<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOSH%20FUNK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer</a>

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Wisconsin company that cleans hundreds of meatpacking plants nationwide is defending itself against allegations that it employed more than two dozen minors working overnight shifts cleaning massive saws, grinding machines and other dangerous processing equipment at three slaughterhouses.

Labor Department officials said in court documents that they believe Packers Sanitation Services Inc. might be employing underage workers at other plants but investigators have only just starting reviewing thousands of pages of employee records at plants besides the ones in Nebraska and Minnesota where they confirmed teenagers were working through the middle of the night sanitizing slaughterhouses before heading back to high school in the morning.

A federal judge in Lincoln, Nebraska, already issued a temporary order prohibiting the company from employing minors and interfering in the Labor Department's investigation. The company will argue at a court hearing next month that there's no reason for a judge to make that order permanent because PSSI officials say they are cooperating with the investigation and they already prohibit hiring anyone younger than 18.

On Monday, a judge ordered the government to give the company a few more details about its investigation ahead of next month's hearing. The company says it employs some 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations nationwide, making it one of the largest firms out there that cleans food processing plants.

PSSI Vice President of Marketing Gina Swenson said the company “has an absolute company-wide prohibition against the employment of anyone under the age of 18 and zero tolerance for any violation of that policy — period.”

Swenson also said corporate officials have been cooperating with the investigation. But according to court documents, the Labor Department says local managers “attempted to obstruct employee interviews” at JBS plants in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota, as well as at a Turkey Valley Farms plant in Marshall, Minnesota. Investigators said they also saw managers deleting WhatsApp messages and computer files.

In one instance, investigators said they found text messages a manager at the Worthington plant sent to prospective employees who were discussing using false identification documents to secure a job with PSSI.

Investigators say they have been able to confirm that at least 31 children as young as 13 have been working for PSSI by talking to them and comparing timeclock photos and employment data with pictures and information in local school records.

Officials at JBS and Turkey Valley Farms say they are monitoring the situation with PSSI and will consider taking action against the company based on the outcome of the investigation.

“We take seriously the allegations against PSSI, which, if true, represent a clear violation of our ethical policies,” Michael Koenig, JBS's chief ethics and compliance officer, said in a statement. He said JBS is taking steps to verify the status of all the sanitation workers at its plants and the company won't tolerate child labor.

In addition to the Nebraska and Minnesota plants, investigators also seized records from a Tyson Foods plant in Sedalia, Missouri, but they didn't identify any workers from there as minors in the court documents.

Tyson spokesman Derek Burleson said the company is aware of the allegations against PSSI and is cooperating with investigators. Burleson said Tyson expects its suppliers to follow the same labor laws it does to make sure minors aren't being hired, and it is working with them to ensure that is the case.

The underage workers that investigators confirmed included one 13-year-old who suffered a serious chemical burn from the caustic chemicals used to clean the JBS plant in Grand Island every night.

Investigators said in court documents that some of the teens they found working for PSSI told them that “everyone there knew” that they were minors, and in one case, a search of a government database showed that one employee's age came up as 129-years-old when their Social Security number was checked.

PSSI asked the court to order investigators to share more details about that case and identify the children it found to help it ensure that “rogue individuals” aren't finding ways to circumvent the company's efforts to avoid hiring people under age 18.

But the judge only ordered limited information to be released after the Labor Department argued that PSSI already has all the information it needs to identify any minors in its own company documents.

“It is not the Secretary’s responsibility to teach defendants how to search their own documents to find the minor children they employ. Further, PSSI need only consult their own managers working on the ground at these establishments to conduct their own due diligence,” the Labor Department said in court documents.

The company and investigators are due in court on Dec. 7 to argue about whether a federal judge should issue a preliminary injunction in the case.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOSH%20FUNK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer</a>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Wisconsin company that cleans hundreds of meatpacking plants nationwide is defending itself against allegations that it employed more than two dozen minors working overnight shifts cleaning massive saws, grinding machines and other dangerous processing equipment at three slaughterhouses.Labor Department officials said in court documents that they believe Packers Sanitation Services Inc. might be employing underage workers at other plants but investigators have only just starting reviewing thousands of pages of employee records at plants besides the ones in Nebraska and Minnesota where they confirmed teenagers were working through the middle of the night sanitizing slaughterhouses before heading back to high school in the morning.A federal judge in Lincoln, Nebraska, already issued a temporary order prohibiting the company from employing minors and interfering in the Labor Department's investigation. The company will argue at a court hearing next month that there's no reason for a judge to make that order permanent because PSSI officials say they are cooperating with the investigation and they already prohibit hiring anyone younger than 18.On Monday, a judge ordered the government to give the company a few more details about its investigation ahead of next month's hearing. The company says it employs some 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations nationwide, making it one of the largest firms out there that cleans food processing plants.PSSI Vice President of Marketing Gina Swenson said the company “has an absolute company-wide prohibition against the employment of anyone under the age of 18 and zero tolerance for any violation of that policy — period.”Swenson also said corporate officials have been cooperating with the investigation. But according to court documents, the Labor Department says local managers “attempted to obstruct employee interviews” at JBS plants in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota, as well as at a Turkey Valley Farms plant in Marshall, Minnesota. Investigators said they also saw managers deleting WhatsApp messages and computer files.In one instance, investigators said they found text messages a manager at the Worthington plant sent to prospective employees who were discussing using false identification documents to secure a job with PSSI.Investigators say they have been able to confirm that at least 31 children as young as 13 have been working for PSSI by talking to them and comparing timeclock photos and employment data with pictures and information in local school records.Officials at JBS and Turkey Valley Farms say they are monitoring the situation with PSSI and will consider taking action against the company based on the outcome of the investigation.“We take seriously the allegations against PSSI, which, if true, represent a clear violation of our ethical policies,” Michael Koenig, JBS's chief ethics and compliance officer, said in a statement. He said JBS is taking steps to verify the status of all the sanitation workers at its plants and the company won't tolerate child labor.In addition to the Nebraska and Minnesota plants, investigators also seized records from a Tyson Foods plant in Sedalia, Missouri, but they didn't identify any workers from there as minors in the court documents.Tyson spokesman Derek Burleson said the company is aware of the allegations against PSSI and is cooperating with investigators. Burleson said Tyson expects its suppliers to follow the same labor laws it does to make sure minors aren't being hired, and it is working with them to ensure that is the case.The underage workers that investigators confirmed included one 13-year-old who suffered a serious chemical burn from the caustic chemicals used to clean the JBS plant in Grand Island every night.Investigators said in court documents that some of the teens they found working for PSSI told them that “everyone there knew” that they were minors, and in one case, a search of a government database showed that one employee's age came up as 129-years-old when their Social Security number was checked.PSSI asked the court to order investigators to share more details about that case and identify the children it found to help it ensure that “rogue individuals” aren't finding ways to circumvent the company's efforts to avoid hiring people under age 18.But the judge only ordered limited information to be released after the Labor Department argued that PSSI already has all the information it needs to identify any minors in its own company documents.“It is not the Secretary’s responsibility to teach defendants how to search their own documents to find the minor children they employ. Further, PSSI need only consult their own managers working on the ground at these establishments to conduct their own due diligence,” the Labor Department said in court documents.The company and investigators are due in court on Dec. 7 to argue about whether a federal judge should issue a preliminary injunction in the case.

Investigators: Firm that cleans meat plants employed minors

<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

‘Tis the season for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and, of course, your favorite Christmas movie. But deciding which Christmas movie truly captures the essence of the holidays is a point of contention across the nation.

Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Google Trends,&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthynickel.com/most-popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealthy Nickel</a>&nbsp;crunched the numbers to determine the most popular Christmas movie in every state. Many holiday classics made the list, but a few states surprised us with their non-traditional picks. So cozy up on the couch amidst the twinkling glow of Christmas lights and find out if your state's idea of the most wonderful time of the year involves the North Pole or Nakatomi Plaza.

The Highest-Ranked Christmas Movies by State

Something about Christmas movies really captures the spirit of the season and can bring on a sense of nostalgia that transports viewers to Christmases past.

One of those holiday classics is&nbsp;The Polar Express, which took the top spot in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. These states love the mysterious train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Who doesn't love the dancing waiters and chefs who serve hot chocolate to all the kids?

Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia loved&nbsp;The Grinch, the story of a cynical grump who attempts to ruin Christmas for all of Whoville. While there are a few theatrical versions of the story, the most popular is 2018's animated interpretation starring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch.

