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This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here. Imagine turning your reading history into a treasure map. By feeding a list of your favorite books and movies to an AI assistant, you can uncover hidden patterns in what you love. From your subconscious attraction to unreliable narrators to your love for stories that begin at the end, you may be surprised by what an AI assistant can reveal. Building a personal “taste atlas” helps you understand your reading self better. It can also surface blind spots in your cultural diet and point you toward unexplored literary territories you’re likely to love. Why analyze your preferences? This isn’t just another recommendation engine. Netflix or Amazon may suggest what to watch or buy next based on viewing history, but a taste atlas goes much deeper. It analyzes themes, narrative structures, and emotional resonance across media formats. It can reveal connections between novels you adore and foreign films you’ve never heard of, or help you articulate why certain stories stick with you while others don’t. You can tune the atlas by adjusting the info and examples you give it. You can customize the analysis with your prompts, asking for particular kinds of observations or recommendations. With AI’s help, you can map out your own universe of awesome. As you scout out gaps in your reading or movie watching, you can discover authors and films that expand your horizons. Start by gathering your favorites You need to provide an AI assistant with a list of at least 10-15 titles that resonate with you for meaningful insights; 30+ is better. Here are the fastest ways to gather them. Physical books or DVDs: snap a photo of your bookshelf. AI can read the titles. Or write a list of titles on paper. AI assistants can read handwriting surprisingly well. Digital readers: refer to your Kindle library, your “read” shelf on Goodreads, listen history on Audible, timeline on Libby, or any doc or spreadsheet you maintain with your favorites. Streaming: Apps like Likewise, Sofa, Listy, Listium, Letterboxd, Trakt, and Reelgood let you compile lists of favorites. You can use those collections to train your AI assistant. Use your voice: If talking jogs your memory, use conversation mode in ChatGPT, Claude, Google’s Gemini, or Microsoft’s CoPilot. Let the AI interview you about your favorite books or movies. Scan award lists: If you can’t think of favorites, check a list of Oscar-winning movies or book awards for reminders of what you’ve enjoyed. Criteria: Consider titles you often revisit or recommend. Include recent favorites and older resonant ones. Give extra weight to those that provoked emotion, changed your perspective, or prompted action. Ideally, note not just the title but one or more aspects of a work that particularly resonated. Prompt AI to analyze your list Once you’ve compiled your list, use your preferred AI tool to uncover patterns in your literary tastes. Prompt the AI assistant for insights to advance your self-understanding. After that, ask it to help you discover more books/movies you’ll love. Start by writing a detailed prompt to elicit a thorough, subtle analysis of your taste in books or movies. Here’s an example you can adopt or adapt: You are a perceptive literary critic and cultural analyst with deep knowledge of literature across genres and cultures. Carefully analyze the attached list of my favorite books for patterns. Think deeply about connections between titles and topics that might not be immediately apparent. Where you notice interesting patterns, explain your reasoning and cite specific examples. Please analyze this list of my favorite books. Create a detailed literary taste profile that identifies: Core Elements: Primary themes and topics Genre preferences and style patterns Narrative approaches and structure choices Character types and relationships Tone and emotional range »»»» Upload a file with your list or paste it. Which AI tool to use? ChatGPT 4o worked well for me in importing Google Docs and PDFs with my favorites. Its analysis and recommendations were nuanced and helpful. Limitation: Occasionally, it suggested authors who were already in my existing lists, despite being prompted not to. Claude Pro provided an excellent overview of the kinds of books I’ve selected for the book group I facilitate over the past eight years. It helped identify gaps in our reading list and offered useful suggestions for future titles. Limitation: Some documents I tried to import, like my Readwise reading highlights, were too large to fit in a Claude Project I created for my taste atlas. Gemini 2.0 Experimental Advanced, Google’s newest model, was an excellent voice partner in analyzing my current reading interests. Limitation: 2.0 couldn’t yet import documents, but Gemini 1.5 could. It helpfully analyzed the Google Doc with my complete Readwise Highlights archive. Use either free or premium AI tools for this analysis. For long book lists or extensive highlights, use a pro model for nuanced analysis. Expand your taste horizons Once an AI tool has analyzed your book or movie preferences, prompt it to suggest new authors and titles. Ask about specific connections between the titles you liked and its recommendations, so you understand the rationale. Cultural leaps: Ask AI to identify authors who write like your favorites but in different languages or cultures. What’s missing? Try a prompt about negative space — what authors, titles, topics or genres are missing from your favorites. What notable titles might stretch your literary horizons? Bridges to the past: Prompt your AI assistant to suggest “bridge authors” who influenced the writers you enjoy. This is most effective if the authors on your list are well-known. Cross media: Ask for documentaries and feature films that share traits with your favorite books. To push the AI further, ask for plays and songs. Next Steps Make it a project If you use ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro, start a dedicated project (learn more) to house your taste atlas. This lets you refine and expand your analysis over time. You can also create a Perplexity Space to combine AI search with analysis. Or make a Custom GPT or an AI Poe bot to share a group taste atlas with a class, a book group, or others who share an interest. NotebookLM (read more) is another great tool for analyzing collections of your favorite works in AI-powered notebooks. It accepts files of up to 50,000 words, up to 200mb, so it’s especially useful if you run into file size caps on other platforms. It’s also uniquely able to generate an audio summary piece about your favorites. (The video accompanying this piece has an excerpt of an audio piece generated with my reading highlights). Share for human insight Share your taste profile with a friend or librarian. They’ll spot patterns the AI missed or suggest unexpected connections. Expand to music and beyond Once you’ve mapped your reading and movie preferences, try a similar approach for your favorite music, art, food, and other interests. This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here. View the full article

