Child Tax Credit 2021: Here's how families say they'll use "basic income for kids"
CBSN
The parents of 60 million U.S. children on Thursday began receiving monthly checks through the expanded federal Child Tax Credit, a historic relief measure geared toward families of modest means. The money is sorely needed given the ongoing financial stresses from the pandemic, some parents told CBS MoneyWatch.
How people might use the funds has sparked debate, with some critics calling it a "middle-class boondoggle" or worrying that it might discourage low-income parents from seeking work. Proponents say the measure is essential at a time households face rising prices on groceries, gas and other necessities as well as the lingering financial impact of the pandemic. Seven parents who spoke with CBS MoneyWatch said they plan to spend the money on goods and services for their children, ranging from back-to-school supplies to extras like gymnastics classes for a teenager with aspirations of joining her high school cheerleading team. Many also expressed hope that the monthly payments would continue beyond December, when the last check is due to hit accounts.Washington — More than 50 former football players and coaches, including several Pro Football Hall of Famers and Super Bowl MVP's, announced their endorsement Friday of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The group represents 25 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU's) and consists of 10 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, two Super Bowl champions and MVPs, former No. 1 overall picks and some of the first Black athletes and coaches to break the color barrier.
Jan. 7, 1994, started out like any other typical winter morning for Rebecca "Becky" Savarese of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. There was snow on the ground, and it was bitterly cold as the 12-year-old walked to school. Then, at around 7:10 a.m., at one of the busiest intersections in town, a man came up beside her. "He had a mustache, but he didn't shave. He seemed like a nerd to me," said Savarese. The stranger quickly pulled out a gun and held it up against her.