With a flair for the romantic, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, and The District of Columbia all chose&nbsp;Love Actually, which follows ten Brits as they navigate their love lives in a countdown to Christmas. This romantic comedy has become a modern-day Christmas staple for many.

Other favorite Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/the-best-free-movies-online-sites/">movies</a>&nbsp;include&nbsp;Home Alone,&nbsp;Elf, and&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.

The Midwest - Illinois, Ohio, and North Dakota - support the Chicago-based&nbsp;Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin as the resourceful eight-year-old who fends off two hapless robbers from his family home. Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah eat up all the sugar they can as they watch Will Ferrell run around New York City in the endearing story of Buddy the Elf. And Connecticut, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin stand by the oldie but goodie,&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.

Some newer movies are even starting to make their mark and become a part of the Christmas tradition. The 2019 Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/best-christian-cartoons-for-kids/">animated</a>&nbsp;movie&nbsp;Klaus&nbsp;is popular among states such as Colorado and Washington.

What counts as a Christmas movie? Does anything set during the holiday season fit the bill, or does Santa Claus have to make an appearance? This debate has undoubtedly started many squabbles at family gatherings. However, the cold, hard facts don't lie. The research from Wealthy Nickel showed that search volume spiked in December for several movies that wouldn't usually spring to mind as heartwarming holiday classics.

One of the most surprising Christmas movies, voted a favorite by six states, is&nbsp;Trading Places. The 1980s comedy captures audiences year after year in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The movie follows an upper-class financial executive and a street hustler who switch lifestyles to win a bet. Set in Philadelphia during Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities for holiday hijinks, including Dan Akroyd in a Santa suit.

Edward Scissorhands&nbsp;shockingly makes the cut with four states - Arizona, California, Florida, and New Mexico - all agreeing that the movie is a must-see during the holidays. While it does not adhere to the "merry and bright" definition of a standard holiday flick, it does take place during Christmastime and is beloved by many.

Perhaps the most well-known Christmas-movie-that-maybe-isn't-a-Christmas-movie is&nbsp;Die Hard. Both Montana and Idaho enjoy seeing John McClane fighting to save Christmas from a group of rogue terrorists.

Which States Have the Most and Least Christmas Spirit?

According to the rankings, Utah is the most festive state, always on the lookout for a dose of holiday cheer. Of the twenty movies rated, Utahns were among the top five searchers for twelve of them. West Virginia and New Hampshire took second and third place as states that can't say no to a good Christmas movie. West Virginia was among the top five searchers for eleven movies and New Hampshire for seven.

The least festive states, at least by volume of Christmas movie searches, were Hawaii, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana. While most of these states will never have a white Christmas, New York should be slightly ashamed to be counted in that list.

What do Nevada and Nebraska have in common? Their love of the movie&nbsp;Elf, of course! Here is the complete list of the most popular Christmas movie in every state.

More Articles From the Wealth of Geeks Network:

This article was produced and syndicated by&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>.

<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;‘Tis the season for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and, of course, your favorite Christmas movie. But deciding which Christmas movie truly captures the essence of the holidays is a point of contention across the nation.Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Google Trends,&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthynickel.com/most-popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealthy Nickel</a>&nbsp;crunched the numbers to determine the most popular Christmas movie in every state. Many holiday classics made the list, but a few states surprised us with their non-traditional picks. So cozy up on the couch amidst the twinkling glow of Christmas lights and find out if your state's idea of the most wonderful time of the year involves the North Pole or Nakatomi Plaza.The Highest-Ranked Christmas Movies by StateSomething about Christmas movies really captures the spirit of the season and can bring on a sense of nostalgia that transports viewers to Christmases past.One of those holiday classics is&nbsp;The Polar Express, which took the top spot in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. These states love the mysterious train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Who doesn't love the dancing waiters and chefs who serve hot chocolate to all the kids?Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia loved&nbsp;The Grinch, the story of a cynical grump who attempts to ruin Christmas for all of Whoville. While there are a few theatrical versions of the story, the most popular is 2018's animated interpretation starring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch.With a flair for the romantic, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, and The District of Columbia all chose&nbsp;Love Actually, which follows ten Brits as they navigate their love lives in a countdown to Christmas. This romantic comedy has become a modern-day Christmas staple for many.Other favorite Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/the-best-free-movies-online-sites/">movies</a>&nbsp;include&nbsp;Home Alone,&nbsp;Elf, and&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.The Midwest - Illinois, Ohio, and North Dakota - support the Chicago-based&nbsp;Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin as the resourceful eight-year-old who fends off two hapless robbers from his family home. Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah eat up all the sugar they can as they watch Will Ferrell run around New York City in the endearing story of Buddy the Elf. And Connecticut, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin stand by the oldie but goodie,&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.Some newer movies are even starting to make their mark and become a part of the Christmas tradition. The 2019 Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/best-christian-cartoons-for-kids/">animated</a>&nbsp;movie&nbsp;Klaus&nbsp;is popular among states such as Colorado and Washington.Elf or Edward Scissorhands?What counts as a Christmas movie? Does anything set during the holiday season fit the bill, or does Santa Claus have to make an appearance? This debate has undoubtedly started many squabbles at family gatherings. However, the cold, hard facts don't lie. The research from Wealthy Nickel showed that search volume spiked in December for several movies that wouldn't usually spring to mind as heartwarming holiday classics.One of the most surprising Christmas movies, voted a favorite by six states, is&nbsp;Trading Places. The 1980s comedy captures audiences year after year in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The movie follows an upper-class financial executive and a street hustler who switch lifestyles to win a bet. Set in Philadelphia during Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities for holiday hijinks, including Dan Akroyd in a Santa suit.Edward Scissorhands&nbsp;shockingly makes the cut with four states - Arizona, California, Florida, and New Mexico - all agreeing that the movie is a must-see during the holidays. While it does not adhere to the "merry and bright" definition of a standard holiday flick, it does take place during Christmastime and is beloved by many.Perhaps the most well-known Christmas-movie-that-maybe-isn't-a-Christmas-movie is&nbsp;Die Hard. Both Montana and Idaho enjoy seeing John McClane fighting to save Christmas from a group of rogue terrorists.Which States Have the Most and Least Christmas Spirit?According to the rankings, Utah is the most festive state, always on the lookout for a dose of holiday cheer. Of the twenty movies rated, Utahns were among the top five searchers for twelve of them. West Virginia and New Hampshire took second and third place as states that can't say no to a good Christmas movie. West Virginia was among the top five searchers for eleven movies and New Hampshire for seven.The least festive states, at least by volume of Christmas movie searches, were Hawaii, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana. While most of these states will never have a white Christmas, New York should be slightly ashamed to be counted in that list.Most Popular Christmas Movies By StateWhat do Nevada and Nebraska have in common? Their love of the movie&nbsp;Elf, of course! Here is the complete list of the most popular Christmas movie in every state.<ul>
 <li>Alabama -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Alaska -&nbsp;Jack Frost</li><li>Arizona -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Arkansas -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>California -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Colorado -&nbsp;Klaus</li><li>Connecticut -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Delaware -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>District of Columbia -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Florida -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Georgia -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Hawaii -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Idaho -&nbsp;Die Hard</li><li>Illinois -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Indiana -&nbsp;A Christmas Story</li><li>Iowa -&nbsp;Christmas Vacation</li><li>Kansas -&nbsp;Miracle on 34th Street</li><li>Kentucky -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Louisiana -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Maine -&nbsp;Jingle All the Way</li><li>Maryland -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Massachusetts -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Michigan -&nbsp;Krampus</li><li>Minnesota -&nbsp;Jingle All the Way</li><li>Mississippi -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Missouri -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Montana -&nbsp;Die Hard</li><li>Nebraska -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>Nevada -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>New Hampshire -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>New Jersey -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>New Mexico -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>New York -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>North Carolina -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>North Dakota -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Ohio -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Oklahoma -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Oregon -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Pennsylvania -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Rhode Island -&nbsp;Jack Frost</li><li>South Carolina -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>South Dakota -&nbsp;Christmas Vacation</li><li>Tennessee -&nbsp;The Santa Clause</li><li>Texas -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Utah -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>Vermont -&nbsp;Miracle on 34th Street</li><li>Virginia -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Washington -&nbsp;Klaus</li><li>West Virginia -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Wisconsin -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Wyoming -&nbsp;Krampus</li>
 </ul>More Articles From the Wealth of Geeks Network:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://savoteur.com/travel-gifts-guide/">The Ultimate Holiday Travel Gift Guide for Every Aspiring Jetsetter</a></li><li><a href="https://hellosensible.com/make-10-dollars-fast/">Easy Ways to Make $10 Fast This Holiday Season</a></li>
 </ul>This article was produced and syndicated by&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>.