In this article, we’ll show you how to create posters using the Canva Poster Maker. We’ll provide some tips and tricks on how to make the most of this free, powerful creative tool, as well as walk you through the creation process step-by-step. So if you’re looking for poster templates that can be used by individuals and small teams that will impress your friends and family, read on. Why You Should be Making Canva Posters If you’re familiar with Canva, you understand that it is a robust creative tool that enables individuals and small teams to craft and download eye-catching designs for social media. With its simple and intuitive design interface, even those with no prior graphic design experience can create a professional-quality poster, social media video, and other visuals in minutes. Here are four reasons why a business seeking an integrated tool for free should be making Canva posters: Canva is easy to use. Creating a design with Canva is as simple as drag-and-drop. The platform provides you with all the tools and resources you need to create a professional-looking poster, and its intuitive design interface makes the entire process easy. Canva is affordable. With its basic plan, which is free for all registered users, and inexpensive paid plans, Canva is an affordable option for those looking to create high-quality graphics without spending a lot of money on content. Canva has a huge selection of templates and resources. With an extensive library of templates and resources, Canva makes it simple to discover the ideal starting point for your poster design. Additionally, if you’re seeking further inspiration, the platform provides a variety of tutorials and guides to assist you in getting started. Canva is versatile. Beyond posters, Canva offers the ability to design a wide range of visuals, including social media posts, infographics, and presentations. Whatever type of graphic you require, you can likely find a template or resource in Canva that will assist you in creating it. What Size are Canva Posters? Canva is a great online design platform that has many different sizes for individuals and small teams to create posters and get custom prints. The main sizes include: Smallest (8.5×11 ) – Used for information desk areas, handouts, street posts, and A4 posters. Small (11×17) – This poster size is used for events, bulletin boards, promotions, and concerts. Medium (18×24) – This poster size is great for small ads, campaign posters, small displays, and celebrity posters. Large (24×36) – The large poster size is usually used for events, decorative imagery, small movie posters, concerts, outdoor ads, and outdoor venue posters. How to Create a Canva Poster: A Step-by-Step Guide Creating a poster in Canva is easy and fun for any person or business seeking an integrated tool that’s free for all registered users. You can create a poster for free, or you can upgrade to a paid account for more features. Canva Pro is free during the 30-day trial. Let’s discuss how to create a Canva poster step-by-step: Step 1: Login and Navigate to Poster Templates After logging into your account, move your mouse pointer to “Templates” and select “Posters.” Step 2: Choose a Template When you find a template you’d like to use and customize for your audience, click on it, then click the “Customize this template” button. Step 3: Modify Images To remove any images from your design, simply click on them and hit delete or backspace on your keyboard. You can grab new images for your design from the “Elements,” “Photos,” and “Uploads” sections. You can also modify the background color and image. Step 4: Change Fonts You can change the letter styles of your design using Canva fonts. To do this, click on the words you want to change, click the font box, then select the font you’d like to use. Step 5: Download Your Poster Download your poster by clicking on “Share,” then “Download.” Make sure your settings are to your liking, then click the “Download” button to save your design to your computer. How to Print a Poster from Canva Now that you have your perfectly designed poster, it’s time to order custom prints. Step 6: Time to Print Your Poster Click “Print Posters” at the top right corner of your screen. Step 7: Select the Size and Number of Copies Select the size poster you want to be printed and the number of copies, then click “Continue.” Step 8: Avoid White or Unprinted Edges To avoid any white or unprinted edges, you may need to stretch your background as described in the screenshot above. When that’s done, click “Continue.” Step 9: Stay Out of the Danger Zone Prevent any images or text from being cut off by keeping them out of the danger zone. Click “Continue” when you’re ready to move on. Step 10: Check for Mistakes and Download Proof Check to make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes in your poster design. Then, download your PDF proof and click “Continue.” Step 11: Enter Shipping Details Enter your address information and select your shipping speed. At this stage, your design is locked, and you will not be able to make any changes. Step 12: Place Your Order After verifying that your order details are accurate, click “Place Order.” If you have a credit card saved on file, it will be used for your order. If not, you can input your credit card information. Best Canva Poster Templates Canva is great for creating high-quality graphics and images to use in your advertising content such as a social media video. Posters don’t come in frames, but Canva does offer other prints that do. Pink Job Vacancy Creative Agency Poster This is an 18×24 poster template designed by Chanut Industries, which is perfect for any business looking to hire. Red and White World Blood Donor Day Poster Sun Flower’s Team brings us the 18×24 template that’s perfect for blood drives and charities. Multicolor Cheerful Watercolor Happy Birthday Poster Irene Kras designed a beautiful poster template that’s perfect for event planning businesses. Coffee Shop Poster This simple yet elegant design hexagon-studio is ideal for a coffee shop, cafe, or diner. Modern House For Sale Poster This template, brought to us by waves flow, is great for the real estate industry. Examples of Canva Posters Here are five excellent examples of posters that were designed using Canva: Savannah Music Festival Poster Here’s a poster designed by Brian Stauffer where he used soft springtime colors I’m Having a Garage Sale with Screen Printed Posters! Allen Peters created a stunning design featuring a bold background composed of solid color blocks. AlphaBet Food Poster Kittaya Treseangrat brings us this food-inspired poster that includes clean, simple fonts. Annual Typography Event Poster This poster, by Will Miller, is a creative design he created to promote an annual typography event. Melbourne Food & Wine poster Kaushik Design made this creative design for a food and wine festival. Can you make large posters on Canva? Yes! Individuals and small teams can make large posters in Canva. A large poster is perfect for events, decorative imagery, and small movie posters. It can also be used in concert or outdoor advertising campaigns to advertise an upcoming show at your local venue! Can you download a poster for free in Canva? Yes, individuals and small teams can create and download designs for free in Canva. However, the quality of the poster may not be as high as if you were to pay for a subscription. With a subscription, your business gains access to additional features and higher-quality images. Fortunately, Canva Pro is available for free for 30 days. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Use the Canva Poster Maker" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In this article, we’ll show you how to create posters using the Canva Poster Maker. We’ll provide some tips and tricks on how to make the most of this free, powerful creative tool, as well as walk you through the creation process step-by-step. So if you’re looking for poster templates that can be used by individuals and small teams that will impress your friends and family, read on. Why You Should be Making Canva Posters If you’re familiar with Canva, you understand that it is a robust creative tool that enables individuals and small teams to craft and download eye-catching designs for social media. With its simple and intuitive design interface, even those with no prior graphic design experience can create a professional-quality poster, social media video, and other visuals in minutes. Here are four reasons why a business seeking an integrated tool for free should be making Canva posters: Canva is easy to use. Creating a design with Canva is as simple as drag-and-drop. The platform provides you with all the tools and resources you need to create a professional-looking poster, and its intuitive design interface makes the entire process easy. Canva is affordable. With its basic plan, which is free for all registered users, and inexpensive paid plans, Canva is an affordable option for those looking to create high-quality graphics without spending a lot of money on content. Canva has a huge selection of templates and resources. With an extensive library of templates and resources, Canva makes it simple to discover the ideal starting point for your poster design. Additionally, if you’re seeking further inspiration, the platform provides a variety of tutorials and guides to assist you in getting started. Canva is versatile. Beyond posters, Canva offers the ability to design a wide range of visuals, including social media posts, infographics, and presentations. Whatever type of graphic you require, you can likely find a template or resource in Canva that will assist you in creating it. What Size are Canva Posters? Canva is a great online design platform that has many different sizes for individuals and small teams to create posters and get custom prints. The main sizes include: Smallest (8.5×11 ) – Used for information desk areas, handouts, street posts, and A4 posters. Small (11×17) – This poster size is used for events, bulletin boards, promotions, and concerts. Medium (18×24) – This poster size is great for small ads, campaign posters, small displays, and celebrity posters. Large (24×36) – The large poster size is usually used for events, decorative imagery, small movie posters, concerts, outdoor ads, and outdoor venue posters. How to Create a Canva Poster: A Step-by-Step Guide Creating a poster in Canva is easy and fun for any person or business seeking an integrated tool that’s free for all registered users. You can create a poster for free, or you can upgrade to a paid account for more features. Canva Pro is free during the 30-day trial. Let’s discuss how to create a Canva poster step-by-step: Step 1: Login and Navigate to Poster Templates After logging into your account, move your mouse pointer to “Templates” and select “Posters.” Step 2: Choose a Template When you find a template you’d like to use and customize for your audience, click on it, then click the “Customize this template” button. Step 3: Modify Images To remove any images from your design, simply click on them and hit delete or backspace on your keyboard. You can grab new images for your design from the “Elements,” “Photos,” and “Uploads” sections. You can also modify the background color and image. Step 4: Change Fonts You can change the letter styles of your design using Canva fonts. To do this, click on the words you want to change, click the font box, then select the font you’d like to use. Step 5: Download Your Poster Download your poster by clicking on “Share,” then “Download.” Make sure your settings are to your liking, then click the “Download” button to save your design to your computer. How to Print a Poster from Canva Now that you have your perfectly designed poster, it’s time to order custom prints. Step 6: Time to Print Your Poster Click “Print Posters” at the top right corner of your screen. Step 7: Select the Size and Number of Copies Select the size poster you want to be printed and the number of copies, then click “Continue.” Step 8: Avoid White or Unprinted Edges To avoid any white or unprinted edges, you may need to stretch your background as described in the screenshot above. When that’s done, click “Continue.” Step 9: Stay Out of the Danger Zone Prevent any images or text from being cut off by keeping them out of the danger zone. Click “Continue” when you’re ready to move on. Step 