WASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department
 of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they 
are disbursing more than 1.1 million payments in the eighth batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.

Today's announcement brings the total disbursed so far to 
approximately 164 million payments, with a total value of approximately 
$386 billion, since these payments began rolling out to Americans in 
batches <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-delivering-third-round-of-economic-impact-payments-to-americans">as announced</a> on March 12.

The eighth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 30, 
with an official payment date of May 5, with some people receiving 
direct payments in their accounts earlier as provisional or pending 
deposits. Here is additional information on this batch of payments:

Additional information is available on the first seven batches 
of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which 
processed weekly on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/nearly-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-continuing-payments-reach-approximately-163-million">April 23</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/two-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-reaches-approximately-161-million-as-payments-continue">April 16</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-va-beneficiaries-bring-total-to-approximately-159-million-as-payments-continue">April 9</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-25-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan">April 2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-tops-130-million-with-more-to-come">March 26</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-another-37-million-economic-impact-payments-from-the-american-rescue-plan">March 19</a> and <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0063">March 12</a>.

The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments on a weekly 
basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom 
the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who 
recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for "plus-up"
 payments.

Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return

Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to
 urge people who don't normally file a tax return and haven't received 
Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the 
benefits they're entitled to under the law, including tax credits such 
as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>,
 the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 
tax return will also assist the IRS in determining whether someone is 
eligible for an advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which will
 begin to be disbursed this summer.

For example, some federal benefits recipients may need to file a 2020
 tax return – even if they don't usually file – to provide information 
the IRS needs to send payments for a qualifying dependent. Eligible 
individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return as quickly as 
possible to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying
 dependents.

People who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal
 benefits may qualify for these Economic Impact Payments. This includes 
those experiencing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/those-experiencing-homelessness-can-get-economic-impact-payments-and-other-tax-benefits-permanent-address-not-required">homelessness</a>,
 the rural poor, and others. Individuals who didn't get a first or 
second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts 
may be eligible for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, but they'll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-claiming-the-recovery-rebate-credit-if-you-arent-required-to-file-a-tax-return">Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return</a>.

Free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">tax return preparation</a> is available for qualifying people.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in this third round 
of Economic Impact Payments have changed. This means that some people 
won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or
 second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate 
Credit. Payments will begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000
 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing 
jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for 
married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these 
levels are ineligible for a payment.

Individuals can check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments. Additional information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments</a> is available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department
 of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they 
are disbursing more than 1.1 million payments in the eighth batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.Today's announcement brings the total disbursed so far to 
approximately 164 million payments, with a total value of approximately 
$386 billion, since these payments began rolling out to Americans in 
batches <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-delivering-third-round-of-economic-impact-payments-to-americans">as announced</a> on March 12.The eighth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 30, 
with an official payment date of May 5, with some people receiving 
direct payments in their accounts earlier as provisional or pending 
deposits. Here is additional information on this batch of payments:<ul>
 <li>In total, this batch includes more than 1.1 million payments with a value of more than $2 billion.</li><li>More than 585,000 payments, with a value of over $1.2 billion, went
 to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have 
information to issue an Economic Impact Payment but who recently filed a
 tax return.&nbsp;</li><li>This batch also includes additional ongoing supplemental payments 
for people who earlier this year received payments based on their 2019 
tax returns but are eligible for a new or larger payment based on their 
recently processed 2020 tax returns. This batch included more than 
570,000 of these "plus-up" payments, with a value of nearly $1 billion.</li><li>Overall, this eighth batch of payments contains about 600,000 
direct deposit payments (with a total value of $1.1 billion) with the 
remainder on paper payments.</li>
 </ul>Additional information is available on the first seven batches 
of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which 
processed weekly on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/nearly-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-continuing-payments-reach-approximately-163-million">April 23</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/two-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-reaches-approximately-161-million-as-payments-continue">April 16</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-va-beneficiaries-bring-total-to-approximately-159-million-as-payments-continue">April 9</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-25-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan">April 2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-tops-130-million-with-more-to-come">March 26</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-another-37-million-economic-impact-payments-from-the-american-rescue-plan">March 19</a> and <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0063">March 12</a>.The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments on a weekly 
basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom 
the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who 
recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for "plus-up"
 payments.<h2>Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return</h2>Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to
 urge people who don't normally file a tax return and haven't received 
Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the 
benefits they're entitled to under the law, including tax credits such 
as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>,
 the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 
tax return will also assist the IRS in determining whether someone is 
eligible for an advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which will
 begin to be disbursed this summer.For example, some federal benefits recipients may need to file a 2020
 tax return – even if they don't usually file – to provide information 
the IRS needs to send payments for a qualifying dependent. Eligible 
individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return as quickly as 
possible to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying
 dependents.People who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal
 benefits may qualify for these Economic Impact Payments. This includes 
those experiencing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/those-experiencing-homelessness-can-get-economic-impact-payments-and-other-tax-benefits-permanent-address-not-required">homelessness</a>,
 the rural poor, and others. Individuals who didn't get a first or 
second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts 
may be eligible for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, but they'll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-claiming-the-recovery-rebate-credit-if-you-arent-required-to-file-a-tax-return">Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return</a>.Free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">tax return preparation</a> is available for qualifying people.The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in this third round 
of Economic Impact Payments have changed. This means that some people 
won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or
 second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate 
Credit. Payments will begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000
 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing 
jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for 
married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these 
levels are ineligible for a payment.Individuals can check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments. Additional information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments</a> is available on IRS.gov.

IRS: More than 1M additional COVID stimulus checks disbursed

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Tribal leaders in Wyoming have announced a special general meeting this month to vote on the legalization and decriminalization of medical marijuana. 

The Casper Star-Tribune reported that the Eastern Shoshone General Council will vote on May 15 at Rocky Mountain Hall on the Wind River Reservation. 

Agenda items will be presented during the meeting to decriminalize medical marijuana by removing it from the Shoshone and Arapaho Law and Order Code, legalize medical marijuana and create a regulatory commission. 

A public meeting will be held two days before the vote to receive more information on medical marijuana.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Tribal leaders in Wyoming have announced a special general meeting this month to vote on the legalization and decriminalization of medical marijuana. The Casper Star-Tribune reported that the Eastern Shoshone General Council will vote on May 15 at Rocky Mountain Hall on the Wind River Reservation. Agenda items will be presented during the meeting to decriminalize medical marijuana by removing it from the Shoshone and Arapaho Law and Order Code, legalize medical marijuana and create a regulatory commission. A public meeting will be held two days before the vote to receive more information on medical marijuana.