And the most popular Christmas movie in Nebraska is...

NEW YORK (AP) — While Black Friday will mark a return to familiar holiday shopping patterns, uncertainty still remains.

The
 U.S. job market remains strong, consumer spending is resilient and 
inflation has been slowing. But elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline
 and other household costs have taken a toll on shoppers.

As a 
result, many are reluctant to spend unless there is a big sale and are 
being more selective with what they will buy — in many cases, trading 
down to cheaper stuff and less expensive stores.

Shoppers are also dipping more into their savings, turning increasingly to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-technology-economy-113f3fc36a6af9e6d9dc919aa22ca276">“buy now, pay later”</a>
 services like Afterpay that allow users to pay for items in 
installments, as well as running up their credit cards at a time when 
the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.

Such financial hardships could help drive shoppers to look for bargains.

Isela
 Dalencia, who was shopping for household essentials like detergent at a
 Walmart in Secaucus, New Jersey, earlier this week, said she's delaying
 buying holiday gifts until Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving
 — when online sales rev up. Then, she will wait again until the week 
before Christmas to get the best deals, unlike last year when she 
started buying before Black Friday.

“I am shopping less,” Dalencia
 said, noting she will spend about $700 for holiday gifts this year, 
one-third less than last year.

Katie Leach, a social worker in 
Manhattan, was also browsing the aisles at Walmart but said she will 
start holiday shopping during the first week of December as usual. This 
time, however, she'll be relying more on bargains, her credit card and 
“buy now, pay later” services to get her through the shopping season 
because of surging prices on food and other household expenses.

“The money is not going as far as last year," Leach said.

This
 year's trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying
 early out of fear of not getting what they needed amid clogs in the 
supply network. Stores didn't have to discount much because they were 
struggling to bring in items.

But some pandemic habits are 
sticking around. Many retailers that closed stores on Thanksgiving Day 
and instead pushed discounts on their websites to thin out crowds at 
stores are still holding onto those strategies, despite a return to 
normalcy.

Major retailers including Walmart and Target are again 
closing their stores on Thanksgiving. And many moved away from 
doorbusters, the deeply marked down items offered for a limited time 
that drew crowds. Instead, the discounted items are available throughout
 the month, on Black Friday or the holiday weekend.

Against 
today's economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest 
retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range 
of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, 
these figures, which include online spending, aren't adjusted for 
inflation so real spending could even be down from a year ago.

Adobe
 Analytics expects online sales to be up 2.5% from Nov. 1 through Dec. 
31, a slowdown from last year's 8.6% pace when shoppers were uncertain 
about returning to physical stores.

Analysts consider the five-day
 Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of 
shoppers' willingness to spend, particularly this year. The two-month 
period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the 
retail industry’s annual sales.

While Black Friday still has a 
strong place in the U.S. among shoppers, it has lost stature over the 
last decade as stores opened on Thanksgiving and shopping shifted to 
Amazon and other online retailers. Stores have further diluted the day’s
 status by promoting Black Friday sales throughout the month. This year,
 stores began sales earlier than last year to get shoppers to spread out
 their buying.

Plenty of shoppers like Lolita Cordero from Brooklyn, New York, are sitting out Black Friday.

“I’m
 shopping early, trying to get things on sale, discount, or clearance – 
and I use coupons,” Cordero said. “I never did Black Friday. I hear it’s
 a mess, and people get hurt.”

Still, some experts believe Black 
Friday will again be the busiest shopping day this year, according to 
Sensormatic, which tracks customer traffic. Consumers are also back to 
shopping at physical stores amid easing worries about COVID-19. In fact,
 more stores opened than closed in the U.S. last year for the first time
 since 2016 — and that gap is only widening this year, according to 
Coresight Research, a retail advisory and research firm.

NEW YORK (AP) — While Black Friday will mark a return to familiar holiday shopping patterns, uncertainty still remains.The
 U.S. job market remains strong, consumer spending is resilient and 
inflation has been slowing. But elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline
 and other household costs have taken a toll on shoppers.As a 
result, many are reluctant to spend unless there is a big sale and are 
being more selective with what they will buy — in many cases, trading 
down to cheaper stuff and less expensive stores.Shoppers are also dipping more into their savings, turning increasingly to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-technology-economy-113f3fc36a6af9e6d9dc919aa22ca276">“buy now, pay later”</a>
 services like Afterpay that allow users to pay for items in 
installments, as well as running up their credit cards at a time when 
the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.Such financial hardships could help drive shoppers to look for bargains.Isela
 Dalencia, who was shopping for household essentials like detergent at a
 Walmart in Secaucus, New Jersey, earlier this week, said she's delaying
 buying holiday gifts until Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving
 — when online sales rev up. Then, she will wait again until the week 
before Christmas to get the best deals, unlike last year when she 
started buying before Black Friday.“I am shopping less,” Dalencia
 said, noting she will spend about $700 for holiday gifts this year, 
one-third less than last year.Katie Leach, a social worker in 
Manhattan, was also browsing the aisles at Walmart but said she will 
start holiday shopping during the first week of December as usual. This 
time, however, she'll be relying more on bargains, her credit card and 
“buy now, pay later” services to get her through the shopping season 
because of surging prices on food and other household expenses.“The money is not going as far as last year," Leach said.This
 year's trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying
 early out of fear of not getting what they needed amid clogs in the 
supply network. Stores didn't have to discount much because they were 
struggling to bring in items.But some pandemic habits are 
sticking around. Many retailers that closed stores on Thanksgiving Day 
and instead pushed discounts on their websites to thin out crowds at 
stores are still holding onto those strategies, despite a return to 
normalcy.Major retailers including Walmart and Target are again 
closing their stores on Thanksgiving. And many moved away from 
doorbusters, the deeply marked down items offered for a limited time 
that drew crowds. Instead, the discounted items are available throughout
 the month, on Black Friday or the holiday weekend.Against 
today's economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest 
retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range 
of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, 
these figures, which include online spending, aren't adjusted for 
inflation so real spending could even be down from a year ago.Adobe
 Analytics expects online sales to be up 2.5% from Nov. 1 through Dec. 
31, a slowdown from last year's 8.6% pace when shoppers were uncertain 
about returning to physical stores.Analysts consider the five-day
 Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of 
shoppers' willingness to spend, particularly this year. The two-month 
period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the 
retail industry’s annual sales.While Black Friday still has a 
strong place in the U.S. among shoppers, it has lost stature over the 
last decade as stores opened on Thanksgiving and shopping shifted to 
Amazon and other online retailers. Stores have further diluted the day’s
 status by promoting Black Friday sales throughout the month. This year,
 stores began sales earlier than last year to get shoppers to spread out
 their buying.Plenty of shoppers like Lolita Cordero from Brooklyn, New York, are sitting out Black Friday.“I’m
 shopping early, trying to get things on sale, discount, or clearance – 
and I use coupons,” Cordero said. “I never did Black Friday. I hear it’s
 a mess, and people get hurt.”Still, some experts believe Black 
Friday will again be the busiest shopping day this year, according to 
Sensormatic, which tracks customer traffic. Consumers are also back to 
shopping at physical stores amid easing worries about COVID-19. In fact,
 more stores opened than closed in the U.S. last year for the first time
 since 2016 — and that gap is only widening this year, according to 
Coresight Research, a retail advisory and research firm.

Holiday shopping kicks off with inflation dampening spirits

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JESSE%20BEDAYN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America</a>

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The co-owner of the Colorado Springs gay nightclub where a shooter turned a drag queen’s birthday celebration into a massacre said he thinks the shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-denver-springs-79976bed902603de59bd7b6ba2b16aff">killed five people</a>&nbsp;and injured 17 others is a reflection of anti-LGBTQ sentiment that has evolved from prejudice to incitement.

Nic Grzecka’s voice was tinged with exhaustion as he spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday night in some of his first comments since Saturday night's attack at Club Q, a venue Grzecka helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-colorado-gay-rights-112e79c6886defbcc07e2c7cec32a246">build into an enclave</a>&nbsp;that sustained the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs.

