Facebook Ipo Flop Drawing Increased Scrutiny

Muni bond investors on edge over tax proposal Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 2:49 pm, Thursday, May 23, 2013 BOSTON (AP) — Municipal bonds continue to provide a reliable refuge from stock market volatility and a steady source of tax-free income. While that's nothing to brag about, it's a substantially higher yield than the roughly 2 percent that 10-year Treasury bonds offer, without factoring in the tax-exempt advantage that munis offer. While other mutual fund categories have consistently attracted new cash, investors have been pulling money out of muni bond funds. Investors, particularly those in the top tax brackets, fear a budget proposal by President Obama that would cap the amount of muni bond income that an individual can claim as exempt from federal taxes. If Congress accepts Obama's proposal — something highly uncertain in this fiercely partisan environment — the tax-exempt benefit would be capped at 28 percent for the top 2 percent of earners. [] someone in the top 39.6 percent bracket who paid zero federal taxes previously on $100,000 in muni income would pay $11,600 under Obama's proposal. [] consider whether munis' tax advantages will offset the higher pretax returns you'd normally expect from investing in a taxable bond fund. In April, there are often seasonal factors in play, as some investors liquidate their muni holdings to pay annual tax bills. [] that has not been as big a factor in recent weeks as the Obama administration's budget and the proposal on capping exemptions.

The Hotel Detective is loath to admit it, but he didn’t have to do much Sherlock Holmesing to compile this cabin crib sheet for the Crystal Symphony.

By J.P. Gownder

In a major speech on Thursday, President Barack Obama defended his administration's policy on investigating leaks regarding information sensitive to national security. But he conceded that he was "troubled" about its potential effects on stymieing journalism, and said he has ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct a review of the Department of Justice's guidelines. "As Commander-in Chief, I believe we must keep information secret that protects our operations and our people in the field," Obama said in a speech at the National Defense University. "To do so, we must enforce consequences for those who break the law and breach their commitment to protect classified information. But a free press is also essential for our democracy. I am troubled by the possibility that leak investigations may chill the investigative journalism that holds government accountable." "Journalists should not be at legal risk for doing their jobs," he continued. "Our focus must be on those who break the law. That is why I have called on Congress to pass a media shield law to guard against government over-reach." Obama's administration has come under fire in recent weeks for what is seen as an aggressive strategy in prosecuting leakers. Two weeks ago, the Associated Press said the Justice Department had obtained several journalists' phone records. And on Monday, a 2009 case involving Fox News reporter James Rosen earned renewed scrutiny. In a search warrant, an FBI agent labeled Rosen as a "co-conspirator" in leaking the information. Obama said he has discussed the issues with Holder, who will review the department's guidelines and meet with media organizations addressing their concerns. Obama said Holder is scheduled to report back to him by July 12. Please follow Politics on Twitter and Facebook.Join the conversation about this story »    

January Jones didn't list her son Xander Dane Jones' father's information on his birth certificate — and she won't be sharing it with you, either. “That’s my son’s business,” she tells The New York Times. “It’s not the public’s business.” The 35-year-old further opened up to Net-a-Porter’s magazine The Edit, revealing, “I knew I would be raising my son alone. It was something I went in to knowingly, I was prepared mentally – and I was excited about it.” But the busy "Mad Men" actress says, “I don’t have room for anything else, so I don’t know how I would have done it with a partner.” Further driving the privacy point home, Jones says, “I don’t divulge my sexual preferences. There are parts of your life – no matter what your job – that should remain private." Last week she explained to The NY Times, "Jack Nicholson once told me: ‘You should never give your personal life away, otherwise people will pick you apart. They’ll never believe in your character.’” “Women should have lots of secrets,” adds Jones. “It’s our right to have secrets. Otherwise, what would we write in our memoirs?” Jones is, however, willing to talk about her bizarre post-pregnancy routine, which included eating her son's placenta. “It was like taking a vitamin blended into a smoothie,” recalls Jones of the practice that is believed to help fight postpartum depression. “I’m a mammal. I nursed. I did all kinds of weird stuff.”SEE ALSO: "Bachelorette" Meredith Phillips reveals she was an alcoholic > Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.Join the conversation about this story »