'We are collecting more money than we need, and it has to go back to the taxpayer.'

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/17/key-senator-says-rosy-state-finances-call-for-accelerating-tax-breaks/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A key state lawmaker said Thursday that she’s aiming to 
accelerate tax breaks passed this year, in light of a glut of excess 
state cash reserve funds.

That would mean that phased-in reductions in state personal income 
and corporate taxes could happen sooner, along with the gradual 
elimination of state taxes on Social Security passed during the 2022 
legislative session.

“We are collecting more money than we need, and it has to go back to 
the taxpayer,” said State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who chairs 
the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, which guides state tax policies.

“It’s a good year to be a senator,” she said.

Meanwhile, a Lincoln-based think tank that monitors state tax 
policies said the excess funds should be used for “strategic and 
systematic” investments in housing, child care, mental health care, 
rural broadband and transportation, and that using temporary revenue 
surpluses for permanent tax cuts is fiscally unwise.

“Prudent state investments in these areas — as opposed to additional 
tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations — could help more hardworking 
Nebraskans enjoy ‘The Good Life,’ ” said Rebecca Firestone of the 
OpenSky Policy Institute.

The comments came after an annual report on state tax receipts and 
anticipated spending was presented to a panel of state lawmakers by 
Keisha Patent, who heads the Legislature’s Fiscal Office.

That report indicated that the state tax receipts for the fiscal year
 that ended in June were 18.7% higher than projected, which followed a 
13.5% increase in 2020-21. The growth was described by Patent as 
“extraordinary.”

The growth, the report projected, would push the state’s cash reserve
 to $1.9 billion more than required by fiscal year 2024-25. That is 21% 
above the required amount in the state’s “rainy day fund.”

By the end of the subsequent two-year budget cycle, which ends in 
2026-27, the cash reserve excess is projected to grow to $3.28 billion.

This spring, the State Legislature <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/30/third-time-is-the-charm-for-900-million-tax-cut-plan-in-nebraska-legislature/">passed a package of tax cuts</a>
 which included dropping the state’s top income tax rate from 6.84% to 
5.84% over five years and phasing out state income taxes on Social 
Security payments by tax year 2025.

Linehan said it would be “easiest” to use the excess funds to 
accelerate the already passed tax cuts, which also include a gradual 
reduction in state corporate income taxes and a tax credit on property 
tax payments to support community colleges.

What’s politically harder, the senator said, is reducing property 
taxes, which are levied locally by school districts, cities and 
counties.

In recent years, state lawmakers have opted to increase state tax 
credits provided to Nebraskans against what they paid in property taxes.

But Linehan said she would rather see changes in state aid to K-12 
schools to lower property taxes. That, she added, would probably require
 the Legislature to build in a “safety hatch” for funding local schools 
in the event state tax revenues tanked. The lack of a guarantee of state
 aid during hard times has been among the sticking points for education 
groups about proposed changes to the TEOSA formula.

Later Thursday, Jim Vokal, CEO of the Omaha-based Platte Institute, 
called the state’s current state aid program “antiquated” and unfair in 
that two-thirds of the state’s school districts don’t get any state 
equalization aid, thus forcing the burden on local property taxes.

In August, Platte partnered with The Reason Foundation to create <a target="_blank" href="https://platteinstitute.org/nebraskas-k-12-finance-system-lacks-transparency-and-is-too-dependent-on-property-taxes/">a tool that allows Nebraska to look at potential reforms</a> to the state aid formula.

Linehan’s proposals are likely to inspire alternatives. During the 
2022 session, Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh proposed returning the state’s 
excess cash directly to Nebraskans, in the form of rebate checks.

Patent, in comments to state senators Thursday, cautioned that 
Nebraska’s fiscal fortunes run in cycles, and the state is just now 
coming off four to five years in a row of excess tax revenue. So, she 
said, the cycle would favor four to five years ahead of lower-than 
average revenue.

Patent said she also built in inflationary increases in state spending for operations and salaries in her projections.

Linehan said she credits departing Gov. Pete Ricketts for holding the
 line on state spending proposals and Sen. John Stinner, the 
term-limited head of the Appropriations Committee, for conservative 
budgeting.

OpenSky, citing a<a target="_blank" href="https://itep.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/Child-Tax-Credit-Options-Nebraska-2022.pdf"> new national report</a>,
 said earlier this week that if Nebraska enacted a refundable state 
child tax credit of $2,800, it would cut the state’s child poverty rate 
in half and benefit between 219,000 and 389,000 Nebraska children.

That would be a “powerful” aid to working families, the institute said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668789836832.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'We are collecting more money than we need, and it has to go back to the taxpayer.'</h2>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/17/key-senator-says-rosy-state-finances-call-for-accelerating-tax-breaks/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A key state lawmaker said Thursday that she’s aiming to 
accelerate tax breaks passed this year, in light of a glut of excess 
state cash reserve funds.That would mean that phased-in reductions in state personal income 
and corporate taxes could happen sooner, along with the gradual 
elimination of state taxes on Social Security passed during the 2022 
legislative session.“We are collecting more money than we need, and it has to go back to 
the taxpayer,” said State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who chairs 
the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, which guides state tax policies.“It’s a good year to be a senator,” she said.Meanwhile, a Lincoln-based think tank that monitors state tax 
policies said the excess funds should be used for “strategic and 
systematic” investments in housing, child care, mental health care, 
rural broadband and transportation, and that using temporary revenue 
surpluses for permanent tax cuts is fiscally unwise.<h2>Prudent investments</h2>“Prudent state investments in these areas — as opposed to additional 
tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations — could help more hardworking 
Nebraskans enjoy ‘The Good Life,’ ” said Rebecca Firestone of the 
OpenSky Policy Institute.The comments came after an annual report on state tax receipts and 
anticipated spending was presented to a panel of state lawmakers by 
Keisha Patent, who heads the Legislature’s Fiscal Office.That report indicated that the state tax receipts for the fiscal year
 that ended in June were 18.7% higher than projected, which followed a 
13.5% increase in 2020-21. The growth was described by Patent as 
“extraordinary.”<h2>Cash reserve well above requirements</h2>The growth, the report projected, would push the state’s cash reserve
 to $1.9 billion more than required by fiscal year 2024-25. That is 21% 
above the required amount in the state’s “rainy day fund.”By the end of the subsequent two-year budget cycle, which ends in 
2026-27, the cash reserve excess is projected to grow to $3.28 billion.This spring, the State Legislature <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/30/third-time-is-the-charm-for-900-million-tax-cut-plan-in-nebraska-legislature/">passed a package of tax cuts</a>
 which included dropping the state’s top income tax rate from 6.84% to 
5.84% over five years and phasing out state income taxes on Social 
Security payments by tax year 2025.Linehan said it would be “easiest” to use the excess funds to 
accelerate the already passed tax cuts, which also include a gradual 
reduction in state corporate income taxes and a tax credit on property 
tax payments to support community colleges.<h2>Harder to cut property taxes</h2>What’s politically harder, the senator said, is reducing property 
taxes, which are levied locally by school districts, cities and 
counties.In recent years, state lawmakers have opted to increase state tax 
credits provided to Nebraskans against what they paid in property taxes.But Linehan said she would rather see changes in state aid to K-12 
schools to lower property taxes. That, she added, would probably require
 the Legislature to build in a “safety hatch” for funding local schools 
in the event state tax revenues tanked. The lack of a guarantee of state
 aid during hard times has been among the sticking points for education 
groups about proposed changes to the TEOSA formula.Later Thursday, Jim Vokal, CEO of the Omaha-based Platte Institute, 
called the state’s current state aid program “antiquated” and unfair in 
that two-thirds of the state’s school districts don’t get any state 
equalization aid, thus forcing the burden on local property taxes.In August, Platte partnered with The Reason Foundation to create <a target="_blank" href="https://platteinstitute.org/nebraskas-k-12-finance-system-lacks-transparency-and-is-too-dependent-on-property-taxes/">a tool that allows Nebraska to look at potential reforms</a> to the state aid formula.<h2>Down cycle ahead?</h2>Linehan’s proposals are likely to inspire alternatives. During the 
2022 session, Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh proposed returning the state’s 
excess cash directly to Nebraskans, in the form of rebate checks.Patent, in comments to state senators Thursday, cautioned that 
Nebraska’s fiscal fortunes run in cycles, and the state is just now 
coming off four to five years in a row of excess tax revenue. So, she 
said, the cycle would favor four to five years ahead of lower-than 
average revenue.Patent said she also built in inflationary increases in state spending for operations and salaries in her projections.Linehan said she credits departing Gov. Pete Ricketts for holding the
 line on state spending proposals and Sen. John Stinner, the 
term-limited head of the Appropriations Committee, for conservative 
budgeting.OpenSky, citing a<a target="_blank" href="https://itep.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/Child-Tax-Credit-Options-Nebraska-2022.pdf"> new national report</a>,
 said earlier this week that if Nebraska enacted a refundable state 
child tax credit of $2,800, it would cut the state’s child poverty rate 
in half and benefit between 219,000 and 389,000 Nebraska children.That would be a “powerful” aid to working families, the institute said.