Eastern Shoshone to vote on medical marijuana in Wyoming

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's largest school district will not offer strictly remote learning next school year. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that Omaha Public Schools announced Wednesday that remote learning will end this month. Remote learning within OPS schools and other Nebraska districts, in which students learned and performed school work at home, began last year with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

OPS will still offer an option for students not ready to return fully to learning in person. 

The district will expand the Omaha Virtual School, an existing program in which students spend four days a week learning independently at home and attend in-person sessions once each week.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's largest school district will not offer strictly remote learning next school year. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Omaha Public Schools announced Wednesday that remote learning will end this month. Remote learning within OPS schools and other Nebraska districts, in which students learned and performed school work at home, began last year with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. OPS will still offer an option for students not ready to return fully to learning in person. The district will expand the Omaha Virtual School, an existing program in which students spend four days a week learning independently at home and attend in-person sessions once each week.

Omaha Public Schools say remote learning to end this year

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) — Officials say no one was hurt when a small, single-engine plane crashed into a cornfield near Central City this week.

 That’s because no one was aboard the plane when it took off on its own.

 The Lincoln Journal Star reports the unoccupied 1941 Piper plane was undergoing maintenance with its engine running Tuesday evening when it took off down the runway at the Central City Airport and went airborne.

 The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office say the plane climbed to about 200 feet and flew nearly 1.5 miles before crashing. 

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) — Officials say no one was hurt when a small, single-engine plane crashed into a cornfield near Central City this week. That’s because no one was aboard the plane when it took off on its own. The Lincoln Journal Star reports the unoccupied 1941 Piper plane was undergoing maintenance with its engine running Tuesday evening when it took off down the runway at the Central City Airport and went airborne. The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office say the plane climbed to about 200 feet and flew nearly 1.5 miles before crashing. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

Unoccupied plane with engine running takes off, crashes

NEW YORK (AP) — Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19′s toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.

But they also warn that a “substantial increase” in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people do not follow basic precautions such as wearing a mask and keeping their distance from others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper included projections from six research groups. Their assignment was to predict the course of the U.S. epidemic between now and September under different scenarios, depending on how the vaccination drive proceeds and how people behave.

Mainly, it’s good news. Even under scenarios involving disappointing vaccination rates, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are expected to drop dramatically by the end of July and continue to fall afterward.

The CDC is now reporting an average of about 350,000 new cases each week, 35,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 deaths.

Under the most optimistic scenarios considered, by the end of July new weekly national cases could drop below 50,000, hospitalizations to fewer than 1,000, and deaths to between 200 and 300.

“We are not out of the woods yet, but we could be very close,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, while noting that variants of the coronavirus are a “wild card” that could set back progress.

The projections are probably in line with what many Americans were already expecting for this summer.

With COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases plummeting since January, many states and cities are already moving to ease or lift restrictions on restaurants, bars, theaters and other businesses and talking about getting back to something close to normal this summer.

New York’s subways will start running all night again this month, Las Vegas is bustling again after casino capacity limits were raised, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week suspended all restrictions put in place by local governments, though businesses may continue requiring people to wear masks and keep their distance, and many are still doing so.

Many people in Florida have resumed parties, graduations and recitals. Walt Disney World lets guests remove their masks for photographs.

“It does feel like life is returning to normal,” said 67-year-old Vicki Restivo of Miami, who after getting vaccinated resumed outings with her friends at restaurants and traveled to Egypt — and felt “very comfortable” about it.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a goal of delivering shots to 70% of U.S. adults by July Fourth. Such a goal, if met, would fit in with the best-case scenarios, said one of the study’s co-authors, CDC biologist Michael Johansson.

Under more pessimistic scenarios, with subpar vaccinations and declining use of masks and social distancing, weekly cases probably would still drop but could number in the hundreds of thousands, with tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.

“Something I am asked often is when will the pandemic be over and when can we go back to normal. The reality is: It all depends on the actions we take now,” Walensky said.

All the projections trend down, illustrating the powerful effect of the vaccination campaign. But there’s a devastating difference between the more gently sloping declines in some scenarios and the more dramatic drops in others, said Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“Each of these differences are people’s lives,” said Kates, who is part of a Kaiser research team that has focused on COVID-19 and was not involved in the CDC study.

The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. The CDC paper gives no overall estimate of how high the number of dead might go. But a closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.

More than 56% of the nation’s adults, or close to 146 million people, have received at one dose of vaccine, and almost 41% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Johansson said the paper is intended not so much as a prediction of exactly what’s going to happen but as a way to understand how things might unfold if vaccination drives or other efforts stumble.

By September, assuming high vaccination rates and continuing use of prevention measures, the models indicate new cases could fall to just a few hundred per week and just tens of hospitalizations and deaths.

The paper also sketched out a worst-case scenario, in which cases could rise to 900,000 per week, hospitalizations to 50,000, and deaths to 10,000. That most likely would happen sometime this month, the projections said.

However, the paper’s projections are based on data available through late March, when the national picture was somewhat darker.

The CDC paper “is already looking a little outdated, because we’ve seen cases continue to go down, and hospitalizations go down, and deaths go down,” Kates said.

Nevertheless, Johansson warned: “We’re still in a tenuous position.”

There is variation from state to state in how well vaccination campaigns are going and how fast restrictions are being abandoned, and that will probably mean some states will suffer a higher toll from COVID-19 than others in the coming months, Kates said.

“If you take the foot off the gas,” she said, “you can really have some bad outcomes.”

The paper doesn’t look past September, and scientists cannot say for sure what the epidemic will look like next fall and winter because it’s not known how enduring vaccine protection will be or whether variants of the virus will prove to be a greater problem.

Like the flu, COVID-19 could increase as people move indoors in the cold weather.

