SUMNER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hunting accident involving a dog stepping on a rifle.

Just after 9:30a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to the area of 80th Street South and River Road after report of&nbsp; a man who was shot in the back, according to a media release from the Sumner County Sheriff.

The man was in the front passenger seat of the pickup when a dog stepped on the rifle in the back seat.&nbsp; The rifle fired a round that struck the man.

EMS responded within minutes of the 911 call and started CPR, according to the sheriff's office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Wellington Fire and EMS also responded to the scene.

SUMNER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hunting accident involving a dog stepping on a rifle.Just after 9:30a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to the area of 80th Street South and River Road after report of&nbsp; a man who was shot in the back, according to a media release from the Sumner County Sheriff.The man was in the front passenger seat of the pickup when a dog stepped on the rifle in the back seat.&nbsp; The rifle fired a round that struck the man.EMS responded within minutes of the 911 call and started CPR, according to the sheriff's office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.The man's name has not been released.The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Wellington Fire and EMS also responded to the scene.

Kan. hunting accident: Man dies after dog steps on rifle

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two teenage students were killed Monday and a man was seriously injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at an alternative educational program designed to keep at-risk youth away from trouble. The injured man was identified as the program’s founder — a rapper who left a life of gangs and violence and has been dedicated to helping youth in Des Moines.

Police said Monday that one man had been charged in the shooting, and two other people remained in custody. Preston Walls, 18, of Des Moines, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for the shooting at the Starts Right Here program. He was also charged with criminal gang participation.

Authorities said the shooting was the result of an ongoing gang dispute. Police said Walls was on supervised release for a weapons charge and had removed his ankle monitor 16 minutes before the shooting.

“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.

Two Des Moines teens, an 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old male, were killed. William Holmes — a 49-year-old rapper who founded the program and goes by the stage name Will Keeps — was injured and was in surgery Monday evening.

Police said Walls and all three victims were at the school on Monday when Walls entered a common area where Holmes and the two students were. Walls had a 9mm handgun with an extended ammunition magazine in his possession, police said, though they did not specify if he was displaying the weapon.

Holmes tried to escort Walls away from the area, but Walls pulled away, “pulled the handgun and began to shoot both teenage victims," police said in a statement. Holmes was standing nearby and was also shot, then Walls ran away, police said.

Responding officers saw a suspicious vehicle leaving the area. Officers stopped the vehicle. But Walls ran away and was arrested a short time later. Police said a 9mm handgun was found nearby. The ammunition magazine — which has a capacity of 31 rounds — contained three.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said the people in the vehicle with Walls are also teenagers.

"That brings a total of five families of teenagers affected by youth gun violence in a matter of minutes on a Monday afternoon, right here in our capital city,” Cownie said at Monday's City Council meeting. “This is a growing and alarming phenomenon in our country, and one we’ve seen too often in the past and again today in the city of Des Moines.”

Cownie held a moment of silence for the victims. He said he spoke to their family members. “But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain. Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly," he said.

Walls has not yet made a court appearance. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately, but the two students died at a hospital.

Starts Right Here is an educational program that helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12 and is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.

“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.

The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”

According to the program’s website, one of Keeps' songs, “Wake Up Iowa,” sends a message that “violence and hate are not the Iowa way, and instead, we need to learn from other cities’ mistakes, so we don’t end up being ravaged by violence and crime.”

The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started in 2021. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.

Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board, according to the program's website.

“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families.”

Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.

“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz told the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”

The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three people were arrested afterward.

The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said at Monday night's City Council meeting that the injured adult is the program's founder, William Holmes, a rapper who goes by the stage name Will Keeps.

“We all wish Will our best," Cownie said. He also said that the students who died were teenagers, and three people arrested were also teens, and the shooting is another story of young lives taken too soon by gun violence.

“Two teenagers tonight are dead because of this violence. Just a short time ago, I spoke to their family members and offered our community’s support and thoughts and prayers. But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain,” he said. “Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly.”

He asked those at the City Council meeting to observe a moment of silence for the victims.

Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee, later identified by the mayor as Keeps, was in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.

About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) away and took three people into custody. Police said one person ran from the car, but officers tracked that person down with a K-9.

The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Keeps.

The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.

“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three suspects were arrested afterward.

The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.

Police say emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee of the school who was injured is in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.

About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about two miles away and took three suspects into custody. Police said one of the suspects ran from the car, but officers using a K-9 were able to track that person down.

The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Will Holmes, a rapper whose stage name is Will Keeps. He didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board.

“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz said to the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674516308515.png" alt="The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.-photo courtesy KCCI TV" />
 <figcaption>The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.-photo courtesy KCCI TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two teenage students were killed Monday and a man was seriously injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at an alternative educational program designed to keep at-risk youth away from trouble. The injured man was identified as the program’s founder — a rapper who left a life of gangs and violence and has been dedicated to helping youth in Des Moines.Police said Monday that one man had been charged in the shooting, and two other people remained in custody. Preston Walls, 18, of Des Moines, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for the shooting at the Starts Right Here program. He was also charged with criminal gang participation.Authorities said the shooting was the result of an ongoing gang dispute. Police said Walls was on supervised release for a weapons charge and had removed his ankle monitor 16 minutes before the shooting.“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.Two Des Moines teens, an 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old male, were killed. William Holmes — a 49-year-old rapper who founded the program and goes by the stage name Will Keeps — was injured and was in surgery Monday evening.Police said Walls and all three victims were at the school on Monday when Walls entered a common area where Holmes and the two students were. Walls had a 9mm handgun with an extended ammunition magazine in his possession, police said, though they did not specify if he was displaying the weapon.Holmes tried to escort Walls away from the area, but Walls pulled away, “pulled the handgun and began to shoot both teenage victims," police said in a statement. Holmes was standing nearby and was also shot, then Walls ran away, police said.Responding officers saw a suspicious vehicle leaving the area. Officers stopped the vehicle. But Walls ran away and was arrested a short time later. Police said a 9mm handgun was found nearby. The ammunition magazine — which has a capacity of 31 rounds — contained three.Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said the people in the vehicle with Walls are also teenagers."That brings a total of five families of teenagers affected by youth gun violence in a matter of minutes on a Monday afternoon, right here in our capital city,” Cownie said at Monday's City Council meeting. “This is a growing and alarming phenomenon in our country, and one we’ve seen too often in the past and again today in the city of Des Moines.”Cownie held a moment of silence for the victims. He said he spoke to their family members. “But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain. Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly," he said.Walls has not yet made a court appearance. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney to speak on his behalf.Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately, but the two students died at a hospital.Starts Right Here is an educational program that helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12 and is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”According to the program’s website, one of Keeps' songs, “Wake Up Iowa,” sends a message that “violence and hate are not the Iowa way, and instead, we need to learn from other cities’ mistakes, so we don’t end up being ravaged by violence and crime.”The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started in 2021. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board, according to the program's website.“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families.”Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz told the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.--------------DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three people were arrested afterward.The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said at Monday night's City Council meeting that the injured adult is the program's founder, William Holmes, a rapper who goes by the stage name Will Keeps.“We all wish Will our best," Cownie said. He also said that the students who died were teenagers, and three people arrested were also teens, and the shooting is another story of young lives taken too soon by gun violence.“Two teenagers tonight are dead because of this violence. Just a short time ago, I spoke to their family members and offered our community’s support and thoughts and prayers. But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain,” he said. “Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly.”He asked those at the City Council meeting to observe a moment of silence for the victims.Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee, later identified by the mayor as Keeps, was in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) away and took three people into custody. Police said one person ran from the car, but officers tracked that person down with a K-9.“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Keeps.“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board, according to the program's website.“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz told the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.----------------DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three suspects were arrested afterward.The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.Police say emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee of the school who was injured is in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about two miles away and took three suspects into custody. Police said one of the suspects ran from the car, but officers using a K-9 were able to track that person down.“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Will Holmes, a rapper whose stage name is Will Keeps. He didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board.“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz said to the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.

Update: 2 students dead, teacher hurt in Des Moines shooting

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/think-tank-says-pillen-education-tax-initiatives-would-quickly-drain-state-coffers-if-enacted/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s $1.9 billion
 state revenue surplus would “quickly” disappear under proposals by new 
Gov. Jim Pillen to increase state aid to K-12 education and cut taxes, a
 Lincoln think tank said Friday.

The OpenSky Policy Institute worked with the Institute on Taxation 
and Economic Policy, a nonpartisan think tank, analyze Pillen’s 
proposals to <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/17/nebraska-gov-pillen-wants-2-5-billion-in-new-funding-for-schools-property-tax-relief/">provide additional state aid to K-12 schools</a>, increase spending for special education and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/18/pillen-touts-historic-package-of-tax-cuts-saying-we-have-to-compete-better-with-other-states/">make several tax cuts</a>, including enacting a flat, 3.99% state personal and corporate income tax.

