By PAUl HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/ronnie-green-will-retire-as-unl-chancellor-ricketts-a-past-critic-wishes-him-well/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Ronnie Green, the 
chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for nearly the past 
seven years, announced Tuesday that he will retire in June, or sooner if
 a successor is found.

In <a target="_blank" href="https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/green-announces-plan-to-retire-as-chancellor-in-2023/">a video</a>,
 Green said that after “reflection, we reached the family decision that 
2023 would be the year for Husker Jane (his wife) and I to step away 
from public-facing life to focus on our next chapter privately on our 
growing family and our faith.”

Ted Carter, president of the University of Nebraska system, said that
 NU owes a “debt of gratitude” to Green for his service as chancellor, 
and earlier as head of UNL Institute for Agriculture and Natural 
Resources. Research spending and four-year graduation rates climbed 
under his watch.

The departure of Green, 61, comes a year after Gov. Pete Ricketts had
 said he had “lost all faith” in the chancellor, and had been “misled” 
by Green about an anti-racism plan adopted by the university.

“I don’t believe anything he says anymore, and I don’t know how you 
get that back,” Ricketts was quoted a year ago by the campus newspaper, 
the Daily Nebraskan.

But Green’s announcement on Tuesday gave no mention of the governor’s
 comment, and Ricketts, during an interview with the Nebraska Examiner 
on Tuesday, wished him well.

“I wish Ronnie Green well in whatever his next adventure will be,” Ricketts said.

Later, when asked to elaborate, Ricketts said he was “very 
disappointed” that Green had misrepresented what he’d said about the 
“Journey to Anti-Racism” plan. The plan, the governor said, referred to 
Ibram Kendi, a Boston University professor who advocates for further 
research and academic departments of anti-racism.

“That would be completely against our values as Americans,” the 
governor said. “It was more in line with the Soviet Union rather than 
our free republic.”

A reference to Kendi was deleted from a later draft of the UNL policy, according to Nebraska Public Media.

Ricketts, a year ago, said Green has misrepresented his position on 
the anti-racism and inclusion plan, telling others that Ricketts 
supported it when he really didn’t.

At the time, then University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen said he 
was blindsided by the plan, the Daily Nebraskan reported. Pillen, a key 
political ally of Ricketts, will be sworn in as the next Nebraska 
governor on Jan. 5.

Green, in an interview this week with <a target="_blank" href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/i-know-its-the-right-time-for-me-unls-green-says-hell-retire-at-the/article_3956466c-a848-5c6c-87ac-d0c62e859853.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">the Lincoln Journal Star</a>,
 recognized some of the challenges the university and its leadership 
face, including financial and political, but said they are not unique.

Details on the selection process for a new chancellor have yet to be announced.

Green, in his announcement, said was “almost too surreal” that a 
“first-generation college educated, farm boy” had been chosen to serve 
as UNL’s chancellor.

Carter said that NU was “fortunate that Chancellor Green has given us
 a runway that will give us time to chart the path forward and ensure a 
smooth transition of leadership.”

“I intend to conduct a rigorous national search, informed by diverse stakeholder feedback, to identify UNL’s next leader,” the NU president said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671575663518.png" alt="Ronnie Green, the chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for nearly seven years, announced that he would be retiring in a video with his wife. (courtesy photo University of Nebraska-Lincoln)" />
 <figcaption>Ronnie Green, the chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for nearly seven years, announced that he would be retiring in a video with his wife. (courtesy photo University of Nebraska-Lincoln)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUl HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/ronnie-green-will-retire-as-unl-chancellor-ricketts-a-past-critic-wishes-him-well/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Ronnie Green, the 
chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for nearly the past 
seven years, announced Tuesday that he will retire in June, or sooner if
 a successor is found.In <a target="_blank" href="https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/green-announces-plan-to-retire-as-chancellor-in-2023/">a video</a>,
 Green said that after “reflection, we reached the family decision that 
2023 would be the year for Husker Jane (his wife) and I to step away 
from public-facing life to focus on our next chapter privately on our 
growing family and our faith.”<h2>‘Debt of gratitude’</h2>Ted Carter, president of the University of Nebraska system, said that
 NU owes a “debt of gratitude” to Green for his service as chancellor, 
and earlier as head of UNL Institute for Agriculture and Natural 
Resources. Research spending and four-year graduation rates climbed 
under his watch.The departure of Green, 61, comes a year after Gov. Pete Ricketts had
 said he had “lost all faith” in the chancellor, and had been “misled” 
by Green about an anti-racism plan adopted by the university.“I don’t believe anything he says anymore, and I don’t know how you 
get that back,” Ricketts was quoted a year ago by the campus newspaper, 
the Daily Nebraskan.But Green’s announcement on Tuesday gave no mention of the governor’s
 comment, and Ricketts, during an interview with the Nebraska Examiner 
on Tuesday, wished him well.“I wish Ronnie Green well in whatever his next adventure will be,” Ricketts said.Later, when asked to elaborate, Ricketts said he was “very 
disappointed” that Green had misrepresented what he’d said about the 
“Journey to Anti-Racism” plan. The plan, the governor said, referred to 
Ibram Kendi, a Boston University professor who advocates for further 
research and academic departments of anti-racism.<h2>‘Completely against our values’</h2>“That would be completely against our values as Americans,” the 
governor said. “It was more in line with the Soviet Union rather than 
our free republic.”A reference to Kendi was deleted from a later draft of the UNL policy, according to Nebraska Public Media.Ricketts, a year ago, said Green has misrepresented his position on 
the anti-racism and inclusion plan, telling others that Ricketts 
supported it when he really didn’t.At the time, then University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen said he 
was blindsided by the plan, the Daily Nebraskan reported. Pillen, a key 
political ally of Ricketts, will be sworn in as the next Nebraska 
governor on Jan. 5.Green, in an interview this week with <a target="_blank" href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/i-know-its-the-right-time-for-me-unls-green-says-hell-retire-at-the/article_3956466c-a848-5c6c-87ac-d0c62e859853.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">the Lincoln Journal Star</a>,
 recognized some of the challenges the university and its leadership 
face, including financial and political, but said they are not unique.Details on the selection process for a new chancellor have yet to be announced.<h2>‘Surreal’ that farm boy got the job</h2>Green, in his announcement, said was “almost too surreal” that a 
“first-generation college educated, farm boy” had been chosen to serve 
as UNL’s chancellor.Carter said that NU was “fortunate that Chancellor Green has given us
 a runway that will give us time to chart the path forward and ensure a 
smooth transition of leadership.”“I intend to conduct a rigorous national search, informed by diverse stakeholder feedback, to identify UNL’s next leader,” the NU president said.

Green to retire as U of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/set-to-arrive-at-kearney-airport-6-28-million-grant-to-grow-facility/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — The Kearney Regional Airport 
is set to receive a $6.28 million grant from the Federal Aviation 
Administration to expand and upgrade its facility, U.S. Sen. Deb 
Fischer, R-Neb., said Tuesday.

“Nebraska’s airports ensure our 
communities can stay connected and help our state’s world class products
 make it to market,” Fischer, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee,
 said in a statement.&nbsp;

The federal funding allows for an 
additional 4,325 square feet of space and renovation of the airport 
terminal, enhancing such things as passenger seating and baggage 
services and bringing the terminal to about 11,000 square feet.

Michael Morgan, Kearney city manager,
 said the funding, combined with previous grants for parking and runway 
construction, should allow Kearney Regional to meet demand for years to 
come.

The funds were made possible through 
the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), which
 Fischer voted for, and was enacted in 2020. An intent to fund the grant was previously announced in 2020, said the Office of Secretary of Transportation.

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/set-to-arrive-at-kearney-airport-6-28-million-grant-to-grow-facility/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — The Kearney Regional Airport 
is set to receive a $6.28 million grant from the Federal Aviation 
Administration to expand and upgrade its facility, U.S. Sen. Deb 
Fischer, R-Neb., said Tuesday.“Nebraska’s airports ensure our 
communities can stay connected and help our state’s world class products
 make it to market,” Fischer, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee,
 said in a statement.&nbsp;The federal funding allows for an 
additional 4,325 square feet of space and renovation of the airport 
terminal, enhancing such things as passenger seating and baggage 
services and bringing the terminal to about 11,000 square feet.Michael Morgan, Kearney city manager,
 said the funding, combined with previous grants for parking and runway 
construction, should allow Kearney Regional to meet demand for years to 
come.The funds were made possible through 
the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), which
 Fischer voted for, and was enacted in 2020. An intent to fund the grant was previously announced in 2020, said the Office of Secretary of Transportation.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Set to arrive at Kearney airport: $6.28M grant to grow facility

WASHINGTON&nbsp;— Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted a record number of firearms brought by passengers to airport security checkpoints in 2022. As of December 16, TSA has stopped 6,301 firearms; more than 88% were loaded. This number surpasses the previous record of 5,972 firearms detected in 2021. TSA anticipates it will prevent about 6,600 firearms in carry-on bags from entering the secure area of airports by the end of 2022, a nearly 10% increase over 2021’s record level.

