By ADAM GOLDSTEIN <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/27/teachers-would-get-60k-minimum-salary-under-bill-in-congress-making-grants-to-states/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON – A panel of 
policymakers and educators, including author Dave Eggers and former U.S.
 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, gathered at the U.S. Capitol on 
Wednesday to promote the American Teacher Act.

The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create
 four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher
 salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in 
fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises.

“We’re here today to advocate for our teachers, our educators, our 
saving grace that rescues families and our children every day,” said 
Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, sponsor of the bill and a former 
school teacher. “We want our teachers to be paid a livable wage. A wage 
that is fair, a wage that is commensurate with today’s economy.”

Rep. Wilson introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9566/text?r=1&amp;s=1">American Teacher Act&nbsp;</a>in
 the House of Representatives on Dec. 14, and is expected to 
re-introduce it in this Congress, though it’s likely to run into 
opposition from Republicans who control the chamber.

The legislation states that 15% of the four-year federal grants could
 support state-level educational agencies, while the remaining 85% must 
go directly to a state’s local school districts.

The bill includes a cost-of-living adjustment that would peg teacher 
salaries to inflation, along with a clause allowing for a national 
awareness campaign on the importance and work of teachers.

Phelton Moss, a senior policy adviser to Wilson, said that the bill 
also incorporates a maintenance-of-effort provision that requires states
 not to pull back on their commitment to a $60,000 minimum salary, if 
they are to keep their funding. Additional language inside the bill 
would ensure states prioritize Title I schools and districts in 
distributing funds.

In the 2020-2021 school year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_13_2022.asp#:~:text=In%20the%202020%2D21%20school%20year%2C%20regular%20full%2Dtime,in%20private%20schools%20(%2446%2C400).&amp;text=and%20%2465%2C400%2C%20respectively)-,About%2017%20percent%20each%20of%20public%20and%20private%20K%2D12,system%20during%20the%20school%20year.">public school teachers made $61,600</a>&nbsp;while working 52 hours per week, on average. Yet there is significant variation in teacher salary between states.

Mississippi, the lowest-paying state for teachers in the 2020-2021 school year, paid an average of $46,862,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nea.org/research-publications">according to the National Education Association</a>. Meanwhile, in New York, the average teacher salary sat at $90,222.

Wilson commended the dedication of school teachers during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, who taught online or went door-to-door to instruct 
students who lacked access to technology.

”It was during this time that the world finally saw what we’d known 
for years, that teachers are heroes,” she said. “They deserve a livable,
 competitive salary that accurately reflects the importance of their 
role in society.”

Wilson said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/7353e3fe9219415786a765aa4f9331c9">1 in 5 teachers across the country currently works a second job</a>&nbsp;to supplement their income, and over 9,000 districts across the country pay teachers less than $40,000 per year.

She said this lack of adequate pay is largely contributing to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-education-birmingham-0785042a3da15bcbcc58922c747fd961">some reports of a teacher shortage&nbsp;</a>affecting school districts.

“We should be embarrassed,” Wilson said. “The teacher shortage is 
among the most pressing threats to education access today. And we must 
address it. Our classrooms are at stake, our children are at stake, and 
the future of our country is at stake.”

As Missouri has struggled with teacher retention issues, Missouri 
Gov. Mike Parson hopes to continue a program that pays 70% of the cost 
for schools to pay every teacher at least $38,000 a year. The statewide 
average pay for teachers is $51,557 – 47th in the nation.

Ellen Sherratt of the Teacher Salary Project said that over her 20 
years of experience as an economist analyzing teacher salaries and 
shortages, the pay gap and morale of teachers is the worst it has ever 
been.

Last fall, the Economic Policy Institute performed an analysis of teacher pay trends from 1970 to 2021, and found that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-penalty-2022/">teachers earn 23.5% less on average</a>&nbsp;compared to their peers of similar educational backgrounds.

Sherratt also said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pdkpoll.org/2022-pdk-poll-results/">62% of parents surveyed&nbsp;</a>in
 a PDK poll on public schools last year said they did not want their 
child to go into teaching, with low pay the top-listed reason.

Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, estimated 
that roughly 50% of the Ubers and Lyfts he takes during the week are 
driven by schoolteachers. The Richmond, Virginia resident added that one
 of these Uber drivers was a former teacher in Alabama. The driver was 
studying to be a principal, and had to quit his job as a teacher to pay 
for school.

“We really need to re-examine what we are doing as a country,” 
Robinson said. “If teachers — who are our most prized possessions, who 
raise the next generation — have to quit or take on another job just to 
make ends meet.”

Nicholas Ferroni, a history teacher at Union High School in Union, 
New Jersey, added that teaching is one of the few jobs in which people 
can have the greatest impact on the greatest number of people. Ferroni 
lamented the fact that teachers have to use GoFundMe to “beg for 
supplies.”

“I’m just here because I don’t want to marry rich, become an 
administrator, or switch jobs,” Ferroni said. “I do want to stay in the 
classroom.”

Duncan, the former education secretary, said the impacts of a good 
teacher are not just test scores and graduation rates, but financial 
security. He said that<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.104.9.2633">&nbsp;an economic analysis from Raj Chetty</a>&nbsp;showed that one good middle-school teacher raised the lifetime earnings of a given class by $250,000.

“So you think about putting two good teachers back-to-back, or three 
good teachers back-to-back,” Duncan said. “What does that do for young 
people in perpetuity?”

Duncan also spoke to the institutional barriers to socioeconomic equity that high-quality education can surmount.

“No kid grows up wanting to be poor,” Duncan said. “The only way I 
know how to break the cycles of poverty and create upward mobility is to
 create opportunity. Getting great teachers where we need them most is 
critically important.”

Robinson said the bill could reduce barriers for people of color in 
entering the profession, and eroding the national achievement gap.

“People don’t understand the extra burden for people of color to take
 on more student loan debt,” Robinson said. “We know having educators of
 color, teachers that look like their students, is the most important 
thing to lowering that achievement gap and increasing graduation rates.”

“By increasing teacher salaries, we can make a dedication to increasing diversity in the teacher workforce.”

Moss said that there are still details yet to be finalized in the 
teacher salary bill, including the concrete definition of “teacher” and 
provisions for veteran educators.

Robinson added that he sees this bill inevitably facing resistance, yet that blowback should not deter its supporters.

“You know, pious D.C.,” Robinson said. “‘How are we gonna pay for this? How are we gonna do this?’”

“How can we afford not to pay for this? This is an issue of national security.”

Duncan challenged&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/it-will-take-more-than-60k-salaries-to-improve-morale-teachers-say/2022/12#:~:text=The%20bill%2C%20titled%20the%20American,%2460%2C000%20base%20salary%20for%20teachers.">claims from some teachers</a>&nbsp;that
 the American Teachers Act represents federal overreach. “Education is 
the ultimate bipartisan issue,” Duncan said. “This is nation-building. 
Our teacher workforce in our country is the best offense for our 
nation.”

Robinson added that the bill will put pressure on states to raise and
 maintain wages even after the grant is over, as they face competition 
from other states paying teachers more, who leave to work in a 
higher-paying community.

After the roundtable, Eggers talked about the “uninterrupted string 
of extraordinary teachers” in his education during an interview with 
States Newsroom. The author said that he still sends his books in 
manuscript form to a former high school English teacher, Peter Ferry, 
who is one of his first readers.

“Every single study that has ever tested what’s the most important 
thing in a student’s education —&nbsp; it’s not the color of the paint on the
 walls, or the facilities,” Eggers said. “The very most important thing 
is the teachers. It’s a school. It has to be teachers first.”

The author emphasized that if the pay schedule for teachers rises, 
talent will enter and stay in the profession, and the nation will grow 
to recognize the value of what teachers bring to the table.