The preliminary conclusion from ITEP and Open Sky was that the 
initiatives might force the state to tap into its cash reserves, a 
“rainy day” fund intended for one-time expenditures during recessions 
and other tough times, not funding long-term commitments.

OpenSky, in a press release, also said that future projections of 
strong tax receipts are just that — projections that might, or might 
not, come to pass.

“To ensure our state’s future fiscal health, it will be important for
 policymakers this session to prudently use the projected $1.9 billion 
on proven initiatives that empower hardworking Nebraskans to support 
their families and their communities,” the release stated from the 
Lincoln-based think tank.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the Legislature’s Revenue 
Committee, questioned how the initiatives could be analyzed before the 
governor’s budget has been introduced, which will happen Wednesday.

“We have over $2 billion in extra 
funding, which clearly means that we are taxing people too much,” 
Linehan said, including funds from the state’s cash reserves. “To say that we shouldn’t cut taxes shows a total disregard for the taxpayers.”

Whether or not Pillen’s initiatives are sustainable, financially, will likely be a key point of debate over his proposals.

During a press conference unveiling his ideas, the Republican 
governor, a Columbus veterinarian and hog producer, said the tax cuts 
were “very sustainable” and “very, very conservative.”

Pillen said they would fit into the budget by rejecting ideas to 
increase spending, citing requests by hospitals and health care 
providers in the state to help address workforce shortages and increased
 expenses.

Some of his proposals address long-time goals of some organizations: 
The state’s business community has long sought lower income tax rates, 
farmers have asked for a fairer way to value agricultural land, and 
educational interests have complained for years about a shortage of 
funds to educate students with special needs.

But OpenSky has maintained that the state’s glut of funds was, in 
large part, caused by the influx of billions of dollars of federal funds
 to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes the “flush coffers” 
temporary.

Jim Vokal, of the Platte Institute, an Omaha-based, free-market think
 tank, said his organization is still analyzing Pillen’s proposals.

But, Vokal said, it’s important that a conversation is underway to 
“move Nebraska in the right direction” in terms of lower taxes.

He added that if other, and new, sources of tax income are needed to 
afford the Pillen initiatives, the state should consider rescinding some
 of the sales tax exemptions it now provides.

The Platte Institute has argued for expanding the state’s sales tax 
base by removing exemptions for some things, including services.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674046041594.png" alt="Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen introduces a series of education funding bills on Jan. 17 at the Capitol in Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen introduces a series of education funding bills on Jan. 17 at the Capitol in Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/think-tank-says-pillen-education-tax-initiatives-would-quickly-drain-state-coffers-if-enacted/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska’s $1.9 billion
 state revenue surplus would “quickly” disappear under proposals by new 
Gov. Jim Pillen to increase state aid to K-12 education and cut taxes, a
 Lincoln think tank said Friday.The OpenSky Policy Institute worked with the Institute on Taxation 
and Economic Policy, a nonpartisan think tank, analyze Pillen’s 
proposals to <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/17/nebraska-gov-pillen-wants-2-5-billion-in-new-funding-for-schools-property-tax-relief/">provide additional state aid to K-12 schools</a>, increase spending for special education and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/18/pillen-touts-historic-package-of-tax-cuts-saying-we-have-to-compete-better-with-other-states/">make several tax cuts</a>, including enacting a flat, 3.99% state personal and corporate income tax.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674504811712.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The preliminary conclusion from ITEP and Open Sky was that the 
initiatives might force the state to tap into its cash reserves, a 
“rainy day” fund intended for one-time expenditures during recessions 
and other tough times, not funding long-term commitments.<h2>Rosy projections</h2>OpenSky, in a press release, also said that future projections of 
strong tax receipts are just that — projections that might, or might 
not, come to pass.“To ensure our state’s future fiscal health, it will be important for
 policymakers this session to prudently use the projected $1.9 billion 
on proven initiatives that empower hardworking Nebraskans to support 
their families and their communities,” the release stated from the 
Lincoln-based think tank.State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the Legislature’s Revenue 
Committee, questioned how the initiatives could be analyzed before the 
governor’s budget has been introduced, which will happen Wednesday.“We have over $2 billion in extra 
funding, which clearly means that we are taxing people too much,” 
Linehan said, including funds from the state’s cash reserves. “To say that we shouldn’t cut taxes shows a total disregard for the taxpayers.”Whether or not Pillen’s initiatives are sustainable, financially, will likely be a key point of debate over his proposals.<h2>‘Very sustainable’</h2>During a press conference unveiling his ideas, the Republican 
governor, a Columbus veterinarian and hog producer, said the tax cuts 
were “very sustainable” and “very, very conservative.”Pillen said they would fit into the budget by rejecting ideas to 
increase spending, citing requests by hospitals and health care 
providers in the state to help address workforce shortages and increased
 expenses.Some of his proposals address long-time goals of some organizations: 
The state’s business community has long sought lower income tax rates, 
farmers have asked for a fairer way to value agricultural land, and 
educational interests have complained for years about a shortage of 
funds to educate students with special needs.But OpenSky has maintained that the state’s glut of funds was, in 
large part, caused by the influx of billions of dollars of federal funds
 to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes the “flush coffers” 
temporary.Jim Vokal, of the Platte Institute, an Omaha-based, free-market think
 tank, said his organization is still analyzing Pillen’s proposals.<h2>‘Moving in right direction’</h2>But, Vokal said, it’s important that a conversation is underway to 
“move Nebraska in the right direction” in terms of lower taxes.He added that if other, and new, sources of tax income are needed to 
afford the Pillen initiatives, the state should consider rescinding some
 of the sales tax exemptions it now provides.The Platte Institute has argued for expanding the state’s sales tax 
base by removing exemptions for some things, including services.

Think tank: Neb. tax plan would 'quickly drain' state coffers

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Someone scammed U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran's reelection campaign out of $690,000 by getting the Kansas Republican's accounting firm to wire the money to fraudulent bank accounts, his office said Monday.

Moran's campaign treasurer, Timothy Gottschalk, notified the Federal Election Commission by electronic letter Dec. 8 of “fraudulent activity by a third-party cyber-criminal.” The letter said that after the campaign notified a local sheriff's office on Nov. 16, eight days after the general election, the case was forwarded to the FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

The letter said the campaign received two fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from SRCP Media Inc., a Washington area company hired to handle Moran's broadcast advertising. The letter said the campaign organization wired $345,000 on Oct. 25 and another $345,000 on Nov. 9.

“As soon as a discrepancy was realized, it was reported to law enforcement,” Moran spokesman Tom Brandt said in an email Monday. “We are currently pursuing all avenues available to recover the money and there is an ongoing investigation with the FBI.”

The campaign's electronic letter to the FEC said that as of Dec. 8, the campaign had recovered $168,184. The letter was first reported by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/jerry-moran/">RawStory website</a>&nbsp;last week.

The FBI does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, said Bridget Patton, its spokesperson in Kansas City, Missouri. Representatives of the KBI and SRCP did not immediately return telephone and email messages seeking comment.

Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-f48f2aadc6c2d0adcab12692a075caed">won his third six-year term</a>&nbsp;in the Senate in November with 60% of the vote against Democrat Mark Holland, a former Kansas City, Kansas, mayor. His reelection campaign raised more than $7.3 million and spent more than $5.1 million through Nov. 28, according to a finance report it filed with the FEC, also on Dec. 8.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673293787010.png" alt="Senator Moran on the Texas-Mexico border earlier this month-photo courtesy Moran's office" />
 <figcaption>Senator Moran on the Texas-Mexico border earlier this month-photo courtesy Moran's office</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Someone scammed U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran's reelection campaign out of $690,000 by getting the Kansas Republican's accounting firm to wire the money to fraudulent bank accounts, his office said Monday.Moran's campaign treasurer, Timothy Gottschalk, notified the Federal Election Commission by electronic letter Dec. 8 of “fraudulent activity by a third-party cyber-criminal.” The letter said that after the campaign notified a local sheriff's office on Nov. 16, eight days after the general election, the case was forwarded to the FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.The letter said the campaign received two fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from SRCP Media Inc., a Washington area company hired to handle Moran's broadcast advertising. The letter said the campaign organization wired $345,000 on Oct. 25 and another $345,000 on Nov. 9.“As soon as a discrepancy was realized, it was reported to law enforcement,” Moran spokesman Tom Brandt said in an email Monday. “We are currently pursuing all avenues available to recover the money and there is an ongoing investigation with the FBI.”The campaign's electronic letter to the FEC said that as of Dec. 8, the campaign had recovered $168,184. The letter was first reported by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/jerry-moran/">RawStory website</a>&nbsp;last week.The FBI does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, said Bridget Patton, its spokesperson in Kansas City, Missouri. Representatives of the KBI and SRCP did not immediately return telephone and email messages seeking comment.Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-f48f2aadc6c2d0adcab12692a075caed">won his third six-year term</a>&nbsp;in the Senate in November with 60% of the vote against Democrat Mark Holland, a former Kansas City, Kansas, mayor. His reelection campaign raised more than $7.3 million and spent more than $5.1 million through Nov. 28, according to a finance report it filed with the FEC, also on Dec. 8.___

FBI investigating: Moran campaign scammed out of $690K

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris railed against efforts in Washington and in Republican-led states to restrict abortion on what would have been the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-wisconsin-state-government-madison-32f0773666b4e69b4626f4ba632cc37a">50th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade</a>, invoking fundamental American values such as freedom to make the case for protecting abortion access despite the Supreme Court's decision to eliminate constitutional protections for it.