Firearm possession laws vary by state and local government, but firearms are never allowed in carry-on bags at any TSA security checkpoint, even if a passenger has a concealed weapon permit.&nbsp;In order to reduce the threat of firearms at checkpoints, TSA has increased the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation to $14,950. TSA determines the&nbsp;penalty amount for a violation based on the circumstances in each case.&nbsp;TSA will continue to revoke TSA PreCheck®&nbsp;eligibility&nbsp;for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession.&nbsp;TSA may conduct enhanced screening for those passengers to ensure no other threats are present.&nbsp;Depending on state or local law in the airport’s location, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint may be arrested by law enforcement.

“I applaud the work of our Transportation Security Officers who do an excellent job of preventing firearms from getting into the secure area of airports, and onboard aircraft,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Firearms are prohibited in carry-on bags at the checkpoint and onboard aircraft. When a passenger brings a firearm to the checkpoint, this consumes significant security resources and poses a potential threat to transportation security, in addition to being very costly for the passenger.”

Passengers traveling by air who wish to transport firearms must do so in checked baggage. Those&nbsp;passengers&nbsp;must&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition">follow proper packing guidance for firearms</a>&nbsp;in checked baggage and declare them to their airline at check-in. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers must also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport.

To view the complete&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement">list of penalties</a>, go to TSA.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671448133438.png" alt="TSA image" />
 <figcaption>TSA image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;— Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted a record number of firearms brought by passengers to airport security checkpoints in 2022. As of December 16, TSA has stopped 6,301 firearms; more than 88% were loaded. This number surpasses the previous record of 5,972 firearms detected in 2021. TSA anticipates it will prevent about 6,600 firearms in carry-on bags from entering the secure area of airports by the end of 2022, a nearly 10% increase over 2021’s record level.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671448314170.png" alt="TSA image" />
 <figcaption>TSA image</figcaption>
 </figure>Firearm possession laws vary by state and local government, but firearms are never allowed in carry-on bags at any TSA security checkpoint, even if a passenger has a concealed weapon permit.&nbsp;In order to reduce the threat of firearms at checkpoints, TSA has increased the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation to $14,950. TSA determines the&nbsp;penalty amount for a violation based on the circumstances in each case.&nbsp;TSA will continue to revoke TSA PreCheck®&nbsp;eligibility&nbsp;for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession.&nbsp;TSA may conduct enhanced screening for those passengers to ensure no other threats are present.&nbsp;Depending on state or local law in the airport’s location, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint may be arrested by law enforcement.“I applaud the work of our Transportation Security Officers who do an excellent job of preventing firearms from getting into the secure area of airports, and onboard aircraft,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Firearms are prohibited in carry-on bags at the checkpoint and onboard aircraft. When a passenger brings a firearm to the checkpoint, this consumes significant security resources and poses a potential threat to transportation security, in addition to being very costly for the passenger.”Passengers traveling by air who wish to transport firearms must do so in checked baggage. Those&nbsp;passengers&nbsp;must&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition">follow proper packing guidance for firearms</a>&nbsp;in checked baggage and declare them to their airline at check-in. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers must also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport.To view the complete&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement">list of penalties</a>, go to TSA.gov.

TSA breaks record for number of firearms at airport security checkpoints

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/20/drone-no-fly-zone-issued-over-keystone-oil-spill-site-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TC Energy has established a no-fly zone over the Kansas site where its <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/09/regulators-order-keystone-pipeline-to-investigate-after-14000-barrels-spill-in-kansas/">Keystone pipeline spilled 14,000 barrels of oil</a> following drone footage of the disaster.

The Canadian company said in a statement that it did so for safety reasons. But drone footage of the spill —&nbsp;the largest in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">the pipeline’s history</a>
 —&nbsp;was among the only means of seeing the damage as the site is closed 
to press. Even lawmakers were not allowed there for a briefing.&nbsp;

“Clearing the airspace is critical 
for the safety and security of the pilots conducting ongoing monitoring 
as well as the working crew on the ground,” TC Energy said in a 
statement. “Crews are working around the clock on the incident and need 
to be distraction-free.”

Earlier this month, the Keystone pipeline spilled near Washington, Kansas, just south of the Nebraska border. So far, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tcenergy.com/incident/milepost-14-incident/">TC Energy says it has isolated the spill</a>
 to keep it from flowing downstream and recovered 7,233 barrels of oil 
—&nbsp;or 13,877 barrels of oil and water. More than 400 personnel have 
responded to the site.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g_47hr6qkY">Drone footage immediately following the spill</a>
 showed the 14,000 barrels —&nbsp;or 588,000 gallons —&nbsp;of oil turned Mill 
Creek black. One former Kansas legislator said oil had sprayed around 80
 yards onto his field next to the site. The oil that landed on nearby 
fields <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-11/watch-drone-footage-reveals-extent-of-keystone-pipeline-oil-spill">looks like a plume of smoke from above</a>.&nbsp;

The no-fly zone was issued Dec. 16 and ends Wednesday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.&nbsp;

The Keystone pipeline splits into two
 segments in Nebraska, just over the Kansas border. One cuts across 
northeast Kansas, through Missouri and ends in Illinois. The one that 
spilled runs through central Kansas and Oklahoma to refineries in 
Texas.&nbsp;

TC Energy last week announced it had 
resumed operations on the unaffected pipeline. The other remains shut 
down under an order from the U.S. Department of Transportation.&nbsp;

The spill site near Washington, 
Kansas, is still inaccessible, but on Monday, lawmakers received a 
briefing nearby and viewed a drone tour.&nbsp;

Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park,
 said she appreciated that TC Energy had opened a line of communication 
but that “there are still a lot of unanswered questions.” She said it 
was difficult to determine the necessity of the drone no-fly zone, and 
she did have concerns about transparency.&nbsp;

“Third-party drones — if they’re not 
going to be allowed to monitor the site, then I think there has to be 
other ways that media or third parties can have greater information or 
access to what’s going on because that’s one of the best ways to hold 
all parties accountable for the best outcome possible,” Vaughn said.&nbsp;

Zack Pistora, a lobbyist for the 
Sierra Club in Kansas, expressed mild disbelief that the company 
couldn’t allow legislators to see the site.&nbsp;

“I understand that a company doesn’t 
want to show you the horrible side of the nature of their business,” 
Pistora said. “…That wouldn’t be something they would like to show 
government officials that may say, ‘More needs to be done to prevent 
this spill from happening next time.’”&nbsp;

TC Energy said its “priority is that the investigation, recovery, repair and remediation continue to advance.”&nbsp;

“We appreciate the interest and 
respect the role journalists play in documenting and reporting to the 
public,” the company said. “We are committed to being transparent and to
 providing access to media when it is safe to do so.”

This month’s spill is estimated to be
 larger than all of the Keystone pipeline’s previous spills combined. 
But the pipeline’s spills have been growing larger in recent years.&nbsp;

In 2020, the Keystone pipeline 
spilled 442 barrels of oil near a delivery facility in Texas because it 
failed to control corrosion. At one point, part of the pipeline in 
Missouri was so corroded that the wall was less than 1/64 of an inch 
thick.&nbsp;

At the same time, the pipeline 
company failed to correct deficiencies in its corrosion control for 
years, including 56 deficiencies along the pipeline from Nebraska to 
Illinois and six between Nebraska and Oklahoma.

TC Energy has been repeatedly warned 
about its corrosion control and installation practices, and material 
defects have caused the bulk of its 20-plus spills.&nbsp;

But despite causing an estimated $111
 million in property damage in its history, Keystone has paid fines of 
just more than $300,000 in the 12 years it has been operating. Another 
fine tied to the Texas spill is pending. The federal government has 
proposed one of more than $500,000.&nbsp;

Under a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2022-12/TC%20Oil%20CAO.3-2022-074.pdf">corrective action order</a>
 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, TC Energy must investigate the root 
cause of the spill in northern Kansas and create a plan to resume 
operations before receiving federal permission to restart the pipeline.&nbsp;

Bill Pannbacker, who previously 
served in the Kansas House of Representatives, said he was awakened Dec.
 8 by a phone call informing him of the spill.&nbsp;

“That got my adrenaline going probably for 10 hours,” Pannbacker said.&nbsp;

Pannbacker estimated the rupture in 
the pipeline occurred about 15 feet from his property line. Oil 
saturated the ground for 30 or 40 yards into his field. Droplets landed 
80 yards from the fracture.&nbsp;

“The creek is just pretty much black,” he said in the days after the spill.&nbsp;

Fortunately, Pannbacker said, that 
area of pasture was closed off, so the rupture didn’t affect his cattle.
 But he said a neighbor had to move cows that had previously been 
drinking from Mill Creek. He expected cleanup and construction to last 
at least through the holidays.&nbsp;

According to Kansas Rep. Lisa Moser, 
14 landowners are either affected directly by the spill or have response
 vehicles and personnel on their property. She said in a Facebook update
 they’re all being paid.&nbsp;

Vaughn said she was impressed by the level of coordination between TC Energy and federal, state and local responders.&nbsp;

One of her primary concerns was that 
the heavy oil would sink to the bottom of Mill Creek and become far more
 difficult to clean up. She said TC Energy told the group of lawmakers 
it had not sunk below the water’s surface yet.&nbsp;

Vaughn said TC Energy gave lawmakers a
 fact sheet saying its “commitment … is that our response and recovery 
efforts will continue until we have fully remediated and restored the 
area.”&nbsp;