“My hope is with enough people vaccinated we will be able to get to something that will resemble maybe a bad flu season,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics who was not involved in the research. But “it’s not going to go away. It’s not going to be eradicated.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618525698000.png" alt="Vaccinations last month photo courtesy Douglas County Kansas Dept. of Health" />
 <figcaption>Vaccinations last month photo courtesy Douglas County Kansas Dept. of Health</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19′s toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.But they also warn that a “substantial increase” in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people do not follow basic precautions such as wearing a mask and keeping their distance from others.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper included projections from six research groups. Their assignment was to predict the course of the U.S. epidemic between now and September under different scenarios, depending on how the vaccination drive proceeds and how people behave.Mainly, it’s good news. Even under scenarios involving disappointing vaccination rates, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are expected to drop dramatically by the end of July and continue to fall afterward.The CDC is now reporting an average of about 350,000 new cases each week, 35,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 deaths.Under the most optimistic scenarios considered, by the end of July new weekly national cases could drop below 50,000, hospitalizations to fewer than 1,000, and deaths to between 200 and 300.“We are not out of the woods yet, but we could be very close,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, while noting that variants of the coronavirus are a “wild card” that could set back progress.The projections are probably in line with what many Americans were already expecting for this summer.With COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases plummeting since January, many states and cities are already moving to ease or lift restrictions on restaurants, bars, theaters and other businesses and talking about getting back to something close to normal this summer.New York’s subways will start running all night again this month, Las Vegas is bustling again after casino capacity limits were raised, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week suspended all restrictions put in place by local governments, though businesses may continue requiring people to wear masks and keep their distance, and many are still doing so.Many people in Florida have resumed parties, graduations and recitals. Walt Disney World lets guests remove their masks for photographs.“It does feel like life is returning to normal,” said 67-year-old Vicki Restivo of Miami, who after getting vaccinated resumed outings with her friends at restaurants and traveled to Egypt — and felt “very comfortable” about it.President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a goal of delivering shots to 70% of U.S. adults by July Fourth. Such a goal, if met, would fit in with the best-case scenarios, said one of the study’s co-authors, CDC biologist Michael Johansson.Under more pessimistic scenarios, with subpar vaccinations and declining use of masks and social distancing, weekly cases probably would still drop but could number in the hundreds of thousands, with tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.“Something I am asked often is when will the pandemic be over and when can we go back to normal. The reality is: It all depends on the actions we take now,” Walensky said.All the projections trend down, illustrating the powerful effect of the vaccination campaign. But there’s a devastating difference between the more gently sloping declines in some scenarios and the more dramatic drops in others, said Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.“Each of these differences are people’s lives,” said Kates, who is part of a Kaiser research team that has focused on COVID-19 and was not involved in the CDC study.The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. The CDC paper gives no overall estimate of how high the number of dead might go. But a closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.More than 56% of the nation’s adults, or close to 146 million people, have received at one dose of vaccine, and almost 41% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.Johansson said the paper is intended not so much as a prediction of exactly what’s going to happen but as a way to understand how things might unfold if vaccination drives or other efforts stumble.By September, assuming high vaccination rates and continuing use of prevention measures, the models indicate new cases could fall to just a few hundred per week and just tens of hospitalizations and deaths.The paper also sketched out a worst-case scenario, in which cases could rise to 900,000 per week, hospitalizations to 50,000, and deaths to 10,000. That most likely would happen sometime this month, the projections said.However, the paper’s projections are based on data available through late March, when the national picture was somewhat darker.The CDC paper “is already looking a little outdated, because we’ve seen cases continue to go down, and hospitalizations go down, and deaths go down,” Kates said.Nevertheless, Johansson warned: “We’re still in a tenuous position.”There is variation from state to state in how well vaccination campaigns are going and how fast restrictions are being abandoned, and that will probably mean some states will suffer a higher toll from COVID-19 than others in the coming months, Kates said.“If you take the foot off the gas,” she said, “you can really have some bad outcomes.”The paper doesn’t look past September, and scientists cannot say for sure what the epidemic will look like next fall and winter because it’s not known how enduring vaccine protection will be or whether variants of the virus will prove to be a greater problem.Like the flu, COVID-19 could increase as people move indoors in the cold weather.“My hope is with enough people vaccinated we will be able to get to something that will resemble maybe a bad flu season,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics who was not involved in the research. But “it’s not going to go away. It’s not going to be eradicated.”___

COVID's US toll projected to drop sharply this summer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha have issued a public warning about counterfeit painkillers circulating in the area that investigators say have led to several overdose deaths. 

Police say the counterfeit Oxycodone pills actually contain the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. 

Police say the illegally pressed pills range in color from blue to green and have an “M” imprinted on one side and “30” imprinted on the other side. 

The pills are intended to mimic a 30 mg dose of Oxycodone. 

Police urge anyone who comes across the described pills not to touch them and to contact police.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha have issued a public warning about counterfeit painkillers circulating in the area that investigators say have led to several overdose deaths. Police say the counterfeit Oxycodone pills actually contain the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Police say the illegally pressed pills range in color from blue to green and have an “M” imprinted on one side and “30” imprinted on the other side. The pills are intended to mimic a 30 mg dose of Oxycodone. Police urge anyone who comes across the described pills not to touch them and to contact police.

Omaha police warn of dangerous counterfeit pain pills

WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — A local planning commission has voted against issuing a permit to allow Nebraska’s first solar power plant to be built just southwest of Omaha. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Saunders County Planning Commission voted Monday 5-1 against the permit, which will still ultimately be decided by the Saunders County Board. 

Omaha Public Power District revealed last month that it had signed a contract to build the huge bank of solar panels on 500 acres in eastern Nebraska south of Yutan. 

The County Board isn’t bound by the planning commission’s vote and is scheduled to take up the issue next Tuesday.

 Several planning commission members said they felt the process to build the solar farm was being rushed.

WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — A local planning commission has voted against issuing a permit to allow Nebraska’s first solar power plant to be built just southwest of Omaha. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Saunders County Planning Commission voted Monday 5-1 against the permit, which will still ultimately be decided by the Saunders County Board. Omaha Public Power District revealed last month that it had signed a contract to build the huge bank of solar panels on 500 acres in eastern Nebraska south of Yutan. The County Board isn’t bound by the planning commission’s vote and is scheduled to take up the issue next Tuesday. Several planning commission members said they felt the process to build the solar farm was being rushed.

Planning commission votes against permit for solar farm

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado man arrested on a murder charge in the presumed death of his wife who disappeared last Mother’s Day is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday. 

Authorities say Barry Morphew was taken into custody near his home in a mountain community in southern Colorado on Wednesday as the result of an ongoing investigation that has so far failed to find the body of Suzanne Morphew, a mother of two daughters. 