(Click below to watch comments from the Vice President or <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/01/22/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">click here to</a> read the full text of her comments.)

Leading the administration's response on commemorating Roe on Sunday, Harris methodically detailed fights throughout history for certain liberties, such as civil rights and the right to vote for women, and tied that to access for abortion, which Harris called the “fundamental, constitutional, right of a woman to make decisions about her own body.”

“Can we truly be free if families cannot make intimate decisions about the course of their own lives?” Harris said in a fiery speech before a boisterous crowd of 1,500 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-crime-tampa-florida-ron-desantis-b62f465e0946ad6c4bf2cec539c7974b">in Tallahassee, Florida.</a>&nbsp;“And can we truly be free if so-called leaders claim to be quote, I quote, on the vanguard of freedom while they dare to restrict the rights of the American people and attack the very foundations of freedom?”

Women’s marches demanding the protection of abortion rights were set to draw thousands of people across the country on Sunday, the 50th anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a federal right to an abortion.

Harris outlined the consequences of abortion restrictions: The 10-year-old girl in Ohio who became pregnant after a rape but had to travel out of state for an abortion. A 35-year-old Texas woman who was denied treatment three times for what turned out to be a miscarriage, and developed sepsis, nearly killing her. A 14-year-old in Arizona who initially could not obtain medication to control her chronic arthritis, because that medication also can cause pregnancy loss.

“The right of every woman, in every state in this country to make decisions about her own body is on the line,” Harris said. “I've said it before and I'll say it again: How dare they. How dare they?”

The decision for Harris to speak in Tallahassee, the state capital, reflects how the battle lines have shifted since last summer. Now that there's no more national right to abortion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-florida-state-government-kentucky-6ed9dbcdaae33312f1425ea38b681a7e">battles over the issue w</a>&nbsp;ill play out in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-minnesota-government-and-politics-dfd82ea258e2f8544bb09cea83cabf07">individual statehouses</a>&nbsp;rather than in the halls of Congress or before the Supreme Court.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/20/readout-of-white-house-meeting-with-state-legislative-leaders-on-reproductive-rights-ahead-of-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">White House officials this past week convened top lawmakers from eight states</a>&nbsp;to discuss pending legislation.

In addition, after performing better than expected in November's elections,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-congress-0f64d8fc75981c9e634ae3ac5ac9930e">Democrats see abortion as a key issue for their party in 2024</a>, when control of the White House and both chambers of Congress will be up for grabs at the same time. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-ron-desantis-legislature-b6e8e4dc730cfd399e0f6f653c86dd84">DeSantis may seek the Republican presidential nomination</a>, the first step to challenging President Joe Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-politics-280106ff41ffbc4727c2d8d3c5c4e0d5">who has been preparing for a reelection campaign</a>.

Ahead of her speech, Harris told abortion rights advocates on a conference call Sunday that they should keep up their energy as they push back against restrictions in Republican-led states and work on behalf of candidates in local races who support abortion access.

“We are fighting for something. History is going to show we are on the right side of this issue,” Harris said. “So let us not be deterred, let us not be overwhelmed. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Florida is critical because its rules for abortion are less restrictive than its neighbors, making it a relatively safe harbor for women in the region who are trying to end their pregnancies. But more restrictions could be considered by the Republican-controlled state government.

DeSantis' office did not respond to a request for comment.

Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/22/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-roe-v-wade-decision/">in a statement Sunday</a>, said “women should be able to make these deeply personal decisions free from political interference. Yet, Republicans in Congress and across the country continue to push for a national abortion ban, to criminalize doctors and nurses, and to make contraception harder to access. It’s dangerous, extreme, and out of touch.”

Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who has worked with Biden, said the White House strategy on abortion had three goals.

“You can create an atmosphere and put pressure on these states to make it more difficult to pass draconian restrictions," she said. In addition, Lake said, “you can set up the contrast for 2024" and "you can use this as a major motivator for people to turn out to vote.”

Democrats have concluded that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade reshaped the political landscape for last year's elections, rejuvenating the party's chances when analysts had expected a Republican wipeout.

Democrats still lost control of the House and expanded their Senate majority by only one vote, meaning legislation that would create a nationwide right to abortion remains out of reach.

There are concerns that Biden and his administration have exhausted their options for executive actions.

The Food and Drug Administration announced this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-medication-d5fc3d5990dced69b0bf93a4760250fe">abortion pills</a>&nbsp;would become more widely available at pharmacies and through the mail. The pills can also be obtained through a virtual appointment, rather than by visiting a doctor's office.

A legal battle is now playing out in federal court in Texas, where abortion opponents have sued to undo the decades-old approval of the drugs.

“The administration is really looking at existing federal law, and trying to leverage it," said Lawrence Gostin, who runs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health at Georgetown Law.

Not all of the administration's ideas have panned out. Biden announced last year that states could apply for waivers to use Medicaid dollars to pay for women to travel to get abortions. No waivers have been sought.

Across states, the fight to protect abortion access is playing out in courtrooms, with active litigation against abortion restrictions in 14 states, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The nonprofit health organization found that advocates have generally taken one of three approaches to mounting legal challenges against abortion laws by claiming the laws violate state constitutional protections, infringe on some states’ guaranteed rights to make health care choices, or block religious freedoms.

It's unclear which legal arguments may be most successful, with the states’ highest courts ultimately deciding how accessible abortion will be. Meanwhile, abortion opponents are searching for ways to use the courts to further restrict abortion.

Renee Bracey Sherman, founder and executive director of the group We Testify, which advocates for women who have had abortions, said she is disappointed that Biden hasn't done more.

“The fact that he is missing in action during this public health emergency is really embarrassing,” she said.

Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., had joined with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., last year to call on Biden to formally&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/25/opinion/elizabeth-warren-tina-smith-abortion-roe.html">declare a public health emergency.</a>

Biden never did, but Smith said she is satisfied with the steps he has taken.

