-JURY_202112151434-1.pdf">deadly collapse</a> a year earlier of a condo tower in Surfside should be a wake-up call for all coastal communities.<a href="https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/topics/vulnerability-assessments.html">Data and tools</a> can show where coastal areas are most vulnerable. What is lacking are policies and enforcement.Florida recently began requiring that state-financed constructors conduct <a href="https://floridadep.gov/rcp/florida-resilient-coastlines-program/content/resilience-and-coastal-protection-rules-development">a sea-level impact study</a>
 before starting construction of a coastal structure. I believe it’s 
time to apply this new rule to any new construction, regardless of the 
funding source.A comprehensive sea-level impact study requirement should also allow 
for risk-based enforcement, including barring construction in high-risk 
areas.Similarly, vulnerability audits – particularly for multistory 
buildings built before 2002 – can check the integrity of an existing 
structure and help spot new environmental risks from sea-level rise and 
beach erosion. Before 2002, the building standard was low and 
enforcement was lacking, so many of the materials and the structures 
used in those buildings aren’t up to the standards of today. <h2>What property owners can do</h2>There is a range of <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">techniques</a> homeowners can use to fortify homes from flood risks.In some places, that may mean <a href="https://cpo.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/7875/ArticleID/2059/Elevating-Houses-Can-Protect-Against-Damaging-Floods-But-How-High-is-High-Enough">elevating the house</a>
 or improving the lot grading so surface water runs away from the 
building. Installing a sump pump and remodeling with storm-resistant 
building materials can help.<a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_protect-your-home-from-flooding-brochure_2020.pdf">FEMA</a>
 suggests other measures to protect against coastal erosion, such as 
replenishing beach sand, strengthening sea walls and anchoring the home.
 Engineering can help communities, temporarily at least, through sea 
walls, ponds and increased drainage. But in the long term, communities 
will have to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas. Sometimes the 
answer is <a href="https://theconversation.com/managed-retreat-done-right-can-reinvent-cities-so-theyre-better-for-everyone-and-avoid-harm-from-flooding-heat-and-fires-163052">to relocate</a>.However, there’s a disturbing trend after hurricanes, and we’re 
seeing it with Ian: Many damaged areas see lots of money pouring in to 
rebuild in the same vulnerable locations. An important question 
communities should be asking is, if these are already in high-risk 
areas, why rebuild in the same place?Zhong-Ren Peng is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the&nbsp; University of Florida.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194492/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

🎥 Beachfront real estate? It just might crumble into the ocean

NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winning 
singer-actress Irene Cara, who starred and sang the title cut from the 
1980 hit movie “Fame” and then belted out the era-defining hit 
“Flashdance ... What a Feeling” from 1983's “Flashdance,” has died. She 
was 63.

Her publicist, Judith A. Moose, announced the news on 
social media, writing that a cause of death was “currently unknown.” 
Moose also confirmed the death to an Associated Press reporter on 
Saturday. Cara died at her home in Florida. The exact day of her death 
was not disclosed.

“Irene’s family has requested privacy as they 
process their grief,” Moose wrote. “She was a beautifully gifted soul 
whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.”

During
 her career, Cara had three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, 
including “Breakdance,” “Out Here On My Own,” “Fame” and “Flashdance ...
 What A Feeling,” which spent six weeks at No. 1. She was behind some of
 the most joyful, high-energy pop anthems of the early ’80s.

Tributes
 poured in on Saturday on social media, including from Deborah Cox, who 
called Cara an inspiration, and Holly Robinson Peete, who recalled 
seeing Cara perform: "The insane combination of talent and beauty was 
overwhelming to me. This hurts my heart so much.”

She first came 
to prominence among the young actors playing performing arts high 
schoolers in Alan Parker's “Fame,” with co-stars Debbie Allen, Paul 
McCrane and Anne Mear. Cara played Coco Hernandez, a striving dancer who
 endures all manner of deprivations, including a creepy nude photo 
shoot.

“How bright our spirits go shooting out into space, depends
 on how much we contributed to the earthly brilliance of this world. And
 I mean to be a major contributor!” she says in the movie.

Cara 
sang on the soaring title song with the chorus — “Remember my name/I’m 
gonna live forever/I’m gonna learn how to fly/I feel it coming 
together/People will see me and cry” — which would go on to be nominated
 for an Academy Award for best original song. She also sang on “Out Here
 on My Own,” "Hot Lunch Jam" and “I Sing the Body Electric.”

Three
 years later, she and the songwriting team of “Flashdance” — music by 
Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Keith Forsey and Cara — was accepting the 
Oscar for best original song for “Flashdance ... What a Feeling.”

The
 movie starred Jennifer Beals as a steel-town girl who dances in a bar 
at night and hopes to attend a prestigious dance conservatory. It 
included the hit song “Maniac,” featuring Beals’ character leaping, 
spinning, stomping her feet and the slow-burning theme song.

“There
 aren’t enough words to express my love and my gratitude,” Cara told the
 Oscar crowd in her thanks. “And last but not least, a very special 
gentlemen who I guess started it all for me many years ago. To Alan 
Parker, wherever you may be tonight, I thank him.”

The New 
York-born Cara began her career on Broadway, with small parts in 
short-lived shows, although a musical called “The Me Nobody Knows” ran 
over 300 performances. She toured in the musical “Jesus Christ 
Superstar" as Mary Magdalene in the mid-1990s and a tour of the musical 
”Flashdance" toured 2012-14 with her songs.

She also created the 
all-female band Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel and put out a double CD 
with the single “How Can I Make You Luv Me.” Her movie credits include 
”Sparkle" and “D.C. Cab.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winning 
singer-actress Irene Cara, who starred and sang the title cut from the 
1980 hit movie “Fame” and then belted out the era-defining hit 
“Flashdance ... What a Feeling” from 1983's “Flashdance,” has died. She 
was 63.Her publicist, Judith A. Moose, announced the news on 
social media, writing that a cause of death was “currently unknown.” 
Moose also confirmed the death to an Associated Press reporter on 
Saturday. Cara died at her home in Florida. The exact day of her death 
was not disclosed.“Irene’s family has requested privacy as they 
process their grief,” Moose wrote. “She was a beautifully gifted soul 
whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.”During
 her career, Cara had three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, 
including “Breakdance,” “Out Here On My Own,” “Fame” and “Flashdance ...
 What A Feeling,” which spent six weeks at No. 1. She was behind some of
 the most joyful, high-energy pop anthems of the early ’80s.Tributes
 poured in on Saturday on social media, including from Deborah Cox, who 
called Cara an inspiration, and Holly Robinson Peete, who recalled 
seeing Cara perform: "The insane combination of talent and beauty was 
overwhelming to me. This hurts my heart so much.”She first came 
to prominence among the young actors playing performing arts high 
schoolers in Alan Parker's “Fame,” with co-stars Debbie Allen, Paul 
McCrane and Anne Mear. Cara played Coco Hernandez, a striving dancer who
 endures all manner of deprivations, including a creepy nude photo 
shoot.“How bright our spirits go shooting out into space, depends
 on how much we contributed to the earthly brilliance of this world. And
 I mean to be a major contributor!” she says in the movie.Cara 
sang on the soaring title song with the chorus — “Remember my name/I’m 
gonna live forever/I’m gonna learn how to fly/I feel it coming 
together/People will see me and cry” — which would go on to be nominated
 for an Academy Award for best original song. She also sang on “Out Here
 on My Own,” "Hot Lunch Jam" and “I Sing the Body Electric.”Three
 years later, she and the songwriting team of “Flashdance” — music by 
Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Keith Forsey and Cara — was accepting the 
Oscar for best original song for “Flashdance ... What a Feeling.”The
 movie starred Jennifer Beals as a steel-town girl who dances in a bar 
at night and hopes to attend a prestigious dance conservatory. It 
included the hit song “Maniac,” featuring Beals’ character leaping, 
spinning, stomping her feet and the slow-burning theme song.“There
 aren’t enough words to express my love and my gratitude,” Cara told the
 Oscar crowd in her thanks. “And last but not least, a very special 
gentlemen who I guess started it all for me many years ago. To Alan 
Parker, wherever you may be tonight, I thank him.”The New 
York-born Cara began her career on Broadway, with small parts in 
short-lived shows, although a musical called “The Me Nobody Knows” ran 
over 300 performances. She toured in the musical “Jesus Christ 
Superstar" as Mary Magdalene in the mid-1990s and a tour of the musical 
”Flashdance" toured 2012-14 with her songs.She also created the 
all-female band Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel and put out a double CD 
with the single “How Can I Make You Luv Me.” Her movie credits include 
”Sparkle" and “D.C. Cab.”