10: Check for Mistakes and Download Proof Check to make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes in your poster design. Then, download your PDF proof and click “Continue.” Step 11: Enter Shipping Details Enter your address information and select your shipping speed. At this stage, your design is locked, and you will not be able to make any changes. Step 12: Place Your Order After verifying that your order details are accurate, click “Place Order.” If you have a credit card saved on file, it will be used for your order. If not, you can input your credit card information. Best Canva Poster Templates Canva is great for creating high-quality graphics and images to use in your advertising content such as a social media video. Posters don’t come in frames, but Canva does offer other prints that do. Pink Job Vacancy Creative Agency Poster This is an 18×24 poster template designed by Chanut Industries, which is perfect for any business looking to hire. Red and White World Blood Donor Day Poster Sun Flower’s Team brings us the 18×24 template that’s perfect for blood drives and charities. Multicolor Cheerful Watercolor Happy Birthday Poster Irene Kras designed a beautiful poster template that’s perfect for event planning businesses. Coffee Shop Poster This simple yet elegant design hexagon-studio is ideal for a coffee shop, cafe, or diner. Modern House For Sale Poster This template, brought to us by waves flow, is great for the real estate industry. Examples of Canva Posters Here are five excellent examples of posters that were designed using Canva: Savannah Music Festival Poster Here’s a poster designed by Brian Stauffer where he used soft springtime colors I’m Having a Garage Sale with Screen Printed Posters! Allen Peters created a stunning design featuring a bold background composed of solid color blocks. AlphaBet Food Poster Kittaya Treseangrat brings us this food-inspired poster that includes clean, simple fonts. Annual Typography Event Poster This poster, by Will Miller, is a creative design he created to promote an annual typography event. Melbourne Food & Wine poster Kaushik Design made this creative design for a food and wine festival. Can you make large posters on Canva? Yes! Individuals and small teams can make large posters in Canva. A large poster is perfect for events, decorative imagery, and small movie posters. It can also be used in concert or outdoor advertising campaigns to advertise an upcoming show at your local venue! Can you download a poster for free in Canva? Yes, individuals and small teams can create and download designs for free in Canva. However, the quality of the poster may not be as high as if you were to pay for a subscription. With a subscription, your business gains access to additional features and higher-quality images. Fortunately, Canva Pro is available for free for 30 days. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Use the Canva Poster Maker" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For now, Priester’s will have to stick to its famous pecans in Fort Payne, Alabama. But maybe not for long. Priester’s Pecans, an Alabama staple, is one of more than half a dozen sites across the state slated to receive millions of dollars in federal funding to expand access to chargers for electric vehicles. Across the country, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law under then-President Joe Biden, is set to provide $5 billion to states for projects that expand the nation’s EV charging infrastructure. But in a Feb. 6 letter, a Trump administration official notified state directors of transportation that, effectively, they can’t spend it. The Federal Highway Administration rescinded guidance on the funds, which had been allocated by Congress, and “is also immediately suspending the approval of all State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plans for all fiscal years,” the letter said. “Therefore, effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new State plans are submitted and approved.” POLITICO reported on Wednesday that a DOT spokesman said in an email that states were free to use a small portion of the funding—about $400 million—because that was money the states had already “obligated,” or awarded to subcontractors. But that would still leave close to 90% of the funding up in the air. Even before the administration had issued its letter, some Republican-led states, including Alabama, had already announced pauses to their states’ implementation of the national EV charging program. “In response to Unleashing American Energy, one of several Executive Orders that President Trump signed on January 20, 2025, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has paused the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program as of January 28, 2025,” the Alabama agency responsible for implementing NEVI posted on its website. “In addition, for applications for funding that were originally due on March 17, 2025, ADECA has closed the application window until further notice.” Despite the announcement by the Trump administration, however, legal experts and those familiar with the electric charging program at issue say the president does not have the power to permanently nix the NEVI program. “NEVI funding was appropriated by Congress as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, and it cannot be canceled by the executive branch,” said Elizabeth Turnbull, director of policy and regulatory affairs at the Alliance for Transportation Electrification, a trade group for the electric vehicle industry. “It’s not clear that the secretary of transportation has the authority to revoke states’ NEVI plans, and it’s quite clear that the executive branch lacks the authority to withhold the funding for any sustained period. So, we expect recent executive branch actions to be successfully challenged in court.” Even under the most aggressive arguments for a strong executive branch, the Supreme Court has stated clearly that the Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to appropriate and legislate. Lawmakers, too, have weighed in on the legality of the Trump administration’s NEVI directive, saying officials acted with “blatant disregard for the law.” In a letter to administration officials, Democratic members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works urged the Department of Transportation to retract its Feb. 6 letter and “implement the law according to your responsibilities.” The Democrats’ letter also asked for responses to questions about the legal basis for the action and for information about the involvement of individuals associated with Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency.” DOGE is not an official department, and multiple reports show that Musk’s team has been dismantling parts or all of some federal agencies. Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, currently has the largest network of fast chargers in the country. It’s not yet clear if any new policies on NEVI, or the pause on building out a more robust network for all EV drivers, could benefit Tesla. The Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration’s parent agency, did not respond to a request for comment. With or without NEVI, the move toward the electrification of transportation is inevitable, experts say. But they warn that although the administration’s pause of the program will likely be reversed by the courts, even a temporary delay in EV charging infrastructure can harm the nation’s ability to quickly and efficiently transition to electric vehicles. And the Trump administration ignored an earlier court order to lift a broad freeze on federal funds, a federal judge ruled this week. Meanwhile, Trump’s NEVI freeze has sown confusion across the country, with EV stakeholders and state governments scrambling to figure out what the funding pause will mean and how to respond. Beyond Alabama, interviews across the country found officials in deep red Wyoming contemplating a possible return of funds, while those in progressive states like Illinois and Maryland remain firmly committed to the EV buildout, with or without federal funding. In purple North Carolina, officials are in limbo, having already spent some NEVI funds, but not sure how to proceed with the next round of projects. Alabama In Alabama, officials had already announced plans to fund more than a dozen chargers at sites across the state along interstates and major highways, including installing two dual-port chargers at eight Love’s Travel Stops and another at Priester’s Pecans off I-65 in Fort Deposit. At the time, state officials, including Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, praised the funding. “Having strategic electric vehicle charging stations across Alabama not only benefits EV drivers, but it also benefits those companies that produce electric vehicles, including many of them right here in Alabama, resulting in more high-paying jobs for Alabamians,” Ivey said when the funding allocation was announced in July 2024. “This latest round of projects will provide added assurance that Alabamians and travelers to our state who choose electric vehicles can travel those highways and know a charging station is within a reliable distance on their routes.” In total, Alabama was set to receive $79 million in funding through the program, including $2.4 million to expand training programs for the installation, testing, operation and maintenance of EVs and EV chargers at Bevill State Community College in the central part of the state. The college did not respond to a request for comment on whether the money had been disbursed to the institution before the announced pause. [Chart: Paul Horn/Inside Climate News] In an email exchange this week, a spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs confirmed what the agency had posted to its website in the wake of Trump’s inauguration—that the state would pause NEVI projects and await further guidance from the Trump administration. Even with a pause, however, stakeholders in Alabama and across the country have expressed a commitment to continuing the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. For its part, Love’s Travel Stops, a 42-state chain that had been set to receive more than $5.8 million in funding for EV chargers in Alabama alone, said it will continue to roll out electric chargers at locations nationwide. “Love’s remains committed to meeting customers’ needs regardless of fuel type and believes a robust electric vehicle charging network is a part of that,” Kim Okafor, general manager of zero emissions for Love's, said in an emailed statement. “Love’s will continue to monitor related executive orders and subsequent changes in law to determine the next steps. This includes the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Electric Vehicle charging plan timelines.” The state of Alabama, meanwhile, has its own EV charger program apart from NEVI that has already funded millions of dollars worth of charging infrastructure. In January, even after its announced pause of NEVI implementation, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs announced the awarding of six grants totaling $2.26 million from state funds for the construction of EV chargers in Huntsville, Hoover, Tuscaloosa and Mobile. “The installation of electric vehicle charging stations at places like hotels are investments that can attract customers and add to local economies,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said at the time. North Carolina In North Carolina, the full buildout of the state’s electric charging network under NEVI is in limbo just four months after the N.C. Department of Transportation announced the initial recipients of the funds. N.C. DOT spokesman Jamie Kritzer said that based on the federal government’s directive, the agency is continuing with awarded projects but “pausing” the next round of requests for proposals, as well as future phases of the buildout. If that pause were to become permanent, the state would be forced to abandon $103 million in federal infrastructure money that would have paid for an additional 41 stations to be built as part of Phase 1. Last September the state announced it had awarded nearly $6 million to six companies to build nine public charging stations. Locations include shopping centers, travel plazas and restaurants, most of them in economically disadvantaged communities. NEVI requires EV charging