The Federal Trade Commission is 
sending 14,521 checks totaling more than $822,000 to borrowers who lost 
money to a student loan debt-relief scheme that operated under the name 
Student Advocates.

Consumers who receive checks should cash them within 90 days, as 
indicated on the check. Recipients who have questions about their refund
 should call the refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 
877-540-0989. The Commission never requires people to pay money or 
provide account information to get a refund.

In September 2019, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/ftc-takes-action-against-operators-student-loan-debt-relief-schemes-financing-company-assisted-them">FTC filed a complaint</a>
 against a student loan debt-relief scheme and the financing company 
that assisted them. The FTC alleged that the operators of Student 
Advocates, assisted by<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/172_3041_mbv_complaint_0.pdf"> Equitable Acceptance Corporation</a>,
 charged illegal upfront fees that they falsely claimed went toward 
consumers’ student loans. The defendants steered customers into 
high-interest loans to pay these fees. The FTC also alleged that the 
defendants made false promises that their services would permanently 
lower or even eliminate consumers’ student loan payments and debt 
balances. None of the money collected by the defendants was paid toward 
consumers’ student loans.

At the time the FTC filed its complaint, it also announced a 
stipulated final order with Equitable Acceptance Corporation that banned
 the company from assisting debt-relief services and violating the 
Telemarketing Sales Rule. The order also prohibited Equitable Acceptance
 from collecting any further payments from consumers who purchased these
 debt-relief services and required the company to pay monetary relief.

After more than a year of litigation, in May 2021, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2021/05/operators-student-loan-debt-relief-scheme-banned-providing-debt-relief-services-part-settlement-ftc">FTC announced a stipulated final order</a>
 with Student Advocates that banned the company from providing debt 
relief service, prohibited them from collecting further payments from 
consumers who purchased their debt relief services, and required them to
 pay additional monetary relief.

The FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2Fprofile%2Ffederal.trade.commission%23!%2Fvizhome%2FRefunds_15797958402020%2FRefundsbyCase&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2F2022%2F06%2Ffederal-trade-commission-returns-more-54-million-consumers">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide
 a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2021, Commission
 actions led to more than $472 million in refunds to consumers across 
the country, but these refunds were the result of cases resolved before 
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission lacks authority
 under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal court going 
forward. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a>&nbsp;to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission is 
sending 14,521 checks totaling more than $822,000 to borrowers who lost 
money to a student loan debt-relief scheme that operated under the name 
Student Advocates.Consumers who receive checks should cash them within 90 days, as 
indicated on the check. Recipients who have questions about their refund
 should call the refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 
877-540-0989. The Commission never requires people to pay money or 
provide account information to get a refund.In September 2019, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/ftc-takes-action-against-operators-student-loan-debt-relief-schemes-financing-company-assisted-them">FTC filed a complaint</a>
 against a student loan debt-relief scheme and the financing company 
that assisted them. The FTC alleged that the operators of Student 
Advocates, assisted by<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/172_3041_mbv_complaint_0.pdf"> Equitable Acceptance Corporation</a>,
 charged illegal upfront fees that they falsely claimed went toward 
consumers’ student loans. The defendants steered customers into 
high-interest loans to pay these fees. The FTC also alleged that the 
defendants made false promises that their services would permanently 
lower or even eliminate consumers’ student loan payments and debt 
balances. None of the money collected by the defendants was paid toward 
consumers’ student loans.At the time the FTC filed its complaint, it also announced a 
stipulated final order with Equitable Acceptance Corporation that banned
 the company from assisting debt-relief services and violating the 
Telemarketing Sales Rule. The order also prohibited Equitable Acceptance
 from collecting any further payments from consumers who purchased these
 debt-relief services and required the company to pay monetary relief.After more than a year of litigation, in May 2021, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2021/05/operators-student-loan-debt-relief-scheme-banned-providing-debt-relief-services-part-settlement-ftc">FTC announced a stipulated final order</a>
 with Student Advocates that banned the company from providing debt 
relief service, prohibited them from collecting further payments from 
consumers who purchased their debt relief services, and required them to
 pay additional monetary relief.The FTC’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2Fprofile%2Ffederal.trade.commission%23!%2Fvizhome%2FRefunds_15797958402020%2FRefundsbyCase&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2F2022%2F06%2Ffederal-trade-commission-returns-more-54-million-consumers">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide
 a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2021, Commission
 actions led to more than $472 million in refunds to consumers across 
the country, but these refunds were the result of cases resolved before 
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission lacks authority
 under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal court going 
forward. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a>&nbsp;to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

FTC sends nearly $1M to students deceived by debt relief scam

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A child likely died from a rare infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba after swimming in an eastern Nebraska river, health officials said, making it the second such probable death in the Midwest this summer and raising the question of whether climate change is playing a role.

The Douglas County Department of Health based in Omaha, Nebraska, reported Wednesday that doctors believe the child died of primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a usually fatal infection caused by the naegleria fowleri amoeba. Health officials believe the child came into contact with the amoeba on Sunday while swimming in the Elkhorn River just west of Omaha.

Officials have not released the child's identity.

Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakes-iowa-kansas-city-missouri-1571504deedeaca56c0418e460a94a19">a Missouri resident died</a>&nbsp;of the same infection likely caused by the amoeba at Lake of Three Fires in southwestern Iowa. Iowa officials closed the lake's beach as a precaution for nearly three weeks.

People are usually infected when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose while swimming or diving into lakes and rivers. Other sources have been documented, including tainted tap water in a Houston-area city in 2020. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, progressing to a stiff neck, loss of balance, hallucinations and seizures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says naegleria fowleri infections are rare — there are about three cases in the United States every year — but that those infections are overwhelmingly fatal.

There were 154 cases reported between 1962 and 2021 in the U.S., with only four survivors, according to the CDC. Of those, 71 cases were reported between 2000 and 2021. Texas and Florida recorded the most infections with 39 and 37 cases respectively, and the amoeba is typically found in southern states because it thrives in waters that are warmer than 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

But infections have migrated north in recent years, including two cases in Minnesota since 2010, Douglas County Health Director Dr. Lindsey Huse noted during a news conference Thursday.

“Our regions are becoming warmer,” she said. “As things warm up, the water warms up and water levels drop because of drought, you see that this organism is a lot happier and more typically grows in those situations.”

According to the National Water Information System, the surface water temperature near where the child was swimming was between 86 and 92 degrees.

Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, a researcher at the Universidad de La Laguna in the Canary Islands who has studied naegleria fowleri, said Thursday that an increase in infections since 2000 can be blamed on two factors: better knowledge and diagnosis of the disease, and the rising temperature in bodies of water providing “a perfect environment” for the amoeba to thrive.

Researcher Sutherland Maciver, who has studied the amoeba at the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at Edinburgh Medical School in Scotland, says not all infections are reported and that the 430 cases that have ever been reported worldwide are almost certainly an undercount. And, he said, scientists cannot say with certainty that the Nebraska case is directly attributable to climate change.

