Parents can look forward to some extra cash beginning July 15, as the IRS rolls out an expanded tax break for millions of families.

The third round of stimulus cash could start arriving as soon as this weekend for those with direct deposit, giving many an extra financial lift after being ground down by a year-long pandemic.

Starting Monday, Michigan renters in need, as well as landlords, can start applying for federal rent dollars that are part of a COVID-19 relief bill that Congress passed in December.

The ever-so-anticipated third stimulus check is supposed to give people a financial lift during the pandemic.

The Greater Ottawa County United Way recently announced the launch of this tax season’s MyFreeTaxes.com website.

Get ready for one unruly tax season where many filers will face longer tax refund delays, the rules of the game for key credits have changed and many remain angry about stimulus checks and tax refunds from last year that never showed up.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Democrats' push to immediately bring President Donald Trump's demand for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks up for a vote, saying the chamber would "begin a process" to address the issue.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was on the political hot seat Tuesday as Democrats and President Trump pushed him to approve raising the amount of the coronavirus stimulus direct payments to $2,000.

BURTON (AP) — Crystal and Chris Martin put off some payments on their home in this blue-collar town near Flint and are pinching pennies to make ends meet until they return to work. In Windsor, Connecticut, Anne Druce's family canceled home improvement projects out of an abundance of caution …

Consider yourself lucky if you have a piggy bank full of quarters, dimes and nickels.

It's time to do your taxes — no more delays.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion bill Friday to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 Americans and devastated broad swaths of the economy.

LANSING — Michigan, whose inundated unemployment system saw 134,000 new filings last week, reported progress Thursday in processing claims and getting money out the door during the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite growing calls to begin reopening the state's economy from Republicans, protesters and some in the business community, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday such a move is unlikely before the current emergency declaration expires on May. 1.

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday she hopes to gradually begin reopening the state’s economy on May 1 after weeks of a strict stay-at-home order that has crippled businesses and caused more than 1 million unemployed people to seek aid during the coronavirus crisis.

Slowly but surely, taxpayers are telling their friends and posting on social media that they're seeing stimulus checks arrive in their bank accounts.

LANSING (AP) — Michigan's unemployment website and other online services were down on Monday, the first day self-employed workers and independent contractors could start filing claims for benefits under a federal aid package enacted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

First, knock down the number of new COVID-19 cases. Then, ramp up testing far beyond current levels. And lastly, prep health care facilities and businesses for the possibility of new flare-ups.

What’s not to like about a stimulus check?

Face it, we're stuck at home, fearful of how the coronavirus pandemic could take away our loved ones, and ever so eager to latch onto quick solutions.

LANSING (AP) — Claims for unemployment benefits continued to skyrocket in Michigan last week during the coronavirus pandemic, when 311,000 people filed initial applications — more than double from the previous week.

GRAND RAPIDS — Currently, West Michigan is being affected less than other parts of the country economically due to fallout from the current COVID-19 pandemic, said Paul Isely, associate dean and professor of economics at Grand Valley State University.

WASHINGTON — Congress is poised to approve an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package that will provide one-time checks for most Americans and significant enhancements to unemployment benefits. Both will provide much-needed help to those recently laid-off and to financially stres…

WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a mammoth $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic, an unprecedented response amid record new jobless claims and mounting evidence that the economy is in a recession.

Feeling the heebie-jeebies about your stock market investments lately? You’re not alone.

Last year was busy in terms of permitting and construction for local municipalities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House voted Tuesday to pass a $1.4 trillion government spending package, handing President Donald Trump a victory on his U.S.-Mexico border fence while giving Democrats spending increases across a swath of domestic programs.

LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation to ensure that Michigan's 6% sales and use taxes are collected on more items sold through websites such as Wayfair, Overstock and Amazon.

LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rallied with teachers earlier this week to push for a sizable boost in school spending, saying a "failure" in the Capitol has contributed to worsening educational outcomes for Michigan kids.

Asked to name their highest priority benefits for a new job, more than half of millennials in a new survey ranked health insurance highly. Just 36 percent included a company retirement plan match in their top three.

While the layoffs at Ford Motor Co. are the latest to grab headlines, the automaker isn’t alone in trimming its payrolls. Retailers, snack foods companies, manufacturers and others are cutting costs across the country, too.

LANSING (AP) — Michigan's Legislature was poised Friday to pass a bill that would cut the country's highest auto insurance premiums by letting drivers forego a one-of-a-kind requirement to buy unlimited medical coverage for crash injuries.

(StatePoint) Kids often view money as having one function only: to buy stuff, right now. Give a young child $5 and he’ll likely spend it all, often looking for things that cost $5.

America's "recession obsession" is ongoing. We're glued to each dip in the Dow. We're hanging on every bit of news on layoffs, late car payments and bad economic luck. We're worried that somehow, the 10-year economic expansion is coming to a halt.

Amanda Hill, 27, deals with big student loan debt by doing everything she can to keep her other bills small.

New federal overtime rules could boost some pay for some workers

If you're preparing your income taxes and your refund isn't as big as you had bargained for, there's no reason to panic.

During his 90-minute presentation Tuesday morning on the economic forecast for Northwest Ottawa County, Dr. Paul Isley used the word “recession” more than 30 times.

The best way to prepare to do your taxes — or even get your taxes done — is to take a deep breath, gather your thoughts and start scrambling for your paperwork.