“We know there’s a crisis,” Eggers said. “ We have hundreds of 
thousands of empty classrooms.&nbsp; We have schools that only have one or 
two qualified teachers. This is maybe the most urgent moment in the last
 150 years. And so there isn’t any other option. We have to start 
somewhere.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674859589412.jpg" alt="The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ADAM GOLDSTEIN <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/27/teachers-would-get-60k-minimum-salary-under-bill-in-congress-making-grants-to-states/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON – A panel of 
policymakers and educators, including author Dave Eggers and former U.S.
 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, gathered at the U.S. Capitol on 
Wednesday to promote the American Teacher Act.The bill, if passed, would authorize the federal government to create
 four-year grants for states to enact and enforce minimum school teacher
 salary requirements of $60,000 or more. The program would start in 
fiscal 2024. It would not mandate teacher raises.“We’re here today to advocate for our teachers, our educators, our 
saving grace that rescues families and our children every day,” said 
Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, sponsor of the bill and a former 
school teacher. “We want our teachers to be paid a livable wage. A wage 
that is fair, a wage that is commensurate with today’s economy.”Rep. Wilson introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9566/text?r=1&amp;s=1">American Teacher Act&nbsp;</a>in
 the House of Representatives on Dec. 14, and is expected to 
re-introduce it in this Congress, though it’s likely to run into 
opposition from Republicans who control the chamber.The legislation states that 15% of the four-year federal grants could
 support state-level educational agencies, while the remaining 85% must 
go directly to a state’s local school districts.The bill includes a cost-of-living adjustment that would peg teacher 
salaries to inflation, along with a clause allowing for a national 
awareness campaign on the importance and work of teachers.Phelton Moss, a senior policy adviser to Wilson, said that the bill 
also incorporates a maintenance-of-effort provision that requires states
 not to pull back on their commitment to a $60,000 minimum salary, if 
they are to keep their funding. Additional language inside the bill 
would ensure states prioritize Title I schools and districts in 
distributing funds.In the 2020-2021 school year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_13_2022.asp#:~:text=In%20the%202020%2D21%20school%20year%2C%20regular%20full%2Dtime,in%20private%20schools%20(%2446%2C400).&amp;text=and%20%2465%2C400%2C%20respectively)-,About%2017%20percent%20each%20of%20public%20and%20private%20K%2D12,system%20during%20the%20school%20year.">public school teachers made $61,600</a>&nbsp;while working 52 hours per week, on average. Yet there is significant variation in teacher salary between states.Mississippi, the lowest-paying state for teachers in the 2020-2021 school year, paid an average of $46,862,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nea.org/research-publications">according to the National Education Association</a>. Meanwhile, in New York, the average teacher salary sat at $90,222.<h2>‘Heroes’ struggle to stay afloat</h2>Wilson commended the dedication of school teachers during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, who taught online or went door-to-door to instruct 
students who lacked access to technology.”It was during this time that the world finally saw what we’d known 
for years, that teachers are heroes,” she said. “They deserve a livable,
 competitive salary that accurately reflects the importance of their 
role in society.”Wilson said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/7353e3fe9219415786a765aa4f9331c9">1 in 5 teachers across the country currently works a second job</a>&nbsp;to supplement their income, and over 9,000 districts across the country pay teachers less than $40,000 per year.She said this lack of adequate pay is largely contributing to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-education-birmingham-0785042a3da15bcbcc58922c747fd961">some reports of a teacher shortage&nbsp;</a>affecting school districts.“We should be embarrassed,” Wilson said. “The teacher shortage is 
among the most pressing threats to education access today. And we must 
address it. Our classrooms are at stake, our children are at stake, and 
the future of our country is at stake.”As Missouri has struggled with teacher retention issues, Missouri 
Gov. Mike Parson hopes to continue a program that pays 70% of the cost 
for schools to pay every teacher at least $38,000 a year. The statewide 
average pay for teachers is $51,557 – 47th in the nation.Ellen Sherratt of the Teacher Salary Project said that over her 20 
years of experience as an economist analyzing teacher salaries and 
shortages, the pay gap and morale of teachers is the worst it has ever 
been.Last fall, the Economic Policy Institute performed an analysis of teacher pay trends from 1970 to 2021, and found that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-penalty-2022/">teachers earn 23.5% less on average</a>&nbsp;compared to their peers of similar educational backgrounds.Sherratt also said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pdkpoll.org/2022-pdk-poll-results/">62% of parents surveyed&nbsp;</a>in
 a PDK poll on public schools last year said they did not want their 
child to go into teaching, with low pay the top-listed reason.Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, estimated 
that roughly 50% of the Ubers and Lyfts he takes during the week are 
driven by schoolteachers. The Richmond, Virginia resident added that one
 of these Uber drivers was a former teacher in Alabama. The driver was 
studying to be a principal, and had to quit his job as a teacher to pay 
for school.“We really need to re-examine what we are doing as a country,” 
Robinson said. “If teachers — who are our most prized possessions, who 
raise the next generation — have to quit or take on another job just to 
make ends meet.”Nicholas Ferroni, a history teacher at Union High School in Union, 
New Jersey, added that teaching is one of the few jobs in which people 
can have the greatest impact on the greatest number of people. Ferroni 
lamented the fact that teachers have to use GoFundMe to “beg for 
supplies.”“I’m just here because I don’t want to marry rich, become an 
administrator, or switch jobs,” Ferroni said. “I do want to stay in the 
classroom.”<h2>Teachers and students’ futures</h2>Duncan, the former education secretary, said the impacts of a good 
teacher are not just test scores and graduation rates, but financial 
security. He said that<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.104.9.2633">&nbsp;an economic analysis from Raj Chetty</a>&nbsp;showed that one good middle-school teacher raised the lifetime earnings of a given class by $250,000.“So you think about putting two good teachers back-to-back, or three 
good teachers back-to-back,” Duncan said. “What does that do for young 
people in perpetuity?”Duncan also spoke to the institutional barriers to socioeconomic equity that high-quality education can surmount.“No kid grows up wanting to be poor,” Duncan said. “The only way I 
know how to break the cycles of poverty and create upward mobility is to
 create opportunity. Getting great teachers where we need them most is 
critically important.”Robinson said the bill could reduce barriers for people of color in 
entering the profession, and eroding the national achievement gap.“People don’t understand the extra burden for people of color to take
 on more student loan debt,” Robinson said. “We know having educators of
 color, teachers that look like their students, is the most important 
thing to lowering that achievement gap and increasing graduation rates.”“By increasing teacher salaries, we can make a dedication to increasing diversity in the teacher workforce.”<h2>Blowback predicted&nbsp;</h2>Moss said that there are still details yet to be finalized in the 
teacher salary bill, including the concrete definition of “teacher” and 
provisions for veteran educators.Robinson added that he sees this bill inevitably facing resistance, yet that blowback should not deter its supporters.“You know, pious D.C.,” Robinson said. “‘How are we gonna pay for this? How are we gonna do this?’”“How can we afford not to pay for this? This is an issue of national security.”Duncan challenged&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/it-will-take-more-than-60k-salaries-to-improve-morale-teachers-say/2022/12#:~:text=The%20bill%2C%20titled%20the%20American,%2460%2C000%20base%20salary%20for%20teachers.">claims from some teachers</a>&nbsp;that
 the American Teachers Act represents federal overreach. “Education is 
the ultimate bipartisan issue,” Duncan said. “This is nation-building. 
Our teacher workforce in our country is the best offense for our 
nation.”Robinson added that the bill will put pressure on states to raise and
 maintain wages even after the grant is over, as they face competition 
from other states paying teachers more, who leave to work in a 
higher-paying community.<h2>Eggers praises his teachers&nbsp;</h2>After the roundtable, Eggers talked about the “uninterrupted string 
of extraordinary teachers” in his education during an interview with 
States Newsroom. The author said that he still sends his books in 
manuscript form to a former high school English teacher, Peter Ferry, 
who is one of his first readers.“Every single study that has ever tested what’s the most important 
thing in a student’s education —&nbsp; it’s not the color of the paint on the
 walls, or the facilities,” Eggers said. “The very most important thing 
is the teachers. It’s a school. It has to be teachers first.”The author emphasized that if the pay schedule for teachers rises, 
talent will enter and stay in the profession, and the nation will grow 
to recognize the value of what teachers bring to the table.“We know there’s a crisis,” Eggers said. “ We have hundreds of 
thousands of empty classrooms.&nbsp; We have schools that only have one or 
two qualified teachers. This is maybe the most urgent moment in the last
 150 years. And so there isn’t any other option. We have to start 
somewhere.”

U.S. teachers would get $60K minimum salary if bill passes

By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Across the country, there's a silent frustration brewing about an age-old practice that many say is getting out of hand: tipping.

Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media complaining about tip requests at drive-thrus, while others say they're tired of being asked to leave a gratuity for a muffin or a simple cup of coffee at their neighborhood bakery. What's next, they wonder -- are we going to be tipping our doctors and dentists, too?

As more businesses adopt digital payment methods, customers are automatically being prompted to leave a gratuity — many times as high as 30% — at places they normally wouldn't. And some say it has become more frustrating as the price of items has skyrocketed due to inflation, which eased to 6.5% in December but still remains painfully high.

"Suddenly, these screens are at every establishment we encounter. They're popping up online as well for online orders. And I fear that there is no end," said etiquette expert Thomas Farley, who considers the whole thing somewhat of "an invasion."

Unlike tip jars that shoppers can easily ignore if they don't have spare change, experts say the digital requests can produce social pressure and are more difficult to bypass. And your generosity, or lack thereof, can be laid bare for anyone close enough to glance at the screen — including the workers themselves.

Dylan Schenker is one of them. The 38-year-old earns about $400 a month in tips, which provides a helpful supplement to his $15 hourly wage as a barista at Philadelphia café located inside a restaurant. Most of those tips come from consumers who order coffee drinks or interact with the café for other things, such as carryout orders. The gratuity helps cover his monthly rent and eases some of his burdens while he attends graduate school and juggles his job.

Schenker says it's hard to sympathize with consumers who are able to afford pricey coffee drinks but complain about tipping. And he often feels demoralized when people don't leave behind anything extra — especially if they're regulars.

"Tipping is about making sure the people who are performing that service for you are getting paid what they're owed," said Schenker, who's been working in the service industry for roughly 18 years.

Traditionally, consumers have taken pride in being good tippers at places like restaurants, which typically pay their workers lower than the minimum wage in expectation they'll make up the difference in tips. But academics who study the topic say many consumers are now feeling irritated by automatic tip requests at coffee shops and other counter service eateries where tipping has not typically been expected, workers make at least the minimum wage and service is usually limited.

"People do not like unsolicited advice," said Ismail Karabas, a marketing professor at Murray State University who studies tipping. "They don't like to be asked for things, especially at the wrong time."

Some of the requests can also come from odd places. Clarissa Moore, a 35-year-old who works as a supervisor at a utility company in Pennsylvania, said even her mortgage company has been asking for tips lately. Typically, she's happy to leave a gratuity at restaurants, and sometimes at coffee shops and other fast-food places when the service is good. But, Moore said she believes consumers shouldn't be asked to tip nearly everywhere they go — and it shouldn't be something that's expected of them.

"It makes you feel bad. You feel like you have to do it because they're asking you to do it," she said. "But then you have to think about the position that puts people in. They're paying for something that they really don't want to pay for, or they're tipping when they really don't want to tip — or can't afford to tip — because they don't want to feel bad."

In the book "Emily Post's Etiquette," authors Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning advise consumers to tip on ride-shares, like Uber and Lyft, as well as food and beverages, including alcohol. But they also write that it's up to each person to choose how much to tip at a café or a take-out food service, and that consumers shouldn't feel embarrassed about choosing the lowest suggested tip amount, and don't have to explain themselves if they don't tip.

