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(NEXSTAR) – Tax season isn’t really fun for anyone, but some states’ residents have it harder than others this time of year. As families around the country collect their paperwork and get ready to file, people in Illinois may find themselves with a heftier tax bill than their neighbors in other states. An updated analysis by MoneyGeek, a personal finance site, evaluates how “tax friendly” each state is by calculating the tax burden on the average citizen. States with low tax burdens earned an A, while those with the highest tax burden earned Fs. The state that scored worst overall...

In a shocking speech in front of the National Governors Association, Secretary Mike Pompeo revealed that he is in possession of a list of American governors who have been listed as "friendly" by Chinese Communist infiltrators. Pompeo said he received an invitation from a former governor to attend a networking event that promised great "deal-making" opportunities with the Chinese government. This networking event was run by "The Chinese People's Association for Friendship in Foreign Countries," said Pompeo. But what the participants might not have known is that "the group is the public face of the Chinese Communist party's official foreign...

The U.S. military said it is investigating an American airstrike that may have inadvertently killed Iraqi soldiers near the city of Fallujah. In a brief statement, the U.S. military headquarters in charge of the war effort in Syria and Iraq said that one of several airstrikes it conducted Friday against Islamic State targets may have resulted in the death of Iraqi soldiers. It did not say how many may have been killed, but other officials said the Iraqis initially reported that about 10 may have died. The U.S. statement said the airstrikes were in response to requests and information provided...

PLEASANT HILL -- A gay teenager denied his Eagle Scout award because of his sexuality turned in an online petition with more than 400,000 signatures Wednesday urging the National Boy Scouts of America to change its policies against allowing gay members. Ryan Andresen of Moraga marched into the front office of the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council on Ellinwood Way along with his parents and a former member of the same Boy Scout troop who came out as gay two weeks ago. Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, also attended and presented Andresen with a resolution honoring his achievements with the Boy Scouts....

This is unbelievable. The Obama Administration blamed the “friendly fire” attacks in Afghanistan on US troops. U.S. Army specialist Mabry Anders (L), who was killed in an attack by an Afghan army soldier in Afghanistan on August 27, 2012, is pictured with his mother Genevieve Woydziak (C) and his stepfather Troy Woydziak in this undated handout family photo obtained by Reuters September 26, 2012. The “insider attack” also took the life of another U.S. soldier, Sergeant Christopher Birdwell. (REUTERS/Anders Family) The New York Post reported, via Pat Dollard: Afghan security forces, our supposed allies, are slaughtering American troops. Thirty-three soldiers...

This animated video of a talking dear and rabbit look a like, revealing an end-time Biblical event. The voices of this video are o7jimmy and grandson Eli.

AFA's 2010 listing of top retailers and how they recognize Christmas Based on current advertising, below is a list of companies that avoid, ban, or use the term "Christmas" in their advertising. We will continually update the list, so check back often. Criteria - AFA reviewed up to four areas to determine if a company was "Christmas-friendly" in their advertising: print media (newspaper inserts), broadcast media (radio/television), website and/or personal visits to the store. If a company's ad has references to items associated with Christmas (trees, wreaths, lights, etc.), it was considered as an attempt to reach "Christmas" shoppers. If...

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - More than 25 NATO and Afghan troops were wounded during a search Friday for two missing U.S. paratroopers in western Afghanistan, the NATO-led force said. The Taliban said the missing two missing soldiers were dead and it had recovered their bodies.

Bombing exercise 'caused fires' Dozens of homes destroyed Authorities angry at military MILITARY bombing practice has caused one of France's worst fires for three years which continues to rage on the eastern outskirts of Marseille. The fire has burnt dozens of homes but claimed no victims. The wildfire was caused by military practice shelling which hit the eastern Trois-Ponts suburb of the southern city forcing the evacuation of scores of residents. "There are a few dozen houses burnt in the Trois-Ponts district but there are no victims," fire brigade spokesman Samuel Champon said. "There are more homes threatened than vehicles...

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in a bid to cut the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, researchers say. Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence contains no methane and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who emit large quantities of the harmful gas. While the usual image of greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack pushing out carbon dioxide, livestock passing wind contribute a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions in some countries. "Fourteen percent of emissions from all sources in...