'Fame,' 'Flashdance' singer-actor dies at 63

By MARIAM FAM Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar — Aside from the competition for the World Cup 
title, one of the most hotly contested issues in the tournament in Qatar
 is over rainbow colors.

In the first week of the tournament, 
seven European teams lost the battle to wear multi-colored “One Love” 
armbands during World Cup matches and some fans complained they weren't 
allowed to bring items with rainbow colors, a symbol of LGBTQ rights, 
into the stadiums of the conservative Islamic emirate.

Qatar, 
where gay sex is illegal, faced intense international scrutiny and 
criticism in the run-up to the tournament over rights issues, including 
questions on whether LGBTQ visitors would feel safe and welcome. The 
Gulf nation has said all are welcome, including LGBTQ fans, and that it 
would ensure safety for everyone, regardless of background, but that 
visitors should respect the nation’s culture.

Piara Powar, 
executive director of Fare, the anti-discrimination group that is 
reporting incidents in and around stadiums to world soccer body FIFA, 
said he believes the Qatari hosts felt that the debate about LGBTQ 
rights has been given too much space and that they need to clamp down 
internally.

“We have talked to them about rainbow flags and the 
symbolism that it has across the world, not just in western Europe. 
There are Latin Americans who recognize that, there are Asians who 
recognize the Pride flag," Powar said.

Just before the tournament 
started, FIFA stopped plans by seven European teams including England 
and Germany to have their captains play with “One Love” 
anti-discrimination armbands, saying they would receive yellow cards if 
they did. The decision sparked outrage by some in the countries 
involved.

One of the teams, Belgium, tweeted a team photo Friday 
showing captain Eden Hazard wearing the “One Love” armband. The 
country's foreign minister, Hadja Lahbib, wore it as she watched 
Belgium's World Cup opener against Canada on Wednesday.

Former 
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt turned up at Denmark's 
match against Tunisia wearing an outfit with rainbow-colored sleeves. In
 an Instagram post a day later, she appeared conflicted about the choice
 of clothing.

“I’ve been reflecting on whether showing up in 
rainbow colors is actually helping gay and queer folks in Qatar,” 
Thorning-Schmidt wrote in the post. She wondered whether it could “make 
things worse by hardening the Qatar government against them? I don’t 
know the answer but doesn’t it show us that nothing is binary, only good
 or only bad?”

Some fans have said that they were asked to remove 
and discard their rainbow hats at a World Cup stadium earlier this week 
despite assurances by FIFA before the tournament that such items would 
be allowed in stadiums.

Justin Martin, a U.S. citizen living in 
Qatar, said he was holding a small rainbow flag on the metro on his way 
to the U.S. opener against Wales when two people wearing shirts that 
identified them as volunteers asked him to put the flag away. He didn’t 
want to.

“One of them became agitated and ... referred to me as 
‘disgusting,’” said Martin, an associate professor of journalism at the 
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

At the stadium, however, a 
woman in Qatari police uniform who was searching his bag found the 
rainbow flag, looked at it and put it back, he said. “I actually wasn’t 
prohibited from bringing that into the stadium.”

Martin said he had previously worn a pride T-shirt in Qatar to the grocery store or to exercise without any issues.

Some
 Wales fans said they were prevented from taking rainbow bucket hats to 
the game against the U.S., prompting the Wales soccer federation to 
raise the issue with FIFA, which assured them that rainbow symbols would
 be allowed for Friday's game against Iran.

Laura McAllister, a 
former Wales captain who acts as ambassador to the World Cup, said she 
and other fans wore rainbow hats to Friday's game without problems. She 
said she was among those asked to remove their hats before the earlier 
game with the U.S.

The Qatari World Cup organizing committee did 
not provide answers to questions by The Associated Press on the 
instructions to stadium security and volunteers about rainbow symbols.

In April, a Qatari official <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-soccer-sports-lifestyle-middle-east-f03cd08c36dee73b419b2b0e2978fd3f">suggested</a> that fans carrying rainbow flags could have them removed to protect them from possible attacks.

The
 issue has been debated frequently in Qatar and the wider Middle East, 
where many believe it’s only fair for visitors to respect the country’s 
laws, customs and religious beliefs, just like people from the region 
are expected to honor other nations' rules when they travel. Others 
counter that rights’ issues are universal and that sports must be 
inclusive.

Ahead of the tournament, some LGBTQ rights activists sought to raise <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-religion-679b18a9480573b7fb72633ace63cc7b">concerns</a>
 about how LGBTQ people in Qatar may be treated after the World Cup 
ends. Some of them have also argued that international attention was 
disproportionately focused on the visitors and not enough on LGBTQ 
people in the country.

Associated Press writers Karl Ritter and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669404941964.jpeg" alt="Germany supporter wearing a rainbow jersey waits for the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)" />
 <figcaption>Germany supporter wearing a rainbow jersey waits for the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARIAM FAM Associated PressDOHA, Qatar — Aside from the competition for the World Cup 
title, one of the most hotly contested issues in the tournament in Qatar
 is over rainbow colors.In the first week of the tournament, 
seven European teams lost the battle to wear multi-colored “One Love” 
armbands during World Cup matches and some fans complained they weren't 
allowed to bring items with rainbow colors, a symbol of LGBTQ rights, 
into the stadiums of the conservative Islamic emirate.Qatar, 
where gay sex is illegal, faced intense international scrutiny and 
criticism in the run-up to the tournament over rights issues, including 
questions on whether LGBTQ visitors would feel safe and welcome. The 
Gulf nation has said all are welcome, including LGBTQ fans, and that it 
would ensure safety for everyone, regardless of background, but that 
visitors should respect the nation’s culture.Piara Powar, 
executive director of Fare, the anti-discrimination group that is 
reporting incidents in and around stadiums to world soccer body FIFA, 
said he believes the Qatari hosts felt that the debate about LGBTQ 
rights has been given too much space and that they need to clamp down 
internally.“We have talked to them about rainbow flags and the 
symbolism that it has across the world, not just in western Europe. 
There are Latin Americans who recognize that, there are Asians who 
recognize the Pride flag," Powar said.Just before the tournament 
started, FIFA stopped plans by seven European teams including England 
and Germany to have their captains play with “One Love” 
anti-discrimination armbands, saying they would receive yellow cards if 
they did. The decision sparked outrage by some in the countries 
involved.One of the teams, Belgium, tweeted a team photo Friday 
showing captain Eden Hazard wearing the “One Love” armband. The 
country's foreign minister, Hadja Lahbib, wore it as she watched 
Belgium's World Cup opener against Canada on Wednesday.Former 
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt turned up at Denmark's 
match against Tunisia wearing an outfit with rainbow-colored sleeves. In
 an Instagram post a day later, she appeared conflicted about the choice
 of clothing.“I’ve been reflecting on whether showing up in 
rainbow colors is actually helping gay and queer folks in Qatar,” 
Thorning-Schmidt wrote in the post. She wondered whether it could “make 
things worse by hardening the Qatar government against them? I don’t 
know the answer but doesn’t it show us that nothing is binary, only good
 or only bad?”Some fans have said that they were asked to remove 
and discard their rainbow hats at a World Cup stadium earlier this week 
despite assurances by FIFA before the tournament that such items would 
be allowed in stadiums.Justin Martin, a U.S. citizen living in 
Qatar, said he was holding a small rainbow flag on the metro on his way 
to the U.S. opener against Wales when two people wearing shirts that 
identified them as volunteers asked him to put the flag away. He didn’t 
want to.“One of them became agitated and ... referred to me as 
‘disgusting,’” said Martin, an associate professor of journalism at the 
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.At the stadium, however, a 
woman in Qatari police uniform who was searching his bag found the 
rainbow flag, looked at it and put it back, he said. “I actually wasn’t 
prohibited from bringing that into the stadium.”Martin said he had previously worn a pride T-shirt in Qatar to the grocery store or to exercise without any issues.Some
 Wales fans said they were prevented from taking rainbow bucket hats to 
the game against the U.S., prompting the Wales soccer federation to 
raise the issue with FIFA, which assured them that rainbow symbols would
 be allowed for Friday's game against Iran.Laura McAllister, a 
former Wales captain who acts as ambassador to the World Cup, said she 
and other fans wore rainbow hats to Friday's game without problems. She 
said she was among those asked to remove their hats before the earlier 
game with the U.S.The Qatari World Cup organizing committee did 
not provide answers to questions by The Associated Press on the 
instructions to stadium security and volunteers about rainbow symbols.In April, a Qatari official <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-soccer-sports-lifestyle-middle-east-f03cd08c36dee73b419b2b0e2978fd3f">suggested</a> that fans carrying rainbow flags could have them removed to protect them from possible attacks.The
 issue has been debated frequently in Qatar and the wider Middle East, 
where many believe it’s only fair for visitors to respect the country’s 
laws, customs and religious beliefs, just like people from the region 
are expected to honor other nations' rules when they travel. Others 
counter that rights’ issues are universal and that sports must be 
inclusive.Ahead of the tournament, some LGBTQ rights activists sought to raise <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-religion-679b18a9480573b7fb72633ace63cc7b">concerns</a>
 about how LGBTQ people in Qatar may be treated after the World Cup 
ends. Some of them have also argued that international attention was 
disproportionately focused on the visitors and not enough on LGBTQ 
people in the country.Associated Press writers Karl Ritter and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