“I’d be hard pressed to point to something that they haven’t done that they might have done with a public health emergency,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris railed against efforts in Washington and in Republican-led states to restrict abortion on what would have been the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-wisconsin-state-government-madison-32f0773666b4e69b4626f4ba632cc37a">50th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade</a>, invoking fundamental American values such as freedom to make the case for protecting abortion access despite the Supreme Court's decision to eliminate constitutional protections for it.(Click below to watch comments from the Vice President or <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/01/22/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">click here to</a> read the full text of her comments.)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F917792789640046%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=818" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Leading the administration's response on commemorating Roe on Sunday, Harris methodically detailed fights throughout history for certain liberties, such as civil rights and the right to vote for women, and tied that to access for abortion, which Harris called the “fundamental, constitutional, right of a woman to make decisions about her own body.”“Can we truly be free if families cannot make intimate decisions about the course of their own lives?” Harris said in a fiery speech before a boisterous crowd of 1,500 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-crime-tampa-florida-ron-desantis-b62f465e0946ad6c4bf2cec539c7974b">in Tallahassee, Florida.</a>&nbsp;“And can we truly be free if so-called leaders claim to be quote, I quote, on the vanguard of freedom while they dare to restrict the rights of the American people and attack the very foundations of freedom?”Women’s marches demanding the protection of abortion rights were set to draw thousands of people across the country on Sunday, the 50th anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a federal right to an abortion.Harris outlined the consequences of abortion restrictions: The 10-year-old girl in Ohio who became pregnant after a rape but had to travel out of state for an abortion. A 35-year-old Texas woman who was denied treatment three times for what turned out to be a miscarriage, and developed sepsis, nearly killing her. A 14-year-old in Arizona who initially could not obtain medication to control her chronic arthritis, because that medication also can cause pregnancy loss.“The right of every woman, in every state in this country to make decisions about her own body is on the line,” Harris said. “I've said it before and I'll say it again: How dare they. How dare they?”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On what would have been the 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to protecting access to reproductive health care. <a href="https://t.co/sD1Jaeoa4s">pic.twitter.com/sD1Jaeoa4s</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1617190358688858113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The decision for Harris to speak in Tallahassee, the state capital, reflects how the battle lines have shifted since last summer. Now that there's no more national right to abortion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-florida-state-government-kentucky-6ed9dbcdaae33312f1425ea38b681a7e">battles over the issue w</a>&nbsp;ill play out in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-minnesota-government-and-politics-dfd82ea258e2f8544bb09cea83cabf07">individual statehouses</a>&nbsp;rather than in the halls of Congress or before the Supreme Court.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/20/readout-of-white-house-meeting-with-state-legislative-leaders-on-reproductive-rights-ahead-of-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">White House officials this past week convened top lawmakers from eight states</a>&nbsp;to discuss pending legislation.In addition, after performing better than expected in November's elections,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-congress-0f64d8fc75981c9e634ae3ac5ac9930e">Democrats see abortion as a key issue for their party in 2024</a>, when control of the White House and both chambers of Congress will be up for grabs at the same time. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-ron-desantis-legislature-b6e8e4dc730cfd399e0f6f653c86dd84">DeSantis may seek the Republican presidential nomination</a>, the first step to challenging President Joe Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-politics-280106ff41ffbc4727c2d8d3c5c4e0d5">who has been preparing for a reelection campaign</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let us stand together in the fight to protect reproductive freedom. <a href="https://t.co/k5ONbVIP2W">pic.twitter.com/k5ONbVIP2W</a>&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1617172359105986560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Ahead of her speech, Harris told abortion rights advocates on a conference call Sunday that they should keep up their energy as they push back against restrictions in Republican-led states and work on behalf of candidates in local races who support abortion access.“We are fighting for something. History is going to show we are on the right side of this issue,” Harris said. “So let us not be deterred, let us not be overwhelmed. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Florida is critical because its rules for abortion are less restrictive than its neighbors, making it a relatively safe harbor for women in the region who are trying to end their pregnancies. But more restrictions could be considered by the Republican-controlled state government.DeSantis' office did not respond to a request for comment.Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/22/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-roe-v-wade-decision/">in a statement Sunday</a>, said “women should be able to make these deeply personal decisions free from political interference. Yet, Republicans in Congress and across the country continue to push for a national abortion ban, to criminalize doctors and nurses, and to make contraception harder to access. It’s dangerous, extreme, and out of touch.”Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who has worked with Biden, said the White House strategy on abortion had three goals.“You can create an atmosphere and put pressure on these states to make it more difficult to pass draconian restrictions," she said. In addition, Lake said, “you can set up the contrast for 2024" and "you can use this as a major motivator for people to turn out to vote.”Democrats have concluded that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade reshaped the political landscape for last year's elections, rejuvenating the party's chances when analysts had expected a Republican wipeout.Democrats still lost control of the House and expanded their Senate majority by only one vote, meaning legislation that would create a nationwide right to abortion remains out of reach.There are concerns that Biden and his administration have exhausted their options for executive actions.The Food and Drug Administration announced this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-medication-d5fc3d5990dced69b0bf93a4760250fe">abortion pills</a>&nbsp;would become more widely available at pharmacies and through the mail. The pills can also be obtained through a virtual appointment, rather than by visiting a doctor's office.A legal battle is now playing out in federal court in Texas, where abortion opponents have sued to undo the decades-old approval of the drugs.“The administration is really looking at existing federal law, and trying to leverage it," said Lawrence Gostin, who runs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health at Georgetown Law.Not all of the administration's ideas have panned out. Biden announced last year that states could apply for waivers to use Medicaid dollars to pay for women to travel to get abortions. No waivers have been sought.Across states, the fight to protect abortion access is playing out in courtrooms, with active litigation against abortion restrictions in 14 states, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.The nonprofit health organization found that advocates have generally taken one of three approaches to mounting legal challenges against abortion laws by claiming the laws violate state constitutional protections, infringe on some states’ guaranteed rights to make health care choices, or block religious freedoms.It's unclear which legal arguments may be most successful, with the states’ highest courts ultimately deciding how accessible abortion will be. Meanwhile, abortion opponents are searching for ways to use the courts to further restrict abortion.Renee Bracey Sherman, founder and executive director of the group We Testify, which advocates for women who have had abortions, said she is disappointed that Biden hasn't done more.“The fact that he is missing in action during this public health emergency is really embarrassing,” she said.Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., had joined with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., last year to call on Biden to formally&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/25/opinion/elizabeth-warren-tina-smith-abortion-roe.html">declare a public health emergency.</a>Biden never did, but Smith said she is satisfied with the steps he has taken.“I’d be hard pressed to point to something that they haven’t done that they might have done with a public health emergency,” she said.___

🎥Vice President rallies against push to roll back abortion rights

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/23/bill-aims-to-protect-farmers-from-nuisance-lawsuits-restricting-who-can-file-and-when/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A proposed revision to Nebraska’s “right to farm” law, 
promoted as increasing protections for farmers, is being condemned by 
environmentalists as a way to eliminate nearly all nuisance lawsuits.

Under <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB662.pdf">Legislative Bill 662,</a>
 introduced Wednesday by State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, only 
landowners who live within a half-mile of agricultural operation, and 
only those nearby landowners who have a majority interest in their land,
 could file nuisance lawsuits against an ag operation.

In addition, such lawsuits would have to be filed within one year,&nbsp; 
rather than within two years as in the current law. Lawsuits would be 
disallowed if an operation was utilizing “commonly accepted” practices 
and was in “material compliance” with applicable laws and regulations.

The proposal “eviscerates having nuisance laws,” according to Jonathan Leo, an environmental lawyer who lives in Omaha.&nbsp;

“The bill effectively shuts down almost all public and private nuisance lawsuits against ‘agricultural operations,’ ” Leo said.

Ballard, who was appointed to his post in December, disagrees.

“We appreciate the agricultural producers in our state and want to protect them to the best of our ability,” the senator said.

Ballard said the bill was inspired by concerns raised by large-scale 
chicken farms in his district, which extends into rural Lancaster County
 north and northwest of Lincoln.

Dozens of new chicken-barn complexes have been built in recent years 
to provide broilers for Costco, which are processed by a plant in 
Fremont. It has provided an economic boost to some farmers and created 
new jobs, but it has also raised concerns about disposal of manure and 
dead chickens, and runoff into streams.

In 2021, a court ruling put a halt to plans to construct an 
eight-barn chicken farm holding up to 380,000 chickens near Raymond 
Central Junior-Senior High School over concerns about increased traffic 
and inadequate groundwater.

Last year, residents near David City <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/18/compost-piles-containing-dead-chickens-near-david-city-wellfield-to-be-removed/">complained about the foul odors and health concerns</a> generated by rows of composted dead chickens, located within that city’s wellhead protection area for its drinking water wells.

In December, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/12/06/report-suggests-that-litter-from-chicken-farms-has-upped-contamination-of-water/">a report suggested</a> that an increase in phosphorous and nitrogen in eastern Nebraska streams might be linked to the new chicken farms.

Ballard, however, said there should be more limits on who can file lawsuits.

“It should be only Nebraskans and neighbors who can file complaints,” he said.

But Leo, a leading critic of Nebraska’s regulation of large-scale 
livestock operations, said LB 662 would rule out renters or farmers who 
don’t have a majority stake in their operation from filing a nuisance 
lawsuit against a chicken farm, hog farm or cattle feedlot down the 
road.

“The whole purpose of nuisance law is to provide relief to property occupiers,” Leo said. “They have a right to the use and quiet enjoyment of their property.”

Leo also objected to the clause that barred lawsuits if an operation 
was materially complying with regulations. Operations can be a nuisance,
 he said, even if they’re meeting government standards.

Edison McDonald of GC Resolve, which supports regenerative 
agriculture, said the bill might also rule out any local regulations 
against odor or runoff from ag facilities.

Contamination of waterways, he said, can extend more than a half 
mile, and it can take years before nitrate contamination of groundwater 
is detected.