Key senator: Rosy state finances call for accelerating tax breaks

DETROIT (AP)—Ford is recalling more than 550,000 F-150 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front windshield wiper motor may stop functioning, causing the wipers to stop working.

The automobile maker said that the inoperative windshield wipers on the 2021-2022 models can reduce visibility in certain conditions, which could increase the risk of a crash.

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 453,650 of the vehicles in the U.S. and 103,076 in Canada.

Recall notification letters are expected to be mailed in the U.S. on Jan. 3. Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor for free.

DETROIT (AP)—Ford is recalling more than 550,000 F-150 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front windshield wiper motor may stop functioning, causing the wipers to stop working.The automobile maker said that the inoperative windshield wipers on the 2021-2022 models can reduce visibility in certain conditions, which could increase the risk of a crash.Ford Motor Co. is recalling 453,650 of the vehicles in the U.S. and 103,076 in Canada.Recall notification letters are expected to be mailed in the U.S. on Jan. 3. Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor for free.

Ford recalling some F-150 vehicles due to wiper motor

'This is industrial livestock … this is not farming.'

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/18/compost-piles-containing-dead-chickens-near-david-city-wellfield-to-be-removed/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

DAVID CITY — Piles of compost containing dead chicken parts
 are expected to be removed soon after the mayor of David City and 
nearby residents complained that the compost was within the wellhead 
protection area for the town’s water supply.

But while state officials said the composting operation followed 
applicable rules, the incident has opened old sores about the abundance 
of huge chicken barns built around David City in recent years to supply 
broilers for Costco and the affiliated Lincoln Premium Poultry 
processing plant in Fremont.

At least 94 barns holding more than 47,000 chickens each are located 
within a few miles west of David City, the county seat of Butler County.
 All but 10 are owned by a North Carolina-based investment group, Gallus
 Capital.

Butler County is notable because it is one of two Nebraska counties 
that do not have county zoning regulations, thus removing a hurdle in 
building the complexes of 12-16 barns each.

That lack of regulation has led to the influx of chicken barns in 
this rural area, about a 50-minute drive northwest of Lincoln, as well 
as to Platte County, which also has no zoning ordinances.

Greg Lanc, a fourth-generation farmer who lives within a mile of 
three complexes of 16 chicken barns each, said he doesn’t think his 
neighbors near David City were prepared for so many barns, or for the 
odors created when the barns are cleaned or when dead birds are removed.

&nbsp;“It’s hard to comprehend how concentrated they are out here,” he said. “This is industrial livestock … this is not farming.”

Lanc said he was disgusted to find the compost piles with visible 
chicken parts near his home. Dead chickens, he said ought to be buried 
rather than left out in the open.

Christen Kamm, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of 
Agriculture, said that state statues allow the composting of dead 
livestock, including chickens, on the farm site, or for the animals to 
be picked up by a rendering company.

Such composting can be done off-site with written permission of the 
state veterinarian, which Kamm confirmed this week was the case at the 
compost site near David City.

“The material was composted on-site and after the composting to 
eliminate any concern of disease was completed, the compost was 
permitted to be spread off-site,” she said.

State regulations do not restrict where composting can take place, Kamm said, if there is no runoff.

One of the farmers who bought the mixture of composted chickens and manure, Jesse Hough of H-KO Farms, said he followed all state and federal rules in obtaining the chicken compost and then mixing it with other compost.

During an inspection of Hough’s compost piles by the Nebraska 
Department of Environment and Energy on Oct. 14, a state inspector 
expressed concern that chicken bones were visible in long piles of 
compost. He&nbsp; requested that an additional cover of soil be applied, 
which is what the USDA advises for such compost piles.

An NDEE spokeswoman, Amanda Woita, said that Hough and fellow farmer 
Jack Klosterman assured the state that the composting will be completed 
by Sunday Nov. 20. State records indicate that the farmers obtained the 
composted chickens from a broker and intended to eventually apply the 
compost on farmland as fertilizer when harvest season was over.

Woita confirmed that the compost piles were within the wellhead 
protection area of David City but that the city enforces rules in such 
areas. City ordinances do not list composting livestock as prohibited.

David City Mayor Zavodny said he had reached out to state officials 
when he first heard about the composting operation and was told it was 
all within the rules and regulations.

Zavodny said he’d rather not see such operations near the city’s drinking water wells.

&nbsp;“You hope your regulatory agencies 
are on top of it,” he said. (But) it’s awful hard to say who’s in charge
 and who has jurisdiction.”

Lanc and a neighbor, Sam Barlean, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/30/landowners-environmental-groups-ask-for-more-proactive-state-regulation/">also raised concerns</a>
 about the composting at a Sept. 29 public hearing held by NDEE in 
Lincoln concerning reauthorization of state rules concerning 
concentrated animal feeding operations, such as large cattle feedlots, 
hog confinement operations and chicken barns.

The testimony led NDEE to inspect the site on Oct. 14.

Lanc, as well as Barlean, lamented about the lack of zoning 
ordinances in Butler County, ordinances that could control how many 
chicken barns are placed in an area and could better regulate dust, 
odors and spreading of manure.

They said that they’re not as concerned about locally owned chicken 
barns because local families care more about keeping odors and dust in 
control and being good neighbors. They questioned whether investors in 
faraway states, who don’t live near the chicken barns, care as much.

Barlean, whose farm has 24 barns within a half mile, said he moved 
into David City recently to get away from the “unbearable” smell.

“It was just the smell of death,” he said, when the dead chickens were removed.

Both farmers testified in September in favor of stronger oversight of such operations by the state.

“If the policies and the regulations 
that are put in place are not enforced, it’s like having a sheriff who 
isn’t going to do anything about speeding,” Lanc said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668782271078.png" alt="Rows of compost, with chicken bones visible, sat just west of David City on Sept. 30. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Rows of compost, with chicken bones visible, sat just west of David City on Sept. 30. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'This is industrial livestock … this is not farming.'</h2>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/18/compost-piles-containing-dead-chickens-near-david-city-wellfield-to-be-removed/">Nebraska Examiner</a>DAVID CITY — Piles of compost containing dead chicken parts
 are expected to be removed soon after the mayor of David City and 
nearby residents complained that the compost was within the wellhead 
protection area for the town’s water supply.But while state officials said the composting operation followed 
applicable rules, the incident has opened old sores about the abundance 
of huge chicken barns built around David City in recent years to supply 
broilers for Costco and the affiliated Lincoln Premium Poultry 
processing plant in Fremont.At least 94 barns holding more than 47,000 chickens each are located 
within a few miles west of David City, the county seat of Butler County.
 All but 10 are owned by a North Carolina-based investment group, Gallus
 Capital.<h2>No county zoning</h2>Butler County is notable because it is one of two Nebraska counties 
that do not have county zoning regulations, thus removing a hurdle in 
building the complexes of 12-16 barns each.That lack of regulation has led to the influx of chicken barns in 
this rural area, about a 50-minute drive northwest of Lincoln, as well 
as to Platte County, which also has no zoning ordinances.Greg Lanc, a fourth-generation farmer who lives within a mile of 
three complexes of 16 chicken barns each, said he doesn’t think his 
neighbors near David City were prepared for so many barns, or for the 
odors created when the barns are cleaned or when dead birds are removed.&nbsp;“It’s hard to comprehend how concentrated they are out here,” he said. “This is industrial livestock … this is not farming.”Lanc said he was disgusted to find the compost piles with visible 
chicken parts near his home. Dead chickens, he said ought to be buried 
rather than left out in the open.<h2>Within rules</h2>Christen Kamm, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of 
Agriculture, said that state statues allow the composting of dead 
livestock, including chickens, on the farm site, or for the animals to 
be picked up by a rendering company.Such composting can be done off-site with written permission of the 
state veterinarian, which Kamm confirmed this week was the case at the 
compost site near David City.“The material was composted on-site and after the composting to 
eliminate any concern of disease was completed, the compost was 
permitted to be spread off-site,” she said.<h2>Not barred in wellhead areas</h2>State regulations do not restrict where composting can take place, Kamm said, if there is no runoff.One of the farmers who bought the mixture of composted chickens and manure, Jesse Hough of H-KO Farms, said he followed all state and federal rules in obtaining the chicken compost and then mixing it with other compost.During an inspection of Hough’s compost piles by the Nebraska 
Department of Environment and Energy on Oct. 14, a state inspector 
expressed concern that chicken bones were visible in long piles of 
compost. He&nbsp; requested that an additional cover of soil be applied, 
which is what the USDA advises for such compost piles.An NDEE spokeswoman, Amanda Woita, said that Hough and fellow farmer 
Jack Klosterman assured the state that the composting will be completed 
by Sunday Nov. 20. State records indicate that the farmers obtained the 
composted chickens from a broker and intended to eventually apply the 
compost on farmland as fertilizer when harvest season was over.Woita confirmed that the compost piles were within the wellhead 
protection area of David City but that the city enforces rules in such 
areas. City ordinances do not list composting livestock as prohibited.<h2>Mayor raised concerns</h2>David City Mayor Zavodny said he had reached out to state officials 
when he first heard about the composting operation and was told it was 
all within the rules and regulations.Zavodny said he’d rather not see such operations near the city’s drinking water wells.&nbsp;“You hope your regulatory agencies 
are on top of it,” he said. (But) it’s awful hard to say who’s in charge
 and who has jurisdiction.”Lanc and a neighbor, Sam Barlean, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/30/landowners-environmental-groups-ask-for-more-proactive-state-regulation/">also raised concerns</a>
 about the composting at a Sept. 29 public hearing held by NDEE in 
Lincoln concerning reauthorization of state rules concerning 
concentrated animal feeding operations, such as large cattle feedlots, 
hog confinement operations and chicken barns.The testimony led NDEE to inspect the site on Oct. 14.Lanc, as well as Barlean, lamented about the lack of zoning 
ordinances in Butler County, ordinances that could control how many 
chicken barns are placed in an area and could better regulate dust, 
odors and spreading of manure.They said that they’re not as concerned about locally owned chicken 
barns because local families care more about keeping odors and dust in 
control and being good neighbors. They questioned whether investors in 
faraway states, who don’t live near the chicken barns, care as much.Barlean, whose farm has 24 barns within a half mile, said he moved 
into David City recently to get away from the “unbearable” smell.“It was just the smell of death,” he said, when the dead chickens were removed.Both farmers testified in September in favor of stronger oversight of such operations by the state.“If the policies and the regulations 
that are put in place are not enforced, it’s like having a sheriff who 
isn’t going to do anything about speeding,” Lanc said.