Digital payment methods have been around for a number of years, though experts say the pandemic has accelerated the trend towards more tipping. Michael Lynn, a consumer behavior professor at Cornell University, said consumers were more generous with tips during the early days of the pandemic in an effort to show support for restaurants and other businesses that were hard hit by COVID-19. Many people genuinely wanted to help out and felt sympathetic to workers who held jobs that put them more at risk of catching the virus, Lynn said.

Tips at full-service restaurants grew by 25.3% in the third quarter of 2022, while gratuities at quick or counter service restaurants went up 16.7% compared to the same time in 2021, according to Square, one of the biggest companies operating digital payment methods. Data provided by the company shows continuous growth for the same period since 2019.

As tip requests have become more common, some businesses are advertising it in their job postings to lure in more workers even though the extra money isn't always guaranteed.

In December, Starbucks rolled out a new tipping option on credit and debit card transactions at its stores, something a group organizing the company's hourly workers had called for. Since then, a Starbucks spokesperson said nearly half of credit and debit card transactions have included a gratuity, which - along with tips received through cash and the Starbucks app - are distributed based on the number of hours a barista worked on the days the tips were received.

Karabas, the Murray State professor, says some customers, like those who've worked in the service industry in the past, want to tip workers at quick service businesses and wouldn't be irritated by the automatic requests. But for others, research shows they might be less likely to come back to a particular business if they are feeling irritated by the requests, he said.

The final tab might also impact how customers react. Karabas said in the research he did with other academics, they manipulated the payment amounts and found that when the check was high, consumers no longer felt as irritated by the tip requests. That suggests the best time for a coffee shop to ask for that 20% tip, for example, might be on four or five orders of coffee, not a small cup that costs $4.

Some consumers might continue to shrug off the tip requests regardless of the amount.

"If you work for a company, it's that company's job to pay you for doing work for them," said Mike Janavey, a footwear and clothing designer who lives in New York City. "They're not supposed to be juicing consumers that are already spending money there to pay their employees."

Schenker, the Philadelphia barista, agrees — to a certain extent.

"The onus should absolutely be on the owners, but that doesn't change overnight," he said. "And this is the best thing we have right now."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674993283043.jpeg" alt="X-Golf manager J.W. Park, left, helps Ashley Moreno to check out at X-Golf indoor golf in Glenview, Ill., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Tipping fatigue, it seems, is swarming America as more businesses adopt digital payment methods that automatically prompts customers to leave a gratuity. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)" />
 <figcaption>X-Golf manager J.W. Park, left, helps Ashley Moreno to check out at X-Golf indoor golf in Glenview, Ill., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Tipping fatigue, it seems, is swarming America as more businesses adopt digital payment methods that automatically prompts customers to leave a gratuity. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)</figcaption>
 </figure>By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business WriterNEW YORK (AP) — Across the country, there's a silent frustration brewing about an age-old practice that many say is getting out of hand: tipping.Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media complaining about tip requests at drive-thrus, while others say they're tired of being asked to leave a gratuity for a muffin or a simple cup of coffee at their neighborhood bakery. What's next, they wonder -- are we going to be tipping our doctors and dentists, too?As more businesses adopt digital payment methods, customers are automatically being prompted to leave a gratuity — many times as high as 30% — at places they normally wouldn't. And some say it has become more frustrating as the price of items has skyrocketed due to inflation, which eased to 6.5% in December but still remains painfully high."Suddenly, these screens are at every establishment we encounter. They're popping up online as well for online orders. And I fear that there is no end," said etiquette expert Thomas Farley, who considers the whole thing somewhat of "an invasion."Unlike tip jars that shoppers can easily ignore if they don't have spare change, experts say the digital requests can produce social pressure and are more difficult to bypass. And your generosity, or lack thereof, can be laid bare for anyone close enough to glance at the screen — including the workers themselves.Dylan Schenker is one of them. The 38-year-old earns about $400 a month in tips, which provides a helpful supplement to his $15 hourly wage as a barista at Philadelphia café located inside a restaurant. Most of those tips come from consumers who order coffee drinks or interact with the café for other things, such as carryout orders. The gratuity helps cover his monthly rent and eases some of his burdens while he attends graduate school and juggles his job.Schenker says it's hard to sympathize with consumers who are able to afford pricey coffee drinks but complain about tipping. And he often feels demoralized when people don't leave behind anything extra — especially if they're regulars."Tipping is about making sure the people who are performing that service for you are getting paid what they're owed," said Schenker, who's been working in the service industry for roughly 18 years.Traditionally, consumers have taken pride in being good tippers at places like restaurants, which typically pay their workers lower than the minimum wage in expectation they'll make up the difference in tips. But academics who study the topic say many consumers are now feeling irritated by automatic tip requests at coffee shops and other counter service eateries where tipping has not typically been expected, workers make at least the minimum wage and service is usually limited."People do not like unsolicited advice," said Ismail Karabas, a marketing professor at Murray State University who studies tipping. "They don't like to be asked for things, especially at the wrong time."Some of the requests can also come from odd places. Clarissa Moore, a 35-year-old who works as a supervisor at a utility company in Pennsylvania, said even her mortgage company has been asking for tips lately. Typically, she's happy to leave a gratuity at restaurants, and sometimes at coffee shops and other fast-food places when the service is good. But, Moore said she believes consumers shouldn't be asked to tip nearly everywhere they go — and it shouldn't be something that's expected of them."It makes you feel bad. You feel like you have to do it because they're asking you to do it," she said. "But then you have to think about the position that puts people in. They're paying for something that they really don't want to pay for, or they're tipping when they really don't want to tip — or can't afford to tip — because they don't want to feel bad."In the book "Emily Post's Etiquette," authors Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning advise consumers to tip on ride-shares, like Uber and Lyft, as well as food and beverages, including alcohol. But they also write that it's up to each person to choose how much to tip at a café or a take-out food service, and that consumers shouldn't feel embarrassed about choosing the lowest suggested tip amount, and don't have to explain themselves if they don't tip.Digital payment methods have been around for a number of years, though experts say the pandemic has accelerated the trend towards more tipping. Michael Lynn, a consumer behavior professor at Cornell University, said consumers were more generous with tips during the early days of the pandemic in an effort to show support for restaurants and other businesses that were hard hit by COVID-19. Many people genuinely wanted to help out and felt sympathetic to workers who held jobs that put them more at risk of catching the virus, Lynn said.Tips at full-service restaurants grew by 25.3% in the third quarter of 2022, while gratuities at quick or counter service restaurants went up 16.7% compared to the same time in 2021, according to Square, one of the biggest companies operating digital payment methods. Data provided by the company shows continuous growth for the same period since 2019.As tip requests have become more common, some businesses are advertising it in their job postings to lure in more workers even though the extra money isn't always guaranteed.In December, Starbucks rolled out a new tipping option on credit and debit card transactions at its stores, something a group organizing the company's hourly workers had called for. Since then, a Starbucks spokesperson said nearly half of credit and debit card transactions have included a gratuity, which - along with tips received through cash and the Starbucks app - are distributed based on the number of hours a barista worked on the days the tips were received.Karabas, the Murray State professor, says some customers, like those who've worked in the service industry in the past, want to tip workers at quick service businesses and wouldn't be irritated by the automatic requests. But for others, research shows they might be less likely to come back to a particular business if they are feeling irritated by the requests, he said.The final tab might also impact how customers react. Karabas said in the research he did with other academics, they manipulated the payment amounts and found that when the check was high, consumers no longer felt as irritated by the tip requests. That suggests the best time for a coffee shop to ask for that 20% tip, for example, might be on four or five orders of coffee, not a small cup that costs $4.Some consumers might continue to shrug off the tip requests regardless of the amount."If you work for a company, it's that company's job to pay you for doing work for them," said Mike Janavey, a footwear and clothing designer who lives in New York City. "They're not supposed to be juicing consumers that are already spending money there to pay their employees."Schenker, the Philadelphia barista, agrees — to a certain extent."The onus should absolutely be on the owners, but that doesn't change overnight," he said. "And this is the best thing we have right now."

Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

WASHINGTON — To help taxpayers navigate the beginning of the tax 
filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today offered a checklist of
 reminders for people as they prepare to file their 2022 tax returns.

From gathering paperwork to filing a tax return, these easy steps will make tax preparation smoother in 2023:

1.&nbsp;Gather tax paperwork and records for accuracy to avoid missing a deduction or credit. 

Taxpayers should have all their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">important and necessary documents</a> before preparing their return. This helps people file a complete and accurate tax return. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/easy-steps-to-avoid-tax-return-errors-that-can-delay-processing-or-adjust-refunds">Errors and omissions</a> slow down tax processing, including refund times.

Some information taxpayers need before they begin includes:

​​​​​​​2.&nbsp;Remember to report all types of income on the tax return. 

This is important to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS. Don't forget to include income from:

3. File electronically with direct deposit to avoid delays in receiving a refund. 

Avoid paper returns. Tax software helps individuals avoid mistakes by
 doing the math. It guides people through each section of their tax 
return using a question-and-answer format.

For those waiting on their 2021 tax return to be processed, here's a 
special tip to ensure their 2022 tax return is accepted by the IRS for 
processing. Make sure to enter $0 (zero dollars) for last year's 
adjusted gross income (AGI) on the 2022 tax return. Everyone else should
 enter their prior year's AGI from last year's return.

4. Free resources are available to help eligible taxpayers file online. Free help may also be available to qualified taxpayers. 

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 provides a free online alternative to filing a paper tax return. IRS 
Free File is available to any individual or family who earned $73,000 or
 less in 2022.

With IRS Free File, leading tax software providers make their online 
products available for free as part of a 21-year partnership with the 
IRS. This year, there are seven products in English and one in Spanish. 
Taxpayers must access these products through the IRS website.

People who make over $73,000 can use the IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>.
 These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is 
best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes.

Qualified taxpayers can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs</a>.