A week after she disappeared, Barry Morphew posted a video on Facebook pleading for her safe return. One of his public defenders declined to comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620317502933.png" alt="Morphew" />
 <figcaption>Morphew</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A Colorado man arrested on a murder charge in the presumed death of his wife who disappeared last Mother’s Day is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday. Authorities say Barry Morphew was taken into custody near his home in a mountain community in southern Colorado on Wednesday as the result of an ongoing investigation that has so far failed to find the body of Suzanne Morphew, a mother of two daughters. A week after she disappeared, Barry Morphew posted a video on Facebook pleading for her safe return. One of his public defenders declined to comment.

Colorado man suspected in wife's presumed death due in court

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old Phillips man is facing two felony charges after he refused to leave an airplane parked at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island. 

Tyler Caudill is charged with attempted theft and possession of a deadly weapon. 

Police say a man saw Caudill passed out in the cabin of a plane on the airport's tarmac on Tuesday. 

When police arrived, Caudill was seen trying to manipulate the airplane's controls.

 He eventually left the plane when police fired chemical agents inside.

 Police in Kearney say Caudill tried to enter Kearney High School on Monday to speak to a student but was turned away.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old Phillips man is facing two felony charges after he refused to leave an airplane parked at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island. Tyler Caudill is charged with attempted theft and possession of a deadly weapon. His bond was set Wednesday at $250,000. Police say a man saw Caudill passed out in the cabin of a plane on the airport's tarmac on Tuesday. When police arrived, Caudill was seen trying to manipulate the airplane's controls. He eventually left the plane when police fired chemical agents inside. Police in Kearney say Caudill tried to enter Kearney High School on Monday to speak to a student but was turned away.

Man charged after standoff at Grand Island airport

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Buick Century driven by Martin Charles Richbourg, 22, Falls City, Nebraska, was&nbsp; northbound on Horned Owl Road six miles east of Morrill.

A 2007 Acura MDX driven by Tad Jeremy Alfrey, 40, Seneca was southbound and both vehicles approached a curve at the same time. 

Alfrey swerved to avoid the Buick traveling northbound in the southbound lane. Both vehicles swerved and collided in the northbound lanes.

A passenger in the Buick identified as Andrew S Vaughan, 36, Falls City, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at the scene.

EMS transported Richbourg to KU Medical Center. Alfrey was not injured.&nbsp;Vaughan was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Buick Century driven by Martin Charles Richbourg, 22, Falls City, Nebraska, was&nbsp; northbound on Horned Owl Road six miles east of Morrill.A 2007 Acura MDX driven by Tad Jeremy Alfrey, 40, Seneca was southbound and both vehicles approached a curve at the same time. Alfrey swerved to avoid the Buick traveling northbound in the southbound lane. Both vehicles swerved and collided in the northbound lanes.A passenger in the Buick identified as Andrew S Vaughan, 36, Falls City, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at the scene.EMS transported Richbourg to KU Medical Center. Alfrey was not injured.&nbsp;Vaughan was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Nebraska man dead after wrong-way Kan. crash

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. birth rate fell 4% last year, the largest single-year decrease in nearly 50 years, according to a government report being released Wednesday.

The rate dropped for moms of every major race and ethnicity, and in nearly every age group, falling to the lowest point since federal health officials started tracking it more than a century ago.

Births have been declining in younger women for years, as many postponed motherhood and had smaller families.

Birth rates for women in their late 30s and in their 40s have been inching up. But not last year.

“The fact that you saw declines in births even for older moms is quite striking,” said Brady Hamilton, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the lead author of the new report.

The CDC report is based on a review of more than 99% of birth certificates issued last year. The findings echo a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-science-health-3dc7033a62728f1a99a176c5577af58c">Associated Press analysis</a>&nbsp;of 2020 data from 25 states showing that births had fallen during the coronavirus outbreak.

The pandemic no doubt contributed to last year’s big decline, experts say. Anxiety about COVID-19 and its impact on the economy likely caused many couples to think that having a baby right then was a bad idea.

But many of the 2020 pregnancies began well before the U.S. epidemic. CDC researchers are working on a follow-up report to better parse out how the decline unfolded, Hamilton said.

— About 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S. last year, down from about 3.75 million in 2019. When births were booming in 2007, the U.S. recorded 4.3 million births.

— The U.S. birth rate dropped to about 56 births per 1,000 women of child-bearing age, the lowest rate on record. The rate is half of what it was in the early 1960s.

— The birth rate for 15– to 19-year-olds dropped 8% from 2019. It’s fallen almost every year since 1991.

— Birth rates fell 8% for Asian American women; 3% for Hispanic women; 4% for Black and white women; and 6% for moms who were American Indians or Alaska Natives.

— The cesarean delivery rate rose, slightly, to about 32%. It had generally been declining since 2009.

— Some good news: The percentage of infants born small and premature — at less less than 37 weeks of gestation — fell slightly, to 10%, after rising five years in a row.

The current generation is getting further away from having enough children to replace itself.

The U.S. once was among only a few developed countries with a fertility rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace it. About a dozen years ago, the estimated rate was 2.1 kids per U.S. woman. But it’s been sliding, and last year dropped to about 1.6, the lowest rate on record.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606170442903.png" alt="Photo by Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. birth rate fell 4% last year, the largest single-year decrease in nearly 50 years, according to a government report being released Wednesday.The rate dropped for moms of every major race and ethnicity, and in nearly every age group, falling to the lowest point since federal health officials started tracking it more than a century ago.Births have been declining in younger women for years, as many postponed motherhood and had smaller families.Birth rates for women in their late 30s and in their 40s have been inching up. But not last year.“The fact that you saw declines in births even for older moms is quite striking,” said Brady Hamilton, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the lead author of the new report.The CDC report is based on a review of more than 99% of birth certificates issued last year. The findings echo a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-science-health-3dc7033a62728f1a99a176c5577af58c">Associated Press analysis</a>&nbsp;of 2020 data from 25 states showing that births had fallen during the coronavirus outbreak.The pandemic no doubt contributed to last year’s big decline, experts say. Anxiety about COVID-19 and its impact on the economy likely caused many couples to think that having a baby right then was a bad idea.But many of the 2020 pregnancies began well before the U.S. epidemic. CDC researchers are working on a follow-up report to better parse out how the decline unfolded, Hamilton said.Other highlights from the CDC report:— About 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S. last year, down from about 3.75 million in 2019. When births were booming in 2007, the U.S. recorded 4.3 million births.— The U.S. birth rate dropped to about 56 births per 1,000 women of child-bearing age, the lowest rate on record. The rate is half of what it was in the early 1960s.— The birth rate for 15– to 19-year-olds dropped 8% from 2019. It’s fallen almost every year since 1991.— Birth rates fell 8% for Asian American women; 3% for Hispanic women; 4% for Black and white women; and 6% for moms who were American Indians or Alaska Natives.— The cesarean delivery rate rose, slightly, to about 32%. It had generally been declining since 2009.— Some good news: The percentage of infants born small and premature — at less less than 37 weeks of gestation — fell slightly, to 10%, after rising five years in a row.The current generation is getting further away from having enough children to replace itself.The U.S. once was among only a few developed countries with a fertility rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace it. About a dozen years ago, the estimated rate was 2.1 kids per U.S. woman. But it’s been sliding, and last year dropped to about 1.6, the lowest rate on record.___

CDC: U.S. birth, fertility rates at record low

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say a south-central Nebraska woman who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has died of the disease. 