“Going forward, I think it’s our responsibility to hold them accountable for that,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670881926358.png" alt="A massive oil spill in north-central Kansas seeped into Mill Creek and traveled about three miles downstream. Clean up crews contained the spill with a dam about four miles downstream. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency" />
 <figcaption>A massive oil spill in north-central Kansas seeped into Mill Creek and traveled about three miles downstream. Clean up crews contained the spill with a dam about four miles downstream. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/20/drone-no-fly-zone-issued-over-keystone-oil-spill-site-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>TC Energy has established a no-fly zone over the Kansas site where its <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/09/regulators-order-keystone-pipeline-to-investigate-after-14000-barrels-spill-in-kansas/">Keystone pipeline spilled 14,000 barrels of oil</a> following drone footage of the disaster.The Canadian company said in a statement that it did so for safety reasons. But drone footage of the spill —&nbsp;the largest in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">the pipeline’s history</a>
 —&nbsp;was among the only means of seeing the damage as the site is closed 
to press. Even lawmakers were not allowed there for a briefing.&nbsp;“Clearing the airspace is critical 
for the safety and security of the pilots conducting ongoing monitoring 
as well as the working crew on the ground,” TC Energy said in a 
statement. “Crews are working around the clock on the incident and need 
to be distraction-free.”Earlier this month, the Keystone pipeline spilled near Washington, Kansas, just south of the Nebraska border. So far, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tcenergy.com/incident/milepost-14-incident/">TC Energy says it has isolated the spill</a>
 to keep it from flowing downstream and recovered 7,233 barrels of oil 
—&nbsp;or 13,877 barrels of oil and water. More than 400 personnel have 
responded to the site.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g_47hr6qkY">Drone footage immediately following the spill</a>
 showed the 14,000 barrels —&nbsp;or 588,000 gallons —&nbsp;of oil turned Mill 
Creek black. One former Kansas legislator said oil had sprayed around 80
 yards onto his field next to the site. The oil that landed on nearby 
fields <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-11/watch-drone-footage-reveals-extent-of-keystone-pipeline-oil-spill">looks like a plume of smoke from above</a>.&nbsp;The no-fly zone was issued Dec. 16 and ends Wednesday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.&nbsp;The Keystone pipeline splits into two
 segments in Nebraska, just over the Kansas border. One cuts across 
northeast Kansas, through Missouri and ends in Illinois. The one that 
spilled runs through central Kansas and Oklahoma to refineries in 
Texas.&nbsp;TC Energy last week announced it had 
resumed operations on the unaffected pipeline. The other remains shut 
down under an order from the U.S. Department of Transportation.&nbsp;The spill site near Washington, 
Kansas, is still inaccessible, but on Monday, lawmakers received a 
briefing nearby and viewed a drone tour.&nbsp;Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park,
 said she appreciated that TC Energy had opened a line of communication 
but that “there are still a lot of unanswered questions.” She said it 
was difficult to determine the necessity of the drone no-fly zone, and 
she did have concerns about transparency.&nbsp;“Third-party drones — if they’re not 
going to be allowed to monitor the site, then I think there has to be 
other ways that media or third parties can have greater information or 
access to what’s going on because that’s one of the best ways to hold 
all parties accountable for the best outcome possible,” Vaughn said.&nbsp;Zack Pistora, a lobbyist for the 
Sierra Club in Kansas, expressed mild disbelief that the company 
couldn’t allow legislators to see the site.&nbsp;“I understand that a company doesn’t 
want to show you the horrible side of the nature of their business,” 
Pistora said. “…That wouldn’t be something they would like to show 
government officials that may say, ‘More needs to be done to prevent 
this spill from happening next time.’”&nbsp;TC Energy said its “priority is that the investigation, recovery, repair and remediation continue to advance.”&nbsp;“We appreciate the interest and 
respect the role journalists play in documenting and reporting to the 
public,” the company said. “We are committed to being transparent and to
 providing access to media when it is safe to do so.”<h2>Keystone’s history&nbsp;</h2>This month’s spill is estimated to be
 larger than all of the Keystone pipeline’s previous spills combined. 
But the pipeline’s spills have been growing larger in recent years.&nbsp;In 2020, the Keystone pipeline 
spilled 442 barrels of oil near a delivery facility in Texas because it 
failed to control corrosion. At one point, part of the pipeline in 
Missouri was so corroded that the wall was less than 1/64 of an inch 
thick.&nbsp;At the same time, the pipeline 
company failed to correct deficiencies in its corrosion control for 
years, including 56 deficiencies along the pipeline from Nebraska to 
Illinois and six between Nebraska and Oklahoma.TC Energy has been repeatedly warned 
about its corrosion control and installation practices, and material 
defects have caused the bulk of its 20-plus spills.&nbsp;But despite causing an estimated $111
 million in property damage in its history, Keystone has paid fines of 
just more than $300,000 in the 12 years it has been operating. Another 
fine tied to the Texas spill is pending. The federal government has 
proposed one of more than $500,000.&nbsp;Under a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2022-12/TC%20Oil%20CAO.3-2022-074.pdf">corrective action order</a>
 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, TC Energy must investigate the root 
cause of the spill in northern Kansas and create a plan to resume 
operations before receiving federal permission to restart the pipeline.&nbsp;<h2>Spill and response&nbsp;</h2>Bill Pannbacker, who previously 
served in the Kansas House of Representatives, said he was awakened Dec.
 8 by a phone call informing him of the spill.&nbsp;“That got my adrenaline going probably for 10 hours,” Pannbacker said.&nbsp;Pannbacker estimated the rupture in 
the pipeline occurred about 15 feet from his property line. Oil 
saturated the ground for 30 or 40 yards into his field. Droplets landed 
80 yards from the fracture.&nbsp;“The creek is just pretty much black,” he said in the days after the spill.&nbsp;Fortunately, Pannbacker said, that 
area of pasture was closed off, so the rupture didn’t affect his cattle.
 But he said a neighbor had to move cows that had previously been 
drinking from Mill Creek. He expected cleanup and construction to last 
at least through the holidays.&nbsp;According to Kansas Rep. Lisa Moser, 
14 landowners are either affected directly by the spill or have response
 vehicles and personnel on their property. She said in a Facebook update
 they’re all being paid.&nbsp;Vaughn said she was impressed by the level of coordination between TC Energy and federal, state and local responders.&nbsp;One of her primary concerns was that 
the heavy oil would sink to the bottom of Mill Creek and become far more
 difficult to clean up. She said TC Energy told the group of lawmakers 
it had not sunk below the water’s surface yet.&nbsp;Vaughn said TC Energy gave lawmakers a
 fact sheet saying its “commitment … is that our response and recovery 
efforts will continue until we have fully remediated and restored the 
area.”&nbsp;“Going forward, I think it’s our responsibility to hold them accountable for that,” she said.

Drone no-fly zone issued over Keystone oil spill site in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee met Tuesday to vote on whether to publicly release years of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;tax returns, which the former president has long tried to shield.

Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., has kept a close hold on the actions of the panel, which planned to vote on the release in a closed session that could span several hours. And if lawmakers move forward with plans to release the returns, it's unclear how quickly that would happen.

But after a yearslong battle that ultimately resulted in the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-donald-trump-business-john-roberts-congress-8ea516dace48875ad7c5dd472dd16dcf">clearing the way</a>&nbsp;last month for the Treasury Department to send the returns to Congress, Democrats are under pressure to act aggressively. The committee received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-business-donald-trump-personal-taxes-congress-7cc1a1a0d10de7bdfc1252603f53ab69">six years of tax returns</a>&nbsp;for Trump and some of his businesses. And with just two weeks left until Republicans formally take control of the House, Tuesday's meeting could be the last opportunity for Democrats to disclose whatever information they have gleaned.

Republicans have railed against the potential release, arguing that it would set a dangerous precedent.

Before Tuesday’s meeting, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the committee’s top Republican, called any release of Trump’s tax records a “dangerous new political weapon” that “even Democrats will come to regret.”

“Our concern is not whether the president should have made his tax returns public, as is traditional, nor about the accuracy of his tax returns,” Brady said. “Our concern is that, if taken, this committee action will set a terrible precedent that unleashes a dangerous new political weapon that reaches far beyond the former president and overturns decades of privacy protections for average Americans that have existed since the Watergate reforms.”

Trump has long had a complicated relationship with his personal income taxes.

As a presidential candidate in 2016, he broke decades of precedent by refusing to release his tax forms to the public. He bragged during a presidential debate that year that he was “smart” because he paid no federal taxes and later claimed he wouldn't personally benefit from the 2017 tax cuts he signed into law that favored people with extreme wealth, asking Americans to simply take him at his word.

Tax records would have been a useful metric for judging his success in business. The image of a savvy businessman was key to a political brand honed during his years as a tabloid magnet and star of “The Apprentice” television show. They also could reveal any financial obligations — including foreign debts — that could influence how he governed.

But Americans were largely in the dark about Trump's relationship with the IRS until October 2018 and September 2020, when The New York Times published two separate series based on leaked tax records.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html">2018 articles</a>&nbsp;showed how Trump received a modern equivalent of at least $413 million from his father's real estate holdings, with much of that money coming from what the Times called “tax dodges” in the 1990s. Trump sued the Times and his niece, Mary Trump, in 2021 for providing the records to the newspaper. In November, Mary Trump asked an appeals court to overturn a judge’s decision to reject her claims that her uncle and two of his siblings defrauded her of millions of dollars in a 2001 family settlement.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/27/us/donald-trump-taxes.html">2020 articles</a>&nbsp;showed that Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2017 and 2018. Trump paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the past 15 years because he generally lost more money than he made.

