No trial, no death penalty

Moving forward: Loughner's plea deal gets Gabrielle Giffords' approval

Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords say they approve of the plea deal and areready to move forward.
Photo by Ida Mae Astute/ABC
Jared Lee Loughner is expected to plead guilty in federal court on Tuesday to 49charges, including several counts of first-degree murder.

UPDATE: Jared Loughner plead guilty Tuesday to going on a shooting rampage that left six people dead and wounded his intended target, then-Congresswoman Gabriele Giffords (D-Ariz.), and 12 others, The Washington Post reported.

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If he's declared competent for trial, Jared Loughner is expected to plead guilty in federal court to 49 charges — including several counts of first-degree murder — on Tuesday. Loughner is the 23-year-old Tucson man accused of killing six and wounding 13 others, including Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Now Giffords, who is still in the Houston area recovering from her serious brain injuries, along with her husband, Mark Kelly, have released their approval of the deal negotiated by the district attorney. In exchange for a guilty plea, Loughner is expected to be spared the death penalty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"We don't speak for all of the victims or their families, but Gabby and I are satisfied with this plea agreement," Kelly said in a statement. "The pain and loss caused by the events of January 8, 2011 are incalculable. Avoiding a trial will allow us — and we hope the whole Southern Arizona community — to continue with our recovery and move forward with our lives."

Avoiding a trial will also spare the prosecution from the possibility that Loughner could be found not guilty by reason of insanity. The shooter was diagnosed with schizophrenia after his arrest in January 2011 and ruled incompetent to stand trial in May of that year.

In the intervening months he has been forcibly medicated at a psychiatric hospital in Missouri, but for him to change his plea to guilty he will have to demonstrate to U.S. District Court Judge Larry A. Burns that he is mentally fit and understands the charges against him.

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always be prepared

Texas tax-free weekend lets shoppers stock up on emergency supplies

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Emergency supplies like first aid kits that cost less than $75 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

The best time for Texas residents to stock up on supplies to prepare for natural disasters is coming up this weekend. The annual statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday runs from April 25-27, when Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies — plus household necessities like batteries and fire extinguishers — tax-fee.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 25, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend, and purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order.

Saving on emergency supplies
Emergency preparation supplies must be purchased under certain price brackets to qualify for the tax exemption. For example, portable generators must have a sales price less than $3,000 to qualify for a tax break. Ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300 also qualify.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources; candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The full list of qualifying items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website.

As a reminder, over-the-counter items like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, and spray and wipes are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

What to do if a qualifying item is taxed during the holiday
If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 25-27 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

tax free weekend emergency supplies texas