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday in a news release that the woman was in her 80s and had underlying health conditions. 

Officials with Two Rivers Health District, based in Kearney, said the woman lived in the district and was recently hospitalized for more than two weeks well after receiving two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. 

The news comes even as health officials pointed to a COVID-19 outbreak at a Kearney nursing home of mostly vaccinated residents as a success story. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that of the 23 home residents who tested positive, only two showed any symptoms, which cleared quickly.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say a south-central Nebraska woman who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has died of the disease. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday in a news release that the woman was in her 80s and had underlying health conditions. Officials with Two Rivers Health District, based in Kearney, said the woman lived in the district and was recently hospitalized for more than two weeks well after receiving two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The news comes even as health officials pointed to a COVID-19 outbreak at a Kearney nursing home of mostly vaccinated residents as a success story. The Omaha World-Herald reports that of the 23 home residents who tested positive, only two showed any symptoms, which cleared quickly.

DHHS: Fully vaccinated Nebraska woman dies of COVID-19

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2021-09518/independent-contractor-status-under-the-fair-labor-standards-act-withdrawal" target="_blank">announced the withdrawal</a>
 — effective Thursday — of the “Independent Contractor Rule,” to maintain 
workers’ rights to the minimum wage and overtime compensation 
protections of the <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa">Fair Labor Standards Act</a>.

The department is withdrawing the rule for several reasons, including:

“By withdrawing the Independent Contractor Rule, we will 
help preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker 
protections that would have occurred had the rule gone into effect,” 
said <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/osec">U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh</a>.
 “Legitimate business owners play an important role in our economy but, 
too often, workers lose important wage and related protections when 
employers misclassify them as independent contractors. We remain 
committed to ensuring that employees are recognized clearly and 
correctly when they are, in fact, employees so that they receive the 
protections the Fair Labor Standards Act provides.”

The FLSA includes provisions that require covered 
employers to pay employees at least the federal minimum wage for every 
hour they work and overtime compensation at not less than 
one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for every hour they 
work over 40 in a workweek. FLSA protections do not apply to independent
 contractors.

In addition to maintaining the scope of workers covered 
by FLSA wage and hour protections, the department anticipates that the 
independent contractor rule’s withdrawal will avoid a reduction in 
workers’ access to employer-provided fringe benefits such as
 health insurance and retirement plans. The withdrawal will also avoid a
 reduction in other benefits such as unemployment insurance and workers 
compensation coverage. 

For more information about the FLSA or other laws it enforces, visit the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd">Wage and Hour Division</a>, or call toll-free 1-866-4US-WAGE.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615920467817.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Department of LaborWASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2021-09518/independent-contractor-status-under-the-fair-labor-standards-act-withdrawal" target="_blank">announced the withdrawal</a>
 — effective Thursday — of the “Independent Contractor Rule,” to maintain 
workers’ rights to the minimum wage and overtime compensation 
protections of the <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa">Fair Labor Standards Act</a>.The department is withdrawing the rule for several reasons, including:<ul>
 <li>The independent contractor rule was in tension with the FLSA’s text and purpose, as well as relevant judicial precedent. </li><li>The rule’s prioritization of two 
“core factors” for determining employee status under the FLSA would have
 undermined the longstanding balancing approach of the economic 
realities test and court decisions requiring a review of the totality of
 the circumstances related to the employment relationship. </li><li>The rule would have 
narrowed the facts and considerations comprising the analysis of whether
 a worker is an employee or an independent contractor, resulting in 
workers losing FLSA protections. </li>
 </ul>“By withdrawing the Independent Contractor Rule, we will 
help preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker 
protections that would have occurred had the rule gone into effect,” 
said <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/osec">U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh</a>.
 “Legitimate business owners play an important role in our economy but, 
too often, workers lose important wage and related protections when 
employers misclassify them as independent contractors. We remain 
committed to ensuring that employees are recognized clearly and 
correctly when they are, in fact, employees so that they receive the 
protections the Fair Labor Standards Act provides.” The FLSA includes provisions that require covered 
employers to pay employees at least the federal minimum wage for every 
hour they work and overtime compensation at not less than 
one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for every hour they 
work over 40 in a workweek. FLSA protections do not apply to independent
 contractors.In addition to maintaining the scope of workers covered 
by FLSA wage and hour protections, the department anticipates that the 
independent contractor rule’s withdrawal will avoid a reduction in 
workers’ access to employer-provided fringe benefits such as
 health insurance and retirement plans. The withdrawal will also avoid a
 reduction in other benefits such as unemployment insurance and workers 
compensation coverage. For more information about the FLSA or other laws it enforces, visit the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd">Wage and Hour Division</a>, or call toll-free 1-866-4US-WAGE.

U.S. Labor Department ends 'independent contractor' rule

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Some Native American tribes will receive more money from a federal virus relief package approved last year. 

The U.S. Treasury Department recently revised its methodology for distributing some of what remains from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

 The department had distributed 60% of the funding set aside for tribes, or $4.8 billion, to tribal nations based on federal population data. 

Three tribes sued over the methodology, alleging the data didn't reflect their actual tribal enrollment numbers. 

The Treasury Department filed a revised methodology Monday in the court case and said payments would go out starting this week.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Some Native American tribes will receive more money from a federal virus relief package approved last year. The U.S. Treasury Department recently revised its methodology for distributing some of what remains from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The department had distributed 60% of the funding set aside for tribes, or $4.8 billion, to tribal nations based on federal population data. Three tribes sued over the methodology, alleging the data didn't reflect their actual tribal enrollment numbers. The Treasury Department filed a revised methodology Monday in the court case and said payments would go out starting this week.