The articles exposed deep inequities in the U.S. tax code as Trump, a reputed multi-billionaire, paid little in federal income taxes. IRS figures indicate that the average tax filer paid roughly $12,200 in 2017, about 16 times more than the former president paid.

Details about Trump's income from foreign operations and debt levels were also contained in the tax filings, which the former president derided as “fake news."

At the time of the 2020 articles, Neal said he saw an ethical problem in Trump overseeing a federal agency that he has also battled with legal filings.

"Now, Donald Trump is the boss of the agency he considers an adversary," Neal said in 2020. “It is essential that the IRS’s presidential audit program remain free of interference.”

The Manhattan district attorney’s office also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-prosecutor-trump-tax-records-87f675d7ae8e24fbf2e8f33c480869d6">obtained copies of Trump’s tax records</a>&nbsp;in February 2021 after a protracted legal fight that included two trips to the Supreme Court.

The office, then led by District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., had subpoenaed Trump’s accounting firm in 2019, seeking access to eight years of Trump’s tax returns and related documents.

The DA’s office issued the subpoena after Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that Trump had misled tax officials, insurers and business associates about the value of his assets. Those allegations are the subject of a fraud lawsuit that New York Attorney General Letitia James filed against Trump and his company in September.

Trump’s longtime accountant, Donald Bender, testified at the Trump Organization’s recent criminal trial that Trump reported losses on his tax returns every year for a decade, including nearly $700 million in 2009 and $200 million in 2010.

Bender, a partner at Mazars USA LLP who spent years preparing Trump’s personal tax returns, said Trump’s reported losses from 2009 to 2018 included net operating losses from some of the many businesses he owns through his Trump Organization.

The Trump Organization was convicted earlier this month on tax fraud charges for helping some executives dodge taxes on company-paid perks such as apartments and luxury cars.

The current Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, told The Associated Press in an interview last week that his office’s investigation into Trump and his businesses continues.

“We’re going to follow the facts and continue to do our job,” Bragg said.

Trump, who refused to release his returns during his 2016 presidential campaign and his four years in the White House while claiming that he was under IRS audit, has argued there is little to be gleaned from the tax returns even as he has fought to keep them private.

“You can’t learn much from tax returns, but it is illegal to release them if they are not yours!” he complained on his social media network last weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671573521427.png" alt="Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, Republican leader of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaks before the House Ways &amp; Means Committee holds a hearing regarding tax returns from former President Donald Trump -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, Republican leader of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaks before the House Ways &amp; Means Committee holds a hearing regarding tax returns from former President Donald Trump -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee met Tuesday to vote on whether to publicly release years of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;tax returns, which the former president has long tried to shield.Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., has kept a close hold on the actions of the panel, which planned to vote on the release in a closed session that could span several hours. And if lawmakers move forward with plans to release the returns, it's unclear how quickly that would happen.But after a yearslong battle that ultimately resulted in the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-donald-trump-business-john-roberts-congress-8ea516dace48875ad7c5dd472dd16dcf">clearing the way</a>&nbsp;last month for the Treasury Department to send the returns to Congress, Democrats are under pressure to act aggressively. The committee received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-business-donald-trump-personal-taxes-congress-7cc1a1a0d10de7bdfc1252603f53ab69">six years of tax returns</a>&nbsp;for Trump and some of his businesses. And with just two weeks left until Republicans formally take control of the House, Tuesday's meeting could be the last opportunity for Democrats to disclose whatever information they have gleaned.Republicans have railed against the potential release, arguing that it would set a dangerous precedent.Before Tuesday’s meeting, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the committee’s top Republican, called any release of Trump’s tax records a “dangerous new political weapon” that “even Democrats will come to regret.”“Our concern is not whether the president should have made his tax returns public, as is traditional, nor about the accuracy of his tax returns,” Brady said. “Our concern is that, if taken, this committee action will set a terrible precedent that unleashes a dangerous new political weapon that reaches far beyond the former president and overturns decades of privacy protections for average Americans that have existed since the Watergate reforms.”Trump has long had a complicated relationship with his personal income taxes.As a presidential candidate in 2016, he broke decades of precedent by refusing to release his tax forms to the public. He bragged during a presidential debate that year that he was “smart” because he paid no federal taxes and later claimed he wouldn't personally benefit from the 2017 tax cuts he signed into law that favored people with extreme wealth, asking Americans to simply take him at his word.Tax records would have been a useful metric for judging his success in business. The image of a savvy businessman was key to a political brand honed during his years as a tabloid magnet and star of “The Apprentice” television show. They also could reveal any financial obligations — including foreign debts — that could influence how he governed.But Americans were largely in the dark about Trump's relationship with the IRS until October 2018 and September 2020, when The New York Times published two separate series based on leaked tax records.The Pulitzer Prize-winning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html">2018 articles</a>&nbsp;showed how Trump received a modern equivalent of at least $413 million from his father's real estate holdings, with much of that money coming from what the Times called “tax dodges” in the 1990s. Trump sued the Times and his niece, Mary Trump, in 2021 for providing the records to the newspaper. In November, Mary Trump asked an appeals court to overturn a judge’s decision to reject her claims that her uncle and two of his siblings defrauded her of millions of dollars in a 2001 family settlement.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/27/us/donald-trump-taxes.html">2020 articles</a>&nbsp;showed that Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2017 and 2018. Trump paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the past 15 years because he generally lost more money than he made.The articles exposed deep inequities in the U.S. tax code as Trump, a reputed multi-billionaire, paid little in federal income taxes. IRS figures indicate that the average tax filer paid roughly $12,200 in 2017, about 16 times more than the former president paid.Details about Trump's income from foreign operations and debt levels were also contained in the tax filings, which the former president derided as “fake news."At the time of the 2020 articles, Neal said he saw an ethical problem in Trump overseeing a federal agency that he has also battled with legal filings."Now, Donald Trump is the boss of the agency he considers an adversary," Neal said in 2020. “It is essential that the IRS’s presidential audit program remain free of interference.”The Manhattan district attorney’s office also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-prosecutor-trump-tax-records-87f675d7ae8e24fbf2e8f33c480869d6">obtained copies of Trump’s tax records</a>&nbsp;in February 2021 after a protracted legal fight that included two trips to the Supreme Court.The office, then led by District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., had subpoenaed Trump’s accounting firm in 2019, seeking access to eight years of Trump’s tax returns and related documents.The DA’s office issued the subpoena after Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that Trump had misled tax officials, insurers and business associates about the value of his assets. Those allegations are the subject of a fraud lawsuit that New York Attorney General Letitia James filed against Trump and his company in September.Trump’s longtime accountant, Donald Bender, testified at the Trump Organization’s recent criminal trial that Trump reported losses on his tax returns every year for a decade, including nearly $700 million in 2009 and $200 million in 2010.Bender, a partner at Mazars USA LLP who spent years preparing Trump’s personal tax returns, said Trump’s reported losses from 2009 to 2018 included net operating losses from some of the many businesses he owns through his Trump Organization.The Trump Organization was convicted earlier this month on tax fraud charges for helping some executives dodge taxes on company-paid perks such as apartments and luxury cars.The current Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, told The Associated Press in an interview last week that his office’s investigation into Trump and his businesses continues.“We’re going to follow the facts and continue to do our job,” Bragg said.Trump, who refused to release his returns during his 2016 presidential campaign and his four years in the White House while claiming that he was under IRS audit, has argued there is little to be gleaned from the tax returns even as he has fought to keep them private.“You can’t learn much from tax returns, but it is illegal to release them if they are not yours!” he complained on his social media network last weekend.

Trump taxes: House panel mulls releasing long-sought returns

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer banking giant Wells Fargo agreed to pay $3.7 billion to settle charges that it harmed customers by charging illegal fees and interest on auto loans and mortgages, as well as incorrectly applying overdraft fees against savings and checking accounts.

Wells was ordered to repay $2 billion to consumers by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which also enacted a $1.7 billion penalty against the San Francisco bank Tuesday. It's the largest fine ever leveled against a bank by the CFPB and the largest yet against Wells, which has spent years trying to rehabilitate its image after a series of scandals tied to its sales practices.

Regulators made it clear, however, that they believe Wells Fargo has further to go on that front.

“Put simply: Wells Fargo is a corporate recidivist that puts one out of three Americans at risk for potential harm,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, in a call with reporters.

The bank's pattern of behavior has made it necessary for regulators to take additional actions against Wells Fargo that go beyond the $3.7 billion in fines and penalties, Chopra said.

The violations impacted more than 16 million customers, the bureau said. In addition to improperly charging auto loan customers with fees and interest, the bank wrongfully repossessed vehicles in some cases. The bank also improperly denied thousands of mortgage loan modifications for homeowners.

Wells Fargo has been sanctioned repeatedly by U.S. regulators for violations of consumer protection laws going back to 2016, when employees were found to have opened millions of accounts illegally in order to meet unrealistic sales goals. Since then, executives have repeatedly said Wells is cleaning up its act, only for the bank to be found in violation of other parts of consumer protection law, including in its auto and mortgage lending businesses.

Wells paid a $1 billion penalty in 2018 for widespread consumer law violations, the largest against a bank for such violations at the time.