'Dead chicken' compost piles near Neb. town's water supply to be removed

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. agriculture officials proposed changes Thursday to the federal program that helps pay the grocery bills for low-income pregnant women, babies and young children, including extending a bump in payments for fresh fruits and vegetables allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The update also adds more whole grains, canned fish and non-dairy options to their shopping carts. The effort is aimed at expanding the number and type of healthy foods available to families who get assistance from the Agriculture Department's program known as WIC, officials said.

“These proposals will promote healthier lifestyles and brighter futures for millions of children,” said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services.

The revisions would make permanent payments authorized by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic that increased vouchers for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month for children ages 1 to 5 and to $49 a month for breastfeeding women.

“This increase in fruits and vegetables has really made it attractive for families to have their children in the program longer,” said Geraldine Henchy, director of nutrition policy for the nonprofit Food Research &amp; Action Center, who applauded the changes. “Kids really love fruit.”

At the same time, the plan would reduce the amounts of some foods, for example reducing or eliminating juice allowed for some recipients. It also reduces the amount of milk and cheese covered under the program, a move that drew immediate criticism from the dairy industry.

“It is unfortunate for WIC participants that the proposed rule would decrease access to dairy products and the unique nutrient profile they provide," the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation said in a statement.

More than 6.2 million pregnant women, mothers, babies and young children participate in the program annually. The federal government currently pays about $5 billion a year to run the program, which is administered through states and other jurisdictions. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides vouchers to mothers and children who qualify and specifically lists the amount and types of food they can buy.

The proposed changes to WIC would also expand access to whole grains, encompassing foods from different cultures, including quinoa, blue cornmeal and teff, an ancient East African cereal grass. The plan also allows more non-dairy options, including soy-based yogurts and cheeses, and requires lactose-free milk to be included.

“It reflects the fact that different people have different capacities to tolerate different kinds of food,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak said.

More canned fish, such as tuna, would be available as well as easy-to-prepare canned beans, in addition to dried beans, officials said. The plan would also change the amount of infant formula provided to partially breastfed babies.

Increasing the voucher for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month during the pandemic has allowed Elizabeth Loya, 28, of Los Angeles, to encourage her 4-year-old daughter, Gisselle, to sample new foods.

“She tried Brussels sprouts and, two weeks ago, she tried asparagus,” Loya said. “She liked them.”

The proposed changes are based on a 2017 report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and the national Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They'll be evaluated after a three-month public comment period. ___

By JONEL ALECCIA&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. agriculture officials proposed changes Thursday to the federal program that helps pay the grocery bills for low-income pregnant women, babies and young children, including extending a bump in payments for fresh fruits and vegetables allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSDA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid023X4gEgg8sjMEELnomVfVDZBtQ7MFGZdbYbpecwvbW4kXkzjoKZZT99ivS2wVmBvwl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="619" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The update also adds more whole grains, canned fish and non-dairy options to their shopping carts. The effort is aimed at expanding the number and type of healthy foods available to families who get assistance from the Agriculture Department's program known as WIC, officials said.“These proposals will promote healthier lifestyles and brighter futures for millions of children,” said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services.The revisions would make permanent payments authorized by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic that increased vouchers for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month for children ages 1 to 5 and to $49 a month for breastfeeding women.“This increase in fruits and vegetables has really made it attractive for families to have their children in the program longer,” said Geraldine Henchy, director of nutrition policy for the nonprofit Food Research &amp; Action Center, who applauded the changes. “Kids really love fruit.”At the same time, the plan would reduce the amounts of some foods, for example reducing or eliminating juice allowed for some recipients. It also reduces the amount of milk and cheese covered under the program, a move that drew immediate criticism from the dairy industry.“It is unfortunate for WIC participants that the proposed rule would decrease access to dairy products and the unique nutrient profile they provide," the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation said in a statement.More than 6.2 million pregnant women, mothers, babies and young children participate in the program annually. The federal government currently pays about $5 billion a year to run the program, which is administered through states and other jurisdictions. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides vouchers to mothers and children who qualify and specifically lists the amount and types of food they can buy.The proposed changes to WIC would also expand access to whole grains, encompassing foods from different cultures, including quinoa, blue cornmeal and teff, an ancient East African cereal grass. The plan also allows more non-dairy options, including soy-based yogurts and cheeses, and requires lactose-free milk to be included.“It reflects the fact that different people have different capacities to tolerate different kinds of food,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak said.More canned fish, such as tuna, would be available as well as easy-to-prepare canned beans, in addition to dried beans, officials said. The plan would also change the amount of infant formula provided to partially breastfed babies.Increasing the voucher for fruits and vegetables to $25 a month during the pandemic has allowed Elizabeth Loya, 28, of Los Angeles, to encourage her 4-year-old daughter, Gisselle, to sample new foods.“She tried Brussels sprouts and, two weeks ago, she tried asparagus,” Loya said. “She liked them.”The proposed changes are based on a 2017 report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and the national Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They'll be evaluated after a three-month public comment period. ___

USDA program keeps extra COVID-era money for fruits, veggies

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed near Japanese waters Friday in its second major weapons test this month that showed a potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on all of the U.S. mainland.

While it's unclear whether North Korea possesses functioning nuclear-armed missiles, some experts say Friday’s launch involved its longest-range missile, which is still under development and is designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to overcome U.S. missile defense systems.

North Korea’s recent torrid run of weapons tests aims to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in future diplomacy. It comes as China and Russia have opposed U.S. moves to toughen U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear program.

The United States quickly condemned the launch and vowed to take “all necessary measures” to guarantee the safety of its territory and its allies South Korea and Japan.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g-20-summit-health-business-china-canada-daa03c57c21d4b2b61fac0061b00321b">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;met with the leaders of those countries and of Australia, Canada and New Zealand who are attending a regional forum in Bangkok to discuss the launch.

“We again call for North Korea to stop further unlawful, destabilizing acts. On behalf of the United States, I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances,” Harris said at the start of the meeting. “Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy.”

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the ICBM launch from North Korea’s capital region around 10:15 a.m. Japan said it appeared to fly on a high trajectory and land west of its island of Hokkaido.

According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile flew 6,000-6,100 kilometers (3,600-3,790 miles) at a maximum altitude of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that depending on the weight of a potential warhead, the missile had a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), “in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States.”

Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea, said he believes North Korea tested a developmental Hwasong-17 missile, which he said can carry three to five nuclear warheads and fly as far as 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles).

North Korea has two other ICBMs — Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 — and their test launches in 2017 showed they could potentially reach parts or all of the U.S. homeland, respectively. But Kwon said North Korea needs a longer-range missile like the Hwasong-17 capable of flying a lengthier route to the American mainland to evade current U.S. missile defense systems.

The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear and missile technologies is shrouded in secrecy.

Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Korea Aerospace University in South Korea, said North Korea has shown that its missiles have ICBM-class flight ranges but has yet to publicly prove that warheads will be able to survive the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry. Some experts believe North Korea has likely acquired such technologies.

Chang said Friday's launch was successful and that the flight details indicated it was the same type of missile that North Korea tested in March, when North Korea claimed to have launched a Hwasong-17, but South Korea insisted it was a Hwasong-15.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the launch “needlessly raises tensions" and shows that North Korea is prioritizing unlawful weapons programs over the wellbeing of its people. “Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement,” Watson said.

