'CONSUMER REPORTS' CAME OUT WITH THEIR PICK FOR BEST OVERALL VEHICLE BUT NO ONE CAN AFFORD IT Consumer Reportsreleased its ranking of best cars by vehicle type today. The best car you can buy, period? The Tesla Model S. Except you probably can't buy it, given that it starts at about $70,000 and can top $105,000 if you want the longest-range battery pack and all-wheel drive. If you're like most of us — you know, living on a real-world budget — there are more affordable top picks in other categories. Check them out. Some other interesting things to note about this year's rankings: 1) Three of CR's top picks for best vehicles by category are American. 2) They couldn't pick a best pickup. Nothing measured up. 3) On their brand ranking, Lexus is the best, Fiat is the worst.
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN IS OFFICIALLY OFF THE FEDERAL HOOK IN THE DEATH OF TRAYVON MARTIN But that doesn't mean his troubles are over. The Justice Department said its independent investigation found "insufficient evidence" to charge George Zimmerman with federal civil right violations in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. A Florida jury found Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in 2013. Zimmerman shot Martin the year before as he walked back to a relative's home after purchasing snacks at a convenience store. Even though the feds didn't throw the book at him, the Zimmerman story isn't over. Just take a look at the headlines that pop up when you search his name on our site: George Zimmerman arrested for aggravated assault; George Zimmermannamed in 911 road rage call; Zimmerman won't be charged for alleged wine-throwing. We think you get the point.
BILL O'REILLY UNDER FIRE FOR EXAGGERATING — AND HE'S FIRED UP ABOUT IT Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has been getting questions about his war-time reporting, and those questions have him steaming mad. In a tweet late Monday, New York Times reporter Emily Steel said O'Reilly told her "I am coming after you with everything I have," and "You can take it as a threat." Mother Jones magazine said last week that O'Reilly has his own "Brian Williams problem" because he has said a number of times that he covered combat on the Falkland Islands during the war between Britain and Argentina in 1982. USA TODAY media columnist Rem Rieder writes that "O'Reilly clearly is guilty of stretching the truth" because no U.S. reporters got to the remote islands where the fighting took place. More about that here. Speaking of TV news, NBC's viewers aren't missing Brian Williams. And speaking of exaggerations, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald has apologized for making false claims about having served in the U.S. military's elite special operations forces.
IRS AUDITS ARE DOWN AND THAT SHOULD CONCERN YOU, TAXPAYER The tax man cometh in t-minus 50 days, so read on for some important IRS news. Your chances of facing an audit are pretty low, according to new data obtained by USA TODAY . The IRS audit rate dropped to the lowest level in at least a decade in 2014 and is expected to fall further this year. Audits fell in virtually every individual category and across income levels, even as the number of individual tax returns filed rose in all but two of the past nine years, the data show. The dips coincide with recent drops in IRS funding. Of course, getting audited is about as much fun as getting a root canal. But be cautious in applauding the drop. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen warns that the audit rate decline could eventually "corrode" Americans' faith in the federal tax system and undermine the voluntary way we pony up to Uncle Sam.
KANSAS STATE SPOILED COURT STORMING FOR EVERYONESomeone had to ruin this. On Monday night Kansas State upset #9 Kansas in a great game in Bramlage Coliseum, and afterward the Kansas State fans stormed the court , like college kids sometimes do. The Wildcats fans weren't out there just to celebrate, though. They mobbed the players and coaches of Kansas, trapping Jayhawks coach Bill Self against the scorer's table. One student ran across the court and intentionally put his shoulder into Kansas forward Jamari Traylor. It was ugly. This happened because everything good in this world will one day be ruined. USA TODAY Sports' Nicole Auerbach asked if this would be a tipping point. We're afraid she might be right.
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| Compiled by Alia E. Dastagir and Cara Richardson. Contributing: James R. Healey, Laura Mandaro, John Bacon, Rem Rieder, Kevin McCoy, Kevin Johnson, Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY; Nate Scott, Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports; Andrew deGrandpre and Leo Shane, Military Times |
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