Rainbow struggle plays out on sidelines of World Cup

By DAVID MEDNICOFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-world-cup-puts-the-spotlight-on-qatar-but-also-brings-attention-to-its-human-rights-record-and-politics-4-things-to-know-194970">The Conversation</a>

With the start of the World Cup on Nov. 20, 2022, soccer teams <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar">from 32 countries</a> and <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/world-cup-2022-fans/">tens of thousands of fans</a>
 have converged on Qatar, a tiny Arab country on a peninsula in the 
Persian Gulf. But search “Qatar 2022” online, and the first nonsport 
results are about <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/14/qatar-rights-abuses-stain-fifa-world-cup">the country’s human rights issues</a>.

Like its fellow oil-rich Arab countries, Qatar has enjoyed immense 
wealth that nurtured grand ambitions of economic growth among rulers and
 citizens alike. Qatar and its neighbors, including Bahrain and the 
United Arab Emirates, have brought <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/areasofwork/labour-migration/lang--en/index.htm">in millions</a> of workers from other countries to support their fast-growing cities and businesses over the <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/QAT/qatar/immigration-statistics">past few decades</a>.

In particular, about <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042">30,000 workers</a>
 came from Bangladesh, India and Nepal to construct the World Cup 
stadiums. At least 37 died, according to official Qatari counts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/sports/soccer/world-cup-migrant-workers.html">while building</a> the US$220 billion infrastructure for the games.

I am <a href="https://www.umass.edu/jne/member/david-mednicoff">a political scientist and legal scholar of the Middle East</a> who has lived and <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/middle-east-expert-mednicoff-named-lead-investigator-for-1-million-research-study?channel=">worked</a>
 in Qatar. Given the sudden media focus on the country, I think it 
helpful for both World Cup fans and people who don’t know a soccer ball 
from a hockey puck to understand four aspects of Qatar’s politics that 
relate to its human rights challenges.

A sparsely populated country in a desert, Qatar gained independence from Great Britain in 1971. With its large <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gas/qatar-natural-gas/">oil and natural gas</a> reserves, Qatar has the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=QA">highest income per citizen</a> in the world.

Qatar’s ruler is <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/01/tamim-the-glorious-portrait-goes-viral.html">popular</a> among <a href="https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/QAT">citizens</a>. <a href="https://www.diwan.gov.qa/hh-the-amir?sc_lang=en#data---">Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</a>
 is part a family dynasty that has run the area’s politics since the 
1800s, even under Ottoman and British control. This makes Qatar one of 
eight Arab countries governed by hereditary kings.

Hereditary ruling monarchies <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315203195-10/contemporary-kingship-muslim-arab-societies-comparative-context-david-mednicoff">may seem archaic</a> to people living in societies with elected leaders. Yet these systems <a href="https://theconversation.com/middle-eastern-monarchies-how-do-arab-ruling-families-hold-on-to-power-159952">have held onto power, outlasting the Arab uprisings of 2011</a>. The lack of democracy in Arab countries is also part of a broader trend, as <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2022/global-expansion-authoritarian-rule">autocratic governments are generally on the rise globally</a>.

2. Yes – workers’ rights have been a problem 

Doha, the capital of Qatar, has become a major <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/">media</a>, <a href="https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city">educational</a>, <a href="https://raiagroup.org/qatars-tamim-is-leading-diplomacy-in-the-middle-east">diplomatic</a>
 and recreational hub over the past few decades. Its breakneck 
development also required workers from all over the world. As a result, 
foreign workers make up <a href="https://www.onlineqatar.com/visiting/tourist-information/qatar-population-and-expat-nationalities">about 85% of the country’s total population</a>, but they <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar">do not have the same rights</a> as Qatari citizens. Qatari natives have been reluctant to share their <a href="https://qatarofw.com/qatar-social-security/">extraordinary social welfare benefits</a>,
 like free medical care, with millions of workers from abroad. This 
makes for a system that gives many more rights to Qatari nationals than 
the millions of others who live there.

Unusual, rapid growth like Qatar’s is a magnet for foreign contract 
workers worldwide. I enjoyed my opportunity to work there myself as a 
visiting professor and Fulbright scholar 15 years ago. Yet less 
privileged foreign workers can fare badly.

In Qatar and its oil-rich peers, control by a minority of citizens over millions of workers with fewer rights leads to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/15/migrant-workers-in-qatar-face-structural-racism-says-un-report">discrimination and abuse</a>. Human rights groups, journalists and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/migrant-workers-recount-abuse-while-building-stadiums-for-world-cup-in-qatar">migrant workers</a> themselves have <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/02/reality-check-migrant-workers-rights-with-two-years-to-qatar-2022-world-cup/">sought to change harmful workplace practices</a>, such as withholding wages and forbidding unions.

Qatar’s summer heat, <a href="https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/doha-climate">averaging 106 degrees Fahrenheit</a>
 (41 degrees Celsius), can make working conditions especially dangerous 
for outside construction workers. Since it is hard to know whether the 
alleged worker deaths are due specifically to bad working conditions, 
work-related issues, or something else, exact mortality numbers have <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-how-many-people-have-died-for-the-qatar-world-cup/a-63763713">been disputed and may be prone to exaggeration</a>. Yet no one doubts that <a href="https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/thousands-migrant-workers-died-qatars-extreme-heat-world-cup-forced-reckoning">conditions have been terrible</a> for many of Qatar’s most vulnerable workers.

Other rights issues in Qatar have also <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/11/19/world-cup-lgbtq-fans-athletes-safety/">attracted global attention</a>. The conservative form of Islam that is part of Qatar’s identity allows little tolerance for LGBTQ rights. <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/qatar-security-forces-arrest-abuse-lgbt-people">Human rights groups have documented</a> detentions and other routine discrimination against LGBTQ people.

While workers’ rights have received appropriate Western media attention, Qatar’s direct efforts to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3836101/2022/11/17/how-ngos-responded-to-world-cup/">respond to local and international activism</a> are less known. Qatar <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/24/qatar-significant-labor-and-kafala-reforms">enacted the most significant labor rights reforms in the Arab world</a> in 2021.

<a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/WCMS_859880/lang--en/index.htm">Working with the International Labor Organization</a>,
 a United Nations agency that promotes fair and decent work worldwide, 
Qatar instituted a minimum wage of $275 per month, along with allowances
 for food and lodging. It also prohibited outdoor work during the peak 
of summer heat and eliminated many of the laws that gave employers 
control over their workers’ basic freedoms to leave their job or the 
country.

Because the reforms are recent, it is hard to know whether they represent <a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/qatar">important steps forward</a> or <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/qatar-labour-reform-unfinished-and-compensation-still-owed-as-world-cup-looms/">incremental steps that will change little</a>.

In any case, legislation in and of itself cannot remedy a complicated
 challenge involving a wide range of companies and other organizations 
that Qatar’s government does not control. Whether Qatar can and will 
enforce the new regulations consistently is one concern. 