Most tax return preparers are professional, honest and provide 
excellent service to their clients. However, dishonest tax return 
preparers who file false income tax returns do exist. The IRS has a <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a> and more on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choosing a tax pro</a> on IRS.gov.

6. Avoid phone delays; use online resources before calling the IRS. 

To avoid waiting on hold, the IRS urges people to use IRS.gov to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">check a refund status</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay taxes</a>. There's no wait time or appointment needed — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tools</a> and resources are available 24 hours a day. The IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant tool</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">Let Us Help You</a> resources are especially helpful.

Additionally, the IRS suggests taxpayers stay up to date on important tax information online by:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869881583.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — To help taxpayers navigate the beginning of the tax 
filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today offered a checklist of
 reminders for people as they prepare to file their 2022 tax returns.From gathering paperwork to filing a tax return, these easy steps will make tax preparation smoother in 2023:<h2>1.&nbsp;Gather tax paperwork and records for accuracy to avoid missing a deduction or credit. </h2>Taxpayers should have all their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">important and necessary documents</a> before preparing their return. This helps people file a complete and accurate tax return. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/easy-steps-to-avoid-tax-return-errors-that-can-delay-processing-or-adjust-refunds">Errors and omissions</a> slow down tax processing, including refund times.Some information taxpayers need before they begin includes:<ul>
 <li>Social Security numbers for everyone listed on the tax return,</li><li>Bank account and routing numbers,</li><li>Various tax forms such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098s and other income documents or records of digital asset transactions,</li><li>Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace statement,</li><li>Any IRS letters citing an amount received for a certain tax deduction or credit.</li>
 </ul><h2>​​​​​​​2.&nbsp;Remember to report all types of income on the tax return. </h2>This is important to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS. Don't forget to include income from:<ul>
 <li>Goods created and sold on online platforms,</li><li>Investment income,</li><li>Part-time or seasonal work,</li><li>Self-employment or other business activities,</li><li>Services provided through mobile apps.</li>
 </ul><h2>3. File electronically with direct deposit to avoid delays in receiving a refund. </h2>Avoid paper returns. Tax software helps individuals avoid mistakes by
 doing the math. It guides people through each section of their tax 
return using a question-and-answer format.For those waiting on their 2021 tax return to be processed, here's a 
special tip to ensure their 2022 tax return is accepted by the IRS for 
processing. Make sure to enter $0 (zero dollars) for last year's 
adjusted gross income (AGI) on the 2022 tax return. Everyone else should
 enter their prior year's AGI from last year's return.<h2>4. Free resources are available to help eligible taxpayers file online. Free help may also be available to qualified taxpayers. </h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 provides a free online alternative to filing a paper tax return. IRS 
Free File is available to any individual or family who earned $73,000 or
 less in 2022.With IRS Free File, leading tax software providers make their online 
products available for free as part of a 21-year partnership with the 
IRS. This year, there are seven products in English and one in Spanish. 
Taxpayers must access these products through the IRS website.People who make over $73,000 can use the IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>.
 These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is 
best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes.Qualified taxpayers can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs</a>.<h2>5. Choose a tax professional carefully. </h2>Most tax return preparers are professional, honest and provide 
excellent service to their clients. However, dishonest tax return 
preparers who file false income tax returns do exist. The IRS has a <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a> and more on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choosing a tax pro</a> on IRS.gov.<h2>6. Avoid phone delays; use online resources before calling the IRS. </h2>To avoid waiting on hold, the IRS urges people to use IRS.gov to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">check a refund status</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay taxes</a>. There's no wait time or appointment needed — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tools</a> and resources are available 24 hours a day. The IRS' <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant tool</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">Let Us Help You</a> resources are especially helpful.Additionally, the IRS suggests taxpayers stay up to date on important tax information online by:<ul>
 <li>Following the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">IRS' official social media accounts</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/e-news-subscriptions">email subscription lists</a> to stay current on the latest tax topics and alerts.</li><li>Downloading the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go mobile app</a>, watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/irsvideos">IRS YouTube videos</a>,
 or following the IRS on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for 
the latest updates on tax changes, scam alerts, initiatives, products 
and services.</li>
 </ul>

Key points to keep in mind when filing 2022 tax returns

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that&nbsp;

Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were on patrol in the Old Town area of Wichita when they heard multiple gunshots coming from inside Rock Island Live at 101 N. Rock Island Ave, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

As officers arrived, they were met by a large crowd exiting the business.

 A 22-year-old woman ran out with a gunshot wound to her upper arm. Officers took her to safety, and she was transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

Other officers made entry to the business and located a 22-year-old man conscious and breathing with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Officers began providing life-saving measures and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.&nbsp; Late Saturday morning, he was reported in stable condition, according to Ditch.&nbsp; 

While on scene at the hospital a 22- year-old woman arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to her foot.

The investigation revealed that 22-year-old Tyra Adair was involved in a physical disturbance with several other women inside the business. Adair then brandished a gun and fire several rounds. 

At this point, police believed that the victims who were struck by gunfire were not the individuals involved in the physical altercation, but innocent bystanders, according to Ditch.

Police located Adair nearby and took her into custody without incident and she was in possession of a gun.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20055026">She is being held on</a> requested charges of aggravated battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674927039626.png" alt="Adair-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Adair-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that&nbsp;Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were on patrol in the Old Town area of Wichita when they heard multiple gunshots coming from inside Rock Island Live at 101 N. Rock Island Ave, according to Officer Chad Ditch.As officers arrived, they were met by a large crowd exiting the business. A 22-year-old woman ran out with a gunshot wound to her upper arm. Officers took her to safety, and she was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Other officers made entry to the business and located a 22-year-old man conscious and breathing with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Officers began providing life-saving measures and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.&nbsp; Late Saturday morning, he was reported in stable condition, according to Ditch.&nbsp; While on scene at the hospital a 22- year-old woman arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to her foot.The investigation revealed that 22-year-old Tyra Adair was involved in a physical disturbance with several other women inside the business. Adair then brandished a gun and fire several rounds. At this point, police believed that the victims who were struck by gunfire were not the individuals involved in the physical altercation, but innocent bystanders, according to Ditch.Police located Adair nearby and took her into custody without incident and she was in possession of a gun.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20055026">She is being held on</a> requested charges of aggravated battery.

Police: Kan. woman shot 3 innocent bystanders during bar fight

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-d2ae4d3aecb27f176418518d977e69e1">contract imposed</a>&nbsp;on railroad workers last fall didn't resolve their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality-of-life issues</a>, but already this year there are indications the major freight railroads are starting to address some of their concerns about demanding schedules that keep many of them on call 24-7 without paid sick time.

Still, most workers and their unions remain skeptical of the railroads because they say they have yet to see meaningful actions toward improving their lives on the job.

“I hope that they’re serious about putting their employees first. But the track record is less than stellar,” longtime Union Pacific engineer Ross Grooters said while on his way to work in Iowa earlier this week. Grooters is a leader with the Railroad Workers United coalition that tries to help workers in all 12 rail unions fight for better conditions.

The early signs of progress include a Union Pacific pilot program in the Kansas City area that's testing out a new schedule for engineers that lets them plan on having four days off in a row after working 11 days straight. In addition, CSX made a set of changes to its attendance policy this month that allows workers to take time off for medical appointments without being penalized and eases the formula for docking workers points when they miss shifts.

There are other negotiations about these quality-of-life issues going on at all the major railroads. Those talks started after Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-pete-buttigieg-strikes-congress-c95510555dcd4cdc2d839e61d1195b06">blocked 115,000 rail workers</a>&nbsp;from going on strike last month and forced them to accept a five-year deal that included 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't address these other concerns. Lawmakers and President Joe Biden said they had to intervene because the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-climate-and-environment-government-politics-92ea7632a29f807ccc0e2658c50d731e">dire economic consequences</a>&nbsp;of a rail strike would be too great.

It's still too soon for those new talks to yield any significant changes. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-and-shipping-jacksonville-business-0c6a21925d5b8df2206994d823829047">said this week</a>&nbsp;that he's encouraged by the progress his railroad is making in those conversations with its unions, but he wouldn't go into any detail about what is being considered or predict how quickly changes might be made.

There are some railroad jobs that have fairly regular schedules, but many do not. Train crews, in particular, are largely forced to be on call all the time. Workers and their unions say those unpredictable schedules, combined with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-omaha-b78421c68440ad22587b3d1e5a126e26">strict attendance rules</a>&nbsp;railroads put in place after eliminating roughly one-third of all their jobs in recent years while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">overhauling their operations</a>, make it hard to take time off for any reason.

Engineer Travis Dye said the new schedules Union Pacific has been testing out with about 60 workers on a run between Kansas City, Missouri, and Coffeyville, Kansas, since November got him to stop thinking about leaving the railroad. Even if it meant taking a pay cut, Dye said he was seriously considering getting another job with a better schedule.

“It just got to the point where if something hadn’t changed, it just wasn’t worth staying," Dye said. "I think a lot of guys feel that way too — not just me. I know there’s a lot of guys who are still actively looking.”

Dye said being able to make definite plans with his family or knowing he can tackle a project around the house like installing the new hot water heater he just put in without being interrupted with a call to work is amazing. All too often, he said he has had to cancel plans he’s made with his 16-year-old daughter after she’d already circled something on the calendar she wanted to do with him.

“That’s huge for me not to have to break her heart,” said Dye, 40.

Another experienced engineer involved in the pilot project, Tyler Ray, said not being able to know when he'll be off has clearly taken a toll on his own personal life and that of other railroaders.

“I’ve already been through one divorce," Ray said. "I don’t think that was all of it, but the unpredictability and not being around for a lot of things didn’t help.”

That’s why the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s First Vice President Mark Wallace hopes UP will agree to expand this new scheduling model, or something similar to it, across the railroad quickly.

Wallace said he remembers all too well growing up as the son of a railroader and spending many Christmas mornings without his dad there. He later had to miss several Christmases with his own kids while he was away operating a train.