stations in the first phase to be installed every 50 miles along the federally approved alternative fuel corridors, and that they be within one mile of those routes. The state has also prioritized Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations, which can charge a vehicle to 80% in 20 to 30 minutes. The NEVI program is structured to reimburse private companies for up to 80% of the cost to construct and operate electric vehicle charging stations for five years, after which the charging stations will continue to operate without government support, according to the state DOT. The state estimated it would have taken two to three years to finish Phase 1. Under Phase 2, the state would award federal funds to build community-level electric vehicle charging stations, farther from the major highways, including in disadvantaged communities. That is particularly important in North Carolina, which has the second-largest rural population in the U.S. in terms of percentage. A third of the state’s residents live in rural areas, which are underserved by electric vehicle charging stations. There are already more than 1,700 public electric charging stations and 4,850 ports in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center. But they aren’t evenly dispersed throughout the state. Alleghany and Ashe counties, in the western mountains, have just one charging station each. [Chart: Paul Horn/Inside Climate News] Vickie Atkinson, who lives in the country between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro in central North Carolina, drives a plug-in hybrid Ford Escape, which is powered by an electric engine or gas, unlike full electric models, which have no gas option. Plug-in hybrids typically have fully electric ranges of 35 to 40 miles. “I try to drive on battery whenever possible,” Atkinson said. But she’s frustrated that she can’t drive from her home to downtown Siler City and back—a 60-mile round trip—without resorting to the gas engine. There are two chargers on the outskirts along U.S. 64—only one of them is a fast charger—but none downtown. “I really hope the chargers are installed,” Atkinson said. “I fear they won’t and I find that very frustrating.” Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, advocated for wider adoption of electric vehicles and infrastructure. In a 2018 executive order, Cooper established a benchmark of 80,000 registered zero-emission vehicles in the state by 2025. North Carolina met that goal. State DOT registration data shows there were 81,658 electric vehicles and 24,457 plug-in hybrids as of September, the latest figures available. Cooper issued a subsequent executive order in 2022 that set a more aggressive goal: 1.2 million registered electric vehicles by 2030. At the current pace of electric vehicle adoption, it’s unlikely the state will achieve that benchmark. The electric vehicle industry is an economic driver in North Carolina. Toyota just opened a $13.9 billion battery plant in the small town of Liberty and says it will create about 5,100 new jobs. The company is scheduled to begin shipping batteries in April. Natron Energy is building a plant in Edgecombe County, east of Raleigh, to manufacture sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Experts say they are cheaper and environmentally superior to lithium-ion batteries and less likely to catch fire, although they store less energy. The global company Kempower opened its first North American factory in Durham, where it builds charging infrastructure. Jed Routh, its vice president of markets and products for North America, said that while “the rapidly shifting market is difficult to forecast and interest in electric vehicles may slow at times over the next four years, we don’t expect it to go away. We believe that the industry will remain strong and Kempower remains committed to define, produce, and improve EV charging infrastructure throughout North America.” North Carolina does have a separate funding source for electric charging stations that is protected from the Trump administration’s program cuts and cancellations. The state received $92 million from Volkswagen, part of the EPA’s multi-billion-dollar national settlement in 2016 with the car company, which had installed software in some of its diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests. The Department of Environmental Quality used the settlement money to pay for 994 EV charging ports at 318 sites in North Carolina. The agency expects to add more charging stations with $1.8 million in unspent settlement funds. Electrify America was created by the Volkswagen Group of America to implement a $2 billion portion of the settlement. It required the car company to invest in electric charging infrastructure and in the promotion of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Electrify America operates 20 charging NEVI-compliant, high-speed stations in North Carolina, using the settlement money. However, the funding pause could affect the company because it works with potential site developers and small businesses to comply with the NEVI requirements. The company is still reviewing the details in the federal memo, company spokeswoman Tara Geiger said. “Electrify America continues to engage with stakeholders to understand developments impacting the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program,” Geiger wrote in an email. “We remain committed to growing our coast-to-coast Hyper-Fast network to support transportation electrification.” Wyoming In Wyoming, Doug McGee, a state Department of Transportation spokesperson, said the agency is taking a wait and see approach to NEVI moving forward, and is not ruling out a return of funding. About half a dozen people at the department handle NEVI along with other daily responsibilities, McGee said, and it will be easy for them to put NEVI on hold while they await further instruction. The department was in the process of soliciting proposals for EV charging stations and has not yet spent any money under NEVI. “There was very little to pause,” McGee said. Across 6,800 miles of highway in Wyoming, there are 110 public EV charging stations, making the state’s EV infrastructure the third-smallest in the country, ahead of charging networks in only North Dakota and Alaska. Illinois More progressive states, including Illinois, have explicitly said they will redouble their efforts to support the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in the wake of the Trump administration’s NEVI pause. The state of Illinois has said it remains committed to the goal of helping consumers and the public sector transition to EVs in 2025 through state funding sources, even if some NEVI projects are halted. Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd), the largest electric utility in Illinois and the primary electric provider in Chicago, also announced a $100 million rebate program on Feb. 6 at the Chicago Auto Show, funds that are currently available to boost EV adoption throughout the state. The funds are for residential EV charger and installation costs, all-electric fleet vehicles and charging infrastructure in both the public and private sectors. According to Cristina Botero, senior manager for beneficial electrification at ComEd, the rebate is part of a total investment of $231 million from ComEd as part of its Beneficial Electrification plan programs to promote electrification and EV adoption. While the $231 million won’t be impacted by the Trump administration’s order, other EV projects funded by NEVI are halted. In 2022, for example, $148 million from NEVI was set to be disbursed in Illinois over the course of five years, focusing on Direct Current Fast Charging to fulfill the requirement to build charging stations every 50 miles, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. “We are still in the process of reviewing the impacts of last week’s order and evaluating next steps going forward,” said Maria Castaneda, spokesperson at IDOT, in an emailed statement. The NEVI funds were also set to help achieve Gov.r J.B. Pritzker’s goal to have 1 million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030. Officials estimated that at least 10,000 EV charging stations are needed in order to achieve this 2030 goal. Last fall, there were 1,200 charging stations open to the public. In January, Illinois was awarded federal funds totaling $114 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build 14 truck charging hubs, adding to the statewide charging infrastructure. According to Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs for the Respiratory Health Association, most of that funding is either frozen or at risk. However, programs like the recent ComEd rebate will not be impacted. “This is at the state level and not dictated by federal policy,” Botero said. Maryland In Maryland, state officials are trying to assess the fallout and find alternative ways to keep EV infrastructure efforts alive. The outcome hinges on new federal guidance and potential legal battles over the suspension. Maryland is allocated $63 million over five years under NEVI. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) launched the first $12.1 million round last summer to build 126 fast-charging ports at 22 sites across many of the state’s counties. At least some are expected to be operational by late 2025. In December, MDOT issued a new call for proposals for building up to 29 additional highway charging stations, expecting stable federal support. At the time, senior MDOT officials told Inside Climate News they were confident in the program’s security since it was authorized under law. But Trump’s funding pause has upended those plans. “The Maryland Department of Transportation is moving forward with its obligated NEVI funding and is awaiting new guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation to advance future funding rounds,” said Carter Elliott, a spokesperson for Gov. Wes Moore, in an emailed statement. The Moore administration reaffirmed its commitment to EV expansion, calling charging essential to reducing consumer costs and cutting climate pollution. “Gov. Moore is committed to making the state more competitive by pressing forward with the administration’s strategy to deliver charging infrastructure for clean cars to drivers across the state,” the statement added. In written comments, an MDOT spokesperson said the agency is determining its options for future funding needs and solicitations. Katherine García, director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All program, said that freezing the EV charging funds was an unsound and illegal move by the Trump administration. “This is an attack on bipartisan funding that Congress approved years ago and is driving investment and innovation in every state,” she said. She said that the NEVI program is helping the U.S. build out the infrastructure needed to support the transition to vehicles that don’t pollute the air. The Sierra Club’s Josh Stebbins lamented the slow pace of the EV charger buildout across the state. “We are not sure when Maryland's NEVI chargers will be operational,” he said. “States must move faster and accelerate the installation of NEVI stations. It has been frustratingly slow and the public needs to see a return on its investment.” Maryland EV ambitions are high stakes. Transportation remains the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and public officials and advocates see EV adoption as critical to meet its net-zero carbon goal by 2045. NEVI is also a key plank of the state’s broader Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Planning initiative, designed to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. What Happens Next for EV charging As litigation is brought over the Trump administration’s pause on NEVI funds, experts like Turnbull of the Alliance for Transportation Electrification believe the United States remains, despite this bump, on the road toward electrification. “We are not shifting into reverse,” Turnbull said. “The EV market will continue to grow across all market segments driven by market innovation and consumer demand, both within the United States and globally. By pretending the EV transition doesn’t exist, this administration risks the U.S.’ global competitiveness, national security and economic growth.” By Lee Hedgepeth, Aman Azhar, Jake Bolster, Lisa Sorg, and Sarah Mattalian View the full article