The two researchers co-authored a paper titled “Is Naegleria fowleri an Emerging Parasite?” that examined factors behind the increase in reported cases.

Health officials recommend that freshwater swimmers plug their noses, avoid putting their heads underwater and avoid activities such as water skiing and tubing, which could force water into the nose, eyes or mouth. You cannot be infected by drinking contaminated water.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657393056107.png" alt="Naegleria fowleri amoeba- image CDC" />
 <figcaption>Naegleria fowleri amoeba- image CDC</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A child likely died from a rare infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba after swimming in an eastern Nebraska river, health officials said, making it the second such probable death in the Midwest this summer and raising the question of whether climate change is playing a role.The Douglas County Department of Health based in Omaha, Nebraska, reported Wednesday that doctors believe the child died of primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a usually fatal infection caused by the naegleria fowleri amoeba. Health officials believe the child came into contact with the amoeba on Sunday while swimming in the Elkhorn River just west of Omaha.Officials have not released the child's identity.Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakes-iowa-kansas-city-missouri-1571504deedeaca56c0418e460a94a19">a Missouri resident died</a>&nbsp;of the same infection likely caused by the amoeba at Lake of Three Fires in southwestern Iowa. Iowa officials closed the lake's beach as a precaution for nearly three weeks.People are usually infected when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose while swimming or diving into lakes and rivers. Other sources have been documented, including tainted tap water in a Houston-area city in 2020. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, progressing to a stiff neck, loss of balance, hallucinations and seizures.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says naegleria fowleri infections are rare — there are about three cases in the United States every year — but that those infections are overwhelmingly fatal.There were 154 cases reported between 1962 and 2021 in the U.S., with only four survivors, according to the CDC. Of those, 71 cases were reported between 2000 and 2021. Texas and Florida recorded the most infections with 39 and 37 cases respectively, and the amoeba is typically found in southern states because it thrives in waters that are warmer than 86 degrees Fahrenheit.But infections have migrated north in recent years, including two cases in Minnesota since 2010, Douglas County Health Director Dr. Lindsey Huse noted during a news conference Thursday.“Our regions are becoming warmer,” she said. “As things warm up, the water warms up and water levels drop because of drought, you see that this organism is a lot happier and more typically grows in those situations.”According to the National Water Information System, the surface water temperature near where the child was swimming was between 86 and 92 degrees.Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, a researcher at the Universidad de La Laguna in the Canary Islands who has studied naegleria fowleri, said Thursday that an increase in infections since 2000 can be blamed on two factors: better knowledge and diagnosis of the disease, and the rising temperature in bodies of water providing “a perfect environment” for the amoeba to thrive.Researcher Sutherland Maciver, who has studied the amoeba at the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at Edinburgh Medical School in Scotland, says not all infections are reported and that the 430 cases that have ever been reported worldwide are almost certainly an undercount. And, he said, scientists cannot say with certainty that the Nebraska case is directly attributable to climate change.The two researchers co-authored a paper titled “Is Naegleria fowleri an Emerging Parasite?” that examined factors behind the increase in reported cases.Health officials recommend that freshwater swimmers plug their noses, avoid putting their heads underwater and avoid activities such as water skiing and tubing, which could force water into the nose, eyes or mouth. You cannot be infected by drinking contaminated water.

Brain-eating amoeba suspected in 2nd Midwest death

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Justice Department to put forward proposed redactions as he committed to making public at least part of the affidavit supporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-f63c018b600e1539ff3660a896a132d0">the search warrant for former President Donald Trump's estate in Florida.</a>

U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart gave prosecutors a week to submit a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions for the information it wants to keep secret after the FBI seized classified and top secret information during a search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate last week.

The hearing was convened Thursday after several news organizations, including The Associated Press, sought to unseal additional records tied to last week’s search, including the affidavit. It is likely to contain key details about the Justice Department’s investigation examining whether Trump retained and mishandled classified and sensitive government records.

The Justice Department has adamantly opposed making the affidavit public, arguing that doing so would compromise its ongoing investigation, would expose the identities of witnesses and could prevent others from coming forward and cooperating with the government.

The attorneys for the news organizations, however, argued that the unprecedented nature of the Justice Department's investigation warrants public disclosure.

“You can't trust what you can't see,” said Chuck Tobin, a lawyer representing the AP and several other news outlets.

In addition to ordering the redactions, the judge agreed to make public other documents, including the warrant's cover sheet, the Justice Department's motion to seal the documents and the judge's order requiring them to be sealed.

Those documents showed the FBI was specifically investigating the “willful retention of national defense information,” the concealment or removal of government records and obstruction of a federal investigation.

Jay Bratt, a top Justice Department national security prosecutor, had argued that the affidavit should remain hidden from the public. Unsealing it, he said, would provide a “road map” of the investigation — which is in its “early stages” — and expose the next steps to be taken by federal agents and prosecutors.

He argued it was in the public interest for the investigation, including interviews of witnesses, to go forward unhindered.

As the hearing kicked off, a small caravan of vehicles with Trump flags drove past the federal courthouse in West Palm Beach, Florida. An attorney for Trump, Christina Bobb, was in the courthouse Thursday but said she was only there to observe the court proceeding.

Bratt argued in court that even a redacted version of the document could reveal investigative steps or create the ability for sleuths or those being eyed in the investigation to identify witnesses in the case. He also contended that the Justice Department had already gone to rare lengths to bring transparency, including making a request for the court to unseal the warrant and property receipt, which were made public last week.

“There is heightened interest," he conceded. "This is likely an unprecedented situation.”

Trump, in a Truth Social post last week, called for the release of the unredacted affidavit in the interest of transparency.

Reinhart gave the government until next Thursday to submit its version with the proposed redactions. He said he would then review it and may meet lawyers for the government and give them a chance to make an argument for why specific information should be withheld.

Justice Department attorneys have argued in a court filings that the investigation into Trump's handling of “highly classified material” is ongoing and that the document contains sensitive information about witnesses.

A recent filing by Bratt and Juan Antonio Gonzalez, the U.S. attorney in Miami, says making the affidavit public would “cause significant and irreparable damage to this ongoing criminal investigation.”

“If disclosed, the affidavit would serve as a roadmap to the government’s ongoing investigation, providing specific details about its direction and likely course, in a manner that is highly likely to compromise future investigative steps,” they wrote.

