Mercer Hedge Fund Tax Dispute Moves to IRS Appeals Office

A tax dispute involving Renaissance Technologies, the hedge fund firm whose co-chief executive officer is a prominent backer of President Donald Trump, is advancing to a new phase. Members of the Internal Revenue Service's Office of Appeals are scheduled to meet with lawyers for Renaissance in New York on Nov. 7, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Senators: High fees not best way to maintain national parks

Maine's two U.S. senators say the U.S. Department of the Interior should take a different approach than raising fees to address a maintenance backlog at national parks. Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King sent a letter to the department after an announcement that it is proposing increasing fees at 17 national parks, one of which is Acadia National Park.

Orrin Hatch Tells Friends He Plans to Retire

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah-Senator Orrin Hatch has privately told allies in Utah that he is planning to retire at the end of his term next year, and if he does, Mitt Romney intends to run for his seat, according to five sources familiar with the situation. "Nothing has changed since The Atlantic published a carbon copy of this same story in April, likely with the same anonymous sources who were no more informed on the Senator's thinking than they seem to be now," said Dave Hansen, a spokesperson for Hatch.

Trump administration disavows Puerto Rico power contract

The Trump administration said Friday it had no involvement in the decision to award a $300 million contract to help restore Puerto Rico's power grid to a tiny Montana company in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown. White House spokesman Raj Shah said Friday that federal officials played no role in the selection of Whitefish Energy Holdings by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.

The business community looks to Washington and Richmond for answers

"I can't really think of the last time I've been in a client meeting over the past six months where they haven't asked me what I think that Congress is going to do with tax reform," says Stephen Kimberlin, a CPA who is senior tax manager at Dixon Hughes Goodman in Richmond. "It goes hand-in-hand.

Barletta renews call for term limits

A Scranton Times-Tribune All Access subscription gets you complete access to both our print and digital publications, delivered to your home, desktop and mobile devices 7 days a week Manage your account Manage your account 24 hours a day. You can activate all access, pay your bill, update your account information, pause home delivery while you're away or ask a question.

Barletta renews his call for term limits

Access the Citizens' Voice e-Edition on your computer or smart device in its original print format. Home delivery subscribers can read it free! Digital Only Subscription Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Trump wanted gag order lifted on FBI informant

President Donald Trump made it clear he wanted the gag order lifted on an undercover informant who played a critical role in an FBI investigation into Russian efforts to gain influence in the uranium industry in the United States during the Obama administration, according to two sources familiar with the President's actions. The President directed his senior staff "to facilitate the Justice Department's full cooperation with Congress to lift the gag order," one of the sources said.

Tennessee jobless rate below 5 percent in every county for first time

Economic development officials across Tennessee shared virtual high-fives Thursday as unemployment rates in all 95 counties dropped below 5 percent for the first time. Many of them were in Gatlinburg for the 64th annual Governor's Conference on Economic and Community Development.

Trump’s vote fraud panel will be investigated

The Government Accountability Office has accepted a request by a group of U.S. senators to investigate the activities of President Donald Trump's commission on voter fraud. Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota wrote to the watchdog agency last week to request the probe, citing a lack of transparency surrounding the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity .

Hammers, axes will test prototypes for border wall

Contractors have completed eight prototypes of President Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, triggering a period of rigorous testing to determine if they can repel sledgehammers, torches, pickaxes and battery-operated tools. Contractors have completed eight prototypes of President Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, triggering a period of rigorous testing to determine if they can repel sledgehammers, torches, pickaxes and battery-operated tools.

Lindsey Graham to testify at Senate corruption trial

Lindsey Graham is taking a break from his Senate duties Thursday to testify on behalf of a Democratic senator on trial for federal corruption charges. Graham will travel to Newark, N.J., to testify in the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Graham's office announced.

Disneyland puts transportation hub on hold, reveals plan to build parking structure within resort

Disney has put on hold plans to build a transportation hub on the eastern edge of the resort. The Disneyland Resort has shelved plans for a new transportation hub on the eastern edge of the Anaheim property and will build a 6,500-space parking structure near its shopping district.

Mediaite Q&A: Nicolle Wallace on WH Morale, W’s Speech and …

Deadline: White House , her first full-time hosting gig for MSNBC, is a smart political-panel show that airs in the hours after the White House press briefing, now conducted by Sarah Huckabee Sanders . That timing is fitting, given what makes Wallace's insights on the current administration particularly valuable: a longtime Republican, she was once communications chief for George W. Bush and a senior adviser to Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential bid.