Presidents’ Day always falls on the third Monday of February, which, this year, is February 17. At the federal government level, the holiday is called Washington’s Birthday, which was its original name and which used to be celebrated on February 22, George Washington’s actual birthday. But in 1971, Congress enacted the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, providing federal workers and others with three-day weekends, and Washington’s Bday observance got swept up with that. The idea behind the holiday’s new name was to create a day that paid tribute to the office of the presidency. For many Americans, Presidents’ Day is a long weekend and an opportunity for holiday shopping deals—this year, however, massive nationwide demonstrations are scheduled under the rubric, “Not My President’s Day” in protest of the Trump administration’s alarming power grab and attempts to overhaul the federal government. The demonstrations are organized by the #50501 Movement—50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement—”fighting to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach” and protest “the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies” (Elon Musk, anyone?). The idea for the movement’s name came from the subreddit community, Reddit r/50501, and spread rapidly across social media. So far, #50501 has already pulled off more than 80 peaceful protests in all 50 states since Trump took office, according to the movement’s website. Information about where the nationwide protests and street marches are planned can be found here upon entering your city or state. Now, here’s a look at what’s open and closed on Monday, from the stock market to banks, supermarkets, and stores. Are financial markets open on Presidents’ Day? The Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, and U.S. bond markets are all closed. Will mail be delivered on Presidents’ Day? The U.S. Postal Service post offices will be closed and won’t be delivering regular mail or packages, though USPS priority mail will. However, UPS will be open for business as usual, while FedEx has modified service, so check for availability in your area. Are banks open on Presidents’ Day? Banks will be closed, but you should still be able to access your bank’s service online and via your local ATMs. Are schools open on Presidents’ Day? Public schools and most private schools will be closed for the federal holiday. Are restaurants and fast-food chains open on Presidents’ Day? Most major casual-dining and fast-food chains are open plus most sit-down restaurants—it’s a great shopping day, after all. That said, their hours may be reduced, so it’s always a good idea to call ahead or check individual websites. Are grocery stores open on Presidents’ Day? Most regional supermarket chains should be open, though some with reduced hours; ditto, your local grocery stores. Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Costco are all open. Are stores open on Presidents’ Day? This is a big day for retailers, with many having weekend-long sales. Looking for a little retail therapy? Walmart, Macy’s, West Elm, Nordstrom, Walmart, and Best Buy are having major sales, while Amazon has an entire section on its home page dedicated to its Presidents’ Day bargains. Are pharmacies open on Presidents’ Day? CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are all open, although they may have reduced hours of operation. Check your pharmacy’s website for more information. View the full article