Authorities haven’t said why the suspect opened fired at the club before being subdued into submission by patrons, but they are facing hate crime charges. The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, has not entered a plea or spoken about the incident.

Grzecka said he believes the targeting of a drag queen event is connected to the art form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-a26e7eee15df0bbc2bb98071b683b1f4">being cast in a false light</a>&nbsp;in recent months by right-wing activists and politicians who complain about the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children. Even though general acceptance of the LGBTQ community has grown, this new dynamic has fostered a dangerous climate.

“It’s different to walk down the street holding my boyfriend's hand and getting spit at (as opposed to) a politician relating a drag queen to a groomer of their children," Grzecka said. “I would rather be spit on in the street than the hate get as bad as where we are today."

Earlier this year, Florida's Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">barring teachers from discussing gender identity</a>&nbsp;or sexual orientation with younger students. A month later, references to “pedophiles” and “grooming” in relation to LGBTQ people rose 400%, according to a report by the Human Rights Campaign.

“Lying about our community, and making them into something they are not, creates a different type of hate,” said Grzecka.

Grzecka, who started mopping floors and bartending at Club Q in 2003 a year after it opened, said he hopes to channel his grief and anger into figuring out how to rebuild the support system for Colorado Springs’ LGBTQ community that only Club Q had provided.

City and state officials have offered support and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reached out to Grzecka and co-owner Matthew Haynes on Thursday to offer condolences and reiterate their support for the community as well as their commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence.

Grzecka said Club Q opened after the only other gay bar in Colorado Springs at that time shuttered. He described that era as an evolution of gay bars. Decades ago, dingy, hole-in-the-wall gay venues were meant largely for finding a hookup or date, said Grzecka. But he said once the internet offered anonymous ways to find love online, the bars transitioned into well lit, clean non-smoking spaces to hang out with friends. Club Q was at the vanguard of that transition.

Once he became co-owner in 2014, Grzecka helped mold Club Q into not merely a nightlife venue but a community center – a platform to create a “chosen family” for LGBTQ people, especially for those estranged from their birth family. Drag queen bingo nights, friendsgiving and Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations became staples of Club Q which was open 365 days a year.

In the aftermath of the shooting, with that community center having been torn away, Grzecka and other community leaders said they are channeling grief and anger into reconstituting the support structure that only Club Q had offered.

“When that system goes away, you realize how much more the bar was really providing,” said Justin Burn, an organizer with Pikes Peak Pride. “Those that may or may not have been a part of the Club Q family, where do they go?”

Burn said the shooting pulled back a curtain on a broader lack of resources for LGBTQ adults in Colorado Springs. Burn, Grzecka and others are working with national organizations to do an assessment of the community's need as they develop a blueprint to offer a robust support network.

Grzecka is looking to rebuild the “loving culture” and necessary support to “make sure that this tragedy is turned into the best thing it can be for the city."

“Everybody needs community,” he said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JESSE%20BEDAYN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America</a>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The co-owner of the Colorado Springs gay nightclub where a shooter turned a drag queen’s birthday celebration into a massacre said he thinks the shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-denver-springs-79976bed902603de59bd7b6ba2b16aff">killed five people</a>&nbsp;and injured 17 others is a reflection of anti-LGBTQ sentiment that has evolved from prejudice to incitement.Nic Grzecka’s voice was tinged with exhaustion as he spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday night in some of his first comments since Saturday night's attack at Club Q, a venue Grzecka helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-colorado-gay-rights-112e79c6886defbcc07e2c7cec32a246">build into an enclave</a>&nbsp;that sustained the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs.Authorities haven’t said why the suspect opened fired at the club before being subdued into submission by patrons, but they are facing hate crime charges. The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, has not entered a plea or spoken about the incident.Grzecka said he believes the targeting of a drag queen event is connected to the art form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-a26e7eee15df0bbc2bb98071b683b1f4">being cast in a false light</a>&nbsp;in recent months by right-wing activists and politicians who complain about the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children. Even though general acceptance of the LGBTQ community has grown, this new dynamic has fostered a dangerous climate.“It’s different to walk down the street holding my boyfriend's hand and getting spit at (as opposed to) a politician relating a drag queen to a groomer of their children," Grzecka said. “I would rather be spit on in the street than the hate get as bad as where we are today."Earlier this year, Florida's Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">barring teachers from discussing gender identity</a>&nbsp;or sexual orientation with younger students. A month later, references to “pedophiles” and “grooming” in relation to LGBTQ people rose 400%, according to a report by the Human Rights Campaign.“Lying about our community, and making them into something they are not, creates a different type of hate,” said Grzecka.Grzecka, who started mopping floors and bartending at Club Q in 2003 a year after it opened, said he hopes to channel his grief and anger into figuring out how to rebuild the support system for Colorado Springs’ LGBTQ community that only Club Q had provided.City and state officials have offered support and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reached out to Grzecka and co-owner Matthew Haynes on Thursday to offer condolences and reiterate their support for the community as well as their commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence.Grzecka said Club Q opened after the only other gay bar in Colorado Springs at that time shuttered. He described that era as an evolution of gay bars. Decades ago, dingy, hole-in-the-wall gay venues were meant largely for finding a hookup or date, said Grzecka. But he said once the internet offered anonymous ways to find love online, the bars transitioned into well lit, clean non-smoking spaces to hang out with friends. Club Q was at the vanguard of that transition.Once he became co-owner in 2014, Grzecka helped mold Club Q into not merely a nightlife venue but a community center – a platform to create a “chosen family” for LGBTQ people, especially for those estranged from their birth family. Drag queen bingo nights, friendsgiving and Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations became staples of Club Q which was open 365 days a year.In the aftermath of the shooting, with that community center having been torn away, Grzecka and other community leaders said they are channeling grief and anger into reconstituting the support structure that only Club Q had offered.“When that system goes away, you realize how much more the bar was really providing,” said Justin Burn, an organizer with Pikes Peak Pride. “Those that may or may not have been a part of the Club Q family, where do they go?”Burn said the shooting pulled back a curtain on a broader lack of resources for LGBTQ adults in Colorado Springs. Burn, Grzecka and others are working with national organizations to do an assessment of the community's need as they develop a blueprint to offer a robust support network.Grzecka is looking to rebuild the “loving culture” and necessary support to “make sure that this tragedy is turned into the best thing it can be for the city."“Everybody needs community,” he said.

Gay club owner: Shooting comes amid a new 'type of hate'

NEW YORK (AP) — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York 
on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the 
holiday season during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 
annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a
 procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 
blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.

Children balanced atop 
metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid 
mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.

“Blue, Blue. There's 
Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 
4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.

The youngster was 
referring to the star of the animated show “Blue's Clues" — not to be 
confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian 
cattle pup making her parade debut.

Bluey's balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.

Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.

But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.

“It's
 one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who 
lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John 
Wopperer.

It was the first time the father and son had seen the 
parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, 
before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.

Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.

This
 year's parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and 
heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 
clowns and one Santa Claus.

The procession of characters were 
joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop 
band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues &amp; 
You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk 
Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 
2022 Emma Broyles.

Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who
 were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s 
“Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula 
Borg. Jimmy Fallon &amp; The Roots were on a float celebrating Central 
Park.

President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he
 did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first 
responders, saying, “They never take a break.”

They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.

Asked
 about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens 
said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking 
first responders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669307551663.jpeg" alt="The Boss Baby balloon makes its way down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)" />
 <figcaption>The Boss Baby balloon makes its way down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York 
on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the 
holiday season during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.The 
annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a
 procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 
blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.Children balanced atop 
metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid 
mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.“Blue, Blue. There's 
Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 
4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.The youngster was 
referring to the star of the animated show “Blue's Clues" — not to be 
confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian 
cattle pup making her parade debut.Bluey's balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.“It's
 one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who 
lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John 
Wopperer.It was the first time the father and son had seen the 
parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, 
before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.This
 year's parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and 
heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 
clowns and one Santa Claus.The procession of characters were 
joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop 
band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues &amp; 
You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk 
Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 
2022 Emma Broyles.Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who
 were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s 
“Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula 
Borg. Jimmy Fallon &amp; The Roots were on a float celebrating Central 
Park.President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he
 did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first 
responders, saying, “They never take a break.”They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.Asked
 about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens 
said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking 
first responders.