FBI agents searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on Aug. 8, removing 11 sets of classified documents, with some not only marked top secret but also “sensitive compartmented information," according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-f63c018b600e1539ff3660a896a132d0">a receipt of what was taken that was released Friday.</a>&nbsp;That is a special category meant to protect the nation’s most important secrets that if revealed publicly could cause “exceptionally grave” damage to U.S. interests. The court records did not provide specific details about information the documents might contain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660337904040.jpeg" alt="The receipt for property that was seized during the execution of a search warrant by the FBI at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., is photographed Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)" />
 <figcaption>The receipt for property that was seized during the execution of a search warrant by the FBI at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., is photographed Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Justice Department to put forward proposed redactions as he committed to making public at least part of the affidavit supporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-f63c018b600e1539ff3660a896a132d0">the search warrant for former President Donald Trump's estate in Florida.</a>U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart gave prosecutors a week to submit a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions for the information it wants to keep secret after the FBI seized classified and top secret information during a search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate last week.The hearing was convened Thursday after several news organizations, including The Associated Press, sought to unseal additional records tied to last week’s search, including the affidavit. It is likely to contain key details about the Justice Department’s investigation examining whether Trump retained and mishandled classified and sensitive government records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660644441411.png" alt="Trump, in a Truth Social post early Tuesday, called for the release of the unredacted affidavit in the interest of transparency." />
 <figcaption>Trump, in a Truth Social post early Tuesday, called for the release of the unredacted affidavit in the interest of transparency.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Justice Department has adamantly opposed making the affidavit public, arguing that doing so would compromise its ongoing investigation, would expose the identities of witnesses and could prevent others from coming forward and cooperating with the government.The attorneys for the news organizations, however, argued that the unprecedented nature of the Justice Department's investigation warrants public disclosure.“You can't trust what you can't see,” said Chuck Tobin, a lawyer representing the AP and several other news outlets.In addition to ordering the redactions, the judge agreed to make public other documents, including the warrant's cover sheet, the Justice Department's motion to seal the documents and the judge's order requiring them to be sealed.Those documents showed the FBI was specifically investigating the “willful retention of national defense information,” the concealment or removal of government records and obstruction of a federal investigation.Jay Bratt, a top Justice Department national security prosecutor, had argued that the affidavit should remain hidden from the public. Unsealing it, he said, would provide a “road map” of the investigation — which is in its “early stages” — and expose the next steps to be taken by federal agents and prosecutors.He argued it was in the public interest for the investigation, including interviews of witnesses, to go forward unhindered.As the hearing kicked off, a small caravan of vehicles with Trump flags drove past the federal courthouse in West Palm Beach, Florida. An attorney for Trump, Christina Bobb, was in the courthouse Thursday but said she was only there to observe the court proceeding.Bratt argued in court that even a redacted version of the document could reveal investigative steps or create the ability for sleuths or those being eyed in the investigation to identify witnesses in the case. He also contended that the Justice Department had already gone to rare lengths to bring transparency, including making a request for the court to unseal the warrant and property receipt, which were made public last week.“There is heightened interest," he conceded. "This is likely an unprecedented situation.”Trump, in a Truth Social post last week, called for the release of the unredacted affidavit in the interest of transparency.Reinhart gave the government until next Thursday to submit its version with the proposed redactions. He said he would then review it and may meet lawyers for the government and give them a chance to make an argument for why specific information should be withheld.Justice Department attorneys have argued in a court filings that the investigation into Trump's handling of “highly classified material” is ongoing and that the document contains sensitive information about witnesses.A recent filing by Bratt and Juan Antonio Gonzalez, the U.S. attorney in Miami, says making the affidavit public would “cause significant and irreparable damage to this ongoing criminal investigation.”“If disclosed, the affidavit would serve as a roadmap to the government’s ongoing investigation, providing specific details about its direction and likely course, in a manner that is highly likely to compromise future investigative steps,” they wrote.FBI agents searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on Aug. 8, removing 11 sets of classified documents, with some not only marked top secret but also “sensitive compartmented information," according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-f63c018b600e1539ff3660a896a132d0">a receipt of what was taken that was released Friday.</a>&nbsp;That is a special category meant to protect the nation’s most important secrets that if revealed publicly could cause “exceptionally grave” damage to U.S. interests. The court records did not provide specific details about information the documents might contain.

Judge appears willing to unveil some of Trump affidavit

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

Riley County teen, Mikey Silva from Randolph, is one of the top 11 teens with mullets competing in the USA Teen Mullet Championship.

Silva has been growing out his mullet for the last three years, maintaining it by getting it trimmed every eight weeks.

You can vote for Mikey in the USA Teen Mullet Championship by following <a href="https://mulletchamp.com/2022-teens-division-voting/">this link, an email address is required to vote</a>. Voting ends Friday, August 19th, 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660846608414.jpeg" alt="Mikey Silva mullet, photos courtesy Krystal Sullivan-Silva" />
 <figcaption>Mikey Silva mullet, photos courtesy Krystal Sullivan-Silva</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostRiley County teen, Mikey Silva from Randolph, is one of the top 11 teens with mullets competing in the USA Teen Mullet Championship.Silva has been growing out his mullet for the last three years, maintaining it by getting it trimmed every eight weeks.You can vote for Mikey in the USA Teen Mullet Championship by following <a href="https://mulletchamp.com/2022-teens-division-voting/">this link, an email address is required to vote</a>. Voting ends Friday, August 19th, 2022.

Kan. teen finalist in USA Mullet Championship competition

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/feds-discharge-student-loans-for-1340-nebraskans-who-attended-tech-institute/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — As part of a national 
effort to discharge student loans involving colleges that misled 
students, 1,340 Nebraskans will no longer be required to pay back their 
debts to one school.

The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that it will 
discharge all remaining federal student loans that borrowers received to
 attend ITT Technical Institute from January 2005 through the closure of
 the school in September 2016.

The discharges involve 208,000 borrowers nationwide who received a 
total of $3.9 billion in loans. The Nebraska loan forgiveness amounted 
to about $25 million.

An investigation by the federal agency found that ITT engaged in 
“years of lies and false promises” in order to profit off federal 
student loan programs, with no regard for the financial hardship it 
might create for students.

“The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to stand up for 
borrowers who’ve been cheated by their colleges, while working to 
strengthen oversight and enforcement to protect today’s students from 
similar deception and abuse,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel 
Cardona in a press release Tuesday.

The department said that&nbsp;nearly $32 billion in loan relief has been 
approved for 1.6 million borrowers since Biden became president.

Attorney General Doug Peterson, in a press release Wednesday, said 
Nebraskans who borrowed money to attend ITT do not have to take any 
further action — their federal student loans will be automatically 
cancelled by the Department of Education.

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/feds-discharge-student-loans-for-1340-nebraskans-who-attended-tech-institute/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — As part of a national 
effort to discharge student loans involving colleges that misled 
students, 1,340 Nebraskans will no longer be required to pay back their 
debts to one school.The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that it will 
discharge all remaining federal student loans that borrowers received to
 attend ITT Technical Institute from January 2005 through the closure of
 the school in September 2016.The discharges involve 208,000 borrowers nationwide who received a 
total of $3.9 billion in loans. The Nebraska loan forgiveness amounted 
to about $25 million.An investigation by the federal agency found that ITT engaged in 
“years of lies and false promises” in order to profit off federal 
student loan programs, with no regard for the financial hardship it 
might create for students.“The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to stand up for 
borrowers who’ve been cheated by their colleges, while working to 
strengthen oversight and enforcement to protect today’s students from 
similar deception and abuse,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel 
Cardona in a press release Tuesday.The department said that&nbsp;nearly $32 billion in loan relief has been 
approved for 1.6 million borrowers since Biden became president.Attorney General Doug Peterson, in a press release Wednesday, said 
Nebraskans who borrowed money to attend ITT do not have to take any 
further action — their federal student loans will be automatically 
cancelled by the Department of Education.