Most foreign migrants arrive in Qatar through foreign-based recruitment companies, which charge them to secure jobs. So even if <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/1/qatar-made-progress-in-labour-reforms-ilo">Qatar tries to curb labor abuses</a>, <a href="https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/Country-Focus/world-cup-qatar#domestic">recruitment companies</a>
 based in migrants’ countries of origin would still profit by charging 
workers expensive placement fees, for example. Such recruiters often 
work with <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/de/von-uns/briefings/wake-up-call-exploitative-recruitment-risk-to-migrant-workers-in-qatars-world-cup-hotels/">multinational companies within Qatar</a> to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelposner/2022/10/28/world-cup-abuses-led-qatar-to-change-labor-laws-but-more-protection-is-needed/?sh=6cb0b28c2062">blunt the force</a> of the kingdom’s recent reforms.

4. And Western critiques may conceal other agendas 

<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/15/qatari-minister-slams-western-media-coverage-of-world-cup-record">Qatari officials have suggested</a>
 that international attention to foreign workers’ conditions is part of a
 broader pattern of Westerners belittling Arabs and Muslims. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/qatar-world-cup-team-depicted-terrorists-cartoon-sparks-outrage-1758928">One blatant example</a>
 is an October issue of the French right-wing satirical magazine “Le 
Canard enchaîné,” which depicted Qatari soccer players as terrorists.

Calls in some parts of Europe for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/17/qatar-world-cup-broadcasting-boycotts-france">a widespread World Cup boycott</a> add fuel to this and <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">other arguments</a> that the European and American impression of Qatar is <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20221119-fifa-president-blasts-hypocrisy-of-western-critics-of-world-cup-host-qatar">hypocritical</a> and possibly <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221010-qatar-says-french-objections-to-fifa-world-cup-stem-from-islamophobia/">Islamophobic</a>.
 Though hardly a neutral observer, Gianni Infantino, the president of 
FIFA, which carries out the World Cup, reflected many Gulf Arabs’ views 
when he argued that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/19/fifa-chief-accuses-critics-of-qatar-of-hypocrisy-ahead-of-world-cup.html">Europe’s history of exploiting Middle Easterners and others</a> gives it little moral high ground on issues of non-Western rights.

Because no Middle Eastern or Muslim-majority country had hosted the World Cup before 2022, Qatar’s achievement is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/opinion/qatar-world-cup-arab-football.html">significant</a>. The Economist <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">argues that</a>
 Qatar’s responsiveness to pressures to improve its human rights climate
 may make it a more appropriate host for a global sporting event than 
other countries with poor human rights records, such as China or Russia.

Yet genuine global concern about rights in countries like Qatar and 
mistrust between the Middle East and the West will persist. Can new 
global awareness of Qatar lead to more nuanced understanding of both 
cross-cultural similarities and differences between Arab Islamic 
countries and the rest of the world? For the moment, this is as hard to 
know as which country will win the World Cup.

David Mednicoff, Chair, Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and 
Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass 
Amherst

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669227517151.jpeg" alt="Young girls and a woman watch a fireworks display as part of the World Cup soccer tournament FIFA fan festival in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)" />
 <figcaption>Young girls and a woman watch a fireworks display as part of the World Cup soccer tournament FIFA fan festival in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID MEDNICOFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-world-cup-puts-the-spotlight-on-qatar-but-also-brings-attention-to-its-human-rights-record-and-politics-4-things-to-know-194970">The Conversation</a>With the start of the World Cup on Nov. 20, 2022, soccer teams <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar">from 32 countries</a> and <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/world-cup-2022-fans/">tens of thousands of fans</a>
 have converged on Qatar, a tiny Arab country on a peninsula in the 
Persian Gulf. But search “Qatar 2022” online, and the first nonsport 
results are about <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/14/qatar-rights-abuses-stain-fifa-world-cup">the country’s human rights issues</a>.Like its fellow oil-rich Arab countries, Qatar has enjoyed immense 
wealth that nurtured grand ambitions of economic growth among rulers and
 citizens alike. Qatar and its neighbors, including Bahrain and the 
United Arab Emirates, have brought <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/areasofwork/labour-migration/lang--en/index.htm">in millions</a> of workers from other countries to support their fast-growing cities and businesses over the <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/QAT/qatar/immigration-statistics">past few decades</a>.In particular, about <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60867042">30,000 workers</a>
 came from Bangladesh, India and Nepal to construct the World Cup 
stadiums. At least 37 died, according to official Qatari counts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/sports/soccer/world-cup-migrant-workers.html">while building</a> the US$220 billion infrastructure for the games. I am <a href="https://www.umass.edu/jne/member/david-mednicoff">a political scientist and legal scholar of the Middle East</a> who has lived and <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/middle-east-expert-mednicoff-named-lead-investigator-for-1-million-research-study?channel=">worked</a>
 in Qatar. Given the sudden media focus on the country, I think it 
helpful for both World Cup fans and people who don’t know a soccer ball 
from a hockey puck to understand four aspects of Qatar’s politics that 
relate to its human rights challenges.<h2>1. Qatar is ruled by a popular king</h2>A sparsely populated country in a desert, Qatar gained independence from Great Britain in 1971. With its large <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gas/qatar-natural-gas/">oil and natural gas</a> reserves, Qatar has the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=QA">highest income per citizen</a> in the world. Qatar’s ruler is <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/01/tamim-the-glorious-portrait-goes-viral.html">popular</a> among <a href="https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/QAT">citizens</a>. <a href="https://www.diwan.gov.qa/hh-the-amir?sc_lang=en#data---">Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</a>
 is part a family dynasty that has run the area’s politics since the 
1800s, even under Ottoman and British control. This makes Qatar one of 
eight Arab countries governed by hereditary kings.Hereditary ruling monarchies <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315203195-10/contemporary-kingship-muslim-arab-societies-comparative-context-david-mednicoff">may seem archaic</a> to people living in societies with elected leaders. Yet these systems <a href="https://theconversation.com/middle-eastern-monarchies-how-do-arab-ruling-families-hold-on-to-power-159952">have held onto power, outlasting the Arab uprisings of 2011</a>. The lack of democracy in Arab countries is also part of a broader trend, as <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2022/global-expansion-authoritarian-rule">autocratic governments are generally on the rise globally</a>. <h2>2. Yes – workers’ rights have been a problem </h2>Doha, the capital of Qatar, has become a major <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/">media</a>, <a href="https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city">educational</a>, <a href="https://raiagroup.org/qatars-tamim-is-leading-diplomacy-in-the-middle-east">diplomatic</a>
 and recreational hub over the past few decades. Its breakneck 
development also required workers from all over the world. As a result, 
foreign workers make up <a href="https://www.onlineqatar.com/visiting/tourist-information/qatar-population-and-expat-nationalities">about 85% of the country’s total population</a>, but they <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar">do not have the same rights</a> as Qatari citizens. Qatari natives have been reluctant to share their <a href="https://qatarofw.com/qatar-social-security/">extraordinary social welfare benefits</a>,
 like free medical care, with millions of workers from abroad. This 
makes for a system that gives many more rights to Qatari nationals than 
the millions of others who live there.Unusual, rapid growth like Qatar’s is a magnet for foreign contract 
workers worldwide. I enjoyed my opportunity to work there myself as a 
visiting professor and Fulbright scholar 15 years ago. Yet less 
privileged foreign workers can fare badly.In Qatar and its oil-rich peers, control by a minority of citizens over millions of workers with fewer rights leads to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/15/migrant-workers-in-qatar-face-structural-racism-says-un-report">discrimination and abuse</a>. Human rights groups, journalists and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/migrant-workers-recount-abuse-while-building-stadiums-for-world-cup-in-qatar">migrant workers</a> themselves have <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/02/reality-check-migrant-workers-rights-with-two-years-to-qatar-2022-world-cup/">sought to change harmful workplace practices</a>, such as withholding wages and forbidding unions. Qatar’s summer heat, <a href="https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/doha-climate">averaging 106 degrees Fahrenheit</a>
 (41 degrees Celsius), can make working conditions especially dangerous 
for outside construction workers. Since it is hard to know whether the 
alleged worker deaths are due specifically to bad working conditions, 
work-related issues, or something else, exact mortality numbers have <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-how-many-people-have-died-for-the-qatar-world-cup/a-63763713">been disputed and may be prone to exaggeration</a>. Yet no one doubts that <a href="https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/thousands-migrant-workers-died-qatars-extreme-heat-world-cup-forced-reckoning">conditions have been terrible</a> for many of Qatar’s most vulnerable workers.Other rights issues in Qatar have also <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/11/19/world-cup-lgbtq-fans-athletes-safety/">attracted global attention</a>. The conservative form of Islam that is part of Qatar’s identity allows little tolerance for LGBTQ rights. <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/qatar-security-forces-arrest-abuse-lgbt-people">Human rights groups have documented</a> detentions and other routine discrimination against LGBTQ people.<h2>3. Yet Qatar has made major reforms</h2>While workers’ rights have received appropriate Western media attention, Qatar’s direct efforts to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3836101/2022/11/17/how-ngos-responded-to-world-cup/">respond to local and international activism</a> are less known. Qatar <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/24/qatar-significant-labor-and-kafala-reforms">enacted the most significant labor rights reforms in the Arab world</a> in 2021. <a href="https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/WCMS_859880/lang--en/index.htm">Working with the International Labor Organization</a>,
 a United Nations agency that promotes fair and decent work worldwide, 
Qatar instituted a minimum wage of $275 per month, along with allowances
 for food and lodging. It also prohibited outdoor work during the peak 
of summer heat and eliminated many of the laws that gave employers 
control over their workers’ basic freedoms to leave their job or the 
country.Because the reforms are recent, it is hard to know whether they represent <a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/qatar">important steps forward</a> or <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/qatar-labour-reform-unfinished-and-compensation-still-owed-as-world-cup-looms/">incremental steps that will change little</a>. In any case, legislation in and of itself cannot remedy a complicated
 challenge involving a wide range of companies and other organizations 
that Qatar’s government does not control. Whether Qatar can and will 
enforce the new regulations consistently is one concern. Most foreign migrants arrive in Qatar through foreign-based recruitment companies, which charge them to secure jobs. So even if <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/1/qatar-made-progress-in-labour-reforms-ilo">Qatar tries to curb labor abuses</a>, <a href="https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/Country-Focus/world-cup-qatar#domestic">recruitment companies</a>
 based in migrants’ countries of origin would still profit by charging 
workers expensive placement fees, for example. Such recruiters often 
work with <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/de/von-uns/briefings/wake-up-call-exploitative-recruitment-risk-to-migrant-workers-in-qatars-world-cup-hotels/">multinational companies within Qatar</a> to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelposner/2022/10/28/world-cup-abuses-led-qatar-to-change-labor-laws-but-more-protection-is-needed/?sh=6cb0b28c2062">blunt the force</a> of the kingdom’s recent reforms. <h2>4. And Western critiques may conceal other agendas </h2><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/15/qatari-minister-slams-western-media-coverage-of-world-cup-record">Qatari officials have suggested</a>
 that international attention to foreign workers’ conditions is part of a
 broader pattern of Westerners belittling Arabs and Muslims. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/qatar-world-cup-team-depicted-terrorists-cartoon-sparks-outrage-1758928">One blatant example</a>
 is an October issue of the French right-wing satirical magazine “Le 
Canard enchaîné,” which depicted Qatari soccer players as terrorists.Calls in some parts of Europe for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/17/qatar-world-cup-broadcasting-boycotts-france">a widespread World Cup boycott</a> add fuel to this and <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">other arguments</a> that the European and American impression of Qatar is <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20221119-fifa-president-blasts-hypocrisy-of-western-critics-of-world-cup-host-qatar">hypocritical</a> and possibly <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221010-qatar-says-french-objections-to-fifa-world-cup-stem-from-islamophobia/">Islamophobic</a>.
 Though hardly a neutral observer, Gianni Infantino, the president of 
FIFA, which carries out the World Cup, reflected many Gulf Arabs’ views 
when he argued that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/19/fifa-chief-accuses-critics-of-qatar-of-hypocrisy-ahead-of-world-cup.html">Europe’s history of exploiting Middle Easterners and others</a> gives it little moral high ground on issues of non-Western rights. Because no Middle Eastern or Muslim-majority country had hosted the World Cup before 2022, Qatar’s achievement is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/opinion/qatar-world-cup-arab-football.html">significant</a>. The Economist <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup">argues that</a>
 Qatar’s responsiveness to pressures to improve its human rights climate
 may make it a more appropriate host for a global sporting event than 
other countries with poor human rights records, such as China or Russia.
 Yet genuine global concern about rights in countries like Qatar and 
mistrust between the Middle East and the West will persist. Can new 
global awareness of Qatar lead to more nuanced understanding of both 
cross-cultural similarities and differences between Arab Islamic 
countries and the rest of the world? For the moment, this is as hard to 
know as which country will win the World Cup.David Mednicoff, Chair, Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, and 
Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass 
Amherst<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194970/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

