Nevada legislators and conservation groups this week stood up for policies they say will help lower energy bills, protect the outdoors and grow the state's economy.

Kristee Watson, executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, said NCL is working to hold utility monopolies such as NV Energy and Southwest Gas accountable. A recent survey found that almost 90% of respondents agree that both utility companies must do more to keep bills affordable.

Watson said Nevada families are crunching numbers to cover expenses.

"It is our job to show up and tell our legislators that we're going to advocate for ourselves and the rest of everyday Nevadans," she said. "Times are tough, the fight is hard, I am frustrated, I am exhausted, I know all of us are. But this is also a worthwhile fight."

Watson said they're advocating for legislation to create ratepayer protections to ensure utilities spend customer dollars wisely and responsibly. Meanwhile, companies such as NV Energy and Southwest Gas have contended they're forced to raise rates to ensure all Nevadans receive quality service. NV Energy says it uses grants and other payment options to reduce consumer costs. Earlier this year, the company asked the state's Public Utility Commission to increase its base-rate charges.

Assemblyman Howard Watts, D-Las Vegas, called conservation and clean energy "quality of life issues." He said now is the time to address issues such as excessive heat, drought and wildfires by unlocking the potential of renewables. That's why he's sponsoring Assembly Bill 458, also known as the Solar-Power Affordable Housing bill, which he said "will expand the use of rooftop solar power in affordable-housing communities. These are residents who are dealing with these issues every day, but unfortunately they've been locked out from the benefits that solar energy can provide."

AB 458 awaits action in the Committee on Growth and Infrastructure.

Assemblyman Steve Yeager, D-Las Vegas, sponsored the bill that led to the creation of the Nevada Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program. He said the initiative provides outdoor experiences for Nevada students, and that continued support is vital.

"This grant is about equity and sustainability," he said. "It is about making sure that future generations inherit not just the beauty of Nevada's outdoors but the ability to enjoy it safely and responsibly."

Washington is one of 25 states where people can use the online "IRS Direct File" system, to file their income-tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. But the future of the program is at risk.

For years, taxpayers' advocates had pushed for a free, simple tax-filing option for people who don't need a third-party tax preparer. But the Trump administration has said Direct File may be a waste of IRS resources.

Casey Lantz, free tax preparation campaign coordinator with the United Way of King County, said it is time for people to voice their support for the program. She's used Direct File and says, since the program auto-fills tax information from forms like W-2s, filing her income taxes this year was the easiest it has ever been.

"I think it's exactly what people wish tax filing was like. And I think the only chance we have of stopping them from cutting it is if enough people say something," she explained.

Direct File guides users through simple questions in English or Spanish, and offers live chat support in both languages. People can check their eligibility and get more information online at 'DirectFile.IRS.gov.'

Adam Ruben, vice president of campaigns and political strategy with the Economic Security Project, said the process removes intermediary tax preparers and uses information the government already has to make it easier to file federal and state tax returns. Ruben explained Direct File is for people with straightforward tax situations, such as employees who get a W-2 from their employer.

"Direct File is not yet available for freelancers or gig workers, or people with complicated investments or who work across multiple states," he continued.

Lantz said even if you are not eligible for Direct File, you can still use it to file an income-tax extension by April 15.


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Pennsylvania is among a growing number of states offering residents access to the Internal Revenue Service's free tax filing system, Direct File.

The online tool was created to save people both time and money by allowing them to file directly with the IRS while removing the need for costly tax-preparation services.

Lucas DeBartolo of East Stroudsburg said using Direct File was easy and recommended it for people looking to take advantage of available tax credits.

"And it could be hundreds to thousands of dollars back in their pockets," he said, "and this software is really good at seeing what tax credits people qualify for."

It's estimated about 20% of eligible taxpayers don't claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. DeBartolo said using Direct File was quicker than other online tools he's used and appreciated his quick refund.

Americans on average spend at least 13 hours filing their taxes each year. Direct File cuts down on that time by autofilling information the government already has, allowing users to simply verify its accuracy.

Adam Ruben, vice president for campaigns and political strategy at the Economic Security Project, said the program is user-friendly with no hidden fees and is available in English or Spanish.

"If you get stuck, there's free live chat support in both languages," he said, "and importantly, unlike most other tax software, it will also help you file your state tax return for free."

Ruben said Direct File is not yet available for freelancers, gig workers, people with complicated investments or those who work across multiple states. He said people can check their eligibility and get more information at the IRS website.


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Public hearings continue tonight and tomorrow for the proposed sale of Minnesota's second largest utility. The deal is drawing a lot of attention, with a private-equity firm behind the request. Minnesota Power serves more than 150.000 electricity customers in the northeastern part of the state.

If regulators say "yes," its parent company ALLETE would be sold to BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Stephanie Kiero, a customer in this service area, said she worries about her rates going up for the wrong reasons.

"It seems to me like another case of 'the rich get richer' when things move in the private equity direction. I think there's different expectations about profit from private equity," Kiero said. "I mean, it's about 'make the most profit that you can in the shortest amount of time.' "

Analysts view this as a bellwether because these types of deals don't surface all the time. Minnesota Power does not anticipate customer rates being impacted, and it says this deal guarantees more resources in meeting the state's clean-energy goals amid spiking demand.

Tonight's hearing led by the Public Utilities Commission is online and runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Tomorrow's hearing is from noon to 2 p.m. at the Morrison County Government Center in Little Falls.

As for the clean-energy claims, skeptics say the deal undermines such efforts because of the buyer's link to fossil fuels. Hudson Kingston with the environmental group CURE also worries about transparency.

As a company with a public focus, ALLETE has almost immediate reporting requirements when issues arise. But Kingston warns that might change if this sale goes through.

"If they have accounting mistakes, if they have major shortfalls, that might not come out until an annual report to the PUC," he said. "So, that's very concerning. It really pushes a lot of their management into the shadows."

Minnesota Power contends it will continue as an independently operated, locally managed and regulated utility. Feedback from the hearings will be factored into the commission's decision, expected this fall. Meanwhile, Kiero says this is a polarizing issue in her community.

"I've talked to people who work at ALLETE that are super excited about the sale. I've talked to other people who just absolutely are against BlackRock's involvement with Enbridge and their track record with the environment," she said.

Enbridge is the Canadian oil company that operates the Line 3 pipeline across northern Minnesota.