Treasury: Some tribes will get more money from CARES Act

NEW YORK (AP) — Peloton is recalling its treadmills after one child died and 29 other children suffered from cuts, broken bones and other injuries from being pulled under the rear of the treadmill.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday that Peloton received 72 reports of adults, kids, pets or other items, such as exercise balls, being pulled under the treadmill.

The recall comes after the safety commission&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/product-safety-be5516665f9a2c7c4bb9b9441d4aef01">warned&nbsp;</a>last month that people with children or pets to immediately stop using Peloton treadmills and posted a video on YouTube of a child being pulled under the treadmill.

Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but it introduced the treadmill about three years ago and now calls it the Tread+. It costs more than $4,200.

Those who own the treadmill can get a full refund from Peloton by Nov. 6, 2022.

NEW YORK (AP) — Peloton is recalling its treadmills after one child died and 29 other children suffered from cuts, broken bones and other injuries from being pulled under the rear of the treadmill.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday that Peloton received 72 reports of adults, kids, pets or other items, such as exercise balls, being pulled under the treadmill.The recall comes after the safety commission&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/product-safety-be5516665f9a2c7c4bb9b9441d4aef01">warned&nbsp;</a>last month that people with children or pets to immediately stop using Peloton treadmills and posted a video on YouTube of a child being pulled under the treadmill.Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but it introduced the treadmill about three years ago and now calls it the Tread+. It costs more than $4,200.Those who own the treadmill can get a full refund from Peloton by Nov. 6, 2022.

Peloton recalls treadmills after a child dies

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Many parents and educators are excited over the news that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by next week for youngsters ages 12 to 15.

 Officials are hoping that extending vaccinations to children will drive down the nation’s caseload even further and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruption this fall. 

It could also reassure parents and teachers alike. 

While children are less likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus, they can still get sick and spread it to others, too.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Many parents and educators are excited over the news that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by next week for youngsters ages 12 to 15. Officials are hoping that extending vaccinations to children will drive down the nation’s caseload even further and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruption this fall. It could also reassure parents and teachers alike. While children are less likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus, they can still get sick and spread it to others, too.

US parents excited over prospect of virus shots for children

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —&nbsp;Former President Donald Trump won’t return to Facebook — at least not yet. Four months after Facebook suspended Trump’s accounts for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the company’s quasi-independent oversight board upheld the bans. But it told Facebook to specify how long they would last, saying that its “indefinite” ban on the former president was unreasonable. The ruling, which gives Facebook six months to comply, effectively postpones any possible Trump reinstatement and puts the onus for that decision squarely back on the company.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Former President Donald Trump won’t return to Facebook. The social network’s quasi-independent Oversight Board has voted to permanently ban his account after it was suspended four months ago for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot. 

But the board said Facebook must reassess the penalty because it imposed it “indefinitely.” 

Trump has also been permanently banned from Twitter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565281780877.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —&nbsp;Former President Donald Trump won’t return to Facebook — at least not yet. Four months after Facebook suspended Trump’s accounts for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the company’s quasi-independent oversight board upheld the bans. But it told Facebook to specify how long they would last, saying that its “indefinite” ban on the former president was unreasonable. The ruling, which gives Facebook six months to comply, effectively postpones any possible Trump reinstatement and puts the onus for that decision squarely back on the company.------SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Former President Donald Trump won’t return to Facebook. The social network’s quasi-independent Oversight Board has voted to permanently ban his account after it was suspended four months ago for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot. But the board said Facebook must reassess the penalty because it imposed it “indefinitely.” Trump has also been permanently banned from Twitter.

Facebook board: Trump permanently banned, for now

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The defense attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-floyd-profile-66163bbd94239afa16d706bd6479c613">George Floyd</a>&nbsp;has requested a new trial, saying the court abused its discretion, and he wants a hearing to have the verdict impeached because of what he says is jury misconduct, according to a court document filed Tuesday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-protests-us-news-ap-top-news-police-mn-state-wire-8b486c2622de5504f1e65a606b0eac7f">Derek Chauvin</a>, who is white,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-convicted-george-floyd-killing-d93d1f9fc61a5261e179240dc16924dc">was convicted last month</a>&nbsp;of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd. Evidence at trial showed Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes as the Black man said he couldn’t breathe and went motionless.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson said he is requesting a new trial in the interests of justice. He said there were abuses of discretion that deprived Chauvin of a fair trial, prosecutorial and jury misconduct and that the verdict was contrary to law.

A request for a new trial is routine following a guilty verdict and often mirrors issues that will be raised on appeal, said Mike Brandt, a Minneapolis defense attorney who has been closely following the case. If this request is denied, it can add another layer of decisions for Nelson to appeal. Brandt and others have said Chauvin’s convictions are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/can-derek-chauvin-get-convinction-tossed-f6c8a442127cf264caa9cecddb1c1d23">unlikely to be overturned.</a>

Nelson cited many reasons in his request for a new trial. He said Judge Peter Cahill abused the discretion of the court and violated Chauvin’s right to due process and a fair trial when he denied Nelson’s request to move the trial to another county due to pretrial publicity.

He also said Cahill abused his discretion when he denied an earlier request for a new trial based on publicity during the proceedings, which Nelson said threatened the fairness of the trial. Nelson said that publicity included “intimidation” of the defense expert witness, which he said could have a “far-reaching chilling effect” on the ability of defendants to get expert witnesses in high-profile cases, including the upcoming cases of the three other former officers charged in Floyd’s death.

“The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings,” Nelson wrote.

Nelson also took issue with Cahill’s refusal to sequester the jury for the trial or warn them to avoid all media, and with his refusal to allow a man who was with Floyd at the time of his arrest to testify.

Nelson said Cahill also abused his discretion when he submitted jury instructions that Nelson said failed to accurately reflect the law on the murder charges and use of force, permitted the state to present cumulative evidence on use of force, and ordered the state to lead witnesses on direct examination, among other things.

Nelson also asked the judge for a hearing to impeach the verdict on the grounds that the jury committed misconduct, felt race-based pressure, felt intimidated or threatened, and/or failed to adhere to jury instructions, though the filing did not include details about that assertion. To impeach a verdict is to question its validity.