In his opening comments at the meeting in Bangkok, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the launch “utterly unacceptable," saying the missile fell inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone west of Hokkaido. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the international community must work together to get North Korea to realize that each of its provocations only deepens its international isolation and economic hardship.

Later Friday, South Korea's military said its F-35 fighter jets conducted drills simulating aerial strikes on North Korean mobile missile launchers at a firing range near its land border with North Korea. It said a group of eight South Korean and U.S. fighter jets separately performed flight training off the Korean Peninsula's east coast.

The exercises “showed we have a strong resolve to sternly deal with an ICBM launch and any other provocations and threats posed by North Korea, and the allies' overwhelming capacity and readiness to launch precision strikes on the enemy,” South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier ordered officials to boost security cooperation with the United States and Japan and push for strong international condemnations and sanctions on North Korea, according to his office.

In recent months, North Korea has performed dozens of shorter-range missile tests that it called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-seoul-south-korea-nuclear-weapons-north-6ce0a8da47f8eb9228d4b33223ebfa3b">simulations of nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets</a>. On Nov. 3, North Korea also launched a suspected Hwasong-17 missile, but experts say that weapon failed to fly its intended flight and fell into the ocean after a stage separation.

North Korea halted weapons launches for about a week before it fired a short-range ballistic missile on Thursday. Before that launch, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui threatened to launch “fiercer” military responses to steps by the U.S. to bolster its security commitment to South Korea and Japan.

Choe was referring to President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with Yoon and Kishida on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Cambodia. In their joint statement, the three leaders strongly condemned North Korea’s recent missile tests and agreed to work together to strengthen deterrence. Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea and Japan with a full range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons.

Choe didn’t describe what steps North Korea could take but said that “the U.S. will be well aware that it is gambling, for which it will certainly regret.”

North Korea sees the U.S. military presence in South Korea and Japan as proof of American hostility. It has said its recent series of weapons launches were a response to what it called provocative military drills between the United States and South Korea.

There have been concerns that North Korea might conduct its first nuclear test in five years as its next major step in strengthening its military capability against the United States and its allies.

North Korea has been under multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions over its previous nuclear and missile tests. But no new sanctions have been applied this year as it has conducted dozens of ballistic missile launches, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions.

China and Russia, two of the Security Council’s veto-wielding members, oppose new U.N. sanctions. Washington is locked in a strategic competition with Beijing and in a confrontation with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1664842519726.png" alt="&nbsp;This photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a parliament in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sept. 8, 2022.&nbsp; (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) (Uncredited/KCNA via KNS)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;This photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a parliament in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sept. 8, 2022.&nbsp; (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) (Uncredited/KCNA via KNS)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed near Japanese waters Friday in its second major weapons test this month that showed a potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on all of the U.S. mainland.While it's unclear whether North Korea possesses functioning nuclear-armed missiles, some experts say Friday’s launch involved its longest-range missile, which is still under development and is designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to overcome U.S. missile defense systems.North Korea’s recent torrid run of weapons tests aims to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in future diplomacy. It comes as China and Russia have opposed U.S. moves to toughen U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear program.The United States quickly condemned the launch and vowed to take “all necessary measures” to guarantee the safety of its territory and its allies South Korea and Japan.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g-20-summit-health-business-china-canada-daa03c57c21d4b2b61fac0061b00321b">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;met with the leaders of those countries and of Australia, Canada and New Zealand who are attending a regional forum in Bangkok to discuss the launch.“We again call for North Korea to stop further unlawful, destabilizing acts. On behalf of the United States, I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances,” Harris said at the start of the meeting. “Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy.”South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the ICBM launch from North Korea’s capital region around 10:15 a.m. Japan said it appeared to fly on a high trajectory and land west of its island of Hokkaido.According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile flew 6,000-6,100 kilometers (3,600-3,790 miles) at a maximum altitude of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that depending on the weight of a potential warhead, the missile had a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), “in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States.”Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea, said he believes North Korea tested a developmental Hwasong-17 missile, which he said can carry three to five nuclear warheads and fly as far as 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles).North Korea has two other ICBMs — Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 — and their test launches in 2017 showed they could potentially reach parts or all of the U.S. homeland, respectively. But Kwon said North Korea needs a longer-range missile like the Hwasong-17 capable of flying a lengthier route to the American mainland to evade current U.S. missile defense systems.The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear and missile technologies is shrouded in secrecy.Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Korea Aerospace University in South Korea, said North Korea has shown that its missiles have ICBM-class flight ranges but has yet to publicly prove that warheads will be able to survive the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry. Some experts believe North Korea has likely acquired such technologies.Chang said Friday's launch was successful and that the flight details indicated it was the same type of missile that North Korea tested in March, when North Korea claimed to have launched a Hwasong-17, but South Korea insisted it was a Hwasong-15.U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the launch “needlessly raises tensions" and shows that North Korea is prioritizing unlawful weapons programs over the wellbeing of its people. “Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement,” Watson said.In his opening comments at the meeting in Bangkok, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the launch “utterly unacceptable," saying the missile fell inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone west of Hokkaido. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the international community must work together to get North Korea to realize that each of its provocations only deepens its international isolation and economic hardship.Later Friday, South Korea's military said its F-35 fighter jets conducted drills simulating aerial strikes on North Korean mobile missile launchers at a firing range near its land border with North Korea. It said a group of eight South Korean and U.S. fighter jets separately performed flight training off the Korean Peninsula's east coast.The exercises “showed we have a strong resolve to sternly deal with an ICBM launch and any other provocations and threats posed by North Korea, and the allies' overwhelming capacity and readiness to launch precision strikes on the enemy,” South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier ordered officials to boost security cooperation with the United States and Japan and push for strong international condemnations and sanctions on North Korea, according to his office.In recent months, North Korea has performed dozens of shorter-range missile tests that it called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-seoul-south-korea-nuclear-weapons-north-6ce0a8da47f8eb9228d4b33223ebfa3b">simulations of nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets</a>. On Nov. 3, North Korea also launched a suspected Hwasong-17 missile, but experts say that weapon failed to fly its intended flight and fell into the ocean after a stage separation.North Korea halted weapons launches for about a week before it fired a short-range ballistic missile on Thursday. Before that launch, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui threatened to launch “fiercer” military responses to steps by the U.S. to bolster its security commitment to South Korea and Japan.Choe was referring to President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with Yoon and Kishida on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Cambodia. In their joint statement, the three leaders strongly condemned North Korea’s recent missile tests and agreed to work together to strengthen deterrence. Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea and Japan with a full range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons.Choe didn’t describe what steps North Korea could take but said that “the U.S. will be well aware that it is gambling, for which it will certainly regret.”North Korea sees the U.S. military presence in South Korea and Japan as proof of American hostility. It has said its recent series of weapons launches were a response to what it called provocative military drills between the United States and South Korea.There have been concerns that North Korea might conduct its first nuclear test in five years as its next major step in strengthening its military capability against the United States and its allies.North Korea has been under multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions over its previous nuclear and missile tests. But no new sanctions have been applied this year as it has conducted dozens of ballistic missile launches, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions.China and Russia, two of the Security Council’s veto-wielding members, oppose new U.N. sanctions. Washington is locked in a strategic competition with Beijing and in a confrontation with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.-----------

North Korea test-fires ICBM with range to strike entire US

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, along with state tax 
agencies and the nation's tax industry, today announced a special week 
focusing attention on empowering taxpayers to protect sensitive 
financial information against identity thieves as the holidays and the 
2023 tax season get closer.

Now in its seventh year, the annual National Tax Security Awareness 
Week takes place from November 28 - December 2. The event is part of a 
larger effort that continues by the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>,
 the coalition of the IRS, the states and the nation's tax software and 
tax professional community. The group formed in 2015 to combat 
tax-related identity theft by strengthening protections against fraud 
and raising security awareness.

With the holidays and tax season approaching, the Summit partners 
warned taxpayers and tax professionals to take extra steps to protect 
their financial and tax information. People face a heightened risk in 
coming months as fraudsters take advantage of the holiday season to 
trick people into sharing sensitive personal information by email, text 
message and online. Identity thieves use that information to try to file
 tax returns and steal refunds.

To help combat this, the Summit partner's National Tax Security 
Awareness Week will feature a week-long series of educational materials 
to help protect individuals, businesses and tax professionals from 
identity theft. The effort will include a November 29 webinar titled <a href="https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/47098">Deeper Dive Into Emerging Cyber Crimes and Crypto Tax Compliance</a>, special informational graphics and a social media effort on Twitter and Instagram through @IRSnews and #TaxSecurity.

"Taxpayers and tax professionals need to remain vigilant for 
increasingly sophisticated scams that look to steal sensitive financial 
information," said IRS&nbsp;Acting Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "The Security
 Summit effort focuses on highlighting simple steps that small 
businesses and people in all walks of life can take to protect their 
information, helping them avoid problems at tax time."