In 2019, a similar effort to expand protections for farmers and the 
right to farm was supported by several farm groups. Officials with the 
Nebraska Farm Bureau and Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in 
Nebraska (AFAN) did not return messages left seeking comment on LB 662 
on Friday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674486165693.png" alt="Dozens of chicken barns, like this complex southwest of David City, were built in Butler County to supply broilers for Costco. The county became a popular location because it has no zoning ordinances. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Dozens of chicken barns, like this complex southwest of David City, were built in Butler County to supply broilers for Costco. The county became a popular location because it has no zoning ordinances. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/23/bill-aims-to-protect-farmers-from-nuisance-lawsuits-restricting-who-can-file-and-when/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A proposed revision to Nebraska’s “right to farm” law, 
promoted as increasing protections for farmers, is being condemned by 
environmentalists as a way to eliminate nearly all nuisance lawsuits.Under <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB662.pdf">Legislative Bill 662,</a>
 introduced Wednesday by State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, only 
landowners who live within a half-mile of agricultural operation, and 
only those nearby landowners who have a majority interest in their land,
 could file nuisance lawsuits against an ag operation.In addition, such lawsuits would have to be filed within one year,&nbsp; 
rather than within two years as in the current law. Lawsuits would be 
disallowed if an operation was utilizing “commonly accepted” practices 
and was in “material compliance” with applicable laws and regulations.<h2>‘Eviscerates’ nuisance laws</h2>The proposal “eviscerates having nuisance laws,” according to Jonathan Leo, an environmental lawyer who lives in Omaha.&nbsp;“The bill effectively shuts down almost all public and private nuisance lawsuits against ‘agricultural operations,’ ” Leo said.Ballard, who was appointed to his post in December, disagrees.“We appreciate the agricultural producers in our state and want to protect them to the best of our ability,” the senator said.Ballard said the bill was inspired by concerns raised by large-scale 
chicken farms in his district, which extends into rural Lancaster County
 north and northwest of Lincoln.<h2>Barns for Costco chickens</h2>Dozens of new chicken-barn complexes have been built in recent years 
to provide broilers for Costco, which are processed by a plant in 
Fremont. It has provided an economic boost to some farmers and created 
new jobs, but it has also raised concerns about disposal of manure and 
dead chickens, and runoff into streams.In 2021, a court ruling put a halt to plans to construct an 
eight-barn chicken farm holding up to 380,000 chickens near Raymond 
Central Junior-Senior High School over concerns about increased traffic 
and inadequate groundwater.Last year, residents near David City <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/18/compost-piles-containing-dead-chickens-near-david-city-wellfield-to-be-removed/">complained about the foul odors and health concerns</a> generated by rows of composted dead chickens, located within that city’s wellhead protection area for its drinking water wells.<h2>Pollution concerns</h2>In December, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/12/06/report-suggests-that-litter-from-chicken-farms-has-upped-contamination-of-water/">a report suggested</a> that an increase in phosphorous and nitrogen in eastern Nebraska streams might be linked to the new chicken farms.Ballard, however, said there should be more limits on who can file lawsuits.“It should be only Nebraskans and neighbors who can file complaints,” he said.But Leo, a leading critic of Nebraska’s regulation of large-scale 
livestock operations, said LB 662 would rule out renters or farmers who 
don’t have a majority stake in their operation from filing a nuisance 
lawsuit against a chicken farm, hog farm or cattle feedlot down the 
road.<h2>Right to enjoy property</h2>“The whole purpose of nuisance law is to provide relief to property occupiers,” Leo said. “They have a right to the use and quiet enjoyment of their property.”Leo also objected to the clause that barred lawsuits if an operation 
was materially complying with regulations. Operations can be a nuisance,
 he said, even if they’re meeting government standards.Edison McDonald of GC Resolve, which supports regenerative 
agriculture, said the bill might also rule out any local regulations 
against odor or runoff from ag facilities.Contamination of waterways, he said, can extend more than a half 
mile, and it can take years before nitrate contamination of groundwater 
is detected.In 2019, a similar effort to expand protections for farmers and the 
right to farm was supported by several farm groups. Officials with the 
Nebraska Farm Bureau and Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in 
Nebraska (AFAN) did not return messages left seeking comment on LB 662 
on Friday afternoon.

Bill aims to protect Neb. farmers from nuisance lawsuits

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior Democrats, dismayed by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-us-federal-bureau-of-investigation-district-columbia-barack-obama-ca0ed31590d838dcc26420f475c9196f">steady stream of startling disclosures</a>, expressed criticism Sunday of how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">President Joe Biden handled classified material</a>&nbsp;after leaving office as vice president and disappointment that the White House has not been more forthcoming with the public.

Lawmakers who might have anticipated questions focusing on the debt limit or Ukraine aid when they were booked last week for the Sunday news shows found themselves quizzed about the latest development over the weekend in the document drama that has put&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-036e528fc399477a603ed402c6e83cfb">Biden's presidency on the defensive</a>: During a search Friday of Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, the FBI found additional documents with classified markings and took possession of some of his handwritten notes, the president’s lawyer said Saturday.

Biden should be “embarrassed by the situation,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, adding that the president had ceded the moral high ground on an issue that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-trump-side-by-side-fb2c4ebccdbdbb9039c1c5e227b1da53">has already entangled former President Donald Trump</a>. Special counsels appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-b63ffc9b1042b4287a22e88672f4ef77">are investigating both cases.</a>

“Well, of course. Let's be honest about it. When that information is found, it diminishes the stature of any person who is in possession of it because it's not supposed to happen. ... The elected official bears ultimate responsibility," Durbin said.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Biden “should have a lot of regrets. ... You just might as well say, ‘Listen, it’s irresponsible.'" The president told reporters on Thursday that he had “no regrets” over how and when the public learned about the documents and that there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-wilmington-merrick-garland-f2384a87dcddbd38796f63e1269c6baf">“no there there.”</a>

Despite their criticism, Biden's fellow Democrats defended what they said was his cooperation with the Justice Department as the search for additional classified material unfolds. They contrasted it with Trump's resistance to efforts to recover hundreds of documents after he left office.

“It is outrageous that either occurred,” Durbin said. "But the reaction by the former president and the current president could not be in sharper contrast.”

Biden voluntarily allowed the FBI into his home on Friday, but the lack of a warrant did not dim the extraordinary nature of the search. It compounded the embarrassment to Biden that started in earlier in January with the disclosure that the president’s lawyers had found a “small number” of classified records at a former office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington shortly before the Nov. 8 elections.

The White House has disclosed that Biden's team found classified documents and official records on three other occasions in recent months — in follow-up searches on Dec. 20 in the garage of his Wilmington home, and on Jan. 11 and 12 in his home library.

The discoveries have become a political liability as Biden prepares to kick off his 2024 reelection bid, and they undercut his efforts to portray an image of propriety to the American public after the tumultuous presidency of his predecessor, Trump.

Manchin excoriated both men for their handling of sensitive security documents. “It's just hard to believe that in the United States of America, we have a former president and a current president that are basically in the same situation,” he said. “How does this happen?”

At the same time, Democrats worried that Biden's travails have created an opening for newly empowered House Republicans.

“We have to worry, since this new group that has taken over control of the House of Representatives has promised us endless investigations, confrontations, impeachments and chaos, what is going to happen,” Durbin said.

The new chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said he took Biden “at his word when the first set of documents were found. ... But now this is gone from just simply being irresponsible to downright scary.”

The Justice Department says Trump took hundreds of records marked classified with him upon leaving the White House in early 2021 and resisted months of requests to return them to the government. Biden has willingly turned over the documents once found. But the issue is wearing on Biden and his aides, who have said they acted quickly and appropriately when the documents were discovered, and are working to be as transparent as possible.

