Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
Committee hears testimony on lottery proposal By John Lyon LITTLE ROCK - Lt. Gov. Bill Halter testified before a House committee Wednesday that a state lottery to benefit education could allow Arkansas to rid itself of its distinction as the state with the 49th lowest per capita income in the nation.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
Desegregation oversight incentives endorsed By Rob Moritz and Doug Thompson LITTLE ROCK - A bill endorsed by a House committee Thursday would offer financial incentives to two of the three Pulaski County school districts to end federal supervision of desegregation efforts that have cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
Young drivers and roads get lawmakers' consideration By Doug Thompson and Rob Moritz LITTLE ROCK - The Senate passed legislation to increase restrictions on teenage drivers Thursday, along with bills that would expand college scholarship programs.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
Bill to ban gay adoptions, foster parenting advances By Doug Thompson LITTLE ROCK - Gays and unmarried couples living together would be banned from adopting children and serving as foster parents in Arkansas under legislation that a Senate committee endorsed Monday.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
House OK ethics reform bill; Senate approves payday lending legislation By Rob Moritz and Doug Thompson LITTLE ROCK - The predominantly Democratic state House overwhelmingly approved an ethics reform bill by its speaker Wednesday despite the state Democratic Party chairman's e-mail campaign against the measure.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
Senate OKs bill to ban gay adoptive, foster parents By Doug Thompson and Rob Moritz LITTLE ROCK - Legislation to ban gays and unmarried couples who live together from adopting children and serving as foster parents passed the Senate on Tuesday, along with a proposed renewal of a $575 million interstate highway bond program.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
Lawmakers recommend $456 million for facilities By Doug Thompson LITTLE ROCK - A legislative committee Tuesday unanimously endorsed a study calling for the Legislature to devote $456 million - just over half of a projected $843 million surplus - to renovate dilapidated school facilities.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
Facilities funding, committee agendas on lawmakers minds this week By Rob Moritz LITTLE ROCK - With just one major piece of funding legislation left to be approved, lawmakers pushing for a March 30 end to the regular session will cast their attention this week on a mountain of bills crowding committee agendas.

Arkansas News Bureau (Arkansas News Bureau)
With major tax relief on the books, many lesser tax breaks to die By Jason Wiest LITTLE ROCK - To counterbalance rising education costs, college students say they desperately need a sales tax exemption on used textbooks, which already have been taxed once.

MIDDAY BUSINESS REPORT: Applebeeâ s Battle With Breeden Heating Up (Kansas City Star)
The battle between Applebee’s International Inc. and activist investor Breeden Capital Management LLC is heating up after the hedge fund rejected an offer for two board seats.

A married couple owing the same joint income tax liability may file only one Form 656 listing the joint liability. One fee of $150 should be attached to Form 656. A married couple opting to file separate...

First obtain a Form 656, Offer in Compromise package (Version 7/2004). The package includes information and instructions for completing the form, as well as a worksheet that can be used to calculate...

The Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 has ushered in new rules for settling tax debts with the IRS. Here is the scoop on the compromise procedures. New Procedure for Settling Tax...

Interest will not accrue on the taxpayers accepted OIC amount from the date of acceptance until the OIC is paid. Interest and penalties will continue to accrue on the unpaid tax liability while the...

Because payment of the fee reduces the acceptable OIC amount, most taxpayers will not experience any additional financial hardship as a result of the fee. However, for some taxpayers the $150 fee may...