World Cup puts spotlight on Qatar — and its human rights record 

<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.

By TROY BICKHAM <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-turkey-the-main-dish-on-thanksgiving-193702">The Conversation</a>

Have you ever wondered why Thanksgiving revolves around turkey and not ham, chicken, venison, beef or corn?  

Almost <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2021/11/24/thanksgiving-food-debates-poll">9 in 10</a>
 Americans eat turkey during this festive meal, whether it’s roasted, 
deep-fried, grilled or cooked in any other way for the occasion.

You might believe it’s because of what the Pilgrims, a year after 
they landed in what’s now the state of Massachusetts, and their <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story">Indigenous Wampanoag guests</a> ate during their first thanksgiving feast in 1621. Or that it’s because <a href="https://www.almanac.com/wild-turkey-history-all-american-bird">turkey is originally from the Americas</a>.

But it has more to do with how Americans observed the holiday in the 
late 1800s than which poultry the Pilgrims ate while celebrating their 
bounty in 1621.

The <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.mourtsrelationor00brad/?st=pdf&amp;pdfPage=189">only firsthand record</a>
 of what the Pilgrims ate at the first thanksgiving feast comes from 
Edward Winslow. He noted that the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, arrived 
with 90 men, and the two communities feasted together for three days.

Winslow wrote little about the menu, aside from mentioning five deer 
that the Wampanoag brought and that the meal included “fowle,” which 
could have been any number of wild birds found in the area, including 
ducks, geese and turkeys.

Historians do know that important ingredients of today’s traditional dishes were not available during that first Thanksgiving.

That includes potatoes and green beans. The likely absence of wheat flour and the <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/40532/50517_aer382a.pdf?v=0">scarcity of sugar</a> in New England at the time ruled out pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. <a href="https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/squash.html">Some sort of squash</a>, a staple of Native American diets, was almost certainly served, <a href="https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/arts-culture/2021-11-24/heres-what-was-served-at-the-real-first-thanksgiving">along with corn</a> and shellfish.

<a href="https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/history/profile/troy-bickham/">Historians like me</a>
 who have studied the history of food have found that most modern 
Thanksgiving traditions began in the mid-19th century, more than two 
centuries after the Pilgrims’ first harvest celebration.

The reinvention of the Pilgrims’ celebration as a national holiday was largely the work of <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-hale">Sarah Hale</a>.
 Born in New Hampshire in 1784, as a young widow she published poetry to
 earn a living. Most notably, she wrote the nursery rhyme “<a href="https://www.almanac.com/sarah-josepha-hale-godmother-thanksgiving">Mary Had a Little Lamb</a>.”

In 1837, Hale became the editor of the popular magazine <a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=godeylady">Godey’s Lady’s Book</a>.
 Fiercely religious and family-focused, it crusaded for the creation of 
an annual national holiday of “Thanksgiving and Praise” commemorating 
the Pilgrims’ thanksgiving feast.

Hale and her colleagues leaned on 1621 lore for historical 
justification. Like many of her contemporaries, she assumed the Pilgrims
 ate turkey at their first feast because of the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-turkeys">abundance of edible wild turkeys in New England</a>.

This campaign took decades, partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among white Southerners. Many of them considered <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/nov02/thanks-early.html">an earlier celebration among Virginia colonists</a> in honor of supply ships that arrived at Jamestown in 1610 to be the more important precedent.

The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/expulsion_cases/CivilWar_Expulsion.htm">absence of Southerners serving in Congress</a> during the Civil War enabled <a href="https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/lincoln-and-thanksgiving.htm">President Abraham Lincoln</a> to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

Godey’s, along with other media, embraced the holiday, packing their 
pages with recipes from New England and menus that prominently featured 
turkey.