Durbin appeared on CNN's “State of the Union,” Manchin was on CNN and NBC's “Meet the Press" and Comer was interviewed on Fox News Channel's “Sunday Morning Futures.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674474020744.png" alt="Biden voluntarily allowed the FBI into his home on Friday, but the lack of a warrant did not dim the extraordinary nature of the search. -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden voluntarily allowed the FBI into his home on Friday, but the lack of a warrant did not dim the extraordinary nature of the search. -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior Democrats, dismayed by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-us-federal-bureau-of-investigation-district-columbia-barack-obama-ca0ed31590d838dcc26420f475c9196f">steady stream of startling disclosures</a>, expressed criticism Sunday of how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075">President Joe Biden handled classified material</a>&nbsp;after leaving office as vice president and disappointment that the White House has not been more forthcoming with the public.Lawmakers who might have anticipated questions focusing on the debt limit or Ukraine aid when they were booked last week for the Sunday news shows found themselves quizzed about the latest development over the weekend in the document drama that has put&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-036e528fc399477a603ed402c6e83cfb">Biden's presidency on the defensive</a>: During a search Friday of Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, the FBI found additional documents with classified markings and took possession of some of his handwritten notes, the president’s lawyer said Saturday.Biden should be “embarrassed by the situation,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, adding that the president had ceded the moral high ground on an issue that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-trump-side-by-side-fb2c4ebccdbdbb9039c1c5e227b1da53">has already entangled former President Donald Trump</a>. Special counsels appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-b63ffc9b1042b4287a22e88672f4ef77">are investigating both cases.</a>“Well, of course. Let's be honest about it. When that information is found, it diminishes the stature of any person who is in possession of it because it's not supposed to happen. ... The elected official bears ultimate responsibility," Durbin said.Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Biden “should have a lot of regrets. ... You just might as well say, ‘Listen, it’s irresponsible.'" The president told reporters on Thursday that he had “no regrets” over how and when the public learned about the documents and that there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-wilmington-merrick-garland-f2384a87dcddbd38796f63e1269c6baf">“no there there.”</a>Despite their criticism, Biden's fellow Democrats defended what they said was his cooperation with the Justice Department as the search for additional classified material unfolds. They contrasted it with Trump's resistance to efforts to recover hundreds of documents after he left office.“It is outrageous that either occurred,” Durbin said. "But the reaction by the former president and the current president could not be in sharper contrast.”Biden voluntarily allowed the FBI into his home on Friday, but the lack of a warrant did not dim the extraordinary nature of the search. It compounded the embarrassment to Biden that started in earlier in January with the disclosure that the president’s lawyers had found a “small number” of classified records at a former office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington shortly before the Nov. 8 elections.The White House has disclosed that Biden's team found classified documents and official records on three other occasions in recent months — in follow-up searches on Dec. 20 in the garage of his Wilmington home, and on Jan. 11 and 12 in his home library.The discoveries have become a political liability as Biden prepares to kick off his 2024 reelection bid, and they undercut his efforts to portray an image of propriety to the American public after the tumultuous presidency of his predecessor, Trump.Manchin excoriated both men for their handling of sensitive security documents. “It's just hard to believe that in the United States of America, we have a former president and a current president that are basically in the same situation,” he said. “How does this happen?”At the same time, Democrats worried that Biden's travails have created an opening for newly empowered House Republicans.“We have to worry, since this new group that has taken over control of the House of Representatives has promised us endless investigations, confrontations, impeachments and chaos, what is going to happen,” Durbin said.The new chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said he took Biden “at his word when the first set of documents were found. ... But now this is gone from just simply being irresponsible to downright scary.”The Justice Department says Trump took hundreds of records marked classified with him upon leaving the White House in early 2021 and resisted months of requests to return them to the government. Biden has willingly turned over the documents once found. But the issue is wearing on Biden and his aides, who have said they acted quickly and appropriately when the documents were discovered, and are working to be as transparent as possible.Durbin appeared on CNN's “State of the Union,” Manchin was on CNN and NBC's “Meet the Press" and Comer was interviewed on Fox News Channel's “Sunday Morning Futures.”

Dems: Biden should be 'embarrassed' by classified docs case

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The speaker of Russia's parliament warned Sunday that countries supplying Ukraine with more powerful weapons risked their own destruction, a message that followed new pledges of armored vehicles, air defense systems and other equipment but not the battle tanks Kyiv requested.

"Supplies of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime would lead to a global catastrophe," State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said. "If Washington and NATO supply weapons that would be used for striking peaceful cities and making attempts to seize our territory as they threaten to do, it would trigger a retaliation with more powerful weapons."

Ukraine's supporters pledged billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine on Friday, though the new commitments were overshadowed by defense leaders failing at an international meeting in Ramstein, Germany, to agree on Ukraine's urgent request for German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks.

Germany is one of the main donors of weapons to Ukraine, and it ordered a review of its Leopard 2 stocks in preparation for a possible green light. Nonetheless, the government in Berlin has shown caution at each step of increasing its commitments to Ukraine, a hesitancy seen as rooted in its history and political culture.

Its tentativeness has drawn heavy criticism, particularly from Poland and the Baltic states, countries on NATO's eastern flank controlled by Moscow in the past and which feel especially threatened by Russia's renewed imperial ambitions.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that if Germany does not consent to transferring Leopard tanks to Ukraine, his country was prepared to build a "smaller coalition" of countries that would send theirs anyway.

"Almost a year had passed since the outbreak of war," Morawiecki said in an interview with Polish state news agency PAP published Sunday. "Evidence of the Russian army's war crimes can be seen on television and on YouTube. What more does Germany need to open its eyes and start to act in line with the potential of the German state?"

"Above all, Berlin should not weaken or sabotage the activities of other countries," Morawiecki said.

In Washington, two leading lawmakers urged the U.S. on Sunday to send some of its Abrams tanks to Ukraine, in the interests of overcoming Germany's reluctance to share its own, more suitable Leopard 2 tanks.

"If we announced we were giving an Abrams tank, just one, that would unleash" the flow of tanks from Germany, Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABC's "This Week on Sunday." "What I hear is that Germany's waiting on us to take the lead."

Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and considered close to President Joe Biden, also spoke up for the U.S. sending Abrams.

"I am concerned that Russia is rearming and preparing for a spring offensive," Coons, said. "If it requires our sending some Abrams tanks in order to unlock getting the Leopard tanks from Germany, from Poland, from other allies, I would support that."

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, said the meeting in Ramstein "left no doubt that our enemies will try to exhaust or better destroy us," adding that "they have enough weapons" to achieve the purpose.

Medvedev, a former Russian president, warned on his messaging app channel that Russia could seek to form a military alliance with foes of the United States. He didn't name the nations he had in mind, but Russia has defense cooperation with Iran and Venezuela, an existing military alliance with Belarus and strong ties with North Korea.. Since invading Ukraine, Russia also has increased both the scope and the number of its joint military drills with China.

"In case of a protracted conflict, a new military alliance will emerge that will include the nations that are fed up with the Americans and a pack of their castrated dogs," Medvedev said.

Ukraine is asking for more weapons as it anticipates Russia's forces launching a new offensive in the spring.

Oleksii Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's Security and Defense Council, warned that Russia may try to intensify its attacks in the south and in the east and to cut supply channels of Western weapons, while conquering Kyiv "remains the main dream" in President Vladimir Putin's "fantasies," he said.

He described the Kremlin's goal in the conflict as a "total and absolute genocide, a total war of destruction."

"Moscow wants to completely destroy Ukraine as a historical phenomenon — its language, history, culture, carriers of Ukrainian identity," Danilov wrote in a column published by Ukrainska Pravda.

Among those calling for more arms for Ukraine was the former British prime minister, Boris Johnson, who made a surprise trip to Ukraine on Sunday.

"This is the moment to double down and to give the Ukrainians all the tools they need to finish the job. The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the whole world," Johnson said in a statement.

Johnson, who faces fresh questions at home over his personal finances, was pictured in the Kyiv region town of Borodyanka. He said he traveled to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The last week was especially tragic for Ukraine even by the standards of a brutal war that has gone on for nearly a year, killing tens of thousands of people, uprooting millions more and creating vast destruction of Ukrainian cities.

A barrage of Russian missiles struck an apartment complex in the southeastern city of Dnipro on Jan. 14, killing at least 45 civilians, including six children. On Wednesday, a government helicopter carrying the interior minister and other officials crashed into a building housing a kindergarten in a suburb of Kyiv. The minister and a child on the ground were among the 14 people killed.

Zelenskyy, who on Saturday mourned the victims of the helicopter crash, vowed Sunday that Ukraine would prevail in the war.

"We are united because we are strong. We are strong because we are united," the Ukrainian leader said in a video address as he marked Ukraine Unity Day, which commemorates the day in 1919 when East and West Ukraine were united.