I think we need both Thompson and Hunter on the final ticket. It is too early to rule out HUNTER as top of ticket, but presently it looks like THOMPSON in the top spot. These guys should follow Reagan's "Eleventh Commandment" as regards each other. I think I was the first to suggest Hunter run for the presidency, on the F.A.I.R.(Dan Stein Report) Commentaries. I have been bullish for Thompson, whenever he addressed illegal immigration, or addresses a madness like the "Sanctuary City Movement". Let us pray that these two seemingly good conservatives can avoid trashing each other in any...

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2007 – The Army’s senior civilian announced today that a retired three-star general will receive a letter of censure as the result of a review of previous military investigations into the death of Army Spc. Patrick D. Tillman. Secretary of the Army Pete Geren said a “perfect storm” of events initially obfuscated the facts regarding the April 22, 2004, death of Tillman, an Army Ranger who was killed by friendly fire near the Afghan-Pakistani border. Tillman, a former National Football League star, was initially reported to have died as a result of enemy fire. After reading...

U.S. Friendly Fire Video Leaked to Media A leaked video in which an American pilot is heard saying "I'm going to be sick," then "we're in jail, dude," after U.S. troops killed a British soldier during a friendly fire incident in Iraq was released by The Sun newspaper Tuesday. Lance Cpl. Matty Hull died when troops fired on his convoy in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on March 28, 2003. [...] The transcript printed in The Sun records the alleged exchange between the pilots after they realize what has happened. Pilot 1: "I'm going to be sick." Pilot 2:...

'Friendly Fire' an Epidemic in S. Africa Thursday September 28, 2006 2:01 AM By CELEAN JACOBSON Associated Press Writer PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - South Africans are killing relatives and acquaintances at an alarming rate, police said Wednesday, acknowledging traditional methods for battling crime do little to stem the tide. According to an annual police report on crime, nearly 50 people killed every day across the country - a figure that will likely add to South Africa's reputation as a violent society. The government is desperate to counter the country's violent image, especially in the run-up to the soccer World...

SEATTLE — When Boeing names an airplane design after a Muppet, it must be pretty different. Two small teams at the company are re-imagining the airplane in futuristic configurations that sprout wings, tails and engines in unexpected shapes and places. The research, illustrated in internal documents, aims in two directions: low-cost airplanes, and environment-friendly planes that will be quieter, use much less fuel and leave fewer pollutants in the upper atmosphere. In the latter category is the "Kermit Kruiser," a low-noise concept airplane with main wings radically swept forward rather than back, and sporting miniature wings on the front. Then...

WASHINGTON -- Henry J. Friendly, who died in 1986, was perhaps the most distinguished American judge never to serve on the Supreme Court, and he almost spared the nation the poisonous consequences of that court's 1973 truncation of democratic debate about abortion policy. The story of that missed blessing was told recently by Judge A. Raymond Randolph of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, in an address to the Federalist Society. In 1970, Friendly, then on the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, was a member of a three-judge panel that heard the first abortion-rights case...

SACRAMENTO – In his first year in office, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proven to be a reliable ally for the state's businesses, vetoing all bills that were on the California Chamber of Commerce "job killers" list and almost always siding with businesses when legislation pitted them against consumers or the environment. Last year, he vetoed legislation to increase the minimum wage and promised to do the same this year. He sides with the majority of voters, who don't like the idea of giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, promising to veto such legislation a second time in a row. Among...

Cars competing in a rally from London to Sydney arrive in Iran on Thursday, 24th of August. 14 old cars driving from London to Sydney in a friendly rally competition arrive in Iran on Thursday, staying within Iranian borders for 9 days. The rally started from London, England, on 14th of August 2005 and will end in Sydney, Australia on 16th of November 2005 with old automobiles produced since 1914. Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, China, Thailand, and Singapore are countries passed through, and the cars will be transferred to Sydney Port on ship from Singapore. According to the...

I was worried. The ceremony marking the 11th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini had just finished and Ken, a Norwegian photojournalist was very excited. "The energy in there was wild, especially that part when they were all chanting, 'Death to Israel, death to America'." See photos My jaw dropped. I was puzzled and concerned. The Iranian press card hanging around my neck identified me as American. I was grateful I had tucked it into my shirt earlier. The night before I had been at a small party in north Tehran of twentysomething-year-old Iranians. North Tehran is the upscale,...

It is good to walk into a forum and find an atmosphere which is friendly to the British traveller. I was about to sign up for SterlingTimes but see that a small gang of posters are quite arrogantly putting down all the British members at the moment, so I decided to wander in here instead. A much better atmosphere indeed, and I hope it stays that way. So ... hello everyone.