“We dare say most of the Thanksgiving will take the form of gastronomic pleasure,” <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/history-southern-thanksgiving">Georgia’s Augusta Chronicle</a> predicted in 1882. “Every person who can afford turkey or procure it will sacrifice the noble American fowl to-day.”

One reason for this: A roasted turkey makes a perfect celebratory centerpiece. 

A second one is that turkey is also practical for serving to a large 
crowd. Turkeys are bigger than other birds raised or hunted for their 
meat, and it’s <a href="https://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/meat-and-animal-feed.html">cheaper to produce a turkey than a cow or pig</a>.
 
The bird’s attributes led Europeans to incorporate turkeys into their 
diets following their colonization of the Americas. In England, <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/the-history-of-turkeys/">King Henry VIII</a> regularly enjoyed turkey on Christmas day a century before the Pilgrims’ feast.

The bird cemented its position as the <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/christmas-parties/christmas-party-ideas/why-do-we-eat-turkey-at-christmas_10022">favored Christmas dish in England in the mid-19th century</a>.

One reason for this was that Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A 
Christmas Carol” sought redemption by replacing the impoverished 
Cratchit family’s meager goose with an enormous turkey. 

Published in 1843, Dickens’ instantly best-selling depiction of the prayerful family meal would soon <a href="https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol">inspire Hale’s idealized Thanksgiving</a>.

Although the historical record is hazy, I do think it’s possible that
 the Pilgrims ate turkey in 1621. It certainly was served at 
celebrations in New England <a href="https://hilltownfamilies.org/2012/11/14/hf-613/?v=7516fd43adaa">throughout the colonial period</a>.

Troy Bickham is a Professor of History at Texas A&amp;M University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669043121500.jpeg" alt="Pixabay photo" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay photo</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.By TROY BICKHAM <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-turkey-the-main-dish-on-thanksgiving-193702">The Conversation</a>Have you ever wondered why Thanksgiving revolves around turkey and not ham, chicken, venison, beef or corn? Almost <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2021/11/24/thanksgiving-food-debates-poll">9 in 10</a>
 Americans eat turkey during this festive meal, whether it’s roasted, 
deep-fried, grilled or cooked in any other way for the occasion.You might believe it’s because of what the Pilgrims, a year after 
they landed in what’s now the state of Massachusetts, and their <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story">Indigenous Wampanoag guests</a> ate during their first thanksgiving feast in 1621. Or that it’s because <a href="https://www.almanac.com/wild-turkey-history-all-american-bird">turkey is originally from the Americas</a>. But it has more to do with how Americans observed the holiday in the 
late 1800s than which poultry the Pilgrims ate while celebrating their 
bounty in 1621.<h2>Did they or didn’t they eat it?</h2>The <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.mourtsrelationor00brad/?st=pdf&amp;pdfPage=189">only firsthand record</a>
 of what the Pilgrims ate at the first thanksgiving feast comes from 
Edward Winslow. He noted that the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, arrived 
with 90 men, and the two communities feasted together for three days. Winslow wrote little about the menu, aside from mentioning five deer 
that the Wampanoag brought and that the meal included “fowle,” which 
could have been any number of wild birds found in the area, including 
ducks, geese and turkeys.Historians do know that important ingredients of today’s traditional dishes were not available during that first Thanksgiving.That includes potatoes and green beans. The likely absence of wheat flour and the <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/40532/50517_aer382a.pdf?v=0">scarcity of sugar</a> in New England at the time ruled out pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. <a href="https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/squash.html">Some sort of squash</a>, a staple of Native American diets, was almost certainly served, <a href="https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/arts-culture/2021-11-24/heres-what-was-served-at-the-real-first-thanksgiving">along with corn</a> and shellfish.<h2>A resurrected tradition</h2><a href="https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/history/profile/troy-bickham/">Historians like me</a>
 who have studied the history of food have found that most modern 
Thanksgiving traditions began in the mid-19th century, more than two 
centuries after the Pilgrims’ first harvest celebration.The reinvention of the Pilgrims’ celebration as a national holiday was largely the work of <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-hale">Sarah Hale</a>.
 Born in New Hampshire in 1784, as a young widow she published poetry to
 earn a living. Most notably, she wrote the nursery rhyme “<a href="https://www.almanac.com/sarah-josepha-hale-godmother-thanksgiving">Mary Had a Little Lamb</a>.”In 1837, Hale became the editor of the popular magazine <a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=godeylady">Godey’s Lady’s Book</a>.
 Fiercely religious and family-focused, it crusaded for the creation of 
an annual national holiday of “Thanksgiving and Praise” commemorating 
the Pilgrims’ thanksgiving feast.Hale and her colleagues leaned on 1621 lore for historical 
justification. Like many of her contemporaries, she assumed the Pilgrims
 ate turkey at their first feast because of the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-turkeys">abundance of edible wild turkeys in New England</a>. This campaign took decades, partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among white Southerners. Many of them considered <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/nov02/thanks-early.html">an earlier celebration among Virginia colonists</a> in honor of supply ships that arrived at Jamestown in 1610 to be the more important precedent.The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/expulsion_cases/CivilWar_Expulsion.htm">absence of Southerners serving in Congress</a> during the Civil War enabled <a href="https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/lincoln-and-thanksgiving.htm">President Abraham Lincoln</a> to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.<h2>Turkey marketing campaign</h2>Godey’s, along with other media, embraced the holiday, packing their 
pages with recipes from New England and menus that prominently featured 
turkey.“We dare say most of the Thanksgiving will take the form of gastronomic pleasure,” <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/history-southern-thanksgiving">Georgia’s Augusta Chronicle</a> predicted in 1882. “Every person who can afford turkey or procure it will sacrifice the noble American fowl to-day.” One reason for this: A roasted turkey makes a perfect celebratory centerpiece. A second one is that turkey is also practical for serving to a large 
crowd. Turkeys are bigger than other birds raised or hunted for their 
meat, and it’s <a href="https://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/meat-and-animal-feed.html">cheaper to produce a turkey than a cow or pig</a>.
 
The bird’s attributes led Europeans to incorporate turkeys into their 
diets following their colonization of the Americas. In England, <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/the-history-of-turkeys/">King Henry VIII</a> regularly enjoyed turkey on Christmas day a century before the Pilgrims’ feast.<h2>Christmas connection</h2>The bird cemented its position as the <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/christmas-parties/christmas-party-ideas/why-do-we-eat-turkey-at-christmas_10022">favored Christmas dish in England in the mid-19th century</a>.One reason for this was that Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A 
Christmas Carol” sought redemption by replacing the impoverished 
Cratchit family’s meager goose with an enormous turkey. Published in 1843, Dickens’ instantly best-selling depiction of the prayerful family meal would soon <a href="https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol">inspire Hale’s idealized Thanksgiving</a>. Although the historical record is hazy, I do think it’s possible that
 the Pilgrims ate turkey in 1621. It certainly was served at 
celebrations in New England <a href="https://hilltownfamilies.org/2012/11/14/hf-613/?v=7516fd43adaa">throughout the colonial period</a>.Troy Bickham is a Professor of History at Texas A&amp;M University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193702/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

 Why is turkey the main dish on Thanksgiving?

Get Ready for what’s new for tax year 2022

WASHINGTON — The&nbsp;Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers 
to take simple steps before the end of the year to make filing their 
2022 federal tax return easier. With a little advance preparation, a 
preview of tax changes and convenient online tools, taxpayers can 
approach the upcoming tax season with confidence.

Filers can visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">Get Ready</a>
 webpage to find guidance on what’s new and what to consider when filing
 a 2022 tax return. They can also find helpful information on organizing
 tax records and a list of online tools and resources.

When filers have all their tax documentation gathered and organized, 
they’re in the best position to file an accurate return and avoid 
processing or refund delays or receiving IRS letters. Now’s a good time 
for taxpayers to consider financial transactions that occurred in 2022, 
if they’re taxable and how they should be reported.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to develop an electronic or paper 
recordkeeping system to store tax-related information in one place for 
easy access. Taxpayers should keep copies of filed tax returns and their
 supporting documents for at least three years.

Before January, taxpayers should confirm that their employer, bank 
and other payers have their current mailing address and email address to
 ensure they receive their year-end financial statements. Typically, 
year-end forms start arriving by mail or are available online in 
mid-to-late January. Taxpayers should carefully review each income 
statement for accuracy and contact the issuer to correct information 
that needs to be updated.