Feds forgive student loans for Nebraskans who attended ITT tech

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/omahans-including-mayor-stothert-are-off-to-carlentini-sicily-to-advance-sister-city-friendship-bond/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA
 — Nearly 100 Omahans, including Mayor Jean Stothert, will be converging
 upon Carlentini, Sicily, over the next several days to advance a sister
 city connection with the motherland of many local families of Italian 
descent.

Stothert will be meeting with 
Carlentini Mayor Guiseppe Steffio, her counterpart in that Italian city 
of about 17,000, which is in the province of Syracuse, Sicily.

The two mayors in a virtual ceremony 
last September signed the official sister city “friendship” agreement, 
recognizing a century-long bond between the two communities.

Just last month, Steffio and a small 
Carlentini contingent visited Omaha to meet with various business and 
civic leaders — and to celebrate the 98th local festival honoring 
Sicily’s Christian heroine, Santa Lucia.

The event was born as Italian 
immigrants built new lives in Omaha. Early settlers such as Grazia 
Bonafede Caniglia wanted to recreate Carlentini’s annual Santa Lucia 
festival to help stay connected to heritage and traditions.

The Omaha group, while in Carlentini, in turn will be guests at that city’s 401st Santa Lucia celebration.

Omahans (some already there and 
others arriving this week and next) include members of the local Sicula 
Italia Foundation, Sons of Italy, the Santa Lucia Festival Committee and
 the American Italian Heritage Society, as well as the Omaha Sister 
Cities Association.

Many of the Omahans will be meeting 
with distant relatives, forging new partnerships and presenting gifts 
such as a painting by local artist Jeremy Caniglia. It is of Santa Lucia
 (Saint Lucy) at an olive tree with her mother, and Santa Agatha 
appearing to tell her she will be the next martyr.

Omahan Carmelita de la Guardia, whose
 family emigrated from the area, and her band will be performing at the 
festival celebration.

Carlentini immigrants began to arrive
 in Omaha more than a century ago, largely to work in railroad jobs. 
They built a community centered at Omaha’s Little Italy, south of 
downtown Omaha.

Sheri Kanger of the nonprofit Sicula 
Italia Foundation said nearly 100 Omaha area residents will be visiting 
Carlentini for the festival and to connect with their roots.

Stothert said in a statement that she
 will pay her travel expenses and would not spend taxpayer dollars. She 
leaves for Italy on Friday and is to return to the U.S. on Sept. 10.

“Sister cities build relationships 
that better our city, our country and our world,” Stothert said. “I am 
proud to serve as the honorary chair of the association and represent 
our great city.”

Omaha, under its Sister Cities 
Association flag, has established six sister cities in addition to 
Carlentini and one other “friendship” city. The relationships provides 
opportunities for cultural, educational and business partnerships and 
exchanges.

The six sister cities are Shizouka, 
Japan; Siauliai, Lithuania; Yantai, China; Braunschweig, Germany; Naas, 
Ireland; and Xalapa, Mexico.

The other friendship city is a region along the Normandy coast of France that includes Omaha Beach.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660839916723.png" alt="Santa Lucia statue at the festival ‘s overnight adoration, where devotees take shifts guarding her until the Sunday worship service at St. Frances Cabrini Church. (Courtesy of Charlie Venditte) " />
 <figcaption>Santa Lucia statue at the festival ‘s overnight adoration, where devotees take shifts guarding her until the Sunday worship service at St. Frances Cabrini Church. (Courtesy of Charlie Venditte) </figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/omahans-including-mayor-stothert-are-off-to-carlentini-sicily-to-advance-sister-city-friendship-bond/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA
 — Nearly 100 Omahans, including Mayor Jean Stothert, will be converging
 upon Carlentini, Sicily, over the next several days to advance a sister
 city connection with the motherland of many local families of Italian 
descent.Stothert will be meeting with 
Carlentini Mayor Guiseppe Steffio, her counterpart in that Italian city 
of about 17,000, which is in the province of Syracuse, Sicily.The two mayors in a virtual ceremony 
last September signed the official sister city “friendship” agreement, 
recognizing a century-long bond between the two communities.Just last month, Steffio and a small 
Carlentini contingent visited Omaha to meet with various business and 
civic leaders — and to celebrate the 98th local festival honoring 
Sicily’s Christian heroine, Santa Lucia.The event was born as Italian 
immigrants built new lives in Omaha. Early settlers such as Grazia 
Bonafede Caniglia wanted to recreate Carlentini’s annual Santa Lucia 
festival to help stay connected to heritage and traditions.The Omaha group, while in Carlentini, in turn will be guests at that city’s 401st Santa Lucia celebration.<h2>Omahans to perform for Carlentini</h2>Omahans (some already there and 
others arriving this week and next) include members of the local Sicula 
Italia Foundation, Sons of Italy, the Santa Lucia Festival Committee and
 the American Italian Heritage Society, as well as the Omaha Sister 
Cities Association.Many of the Omahans will be meeting 
with distant relatives, forging new partnerships and presenting gifts 
such as a painting by local artist Jeremy Caniglia. It is of Santa Lucia
 (Saint Lucy) at an olive tree with her mother, and Santa Agatha 
appearing to tell her she will be the next martyr.Omahan Carmelita de la Guardia, whose
 family emigrated from the area, and her band will be performing at the 
festival celebration.Carlentini immigrants began to arrive
 in Omaha more than a century ago, largely to work in railroad jobs. 
They built a community centered at Omaha’s Little Italy, south of 
downtown Omaha.Sheri Kanger of the nonprofit Sicula 
Italia Foundation said nearly 100 Omaha area residents will be visiting 
Carlentini for the festival and to connect with their roots.<h2>Mayor to pay her bill</h2>Stothert said in a statement that she
 will pay her travel expenses and would not spend taxpayer dollars. She 
leaves for Italy on Friday and is to return to the U.S. on Sept. 10.“Sister cities build relationships 
that better our city, our country and our world,” Stothert said. “I am 
proud to serve as the honorary chair of the association and represent 
our great city.”Omaha, under its Sister Cities 
Association flag, has established six sister cities in addition to 
Carlentini and one other “friendship” city. The relationships provides 
opportunities for cultural, educational and business partnerships and 
exchanges.The six sister cities are Shizouka, 
Japan; Siauliai, Lithuania; Yantai, China; Braunschweig, Germany; Naas, 
Ireland; and Xalapa, Mexico.The other friendship city is a region along the Normandy coast of France that includes Omaha Beach.

Nebraska contingent off to Sicilian sister city

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/17/nebraska-loses-distinction-as-least-bicycle-friendly-state-in-the-union/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska is no longer at the end of the pack as the nation’s least friendly state for bicyclists.