The IRS and Summit partners continue to see constantly evolving 
threats and scams. They mimic IRS and others in the tax community 
through fake emails, texts and online scams. These schemes frequently 
use recent tragedies or charitable groups to coax people into sharing 
sensitive financial data.

"The heightened risk to taxpayers poses a real threat. The criminals 
continue to evolve and are always looking for opportunities to 
fraudulently obtain this information," said Neena Savage, President of 
the Board of Trustees for the Federation of Tax Administrators and Tax 
Administrator for Rhode Island. "We urge everyone to take the steps 
necessary to protect their sensitive information, which simultaneously 
helps strengthen the joint work conducted by the states, the IRS and the
 tax industry through the Security Summit partnership."

As Security Summit partners increased their joint defenses against 
identity theft in recent years, including through the Identity Theft 
Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), fraudsters have 
increasingly looked for ways to obtain sensitive personal financial 
information to help slip past common defenses. That has made tax 
professionals – who hold valuable tax information for their clients – a 
tempting target for scam artists.

"The innovative Summit partnership between the public and private 
sectors has created important protections against tax-related identity 
theft,'&nbsp;said Julie Magee, Tax Regulatory Lead at Cash App Taxes and an 
original member of the Security Summit who currently serves as the 
group's communications co-chair.&nbsp;"This collaborative effort continues to
 thwart identity thieves, helping protect taxpayers and tax 
professionals while also safeguarding the federal and state tax systems 
essential to running our nation."

With International Fraud Awareness Week underway through November 19 
this year, the Security Summit offers a preview of the upcoming National
 Tax Security Awareness Week that begins November 28.

National Tax Security Awareness Week 2022 highlights

Cyber Monday: Protect personal and financial information online

The IRS and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a> partners remind people to take these basic steps when shopping online:

Tax professionals should review their security protocols

As identity thieves continue targeting tax professionals, the IRS and the Summit partners urge practitioners to review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/tax-security-2-point-0-the-taxes-security-together-checklist">"Taxes-Security-Together" Checklist</a>, including:

Taxpayers who can verify their identities online may opt into the IRS
 IP PIN program – a tool taxpayers can use to protect themselves – and 
their tax refund. Here's what taxpayers need to know:

Businesses should watch out for tax-related scams and implement safeguards

Most cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Some details from this segment include:

Earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/protect-your-clients-protect-yourself-summer-2022">Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself</a>&nbsp;campaign
 encouraged tax professionals to focus on fundamentals and to watch out 
for emerging vulnerabilities for those practitioners using cloud-based 
services for their practice.

In addition to reviewing IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data</a>PDF, tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing <a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals</a>PDF&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.

The IRS and Security Summit partners also share YouTube videos on 
security steps for taxpayers. The videos can be viewed or downloaded at <a href="https://youtu.be/V3hdiCtKj5s">Easy Steps to Protect Your Computer and Phone</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJYQL89qMfI">Security Measures Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft</a>.

Employers can share <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4524.pdf">Publication 4524, Security Awareness for Taxpayers</a>PDF, with their employees and customers and tax professionals can share with clients.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, along with state tax 
agencies and the nation's tax industry, today announced a special week 
focusing attention on empowering taxpayers to protect sensitive 
financial information against identity thieves as the holidays and the 
2023 tax season get closer.Now in its seventh year, the annual National Tax Security Awareness 
Week takes place from November 28 - December 2. The event is part of a 
larger effort that continues by the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>,
 the coalition of the IRS, the states and the nation's tax software and 
tax professional community. The group formed in 2015 to combat 
tax-related identity theft by strengthening protections against fraud 
and raising security awareness.With the holidays and tax season approaching, the Summit partners 
warned taxpayers and tax professionals to take extra steps to protect 
their financial and tax information. People face a heightened risk in 
coming months as fraudsters take advantage of the holiday season to 
trick people into sharing sensitive personal information by email, text 
message and online. Identity thieves use that information to try to file
 tax returns and steal refunds.To help combat this, the Summit partner's National Tax Security 
Awareness Week will feature a week-long series of educational materials 
to help protect individuals, businesses and tax professionals from 
identity theft. The effort will include a November 29 webinar titled <a href="https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/47098">Deeper Dive Into Emerging Cyber Crimes and Crypto Tax Compliance</a>, special informational graphics and a social media effort on Twitter and Instagram through @IRSnews and #TaxSecurity."Taxpayers and tax professionals need to remain vigilant for 
increasingly sophisticated scams that look to steal sensitive financial 
information," said IRS&nbsp;Acting Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "The Security
 Summit effort focuses on highlighting simple steps that small 
businesses and people in all walks of life can take to protect their 
information, helping them avoid problems at tax time."The IRS and Summit partners continue to see constantly evolving 
threats and scams. They mimic IRS and others in the tax community 
through fake emails, texts and online scams. These schemes frequently 
use recent tragedies or charitable groups to coax people into sharing 
sensitive financial data."The heightened risk to taxpayers poses a real threat. The criminals 
continue to evolve and are always looking for opportunities to 
fraudulently obtain this information," said Neena Savage, President of 
the Board of Trustees for the Federation of Tax Administrators and Tax 
Administrator for Rhode Island. "We urge everyone to take the steps 
necessary to protect their sensitive information, which simultaneously 
helps strengthen the joint work conducted by the states, the IRS and the
 tax industry through the Security Summit partnership."As Security Summit partners increased their joint defenses against 
identity theft in recent years, including through the Identity Theft 
Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), fraudsters have 
increasingly looked for ways to obtain sensitive personal financial 
information to help slip past common defenses. That has made tax 
professionals – who hold valuable tax information for their clients – a 
tempting target for scam artists."The innovative Summit partnership between the public and private 
sectors has created important protections against tax-related identity 
theft,'&nbsp;said Julie Magee, Tax Regulatory Lead at Cash App Taxes and an 
original member of the Security Summit who currently serves as the 
group's communications co-chair.&nbsp;"This collaborative effort continues to
 thwart identity thieves, helping protect taxpayers and tax 
professionals while also safeguarding the federal and state tax systems 
essential to running our nation."With International Fraud Awareness Week underway through November 19 
this year, the Security Summit offers a preview of the upcoming National
 Tax Security Awareness Week that begins November 28.<h2>National Tax Security Awareness Week 2022 highlights</h2><h2>Cyber Monday: Protect personal and financial information online</h2>The IRS and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a> partners remind people to take these basic steps when shopping online:<ul>
 <li>Use security software for computers and mobile phones – and keep it updated.</li><li>Make sure anti-virus software for computers has a feature to stop 
malware, and that there is a firewall enabled that can prevent 
intrusions.</li><li>Use strong and unique passwords for all accounts.</li><li>Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible.</li><li>Shop only secure websites; look for the "https" in web addresses 
and the padlock icon; avoid shopping on unsecured and public Wi-Fi in 
places like coffee shops, malls or restaurants.</li>
 </ul><h2>Tax professionals should review their security protocols</h2>As identity thieves continue targeting tax professionals, the IRS and the Summit partners urge practitioners to review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/tax-security-2-point-0-the-taxes-security-together-checklist">"Taxes-Security-Together" Checklist</a>, including:<ul>
 <li>Deploy basic security measures.</li><li>Use multi-factor authentication to protect tax software accounts.</li><li>Create a Virtual Private Network if working remotely.</li><li>Create a written data security plan as required by federal law.</li><li>Know about phishing and phone scams.</li><li>Create data security and data theft recovery plans.</li>
 </ul><h2>Get an Identity Protection PIN</h2>Taxpayers who can verify their identities online may opt into the IRS
 IP PIN program – a tool taxpayers can use to protect themselves – and 
their tax refund. Here's what taxpayers need to know:<ul>
 <li>The Identity Protection PIN or IP PIN is a six-digit code known 
only to the individual and the IRS. It provides another layer of 
protection for taxpayers' Social Security numbers on tax returns.</li><li>Use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/the-identity-protection-pin-ip-pin">Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)</a> tool at IRS.gov/IPPIN to immediately get an IP PIN.</li><li>Never share the IP PIN with anyone but a trusted tax provider.</li>
 </ul><h2>Businesses should watch out for tax-related scams and implement safeguards</h2>Most cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Some details from this segment include:<ul>
 <li>Learn about best security practices for small businesses.</li><li>IRS continues protective masking of sensitive information on business transcripts.</li><li>A Business Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039-B, is available for businesses to report theft to the IRS.</li><li>Beware of various scams, especially the W-2 scam that attempts to steal employee income information.</li><li>Check out the "Business" section on IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a>.</li>
 </ul>Earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/protect-your-clients-protect-yourself-summer-2022">Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself</a>&nbsp;campaign
 encouraged tax professionals to focus on fundamentals and to watch out 
for emerging vulnerabilities for those practitioners using cloud-based 
services for their practice.<h2>Additional resources</h2>In addition to reviewing IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data</a>PDF, tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing <a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals</a>PDF&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.The IRS and Security Summit partners also share YouTube videos on 
security steps for taxpayers. The videos can be viewed or downloaded at <a href="https://youtu.be/V3hdiCtKj5s">Easy Steps to Protect Your Computer and Phone</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJYQL89qMfI">Security Measures Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft</a>.Employers can share <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4524.pdf">Publication 4524, Security Awareness for Taxpayers</a>PDF, with their employees and customers and tax professionals can share with clients.