“I’m trying to put pressure on UP to do this sooner rather than later,” Wallace said. And he said having more regular schedules would help railroads recruit the new workers they need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-omaha-7824a3d4042a757755ea76f55e51f641">handle all the freight</a>&nbsp;companies want them to deliver.

Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said he likes the new schedule concept, but the railroad still needs to analyze it more before expanding it to verify that it helps ensure workers are more consistently available when they’re scheduled to work while also giving engineers the ability to know when they’ll be off. The railroad has yet to test out any new scheduling models for the conductors who work alongside engineers when operating trains.

Fritz has also said publicly that he wants to work this year on providing workers with the paid sick leave railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">refused to give them</a>&nbsp;in the negotiations last fall, but he said Tuesday that's a complicated question and “our employees tell us that predictable schedules is the most important thing to work on first.”

Even though track maintenance workers in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union aren't on call the way train crews are, they are increasingly being sent on the road for days at a time to tackle construction projects and repairs, prompting many to reconsider whether the job is worth the sacrifice, union spokesman Clark Ballew said.

“To date, we haven’t seen genuine concern from management about these quality-of-life decisions that our members increasingly wrestle with,” Ballew said. “Their focus continues to be honed on operations and ... the bottom line.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-d2ae4d3aecb27f176418518d977e69e1">contract imposed</a>&nbsp;on railroad workers last fall didn't resolve their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality-of-life issues</a>, but already this year there are indications the major freight railroads are starting to address some of their concerns about demanding schedules that keep many of them on call 24-7 without paid sick time.Still, most workers and their unions remain skeptical of the railroads because they say they have yet to see meaningful actions toward improving their lives on the job.“I hope that they’re serious about putting their employees first. But the track record is less than stellar,” longtime Union Pacific engineer Ross Grooters said while on his way to work in Iowa earlier this week. Grooters is a leader with the Railroad Workers United coalition that tries to help workers in all 12 rail unions fight for better conditions.The early signs of progress include a Union Pacific pilot program in the Kansas City area that's testing out a new schedule for engineers that lets them plan on having four days off in a row after working 11 days straight. In addition, CSX made a set of changes to its attendance policy this month that allows workers to take time off for medical appointments without being penalized and eases the formula for docking workers points when they miss shifts.There are other negotiations about these quality-of-life issues going on at all the major railroads. Those talks started after Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-pete-buttigieg-strikes-congress-c95510555dcd4cdc2d839e61d1195b06">blocked 115,000 rail workers</a>&nbsp;from going on strike last month and forced them to accept a five-year deal that included 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't address these other concerns. Lawmakers and President Joe Biden said they had to intervene because the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-climate-and-environment-government-politics-92ea7632a29f807ccc0e2658c50d731e">dire economic consequences</a>&nbsp;of a rail strike would be too great.It's still too soon for those new talks to yield any significant changes. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-and-shipping-jacksonville-business-0c6a21925d5b8df2206994d823829047">said this week</a>&nbsp;that he's encouraged by the progress his railroad is making in those conversations with its unions, but he wouldn't go into any detail about what is being considered or predict how quickly changes might be made.There are some railroad jobs that have fairly regular schedules, but many do not. Train crews, in particular, are largely forced to be on call all the time. Workers and their unions say those unpredictable schedules, combined with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-omaha-b78421c68440ad22587b3d1e5a126e26">strict attendance rules</a>&nbsp;railroads put in place after eliminating roughly one-third of all their jobs in recent years while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">overhauling their operations</a>, make it hard to take time off for any reason.Engineer Travis Dye said the new schedules Union Pacific has been testing out with about 60 workers on a run between Kansas City, Missouri, and Coffeyville, Kansas, since November got him to stop thinking about leaving the railroad. Even if it meant taking a pay cut, Dye said he was seriously considering getting another job with a better schedule.“It just got to the point where if something hadn’t changed, it just wasn’t worth staying," Dye said. "I think a lot of guys feel that way too — not just me. I know there’s a lot of guys who are still actively looking.”Dye said being able to make definite plans with his family or knowing he can tackle a project around the house like installing the new hot water heater he just put in without being interrupted with a call to work is amazing. All too often, he said he has had to cancel plans he’s made with his 16-year-old daughter after she’d already circled something on the calendar she wanted to do with him.“That’s huge for me not to have to break her heart,” said Dye, 40.Another experienced engineer involved in the pilot project, Tyler Ray, said not being able to know when he'll be off has clearly taken a toll on his own personal life and that of other railroaders.“I’ve already been through one divorce," Ray said. "I don’t think that was all of it, but the unpredictability and not being around for a lot of things didn’t help.”That’s why the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s First Vice President Mark Wallace hopes UP will agree to expand this new scheduling model, or something similar to it, across the railroad quickly.Wallace said he remembers all too well growing up as the son of a railroader and spending many Christmas mornings without his dad there. He later had to miss several Christmases with his own kids while he was away operating a train.“I’m trying to put pressure on UP to do this sooner rather than later,” Wallace said. And he said having more regular schedules would help railroads recruit the new workers they need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-omaha-7824a3d4042a757755ea76f55e51f641">handle all the freight</a>&nbsp;companies want them to deliver.Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said he likes the new schedule concept, but the railroad still needs to analyze it more before expanding it to verify that it helps ensure workers are more consistently available when they’re scheduled to work while also giving engineers the ability to know when they’ll be off. The railroad has yet to test out any new scheduling models for the conductors who work alongside engineers when operating trains.Fritz has also said publicly that he wants to work this year on providing workers with the paid sick leave railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">refused to give them</a>&nbsp;in the negotiations last fall, but he said Tuesday that's a complicated question and “our employees tell us that predictable schedules is the most important thing to work on first.”Even though track maintenance workers in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union aren't on call the way train crews are, they are increasingly being sent on the road for days at a time to tackle construction projects and repairs, prompting many to reconsider whether the job is worth the sacrifice, union spokesman Clark Ballew said.“To date, we haven’t seen genuine concern from management about these quality-of-life decisions that our members increasingly wrestle with,” Ballew said. “Their focus continues to be honed on operations and ... the bottom line.”

Amid gains, railroad workers seek quality-of-life improvements

An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of Patricia LANAM. An Endangered Missing Advisory has been issued for Eastern Nebraska. The Plattsmouth Police Department is attempting to locate, Patricia LANAM who is a 68 year old, white female approximately 5’ 6" tall, approximately 132 pounds, with dark gray hair, and wearing black pants, long white sleeve shirt with not shoes or coat. LANAM is missing from the 300 block of 5th Street in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and last seen at 10:50 pm on January 27, 2023. LANAM has dementia. If you have any information, please call 911, or contact the Plattsmouth Police Department at (402) 296-9370 or 911 immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674929635632.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA STATE PATROL&nbsp; An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of Patricia LANAM. An Endangered Missing Advisory has been issued for Eastern Nebraska. The Plattsmouth Police Department is attempting to locate, Patricia LANAM who is a 68 year old, white female approximately 5’ 6" tall, approximately 132 pounds, with dark gray hair, and wearing black pants, long white sleeve shirt with not shoes or coat. LANAM is missing from the 300 block of 5th Street in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and last seen at 10:50 pm on January 27, 2023. LANAM has dementia. If you have any information, please call 911, or contact the Plattsmouth Police Department at (402) 296-9370 or 911 immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Endangered Missing Advisory issued for Neb. woman with dementia

RENO COUNTY — Two people and a dog were rescued from Cheney Lake Saturday morning after their boat turned over.

According to Reno County Emergency Management, just after 6 a.m., Reno County Fire District 9 was dispatched to a boat that capsized on Cheney Lake while the occupants were hunting.

The two men and their dog were clinging to the side of the boat, in icy waters, waiting for help to arrive. While en route, District 9 requested a water rescue team from the Hutchinson Fire Department.

One of the boat occupants was able to call 911 and dispatch was able to provide a location to the responding fire departments.

When District 9 personnel arrived, they were able to see a faint light in the water approximately 200 yards from Mr. D’s boat ramp. Working with the dispatcher, District 9 was able to confirm the light they were seeing were the occupants of the boat.

When the Hutchinson Fire Department Arrived, they quickly launched their boat and located the two occupants and their dog. They were assisted into the boat, brought back to shore, and were treated and released by Haven EMS.

Reno County Fire District 9, Hutchinson Fire Department, Hutchinson/Reno County Emergency Communications, Reno County Sheriffs’ Office, Haven EMS, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, and Cheney Fire all assisted on the call.

RENO COUNTY — Two people and a dog were rescued from Cheney Lake Saturday morning after their boat turned over.According to Reno County Emergency Management, just after 6 a.m., Reno County Fire District 9 was dispatched to a boat that capsized on Cheney Lake while the occupants were hunting.The two men and their dog were clinging to the side of the boat, in icy waters, waiting for help to arrive. While en route, District 9 requested a water rescue team from the Hutchinson Fire Department.One of the boat occupants was able to call 911 and dispatch was able to provide a location to the responding fire departments.When District 9 personnel arrived, they were able to see a faint light in the water approximately 200 yards from Mr. D’s boat ramp. Working with the dispatcher, District 9 was able to confirm the light they were seeing were the occupants of the boat.When the Hutchinson Fire Department Arrived, they quickly launched their boat and located the two occupants and their dog. They were assisted into the boat, brought back to shore, and were treated and released by Haven EMS.Reno County Fire District 9, Hutchinson Fire Department, Hutchinson/Reno County Emergency Communications, Reno County Sheriffs’ Office, Haven EMS, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, and Cheney Fire all assisted on the call.

Two men, dog rescued after boat overturns on Kansas lake

The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday updated its list of medicines that should be stockpiled for radiological and nuclear emergencies, along with policy advice for their appropriate management, according to a statement on the organization's web site.