"Dear invincible people, Happy Ukrainian Unity Day!" he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673396092973.png" alt="Ukrainian troops are atOklahoma’s Fort Sill Army base training on operating and maintaining the Patriot missile defense system-Photo U.S. Defense DepartmentDefense Department" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian troops are atOklahoma’s Fort Sill Army base training on operating and maintaining the Patriot missile defense system-Photo U.S. Defense DepartmentDefense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANDREW MELDRUM Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The speaker of Russia's parliament warned Sunday that countries supplying Ukraine with more powerful weapons risked their own destruction, a message that followed new pledges of armored vehicles, air defense systems and other equipment but not the battle tanks Kyiv requested."Supplies of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime would lead to a global catastrophe," State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said. "If Washington and NATO supply weapons that would be used for striking peaceful cities and making attempts to seize our territory as they threaten to do, it would trigger a retaliation with more powerful weapons."Ukraine's supporters pledged billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine on Friday, though the new commitments were overshadowed by defense leaders failing at an international meeting in Ramstein, Germany, to agree on Ukraine's urgent request for German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks.Germany is one of the main donors of weapons to Ukraine, and it ordered a review of its Leopard 2 stocks in preparation for a possible green light. Nonetheless, the government in Berlin has shown caution at each step of increasing its commitments to Ukraine, a hesitancy seen as rooted in its history and political culture.Its tentativeness has drawn heavy criticism, particularly from Poland and the Baltic states, countries on NATO's eastern flank controlled by Moscow in the past and which feel especially threatened by Russia's renewed imperial ambitions.Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that if Germany does not consent to transferring Leopard tanks to Ukraine, his country was prepared to build a "smaller coalition" of countries that would send theirs anyway."Almost a year had passed since the outbreak of war," Morawiecki said in an interview with Polish state news agency PAP published Sunday. "Evidence of the Russian army's war crimes can be seen on television and on YouTube. What more does Germany need to open its eyes and start to act in line with the potential of the German state?""Above all, Berlin should not weaken or sabotage the activities of other countries," Morawiecki said.In Washington, two leading lawmakers urged the U.S. on Sunday to send some of its Abrams tanks to Ukraine, in the interests of overcoming Germany's reluctance to share its own, more suitable Leopard 2 tanks."If we announced we were giving an Abrams tank, just one, that would unleash" the flow of tanks from Germany, Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABC's "This Week on Sunday." "What I hear is that Germany's waiting on us to take the lead."Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and considered close to President Joe Biden, also spoke up for the U.S. sending Abrams."I am concerned that Russia is rearming and preparing for a spring offensive," Coons, said. "If it requires our sending some Abrams tanks in order to unlock getting the Leopard tanks from Germany, from Poland, from other allies, I would support that."Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, said the meeting in Ramstein "left no doubt that our enemies will try to exhaust or better destroy us," adding that "they have enough weapons" to achieve the purpose.Medvedev, a former Russian president, warned on his messaging app channel that Russia could seek to form a military alliance with foes of the United States. He didn't name the nations he had in mind, but Russia has defense cooperation with Iran and Venezuela, an existing military alliance with Belarus and strong ties with North Korea.. Since invading Ukraine, Russia also has increased both the scope and the number of its joint military drills with China."In case of a protracted conflict, a new military alliance will emerge that will include the nations that are fed up with the Americans and a pack of their castrated dogs," Medvedev said.Ukraine is asking for more weapons as it anticipates Russia's forces launching a new offensive in the spring.Oleksii Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's Security and Defense Council, warned that Russia may try to intensify its attacks in the south and in the east and to cut supply channels of Western weapons, while conquering Kyiv "remains the main dream" in President Vladimir Putin's "fantasies," he said.He described the Kremlin's goal in the conflict as a "total and absolute genocide, a total war of destruction.""Moscow wants to completely destroy Ukraine as a historical phenomenon — its language, history, culture, carriers of Ukrainian identity," Danilov wrote in a column published by Ukrainska Pravda.Among those calling for more arms for Ukraine was the former British prime minister, Boris Johnson, who made a surprise trip to Ukraine on Sunday."This is the moment to double down and to give the Ukrainians all the tools they need to finish the job. The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the whole world," Johnson said in a statement.Johnson, who faces fresh questions at home over his personal finances, was pictured in the Kyiv region town of Borodyanka. He said he traveled to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The last week was especially tragic for Ukraine even by the standards of a brutal war that has gone on for nearly a year, killing tens of thousands of people, uprooting millions more and creating vast destruction of Ukrainian cities.A barrage of Russian missiles struck an apartment complex in the southeastern city of Dnipro on Jan. 14, killing at least 45 civilians, including six children. On Wednesday, a government helicopter carrying the interior minister and other officials crashed into a building housing a kindergarten in a suburb of Kyiv. The minister and a child on the ground were among the 14 people killed.Zelenskyy, who on Saturday mourned the victims of the helicopter crash, vowed Sunday that Ukraine would prevail in the war."We are united because we are strong. We are strong because we are united," the Ukrainian leader said in a video address as he marked Ukraine Unity Day, which commemorates the day in 1919 when East and West Ukraine were united."Dear invincible people, Happy Ukrainian Unity Day!" he said.___F

Russia warns West of destruction for arming Ukraine

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service&nbsp;kicked off the 2023 tax 
filing season with a focus on improving service and a reminder to 
taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit to speed refunds 
and avoid delays.

Following a successful opening of its systems today, the IRS&nbsp;is now 
accepting and processing 2022 tax returns. Most of the individual tax 
returns for the 2022 tax year are expected to be filed before the April 
18 tax deadline.

Taxpayers have until&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-sets-january-23-as-official-start-to-2023-tax-filing-season-more-help-available-for-taxpayers-this-year">April 18 to file their taxes</a> this year, but some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad-automatic-2-month-extension-of-time-to-file">taxpayers living overseas</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster victims</a>
 may have later filing deadlines. Alabama, California and Georgia storm 
victims now have until May 15 to file various federal individual and 
business tax returns and make tax payments.

"Following months of hard work, we successfully opened our processing
 systems today to start this year's tax season," said IRS Acting 
Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "Getting to this point is a monumental 
effort not only for the IRS but also for the nation's tax community. The
 hard-working employees of the IRS look forward to serving taxpayers 
this filing season, and I personally want to thank them, and all of the 
tax and payroll community for their dedication to making tax time 
smoother for the nation."

O'Donnell also noted that&nbsp;taxpayers can count on IRS delivering 
improved service this filing season. As part of the August passage of 
the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS has more than 5,000 new telephone 
assistors and added more in-person staff to help taxpayers.

"We continue to increase IRS staffing to help provide taxpayers with 
the information and assistance they need," said O'Donnell. "The IRS 
reminds taxpayers to take some important steps when filing their tax 
returns for a smoother process. They should gather their necessary tax 
records, file an accurate return electronically and choose direct 
deposit to get their refunds faster."

Taxpayers who electronically file a tax return with no issues and 
choose direct deposit should still receive their refund within 21 days 
of the date they file – similar to previous years. Due to tax law 
changes such as the elimination of the Advance Child Tax Credit and no 
Recovery Rebate Credit this year to claim pandemic-related stimulus 
payments, many taxpayers may find their refunds somewhat lower this 
year.

Fastest refunds by e-filing, avoiding paper returns: To avoid refund delays, IRS encourages taxpayers to file their tax return electronically with <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> instead of submitting a paper tax return. Taxpayers may use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 on IRS.gov, other tax software or a trusted tax professional. Members 
of the armed forces and qualifying veterans can file their federal tax 
return and up to three state tax returns for free electronically using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/miltax-military-tax-services">MilTax,</a> a Department of Defense program.

Avoid delays; file an accurate tax return: Taxpayers should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">make sure they're ready to file</a> an accurate and complete tax return. This can help avoid processing delays, extensive refund delays and later IRS notices.

Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit refunds: Taxpayers
 may file their returns beginning Jan.&nbsp;23, but the IRS cannot issue 
refunds involving the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax 
Credit before mid-February. The law provides the extra time to help the 
IRS prevent fraudulent refunds. "Where's My Refund?" on IRS.gov should 
show an updated status by Feb. 18 for most EITC and ACTC filers. The IRS
 expects most of these refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts
 or debit cards by Feb. 28 if people chose direct deposit and there are 
no other issues with their tax return.

Avoid phone delays; online resources best option for help: IRS.gov
 is the quickest and easiest option for help. IRS assisted phone lines 
continue to receive a high volume of calls. To avoid delays, check 
IRS.gov first for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">refund information</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">answers to tax questions</a>. Setting up an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 on IRS.gov can also help taxpayers get information quickly. IRS Online 
Account was recently expanded to allow more people to gain access. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a> can also help taxpayers get answers to many tax questions online at any time.

Online options for free help; answers to common questions: Use IRS.gov to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">check a refund status</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">pay taxes</a>. No wait time or appointment needed —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tools</a> and resources are available 24 hours a day.

Other free options for help: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 is available to any person or family who earned $73,000 or less in 
2022. For taxpayers who are comfortable completing their own tax forms,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a> may be a good option.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/miltax-military-tax-services">MilTax</a>
 is a free tax resource available to the military community, and it's 
offered through the Department of Defense. Qualified taxpayers can also 
find free one-on-one tax preparation help nationwide through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly </a>programs.

2021 tax returns still being processed: Taxpayers can check&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>
 to find out the status of their tax year 2021 Form 1040-X and can&nbsp;still
 file their 2022 tax returns&nbsp;even if their 2021 tax returns haven't been
 processed. Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue">IRS Operations</a> page for more information on what to expect.