High-flying balloon characters star in NYC Thanksgiving parade

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/23/nebraska-test-scores-show-sizable-hurdle-of-pandemic-learning-loss/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The academic hole facing 
Nebraska’s students, teachers, parents and policymakers became clearer 
Wednesday with the release of state K-12 test scores from 2021-22.

Student proficiency scores in math 
and language arts were mixed, amid a national dip in student performance
 on tests taken during the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year, proficiency scores in math
 for third graders through eighth graders increased from 46% to 47%, 
while language arts scores fell from 48% to 46%, according to Nebraska 
Department of Education statistics. Two-thirds — 66% — passed the 
state’s new science test.&nbsp;

Math and language arts scores 
reoriented lower starting in 2017, when the state started testing the 
bulk of its students on a more rigorous set of college- and career-based
 standards. Under this new system, statewide proficiency scores in 
language arts and math were slightly above 50% pre-pandemic.&nbsp;

This year’s test found 46% of the state’s high school juniors proficient in language arts, 44% in math and 48% in science.

Test scores became an issue during <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/05/state-board-of-ed-races-could-decide-future-role-of-board-next-ed-commissioner/">State Board of Education races this fall</a>.&nbsp; On Wednesday, senators from both parties said the Legislature is prepared to help fight learning loss.&nbsp;

State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, the chair of the Legislature’s 
Education Committee, said lawmakers, policymakers and schools need to 
focus on fighting absenteeism, school staffing, early childhood 
education, empowering teachers and reengaging parents in student 
learning.

“The test score results were really exactly what we expected,” Walz 
said. “We expected to see a dip. I think we were really fortunate that 
we were able to get our kids back in school sooner than others.”

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, who has pushed for education 
accountability and school choice, applauded the department for 
maintaining how it evaluates student learning. She wants the Legislature
 to focus on literacy for young students, teacher training and special 
education.

“You can’t improve what you can’t see,” Linehan said. “If you don’t know what the problem is, you can’t fix it.”

Retiring Nebraska Education 
Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said the scores show that students had less 
of a learning loss than those in other states. He and the state senators
 thanked Nebraska teachers for their work during difficult times.

To see more of Nebraska’s 2021-22 test scores,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nepuat.education.ne.gov/">click here</a>.

“Nebraska public schools, while 
impacted by the pandemic, remained strong,” he said. “Our statewide 
assessments are showing similar trends, and now is the time for schools 
to focus supports on the areas that have the most need.”

Blomstedt and representatives of the Nebraska State Education Association said similar things <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-touts-student-scores-on-national-math-reading-assessment/">in late October about the state’s scores</a> on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

On NAEP, no state scored higher than 
Nebraska in fourth-grade math, and just one state had higher scores in 
eighth-grade math. Nebraska was fourth in fourth-grade reading and 
eighth in eighth-grade reading.

However, state tests show the 
pandemic appears to have exacerbated Nebraska’s persistent challenges in
 closing achievement gaps between students of plenty and students living
 in poverty.

The students who lost the most ground
 were students whose families suffered the most during the pandemic, 
including students learning English and students of color.

State test scores showed less than 
10% of English language learners scored proficient in math or language 
arts. Of students with free or reduced-priced lunch, a measure of 
poverty, less than a third scored proficient in either subject. Students
 with disabilities also scored lower during the pandemic.

Blomstedt highlighted the importance of addressing a pandemic-fueled 
increase in the number of students who were chronically absen. That has 
remained about double what it was before the pandemic, with 77,000 
students missing 10% or more of their time in school in 2021-22.

Wednesday’s results include the 
Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System, or NSCAS, and the 
Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow, or 
AQuESTT.

NSCAS tests learning in core subject 
areas. Roughly 99% of students typically take it, although that level 
dipped to about 95% in 2020-21. AQuESTT scores schools to prioritize 
financial support for the schools that need it most.

Blomstedt said Nebraska schools will focus on increased instructional
 time to catch students up, he said, but it may require additional 
investment. He said the state needs to target investments to sustain 
improvement in academic growth, including special education, reading and
 encouraging attendance.

Susanne Cramer, executive director 
for academic recovery and school improvement at the Omaha Public 
Schools, said in a statement that tests are “a single point of data” and
 that more context is needed.

Schools are more focused on helping 
students improve, testing them for growth from what they know when they 
arrive to what they know at different points throughout the year, she 
said.

She highlighted OPS gains in elementary school scores and expressed concern about dips between sixth and eighth grade.&nbsp;

The district serves the state’s largest number of students in poverty.

She said in a recorded statement that
 administrators and teachers are focused on boosting academic support, 
including tutoring and broader use of summer school.&nbsp;

“The additional investment in our 
students is really an investment in their future,” she said. “That’s how
 we respond to this data. That’s how we respond to all data.”

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/23/nebraska-test-scores-show-sizable-hurdle-of-pandemic-learning-loss/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The academic hole facing 
Nebraska’s students, teachers, parents and policymakers became clearer 
Wednesday with the release of state K-12 test scores from 2021-22.Student proficiency scores in math 
and language arts were mixed, amid a national dip in student performance
 on tests taken during the coronavirus pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669223743178.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (Courtesy of Department of Education)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (Courtesy of Department of Education)</figcaption>
 </figure>Last year, proficiency scores in math
 for third graders through eighth graders increased from 46% to 47%, 
while language arts scores fell from 48% to 46%, according to Nebraska 
Department of Education statistics. Two-thirds — 66% — passed the 
state’s new science test.&nbsp;Math and language arts scores 
reoriented lower starting in 2017, when the state started testing the 
bulk of its students on a more rigorous set of college- and career-based
 standards. Under this new system, statewide proficiency scores in 
language arts and math were slightly above 50% pre-pandemic.&nbsp;This year’s test found 46% of the state’s high school juniors proficient in language arts, 44% in math and 48% in science.Test scores became an issue during <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/05/state-board-of-ed-races-could-decide-future-role-of-board-next-ed-commissioner/">State Board of Education races this fall</a>.&nbsp; On Wednesday, senators from both parties said the Legislature is prepared to help fight learning loss.&nbsp;State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, the chair of the Legislature’s 
Education Committee, said lawmakers, policymakers and schools need to 
focus on fighting absenteeism, school staffing, early childhood 
education, empowering teachers and reengaging parents in student 
learning.“The test score results were really exactly what we expected,” Walz 
said. “We expected to see a dip. I think we were really fortunate that 
we were able to get our kids back in school sooner than others.”State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, who has pushed for education 
accountability and school choice, applauded the department for 
maintaining how it evaluates student learning. She wants the Legislature
 to focus on literacy for young students, teacher training and special 
education.“You can’t improve what you can’t see,” Linehan said. “If you don’t know what the problem is, you can’t fix it.”Retiring Nebraska Education 
Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said the scores show that students had less 
of a learning loss than those in other states. He and the state senators
 thanked Nebraska teachers for their work during difficult times.-------<h2>Dig into the scores</h2>To see more of Nebraska’s 2021-22 test scores,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nepuat.education.ne.gov/">click here</a>.-------“Nebraska public schools, while 
impacted by the pandemic, remained strong,” he said. “Our statewide 
assessments are showing similar trends, and now is the time for schools 
to focus supports on the areas that have the most need.”Blomstedt and representatives of the Nebraska State Education Association said similar things <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-touts-student-scores-on-national-math-reading-assessment/">in late October about the state’s scores</a> on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.On NAEP, no state scored higher than 
Nebraska in fourth-grade math, and just one state had higher scores in 
eighth-grade math. Nebraska was fourth in fourth-grade reading and 
eighth in eighth-grade reading.However, state tests show the 
pandemic appears to have exacerbated Nebraska’s persistent challenges in
 closing achievement gaps between students of plenty and students living
 in poverty.The students who lost the most ground
 were students whose families suffered the most during the pandemic, 
including students learning English and students of color.State test scores showed less than 
10% of English language learners scored proficient in math or language 
arts. Of students with free or reduced-priced lunch, a measure of 
poverty, less than a third scored proficient in either subject. Students
 with disabilities also scored lower during the pandemic.Blomstedt highlighted the importance of addressing a pandemic-fueled 
increase in the number of students who were chronically absen. That has 
remained about double what it was before the pandemic, with 77,000 
students missing 10% or more of their time in school in 2021-22.Wednesday’s results include the 
Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System, or NSCAS, and the 
Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow, or 
AQuESTT.NSCAS tests learning in core subject 
areas. Roughly 99% of students typically take it, although that level 
dipped to about 95% in 2020-21. AQuESTT scores schools to prioritize 
financial support for the schools that need it most.Blomstedt said Nebraska schools will focus on increased instructional
 time to catch students up, he said, but it may require additional 
investment. He said the state needs to target investments to sustain 
improvement in academic growth, including special education, reading and
 encouraging attendance.Susanne Cramer, executive director 
for academic recovery and school improvement at the Omaha Public 
Schools, said in a statement that tests are “a single point of data” and
 that more context is needed.Schools are more focused on helping 
students improve, testing them for growth from what they know when they 
arrive to what they know at different points throughout the year, she 
said.She highlighted OPS gains in elementary school scores and expressed concern about dips between sixth and eighth grade.&nbsp;The district serves the state’s largest number of students in poverty.She said in a recorded statement that
 administrators and teachers are focused on boosting academic support, 
including tutoring and broader use of summer school.&nbsp;“The additional investment in our 
students is really an investment in their future,” she said. “That’s how
 we respond to this data. That’s how we respond to all data.”