Get Ready for what’s new for Tax Year 2022

With the end of the year approaching, time is running out to take advantage of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>.
 This online tool is designed to help taxpayers determine the right 
amount of tax to have withheld from their paycheck. Some people may have
 life changes like getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or 
taking on a second job. Other taxpayers may need to consider estimated 
tax payments due to non-wage income from unemployment, self-employment, 
annuity income or even digital assets. The last quarterly payment for 
2022 is due on January 17, 2023. The Tax Withholding Estimator can help 
wage earners determine if there is a need to adjust their withholding, 
consider additional tax payments, or submit a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4-p">W-4 form</a> to their employer to avoid an unexpected tax bill when they file.

As taxpayers gather tax records, they should remember that most 
income is taxable. This includes unemployment income, refund interest 
and income from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center">gig economy</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/digital-assets">digital assets</a>.&nbsp;

Taxpayers should report the income they earned, including from 
part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods. The American Rescue Plan
 Act of 2021 lowered the reporting threshold for third-party networks 
that process payments for those doing business. Prior to 2022, Form 
1099-K was issued for third-party payment network transactions only if 
the total number of transactions exceeded 200 for the year and the 
aggregate amount of these transactions exceeded $20,000. Now a single 
transaction exceeding $600 can trigger a 1099-K. The lower information 
reporting threshold and the summary of income on Form 1099-K enables 
taxpayers to more easily track the amounts received. Remember, money 
received through third-party payment applications from friends and 
relatives as personal gifts or reimbursements for personal expenses is 
not taxable. Those who receive a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">1099-K</a> reflecting income they didn’t earn should call the issuer. The IRS cannot correct it.

Credit amounts also change each year like the&nbsp;Child Tax Credit (CTC),
 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)&nbsp;and Dependent Care Credit. Taxpayers 
can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 on IRS.gov to determine their eligibility for tax credits. Some 
taxpayers may qualify this year for the expanded eligibility for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-974">Premium Tax Credit</a>, while others may qualify for a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a> through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/latest-news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>.

Refunds may be smaller in 2023. Taxpayers will not receive an 
additional stimulus payment with a 2023 tax refund because there were no
 Economic Impact Payments for 2022. In addition, taxpayers who don’t 
itemize and take the standard deduction, won’t be able to deduct their 
charitable contributions.

The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a 2022 federal 
tax refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or 
paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take 
longer. For example, the IRS and its partners in the tax industry, 
continue to strengthen security reviews to protect against identity 
theft. Additionally, refunds for people claiming the Earned Income Tax 
Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) can’t be issued 
before mid-February. The law requires the IRS to hold the entire refund –
 not just the portion associated with EITC or ACTC. This law helps 
ensure taxpayers receive the refund they're due by giving the IRS time 
to detect and prevent fraud.

For taxpayers who are still waiting for confirmation that last year’s
 tax return processed, or for a tax year 2021 refund or stimulus payment
 to process, their patience is appreciated. As of November 11, 2022, the
 IRS had 3.7 million unprocessed individual returns received this year. 
These include tax year 2021 returns and late filed prior year returns. 
Of these, 1.7 million returns require error correction or other special 
handling, and 2 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and 
processed. They also had 900,000 unprocessed Forms 1040-X for amended 
tax returns. The IRS is processing these amended returns in the order 
received and the current timeframe can be more than 20 weeks. Taxpayers 
should continue to check&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>&nbsp;for the most up-to-date processing status available.

Taxpayers should ensure their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number">Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)</a>&nbsp;hasn’t expired before filing a 2022 tax return. Those who need to file a tax return, should submit a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7">Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number</a>&nbsp;now,
 to renew their ITIN. Taxpayers who fail to renew an ITIN before filing a
 tax return next year could face a delayed refund and may be ineligible 
for certain tax credits. Applying now will help avoid the rush as well 
as refund and processing delays in 2023.

Online tools are easy to use and available to taxpayers 24 hours a 
day. They provide key information about tax accounts and a convenient 
way to pay taxes. IRS.gov provides information in many languages and 
enhanced services for people with disabilities, including the 
Accessibility Helpline. Taxpayers who need accessibility assistance may 
call 833-690-0598. Taxpayers should use IRS.gov as their first and 
primary resource for accurate tax information.

Taxpayers should prepare to file electronically and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">Direct Deposit</a>
 for their tax refund – it’s the fastest and safest way to file and get a
 refund. Even when filing a paper return, choosing a direct deposit 
refund can save time. For those who do not have a bank account, the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a> offers information to help people open an account online.