The bank had signaled to its investors that it anticipated additional fines and penalties from regulators and aside $2 billion in the third quarter for that reason.

Wells remains under a Federal Reserve order forbidding the bank from growing any larger until the Fed deems that its problems are resolved. That order, originally enacted in 2018, was expected to last only a year or two.

CEO Charles Scharf said in a prepared statement Tuesday that the agreement with the CFPB is part of an effort to "transform operating practices at Wells Fargo and to put these issues behind us.”

While Wells Fargo tried to frame the agreement with the CFPB as a resolution of established bad behavior, CFPB officials said some of the violations cited in Tuesday's order took place this year.

“This should not been seen as Wells Fargo has moved past its problems,” Chopra said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671558859312.png" alt="Wells was ordered to repay $2 billion to consumers by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which also enacted a $1.7 billion penalty against the San Francisco bank Tuesday.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Wells was ordered to repay $2 billion to consumers by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which also enacted a $1.7 billion penalty against the San Francisco bank Tuesday.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer banking giant Wells Fargo agreed to pay $3.7 billion to settle charges that it harmed customers by charging illegal fees and interest on auto loans and mortgages, as well as incorrectly applying overdraft fees against savings and checking accounts.Wells was ordered to repay $2 billion to consumers by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which also enacted a $1.7 billion penalty against the San Francisco bank Tuesday. It's the largest fine ever leveled against a bank by the CFPB and the largest yet against Wells, which has spent years trying to rehabilitate its image after a series of scandals tied to its sales practices.Regulators made it clear, however, that they believe Wells Fargo has further to go on that front.“Put simply: Wells Fargo is a corporate recidivist that puts one out of three Americans at risk for potential harm,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, in a call with reporters.The bank's pattern of behavior has made it necessary for regulators to take additional actions against Wells Fargo that go beyond the $3.7 billion in fines and penalties, Chopra said.The violations impacted more than 16 million customers, the bureau said. In addition to improperly charging auto loan customers with fees and interest, the bank wrongfully repossessed vehicles in some cases. The bank also improperly denied thousands of mortgage loan modifications for homeowners.Wells Fargo has been sanctioned repeatedly by U.S. regulators for violations of consumer protection laws going back to 2016, when employees were found to have opened millions of accounts illegally in order to meet unrealistic sales goals. Since then, executives have repeatedly said Wells is cleaning up its act, only for the bank to be found in violation of other parts of consumer protection law, including in its auto and mortgage lending businesses.Wells paid a $1 billion penalty in 2018 for widespread consumer law violations, the largest against a bank for such violations at the time.The bank had signaled to its investors that it anticipated additional fines and penalties from regulators and aside $2 billion in the third quarter for that reason.Wells remains under a Federal Reserve order forbidding the bank from growing any larger until the Fed deems that its problems are resolved. That order, originally enacted in 2018, was expected to last only a year or two.CEO Charles Scharf said in a prepared statement Tuesday that the agreement with the CFPB is part of an effort to "transform operating practices at Wells Fargo and to put these issues behind us.”While Wells Fargo tried to frame the agreement with the CFPB as a resolution of established bad behavior, CFPB officials said some of the violations cited in Tuesday's order took place this year.“This should not been seen as Wells Fargo has moved past its problems,” Chopra said.

Wells Fargo to pay $3.7B over consumer law violations

News Release Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, is issuing a national public safety alert regarding an explosion in incidents of children and teens being coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for money—a crime known as financial sextortion.

Over the past year, law enforcement has received over 7,000 reports related to the online financial sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys, and more than a dozen suicides. A large percentage of these sextortion schemes originate outside of the United States, and primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast. As many children enter winter break this holiday season, the FBI and our partners implore parents and caregivers to engage with their kids about financial sextortion schemes so we can prevent them in the first place. &nbsp;

“The FBI has seen a horrific increase in reports of financial sextortion schemes targeting minor boys—and the fact is that the many victims who are afraid to come forward are not even included in those numbers,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is here for victims, but we also need parents and caregivers to work with us to prevent this crime before it happens and help children come forward if it does. Victims may feel like there is no way out—it is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone.”

“The protection of children is a society’s most sacred duty,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It calls on each of us to do everything we can to keep kids from harm, including ensuring the threats they face are brought into the light and confronted. Armed with the information in this alert message, parents, caregivers, and children themselves should feel empowered to detect fake identities, take steps to reject any attempt to obtain private material, and if targeted, have a plan to seek help from a trusted adult.”

Financial sextortion schemes occur in online environments where young people feel most comfortable—using common social media sites, gaming sites, or video chat applications that feel familiar and safe. &nbsp;On these platforms, online predators often use fake female accounts and target minor males, between 14 to 17 years old but the FBI has interviewed victims as young as 10 years old.

“The sexual exploitation of children is a deplorable crime. HSI special agents will continue to exhaust every resource to identify, locate, and apprehend predators to ensure they face justice,” said Steve K. Francis, HSI Acting Executive Associate Director. “Criminals who lurk in platforms on the internet are not as anonymous as they think. HSI will continue to leverage cutting-edge technology to end these heinous acts.”

Through deception, predators convince the young person to produce an explicit video or photo. Once predators acquire the images, they threaten to release the compromising material unless the victim sends money or gift cards. Often the predators demand payment through a variety of peer-to-peer payment applications. In many cases, however, predators release the images even if payments are made. The shame, fear, and confusion that victims feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse.

“This is a growing crisis and we've seen sextortion completely devastate children and families,” said Michelle DeLaune, CEO of the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children. “As the leading nonprofit focused on child protection, we've seen first-hand the rise in these cases worldwide. The best defense against this crime is to talk to your children about what to do if they're targeted online. We want everyone to know help is out there and they're not alone.”

If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkzMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mYmkuZ292L2NvbnRhY3QtdXMvZmllbGQtb2ZmaWNlcz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.LFWH-Z61L4HwQQE5TG5mcWC_vf4wSSlptxtNXDizJT4/s/2584564785/br/150841004197-l" target="_blank">local FBI field office</a>, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkzMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RpcHMuZmJpLmdvdi8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.45OBw_-9JL_9RgSfBA-D9JAbOHKOl_Khfg-rDFMN3Uw/s/2584564785/br/150841004197-l" target="_blank">tips.fbi.gov</a>.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including:

Take a moment to learn how sextortion works and how to talk to your children about it. Information, resources, and conversation guides are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://fbi.gov/StopSextortion" target="_blank">fbi.gov/StopSextortion</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671550884464.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Federal Bureau of InvestigationThe FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, is issuing a national public safety alert regarding an explosion in incidents of children and teens being coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for money—a crime known as financial sextortion.Over the past year, law enforcement has received over 7,000 reports related to the online financial sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys, and more than a dozen suicides. A large percentage of these sextortion schemes originate outside of the United States, and primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast. As many children enter winter break this holiday season, the FBI and our partners implore parents and caregivers to engage with their kids about financial sextortion schemes so we can prevent them in the first place. &nbsp;“The FBI has seen a horrific increase in reports of financial sextortion schemes targeting minor boys—and the fact is that the many victims who are afraid to come forward are not even included in those numbers,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is here for victims, but we also need parents and caregivers to work with us to prevent this crime before it happens and help children come forward if it does. Victims may feel like there is no way out—it is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone.”“The protection of children is a society’s most sacred duty,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It calls on each of us to do everything we can to keep kids from harm, including ensuring the threats they face are brought into the light and confronted. Armed with the information in this alert message, parents, caregivers, and children themselves should feel empowered to detect fake identities, take steps to reject any attempt to obtain private material, and if targeted, have a plan to seek help from a trusted adult.”Financial sextortion schemes occur in online environments where young people feel most comfortable—using common social media sites, gaming sites, or video chat applications that feel familiar and safe. &nbsp;On these platforms, online predators often use fake female accounts and target minor males, between 14 to 17 years old but the FBI has interviewed victims as young as 10 years old.“The sexual exploitation of children is a deplorable crime. HSI special agents will continue to exhaust every resource to identify, locate, and apprehend predators to ensure they face justice,” said Steve K. Francis, HSI Acting Executive Associate Director. “Criminals who lurk in platforms on the internet are not as anonymous as they think. HSI will continue to leverage cutting-edge technology to end these heinous acts.”Through deception, predators convince the young person to produce an explicit video or photo. Once predators acquire the images, they threaten to release the compromising material unless the victim sends money or gift cards. Often the predators demand payment through a variety of peer-to-peer payment applications. In many cases, however, predators release the images even if payments are made. The shame, fear, and confusion that victims feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse.“This is a growing crisis and we've seen sextortion completely devastate children and families,” said Michelle DeLaune, CEO of the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children. “As the leading nonprofit focused on child protection, we've seen first-hand the rise in these cases worldwide. The best defense against this crime is to talk to your children about what to do if they're targeted online. We want everyone to know help is out there and they're not alone.”What if you or your child is a victim?If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkzMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mYmkuZ292L2NvbnRhY3QtdXMvZmllbGQtb2ZmaWNlcz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.LFWH-Z61L4HwQQE5TG5mcWC_vf4wSSlptxtNXDizJT4/s/2584564785/br/150841004197-l" target="_blank">local FBI field office</a>, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkzMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RpcHMuZmJpLmdvdi8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.45OBw_-9JL_9RgSfBA-D9JAbOHKOl_Khfg-rDFMN3Uw/s/2584564785/br/150841004197-l" target="_blank">tips.fbi.gov</a>.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including:<ul>
 <li>Remember, the predator is to blame, not your child or you.</li><li>Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail and continued harassment.</li><li>REPORT the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.</li><li>BLOCK the predator and DO NOT DELETE the profile or messages&nbsp;because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them.</li><li>Let NCMEC help get explicit images of you off the internet.</li><li>Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkzMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5taXNzaW5na2lkcy5vcmcvZ2V0aGVscG5vdy9pc3lvdXJleHBsaWNpdGNvbnRlbnRvdXR0aGVyZT91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.7t5aekhG43GhFabWoicCyOOxfSFJfNF1lHDkhLv-TZ8/s/2584564785/br/150841004197-l" target="_blank">org/IsYourExplicitContentOutThere</a>&nbsp;to learn how to notify companies yourself or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkzMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5taXNzaW5na2lkcy5vcmcvZ2V0aGVscG5vdy9jeWJlcnRpcGxpbmU_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.ySMlo3kVilTpJnJ7sL6Bonvxyq1KGIh0_amlr7OE7uc/s/2584564785/br/150841004197-l" target="_blank">cybertipline.org</a>&nbsp;to report to us for help with the process.</li><li>Ask for help. This can be a very complex problem and may require help from adults or law enforcement.</li><li>If you don’t feel that you have adults in your corner, you can reach out to NCMEC for support at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:gethelp@ncmec.org" target="_blank">gethelp@ncmec.org</a>&nbsp;or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.</li>
 </ul>Take a moment to learn how sextortion works and how to talk to your children about it. Information, resources, and conversation guides are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://fbi.gov/StopSextortion" target="_blank">fbi.gov/StopSextortion</a>.