In October, President Joe Biden said that the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

 These stockpiles, referred to by the WHO include medicines that either prevent or reduce exposure to radiation, or treat injuries once exposure has occurred.

“In radiation emergencies, people may be exposed to radiation at doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening. Governments need to make treatments available for those in need – fast,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Acting Assistant Director-General a.i, Healthier Populations Division. “It is essential that governments are prepared to protect the health of populations and respond immediately to emergencies. This includes having ready supplies of lifesaving medicines that will reduce risks and treat injuries from radiation.”&nbsp;

“This<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">&nbsp;updated critical medicines list</a>&nbsp;will be a vital preparedness and readiness tool for our partners to identify, procure, stockpile and deliver effective countermeasures in a timely fashion to those at risk or exposed in these events,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.

Typically, a national stockpile for all-hazards health emergencies would include generic supplies and materials used for any type of emergencies, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), trauma kits, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers. This publication includes only specific drugs which are known and licensed today to prevent or treat human over-exposure to radiation.

Radiological and nuclear emergencies may result in exposure to radiation doses high enough to lead to severe health consequences or even death. It is therefore extremely important that governments respond rapidly to such threats. Many countries, however, still lack the essential elements of preparedness for radiation emergencies, according to annual reporting to the WHO Secretariat.

Potential scenarios considered in the publication include radiological or nuclear emergencies at nuclear power plants, medical or research facilities, or accidents during transport of radioactive materials, as well as intentional uses of radioactive materials with malicious intent.

Components of a pharmaceutical stockpile for radiation emergencies

This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>focuses on pharmaceuticals for treating radiation exposure and addresses the governance and management of such a stockpile. A typical radiation emergency stockpile will include the following medicines:

Emerging treatments and countermeasures also discussed in the report give insight to the future medical countermeasures that could be used for managing patients overexposed to radiation. In particular, studies identifying new cellular and molecular pathways and means of administrating drugs may be exploited for novel treatments and new products for use during a radiation emergency.

Emergency preparedness, response and recovery saves lives

Coordination of local, national and international responses is essential for a harmonized response to radiation emergencies. As the agency responsible for guiding healthcare interventions globally, WHO provides advice and ensures access to medicines and health services for countries that are developing national capacity for preparedness and response to radiation emergencies.&nbsp;

WHO’s global expert network,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.who.int/groups/rempan">REMPAN</a>&nbsp;(Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network), is an important asset of the Organization for implementing its work on providing technical guidance and tools for response, delivering activities for building capacity through education and training, and on promoting international cooperation and information-sharing between the members of the network and the professional community in the field of radiation emergency medicine.

WHO is a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaea.org/topics/international-arrangements" target="_blank">ICARNE</a>, the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies, which provides the coordination mechanism between 20 international organizations with relevant mandates. Members of IACRNE develop, maintain and co-sponsor the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organizations (<a href="https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/EPR-JPLAN-2017_web.pdf" target="_blank">JPlan 2017</a>). The JPlan describes a common understanding of each organization’s roles in making preparedness arrangements and during a response and recovery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674836041507.png" alt="Image courtesy WHO" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy WHO</figcaption>
 </figure>The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday updated its list of medicines that should be stockpiled for radiological and nuclear emergencies, along with policy advice for their appropriate management, according to a statement on the organization's web site.In October, President Joe Biden said that the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. These stockpiles, referred to by the WHO include medicines that either prevent or reduce exposure to radiation, or treat injuries once exposure has occurred.“In radiation emergencies, people may be exposed to radiation at doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening. Governments need to make treatments available for those in need – fast,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Acting Assistant Director-General a.i, Healthier Populations Division. “It is essential that governments are prepared to protect the health of populations and respond immediately to emergencies. This includes having ready supplies of lifesaving medicines that will reduce risks and treat injuries from radiation.”&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>supersedes the 2007 WHO&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/radiation/development-of-stockpiles-for-radiation-emergencies.pdf?sfvrsn=1c75f987_7">report&nbsp;</a>on the development of national stockpiles for radiation emergencies. It includes updated information on the stockpile formulary based on the developments in radiation emergency medicine in the last decade.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>It provides policy advice for acquisition of drugs which can prevent or reduce radionuclides uptake or increase elimination of radionuclides from the human body.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>It looks at the main elements required for developing, maintaining and managing the national stockpiles of specific medical supplies which will be required for radiological and nuclear emergencies.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">report&nbsp;</a>looks at the role of national health authorities in stockpile development as well as the role of WHO. As the leading international organization in public health with both the authority and responsibility to assist in health emergencies, WHO provides advice and guidance to countries on public health preparedness and response to radiation emergencies, including stockpile development. In health emergencies WHO may assist in procuring or sharing medical supplies among countries.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">report&nbsp;</a>includes a brief review of selected emerging technologies and drug formulations, including potential repurposing of products previously approved for other indications.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Finally, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>provides examples of practices in establishing and managing a national stockpile in selected countries, namely Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and USA.</li>
 </ul>“This<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">&nbsp;updated critical medicines list</a>&nbsp;will be a vital preparedness and readiness tool for our partners to identify, procure, stockpile and deliver effective countermeasures in a timely fashion to those at risk or exposed in these events,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.Typically, a national stockpile for all-hazards health emergencies would include generic supplies and materials used for any type of emergencies, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), trauma kits, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers. This publication includes only specific drugs which are known and licensed today to prevent or treat human over-exposure to radiation.Radiological and nuclear emergencies may result in exposure to radiation doses high enough to lead to severe health consequences or even death. It is therefore extremely important that governments respond rapidly to such threats. Many countries, however, still lack the essential elements of preparedness for radiation emergencies, according to annual reporting to the WHO Secretariat.Potential scenarios considered in the publication include radiological or nuclear emergencies at nuclear power plants, medical or research facilities, or accidents during transport of radioactive materials, as well as intentional uses of radioactive materials with malicious intent.<h2>Components of a pharmaceutical stockpile for radiation emergencies</h2>This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240067875">publication&nbsp;</a>focuses on pharmaceuticals for treating radiation exposure and addresses the governance and management of such a stockpile. A typical radiation emergency stockpile will include the following medicines:<ul>
 <li>Stable iodine, administered to prevent or reduce the exposure of the thyroid to radioactive iodine;</li><li>Chelating sand decorporating agents (Prussian blue, applied to remove radioactive caesium from the body and calcium- / zinc-DTPA used to treat internal contamination with transuranium radionuclides);</li><li>Cytokines used for mitigation of damage to the bone marrow, in case of acute radiation syndrome (ARS); and</li><li>Other medicines used to treat vomiting, diarrhoea and infections.</li>
 </ul>Emerging treatments and countermeasures also discussed in the report give insight to the future medical countermeasures that could be used for managing patients overexposed to radiation. In particular, studies identifying new cellular and molecular pathways and means of administrating drugs may be exploited for novel treatments and new products for use during a radiation emergency.<h2>Emergency preparedness, response and recovery saves lives</h2>Coordination of local, national and international responses is essential for a harmonized response to radiation emergencies. As the agency responsible for guiding healthcare interventions globally, WHO provides advice and ensures access to medicines and health services for countries that are developing national capacity for preparedness and response to radiation emergencies.&nbsp;<h2>More information</h2><h2>WHO’s global expert network, REMPAN</h2>WHO’s global expert network,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.who.int/groups/rempan">REMPAN</a>&nbsp;(Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network), is an important asset of the Organization for implementing its work on providing technical guidance and tools for response, delivering activities for building capacity through education and training, and on promoting international cooperation and information-sharing between the members of the network and the professional community in the field of radiation emergency medicine.WHO is a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaea.org/topics/international-arrangements" target="_blank">ICARNE</a>, the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies, which provides the coordination mechanism between 20 international organizations with relevant mandates. Members of IACRNE develop, maintain and co-sponsor the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organizations (<a href="https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/EPR-JPLAN-2017_web.pdf" target="_blank">JPlan 2017</a>). The JPlan describes a common understanding of each organization’s roles in making preparedness arrangements and during a response and recovery.

World Health Organization urges stockpiling radiation meds 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Archives has asked former U.S. presidents and vice presidents to recheck their personal records for any classified documents following the news that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-classified-documents-president-33df0355c72e9ae8fa4cb6ead13f6521">President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;had such documents in their possession.

The Archives sent a letter Thursday to representatives of former presidents and vice presidents extending back to Ronald Reagan to ensure compliance with the Presidential Records Act, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press. The act states that any records created or received by the president are the property of the U.S. government and will be managed by the Archives at the end of an administration.

The Archives sent the letter to representatives of former Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and former Vice Presidents Pence, Biden, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle.

Responsibility to comply with the Presidential Records Act "does not diminish after the end of an administration,” the Archives wrote in the letter. “Therefore, we request that you conduct an assessment of any materials held outside of (the Archives) that relate to the administration for which you serve as a designated representative under the PRA, to determine whether bodies of materials previously assumed to be personal in nature might inadvertently contain Presidential or Vice Presidential records subject to the PRA, whether classified or unclassified.”

Spokespeople for former Presidents Trump, Obama, Clinton and former Vice Presidents Pence, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Freddy Ford, chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, suggested in his response to the Archives that Bush's office did not believe a search was necessary, saying, “Thank you for your note. We understand its purpose and remain confident that no such materials are in our possession.”

Biden’s lawyers came across classified documents from his time as vice president in a locked cabinet as they were packing up an office he no longer uses in November. Since then,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">subsequent searches by the FBI</a>&nbsp;and Biden’s lawyers have turned up more documents.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-classified-documents-791bba57abaf50377f0938f0d293f36e">Former Vice President Pence, too, this week,</a>&nbsp;discovered documents and turned them in after saying previously he did not believe he had any.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the searches by Biden’s attorneys and the FBI appear to fulfill the Archives’ request.