A new ranking by the League of American Bicyclists now places the Cornhusker State 49th out of 50 states.

Nebraska had been ranked 50th since 2017.

“We have a long way to go,” said Julie Harris, executive director of Bike Walk Nebraska.

She jokingly attributed the state’s ascension from the bike-friendly basement to “pity.”

Neighboring Wyoming now ranks as the nation’s least-friendly state 
for bicyclists. The top bike friendly states are Massachusetts, Oregon 
and Washington.

The <a target="_blank" href="https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFS_Report_Card_2022_Nebraska.pdf">League of Bicyclists ranks states</a> on factors such as infrastructure, policies, education and traffic laws.

Nebraska got its top grade, a “B,” for “traffic laws and practices.” 
Harris said the passage of a state law in 2017, which gave bicyclists 
the same legal protections as pedestrians when in a crosswalk, boosted 
that score. Safety, she said, has been an emphasis area for Bike Walk 
Nebraska.

The state’s worst grades were an “F+” for infrastructure and funding and an “F” for education and encouragement.

The League of Bicyclists noted that Nebraska was one of only eight 
states that have never adopted a statewide bike plan, doesn’t utilize a 
“Complete Streets” strategy to include commuting on bicycles as part of 
its planning process and doesn’t make “bicycle safety an emphasis area” 
in its strategic highway planning. The state also&nbsp;lacks design standards
 for dedicated bike lanes, for instance.

“We just don’t check those boxes,” Harris said, adding that her 
association continues to work with the Nebraska Department of 
Transportation to adopt road designs with bike safety in mind.

Jeni Campana, a spokeswoman for NDOT, said that while the state 
doesn’t have a formal state bike plan, bicyclists were considered in the
 new, 20-year comprehensive transportation plan completed last year.

“It is on our radar,” Campana said. “Is this something we spent a ton on time on 20 years ago, probably not.&nbsp;Are we spending more time on it now, absolutely.”

The NDOT, she said, has an interactive state bike map on its website.
 The department has made accommodations in the design of the South 
Beltway south of Lincoln to accommodate future bicycle trail 
construction in that area.

Harris, of Bike Walk Nebraska, added that the group helped persuade 
the NDOT to install girders alongside a new U.S. 75 bridge spanning the 
Platte River near Plattsmouth so that a bike lane can be added later.

The agency also agreed, she said, to provide gaps in “rumble strips” 
along new state highways so that if bicyclists have to get off the 
shoulder and onto the highway, they have safer paths to do that.

She said the rankings were likely made before the Legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Pete Ricketts and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/03/legislators-urged-to-invest-in-completing-recreation-trails-across-nebraska/">allocated $8.3 million</a> of the state’s $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/26/downed-trees-deep-ravines-among-obstacles-for-hike-bike-trail-linking-omaha-and-lincoln/"> finish a missing link in a bike-hike trail</a> between Omaha and Lincoln.

Perhaps that extra funding might have improved Nebraska’s ranking 
slightly, Harris said. South Dakota, Mississippi and Oklahoma rank just 
above Nebraska in the bottom five.

Nebraska’s rating might be low, according to Harris, because the 
state has fewer hard-core bicyclists than do other states. Only 0.3% of 
the state’s commuters do so via bicycle, according to the League of 
American Bicyclists.

Harris said surveys show that about 60% of people would bike but are 
afraid due to the lack of safe routes. She said the cities of Omaha and 
Lincoln have good bike-hike trail systems, but they often aren’t 
incorporated into a complete transportation plan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660830497535.png" alt="Matt Rechmeyer of Lincoln and his brother Drew, of Omaha, pedal down Nebraska Highway 1 near Murdock — one of the alternative routes used by bicyclists because of a missing link in trails from Omaha and Lincoln. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Matt Rechmeyer of Lincoln and his brother Drew, of Omaha, pedal down Nebraska Highway 1 near Murdock — one of the alternative routes used by bicyclists because of a missing link in trails from Omaha and Lincoln. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/17/nebraska-loses-distinction-as-least-bicycle-friendly-state-in-the-union/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska is no longer at the end of the pack as the nation’s least friendly state for bicyclists.A new ranking by the League of American Bicyclists now places the Cornhusker State 49th out of 50 states.Nebraska had been ranked 50th since 2017.“We have a long way to go,” said Julie Harris, executive director of Bike Walk Nebraska.She jokingly attributed the state’s ascension from the bike-friendly basement to “pity.”Neighboring Wyoming now ranks as the nation’s least-friendly state 
for bicyclists. The top bike friendly states are Massachusetts, Oregon 
and Washington.<h2>Several factors go into ranking</h2>The <a target="_blank" href="https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFS_Report_Card_2022_Nebraska.pdf">League of Bicyclists ranks states</a> on factors such as infrastructure, policies, education and traffic laws.Nebraska got its top grade, a “B,” for “traffic laws and practices.” 
Harris said the passage of a state law in 2017, which gave bicyclists 
the same legal protections as pedestrians when in a crosswalk, boosted 
that score. Safety, she said, has been an emphasis area for Bike Walk 
Nebraska.The state’s worst grades were an “F+” for infrastructure and funding and an “F” for education and encouragement.The League of Bicyclists noted that Nebraska was one of only eight 
states that have never adopted a statewide bike plan, doesn’t utilize a 
“Complete Streets” strategy to include commuting on bicycles as part of 
its planning process and doesn’t make “bicycle safety an emphasis area” 
in its strategic highway planning. The state also&nbsp;lacks design standards
 for dedicated bike lanes, for instance.“We just don’t check those boxes,” Harris said, adding that her 
association continues to work with the Nebraska Department of 
Transportation to adopt road designs with bike safety in mind.Jeni Campana, a spokeswoman for NDOT, said that while the state 
doesn’t have a formal state bike plan, bicyclists were considered in the
 new, 20-year comprehensive transportation plan completed last year.<h2>‘On our radar’</h2>“It is on our radar,” Campana said. “Is this something we spent a ton on time on 20 years ago, probably not.&nbsp;Are we spending more time on it now, absolutely.”The NDOT, she said, has an interactive state bike map on its website.
 The department has made accommodations in the design of the South 
Beltway south of Lincoln to accommodate future bicycle trail 
construction in that area.Harris, of Bike Walk Nebraska, added that the group helped persuade 
the NDOT to install girders alongside a new U.S. 75 bridge spanning the 
Platte River near Plattsmouth so that a bike lane can be added later.The agency also agreed, she said, to provide gaps in “rumble strips” 
along new state highways so that if bicyclists have to get off the 
shoulder and onto the highway, they have safer paths to do that.<h2>$8.3 million allocated</h2>She said the rankings were likely made before the Legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Pete Ricketts and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/03/legislators-urged-to-invest-in-completing-recreation-trails-across-nebraska/">allocated $8.3 million</a> of the state’s $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/26/downed-trees-deep-ravines-among-obstacles-for-hike-bike-trail-linking-omaha-and-lincoln/"> finish a missing link in a bike-hike trail</a> between Omaha and Lincoln.Perhaps that extra funding might have improved Nebraska’s ranking 
slightly, Harris said. South Dakota, Mississippi and Oklahoma rank just 
above Nebraska in the bottom five.Nebraska’s rating might be low, according to Harris, because the 
state has fewer hard-core bicyclists than do other states. Only 0.3% of 
the state’s commuters do so via bicycle, according to the League of 
American Bicyclists.Harris said surveys show that about 60% of people would bike but are 
afraid due to the lack of safe routes. She said the cities of Omaha and 
Lincoln have good bike-hike trail systems, but they often aren’t 
incorporated into a complete transportation plan.