Taxpayers can download <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5349.pdf">Publication 5349, Tax Preparation is for Everyone</a>PDF, for more information to help them get ready to file.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Get Ready for what’s new for tax year 2022</h2>IRSWASHINGTON — The&nbsp;Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers 
to take simple steps before the end of the year to make filing their 
2022 federal tax return easier. With a little advance preparation, a 
preview of tax changes and convenient online tools, taxpayers can 
approach the upcoming tax season with confidence.Filers can visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">Get Ready</a>
 webpage to find guidance on what’s new and what to consider when filing
 a 2022 tax return. They can also find helpful information on organizing
 tax records and a list of online tools and resources.<h2>Get Ready by gathering tax records</h2>When filers have all their tax documentation gathered and organized, 
they’re in the best position to file an accurate return and avoid 
processing or refund delays or receiving IRS letters. Now’s a good time 
for taxpayers to consider financial transactions that occurred in 2022, 
if they’re taxable and how they should be reported.The IRS encourages taxpayers to develop an electronic or paper 
recordkeeping system to store tax-related information in one place for 
easy access. Taxpayers should keep copies of filed tax returns and their
 supporting documents for at least three years.Before January, taxpayers should confirm that their employer, bank 
and other payers have their current mailing address and email address to
 ensure they receive their year-end financial statements. Typically, 
year-end forms start arriving by mail or are available online in 
mid-to-late January. Taxpayers should carefully review each income 
statement for accuracy and contact the issuer to correct information 
that needs to be updated.<h2>Get Ready for what’s new for Tax Year 2022</h2>With the end of the year approaching, time is running out to take advantage of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>.
 This online tool is designed to help taxpayers determine the right 
amount of tax to have withheld from their paycheck. Some people may have
 life changes like getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or 
taking on a second job. Other taxpayers may need to consider estimated 
tax payments due to non-wage income from unemployment, self-employment, 
annuity income or even digital assets. The last quarterly payment for 
2022 is due on January 17, 2023. The Tax Withholding Estimator can help 
wage earners determine if there is a need to adjust their withholding, 
consider additional tax payments, or submit a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4-p">W-4 form</a> to their employer to avoid an unexpected tax bill when they file.As taxpayers gather tax records, they should remember that most 
income is taxable. This includes unemployment income, refund interest 
and income from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center">gig economy</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/digital-assets">digital assets</a>.&nbsp;Taxpayers should report the income they earned, including from 
part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods. The American Rescue Plan
 Act of 2021 lowered the reporting threshold for third-party networks 
that process payments for those doing business. Prior to 2022, Form 
1099-K was issued for third-party payment network transactions only if 
the total number of transactions exceeded 200 for the year and the 
aggregate amount of these transactions exceeded $20,000. Now a single 
transaction exceeding $600 can trigger a 1099-K. The lower information 
reporting threshold and the summary of income on Form 1099-K enables 
taxpayers to more easily track the amounts received. Remember, money 
received through third-party payment applications from friends and 
relatives as personal gifts or reimbursements for personal expenses is 
not taxable. Those who receive a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">1099-K</a> reflecting income they didn’t earn should call the issuer. The IRS cannot correct it.Credit amounts also change each year like the&nbsp;Child Tax Credit (CTC),
 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)&nbsp;and Dependent Care Credit. Taxpayers 
can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 on IRS.gov to determine their eligibility for tax credits. Some 
taxpayers may qualify this year for the expanded eligibility for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-974">Premium Tax Credit</a>, while others may qualify for a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a> through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/latest-news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>.Refunds may be smaller in 2023. Taxpayers will not receive an 
additional stimulus payment with a 2023 tax refund because there were no
 Economic Impact Payments for 2022. In addition, taxpayers who don’t 
itemize and take the standard deduction, won’t be able to deduct their 
charitable contributions.The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a 2022 federal 
tax refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or 
paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take 
longer. For example, the IRS and its partners in the tax industry, 
continue to strengthen security reviews to protect against identity 
theft. Additionally, refunds for people claiming the Earned Income Tax 
Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) can’t be issued 
before mid-February. The law requires the IRS to hold the entire refund –
 not just the portion associated with EITC or ACTC. This law helps 
ensure taxpayers receive the refund they're due by giving the IRS time 
to detect and prevent fraud.For taxpayers who are still waiting for confirmation that last year’s
 tax return processed, or for a tax year 2021 refund or stimulus payment
 to process, their patience is appreciated. As of November 11, 2022, the
 IRS had 3.7 million unprocessed individual returns received this year. 
These include tax year 2021 returns and late filed prior year returns. 
Of these, 1.7 million returns require error correction or other special 
handling, and 2 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and 
processed. They also had 900,000 unprocessed Forms 1040-X for amended 
tax returns. The IRS is processing these amended returns in the order 
received and the current timeframe can be more than 20 weeks. Taxpayers 
should continue to check&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>&nbsp;for the most up-to-date processing status available.<h2>Renew expiring tax ID numbers</h2>Taxpayers should ensure their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number">Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)</a>&nbsp;hasn’t expired before filing a 2022 tax return. Those who need to file a tax return, should submit a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7">Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number</a>&nbsp;now,
 to renew their ITIN. Taxpayers who fail to renew an ITIN before filing a
 tax return next year could face a delayed refund and may be ineligible 
for certain tax credits. Applying now will help avoid the rush as well 
as refund and processing delays in 2023.<h2>Bookmark the following tools on IRS.gov</h2>Online tools are easy to use and available to taxpayers 24 hours a 
day. They provide key information about tax accounts and a convenient 
way to pay taxes. IRS.gov provides information in many languages and 
enhanced services for people with disabilities, including the 
Accessibility Helpline. Taxpayers who need accessibility assistance may 
call 833-690-0598. Taxpayers should use IRS.gov as their first and 
primary resource for accurate tax information.<ul>
 <li>Let Us Help You page. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">Let Us Help You</a> page on IRS.gov has links to information and resources on a wide range of topics.
	</li><li>Online Account. An <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS online account</a>
 lets taxpayers securely access their personal tax information, 
including tax return transcripts, payment history, certain notices, 
prior year adjusted gross income and power of attorney information. 
Filers can log in to verify if their name and address is correct. They 
should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes">notify IRS if their address has changed</a>. They must notify the <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/">Social Security Administration</a> of a legal name change to avoid a delay in processing their tax return.
	</li><li>IRS Free File. Almost everyone can file electronically for free on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS.gov/freefile</a> or with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>.
 The IRS Free File program, available only through IRS.gov, offers 
brand-name tax preparation software packages at no cost. The software 
does all the work of finding deductions, credits and exemptions for 
filers. It‘s free for those who qualify. Some Free File packages offer 
free state tax return preparation. Those who are comfortable preparing 
their own taxes can use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>, regardless of their income, to file their tax return either online or by mail.
	</li><li>Find a tax professional. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Choosing a Tax Professional</a> page on IRS.gov has a wealth of information to help filers choose a tax professional. In addition, the <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find preparers in their area who hold professional 
credentials recognized by the IRS, or who hold an Annual Filing Season 
Program Record of Completion.
	</li><li>Interactive Tax Assistant. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 is a tool that provides answers to many tax questions. It can determine
 if a type of income is taxable and eligibility to claim certain credits
 or deductions. It also provides answers for general questions, such as 
determining filing requirement, filing status or eligibility to claim a 
dependent.
	</li><li>Where's My Refund? Taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where’s My Refund?</a>
 tool to check the status of their refund. Current year refund 
information is typically available online within 24 hours after the IRS 
receives an e-filed tax return. A paper return status can take up to 
four weeks to appear after it is mailed. The Where’s My Refund? tool 
updates once every 24 hours, usually overnight, so filers only need to 
check once a day.
	</li><li>Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)</a> programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.
	</li>
 </ul><h2>Get refunds fast with Direct Deposit</h2>Taxpayers should prepare to file electronically and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">Direct Deposit</a>
 for their tax refund – it’s the fastest and safest way to file and get a
 refund. Even when filing a paper return, choosing a direct deposit 
refund can save time. For those who do not have a bank account, the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a> offers information to help people open an account online.Taxpayers can download <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5349.pdf">Publication 5349, Tax Preparation is for Everyone</a>PDF, for more information to help them get ready to file.

Get Ready: IRS offers tips, guidelines for filing 2022 returns

PORTLAND,
 Ore. — Good news for fans of “The Goonies:” the old Victorian home
 featured in the film is on sale in Astoria, Oregon, and potential 
buyers are considering making it more accessible to the public.

“We
 have a few interested parties right now,” said realtor Jordan Miller, 
the listing agent for the property. “It seems to be everybody's 
intention to be able to open up the house a little bit more and have 
more access.”

The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia 
River flowing into the Pacific Ocean has been listed with an asking 
price of $1.7 million on Zillow, where it's described as “fully loaded 
with history, nostalgia and iconic level of fame.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669144243224.jpeg" alt="The house featured in the Steven Spielberg film "The Goonies" is seen in Astoria, Ore., on May 24, 2001. The Victorian home, built in 1896 with sweeping views of the Columbia River as it flows into the Pacific Ocean, is now for sale has been listed with an asking price of $1.7 million. Since the film was released in 1985, fans have flocked to the home, and the owner has long complained of constant crowds and trespassing. (AP Photo/Stepanie Firth, File)" />
 <figcaption>The house featured in the Steven Spielberg film "The Goonies" is seen in Astoria, Ore., on May 24, 2001. The Victorian home, built in 1896 with sweeping views of the Columbia River as it flows into the Pacific Ocean, is now for sale has been listed with an asking price of $1.7 million. Since the film was released in 1985, fans have flocked to the home, and the owner has long complained of constant crowds and trespassing. (AP Photo/Stepanie Firth, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>Associated PressPORTLAND,
 Ore. — Good news for fans of “The Goonies:” the old Victorian home
 featured in the film is on sale in Astoria, Oregon, and potential 
buyers are considering making it more accessible to the public.“We
 have a few interested parties right now,” said realtor Jordan Miller, 
the listing agent for the property. “It seems to be everybody's 
intention to be able to open up the house a little bit more and have 
more access.”The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia 
River flowing into the Pacific Ocean has been listed with an asking 
price of $1.7 million on Zillow, where it's described as “fully loaded 
with history, nostalgia and iconic level of fame.”Since the movie
 hit theaters in 1985, fans have flocked to the home in northwestern 
Oregon's historic port of Astoria. The city celebrates Goonies Day on 
June 7, the film's release date, and welcomes thousands of people for 
the event.Owner Sandi Preston was known to have been largely 
welcoming to visitors. But she lived in the house full time, and the 
constant crowds were a strain that prompted her at times to close it to 
foot traffic.After the film's 30th anniversary drew about 1,500 
daily visitors in 2015, Preston posted “no trespassing” signs 
prohibiting tourists from walking up to the property. She reopened it to
 the public this past August.City officials, who restricted 
parking in the area, have long sought to mediate the tensions between 
residents and the fans hoping to see and photograph the location.“While
 the owner of this location from The Goonies is a fan of the movie and 
enjoys chatting with visitors making the trek to Astoria to see the film
 locations, as you can imagine, it gets hard having hundreds of people 
crowding into your personal space every single day,” the 
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce wrote in August on a Facebook page
 they administer called Goonies Day in Astoria, Oregon.In the 
coming-of-age film, based on a story by Steven Spielberg and featuring a
 young Sean Astin, a group of friends fight to protect their homes from 
an expanding country club and threats of foreclosure. In the process, 
they discover an old treasure map that leads them on an adventure and 
allows them to save their “Goon Docks” neighborhood.Astoria and 
its rugged coastline served as the backdrop for several well-known films
 from the 1980s and ’90s, including “Kindergarten Cop” starring Arnold 
Schwarzenegger.For now, potential buyers of the iconic Goonies 
house don't seem to want to make the house their primary residence, said
 listing agent Miller, suggesting it has drawn interest from people who 
want to “make it their passion.”“It’s kind of a fun buy,” Miller 
said. “Whoever buys the house is going to have a relatively steady 
stream of extremely happy people walking up outside to fulfill their 
childhood dreams.”

Misc