Neb. test scores show sizable hurdle of pandemic learning loss

<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.

By TROY BICKHAM <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-turkey-the-main-dish-on-thanksgiving-193702">The Conversation</a>

Have you ever wondered why Thanksgiving revolves around turkey and not ham, chicken, venison, beef or corn?  

Almost <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2021/11/24/thanksgiving-food-debates-poll">9 in 10</a>
 Americans eat turkey during this festive meal, whether it’s roasted, 
deep-fried, grilled or cooked in any other way for the occasion.

You might believe it’s because of what the Pilgrims, a year after 
they landed in what’s now the state of Massachusetts, and their <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story">Indigenous Wampanoag guests</a> ate during their first thanksgiving feast in 1621. Or that it’s because <a href="https://www.almanac.com/wild-turkey-history-all-american-bird">turkey is originally from the Americas</a>.

But it has more to do with how Americans observed the holiday in the 
late 1800s than which poultry the Pilgrims ate while celebrating their 
bounty in 1621.

The <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.mourtsrelationor00brad/?st=pdf&amp;pdfPage=189">only firsthand record</a>
 of what the Pilgrims ate at the first thanksgiving feast comes from 
Edward Winslow. He noted that the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, arrived 
with 90 men, and the two communities feasted together for three days.

Winslow wrote little about the menu, aside from mentioning five deer 
that the Wampanoag brought and that the meal included “fowle,” which 
could have been any number of wild birds found in the area, including 
ducks, geese and turkeys.

Historians do know that important ingredients of today’s traditional dishes were not available during that first Thanksgiving.

That includes potatoes and green beans. The likely absence of wheat flour and the <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/40532/50517_aer382a.pdf?v=0">scarcity of sugar</a> in New England at the time ruled out pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. <a href="https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/squash.html">Some sort of squash</a>, a staple of Native American diets, was almost certainly served, <a href="https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/arts-culture/2021-11-24/heres-what-was-served-at-the-real-first-thanksgiving">along with corn</a> and shellfish.

<a href="https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/history/profile/troy-bickham/">Historians like me</a>
 who have studied the history of food have found that most modern 
Thanksgiving traditions began in the mid-19th century, more than two 
centuries after the Pilgrims’ first harvest celebration.

The reinvention of the Pilgrims’ celebration as a national holiday was largely the work of <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-hale">Sarah Hale</a>.
 Born in New Hampshire in 1784, as a young widow she published poetry to
 earn a living. Most notably, she wrote the nursery rhyme “<a href="https://www.almanac.com/sarah-josepha-hale-godmother-thanksgiving">Mary Had a Little Lamb</a>.”

In 1837, Hale became the editor of the popular magazine <a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=godeylady">Godey’s Lady’s Book</a>.
 Fiercely religious and family-focused, it crusaded for the creation of 
an annual national holiday of “Thanksgiving and Praise” commemorating 
the Pilgrims’ thanksgiving feast.

Hale and her colleagues leaned on 1621 lore for historical 
justification. Like many of her contemporaries, she assumed the Pilgrims
 ate turkey at their first feast because of the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-turkeys">abundance of edible wild turkeys in New England</a>.

This campaign took decades, partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among white Southerners. Many of them considered <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/nov02/thanks-early.html">an earlier celebration among Virginia colonists</a> in honor of supply ships that arrived at Jamestown in 1610 to be the more important precedent.

The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/expulsion_cases/CivilWar_Expulsion.htm">absence of Southerners serving in Congress</a> during the Civil War enabled <a href="https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/lincoln-and-thanksgiving.htm">President Abraham Lincoln</a> to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

Godey’s, along with other media, embraced the holiday, packing their 
pages with recipes from New England and menus that prominently featured 
turkey.

“We dare say most of the Thanksgiving will take the form of gastronomic pleasure,” <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/history-southern-thanksgiving">Georgia’s Augusta Chronicle</a> predicted in 1882. “Every person who can afford turkey or procure it will sacrifice the noble American fowl to-day.”

One reason for this: A roasted turkey makes a perfect celebratory centerpiece. 

A second one is that turkey is also practical for serving to a large 
crowd. Turkeys are bigger than other birds raised or hunted for their 
meat, and it’s <a href="https://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/meat-and-animal-feed.html">cheaper to produce a turkey than a cow or pig</a>.
 
The bird’s attributes led Europeans to incorporate turkeys into their 
diets following their colonization of the Americas. In England, <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/the-history-of-turkeys/">King Henry VIII</a> regularly enjoyed turkey on Christmas day a century before the Pilgrims’ feast.

The bird cemented its position as the <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/christmas-parties/christmas-party-ideas/why-do-we-eat-turkey-at-christmas_10022">favored Christmas dish in England in the mid-19th century</a>.

One reason for this was that Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A 
Christmas Carol” sought redemption by replacing the impoverished 
Cratchit family’s meager goose with an enormous turkey. 

Published in 1843, Dickens’ instantly best-selling depiction of the prayerful family meal would soon <a href="https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol">inspire Hale’s idealized Thanksgiving</a>.

Although the historical record is hazy, I do think it’s possible that
 the Pilgrims ate turkey in 1621. It certainly was served at 
celebrations in New England <a href="https://hilltownfamilies.org/2012/11/14/hf-613/?v=7516fd43adaa">throughout the colonial period</a>.