The brief did not mention recent reports that one of the jurors participated in an Aug. 28 march in Washington, D.C., to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

That juror, Brandon Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chauvin-jurors-george-floyd-c35cff601d97deb328c0fcafe121367b">has defended his actions,&nbsp;</a>saying the event was to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington and was not a protest over Floyd’s death. Floyd’s brother and sister, Philonise and Bridgett Floyd, and relatives of others who had been shot by police addressed the crowd at the march last summer.

Nelson did not immediately return a message seeking details about his allegation of juror misconduct.

Brandt said Nelson will likely file more detailed written arguments on these issues. The purpose of holding a hearing to impeach the verdict would be to develop a factual record and present evidence that could determine whether the verdict was compromised. If a hearing is granted, it’s likely Mitchell would be called in to answer questions, Brandt said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618842022960.png" alt="Defense attorney Eric Nelson and Derek Chauvin during closing arguments in the trial-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Defense attorney Eric Nelson and Derek Chauvin during closing arguments in the trial-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The defense attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-floyd-profile-66163bbd94239afa16d706bd6479c613">George Floyd</a>&nbsp;has requested a new trial, saying the court abused its discretion, and he wants a hearing to have the verdict impeached because of what he says is jury misconduct, according to a court document filed Tuesday.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-protests-us-news-ap-top-news-police-mn-state-wire-8b486c2622de5504f1e65a606b0eac7f">Derek Chauvin</a>, who is white,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-convicted-george-floyd-killing-d93d1f9fc61a5261e179240dc16924dc">was convicted last month</a>&nbsp;of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd. Evidence at trial showed Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes as the Black man said he couldn’t breathe and went motionless.Defense attorney Eric Nelson said he is requesting a new trial in the interests of justice. He said there were abuses of discretion that deprived Chauvin of a fair trial, prosecutorial and jury misconduct and that the verdict was contrary to law.A request for a new trial is routine following a guilty verdict and often mirrors issues that will be raised on appeal, said Mike Brandt, a Minneapolis defense attorney who has been closely following the case. If this request is denied, it can add another layer of decisions for Nelson to appeal. Brandt and others have said Chauvin’s convictions are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/can-derek-chauvin-get-convinction-tossed-f6c8a442127cf264caa9cecddb1c1d23">unlikely to be overturned.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619012623324.png" alt="Chauvin booking photo following the April guilty verdict -photo Minnesota Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Chauvin booking photo following the April guilty verdict -photo Minnesota Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>Nelson cited many reasons in his request for a new trial. He said Judge Peter Cahill abused the discretion of the court and violated Chauvin’s right to due process and a fair trial when he denied Nelson’s request to move the trial to another county due to pretrial publicity.He also said Cahill abused his discretion when he denied an earlier request for a new trial based on publicity during the proceedings, which Nelson said threatened the fairness of the trial. Nelson said that publicity included “intimidation” of the defense expert witness, which he said could have a “far-reaching chilling effect” on the ability of defendants to get expert witnesses in high-profile cases, including the upcoming cases of the three other former officers charged in Floyd’s death.“The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings,” Nelson wrote.Nelson also took issue with Cahill’s refusal to sequester the jury for the trial or warn them to avoid all media, and with his refusal to allow a man who was with Floyd at the time of his arrest to testify.Nelson said Cahill also abused his discretion when he submitted jury instructions that Nelson said failed to accurately reflect the law on the murder charges and use of force, permitted the state to present cumulative evidence on use of force, and ordered the state to lead witnesses on direct examination, among other things.Nelson also asked the judge for a hearing to impeach the verdict on the grounds that the jury committed misconduct, felt race-based pressure, felt intimidated or threatened, and/or failed to adhere to jury instructions, though the filing did not include details about that assertion. To impeach a verdict is to question its validity.The brief did not mention recent reports that one of the jurors participated in an Aug. 28 march in Washington, D.C., to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.That juror, Brandon Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chauvin-jurors-george-floyd-c35cff601d97deb328c0fcafe121367b">has defended his actions,&nbsp;</a>saying the event was to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington and was not a protest over Floyd’s death. Floyd’s brother and sister, Philonise and Bridgett Floyd, and relatives of others who had been shot by police addressed the crowd at the march last summer.Nelson did not immediately return a message seeking details about his allegation of juror misconduct.Brandt said Nelson will likely file more detailed written arguments on these issues. The purpose of holding a hearing to impeach the verdict would be to develop a factual record and present evidence that could determine whether the verdict was compromised. If a hearing is granted, it’s likely Mitchell would be called in to answer questions, Brandt said.___

George Floyd killing: Lawyer seeks hearing to impeach verdict

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one shot to 70% of adult Americans by July Fourth as he tackles the vexing problem of winning over the “doubters” and those unmotivated to get inoculated.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511468-1/president-biden-remarks-covid-19-response-vaccine-program">Click here to watch </a>the President's announcement

Demand for vaccines has dropped off markedly nationwide, with some states leaving more than half their available doses unordered. Aiming to make it easier to get shots, Biden called for states to make vaccines available on a walk-in basis and he will direct many pharmacies to do likewise.

His administration for the first time also is moving to shift doses from states with weaker demand to areas with stronger interest in the shots.

“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”

Biden’s goal equates to delivering at least the first shot to 181 million adults and fully vaccinating 160 million. It’s a tacit acknowledgment of the declining interest in shots.

Already more than 56% of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 105 million are fully vaccinated. The U.S. is currently administering first doses at a rate of about 965,000 per day — half the rate of three weeks ago, but almost twice as fast as needed to meet Biden’s target.

“I’d like to get it 100%, but I think realistically we can get to that place between now and July Fourth,” Biden said of his new goal.

He said the administration would focus on three areas as it tries to ramp up the pace of vaccinations:

—Adults who need more convincing to take the vaccine.

—Those who have struggled or are in no hurry to obtain a shot.

—Adolescents aged 12-15, once federal authorities approve vaccination for that age group.

Acknowledging that “the pace of vaccination is slowing,” Biden predicted the inoculation effort is “going to be harder” when it comes to convincing “doubters” of the need to get their shots.

He said the most effective argument to those people would be to protect those they love. “This is your choice: It’s life and death.”

Biden’s push comes as his administration has shifted away from setting a target for the U.S. to reach “herd immunity,” instead focusing on delivering as many shots into arms as possible. Officials said Biden’s vaccination target would result in a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases heading into the summer.

To that end, the Biden administration is shifting the government’s focus toward expanding smaller and mobile vaccination clinics to deliver doses to harder-to-reach communities. It is also spending hundreds of millions of dollars to try to boost interest in vaccines through education campaigns and greater access to shots through community organizations that can help bring people to clinics.

