Are you or someone in your household college bound? If so,...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Are you or someone in your household college bound? If so, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - and don’t worry, it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds.

The U.S. Department of Education created this video, which leads you step-by-step through the application process. Please note, every school has their own deadline for when the FAFSA is due - so it’s best to get it done sooner rather than later, to be on the safe side.

Figuring out how to pay for higher education can be overwhelming and confusing, but there is lots of help out there to make it simpler for you.

From the IRS: Ten Tips to Help You Choose a Tax Preparer.

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

From the IRS:

Ten Tips to Help You Choose a Tax Preparer.

Today we remember the crew of the Challenger, which broke apart...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Today we remember the crew of the Challenger, which broke apart seconds after launch in 1986. Christa McAuliffe was one of the two women on board the space shuttle. She would have been the first civilian woman in space.

This photo from NASA shows the crew of the Challenger. Front row from left, Mike Smith, Dick Scobee, Ron McNair. Back row from left, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, Judith Resnik.

Image description: Not sure if you need to file a tax return...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description: Not sure if you need to file a tax return this year? These tips can help.

From the IRS:

Six Tips on Who Should File a 2014 Tax Return.

Image description: From the IRS: Aggressive and threatening...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description:

From the IRS:

Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain near the top of the annual “Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams for the 2015 filing season.

Image description: Kids.gov makes a lot of great videos. One...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description: Kids.gov makes a lot of great videos . One series is about cool jobs and careers that may spark your children’s interest. This one is about a Federal Wildlife Officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .

Learn about his typical day at the “office” and the people and animals he gets to work with and help. Then, check out some of the other careers and jobs like marine biologists , pilots , and even the White House Chef !

Image description: Do you have questions about any of the topics...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description: Do you have questions about any of the topics President Obama talked about in his State of the Union address last night?

You can ask them today!

All day long, members of the Obama administration will be online to tackle your questions on the economy, foreign policy, immigration and many of the other issues the president talked about last night.

You can ask your questions on social media using the hashtag #AskTheWH. Get more details on how to participate and find the schedule of events on WhiteHouse.gov.

Image description: 4 mistakes to avoid when dealing with your...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description: 4 mistakes to avoid when dealing with your student loans. Great advice from the Department of Education.

Image description: In some parts of the country, Old Man Winter...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description:

In some parts of the country, Old Man Winter has already unleashed his fury, but before the next storm hits, how prepared or unprepared are you? This video from FEMA lets you know what you need to have ready, and what to do if a storm hits. Ask yourself:

• 
  

  Have you properly winterized your home?

  
  

• 
  

  Is your emergency kit stocked?

  
  


• 
  

  Do you know what to do if you get stuck on the road?

  
  

Nobody can beat Mother Nature, but you can be ready to handle her. For more information on emergency preparedness check out these helpful publications from Publications.USA.gov .

Image description: A group of young people celebrate the success...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description: A group of young people celebrate the success of the third Selma march by singing.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, check out more powerful photos of the march from Smithsonian Magazine.

Grow Your Business With the 8(a) Business Development Program

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

If you have a small company that’s not earning enough or is at a disadvantage, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has a program that can help your business be more competitive.

The 8(a) Business Development Program provides assistance for small, disadvantaged businesses. It helps entrepreneurs who want to strengthen their companies and also helps them get exclusive government contracts.



Program benefits

Businesses that participate in the 8(a) program can:

• Receive sole-source contracts of up to $4 million for goods and services, and $6.5 million for manufacturing.
  
  
  


• Reinforce business and institutional knowledge, and participate in competitive acquisitions.
  
  
  


• Collaborate with more experienced businesses to bid on contracts.

The SBA tracks the performance of your company through annual reviews, business planning and systemic evaluations. As you progress in the program, you can participate in specialized business training, counseling, marketing assistance and high-level executive development.



Check to see if your company meets the eligibility requirements to participate in the program.



If you need more information, send an email to 8aquestions@SBA.gov. For questions about online applications send an email to BDMIS@sba.gov.

Image description: From the Bureau of Land Management: BLM...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description:

From the Bureau of Land Management:

BLM Winter Bucket List #20: Centennial Mountains Wilderness Study Area, Montana, for Back Country Skiing

Not for the beginner or faint of heart, back country skiing in the Centennial Mountains west of Yellowstone National Park offers a challenging winter adventure sure to complete any winter bucket list.

Visitors should remember that avalanche safety and awareness is a must when back country skiing or snowshoeing in the Centennial Mountains. The BLM recommends that visitors wanting to experience back country winter adventures in the Centennial Mountains be experienced in snow safety and rescue, use an experienced guide who is familiar with the area, or contact the Dillon Field Office for more information.

The 28,000 acre Centennial Mountains Wilderness Study Area forms the boundary between southwest Montana and Idaho and is some of Montana’s wildest country. Aside from being a year-around paradise for outdoor activities, the Centennial Mountains are a critical corridor for wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, elk, deer, wolverines, badgers, black bears, and a wide variety of birds.

Supermoon photos by Bob Wick, skiing photos courtesy of BLM Dillon Field Office

Encourage Kids to Serve on MLK Day

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.



Encourage Kids to Serve on MLK Day:

From the Corporation for National and Community Service:

By CNCS Staff

Make Monday’s holiday more than a day off from school

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is just days away, and it’s important that children learn that the holiday should be more than just a day off from school.

Corporation for National and Community Service CEO…

Image description: From the White House: Deadline tomorrow:...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description:

From the White House:

Deadline tomorrow: Apply to watch President Obama’s State of the Union address live from the White House.

Have an Issue with a Communications Service? It's Now Easier to File a Complaint

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Last week the FCC debuted a new online Consumer Help Center designed to make it easier for you to file complaints and get responses about your concerns. Once you file a complaint, you can also monitor and track its status 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Complaint categories are broken down by service: TV, phone, Internet, and radio. If you’re considering making a complaint, here is what happens once you file .

The FCC handles issues specifically related to communications. If you have a consumer complaint for another area, the Consumer Action Handbook can help you resolve it, as well as provide valuable information on being a smart consumer and avoiding scams and frauds.

Image description: From the White House: President Obama signs...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description:

From the White House:

President Obama signs a book of condolences for the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C.

How You Can Prevent Spreading the Flu

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

You may have noticed that many loved ones, friends, and perhaps yourself, have been getting sick lately. This year’s flu season is especially bad. The CDC releases weekly reports on national flu activity, and as of the most current release , 29 states were experiencing high flu activity.

Part of the reason for this is because the main strain of the flu virus mutated, and the flu shot doesn’t protect fully against this mutation. Because of this, it’s very important to prevent the spread of the flu as much as possible.

• 
  

  Stay home if you’re sick. Flu can spread to others from as far as 6 feet away - so even if you’re careful to stay away from co-workers or other students, you can easily spread the virus.

  
  


• 
  

  Wash hands with soap and water frequently.

  
  


• 
  

  Thoroughly clean eating utensils and bedding linens.

  
  


• 
  

  Frequently touched surfaces should be disinfected, especially if someone using them has been sick.

  
  

You can spread the flu one day before any symptoms appear and five to seven days after being sick, so take as much precaution as possible, to do your part to help minimize the spread of the flu!

Image description: A researcher using BISON, an software tool...

Otmane El Rhazi from USA.gov.

Image description: A researcher using BISON, an software tool used at the Idaho National Laboratory to model nuclear fuel rod behavior inside working nuclear reactors.