Presidents' Day

While most federal websites are designed for use by adults, many are also directed toward younger audiences. Here's an example from the U.S. Mint. It has some interesting information about Presidents' Day and even offers some educational games:

http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinNews/presidentsDay.cfm

You may learn a lot about both Presidents and coins, and it won't be a "coin"cidence. ;-)

Taxpayer Advocate Service

Dealing with any government agency usually involves cutting through a certain amount of red tape, but the Internal Revenue Service seems to have a particularly thick layer. As tax season approaches, please be aware that there is a place to turn if you're having problems with the IRS. Most states have a Taxpayer Advocate who may be able to help you sort out any stubborn or serious issues you're having with the IRS:

https://www.irs.gov/Advocate/Local-Taxpayer-Advocate/Contact-Your-Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

So, if you have a tax problem you haven't been able to resolve through regular IRS channels, give the Advocate a call. As the IRS site itself says, "Remember, the worst thing you can do is nothing at all.

Zika Virus

The spread of the Zika virus was recently declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. For the latest news on the impact and outlook for this virus, see this page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html

If we have the early spring that the groundhog predicted this morning, you can help to slow the spread of Zika by ensuring that those spring rains don't turn into "standing water" where mosquitoes can breed. This virus is just one more good reason to stay vigilant and "fight the bite."

Legal Services Corporation

The legal landscape in this country is difficult to navigate without an expert guide, and many people simply can't afford to hire a lawyer when they need one. That's why the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) was established by Congress in 1974:

http://lsc.gov/

Its purpose is to "provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. LSC promotes equal access to justice by providing funding to 134 independent non-profit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories." So, if you have a low income, need help with a legal problem, and don't happen to be related to the type of lawyer you need, the LSC site can help you find a legal aid organization in your area.

Constitution Annotated

The upcoming Presidential election and a number of other recent events have raised many questions about what is and is not "constitutional." Is Ted Cruz qualified to run for President? Is President Obama legally empowered to take executive action on gun control? One of the best places to seek an answer to those questions, and others, is the Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, popularly known as the Constitution Annotated:

https://www.congress.gov/constitution-annotated

If you don't have the time to go get a law degree or the money to hire a lawyer to answer these questions for you, doing a bit of research here may help to put your mind at ease. If nothing else, it's an impressive source for you to cite the next time a debate breaks out at the dinner table.

International Lottery Scams

This week's $1.3 billion Powerball prize may have given you a case of lottery fever, but this page from the Federal Trade Commission can help you avoid getting caught by an international lottery scam:

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0086-international-lottery-scams

Whenever you get a solicitation that sounds tempting, just keep in mind that it's against federal law to play a foreign lottery.

There's additional information from the U.S. Department of State here:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/scams/lottery.html

And from OnGuard Online here:

https://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0002c-lotteries-and-sweepstakes-scams

Even when you gamble, you should try to minimize your risks.

National Wildlife Refuges

You may have heard on the news that a group of armed individuals has taken over part of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The reason they've done this seems to be a dispute over the use of federally-owned lands. If you're curious about what uses the federal government is making of that land, see this site from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency that runs the National Wildlife Refuge System:

http://www.fws.gov/refuges/about/

The Malheur Refuge is closed for the time being, but every state has at least one Refuge and Oregon has 17 in addition to Malheur. Feel free to visit one near you, and don't forget your bird-watching binoculars.