Summit focuses on security and identity theft as holiday, tax season nears

BBB is warning Facebook users that sharing a certain kind of 
attention-grabbing post might put their friends at risk of falling 
victim to a scam.

You
 are scrolling through Facebook, and a gut-wrenching post about an 
injured, lost pet or a missing child grabs your attention. You want to 
help, so you share the post on your own profile.

After you share the post, a scammer 
changes the original post to a deceptive rental ad or sometimes to a 
link pointing to a survey that "guarantees" a cash prize. Now, your 
friends think you have recommended that content. These bait-and-switch 
ads aim to either get a deposit for a rental property before the user 
gets a chance to see the home- or get your personal information, which 
could lead to identity theft.

This scheme has many variations, but 
the commonality is the emotionality or urgency of the message that 
encourages concerned people to share the news with their friends.&nbsp;

We have seen multiple variations of these shared on local buy-and-sell Facebook groups across Canada and the U.S. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/10/20/fact-check-identical-injured-dog-posts-viral-scam/10480235002/" target="_blank">USA Today</a>&nbsp;also reported about it in October.

These posts are shared in local 
buy-and-sell groups because there is already a sense of community and 
trust within these crowds, and people may not realize that scammers are 
targeting members. Scammers sometimes also turn comments off on the 
posts so other group members can't oust them.&nbsp;

BBB offers these tips to avoid being scammed by a bait-and-switch Facebook ad:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBBBB is warning Facebook users that sharing a certain kind of 
attention-grabbing post might put their friends at risk of falling 
victim to a scam.<h2>How the scam works</h2>You
 are scrolling through Facebook, and a gut-wrenching post about an 
injured, lost pet or a missing child grabs your attention. You want to 
help, so you share the post on your own profile.After you share the post, a scammer 
changes the original post to a deceptive rental ad or sometimes to a 
link pointing to a survey that "guarantees" a cash prize. Now, your 
friends think you have recommended that content. These bait-and-switch 
ads aim to either get a deposit for a rental property before the user 
gets a chance to see the home- or get your personal information, which 
could lead to identity theft.This scheme has many variations, but 
the commonality is the emotionality or urgency of the message that 
encourages concerned people to share the news with their friends.&nbsp;We have seen multiple variations of these shared on local buy-and-sell Facebook groups across Canada and the U.S. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/10/20/fact-check-identical-injured-dog-posts-viral-scam/10480235002/" target="_blank">USA Today</a>&nbsp;also reported about it in October.These posts are shared in local 
buy-and-sell groups because there is already a sense of community and 
trust within these crowds, and people may not realize that scammers are 
targeting members. Scammers sometimes also turn comments off on the 
posts so other group members can't oust them.&nbsp;<h2>BBB offers these tips to avoid being scammed by a bait-and-switch Facebook ad:</h2><ul>
 <li>Do a bit of digging before resharing a post on your profile. Read
 the information carefully and look at the profile of the person who 
created and shared the original post. If the profile is from Florida but
 shared the post in a Canadian group, it may be a red flag of a 
bait-and-switch publication.</li><li>Find out when the poster created the Facebook profile. Scammers
 always create profiles when their old one gets banned. If you click on 
their profile, it will tell you how long they have been a member of the 
group. You can also find additional information on their public profile.</li><li>You should see it in the news. If a 
child goes missing or a tragedy occurs, you'll most likely see it on 
different news outlets or shared by law enforcement, not on a random 
post.&nbsp;</li><li>Do a reverse image search on Google. That will allow you to find out if the pictures you saw were used on other ads or websites in different cities.&nbsp;</li><li>Find similar posts. Copy and paste 
the text from the post into Facebook's search tool to see if other posts
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Facebook alert: Local buy-and-sell group scams on the rise

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to ask the Supreme Court to reinstate the president's student debt cancellation plan, according to a Thursday legal filing warning that Americans will face financial strain if the plan remains stalled in court when loan payments are scheduled to restart in January.

The Justice Department is fighting to keep Biden's plan alive after it was halted by two federal courts in recent weeks. On Thursday it asked a federal appeals court in New Orleans to suspend a decision striking down Biden's plan, and in the same filing it announced plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn a St. Louis appeals court that halted the plan.

Biden’s plan promises $10,000 in federal student debt forgiveness to those with incomes of less than $125,000, or households earning less than $250,000. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, are eligible for an additional $10,000 in relief.

Keeping the debt relief on hold would leave the government with an “unnecessarily perilous choice,” the administration argued in its filing Thursday. If it restarts student loan payments as planned on Jan. 1, millions of Americans will get billed for debt that was promised to be canceled. But if the government extends the payment pause, it will cost billions of dollars in lost revenue.

It builds on arguments the administration made in other filings this week, warning that many Americans won't be able to pay their student debt bills in January if the cancellation plan remains halted.

For typical borrowers, monthly payments would be $200 to $300 higher than they would be if Biden’s plan goes through, the Education Department said. The strain could lead to soaring default rates, which have increased by an average of twentyfold in the wake of other natural disasters.

“We anticipate there could be an historically large increase in the amount of federal student loan delinquency and defaults as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Education Undersecretary James Kvaal said in a Tuesday filing. “This could result in one of the harms that the one-time student loan debt relief program was intended to avoid.”

Biden's plan has drawn a flurry of legal challenges, which have seen mixed results. Opponents of debt forgiveness have asked the Supreme Court to intervene at least twice after their cases failed in lower courts. The Supreme Court rejected both requests.

In its new filing, the Justice Department asks an appeals court to lift a decision from U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">striking down</a>&nbsp;Biden’s plan. Pittman, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and is based in Fort Worth, Texas, ruled last week that Biden's plan oversteps his presidential authority and usurps Congress' powers to make laws.

It stemmed from a lawsuit brought by two borrowers who are not eligible for relief under the parameters of Biden’s plan. The program was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-st-louis-student-loans-cf8136bfc75bd70839e9326cabbbf029">separately halted</a>&nbsp;by a St. Louis court after six Republican-led states said it would harm financial institutions.

Almost 26 million people already have applied for the relief, with 16 million approved, but the Education Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-student-loans-government-and-politics-06a1160237717b16091ec864b2a56e4d">stopped accepting and processing applications</a>&nbsp;last week after the plan was ruled illegal.

The White House says it will prevail in court, but the barrage of lawsuits has thrown Biden’s plan into jeopardy. It’s now uncertain whether 40 million borrowers who were promised debt relief will have to start making payments on that debt in January.

The biggest risk is for 18 million borrowers who were told their entire loan balance would be canceled. Even if payments restart, those borrowers might think they’re in the clear and ignore the bills, the Education Department has warned.

Borrowers who fall behind on payments can face heavy consequences, including damage to their credit scores and the withholding of wages and tax refunds.

Advocates and some Democrats in Congress are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-government-and-politics-3f7971456f690281326a2f27b3772b30">pressuring Biden to extend the payment pause</a>&nbsp;until all legal challenges are resolved, despite his previous assurance that the freeze would end after Dec. 31.

In a Tuesday filing, the Education Department said it’s “examining all available options.” But it warned that extending the pause could cost the federal government “several billion dollars a month in unrecovered loan revenue.”

The freeze already has cost the federal government more than $100 billion in revenue, according to a July report by the Government Accountability Office. Critics caution that another extension could worsen inflation and increase the risk of economic recession.

In a separate action targeting student debt, the Education and Justice departments announced a new policy aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get student loans canceled in bankruptcy court.

When borrowers in bankruptcy try to get their federal student loans canceled, lawyers for the government have typically moved to block it.

Advocates have long complained that only a tiny fraction of borrowers in bankruptcy succeed in getting their student loans erased, and many lawyers won't even take those cases on. As a presidential candidate, Biden promised to fix the problem.

The Justice Department on Thursday sent new guidance to its attorneys clarifying when they can support a borrower's request for student debt forgiveness. Judges still have the final say, but the department said its guidance will lead to “fairer, more consistent results.”

Separately, a federal judge on Wednesday approved an Education Department settlement that will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-lawsuits-student-loans-17ee728e5141bf0b02c96ee7def4910e">cancel $6 billion in student debt</a>&nbsp;for borrowers who say they were defrauded by for-profit colleges. The deal was proposed in June but was delayed amid a challenge by several schools.

A federal judge in San Francisco concluded that the settlement is fair. Advocates and the Biden administration applauded the approval, while a for-profit college industry group promised to appeal the decision.

Under the settlement, the Education Department agreed to cancel loans for about 200,000 borrowers who went to one of more than 150 for-profit colleges and later applied for cancellation because of misconduct by their schools.

