Convenience Big Store: Child tax credit payments start this week: Here's what you need to know

Monthly advance child tax credit payments start this week
– Monthly child tax credit advance payments are set to start going out to eligible parents this week, on Thursday July 15. The payment installments are part of the American Rescue Plan COVID relief bill signed back in March. The child tax credit is not new. Eligible parents have already been receiving $2,000 from the government for each qualifying child when they receive an annual tax refund. The difference now is that the amount has increased, and there will also be the ability to receive up to half of the money, in advance, in the form of monthly payments this year. These upcoming monthly payments are considered to be an advance on eligible parents' 2022 tax returns. Eligible taxpayers will be allowed to opt-out of the advance payments and take the money all during tax season. (Tegna)

Flex Alert issued for Monday amid expected increase in power demand – The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is calling on people to conserve energy on July 12. The callout comes as the state's grid operator expects to see increased power demand on Monday. On Twitter, CAISO said some Oregon transmission lines were knocked out by the Bootleg Fire and are still not in service, resulting in reduced power supply imported into California and other states. With the lines unreliable and continued high temperatures, CAISO is calling on people to conserve energy between 4 and 9 p.m. on Monday, July 12 to help stabilize the electric grid. If demand outpaces supply, CAISO could call for rotating temporary power outages to extend the power supply. (Eric Escalante, ABC10)

Youtuber helps Roseville police nab a suspected child predator – A San Diego Youtuber says he helped Roseville Police Department arrest a suspected online predator. Video shows the Youtuber confronting a man who thought he was meeting up with a 14-year-old boy after connecting through a dating app. His organization, called CC Unit, says it is responsible for catching more than 200 accused online predators across the country. The YouTuber didn't want to show his face or name so he can keep trying to catch people. In June, he posed as a 14-year-old boy who wanted to meet the older man at a Smart and Final grocery store in Roseville. "He was fine with the age. He sent graphic photos to the boy. He chatted graphically," Ghost, the Founder of CC Unit said. “And then, he was going to pick him up and bring him back to his place and do some graphic stuff with him but instead, he ran into me." (Lena Howland, ABC10)

TIP OF THE DAY

Work search requirement returns Californians will once again be required to confirm that they are looking for work or risk losing eligibility for collecting unemployment benefits, according to the Employment Development Department (EDD). (Staff, ABC10)

SMILE

'Old Faithful' still gushing The more groundwater that hits the volcanic magma, the more frequent the Calistoga Geyser in Napa Valley blows. But during a drought year, the Old Faithful Geyser just off Highway 128 is a little less 'faithful.' (John Bartell, ABC10)