Nebraska no longer least ‘bicycle friendly’ state in the union

NEW YORK (AP) — The head of the nation's top public health agency on Wednesday announced a shake-up of the organization, saying it fell short responding to COVID-19 and needs to become more nimble.

The planned changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — CDC leaders call it a “reset”— come amid criticism of the agency's response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>, monkeypox and other public health threats. The changes include internal staffing moves and steps to speed up data releases.

The CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told the agency's staff about the changes on Wednesday. It's a CDC initiative, and was not directed by the White House or other administration officials, she said.

“I feel like it's my my responsibility to lead this agency to a better place after a really challenging three years,” Walensky told The Associated Press.

The Atlanta-based agency, with a $12 billion budget and more than 11,000 employees, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. It’s customary for each CDC director to do some reorganizing, but Walensky’s action comes amid a wider demand for change.

The agency has long been criticized as too ponderous, focusing on collection and analysis of data but not acting quickly against new health threats. Public unhappiness with the agency grew dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts said the CDC was slow to recognize how much virus was entering the U.S. from Europe, to recommend people wear masks, to say the virus can spread through the air, and to ramp up systematic testing for new variants.

“We saw during COVID that CDC’s structures, frankly, weren’t designed to take in information, digest it and disseminate it to the public at the speed necessary,” said Jason Schwartz, a health policy researcher at the Yale School of Public Health.

Walensky, who became director in January 2021, has long said the agency has to move faster and communicate better, but stumbles have continued during her tenure. In April, she called for an in-depth review of the agency, which resulted in the announced changes.

"It’s not lost on me that we fell short in many ways” responding to the coronavirus, Walensky said. "We had some pretty public mistakes, and so much of this effort was to hold up the mirror ... to understand where and how we could do better."

Her reorganization proposal must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services secretary. CDC officials say they hope to have a full package of changes finalized, approved and underway by early next year.

Some changes still are being formulated, but steps announced Wednesday include:

—Increasing use of preprint scientific reports to get out actionable data, instead of waiting for research to go through peer review and publication by the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

—Restructuring the agency's communications office and further revamping CDC websites to make the agency's guidance for the public more clear and easier to find.

—Altering the length of time agency leaders are devoted to outbreak responses to a minimum of six months — an effort to address a turnover problem that at times caused knowledge gaps and affected the agency’s communications.

—Creation of a new executive council to help Walensky set strategy and priorities.

—Appointing Mary Wakefield as senior counselor to implement the changes. Wakefield headed the Health Resources and Services Administration during the Obama administration and also served as the No. 2 administrator at HHS. Wakefield, 68, started Monday.

—Altering the agency's organization chart to undo some changes made during the Trump administration.

—Establishing an office of intergovernmental affairs to smooth partnerships with other agencies, as well as a higher-level office on health equity.

Walensky also said she intends to “get rid of some of the reporting layers that exist, and I'd like to work to break down some of the silos." She did not say exactly what that may entail, but emphasized that the overall changes are less about redrawing the organization chart than rethinking how the CDC does business and motivates staff.

“This will not be simply moving boxes" on the organization chart, she said.

Schwartz said flaws in the federal response go beyond the CDC, because the White House and other agencies were heavily involved.

A CDC reorganization is a positive step but “I hope it's not the end of the story,” Schwartz said. He would like to see "a broader accounting” of how the federal government handles health crises.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637359841305.png" alt="The CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told the agency's staff about the changes on Wednesday. It's a CDC initiative, and was not directed by the White House or other administration officials, she said.- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told the agency's staff about the changes on Wednesday. It's a CDC initiative, and was not directed by the White House or other administration officials, she said.- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The head of the nation's top public health agency on Wednesday announced a shake-up of the organization, saying it fell short responding to COVID-19 and needs to become more nimble.The planned changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — CDC leaders call it a “reset”— come amid criticism of the agency's response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>, monkeypox and other public health threats. The changes include internal staffing moves and steps to speed up data releases.The CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told the agency's staff about the changes on Wednesday. It's a CDC initiative, and was not directed by the White House or other administration officials, she said.“I feel like it's my my responsibility to lead this agency to a better place after a really challenging three years,” Walensky told The Associated Press.The Atlanta-based agency, with a $12 billion budget and more than 11,000 employees, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. It’s customary for each CDC director to do some reorganizing, but Walensky’s action comes amid a wider demand for change.The agency has long been criticized as too ponderous, focusing on collection and analysis of data but not acting quickly against new health threats. Public unhappiness with the agency grew dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts said the CDC was slow to recognize how much virus was entering the U.S. from Europe, to recommend people wear masks, to say the virus can spread through the air, and to ramp up systematic testing for new variants.“We saw during COVID that CDC’s structures, frankly, weren’t designed to take in information, digest it and disseminate it to the public at the speed necessary,” said Jason Schwartz, a health policy researcher at the Yale School of Public Health.Walensky, who became director in January 2021, has long said the agency has to move faster and communicate better, but stumbles have continued during her tenure. In April, she called for an in-depth review of the agency, which resulted in the announced changes."It’s not lost on me that we fell short in many ways” responding to the coronavirus, Walensky said. "We had some pretty public mistakes, and so much of this effort was to hold up the mirror ... to understand where and how we could do better."Her reorganization proposal must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services secretary. CDC officials say they hope to have a full package of changes finalized, approved and underway by early next year.Some changes still are being formulated, but steps announced Wednesday include:—Increasing use of preprint scientific reports to get out actionable data, instead of waiting for research to go through peer review and publication by the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.—Restructuring the agency's communications office and further revamping CDC websites to make the agency's guidance for the public more clear and easier to find.—Altering the length of time agency leaders are devoted to outbreak responses to a minimum of six months — an effort to address a turnover problem that at times caused knowledge gaps and affected the agency’s communications.—Creation of a new executive council to help Walensky set strategy and priorities.—Appointing Mary Wakefield as senior counselor to implement the changes. Wakefield headed the Health Resources and Services Administration during the Obama administration and also served as the No. 2 administrator at HHS. Wakefield, 68, started Monday.—Altering the agency's organization chart to undo some changes made during the Trump administration.—Establishing an office of intergovernmental affairs to smooth partnerships with other agencies, as well as a higher-level office on health equity.Walensky also said she intends to “get rid of some of the reporting layers that exist, and I'd like to work to break down some of the silos." She did not say exactly what that may entail, but emphasized that the overall changes are less about redrawing the organization chart than rethinking how the CDC does business and motivates staff.“This will not be simply moving boxes" on the organization chart, she said.Schwartz said flaws in the federal response go beyond the CDC, because the White House and other agencies were heavily involved.A CDC reorganization is a positive step but “I hope it's not the end of the story,” Schwartz said. He would like to see "a broader accounting” of how the federal government handles health crises.