It stems from a 2019 lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of intentionally stalling the loan relief program while it rewrote the rules.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668197313548.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to ask the Supreme Court to reinstate the president's student debt cancellation plan, according to a Thursday legal filing warning that Americans will face financial strain if the plan remains stalled in court when loan payments are scheduled to restart in January.The Justice Department is fighting to keep Biden's plan alive after it was halted by two federal courts in recent weeks. On Thursday it asked a federal appeals court in New Orleans to suspend a decision striking down Biden's plan, and in the same filing it announced plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn a St. Louis appeals court that halted the plan.Biden’s plan promises $10,000 in federal student debt forgiveness to those with incomes of less than $125,000, or households earning less than $250,000. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, are eligible for an additional $10,000 in relief.Keeping the debt relief on hold would leave the government with an “unnecessarily perilous choice,” the administration argued in its filing Thursday. If it restarts student loan payments as planned on Jan. 1, millions of Americans will get billed for debt that was promised to be canceled. But if the government extends the payment pause, it will cost billions of dollars in lost revenue.It builds on arguments the administration made in other filings this week, warning that many Americans won't be able to pay their student debt bills in January if the cancellation plan remains halted.For typical borrowers, monthly payments would be $200 to $300 higher than they would be if Biden’s plan goes through, the Education Department said. The strain could lead to soaring default rates, which have increased by an average of twentyfold in the wake of other natural disasters.“We anticipate there could be an historically large increase in the amount of federal student loan delinquency and defaults as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Education Undersecretary James Kvaal said in a Tuesday filing. “This could result in one of the harms that the one-time student loan debt relief program was intended to avoid.”Biden's plan has drawn a flurry of legal challenges, which have seen mixed results. Opponents of debt forgiveness have asked the Supreme Court to intervene at least twice after their cases failed in lower courts. The Supreme Court rejected both requests.In its new filing, the Justice Department asks an appeals court to lift a decision from U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">striking down</a>&nbsp;Biden’s plan. Pittman, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and is based in Fort Worth, Texas, ruled last week that Biden's plan oversteps his presidential authority and usurps Congress' powers to make laws.It stemmed from a lawsuit brought by two borrowers who are not eligible for relief under the parameters of Biden’s plan. The program was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-st-louis-student-loans-cf8136bfc75bd70839e9326cabbbf029">separately halted</a>&nbsp;by a St. Louis court after six Republican-led states said it would harm financial institutions.Almost 26 million people already have applied for the relief, with 16 million approved, but the Education Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-student-loans-government-and-politics-06a1160237717b16091ec864b2a56e4d">stopped accepting and processing applications</a>&nbsp;last week after the plan was ruled illegal.The White House says it will prevail in court, but the barrage of lawsuits has thrown Biden’s plan into jeopardy. It’s now uncertain whether 40 million borrowers who were promised debt relief will have to start making payments on that debt in January.The biggest risk is for 18 million borrowers who were told their entire loan balance would be canceled. Even if payments restart, those borrowers might think they’re in the clear and ignore the bills, the Education Department has warned.Borrowers who fall behind on payments can face heavy consequences, including damage to their credit scores and the withholding of wages and tax refunds.Advocates and some Democrats in Congress are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-government-and-politics-3f7971456f690281326a2f27b3772b30">pressuring Biden to extend the payment pause</a>&nbsp;until all legal challenges are resolved, despite his previous assurance that the freeze would end after Dec. 31.In a Tuesday filing, the Education Department said it’s “examining all available options.” But it warned that extending the pause could cost the federal government “several billion dollars a month in unrecovered loan revenue.”The freeze already has cost the federal government more than $100 billion in revenue, according to a July report by the Government Accountability Office. Critics caution that another extension could worsen inflation and increase the risk of economic recession.In a separate action targeting student debt, the Education and Justice departments announced a new policy aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get student loans canceled in bankruptcy court.When borrowers in bankruptcy try to get their federal student loans canceled, lawyers for the government have typically moved to block it.Advocates have long complained that only a tiny fraction of borrowers in bankruptcy succeed in getting their student loans erased, and many lawyers won't even take those cases on. As a presidential candidate, Biden promised to fix the problem.The Justice Department on Thursday sent new guidance to its attorneys clarifying when they can support a borrower's request for student debt forgiveness. Judges still have the final say, but the department said its guidance will lead to “fairer, more consistent results.”Separately, a federal judge on Wednesday approved an Education Department settlement that will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-lawsuits-student-loans-17ee728e5141bf0b02c96ee7def4910e">cancel $6 billion in student debt</a>&nbsp;for borrowers who say they were defrauded by for-profit colleges. The deal was proposed in June but was delayed amid a challenge by several schools.A federal judge in San Francisco concluded that the settlement is fair. Advocates and the Biden administration applauded the approval, while a for-profit college industry group promised to appeal the decision.Under the settlement, the Education Department agreed to cancel loans for about 200,000 borrowers who went to one of more than 150 for-profit colleges and later applied for cancellation because of misconduct by their schools.It stems from a 2019 lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of intentionally stalling the loan relief program while it rewrote the rules.

Student debt cancellation battle may go to Supreme Court

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ticketmaster says <a href="https://twitter.com/Ticketmaster/status/1593333211769106433">it is canceling Friday's planned general public sale</a> for Taylor Swift's upcoming stadium tour because it doesn't have enough tickets.

The decision came two days after a presale event caused the site to crash and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">left many fans without tickets</a>. The ticketing company <a href="https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/the-taylor-swift-on-sale-explained-2/">said in a statement Thursday</a>
 two million tickets to The Eras tour next year were sold during 
presales on Tuesday, the most tickets ever sold on the platform in a 
single day.

Ticketmaster cited "extraordinarily high demands on 
ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet 
that demand" as a reason for calling off Friday's sale.

Questions 
remain about how remaining tickets — and how many — would be sold. But 
Ticketmaster said about 1.5 million fans who had gone through an early 
verification process — called Verified Fan — were invited to purchase 
tickets and the remaining 2 million were placed on a waiting list.

A company representative said Ticketmaster is not involved in ticket resales for Swift's shows.

It's been a record year for Swift after releasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-930a204fbbfccea45f6012f0da4feef6">her latest album “Midnights," which also broke a Billboard record.</a>

The
 52-date Eras Tour kicks off March 17 in Glendale, Arizona, and wraps up
 with five shows in Los Angeles ending Aug. 9. International dates will 
be announced as well. It’s Swift’s first tour since 2018.

But fans and families around the country <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">battled it out with long queues and error messages</a> to try to race to the checkout cart.

Ticketmaster
 said that the site was overwhelmed both by real people and bot attacks 
resulting in unprecedented traffic on their site. The statement said 
about 15 percent of interactions with the site had problems, including 
errors that caused people to lose tickets after they had waited in an 
online queue.

"While it’s impossible for everyone to get tickets 
to these shows, we know we can do more to improve the experience and 
that’s what we’re focused on," the company statement said.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ticketmaster says <a href="https://twitter.com/Ticketmaster/status/1593333211769106433">it is canceling Friday's planned general public sale</a> for Taylor Swift's upcoming stadium tour because it doesn't have enough tickets.The decision came two days after a presale event caused the site to crash and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">left many fans without tickets</a>. The ticketing company <a href="https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/the-taylor-swift-on-sale-explained-2/">said in a statement Thursday</a>
 two million tickets to The Eras tour next year were sold during 
presales on Tuesday, the most tickets ever sold on the platform in a 
single day.Ticketmaster cited "extraordinarily high demands on 
ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet 
that demand" as a reason for calling off Friday's sale.Questions 
remain about how remaining tickets — and how many — would be sold. But 
Ticketmaster said about 1.5 million fans who had gone through an early 
verification process — called Verified Fan — were invited to purchase 
tickets and the remaining 2 million were placed on a waiting list.A company representative said Ticketmaster is not involved in ticket resales for Swift's shows.It's been a record year for Swift after releasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-930a204fbbfccea45f6012f0da4feef6">her latest album “Midnights," which also broke a Billboard record.</a>The
 52-date Eras Tour kicks off March 17 in Glendale, Arizona, and wraps up
 with five shows in Los Angeles ending Aug. 9. International dates will 
be announced as well. It’s Swift’s first tour since 2018.But fans and families around the country <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">battled it out with long queues and error messages</a> to try to race to the checkout cart.Ticketmaster
 said that the site was overwhelmed both by real people and bot attacks 
resulting in unprecedented traffic on their site. The statement said 
about 15 percent of interactions with the site had problems, including 
errors that caused people to lose tickets after they had waited in an 
online queue."While it’s impossible for everyone to get tickets 
to these shows, we know we can do more to improve the experience and 
that’s what we’re focused on," the company statement said.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Ticketmaster canceling next Taylor Swift concert ticket sale

WASHINGTON (AP) —Among U.S. faith leaders and denominations, there are sharp differences over the bill advancing in the Senate that would protect same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law.

The measure, a high priority for congressional Democrats, won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/same-sex-marriage-senate-democrats-d09d4716102cf003212bab1f970e6a41">key test vote</a>&nbsp;Wednesday when 12 Senate Republicans joined all Democrats to forward the bill for a final vote in the coming days. At least 10 GOP senators were needed for that to happen.

