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Unfortunately, the Internal Revenue Service has reduced its work force this year, so it will be more difficult to obtain help from the federal agency.

Because of the staff reductions, the number of customer service representatives has been reduced, so it is likely that when you do contact the IRS, with requests regarding your refunds or other questions, you will be referred to other representatives for answers.

Here are some steps you can take in order to receive better service from the IRS this year.

—Obtain an online account

You can get better service if you establish an online account. Currently almost 51 million individuals have an online account, which is considerably more than the 20 million who had accounts a few years ago. To set up an account, go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov. Access the online account section in order to establish one. You will be asked to provide your email address establish a password, and provide other identification such as your driver’s license, or password information in order to establish your account. You will also be providing contact information such as phone numbers and you current address. read more

By ALEXANDRA OLSON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. civil rights agency has determined that the federal government can bar transgender employees from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity, dismissing an appeal from a transgender woman who worked for the U.S. Army.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decided Thursday against a civilian IT specialist who worked for the Army at Fort Riley, Kansas. The EEOC repeatedly declared her to be man even though the worker informed her managers that she identified as a woman in the summer of 2025 when she asked to use bathrooms and locker rooms aligned with her gender identity. Her request was declined and she filed a complaint with the Army, which was dismissed.

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By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO, AP Retail Writer

Target will stop selling cereals containing synthetic colors by the end of May.

The Minneapolis-based discounter said Friday it had been phasing out synthetic colors in cereals for several years. Right now, 85% of its cereal sales already come from products made without synthetic dyes.

Target said it has worked with national brands and its private brands to reformulate products as needed. Some cereals — including Trix and Lucky Charms, which are made by General Mills — will have updated formulations, Target said. Target said it will no longer carry brands that don’t reformulate, but it didn’t name the brands.

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OpenAI gets $110 billon in funding from a trio of tech powerhouses, led by Amazon

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By MICHELLE CHAPMAN, AP Business Writer

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has received $110 billion in funding from Amazon, SoftBank and Nvidia, putting the technology company’s pre-money valuation at $730 billion.

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Amazon is leading the trio of tech heavyweights in commitments, putting up $50 billion, followed by $30 billion each from Nvidia and SoftBank, said OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman on Friday. Other investors are anticipated to join as the funding round progresses.

Amazon will start with an initial $15 billion investment and will invest an additional $35 billion in the coming months under preset conditions. read more

By BARBARA ORTUTAY and KAITLYN HUAMANI, AP Technology Writers

Social media addiction has been compared to casinos, opioids and cigarettes.

While there’s some debate among experts about the line between overuse and addiction, and whether social media can cause the latter, there is no doubt that many people feel like they can’t escape the pull of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms.

The companies that designed your favorite apps have an incentive to keep you glued to them so they can serve up ads that make them billions of dollars in revenue. Resisting the pull of the endless scroll, the dopamine hits from short-form videos and the ego boost and validation that come from likes and positive interactions, can seem like an unfair fight. For some people, “rage-bait,” gloomy news and arguing with internet strangers also have an irresistible draw.

Much of the concern around social media addiction has focused on children. But adults are also susceptible to using social media so much that it starts affecting their day-to-day lives. read more