Handling of classified documents has been a problem off and on for decades, from presidents to Cabinet members and staff across multiple administrations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-classified-documents-ronald-reagan-50e221ea424392b3582cd0d305cab0ee">stretching as far back as Jimmy Carter.</a>&nbsp;But the issue has taken on greater significance since former President Donald Trump willfully retained classified material at his Florida estate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-michael-pence-7e616d65db8a76a078d1ec9268c13a77">prompting the unprecedented FBI seizure of thousands of pages of records last year.</a>

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump’s handling of the documents, and also Biden’s.

It turns out that officials from all levels of government discover they are in possession of classified material and turn it over to authorities at least several times a year, according to another person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of classified documents.

Current and former officials involved in the handling of classified information say that while there are clear policies for how such information should be reviewed and stored, those policies are sometimes pushed aside at the highest levels. Teams of national security officials, secretaries and military aides who share responsibility for keeping top-level executives informed — and the executives themselves — may bend the rules for convenience, expediency or sometimes simple carelessness.

While much of the attention has been on classified information, the Presidential Records Act actually requires that, from the Reagan administration onward, all records must be transferred to the Archives regardless of classification.

It’s against federal law to have classified documents at an unauthorized location, but it's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">only a crime if it was done intentionally.</a>

Speaking Thursday at an unrelated news conference, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that though he could not discuss any specific ongoing investigation, “We have had for quite a number of years any number of mishandling investigations. That is unfortunately a regular part of our counterintelligence division’s and counterintelligence program’s work.”

He said there was a need for people to be conscious of laws and rules governing the handling of classified information. “Those rules,” he said, “are there for a reason.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674832670808.png" alt="George W. Bush during a campaign speech in 2000 -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>George W. Bush during a campaign speech in 2000 -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Archives has asked former U.S. presidents and vice presidents to recheck their personal records for any classified documents following the news that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-classified-documents-president-33df0355c72e9ae8fa4cb6ead13f6521">President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;had such documents in their possession.The Archives sent a letter Thursday to representatives of former presidents and vice presidents extending back to Ronald Reagan to ensure compliance with the Presidential Records Act, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press. The act states that any records created or received by the president are the property of the U.S. government and will be managed by the Archives at the end of an administration.The Archives sent the letter to representatives of former Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and former Vice Presidents Pence, Biden, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle.Responsibility to comply with the Presidential Records Act "does not diminish after the end of an administration,” the Archives wrote in the letter. “Therefore, we request that you conduct an assessment of any materials held outside of (the Archives) that relate to the administration for which you serve as a designated representative under the PRA, to determine whether bodies of materials previously assumed to be personal in nature might inadvertently contain Presidential or Vice Presidential records subject to the PRA, whether classified or unclassified.”Spokespeople for former Presidents Trump, Obama, Clinton and former Vice Presidents Pence, Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Freddy Ford, chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, suggested in his response to the Archives that Bush's office did not believe a search was necessary, saying, “Thank you for your note. We understand its purpose and remain confident that no such materials are in our possession.”Biden’s lawyers came across classified documents from his time as vice president in a locked cabinet as they were packing up an office he no longer uses in November. Since then,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">subsequent searches by the FBI</a>&nbsp;and Biden’s lawyers have turned up more documents.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-classified-documents-791bba57abaf50377f0938f0d293f36e">Former Vice President Pence, too, this week,</a>&nbsp;discovered documents and turned them in after saying previously he did not believe he had any.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the searches by Biden’s attorneys and the FBI appear to fulfill the Archives’ request.The Archives had no comment.Handling of classified documents has been a problem off and on for decades, from presidents to Cabinet members and staff across multiple administrations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-classified-documents-ronald-reagan-50e221ea424392b3582cd0d305cab0ee">stretching as far back as Jimmy Carter.</a>&nbsp;But the issue has taken on greater significance since former President Donald Trump willfully retained classified material at his Florida estate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-michael-pence-7e616d65db8a76a078d1ec9268c13a77">prompting the unprecedented FBI seizure of thousands of pages of records last year.</a>Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump’s handling of the documents, and also Biden’s.It turns out that officials from all levels of government discover they are in possession of classified material and turn it over to authorities at least several times a year, according to another person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of classified documents.Current and former officials involved in the handling of classified information say that while there are clear policies for how such information should be reviewed and stored, those policies are sometimes pushed aside at the highest levels. Teams of national security officials, secretaries and military aides who share responsibility for keeping top-level executives informed — and the executives themselves — may bend the rules for convenience, expediency or sometimes simple carelessness.While much of the attention has been on classified information, the Presidential Records Act actually requires that, from the Reagan administration onward, all records must be transferred to the Archives regardless of classification.It’s against federal law to have classified documents at an unauthorized location, but it's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">only a crime if it was done intentionally.</a>Speaking Thursday at an unrelated news conference, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that though he could not discuss any specific ongoing investigation, “We have had for quite a number of years any number of mishandling investigations. That is unfortunately a regular part of our counterintelligence division’s and counterintelligence program’s work.”He said there was a need for people to be conscious of laws and rules governing the handling of classified information. “Those rules,” he said, “are there for a reason.”___

Past US presidents, VPs asked to recheck for classified docs

San Francisco (AP) —Video released publicly Friday shows the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fighting for control of a hammer with his assailant during a brutal attack in the couple's San Francisco home last year.

The body-camera footage shows suspect David DePape wrest the tool from 82-year-old Paul Pelosi and lunge toward him the hammer over his head. The blow to Pelosi occurs out of view and the officers — one of them cursing — rush into the house and jump on DePape.

Pelosi, apparently unconscious, can be seen lying face down on the floor in his pajama top and underwear. Officials later said he woke up in a pool of his own blood.

The release comes after a coalition of news agencies, including The Associated Press,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/news-media-nancy-pelosi-san-francisco-1ea0bd79973f319ba2b28ed5bb74ab8e">sought access to the evidence that prosecutors played in open court</a>&nbsp;last month. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office had refused to make the exhibits available to journalists.

A state court judge Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/assault-nancy-pelosi-paul-san-francisco-5a028836901e172998f67efa8c12b7eb">ruled there was no reason to keep the video secret</a>.

The evidence includes portions of Paul Pelosi’s 911 call on Oct. 28, as well as video images from Capitol police surveillance cameras, a body camera worn by one of the two police officers who arrived at the house and video from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-san-francisco-nancy-pelosi-government-and-politics-paul-985a574966438975ec9ccdc39061d83c">suspect DePape’s interview with police</a>.

The Capitol Police video shows DePape walk up to a glass-panel door, leave and then return wearing a large backpack and carrying two other bags. He set all the items down and pulled out a hammer, pausing to put on gloves, and used it to smash the door glass so he could step through an opening.

DePape has pleaded not guilty in ongoing state and federal cases. He is being held in jail without bail.

Members of Congress have faced a sharp rise in threats in the two years since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Paul Pelosi was asleep at the couple’s home when DePape allegedly broke in. Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which does not extend to family members.

Her husband of nearly 60 years later underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. He has since appeared in public wearing a hat and a glove that covered his wounds.

Nancy Pelosi on Thursday told reporters her husband’s well-being was paramount and she did not know if she would view the video once it was released.

“I don’t even know if I will see that,” she said. “I mean, it would be a very hard thing to see an assault on my husband’s life, but I don’t know.”

Police have said DePape told them there was “evil in Washington” and he wanted to harm Nancy Pelosi because she was second in line to the presidency at the time.

DePape told police he was on a “suicide mission,” court documents say, and authorities have said he was drawn to conspiracy theories.

Misinformation about the attack has been rampant.

The San Francisco police officer's body-camera video begins with officers approaching the brick home and rapping on the door. It takes about 20 seconds for the door to open and during that time, the officers discuss whether they have the right house.

When the door opens, Paul Pelosi says, “Hi, guys, how are you?”

Both men are facing the officers at the door and a flashlight shows DePape holding the handle of a hammer with his right hand and clutching Pelosi’s right hand, which is gripping around the hammer head, with his left hand.

“What’s going on, man?” the officer asks.

“Everything’s good,” DePape replies.

DePape says no and begins to pull it from Pelosi’s grip. Pelosi says, “Hey, hey.”

DePape wins control of the hammer and attacks Pelosi. The attack happens off-camera but Pelosi can be seen lying on the ground. The officers call for backup as they struggle to get DePape’s hand.