April 18 tax deadline: This year, the filing 
deadline is April 18 for most taxpayers, but automatic six-month 
extensions of time to file are available for anyone for free. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">Extension of Time to File Your Tax Return</a>
 for instructions. Taxpayers should be aware that filing Form 4868 only 
extends the time to file tax returns. Those who owe taxes should still 
pay by April 18 to avoid late payment penalties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service&nbsp;kicked off the 2023 tax 
filing season with a focus on improving service and a reminder to 
taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit to speed refunds 
and avoid delays.Following a successful opening of its systems today, the IRS&nbsp;is now 
accepting and processing 2022 tax returns. Most of the individual tax 
returns for the 2022 tax year are expected to be filed before the April 
18 tax deadline.Taxpayers have until&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-sets-january-23-as-official-start-to-2023-tax-filing-season-more-help-available-for-taxpayers-this-year">April 18 to file their taxes</a> this year, but some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad-automatic-2-month-extension-of-time-to-file">taxpayers living overseas</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster victims</a>
 may have later filing deadlines. Alabama, California and Georgia storm 
victims now have until May 15 to file various federal individual and 
business tax returns and make tax payments."Following months of hard work, we successfully opened our processing
 systems today to start this year's tax season," said IRS Acting 
Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "Getting to this point is a monumental 
effort not only for the IRS but also for the nation's tax community. The
 hard-working employees of the IRS look forward to serving taxpayers 
this filing season, and I personally want to thank them, and all of the 
tax and payroll community for their dedication to making tax time 
smoother for the nation."O'Donnell also noted that&nbsp;taxpayers can count on IRS delivering 
improved service this filing season. As part of the August passage of 
the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS has more than 5,000 new telephone 
assistors and added more in-person staff to help taxpayers."We continue to increase IRS staffing to help provide taxpayers with 
the information and assistance they need," said O'Donnell. "The IRS 
reminds taxpayers to take some important steps when filing their tax 
returns for a smoother process. They should gather their necessary tax 
records, file an accurate return electronically and choose direct 
deposit to get their refunds faster."Taxpayers who electronically file a tax return with no issues and 
choose direct deposit should still receive their refund within 21 days 
of the date they file – similar to previous years. Due to tax law 
changes such as the elimination of the Advance Child Tax Credit and no 
Recovery Rebate Credit this year to claim pandemic-related stimulus 
payments, many taxpayers may find their refunds somewhat lower this 
year.<h2>IRS tips for a smooth filing season</h2>Fastest refunds by e-filing, avoiding paper returns: To avoid refund delays, IRS encourages taxpayers to file their tax return electronically with <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> instead of submitting a paper tax return. Taxpayers may use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 on IRS.gov, other tax software or a trusted tax professional. Members 
of the armed forces and qualifying veterans can file their federal tax 
return and up to three state tax returns for free electronically using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/miltax-military-tax-services">MilTax,</a> a Department of Defense program.Avoid delays; file an accurate tax return: Taxpayers should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">make sure they're ready to file</a> an accurate and complete tax return. This can help avoid processing delays, extensive refund delays and later IRS notices.Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit refunds: Taxpayers
 may file their returns beginning Jan.&nbsp;23, but the IRS cannot issue 
refunds involving the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax 
Credit before mid-February. The law provides the extra time to help the 
IRS prevent fraudulent refunds. "Where's My Refund?" on IRS.gov should 
show an updated status by Feb. 18 for most EITC and ACTC filers. The IRS
 expects most of these refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts
 or debit cards by Feb. 28 if people chose direct deposit and there are 
no other issues with their tax return.Avoid phone delays; online resources best option for help: IRS.gov
 is the quickest and easiest option for help. IRS assisted phone lines 
continue to receive a high volume of calls. To avoid delays, check 
IRS.gov first for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">refund information</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">answers to tax questions</a>. Setting up an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 on IRS.gov can also help taxpayers get information quickly. IRS Online 
Account was recently expanded to allow more people to gain access. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a> can also help taxpayers get answers to many tax questions online at any time.Online options for free help; answers to common questions: Use IRS.gov to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">check a refund status</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">pay taxes</a>. No wait time or appointment needed —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tools</a> and resources are available 24 hours a day.Other free options for help: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 is available to any person or family who earned $73,000 or less in 
2022. For taxpayers who are comfortable completing their own tax forms,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a> may be a good option.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/miltax-military-tax-services">MilTax</a>
 is a free tax resource available to the military community, and it's 
offered through the Department of Defense. Qualified taxpayers can also 
find free one-on-one tax preparation help nationwide through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly </a>programs.2021 tax returns still being processed: Taxpayers can check&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>
 to find out the status of their tax year 2021 Form 1040-X and can&nbsp;still
 file their 2022 tax returns&nbsp;even if their 2021 tax returns haven't been
 processed. Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue">IRS Operations</a> page for more information on what to expect.April 18 tax deadline: This year, the filing 
deadline is April 18 for most taxpayers, but automatic six-month 
extensions of time to file are available for anyone for free. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">Extension of Time to File Your Tax Return</a>
 for instructions. Taxpayers should be aware that filing Form 4868 only 
extends the time to file tax returns. Those who owe taxes should still 
pay by April 18 to avoid late payment penalties.

IRS kicks off 2023 tax filing season; returns due April 18

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government says it will begin a targeted crackdown on nursing homes’ abuse of antipsychotic drugs and misdiagnoses of schizophrenia in patients.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668464912783.png" alt="“No nursing home resident should be improperly diagnosed with schizophrenia or given an inappropriate antipsychotic,” Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/xavier-becerra">Xavier Becerra</a>&nbsp;said in a statement Wednesday-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>“No nursing home resident should be improperly diagnosed with schizophrenia or given an inappropriate antipsychotic,” Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/xavier-becerra">Xavier Becerra</a>&nbsp;said in a statement Wednesday-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government says it will begin a targeted crackdown on nursing homes’ abuse of antipsychotic drugs and misdiagnoses of schizophrenia in patients.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is launching investigations this month into select nursing homes, aimed at verifying whether patients have been properly diagnosed with the psychiatric disorder.Evidence has mounted over decades that some facilities wrongly diagnose residents with schizophrenia or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-medication-2052229826d84280aeb29208f7eb9434">administer antipsychotic drugs to sedate them</a>, despite dangerous side effects that could include death, according to the agency.“No nursing home resident should be improperly diagnosed with schizophrenia or given an inappropriate antipsychotic,” Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/xavier-becerra">Xavier Becerra</a>&nbsp;said in a statement Wednesday. “The steps we are taking today will help prevent these errors and give families peace of mind.”Some facilities may be dodging increased scrutiny around gratuitous use of antipsychotic medications by coding residents as having schizophrenia, even when they do not show signs of the extremely rare disorder, a government report last year found. Less than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia">1% of the population</a>&nbsp;is believed to have schizophrenia, which is marked by delusions, hallucinations and disordered thinking.In 2012, the federal government began tracking when nursing homes use antipsychotics on residents — doing so can impact the facility’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/">quality rating in a public database</a>&nbsp;— but only for those who have not been diagnosed with schizophrenia.Antipsychotics for those nursing home residents has dropped to under 20% in recent years, according to federal data.A November&nbsp;<a href="https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-07-20-00500.pdf">report from the HHS Office of the Inspector General</a>, however, revealed that the number of residents reported as having schizophrenia without a corresponding diagnosis skyrocketed between 2015 and 2019, with 99 nursing homes in the country reporting that 20% or more of their residents have the disorder.“The number of unsupported schizophrenia diagnoses increased and in 2019 was concentrated in relatively few nursing homes,” the report concluded.Nursing homes have worked on other ways to treat residents, especially those with dementia, and trained staff to use alternative methods, said Katie Smith Sloan, the CEO of LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit aging service providers.“Much has been achieved since the program’s start in 2012, and nursing homes deserve a lot of the credit for the progress," she said in a statement.CMS will start targeted audits to ask nursing homes for documentation of the diagnoses in the coming days, focusing on nursing homes with existing residents who have been recorded as having schizophrenia.The rating scores for nursing homes that have a pattern of inaccurately coding residents as having schizophrenia will be negatively impacted, CMS said in a statement released Wednesday, stopping short of threatening to levy fines against facilities.Dinging nursing homes' public ratings will be effective in some cases, said Dr. Shekinah Fashaw-Walters, a researcher at the University of Minnesota who has found that schizophrenia diagnoses have risen in Black nursing home patients compared with their white counterparts in recent years.She is hopeful that the CMS audits will help to narrow that racial disparity and said that it's “about time” for CMS' plan.“It’s time to do this and really hold nursing homes accountable for providing high quality care," she said. "I’m thrilled to see that they are taking these steps, and I think they’re very warranted.”The agency does not have plans to immediately intervene in the patients’ care directly or notify relatives of residents who have been wrongly coded or given antipsychotics, according to senior HHS officials who insisted on anonymity to brief The Associated Press on the matter on Tuesday.CMS will monitor the facilities to make sure the issues are corrected, officials said.