Troy Bickham is a Professor of History at Texas A&amp;M University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669043121500.jpeg" alt="Pixabay photo" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay photo</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.By TROY BICKHAM <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-turkey-the-main-dish-on-thanksgiving-193702">The Conversation</a>Have you ever wondered why Thanksgiving revolves around turkey and not ham, chicken, venison, beef or corn? Almost <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2021/11/24/thanksgiving-food-debates-poll">9 in 10</a>
 Americans eat turkey during this festive meal, whether it’s roasted, 
deep-fried, grilled or cooked in any other way for the occasion.You might believe it’s because of what the Pilgrims, a year after 
they landed in what’s now the state of Massachusetts, and their <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story">Indigenous Wampanoag guests</a> ate during their first thanksgiving feast in 1621. Or that it’s because <a href="https://www.almanac.com/wild-turkey-history-all-american-bird">turkey is originally from the Americas</a>. But it has more to do with how Americans observed the holiday in the 
late 1800s than which poultry the Pilgrims ate while celebrating their 
bounty in 1621.<h2>Did they or didn’t they eat it?</h2>The <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.mourtsrelationor00brad/?st=pdf&amp;pdfPage=189">only firsthand record</a>
 of what the Pilgrims ate at the first thanksgiving feast comes from 
Edward Winslow. He noted that the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, arrived 
with 90 men, and the two communities feasted together for three days. Winslow wrote little about the menu, aside from mentioning five deer 
that the Wampanoag brought and that the meal included “fowle,” which 
could have been any number of wild birds found in the area, including 
ducks, geese and turkeys.Historians do know that important ingredients of today’s traditional dishes were not available during that first Thanksgiving.That includes potatoes and green beans. The likely absence of wheat flour and the <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/40532/50517_aer382a.pdf?v=0">scarcity of sugar</a> in New England at the time ruled out pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. <a href="https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/squash.html">Some sort of squash</a>, a staple of Native American diets, was almost certainly served, <a href="https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/arts-culture/2021-11-24/heres-what-was-served-at-the-real-first-thanksgiving">along with corn</a> and shellfish.<h2>A resurrected tradition</h2><a href="https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/history/profile/troy-bickham/">Historians like me</a>
 who have studied the history of food have found that most modern 
Thanksgiving traditions began in the mid-19th century, more than two 
centuries after the Pilgrims’ first harvest celebration.The reinvention of the Pilgrims’ celebration as a national holiday was largely the work of <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-hale">Sarah Hale</a>.
 Born in New Hampshire in 1784, as a young widow she published poetry to
 earn a living. Most notably, she wrote the nursery rhyme “<a href="https://www.almanac.com/sarah-josepha-hale-godmother-thanksgiving">Mary Had a Little Lamb</a>.”In 1837, Hale became the editor of the popular magazine <a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=godeylady">Godey’s Lady’s Book</a>.
 Fiercely religious and family-focused, it crusaded for the creation of 
an annual national holiday of “Thanksgiving and Praise” commemorating 
the Pilgrims’ thanksgiving feast.Hale and her colleagues leaned on 1621 lore for historical 
justification. Like many of her contemporaries, she assumed the Pilgrims
 ate turkey at their first feast because of the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-turkeys">abundance of edible wild turkeys in New England</a>. This campaign took decades, partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among white Southerners. Many of them considered <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/nov02/thanks-early.html">an earlier celebration among Virginia colonists</a> in honor of supply ships that arrived at Jamestown in 1610 to be the more important precedent.The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/expulsion_cases/CivilWar_Expulsion.htm">absence of Southerners serving in Congress</a> during the Civil War enabled <a href="https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/lincoln-and-thanksgiving.htm">President Abraham Lincoln</a> to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.<h2>Turkey marketing campaign</h2>Godey’s, along with other media, embraced the holiday, packing their 
pages with recipes from New England and menus that prominently featured 
turkey.“We dare say most of the Thanksgiving will take the form of gastronomic pleasure,” <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/history-southern-thanksgiving">Georgia’s Augusta Chronicle</a> predicted in 1882. “Every person who can afford turkey or procure it will sacrifice the noble American fowl to-day.” One reason for this: A roasted turkey makes a perfect celebratory centerpiece. A second one is that turkey is also practical for serving to a large 
crowd. Turkeys are bigger than other birds raised or hunted for their 
meat, and it’s <a href="https://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/meat-and-animal-feed.html">cheaper to produce a turkey than a cow or pig</a>.
 
The bird’s attributes led Europeans to incorporate turkeys into their 
diets following their colonization of the Americas. In England, <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/the-history-of-turkeys/">King Henry VIII</a> regularly enjoyed turkey on Christmas day a century before the Pilgrims’ feast.<h2>Christmas connection</h2>The bird cemented its position as the <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/christmas-parties/christmas-party-ideas/why-do-we-eat-turkey-at-christmas_10022">favored Christmas dish in England in the mid-19th century</a>.One reason for this was that Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A 
Christmas Carol” sought redemption by replacing the impoverished 
Cratchit family’s meager goose with an enormous turkey. Published in 1843, Dickens’ instantly best-selling depiction of the prayerful family meal would soon <a href="https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol">inspire Hale’s idealized Thanksgiving</a>. Although the historical record is hazy, I do think it’s possible that
 the Pilgrims ate turkey in 1621. It certainly was served at 
celebrations in New England <a href="https://hilltownfamilies.org/2012/11/14/hf-613/?v=7516fd43adaa">throughout the colonial period</a>.Troy Bickham is a Professor of History at Texas A&amp;M University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193702/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

 Why is turkey the main dish on Thanksgiving?

By&nbsp;Leilana McKindra KU Medical Center News

KANSAS CITY -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/hmangat.html" target="_blank">Halinder Mangat, M.D.,</a>&nbsp;an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is the lead author on a research paper confirming the overall safety of the two mRNA vaccines and the single adenovirus vector COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.972464/full" target="_blank">observational study published in Frontiers in Public Health</a>&nbsp;last month, Mangat and the research team, which included collaborators from the United Kingdom, Germany, India and the Netherlands, found that over a one-year period there were very low overall cumulative reported rates of severe adverse events from the three COVID-19 vaccines. The findings were based on data from a publicly accessible vaccine safety surveillance database and included all reported instances up to 28 days after vaccination.

“While part of the safety may be dependent on selecting different vaccines for different age groups, the overall safety profile of both mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) and adenovirus vector (Janssen) vaccines is very good,” Mangat said. “In the context of COVID-19, risks of such severe adverse events following immunization appear to be significantly lower than from COVID-19 in adults.”

The study team found 88,626 severe adverse events after immunization (sAEFI) reported out of 485 million vaccine doses administered nationwide over a one-year period.

In the study, researchers looked at the rates of sAEFI reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) between December 13, 2020, and December 13, 2021, for each of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines authorized for emergency use and attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programs across all states and territories in the United States. Severe adverse events included emergency department visits, hospitalizations, life-threatening events and deaths.

Given the low rates of severe adverse events with the three COVID-19 vaccines, the study concluded that immunization should remain a critical tool for adults for decreasing severity of COVID-19 in the United States. Researchers also noted that data confirming the safety of the vaccines should be the centerpiece of public health messaging to help fuel vaccine uptake and combat vaccine hesitancy.

The study team wrote that the findings should bolster confidence in adenovector virus vaccines and their continued use globally, including some remote areas where refrigeration is difficult or impossible.

“The results from this study should encourage people who have been skeptical about vaccine safety to take the vaccines,” Mangat said. “At a global level, these data also provide safety reassurance for the continued use of adenovector virus vaccines, which do not pose cold-chain logistical challenges.”

See Related Stories in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=147">Research</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=145">School of Medicine</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=710">School of Medicine Research</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649633006948.jpeg" alt="(Photo by Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Leilana McKindra KU Medical Center NewsKANSAS CITY -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/hmangat.html" target="_blank">Halinder Mangat, M.D.,</a>&nbsp;an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is the lead author on a research paper confirming the overall safety of the two mRNA vaccines and the single adenovirus vector COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.972464/full" target="_blank">observational study published in Frontiers in Public Health</a>&nbsp;last month, Mangat and the research team, which included collaborators from the United Kingdom, Germany, India and the Netherlands, found that over a one-year period there were very low overall cumulative reported rates of severe adverse events from the three COVID-19 vaccines. The findings were based on data from a publicly accessible vaccine safety surveillance database and included all reported instances up to 28 days after vaccination.“While part of the safety may be dependent on selecting different vaccines for different age groups, the overall safety profile of both mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) and adenovirus vector (Janssen) vaccines is very good,” Mangat said. “In the context of COVID-19, risks of such severe adverse events following immunization appear to be significantly lower than from COVID-19 in adults.”The study team found 88,626 severe adverse events after immunization (sAEFI) reported out of 485 million vaccine doses administered nationwide over a one-year period.In the study, researchers looked at the rates of sAEFI reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) between December 13, 2020, and December 13, 2021, for each of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines authorized for emergency use and attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programs across all states and territories in the United States. Severe adverse events included emergency department visits, hospitalizations, life-threatening events and deaths.Given the low rates of severe adverse events with the three COVID-19 vaccines, the study concluded that immunization should remain a critical tool for adults for decreasing severity of COVID-19 in the United States. Researchers also noted that data confirming the safety of the vaccines should be the centerpiece of public health messaging to help fuel vaccine uptake and combat vaccine hesitancy.The study team wrote that the findings should bolster confidence in adenovector virus vaccines and their continued use globally, including some remote areas where refrigeration is difficult or impossible.“The results from this study should encourage people who have been skeptical about vaccine safety to take the vaccines,” Mangat said. “At a global level, these data also provide safety reassurance for the continued use of adenovector virus vaccines, which do not pose cold-chain logistical challenges.”See Related Stories in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=147">Research</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=145">School of Medicine</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=710">School of Medicine Research</a>

KU-led COVID vaccine safety study: Low rates of severe adverse events

The errant bird made its way into a Douglas County, Kansas, home earlier this month.&nbsp;

Video courtesy the Douglas County Sheriff's Office:

The errant bird made its way into a Douglas County, Kansas, home earlier this month.&nbsp;Video courtesy the Douglas County Sheriff's Office:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdgsosheriff%2Fvideos%2F1295027421290239%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Happy Thanksgiving!