CDC announces shake-up, citing COVID mistakes

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who've 
yet to file their 2021 federal income tax return to make sure they take 
advantage of the deductions and credits for which they're entitled and 
to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file electronically</a> as soon as possible.

"Each year, eligible taxpayers overlook money saving deductions and 
credits that can help them with the cost of raising a family, daycare, 
paying for college, saving for retirement or making a donation to 
charity," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We want to ensure they're
 aware of all the tax benefits for which they may qualify."

This year, the IRS received about 19 million requests for extensions 
to file until October 17. Those who qualify can prepare and file their 
return for free with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>. Electronically filing and choosing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>
 can help taxpayers get their refund faster. If they owe, sending the 
tax return with full payment prevents additional interest and penalties.
 There's no penalty for failure to file if the taxpayer is due a refund.

Filing tips <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc153">for taxpayers who haven't filed their 2021 tax return</a> are available on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers should consider the following tax benefits when filing their tax return:

The IRS urges taxpayers to ensure they have all their year-end 
statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides W-2s and 
1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS – <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>, showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a>, showing their total EIP3 payments.

Individuals can also use their IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. Married spouses who 
received joint payments will each need to sign into their own account to
 retrieve their separate amounts.

Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions, and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get
 help when it's needed at home, at work or on the go.

Adjust 2022 withholding now to avoid tax surprises next year

Summer is a great time for taxpayers to check their 2022 withholding 
to avoid a tax surprise when they file next year. Life events like 
marriage, divorce, having a child or a change in income can affect 
taxes. Too little tax withheld can lead to a tax bill or penalty. Too 
much can mean the taxpayer won't have use of the money until they get 
their tax refund in 2023.

The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 on IRS.gov helps employees assess their income tax, credits, 
adjustments and deductions, and determine whether they need to change 
their withholding. If a change is recommended, the estimator will 
provide instructions to update their withholding with their employer, 
either online or by submitting a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate</a>.

The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Taxpayer Assistance Center Locator tool</a>
 has a new look and feel, featuring a dynamic map, a directions button 
and two tabs for entering search criteria. It's important to remember 
that Taxpayer Assistance Centers operate by appointment only. Taxpayers 
must make an appointment by calling the number for the office they want 
to visit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who've 
yet to file their 2021 federal income tax return to make sure they take 
advantage of the deductions and credits for which they're entitled and 
to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file electronically</a> as soon as possible."Each year, eligible taxpayers overlook money saving deductions and 
credits that can help them with the cost of raising a family, daycare, 
paying for college, saving for retirement or making a donation to 
charity," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We want to ensure they're
 aware of all the tax benefits for which they may qualify."This year, the IRS received about 19 million requests for extensions 
to file until October 17. Those who qualify can prepare and file their 
return for free with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>. Electronically filing and choosing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>
 can help taxpayers get their refund faster. If they owe, sending the 
tax return with full payment prevents additional interest and penalties.
 There's no penalty for failure to file if the taxpayer is due a refund.Filing tips <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc153">for taxpayers who haven't filed their 2021 tax return</a> are available on IRS.gov.Taxpayers should consider the following tax benefits when filing their tax return:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>: Qualified low- to moderate-income workers and families may get a tax break. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">Child Tax Credit</a>: Families can claim this credit, even if they received monthly advance payments during the last half of 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a>:
 Families who pay expenses for the care of a qualifying individual so 
they can work, or look for work, can get a tax credit worth up to $4,000
 for one qualifying person and $8,000 for two or more qualifying 
persons. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC)</a>:
 Those who missed out on last year's third round of Economic Impact 
Payments (EIP3), also known as stimulus payments, may be eligible to 
claim the RRC. This credit can also help eligible people whose EIP3 was 
less than the full amount, including those who welcomed a child in 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/expanded-tax-benefits-help-individuals-and-businesses-give-to-charity-during-2021-deductions-up-to-600-available-for-cash-donations-by-non-itemizers">Deduction for gifts to charity</a>:
 The majority of taxpayers who take the standard deduction can deduct 
eligible cash contributions they made to charity during 2021. Married 
couples filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and 
individual taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations. In addition, 
itemizers who make large cash donations often qualify to deduct the full
 amount in 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/education-credits-aotc-llc">American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit</a>:
 Tax credits for higher education can help offset taxpayers' tuition and
 other costs by reducing the amount of tax owed on their tax return. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-savings-contributions-savers-credit">Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (Saver's Credit)</a>: A
 tax credit is available for making eligible contributions to an 
individual retirement account or employer-sponsored retirement plan.</li>
 </ul><h2>Helpful reminders</h2>The IRS urges taxpayers to ensure they have all their year-end 
statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides W-2s and 
1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS – <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>, showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a>, showing their total EIP3 payments.Individuals can also use their IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. Married spouses who 
received joint payments will each need to sign into their own account to
 retrieve their separate amounts.Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions, and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get
 help when it's needed at home, at work or on the go.<h2>Adjust 2022 withholding now to avoid tax surprises next year</h2>Summer is a great time for taxpayers to check their 2022 withholding 
to avoid a tax surprise when they file next year. Life events like 
marriage, divorce, having a child or a change in income can affect 
taxes. Too little tax withheld can lead to a tax bill or penalty. Too 
much can mean the taxpayer won't have use of the money until they get 
their tax refund in 2023.The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 on IRS.gov helps employees assess their income tax, credits, 
adjustments and deductions, and determine whether they need to change 
their withholding. If a change is recommended, the estimator will 
provide instructions to update their withholding with their employer, 
either online or by submitting a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate</a>.<h2>Find a Taxpayer Assistance Center</h2>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Taxpayer Assistance Center Locator tool</a>
 has a new look and feel, featuring a dynamic map, a directions button 
and two tabs for entering search criteria. It's important to remember 
that Taxpayer Assistance Centers operate by appointment only. Taxpayers 
must make an appointment by calling the number for the office they want 
to visit.

File for a tax extension? Don’t overlook these important tax benefits

WASHINGTON (AP) — With inflation raging near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-july-report-ec477624de30115dd49f35009b2659c0">its highest level in four decades</a>, President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon signed into law his landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Its title raises a tantalizing question: Will the measure actually tame the price spikes that have inflicted hardships on American households?

Economic&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">analyses of the proposal</a>&nbsp;suggest that the likely answer is no — not anytime soon, anyway.

The legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">which was approved by Congress last week</a>, won't directly address some of the main drivers of surging prices — from gas and food to rents and restaurant meals.