Trump has asked European governments to boost their defence budgetsView the full article

You’ve probably heard that people don’t leave their job, they leave their manager. It’s a popular saying because it’s often true. Having a toxic boss, however, is different than having one you simply don’t like. If your boss is toxic, you need to take steps to protect yourself. But if it’s simply a matter of personalities not jiving, slow your job-search roll, suggests Stephanie Chung, author of Ally Leadership, How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You. “There are people in your family you probably don’t like,” she says. “But if you like your company, you like your colleagues, you like how much money you’re making, you like your benefits, and the only thing you don’t like is your boss, then you really shouldn’t just jump to another role or another job. . . . Look at the entire totality of your situation and then decide if you should stay or not.” Fortunately, you don’t have to like your boss to grow in your career. Start by getting to the bottom of your dislike. “You don’t just naturally not like somebody,” says Chung. “Go a little bit deeper to figure out why you don’t like them. Maybe there’s something about them that reminds you of something or someone else. Usually, it’s that you come from different perspectives, different backgrounds, different upbringings, and therefore have different viewpoints. If you’re bothered by everybody that’s different than you, you’re going to spend too much time hopping around.” Focus on What’s Important Even if you don’t like your boss, you still need to perform well at work. “Is this person hindering you from being able to do your job?” asks Chung. “If the answer is ‘no,’ and you just have different personalities or different communication styles, you can still get the job done.” When you don’t like someone, the common response is to ignore them and talk to everyone but them. Chung says this is a mistake. Employees have a responsibility in creating a positive work environment. “People find comfort in complaining to their colleagues,” she says. “It’s easy to point fingers. To say, ‘The boss doesn’t know what they’re doing. This is a stupid process.’ I’m looking for the worker who says, ‘I don’t think this makes sense, but instead of talking to April, May, and June about it, I’m going to actually go to the boss and say, ‘I am not sure that I agree with the thought process here. From my perspective, it doesn’t look like it makes a lot of sense. Am I missing something?’” Often the root cause of not liking someone is lack of communication, miscommunication, or different styles of communication, says Chung, and the only way to fix that is to engage in more communication with them. “If you want to move up in your career, you don’t have to wait for your boss to make the first effort,” she says. “It is possible that there’s something that you are not doing correctly or as good as you may think. If you want to be that person who’s constantly moving up in their career, who has a brand that stands for itself in a powerful way, you’re going to have to own your stuff. Part of that in the workforce is being able to own the fact that maybe it is them and maybe it’s not. You play a part in your relationship, as well.” By going to your boss to work out your differences or to clarify what could be misunderstandings, you demonstrate that you care about the company and want to take ownership for your career. It’s managing up. “Employees who want to move up, want to be seen as people who are productive and can add value to the company,” says Chung. “How you do that is not being the person who’s sitting around complaining. It’s being the person who’s trying to help leadership and your colleagues solve the problem.” An ability to work with people you don’t like—people who are not like you—is an important skill to develop. Chung likens it to being on a sports team. “If everybody on the soccer team was a forward, you’d never win,” she says. “In the workplace, the same rules apply. There are different positions, different talents, different strengths, different weaknesses. Different perspectives ask different questions. When everybody gets along because we don’t have any disagreements, we’re all cookie cutters of each other. But that doesn’t help in business.” Leading diverse teams—people who don’t think alike, act alike, have a back same background—is quite challenging, says Chung. “The results are great, but there is a challenge to it because they’re so different. Real leaders [know] how to harness those differences in a powerful way that allows the team to be unstoppable and sets the company up to win.” The key is knowing that the leader doesn’t always have to be the one higher up on the org chart. View the full article