On Tuesday, one of the most prominent conservative-leaning denominations --&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-relationships-gay-rights-utah-07847f4b7e3e96d81c10a298a199b860">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>&nbsp;-- came out in favor of the legislation. But the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention remain opposed, saying the bill – even with a newly added amendment aimed at attracting Republican support – is a dire threat to religious liberty.

A paramount concern for these leaders of the country's two largest denominations is that even the updated bill would not protect religious schools or faith-based nonprofits such as adoption and foster care providers.

The bill “is an intentional attack on the religious freedom of millions of Americans with sincerely held beliefs about marriage, based on dictates of faith in God,” leaders of the Missouri Baptist Convention, an SBC affiliate, said in a letter this week to U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican.

The letter failed to sway Blunt; he voted for the bill.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, chairman of the Catholic bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, dismissed the bipartisan amendment as failing even the “meager goal” of preserving the status quo in balancing religious freedom with the right to same-sex marriage.

“The bill will be a new arrow in the quiver of those who wish to deny religious organizations’ liberty to freely exercise their religious duties, strip them of their tax exemptions, or exclude them from full participation in the public arena,” Dolan said earlier this week.

Meanwhile, many left-of-center faith leaders are cheering the bill, including some who planned a Thursday morning rally at the U.S. Capitol. Rally sponsors include the Interfaith Alliance, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the United Church of Christ Justice and Local Church Ministries and Hindus for Human Rights.

“This is common sense legislation which provides religious liberty for all and not just a few,” said Tarunjit Singh Butalia, executive director of Religions for Peace USA. “Faith communities need to work on living out the principles of marriage enshrined in their own faith without imposing their religious views on people of other faiths and no faith."

The bill won approval in the House in July. A final Senate vote is expected soon, and the measure — if approved — would then return to the House for consideration of Senate changes.

The bill has gained steady momentum since the Supreme Court’s June&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">decision that overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and the federal right to abortion. An opinion at that time from Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-marriage-71af5f7862f8008299702f7b1a4147b5">earlier high court decision</a>&nbsp;protecting same-sex marriage could also come under threat.

Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, noted the court opinions in her statement lauding Wednesday's vote. She called the legislation a “vital step in our nation’s march toward freedom without favor and equality without exception.”

The legislation included a proposed Senate amendment, designed to bring more Republicans on board, clarifying that it does not affect rights of private individuals or businesses that are already enshrined in law. Another tweak would make clear that a marriage is between two people, an effort to ward off some far-right criticism that the legislation could endorse polygamy.

However, numerous conservative faith leaders scoffed at the changes.

“The new amended Senate bill—the ‘commonsense’ bill that ‘protects Americans’ religious liberties’—actually does no such thing,” wrote the Rev. Al Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, in an opinion piece. “What is left wide open is the threat to ministries such as Christian orphanages and children’s care as well as adoption ministries and foster care.”

The head of the Southern Baptist’s public policy arm, Brent Leatherwood of the Ethics &amp; Religious Liberty Commission, faulted the bill’s Senate backers for pushing legislation “that will only divide us.”

“We oppose this bill because marriage is an institution created by God, one with a very specific design: A union between one man and one woman for life,” Leatherwood said via email.

Pastor Jack Hibbs who leads Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, an evangelical megachurch in Southern California, said the legislation “creates an atmosphere of great disrespect for marriage.”

“We have seen this in recent years, for example, regarding businesses that provide services for weddings, from wedding venues to bakeries and florists,” he said, adding that nonprofits could be sued “because of their personal and foundational convictions, which should be protected by the First Amendment.”

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, chairman of the Catholic bishops' Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, said the bill provided inadequate religious protections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668632835182.png" alt="On Wednesday 12 Senate Republicans joined all Democrats to forward the bill for a final vote in the coming days.-photo courtesy CSPAn" />
 <figcaption>On Wednesday 12 Senate Republicans joined all Democrats to forward the bill for a final vote in the coming days.-photo courtesy CSPAn</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CRARYWASHINGTON (AP) —Among U.S. faith leaders and denominations, there are sharp differences over the bill advancing in the Senate that would protect same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law.The measure, a high priority for congressional Democrats, won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/same-sex-marriage-senate-democrats-d09d4716102cf003212bab1f970e6a41">key test vote</a>&nbsp;Wednesday when 12 Senate Republicans joined all Democrats to forward the bill for a final vote in the coming days. At least 10 GOP senators were needed for that to happen.On Tuesday, one of the most prominent conservative-leaning denominations --&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-relationships-gay-rights-utah-07847f4b7e3e96d81c10a298a199b860">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>&nbsp;-- came out in favor of the legislation. But the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention remain opposed, saying the bill – even with a newly added amendment aimed at attracting Republican support – is a dire threat to religious liberty.A paramount concern for these leaders of the country's two largest denominations is that even the updated bill would not protect religious schools or faith-based nonprofits such as adoption and foster care providers.The bill “is an intentional attack on the religious freedom of millions of Americans with sincerely held beliefs about marriage, based on dictates of faith in God,” leaders of the Missouri Baptist Convention, an SBC affiliate, said in a letter this week to U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican.The letter failed to sway Blunt; he voted for the bill.Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, chairman of the Catholic bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, dismissed the bipartisan amendment as failing even the “meager goal” of preserving the status quo in balancing religious freedom with the right to same-sex marriage.“The bill will be a new arrow in the quiver of those who wish to deny religious organizations’ liberty to freely exercise their religious duties, strip them of their tax exemptions, or exclude them from full participation in the public arena,” Dolan said earlier this week.Meanwhile, many left-of-center faith leaders are cheering the bill, including some who planned a Thursday morning rally at the U.S. Capitol. Rally sponsors include the Interfaith Alliance, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the United Church of Christ Justice and Local Church Ministries and Hindus for Human Rights.“This is common sense legislation which provides religious liberty for all and not just a few,” said Tarunjit Singh Butalia, executive director of Religions for Peace USA. “Faith communities need to work on living out the principles of marriage enshrined in their own faith without imposing their religious views on people of other faiths and no faith."The bill won approval in the House in July. A final Senate vote is expected soon, and the measure — if approved — would then return to the House for consideration of Senate changes.The bill has gained steady momentum since the Supreme Court’s June&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">decision that overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and the federal right to abortion. An opinion at that time from Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-marriage-71af5f7862f8008299702f7b1a4147b5">earlier high court decision</a>&nbsp;protecting same-sex marriage could also come under threat.Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, noted the court opinions in her statement lauding Wednesday's vote. She called the legislation a “vital step in our nation’s march toward freedom without favor and equality without exception.”The legislation included a proposed Senate amendment, designed to bring more Republicans on board, clarifying that it does not affect rights of private individuals or businesses that are already enshrined in law. Another tweak would make clear that a marriage is between two people, an effort to ward off some far-right criticism that the legislation could endorse polygamy.However, numerous conservative faith leaders scoffed at the changes.“The new amended Senate bill—the ‘commonsense’ bill that ‘protects Americans’ religious liberties’—actually does no such thing,” wrote the Rev. Al Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, in an opinion piece. “What is left wide open is the threat to ministries such as Christian orphanages and children’s care as well as adoption ministries and foster care.”The head of the Southern Baptist’s public policy arm, Brent Leatherwood of the Ethics &amp; Religious Liberty Commission, faulted the bill’s Senate backers for pushing legislation “that will only divide us.”“We oppose this bill because marriage is an institution created by God, one with a very specific design: A union between one man and one woman for life,” Leatherwood said via email.Pastor Jack Hibbs who leads Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, an evangelical megachurch in Southern California, said the legislation “creates an atmosphere of great disrespect for marriage.”“We have seen this in recent years, for example, regarding businesses that provide services for weddings, from wedding venues to bakeries and florists,” he said, adding that nonprofits could be sued “because of their personal and foundational convictions, which should be protected by the First Amendment.”San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, chairman of the Catholic bishops' Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, said the bill provided inadequate religious protections.“I object to language like exceptions, because it means that we’re allowed a pass to discriminate,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “But that’s not what we’re doing at all. We’re affirming that children need a mother and a father."He acknowledged that leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “seem to be moving in a different direction” regarding same-sex marriage. “But they’ve been very, very strong partners with us in trying to keep the focus on the the need to preserve the family."In its statement Tuesday, the Utah-based LDS said church doctrine would continue to consider same-sex relationships to be against God’s commandments, but that it would support rights for same-sex couples as long as they didn’t infringe upon religious groups’ right to believe as they choose.Among the faith leaders urging passage of the bill was the Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, an American Baptist pastor who is president of Interfaith Alliance and is part of a same-sex marriage.”There is a misconception that faith and LGBTQ+ equality are fundamentally incompatible,” he wrote in an opinion piece carried Wednesday by Religion News Service.“As a religious leader, I regard this historic legislation as an important contribution to America’s religious freedom,” he wrote. ”More immediately, I am not willing to leave the status of the marriages I’ve performed or my own to chance.”__