FBI: Over 3,000 minors targeted for sextortion in 2022

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/12/20/judge-rules-for-nebraska-gop-says-palmtag-failed-to-prove-actual-malice-from-ads/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA
 — The two-year legal fight is not yet over between the loser of a 2020 
GOP-on-GOP legislative race and the Nebraska Republican Party that 
accused her in ads of wrongdoing.&nbsp;

Nebraska City business owner Janet 
Palmtag lost her defamation lawsuit against the state GOP, a Lancaster 
County District Court judge ruled Friday in a summary judgment.

District Judge Andrew Jacobsen ruled 
that Palmtag’s legal team failed to clear the higher bar for public 
figures alleging defamation, saying they didn’t prove the GOP acted with
 “actual malice.”

Her lawyer, David Domina, said Monday
 that he plans to appeal the judgment to the Nebraska Supreme Court. He 
said he sees several potential positives in the ruling for Palmtag.

“It found she did not violate the 
law,” Domina said of Palmtag. “She did not lose her license. The 
question is whether there was actual malice. Our argument is that 
belongs to the jury.”

Part of Jacobsen’s ruling found that a
 reasonable person could read the GOP ads inaccurately and think that 
Palmtag had gotten in legal trouble herself and lost her real estate 
license.

The GOP sent ads to southeast 
Nebraska’s Legislative District 1 saying Palmtag, a licensed real estate
 agent in Nebraska and formerly Iowa, “broke the law” and “lost her real
 estate license.”

She had not. The truth is more complicated.

Someone working for Palmtag’s real 
estate firm, J.J. Palmtag Inc., had gotten in trouble in Iowa, documents
 show, and she as the corporate officer had to sign off on an order 
issuing a fine.

The person who got in trouble, whom 
Palmtag supervised, had transferred money to an escrow account too soon,
 without written consent from both parties, Palmtag testified.

Former state GOP Executive Director 
Ryan Hamilton, with outside help, got hold of documents about the 
discipline against the firm from the Iowa Real Estate Commission.

He testified that he didn’t see a 
difference between the real estate firm being disciplined and Palmtag 
because she had signed the order as the company’s officer and broker.

Palmtag testified that she had given 
up her real estate license in Iowa, but not in Nebraska, and not for 
disciplinary reasons. She said she did so because she was doing less 
business in Iowa.

The judge appeared to side with her 
about the facts in the ads, saying an Iowa website referenced says she 
had received “no discipline or board actions.”&nbsp;

But he did not see enough to prove 
malice from the state GOP. The judgment references former state GOP 
chairman Dan Welch signing off on ads, “as long as this is accurate.”&nbsp;

Palmtag, a long-time state GOP 
volunteer, had the support of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and former 
Gov. Dave Heineman. She lost the race to State Sen. Julie Slama of 
Dunbar.

Slama had recently been appointed to 
the seat by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, who controlled much of the 
state party apparatus at the time and gave her candidacy $20,000 on his 
own.

The state GOP, for which Ricketts was
 the top donor, donated another $113,000 to Slama and spent nearly 
$50,000 on ads and materials opposing Palmtag.

Disagreements about the state GOP 
taking sides in that all-GOP race lingered. Some mentioned it as 
motivating their support for the party populists who took over the state
 GOP this summer.

The new-look GOP had no immediate comment on the judgment.

Slama, reached Monday, said she was 
“glad to see justice prevail.” She criticized Palmtag for dragging the 
state GOP into a “wasteful, years-long lawsuit.”

“I hope this ruling brings closure to all involved,” Slama said.

Palmtag referred a message seeking 
comment to her lawyer. Since her race, she has reregistered as a 
Democrat, voting records show.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671548675809.png" alt="The headquarters of the Nebraska Republican Party is shown. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The headquarters of the Nebraska Republican Party is shown. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/12/20/judge-rules-for-nebraska-gop-says-palmtag-failed-to-prove-actual-malice-from-ads/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA
 — The two-year legal fight is not yet over between the loser of a 2020 
GOP-on-GOP legislative race and the Nebraska Republican Party that 
accused her in ads of wrongdoing.&nbsp;Nebraska City business owner Janet 
Palmtag lost her defamation lawsuit against the state GOP, a Lancaster 
County District Court judge ruled Friday in a summary judgment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671548748188.png" alt="Janet Palmtag of Nebraska City (Courtesy of Palmtag For Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>Janet Palmtag of Nebraska City (Courtesy of Palmtag For Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>District Judge Andrew Jacobsen ruled 
that Palmtag’s legal team failed to clear the higher bar for public 
figures alleging defamation, saying they didn’t prove the GOP acted with
 “actual malice.”Her lawyer, David Domina, said Monday
 that he plans to appeal the judgment to the Nebraska Supreme Court. He 
said he sees several potential positives in the ruling for Palmtag.“It found she did not violate the 
law,” Domina said of Palmtag. “She did not lose her license. The 
question is whether there was actual malice. Our argument is that 
belongs to the jury.”Part of Jacobsen’s ruling found that a
 reasonable person could read the GOP ads inaccurately and think that 
Palmtag had gotten in legal trouble herself and lost her real estate 
license.<h2>Truth vs. truthiness</h2>The GOP sent ads to southeast 
Nebraska’s Legislative District 1 saying Palmtag, a licensed real estate
 agent in Nebraska and formerly Iowa, “broke the law” and “lost her real
 estate license.”She had not. The truth is more complicated.Someone working for Palmtag’s real 
estate firm, J.J. Palmtag Inc., had gotten in trouble in Iowa, documents
 show, and she as the corporate officer had to sign off on an order 
issuing a fine.The person who got in trouble, whom 
Palmtag supervised, had transferred money to an escrow account too soon,
 without written consent from both parties, Palmtag testified.Former state GOP Executive Director 
Ryan Hamilton, with outside help, got hold of documents about the 
discipline against the firm from the Iowa Real Estate Commission.He testified that he didn’t see a 
difference between the real estate firm being disciplined and Palmtag 
because she had signed the order as the company’s officer and broker.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663702099630.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Julie Slama (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Julie Slama (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Palmtag testified that she had given 
up her real estate license in Iowa, but not in Nebraska, and not for 
disciplinary reasons. She said she did so because she was doing less 
business in Iowa.The judge appeared to side with her 
about the facts in the ads, saying an Iowa website referenced says she 
had received “no discipline or board actions.”&nbsp;But he did not see enough to prove 
malice from the state GOP. The judgment references former state GOP 
chairman Dan Welch signing off on ads, “as long as this is accurate.”&nbsp;<h2>Race split GOP</h2>Palmtag, a long-time state GOP 
volunteer, had the support of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and former 
Gov. Dave Heineman. She lost the race to State Sen. Julie Slama of 
Dunbar.Slama had recently been appointed to 
the seat by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, who controlled much of the 
state party apparatus at the time and gave her candidacy $20,000 on his 
own.The state GOP, for which Ricketts was
 the top donor, donated another $113,000 to Slama and spent nearly 
$50,000 on ads and materials opposing Palmtag.Disagreements about the state GOP 
taking sides in that all-GOP race lingered. Some mentioned it as 
motivating their support for the party populists who took over the state
 GOP this summer.The new-look GOP had no immediate comment on the judgment.Slama, reached Monday, said she was 
“glad to see justice prevail.” She criticized Palmtag for dragging the 
state GOP into a “wasteful, years-long lawsuit.”“I hope this ruling brings closure to all involved,” Slama said.Palmtag referred a message seeking 
comment to her lawyer. Since her race, she has reregistered as a 
Democrat, voting records show.