Biden touted creative efforts to make it “easier and more fun” to get vaccinated, such as grocery stores offering discounts to shoppers who come to get shots and sports leagues that hold promotions to gets shots for their fans.

Ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s expected authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 12-15, the White House is developing plans to speed vaccinations for that age group. Biden urged states to administer at least one dose to adolescents by July Fourth and work to deliver doses to pediatricians’ offices and other trusted locations, with the aim of getting many of them fully vaccinated by the start of the next school year.

While younger people are at dramatically lower risk of serious complications from COVID-19, they have made up a larger share of new virus cases as a majority of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated and as higher-risk activities like indoor dining and contact sports have resumed in most of the country.

Officials hope that extending vaccinations to teens — who could get the first dose in one location and the second elsewhere, if necessary — will further accelerate the nation’s reduced virus caseload and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruptions this fall.

The urgency to expand the pool of those getting the shots is rooted in hopes of stamping out the development of new variants that could emerge from unchecked outbreaks and helping the country further reopen by the symbolic moment of Independence Day, exactly two months away. Though White House officials privately acknowledge the steep challenge, Biden sounded an optimistic note.

“The light at the end of the tunnel is actually growing brighter and brighter,” Biden said.

Biden’s speech comes as the White House announced a shift away from a strict allocation of vaccines by state population. The administration says that when states decline to take all the vaccine they have been allocated, that surplus will shift to states still awaiting doses to meet demand.

Governors were informed of the change by the White House on Tuesday morning.

This week, Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-health-coronavirus-bed1e61831c0485d967ca3687bc84377">turned down</a>&nbsp;nearly three quarters of the vaccine doses available to the state for next week from the federal government because demand for the shots remains weak. Louisiana, meanwhile, hasn’t drawn down its full vaccine allocation from the federal government for the last few weeks.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Louisiana’s coronavirus vaccination rate is well behind most states. About 27% of state residents are fully vaccinated while 32% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the state health department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620167937175.png" alt="“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one shot to 70% of adult Americans by July Fourth as he tackles the vexing problem of winning over the “doubters” and those unmotivated to get inoculated.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511468-1/president-biden-remarks-covid-19-response-vaccine-program">Click here to watch </a>the President's announcementDemand for vaccines has dropped off markedly nationwide, with some states leaving more than half their available doses unordered. Aiming to make it easier to get shots, Biden called for states to make vaccines available on a walk-in basis and he will direct many pharmacies to do likewise.His administration for the first time also is moving to shift doses from states with weaker demand to areas with stronger interest in the shots.“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”Biden’s goal equates to delivering at least the first shot to 181 million adults and fully vaccinating 160 million. It’s a tacit acknowledgment of the declining interest in shots.Already more than 56% of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 105 million are fully vaccinated. The U.S. is currently administering first doses at a rate of about 965,000 per day — half the rate of three weeks ago, but almost twice as fast as needed to meet Biden’s target.“I’d like to get it 100%, but I think realistically we can get to that place between now and July Fourth,” Biden said of his new goal.He said the administration would focus on three areas as it tries to ramp up the pace of vaccinations:—Adults who need more convincing to take the vaccine.—Those who have struggled or are in no hurry to obtain a shot.—Adolescents aged 12-15, once federal authorities approve vaccination for that age group.Acknowledging that “the pace of vaccination is slowing,” Biden predicted the inoculation effort is “going to be harder” when it comes to convincing “doubters” of the need to get their shots.He said the most effective argument to those people would be to protect those they love. “This is your choice: It’s life and death.”Biden’s push comes as his administration has shifted away from setting a target for the U.S. to reach “herd immunity,” instead focusing on delivering as many shots into arms as possible. Officials said Biden’s vaccination target would result in a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases heading into the summer.To that end, the Biden administration is shifting the government’s focus toward expanding smaller and mobile vaccination clinics to deliver doses to harder-to-reach communities. It is also spending hundreds of millions of dollars to try to boost interest in vaccines through education campaigns and greater access to shots through community organizations that can help bring people to clinics.Biden touted creative efforts to make it “easier and more fun” to get vaccinated, such as grocery stores offering discounts to shoppers who come to get shots and sports leagues that hold promotions to gets shots for their fans.Ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s expected authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 12-15, the White House is developing plans to speed vaccinations for that age group. Biden urged states to administer at least one dose to adolescents by July Fourth and work to deliver doses to pediatricians’ offices and other trusted locations, with the aim of getting many of them fully vaccinated by the start of the next school year.While younger people are at dramatically lower risk of serious complications from COVID-19, they have made up a larger share of new virus cases as a majority of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated and as higher-risk activities like indoor dining and contact sports have resumed in most of the country.Officials hope that extending vaccinations to teens — who could get the first dose in one location and the second elsewhere, if necessary — will further accelerate the nation’s reduced virus caseload and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruptions this fall.The urgency to expand the pool of those getting the shots is rooted in hopes of stamping out the development of new variants that could emerge from unchecked outbreaks and helping the country further reopen by the symbolic moment of Independence Day, exactly two months away. Though White House officials privately acknowledge the steep challenge, Biden sounded an optimistic note.“The light at the end of the tunnel is actually growing brighter and brighter,” Biden said.Biden’s speech comes as the White House announced a shift away from a strict allocation of vaccines by state population. The administration says that when states decline to take all the vaccine they have been allocated, that surplus will shift to states still awaiting doses to meet demand.Governors were informed of the change by the White House on Tuesday morning.This week, Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-health-coronavirus-bed1e61831c0485d967ca3687bc84377">turned down</a>&nbsp;nearly three quarters of the vaccine doses available to the state for next week from the federal government because demand for the shots remains weak. Louisiana, meanwhile, hasn’t drawn down its full vaccine allocation from the federal government for the last few weeks.Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Louisiana’s coronavirus vaccination rate is well behind most states. About 27% of state residents are fully vaccinated while 32% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the state health department.The White House previously resisted efforts to distribute vaccine by metrics other than population. Biden rebuffed Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month when she requested more doses as her state was experiencing a surge in virus cases. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the time nearly all states were ordering at or near their population allocations, which is no longer the case.Individual states have made similar shifts internally to account for changing demand. Last week, Washington state changed the way it allocates coronavirus vaccine to its counties. Previously the state doled out supplies to counties proportionate to their populations. But now amounts will be based on requests from health care providers.___