The Trump administration has installed Jeffrey Clark, a former high-ranking official in the first Trump administration, at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Clark had been indicted as part of the president's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. View the full article

Whether you’re setting up a new Windows PC or looking to enhance your current setup, there are some life-changing apps you can grab for free that will transform how you use your computer. From screen grabbing to file searching to quick launching and more, these essential apps will supercharge your productivity—all for the low, low price of nothing. ShareX: Screen captures and then some Windows includes a basic screen-capture tool. Don’t settle for it, though: Get ShareX, which rivals even paid screen-grabbers. You can create custom-capture regions that remember your preferences, set up automatic uploads with instant-link copying, and configure workflows that process and organize your captures. While the capturing features work great on their own, it’s the mind-boggling number of post-capture features that set this gem apart. If you’re looking for a capture tool that does it all for nothing at all, this is it. Everything: File search that just works If Windows Search feels to you like it hasn’t evolved since the Clinton administration, Everything won’t leave you hanging. Instead of laboriously indexing entire files, Everything indexes just file and folder names, which means it can wrap its head around a clean Windows installation in about a second. Its powerful search syntax then helps you quickly find recent documents, filter by size to free up storage space, and create bookmarks for frequently searched folders. PowerToys: Microsoft’s best-kept secret Microsoft’s free PowerToys is a productivity suite that packs features that arguably should’ve been built into Windows from the start. FancyZones lets you create custom window layouts that snap into place. PowerRename handles bulk-file operations. Text Extractor grabs text from images or non-selectable. Mouse Without Borders lets you use a single mouse and keyboard on up to four computers. Those are just a few of the cavalcade of time-savers included with this excellent utility. If you haven’t already, get it installed and start reaping its benefits. AutoHotkey: Automate anything If you invest the time to learn how to use it, AutoHotkey will become the digital assistant you can’t believe you ever lived without. Create custom keyboard shortcuts for just about anything, auto-fill forms with frequently used text, or launch multiple programs with a single command. The real power lies in its ability to chain commands together. With a bit of creativity, you can automate entire workflows that used to take dozens of clicks. Flow Launcher: Get there faster Flow Launcher is a little window that delivers huge time savings. Open it with a customizable key combination, start typing, and let it handle the rest. Use it to quickly launch apps, control music, search the web, run system commands, and more—all without having to click your way through a bunch of menus and windows. It’s also got an excellent community-driven plugin ecosystem that lets you add features like password management, weather checking, and smart-home-device control. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Canceling a women’s group because of DEI concerns I’m a PhD student and it seems like my university is trying to cancel the Women in Computer Science networking group that I run. They’re going about it in a really weird way: rather than directly saying “this is illegal D.E.I.,” they’re trying to send us on a bureaucratic runaround to maintain the status quo of funding and booking rooms. We’re in New England, so I suspect it would be locally unpopular to bluntly state that they’re cancelling women’s groups due to D.E.I. How do I fight this? Just delay, delay, delay until this political storm blows over? Fight it head on? Go to the press? Go to your campus media, and possibly your local media. That’s outrageous. The only DEI that’s “illegal” is giving a preference to one demographic group over another; gathering to support a particular group or to discuss issues affecting them is not illegal, even under the new federal directives that have been issued. This is a crock. 2. Are minimum requirements really an absolute minimum? I’ve read your advice that it’s usually okay to apply if I meet about 80% of the qualifications for a job, but does the category of qualifications matter? When job postings split their criteria into “minimum” and “ideal,” is it fine to apply to jobs where I don’t (exactly) meet the “minimum”? For example, a job will say a candidate “must have (a) five years of experience working with Role; (b) three years of experience in Environment; (c) two years of experience doing Work; and (d) familiarity with This, That, and The Other.” And that “an ideal candidate” would also have qualities/experience (e-h). I’ll have (b-g) but (a) is iffy: say they want someone with five years experience working with C-level executives and I have five years with directors, or my relevant experience was 15 years ago in a job that isn’t on my resume because it’s otherwise completely unrelated to my current career. I have been applying anyway, addressing the discrepancy in the cover letter, but am I right to still apply? Yes. If you didn’t have anything near (a), then it wouldn’t make sense to apply since that’s listed as a minimum requirement. But your experience is close enough that it’s reasonable to throw your hat in the ring. It could turn out that they’re being absolute rigid about that requirement, but there’s frequently room for some flexibility of interpretation if you have all the other qualifications. You can’t really know from the outside whether that will be the case or not, but you’re close enough to it that if you’re interested, you should apply. Related: should I apply to jobs I’m not fully qualified for? 3. Taking sick leave for emotional upset I’m wondering your take on something I did a few years ago. I had something very upsetting happen in my personal life and was having a hard time focusing on work; I basically wanted to curl up and cry all day. I work remotely and had a light day — two meetings and no urgent to-dos. I went to both of the meetings but other than that didn’t do any work and used PTO to cover the hours. To me, this felt like the mental health equivalent of a bad cold. I could have powered through and worked a full day, and I would have if needed. But on that particular day I didn’t need to, so I chose to take it easy. (I was back to work the next day.) What do you think? That’s a completely legitimate use of a sick day. Mental health is part of your health! Related: what do I say when I’m calling in sick for a mental health day? 4. Can I just use the phonetic pronunciation of my name as my digital name? I have a name that’s pronounced differently from the typical pronunciation. Let’s say my name is Aron – pronounced like A-Ron, not like “Erin.” Coworkers call me A-Ron, until they see an email exchange with my name spelled Aron and now they call me “Erin.” Would it be okay if I changed my digital signature to A-Ron, so that people (coworkers and clients) will stop making their own assumptions about how to pronounce my name based on how it’s spelled? This is so frustrating to me, to have people who use to call me A-Ron, suddenly start calling me “Erin” because they saw my name in print. Does anyone care if my digital name is legally correct? Going a step further, what are the legalities when I am writing a contract? I assume that I would use the correct spelling of my name to sign. But would I place the phonetic spelling in the contract, so that people see it and continue to call me by the correct name? The phonetic pronunciation isn’t normally included in my business emails, but I do include it in my personal email account. It’s going to cause problems and confusion if you spell your name one way in emails but need it spelled a different way on official forms and contracts (or work travel arrangements that someone else makes for you, etc.). But the solution for work emails is the same solution you’re already using in personal emails: include a note with the phonetic pronunciation in your signature. So your sign-off would be: Aron Porcupine (pronunciation: A-ron) That’s not uncommon to do if you have a frequently-mispronounced name, and it should solve a lot of it. You’ll also need to be willing to correct people in the moment if they mispronounce it, though. 5. Can I accept a job offer on the spot? Can I accept a job right away if I’m sure I want it? The context: There is one university in town, and I’ve been fairly certain for several months now that (a) it’s the only place better than my current position regularly posting jobs and (2) I want to leave my current position. I’ve applied for several jobs at the university over the past year, interviewed for two before this one, and been a finalist for one, so I’ve already talked to HR about their benefits and PTO. The salary range is available online. I would have twice as much maternity leave. I already know I want the job. Assuming there are no surprises such as a lower salary than I expect, is there any reason I should delay and ask for a day or two to think it over? I am planning to negotiate salary right away if offered the job. If you already feel confident you want to accept, there are no surprises in the offer, and there are no additional questions you need answered before making up your mind, there’s no reason you can’t accept on the spot (or begin negotiations immediately)! A lot of people do that. View the full article