There’s a snoring sound in the background and the officer calls for a medic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674845796426.png" alt="The body-camera footage shows suspect David DePape wrest the tool from 82-year-old Paul Pelosi and lunge toward him the hammer over his head -image SFPD" />
 <figcaption>The body-camera footage shows suspect David DePape wrest the tool from 82-year-old Paul Pelosi and lunge toward him the hammer over his head -image SFPD</figcaption>
 </figure>San Francisco (AP) —Video released publicly Friday shows the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fighting for control of a hammer with his assailant during a brutal attack in the couple's San Francisco home last year.The body-camera footage shows suspect David DePape wrest the tool from 82-year-old Paul Pelosi and lunge toward him the hammer over his head. The blow to Pelosi occurs out of view and the officers — one of them cursing — rush into the house and jump on DePape.Pelosi, apparently unconscious, can be seen lying face down on the floor in his pajama top and underwear. Officials later said he woke up in a pool of his own blood.The release comes after a coalition of news agencies, including The Associated Press,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/news-media-nancy-pelosi-san-francisco-1ea0bd79973f319ba2b28ed5bb74ab8e">sought access to the evidence that prosecutors played in open court</a>&nbsp;last month. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office had refused to make the exhibits available to journalists.A state court judge Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/assault-nancy-pelosi-paul-san-francisco-5a028836901e172998f67efa8c12b7eb">ruled there was no reason to keep the video secret</a>.The evidence includes portions of Paul Pelosi’s 911 call on Oct. 28, as well as video images from Capitol police surveillance cameras, a body camera worn by one of the two police officers who arrived at the house and video from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-san-francisco-nancy-pelosi-government-and-politics-paul-985a574966438975ec9ccdc39061d83c">suspect DePape’s interview with police</a>.The Capitol Police video shows DePape walk up to a glass-panel door, leave and then return wearing a large backpack and carrying two other bags. He set all the items down and pulled out a hammer, pausing to put on gloves, and used it to smash the door glass so he could step through an opening.DePape has pleaded not guilty in ongoing state and federal cases. He is being held in jail without bail.Members of Congress have faced a sharp rise in threats in the two years since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.Paul Pelosi was asleep at the couple’s home when DePape allegedly broke in. Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which does not extend to family members.Her husband of nearly 60 years later underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. He has since appeared in public wearing a hat and a glove that covered his wounds.Nancy Pelosi on Thursday told reporters her husband’s well-being was paramount and she did not know if she would view the video once it was released.“I don’t even know if I will see that,” she said. “I mean, it would be a very hard thing to see an assault on my husband’s life, but I don’t know.”Police have said DePape told them there was “evil in Washington” and he wanted to harm Nancy Pelosi because she was second in line to the presidency at the time.DePape told police he was on a “suicide mission,” court documents say, and authorities have said he was drawn to conspiracy theories.Misinformation about the attack has been rampant.The San Francisco police officer's body-camera video begins with officers approaching the brick home and rapping on the door. It takes about 20 seconds for the door to open and during that time, the officers discuss whether they have the right house.When the door opens, Paul Pelosi says, “Hi, guys, how are you?”Both men are facing the officers at the door and a flashlight shows DePape holding the handle of a hammer with his right hand and clutching Pelosi’s right hand, which is gripping around the hammer head, with his left hand.“What’s going on, man?” the officer asks.“Everything’s good,” DePape replies.“Drop the hammer,” the officer says.DePape says no and begins to pull it from Pelosi’s grip. Pelosi says, “Hey, hey.”DePape wins control of the hammer and attacks Pelosi. The attack happens off-camera but Pelosi can be seen lying on the ground. The officers call for backup as they struggle to get DePape’s hand.There’s a snoring sound in the background and the officer calls for a medic.___

Video shows struggle for hammer during attack on Pelosi's husband

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service and partners nationwide today kicked off their <a href="https://www.eitc.irs.gov/partner-toolkit/eitc-awareness-day/eitc-awareness-day-2">Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day</a> outreach campaign to help millions of Americans who earned $59,187 or less last year take advantage of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)</a>.

"This is an extremely important tax credit that helps millions of 
hard-working people every year," said IRS Acting Commissioner Doug 
O'Donnell. "But each year, many people miss out on the credit because 
they don't know about it or don't realize they're eligible. In 
particular, people who have experienced a major life change in the past 
year – in their job, marital status, a new child or other factors – may 
qualify for the first time. The IRS urges people to carefully to review 
this important credit; we don't want people to miss out."

In 2022, 31 million eligible workers and families across the country 
received about $64 billion in Earned Income Tax Credits, with an average
 amount of more than $2,000.

The IRS administers the EITC, which Congress originally approved in 
1975. It was developed in part to offset the burden of Social Security 
taxes and provide an incentive to work.

The IRS and partners urge people to check to see if they qualify for 
this important credit. They also encourage people who don't normally 
file a tax return to review whether they qualify for EITC and other <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">valuable credits</a>.

The EITC is a tax credit for certain people who work and have low to 
moderate income. A tax credit usually reduces tax owed and may also 
result in a refund. Even though millions of people get the EITC, the IRS
 estimates that about 20% of EITC eligible taxpayers do not claim it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service and partners nationwide today kicked off their <a href="https://www.eitc.irs.gov/partner-toolkit/eitc-awareness-day/eitc-awareness-day-2">Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day</a> outreach campaign to help millions of Americans who earned $59,187 or less last year take advantage of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)</a>."This is an extremely important tax credit that helps millions of 
hard-working people every year," said IRS Acting Commissioner Doug 
O'Donnell. "But each year, many people miss out on the credit because 
they don't know about it or don't realize they're eligible. In 
particular, people who have experienced a major life change in the past 
year – in their job, marital status, a new child or other factors – may 
qualify for the first time. The IRS urges people to carefully to review 
this important credit; we don't want people to miss out."In 2022, 31 million eligible workers and families across the country 
received about $64 billion in Earned Income Tax Credits, with an average
 amount of more than $2,000.The IRS administers the EITC, which Congress originally approved in 
1975. It was developed in part to offset the burden of Social Security 
taxes and provide an incentive to work.The IRS and partners urge people to check to see if they qualify for 
this important credit. They also encourage people who don't normally 
file a tax return to review whether they qualify for EITC and other <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">valuable credits</a>.The EITC is a tax credit for certain people who work and have low to 
moderate income. A tax credit usually reduces tax owed and may also 
result in a refund. Even though millions of people get the EITC, the IRS
 estimates that about 20% of EITC eligible taxpayers do not claim it.Workers at risk for overlooking the EITC include those:<ul>
 <li>Living in non-traditional homes, such as a grandparent raising a grandchild</li><li>Whose earnings declined or whose marital or parental status changed</li><li>Without children</li><li>With limited English skills</li><li>Who are veterans</li><li>Living in rural areas</li><li>Who are Native Americans</li><li>With earnings below the filing requirement</li>
 </ul>The IRS also reminds taxpayers that the quickest way to get a tax refund is by filing an accurate tax return <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">electronically</a> and choosing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> for their refund. Tax software, tax professionals and other <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">free options</a> can help people see if they qualify for the EITC.<h2>Who can get the EITC?</h2>To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax 
return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a
 tax return. There's no need to guess about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">EITC eligibility</a>; find out with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant">EITC Assistant</a>.Workers with qualifying children may be eligible for EITC if their 
adjusted gross income (AGI) was less than $53,057 in 2022 ($59,187 for 
married filing jointly). These individuals can receive a maximum of 
$6,935 in EITC, up from $6,728 in 2021.The maximum EITC for taxpayers with no dependents is $560, available 
to filers with an AGI below $16,480 in 2022 ($22,610 for married filing 
jointly), and it can be claimed by eligible workers between the ages of 
25 and 64. Married but separated spouses who do not file a joint return 
may qualify to claim EITC if they meet certain requirements.EITC is for workers whose income does not exceed the following limits in 2022:<ul>
 <li>$53,057 ($59,187 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children who have valid Social Security numbers (SSNs).</li><li>$49,399 ($55,529 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children who have valid SSNs.</li><li>$43,492 ($49,622 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child who have valid SSNs.</li><li>$16,480 ($22,610 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children who have valid SSNs.</li><li>Investment income must be $10,300 or less.</li>
 </ul><h2>How to claim the EITC</h2>To get the EITC, workers must file a tax return and claim the credit.
 Eligible taxpayers should claim the credit even if their earnings were 
below the income requirement to file a tax return. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Free tax preparation help is available</a> online and through volunteer organizations.Those eligible for the EITC have these options:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File on IRS.gov</a>.
 Free brand-name tax software is available that leads taxpayers through a
 question-and-answer format to help prepare the tax return and claim 
credits and deductions if they're eligible. Free File also provides 
online versions of IRS paper forms, an option called <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>, best suited for taxpayers comfortable preparing their own returns.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-free-tax-return-preparation-programs">Free tax preparation sites</a>.
 EITC-eligible workers can seek free tax preparation at thousands of 
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the 
Elderly (TCE) sites. To locate the nearest site, use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/find-a-location-for-free-tax-prep">Find a Location for Free Tax Help</a> on IRS.gov, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go smartphone application</a>, or call toll-free <a href="tel:800-906-9887">800-906-9887</a>. Taxpayers should bring all required documents and information.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/understanding-tax-return-preparer-credentials-and-qualifications">Find a trusted tax professional</a>.
 The IRS reminds taxpayers that a trusted tax professional can prepare 
their tax return and provide helpful information and advice. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Tips for choosing a return preparer</a>,
 including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys and 
many others who don't have a professional credential, and details about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/irs-tax-pro-association-partners">national tax professional groups</a> are available on IRS.gov. EITC recipients should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts">watch out for unscrupulous return preparers</a>.</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds taxpayers to be sure they have valid Social 
Security numbers for themselves, their spouse if filing a joint return 
and for each qualifying child claimed for the EITC. The SSNs must be 
issued before the April due date of the return. There are special rules 
for those in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/military-and-clergy-rules-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit#Military">military</a> or those out of the country.<h2>Most EITC refunds deposited by late February</h2>While the IRS began accepting 2022 returns on January 23, 2023, the 
IRS cannot issue a refund that includes the Earned Income Tax Credit or 
Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. This is due to 
the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/when-to-expect-your-refund-if-you-claimed-the-earned-income-tax-credit-or-additional-child-tax-credit">2015 PATH Act</a> law passed by Congress, which provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds from being issued.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a>
 should show an updated status by February 18 for most early EITC/ACTC 
filers. The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available 
in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by February 28 if taxpayers 
chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax 
return.<h2>Get it right</h2>Taxpayers are responsible for the accuracy of their tax return even 
if someone else prepares it for them. Since the rules for claiming the 
EITC can be complex, the IRS urges taxpayers to understand all of them.<h2>Look out for scams</h2>Be sure to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax preparer</a>
 wisely. Beware of scams that claim to increase the EITC refund. Scams 
that create fictitious qualifying children or inflate income levels to 
get the maximum EITC could leave taxpayers with a penalty.<h2>Visit IRS online to learn about other tax credits</h2>IRS.gov is a valuable first stop to help taxpayers get it right this 
filing season. They can check to see if they also qualify for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit or Credit for Other Dependents</a>.<h2>Related items</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.eitc.irs.gov/">EITC Central</a>, helpful resources for IRS partners and others</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-596">Publication 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals">Tax Professionals</a>, another place for valuable EITC resources and assistance</li>
 </ul>