Judge: Candidate failed to prove ‘actual malice’ from Neb. GOP ads

KANSAS CITY —Caring for sick children has become extra stressful recently for many U.S. parents due to shortages of Children’s Tylenol and other medicines.

Doctors and other experts say the problem could persist through the winter cold-and-flu season but should not last as long as other recent shortages of baby formula or prescription drugs.

They also say parents have alternatives if they encounter empty store shelves.

An unusually fast start to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-pandemics-covid-flu-7c784678637e51d4a8508f5dde70cded">annual U.S. flu season</a>, plus a spike in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">other respiratory illnesses</a>, created a surge in demand for fever relievers and other products people can buy without a prescription.

“There are more sick kids at this time of year than we have seen in the past couple years,” said Dr. Shannon Dillon, a pediatrician at Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis.

Experts say that’s the main factor behind the shortages, which vary around the country and even within communities.

“At this point, it’s more like toilet paper at the beginning of the (COVID-19) pandemic,” Dillon said “You just have to look in the right place at the right time.”

Drugmaker Johnson &amp; Johnson says it is not experiencing widespread shortages of Children’s Tylenol, but the product may be “less readily available” at some stores. The company said it is running its production lines around the clock.

In the meantime, CVS Health has placed a two-product limit on all children’s pain relief products bought through its pharmacies or online.

Walgreens is limiting customers online to six purchases of children’s over-the-counter fever reducing products. That limit doesn’t apply in stores.

Aside from over-the-counter products, the prescription antibiotic amoxicillin also is in short supply due to increased demand, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The drug is often used to treat nose and throat infections in children.

Check first for alternatives in the store if some products aren’t available. Generic versions of brand-name products are “perfectly safe and often a much more affordable option,” Dillon said.

Other stores nearby also may have better options. Manufacturers say there are no widespread national shortages of these medications, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

A family doctor may know which stores have decent supplies.

A doctor also may be able to tell parents whether they can try alternatives like crushing the proper dose of a pill version and mixing it with food or chocolate syrup. Doctors say parents or caregivers should not try this on their own, because determining proper doses for children can be tricky.

“You don’t need to experiment at home,” said Dr. Sarah Nosal, a South Bronx family physician. “Your family doctor wants to talk to you and see you.”

Doctors also caution that fevers don’t always have to be treated. They are a body’s natural defense against infection, and they make it hard for a virus to replicate.

Dillon noted, for instance, that a fever may not be intrinsically harmful to older children. However, parents should take a newborn under 2 months old to the doctor if the child has a fever of 100.4 degrees or more. And doctors say any child with a fever should be monitored for behavior changes.

Instead of medicine, consider giving the child a bath in lukewarm water. Cold water makes the body shiver, which can actually raise the temperature.

Put fans in the child’s room or set up a cool mist humidifier to help their lungs.

Nosal also said two teaspoons of honey can help control coughs in children older than a year. Avoid using honey for young children because it carries a risk of infant botulism.

Shortages might last in some communities until early next year.

Resolving them can depend on whether there are enough workers at warehouses and stores to deliver the product and stock the shelves, noted Erin Fox. She researches drug shortages and is the senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, which runs five hospitals.

Fox said there are no problems at factories or a lack of ingredients contributing to current shortages. Those obstacles can lead to long supply disruptions.

“I don’t expect this to last a year or more like some of our other shortages do,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671488759640.jpeg" alt="A sign is placed near the section for children's medicine, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 at a CVS in Greenlawn, N.Y. Caring for a sick child has become even more stressful than usual for many U.S. parents in recent weeks due to shortages of Children’s Tylenol and other medicines. (AP Photo/Leon Keith)" />
 <figcaption>A sign is placed near the section for children's medicine, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 at a CVS in Greenlawn, N.Y. Caring for a sick child has become even more stressful than usual for many U.S. parents in recent weeks due to shortages of Children’s Tylenol and other medicines. (AP Photo/Leon Keith)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM MURPHYKANSAS CITY —Caring for sick children has become extra stressful recently for many U.S. parents due to shortages of Children’s Tylenol and other medicines.Doctors and other experts say the problem could persist through the winter cold-and-flu season but should not last as long as other recent shortages of baby formula or prescription drugs.They also say parents have alternatives if they encounter empty store shelves.Here’s a closer look:WHAT’S HAPPENINGAn unusually fast start to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-pandemics-covid-flu-7c784678637e51d4a8508f5dde70cded">annual U.S. flu season</a>, plus a spike in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">other respiratory illnesses</a>, created a surge in demand for fever relievers and other products people can buy without a prescription.“There are more sick kids at this time of year than we have seen in the past couple years,” said Dr. Shannon Dillon, a pediatrician at Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis.Experts say that’s the main factor behind the shortages, which vary around the country and even within communities.“At this point, it’s more like toilet paper at the beginning of the (COVID-19) pandemic,” Dillon said “You just have to look in the right place at the right time.”Drugmaker Johnson &amp; Johnson says it is not experiencing widespread shortages of Children’s Tylenol, but the product may be “less readily available” at some stores. The company said it is running its production lines around the clock.In the meantime, CVS Health has placed a two-product limit on all children’s pain relief products bought through its pharmacies or online.Walgreens is limiting customers online to six purchases of children’s over-the-counter fever reducing products. That limit doesn’t apply in stores.Aside from over-the-counter products, the prescription antibiotic amoxicillin also is in short supply due to increased demand, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The drug is often used to treat nose and throat infections in children.WHAT TO DOCheck first for alternatives in the store if some products aren’t available. Generic versions of brand-name products are “perfectly safe and often a much more affordable option,” Dillon said.Other stores nearby also may have better options. Manufacturers say there are no widespread national shortages of these medications, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.A family doctor may know which stores have decent supplies.A doctor also may be able to tell parents whether they can try alternatives like crushing the proper dose of a pill version and mixing it with food or chocolate syrup. Doctors say parents or caregivers should not try this on their own, because determining proper doses for children can be tricky.“You don’t need to experiment at home,” said Dr. Sarah Nosal, a South Bronx family physician. “Your family doctor wants to talk to you and see you.”GOING WITHOUTDoctors also caution that fevers don’t always have to be treated. They are a body’s natural defense against infection, and they make it hard for a virus to replicate.Dillon noted, for instance, that a fever may not be intrinsically harmful to older children. However, parents should take a newborn under 2 months old to the doctor if the child has a fever of 100.4 degrees or more. And doctors say any child with a fever should be monitored for behavior changes.Instead of medicine, consider giving the child a bath in lukewarm water. Cold water makes the body shiver, which can actually raise the temperature.Put fans in the child’s room or set up a cool mist humidifier to help their lungs.Nosal also said two teaspoons of honey can help control coughs in children older than a year. Avoid using honey for young children because it carries a risk of infant botulism.WHEN WILL SUPPLIES GET BETTER?Shortages might last in some communities until early next year.Resolving them can depend on whether there are enough workers at warehouses and stores to deliver the product and stock the shelves, noted Erin Fox. She researches drug shortages and is the senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, which runs five hospitals.Fox said there are no problems at factories or a lack of ingredients contributing to current shortages. Those obstacles can lead to long supply disruptions.“I don’t expect this to last a year or more like some of our other shortages do,” she said.___

Children's medicine shortage; pharmacy chains restricting purchases

NEW YORK (AP) — The Republican Party quickly and forcefully rallied behind Donald Trump in the hours after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-9e8d683afe87389407950af7ccfdbdd6">federal agents seized classified documents</a>&nbsp;from his Florida estate this summer.

Four months later, that sense of intensity and urgency was missing — at least for now — after the Jan. 6 House committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/january-6-final-hearing-investigation-wraps-0bceb95826c1c836023d2810ccbeccca?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">voted to recommend</a>&nbsp;the Justice Department bring criminal charges against him. Leading Republicans largely avoided the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-donald-trump-1b38ff48d28c08edd005454836efed44">criminal referral</a>&nbsp;Monday, while others pressed to weigh in offered muted defenses — or none at all.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Trump critic who suggested the former president likely benefited — politically, at least — from the FBI’s summertime search of his Florida home, said Trump was at least partly responsible for the deadly attack on the Capitol.

“No man is above the law,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-hogan-maryland-ap-interview-aedd3c96fc4c8cfde31cef65dada580f">Hogan told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;shortly before the committee’s vote.

The divergent responses are a sign of how quickly the political landscape has shifted for Trump as he faces a new legal threat and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">mounts a third bid for the presidency</a>. It’s a marked change for a party that has been defined, above all, by its unconditional loyalty to Trump under any and all circumstances for the last six years.

Monday’s hearing of the Jan. 6 House committee, comprised of seven Democrats and two Republican Trump critics, likely marks Congress’ final attempt to hold the former president accountable for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;by hundreds of his loyalists as elected officials worked to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. The criminal referral, which is nonbinding, is the culmination of a yearlong investigation that included more than 1,000 witnesses, 10 televised public hearing and over 1 million documents.

The committee, which Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy boycotted and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-government-and-politics-capitol-siege-93956045f7ab96c331a1ad515e3eca19">dismissed as a “sham process,”</a>&nbsp;will formally disband on Jan. 3 as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede">Republicans take over the House majority</a>.

Ever defiant, Trump predicted the criminal referral would ultimately help him.