Such roles are seen as thankless slog by the youngest cohort of employees View the full article

Charlie Javice stands trial on charges she fraudulently induced US bank to buy her student loan start-upView the full article

Indebted utility faces crucial court judgment this week on emergency £3bn loanView the full article

Chancellor may need to look at deeper spending cuts if fiscal watchdog revises productivity expectationsView the full article

Head of food retailer says he wants ministers to focus on planning reform and fixing Britain’s productivity problemsView the full article

Without resources, they will be grossly unprepared for the difficult business of governingView the full article

The Chinese leader enjoys complete domination of party and state. But to maintain stability, he also needs to signal there is a succession processView the full article

EU Council president warns Moscow is ‘a global threat’ as European leaders prepare for Paris summitView the full article

A Las Vegas woman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government by submitting fraudulent tax refund claims for COVID-19 employment tax credits, securing $33 million in improper payouts from the IRS. According to court documents, Candies Goode-McCoy conspired with others from June 2022 through September 2023 to file approximately 1,227 fraudulent tax returns claiming refundable employment tax credits, including the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. The total fraudulent claims amounted to over $98 million, with the IRS disbursing approximately $33 million before the scheme was uncovered. McCoy personally received over $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds and was paid approximately $800,000 by others whose returns she filed. Prosecutors stated she knowingly submitted false claims and used the illicit proceeds for luxury cars, casino gambling, vacations, and other high-end purchases. The ERC and paid sick and family leave credits were introduced by Congress to support businesses impacted by COVID-19, providing tax relief for wages paid to employees unable to work due to the pandemic. The fraudulent claims exploited these relief programs, diverting funds from businesses that genuinely qualified for assistance. McCoy is scheduled for sentencing on February 23, 2026, facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada announced the guilty plea. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada. This article, "Nevada Woman Admits to Fraudulently Seeking Nearly $100M in COVID-19 Tax Credits" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A Las Vegas woman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government by submitting fraudulent tax refund claims for COVID-19 employment tax credits, securing $33 million in improper payouts from the IRS. According to court documents, Candies Goode-McCoy conspired with others from June 2022 through September 2023 to file approximately 1,227 fraudulent tax returns claiming refundable employment tax credits, including the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. The total fraudulent claims amounted to over $98 million, with the IRS disbursing approximately $33 million before the scheme was uncovered. McCoy personally received over $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds and was paid approximately $800,000 by others whose returns she filed. Prosecutors stated she knowingly submitted false claims and used the illicit proceeds for luxury cars, casino gambling, vacations, and other high-end purchases. The ERC and paid sick and family leave credits were introduced by Congress to support businesses impacted by COVID-19, providing tax relief for wages paid to employees unable to work due to the pandemic. The fraudulent claims exploited these relief programs, diverting funds from businesses that genuinely qualified for assistance. McCoy is scheduled for sentencing on February 23, 2026, facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada announced the guilty plea. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada. This article, "Nevada Woman Admits to Fraudulently Seeking Nearly $100M in COVID-19 Tax Credits" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Co-leader of Alternative for Germany becomes focus in four-way televised debate a week before national polls View the full article

Increase in national insurance contributions and higher minimum wage are increasing employment costsView the full article

Wins for Anora’s Mikey Madison and Emilia Pérez’s Zoe Saldaña suggest the Oscars race remains wide openView the full article

US president’s tariff threats have helped bullion to string of record highs View the full article

Business school professors pose four questions companies must ask about automationView the full article