🎥 🦃 Kansas sheriff 'pardons' turkey, won't prosecute

PHILADELPHIA
 (AP) — Four students were injured in an apparent drive-by shooting 
shortly after their Philadelphia high school let out early for the day 
late Wednesday morning, a city schools spokesperson said.

City 
police said a 15-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder and thigh, a 
15-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder, a 16-year-old boy suffered a 
graze wound to the face and a gunshot wound to the hand, and a 
16-year-old boy was shot in the leg. All four were getting hospital 
treatment and were in stable condition.

Police said no arrest has been made and no weapon was recovered.

The
 shooting took place about a block from Overbrook High School in West 
Philadelphia, where school let out early because of parent-teacher 
conferences, the district’s deputy chief of communications, Monique 
Braxton, said in a phone interview.

Braxton said the district's Office of School Safety told her the students were at a corner store when the shooting occurred.

“We
 don't know who was targeted, if any of the four of them were targeted,”
 Braxton said. Parents were being notified early Wednesday afternoon.

“This is outrageous, that young people would be shot shortly after being dismissed from their high school,” Braxton said.

Officer
 Miguel Torres, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department, 
said that the shooting occurred around 11:30 a.m. He said victims were 
taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Lankenau Medical Center.

PHILADELPHIA
 (AP) — Four students were injured in an apparent drive-by shooting 
shortly after their Philadelphia high school let out early for the day 
late Wednesday morning, a city schools spokesperson said.City 
police said a 15-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder and thigh, a 
15-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder, a 16-year-old boy suffered a 
graze wound to the face and a gunshot wound to the hand, and a 
16-year-old boy was shot in the leg. All four were getting hospital 
treatment and were in stable condition.Police said no arrest has been made and no weapon was recovered.The
 shooting took place about a block from Overbrook High School in West 
Philadelphia, where school let out early because of parent-teacher 
conferences, the district’s deputy chief of communications, Monique 
Braxton, said in a phone interview.Braxton said the district's Office of School Safety told her the students were at a corner store when the shooting occurred.“We
 don't know who was targeted, if any of the four of them were targeted,”
 Braxton said. Parents were being notified early Wednesday afternoon.“This is outrageous, that young people would be shot shortly after being dismissed from their high school,” Braxton said.Officer
 Miguel Torres, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department, 
said that the shooting occurred around 11:30 a.m. He said victims were 
taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Lankenau Medical Center.

Officials: 4 Philly high school students shot near school

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska county prosecutor has pleaded guilty in federal court to using his office to stalk his estranged wife and her boyfriend.

Former Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass was convicted of the misdemeanor Monday after he entered his plea. The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/former-dodge-county-attorney-pleads-guilty-to-depriving-citizens-rights/article_9adf30a6-69e7-11ed-b912-b385775cc2bf.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reports</a>&nbsp;that the 47-year-old will face up to a year in jail when he is sentenced in February.

Prosecutors said Glass improperly accessed a law enforcement database to look up his estranged wife’s boyfriend and asked Fremont police officers and Dodge County deputies he knew to follow the man and his estranged wife for several months in 2020. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any of the officers involved are being investigated for their roles.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-nebraska-indictments-9bbccfd9281243ef7f372bcc901e25d7">federal indictment</a>&nbsp;against Glass said a few days after he learned about the relationship Glass sent 46 text messages and made 10 phone calls to the boyfriend.

Glass also asked police officers and sheriff’s deputies to monitor his wife’s and her boyfriend’s homes and to try to catch them driving under the influence, the indictment says. Glass is accused of at one point telling a Nebraska State trooper that he was angry enough to “kill them both.”

Glass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fremont-crime-b3a32d264d70ac129ed9ad40e6b7b46d">resigned from office</a>&nbsp;last year after his second drunken driving arrest several months before he was indicted. Previously, Glass had refused to resign after his first DUI conviction in March 2020. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-02f4063e544909ffffdc98f93710fdcb">sentenced</a>&nbsp;to 18 months probation in that case for violating the terms of his probation in the first DUI case.

The boyfriend has filed a lawsuit against Dodge County over the harassment that he says prompted him to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital because he considered killing himself. He told the newspaper that for a time officers would regularly park outside his apartment and he would be followed by police or Glass himself wherever he went.

Glass’ law license has been indefinitely suspended and his four-year-old divorce case remains pending. His attorney, Clarence Mock, said Glass acknowledges that it was wrong to use officers as his own personal detectives and now wants to put the ordeal behind him.

“The collateral consequences for him have been so severe and possibly long-lasting,” Mock said. “It’s going to be difficult for him to recover.”

Mock said Glass says he never meant to harm the couple, but he was worried about the safety of his children because the man has a criminal record.

Glass went through alcohol treatment in 2017 and 2020, and Mock said he is now working for a business that sells ads on golf course benches and sober.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska county prosecutor has pleaded guilty in federal court to using his office to stalk his estranged wife and her boyfriend.Former Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass was convicted of the misdemeanor Monday after he entered his plea. The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/former-dodge-county-attorney-pleads-guilty-to-depriving-citizens-rights/article_9adf30a6-69e7-11ed-b912-b385775cc2bf.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reports</a>&nbsp;that the 47-year-old will face up to a year in jail when he is sentenced in February.Prosecutors said Glass improperly accessed a law enforcement database to look up his estranged wife’s boyfriend and asked Fremont police officers and Dodge County deputies he knew to follow the man and his estranged wife for several months in 2020. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any of the officers involved are being investigated for their roles.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-nebraska-indictments-9bbccfd9281243ef7f372bcc901e25d7">federal indictment</a>&nbsp;against Glass said a few days after he learned about the relationship Glass sent 46 text messages and made 10 phone calls to the boyfriend.Glass also asked police officers and sheriff’s deputies to monitor his wife’s and her boyfriend’s homes and to try to catch them driving under the influence, the indictment says. Glass is accused of at one point telling a Nebraska State trooper that he was angry enough to “kill them both.”Glass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fremont-crime-b3a32d264d70ac129ed9ad40e6b7b46d">resigned from office</a>&nbsp;last year after his second drunken driving arrest several months before he was indicted. Previously, Glass had refused to resign after his first DUI conviction in March 2020. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-02f4063e544909ffffdc98f93710fdcb">sentenced</a>&nbsp;to 18 months probation in that case for violating the terms of his probation in the first DUI case.The boyfriend has filed a lawsuit against Dodge County over the harassment that he says prompted him to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital because he considered killing himself. He told the newspaper that for a time officers would regularly park outside his apartment and he would be followed by police or Glass himself wherever he went.Glass’ law license has been indefinitely suspended and his four-year-old divorce case remains pending. His attorney, Clarence Mock, said Glass acknowledges that it was wrong to use officers as his own personal detectives and now wants to put the ordeal behind him.“The collateral consequences for him have been so severe and possibly long-lasting,” Mock said. “It’s going to be difficult for him to recover.”Mock said Glass says he never meant to harm the couple, but he was worried about the safety of his children because the man has a criminal record.Glass went through alcohol treatment in 2017 and 2020, and Mock said he is now working for a business that sells ads on golf course benches and sober.

Ex-prosecutor guilty of stalking estranged wife, boyfriend

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669213110675.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — 
Thanksgiving travel volume will be almost back to levels before the 
pandemic, if estimates from AAA come true."About 90% of people 
traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday will be taking to the highway," 
said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "It's a very driving heavy holiday. A
 lot of people just go in regionally or within state to visit to visit 
their friends and families."AAA predicts 54.6 million people 
nationwide will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving. 
That’s a 1.5% increase over 2021 and 98% of pre-pandemic volumes."In
 Kansas, about 525,000 of the 581,000 total travelers will be driving to
 their destinations," Steward said. "Pack your patience, slow down and 
just be extra cautious on the roads this week."It's also 
important to remember that it gets dark earlier this time of year, so 
more of that driving will likely take place outside of daylight hours, 
or during the potentially&nbsp; blinding pre-sunset hour, if driving west in 
the afternoon."Slow down, drive for the conditions," Steward 
said. "Don't overdrive your headlights. We've certainly got deer to look
 out for as well on the highways. Be scanning the sides of the road 
constantly as you are driving, especially at night."Some of the 
busiest driving times of the weekend will be on Wednesday after work and
 especially on Sunday as families travel back home after the long 
weekend.