• (Reuters) Veteran rockers Van Halen said on Friday that they will kick off a North American tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth in mid-February, shortly after the release of the band’s first full album with Roth in nearly 30 years.

    “A Different Kind of Truth” will be released in the United States on Feb 7 but the first single, “Tattoo,” and its accompanying video, will debut on Jan 10. Roth’s last album with the group was the popular “1984,” released on Dec 31, 1983.

    The band will be joined by Kool & The Gang for select dates on the 40-plus city tour, which opens at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky on Feb 18 with over four months of dates through the New Orleans Arena announced so far.

    Tickets go on sale on Jan 14.

    Van Halen’s relationship with Roth has been a stormy one over the years. Roth left the band in a bitter breakup in 1985, only to rejoin for a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, then quickly depart in another bitter split.

    He returned to Van Halen for a tour in 2007-2008.

    The band, whose early hits include “Runnin’ with the Devil” and “Dance the Night Away,” was among the leading rock acts of the late 1970s, 1980s and into the 1990s, when Sammy Hagar replaced Roth as singer.

    Michael Anthony was the original bassist, but alongside Hagar he has joined another band,Cheap Ed hardy underwear, Chickenfoot. Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son, took over on bass.

    (Reporting by Elaine Lies; editing by Paul Casciato)

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  • Burberry 05.01.2012 No Comments

    BEIJING (Reuters) Chinese authorities have jailed the prominent dissident-lawyer Gao Zhisheng in the remote far west, his brother said Monday,Cheap Ed hardy bags, the first confirmation of Gao’s whereabouts in nearly two years in a case that has fanned criticism about secretive detentions.

    Gao has been imprisoned in the Shaya County Prison in Xinjiang region on charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” his brother, Gao Zhiyi, told Reuters by telephone from his home in Shaanxi province, citing a court notice.

    “Now we finally know where he is, I hope we can visit him in a few days, but it’s a long way to travel,” said Gao Zhiyi.

    The court notice amounted to the clearest information of Gao Zhisheng’s location since April 2010, when he briefly made contact with friends and foreign reporters after being held in secretive detention for more than a year.

    China’s state news agency Xinhua reported last month that Gao Zhisheng had been sent back to jail, ending his probation for an earlier conviction. But Xinhua did not say where Gao was, and his family and supporters believe he has been held secretively by authorities for much of the past two years.

    A combative Beijing-based rights advocate who tackled many causes anathema to the ruling Communist Party, Gao was sentenced to three years in jail in 2006 for “inciting subversion of state power,” a charge often used to punish critics of one-party rule.

    Gao was given five years of probation, formally sparing him from the prison sentence. But his family was under constant surveillance and Gao was detained on and off over that time.

    His probation was soon to expire when the court announced that he would instead be sent to jail to serve his sentence.

    Gao was taken from a relative’s home in Shaanxi province in north China in February 2009 — his family says by security officers — and had been missing since he resurfaced briefly in April 2010.

    Gao’s wife, Geng He, and children have sought refuge in the United States where members of Congress have pressed his case.

    The United Nations working group on arbitrary detention said in March 2010 that Gao was being detained in violation of international law.

    Shaya, where the notice said Gao is jailed, is about 1,100 km (680 miles) southwest of Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang.

    (Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Robert Birsel)

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  • As of New Year’s Day, residents of Michigan can no longer claim charitable contributions to homeless shelters, food banks, community foundations, public universities or other nonprofits on their state income tax, says CBS Detroit. As part of the Public Act 38 budget cuts package, Gov. Rick Snyder repealed Section 261 of the Michigan Individual Income Tax Act, eliminating charitable giving credits. Here’s information about these changes.

    Which organizations are affected?

    The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan explains the three tax credits. The Public Contribution Credit covered institutions like public broadcasting stations, higher education facilities,Cheap Ed hardy t-shirts, colleges, universities, university fundraising groups, donations of publicly displayed artwork, public libraries and museums. The Community Foundation Credit provided credits for local civic organizations. The Homeless Shelter and Food Bank Credit reimbursed contributions made to rescue missions, food kitchens and pantries and organizations whose purpose is to provide accommodation for indigent persons.

    How much is the charitable tax credit worth?

    Michigan Legislature defines the three credits as 50 percent nonrefundable amounts that can only be used to reduce owed taxes. On each credit, married couples filing jointly can claim up to $200 for $400 in contributions. Individual filers receive up to $100 back. CBS Local said about 250,000 residents took advantage of the credit in 2010. Snyder eliminated the Michigan Business Tax as well. That tax included charitable giving credits. These credits saved taxpayers $40 million in income taxes. Gov. Snyder is hoping to recover some of those lost income tax funds to revitalize Michigan’s struggling economy.

    Can donations made last year be claimed?

    Donations to nonprofit organizations made before Dec.31 can be claimed on 2011’s income taxes. The Holland Sentinel says mailed donations made close to the end of the year cannot count because the payment might not have processed and a receipt issued in time. Electronic, Automatic Clearing House or credit card donations are easier to claim because they provide an immediate confirmation number for payment, even though the bill may not be paid yet. All receipts for charitable gifts should be saved.

    How will this affect local organizations?

    The charitable contribution credits have brought in $100 million for nonprofit organizations, says CBS Detroit. Of that amount, the 2011 Community Education/Foundation and Homeless Shelter/Food Bank Credits Report says the MBT contributed a significant portion to public institutions. The majority of IIT funds went to support homeless shelters and community food banks.

    Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about people, places, events and issues in her home state of “Pure Michigan.”

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