“These folks don’t get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me. What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” Trump said in a statement posted on his social network, condemning the criminal referral as “a partisan attempt to sideline me and the Republican Party.”

This week’s vote comes just one month after Trump formally launched his 2024 White House campaign. He had hoped that his status as an announced candidate might give him new leverage in his many legal entanglements while warding off potential Republican primary challengers.

Such hopes have yet to materialize. Early polls suggest the 76-year-old former president is no lock to win the 2024 nomination as emboldened Republican rivals prepare to line up to run against him.

Already weakened, Trump is also bracing for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-donald-trump-richard-neal-c697c4e300948a9e2638d0d9fbbe2f96">potential release of his tax returns</a>, which he has worked for years to keep out of the public eye. The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday was scheduled to consider the release of six years of Trump’s taxes, as well as those related to his businesses, although it wasn’t immediately clear when any documents might be available to the public.

Trump’s greatest liability heading into the next presidential election may have little to do with his legal challenges, however. Republicans are increasingly worried about his ability to win.

The GOP’s concerns about Trump’s electability intensified after the November midterm elections, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-00c770068d8b82f165a9f4871eee983b">Trump’s hand-picked candidates in several high-profile contests</a>&nbsp;were defeated. The setbacks followed deeper Republican losses in the two previous national elections under Trump’s leadership.

Indeed, the initial weeks of Trump’s third presidential campaign are going so poorly that some Trump allies are privately wondering whether he’s serious about his 2024 ambitions at all.

Trump faced Republican demands to apologize for his decision last month to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kanye-west-entertainment-donald-trump-21ea30fc30a9a97074581015b25e18bf">share a private meal with noted white supremacist Nick Fuentes</a>. Days later, Trump called for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-donald-trump-8e6e2f0a092135428c82c0cfa6598444">“termination” of parts of the Constitution</a>&nbsp;over his lie that the 2020 election was stolen. And days after that, his hand-picked candidate in Georgia’s high-stakes Senate race, former football star Herschel Walker,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-walker-warnock-runoff-3d4e4d1ab1760792454e1cbd618ce332">lost his runoff election</a>.

Trump has not held a single campaign event.

At the same time, Trump’s legal challenges are mounting.

Attorney General Merrick Garland last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-merrick-garland-government-and-550c01de053c08db4d53ca57f315feb6">appointed a special counsel</a>&nbsp;to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents at Trump’s Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election. The Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-georgia-atlanta-f8222a15b5af7a789a77e8cee372c7b4">separately investigatin</a>&nbsp;g attempts to overturn that state’s 2020 election results.

It’s impossible to predict how much longer the investigations will last or whether the DOJ will take the unprecedented step of indicting a former president and current candidate. But Trump is no longer shielded from prosecution the way he was as president.

And his party is becoming less willing to stand behind him.

The Republican National Committee announced it would stop paying some of Trump’s legal bills after he launched his 2024 presidential campaign.

<figure>
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 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The Republican Party quickly and forcefully rallied behind Donald Trump in the hours after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-9e8d683afe87389407950af7ccfdbdd6">federal agents seized classified documents</a>&nbsp;from his Florida estate this summer.Four months later, that sense of intensity and urgency was missing — at least for now — after the Jan. 6 House committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/january-6-final-hearing-investigation-wraps-0bceb95826c1c836023d2810ccbeccca?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">voted to recommend</a>&nbsp;the Justice Department bring criminal charges against him. Leading Republicans largely avoided the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-donald-trump-1b38ff48d28c08edd005454836efed44">criminal referral</a>&nbsp;Monday, while others pressed to weigh in offered muted defenses — or none at all.<figure>
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 </figure>Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Trump critic who suggested the former president likely benefited — politically, at least — from the FBI’s summertime search of his Florida home, said Trump was at least partly responsible for the deadly attack on the Capitol.“No man is above the law,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-hogan-maryland-ap-interview-aedd3c96fc4c8cfde31cef65dada580f">Hogan told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;shortly before the committee’s vote.The divergent responses are a sign of how quickly the political landscape has shifted for Trump as he faces a new legal threat and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">mounts a third bid for the presidency</a>. It’s a marked change for a party that has been defined, above all, by its unconditional loyalty to Trump under any and all circumstances for the last six years.<figure>
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 </figure>Monday’s hearing of the Jan. 6 House committee, comprised of seven Democrats and two Republican Trump critics, likely marks Congress’ final attempt to hold the former president accountable for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;by hundreds of his loyalists as elected officials worked to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. The criminal referral, which is nonbinding, is the culmination of a yearlong investigation that included more than 1,000 witnesses, 10 televised public hearing and over 1 million documents.The committee, which Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy boycotted and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-government-and-politics-capitol-siege-93956045f7ab96c331a1ad515e3eca19">dismissed as a “sham process,”</a>&nbsp;will formally disband on Jan. 3 as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede">Republicans take over the House majority</a>.Ever defiant, Trump predicted the criminal referral would ultimately help him.“These folks don’t get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me. What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” Trump said in a statement posted on his social network, condemning the criminal referral as “a partisan attempt to sideline me and the Republican Party.”This week’s vote comes just one month after Trump formally launched his 2024 White House campaign. He had hoped that his status as an announced candidate might give him new leverage in his many legal entanglements while warding off potential Republican primary challengers.Such hopes have yet to materialize. Early polls suggest the 76-year-old former president is no lock to win the 2024 nomination as emboldened Republican rivals prepare to line up to run against him.Already weakened, Trump is also bracing for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-donald-trump-richard-neal-c697c4e300948a9e2638d0d9fbbe2f96">potential release of his tax returns</a>, which he has worked for years to keep out of the public eye. The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday was scheduled to consider the release of six years of Trump’s taxes, as well as those related to his businesses, although it wasn’t immediately clear when any documents might be available to the public.Trump’s greatest liability heading into the next presidential election may have little to do with his legal challenges, however. Republicans are increasingly worried about his ability to win.The GOP’s concerns about Trump’s electability intensified after the November midterm elections, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-00c770068d8b82f165a9f4871eee983b">Trump’s hand-picked candidates in several high-profile contests</a>&nbsp;were defeated. The setbacks followed deeper Republican losses in the two previous national elections under Trump’s leadership.Indeed, the initial weeks of Trump’s third presidential campaign are going so poorly that some Trump allies are privately wondering whether he’s serious about his 2024 ambitions at all.Trump faced Republican demands to apologize for his decision last month to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kanye-west-entertainment-donald-trump-21ea30fc30a9a97074581015b25e18bf">share a private meal with noted white supremacist Nick Fuentes</a>. Days later, Trump called for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-donald-trump-8e6e2f0a092135428c82c0cfa6598444">“termination” of parts of the Constitution</a>&nbsp;over his lie that the 2020 election was stolen. And days after that, his hand-picked candidate in Georgia’s high-stakes Senate race, former football star Herschel Walker,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-walker-warnock-runoff-3d4e4d1ab1760792454e1cbd618ce332">lost his runoff election</a>.Trump has not held a single campaign event.At the same time, Trump’s legal challenges are mounting.Attorney General Merrick Garland last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-merrick-garland-government-and-550c01de053c08db4d53ca57f315feb6">appointed a special counsel</a>&nbsp;to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents at Trump’s Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election. The Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-georgia-atlanta-f8222a15b5af7a789a77e8cee372c7b4">separately investigatin</a>&nbsp;g attempts to overturn that state’s 2020 election results.It’s impossible to predict how much longer the investigations will last or whether the DOJ will take the unprecedented step of indicting a former president and current candidate. But Trump is no longer shielded from prosecution the way he was as president.And his party is becoming less willing to stand behind him.The Republican National Committee announced it would stop paying some of Trump’s legal bills after he launched his 2024 presidential campaign.Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell called for “an immediate and thorough explanation” after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump’s estate in August. On Monday, he told reporters he had only one “immediate observation” about the criminal referral: “The entire nation knows who is responsible for that day.”Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., called for Garland’s resignation over the summer, but on Monday, he was silent on the committee’s referral, focusing instead on alleged FBI missteps.Former Vice President Mike Pence, a 2024 presidential prospect himself who aggressively condemned the FBI after it seized classified documents from Trump’s estate, offered somewhat muted criticism of the Jan. 6 committee when given the chance.“As I wrote in my book, the president’s actions and words on Jan. 6 were reckless. But I don’t know that it’s criminal to take bad advice from lawyers,” Pence told Fox News. He added, “When it comes to the Justice Department’s decision about bringing charges in the future, I would hope that they would not bring charges against the former president.”Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who is also considering a 2024 White House campaign, acknowledged Trump’s role in Jan. 6 but said the criminal referral “isn’t helpful” to the DOJ’s investigation.“The record is clear that former Pres. Trump is responsible for what happened on January 6, but accountability is most likely to come from the American people who are ready for our country to move beyond the events of January 6,” he tweeted.So far, only a handful of members of Congress have endorsed Trump’s 2024 bid.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elise-stefanik-a6db4f53af168be7f8483f29495eaba1">One of them</a>, No. 3 House Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, called the Democratic-led committee “unconstitutional and illegitimate.” She said Trump was well positioned heading into the 2024 presidential contest.“As of today — he announced a few weeks ago at this point — the only candidate is Donald Trump, and he is winning significantly against the field,” Stefanik told The Associated Press on Monday. “So, we’ll see what happens. But I think he’s in a very strong position.”___