Still, the law could save money for some Americans by lessening the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly, extending health insurance subsidies and reducing energy prices. It would also modestly cut the government's budget deficit, which might slightly lower inflation by the end of this decade.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58357">concluded this month</a>&nbsp;that the changes would have a “negligible” impact on inflation this year and next. And the University of Pennsylvania's&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">Penn Wharton Budget Model concluded that,</a>&nbsp;over the next decade, "the impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.”

Such forecasts also undercut the arguments that some Republicans, such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy have made, that the bill would “cause inflation,” as McCarthy said in a speech on the House floor.

Biden himself, in speaking of the legislation's effect on inflation, has referred to potentially lower prices in individual categories rather than to lower inflation as a whole. The president said the bill would “bring down the cost of prescription drugs, health insurance premiums and energy costs.”

At the same time, the White House has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22124998-letter-from-economists-to-congressional-leadership">trumpeted a letter</a>&nbsp;signed by more than 120 economists, including several Novel Prize winners and former Treasury secretaries, that asserts that the law's reduction in the government's budget deficit — by an estimated $300 billion over the next decade, according to the CBO — would put “downward pressure on inflation.”

In theory, lower deficits can reduce inflation. That's because reduced government spending or higher taxes, both of which help shrink the deficit, drive down demand in the economy, thereby easing pressure on companies to raise prices.

Jason Furman, a Harvard economist who served as a top economic adviser in the Obama administration, wrote in an opinion column for The Wall Street Journal: “Deficit reduction is almost always inflation-reducing.”

Yet Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was a top economic adviser to President George W. Bush and later a director of the CBO, noted that the lower deficits won't kick in until five years from now and won't be very large over the next decade considering the size of the economy.

“$30 billion a year in a $21 trillion economy isn’t going to move the needle,” Holtz-Eakin said, referring to the estimated amount of deficit reduction spread over 10 years.

He also noted that Congress has recently passed other legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-technology-united-states-economy-2fa651c540c9869890dfe670bcdcb7ea">subsidize semiconductor production</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. and expand veterans' health care, and said that those laws will spend more than the Inflation Reduction Act will save.

In addition, Kent Smetters, director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, said the law's health care subsidies could send inflation higher. The legislation would spend $70 billion over a decade to extend tax credits to help 13 million Americans pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Those subsidies would free up money for recipients to spend elsewhere, potentially increasing inflation, although Smetters said the effect would likely be very small.

Though the measure could have the benefit of increasing the savings of millions of households on pharmaceutical and energy costs, those items typically constitute relatively small portions of household budgets. Prescription drugs account for only 1% of the spending in the U.S. consumer price index; spending on electricity and natural gas makes up just 3.6%.

Starting in 2025, the act will cap the amount Medicare recipients would pay for their prescription drugs at $2,000 a year. It will authorize Medicare to negotiate the cost of some high-priced pharmaceuticals — a long-sought goal that President Donald Trump had also floated. It would also limit Medicare recipients' out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month. Insulin prescriptions averaged $54 in 2020, according&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/insulin-out-of-pocket-costs-in-medicare-part-d/">to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>.

“This is a historic change,” said Leigh Purvis, director of health care costs at the AARP Public Policy Institute. “This is allowing Medicare to protect beneficiaries from high drug prices in a way that was not there before.”

A study by Kaiser found that in 2019, 1.2 million Medicare recipients spent an average of $3,216 on drug prescriptions. Purvis said recipients who use the most expensive drugs can spend as much as $10,000 or $15,000 a year.

The legislation authorizes Medicare to negotiate prices of 10 expensive pharmaceuticals, starting next year, though the results won't take effect until 2026. Up to 60 drugs could be subject to negotiation by 2029.

Holtz-Eakin argued that while the provision may lower the cost of some Medicare drugs, it would discourage the development of new drugs or reduce new venture capital investment in start-up pharmaceutical companies.

The Inflation Reduction Act's energy provisions could also create savings, though the amounts are likely to be much smaller.

The bill will provide a $7,500 tax credit for new purchases of electric vehicles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicles-tax-credit-cfd3d9322230446f65d629b05c2ae551">though most EVs won't qualify</a>&nbsp;because the legislation requires them to include batteries with U.S. materials.

And the legislation also significantly expands a tax credit for homeowners who invest in energy-efficient equipment, from a one-time $500 credit to $1,200 that a homeowner could claim each year. Vincent Barnes, senior vice president for policy at the Alliance to Save Energy, said this would allow homeowners to make new energy-efficient investments over several years.

But for all Americans, including those who aren't homeowners, the impact will likely be limited. The Rhodium Group estimates that by 2030 the bill's provisions will save households an average of up to $112 a year as gas and electricity becomes cheaper as more Americans drive EVs and houses become more energy- efficient.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660679447127.png" alt="President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrate during Tuesday's signing ceremony-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrate during Tuesday's signing ceremony-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — With inflation raging near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-july-report-ec477624de30115dd49f35009b2659c0">its highest level in four decades</a>, President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon signed into law his landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Its title raises a tantalizing question: Will the measure actually tame the price spikes that have inflicted hardships on American households?<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3VWauAOR-gw?start=2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Economic&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">analyses of the proposal</a>&nbsp;suggest that the likely answer is no — not anytime soon, anyway.The legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">which was approved by Congress last week</a>, won't directly address some of the main drivers of surging prices — from gas and food to rents and restaurant meals.Still, the law could save money for some Americans by lessening the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly, extending health insurance subsidies and reducing energy prices. It would also modestly cut the government's budget deficit, which might slightly lower inflation by the end of this decade.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660769479347.png" alt="President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law – lowering costs for families, combatting the climate crisis, reducing the deficit, and making the largest corporations finally pay their fair share." />
 <figcaption>President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law – lowering costs for families, combatting the climate crisis, reducing the deficit, and making the largest corporations finally pay their fair share.</figcaption>
 </figure>The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58357">concluded this month</a>&nbsp;that the changes would have a “negligible” impact on inflation this year and next. And the University of Pennsylvania's&nbsp;<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55693d60e4b06d83cf793431/t/62f673432e53c65d871f15e6/1660318531450/Senate-Passed+Inflation+Reduction+Act_Estimates+of+Budgetary+and+Macroeconomic+Effects.pdf">Penn Wharton Budget Model concluded that,</a>&nbsp;over the next decade, "the impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.”Such forecasts also undercut the arguments that some Republicans, such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy have made, that the bill would “cause inflation,” as McCarthy said in a speech on the House floor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660680943615.png" alt="Biden signed the bill into law during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon-White House phto" />
 <figcaption>Biden signed the bill into law during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon-White House phto</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden himself, in speaking of the legislation's effect on inflation, has referred to potentially lower prices in individual categories rather than to lower inflation as a whole. The president said the bill would “bring down the cost of prescription drugs, health insurance premiums and energy costs.”At the same time, the White House has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22124998-letter-from-economists-to-congressional-leadership">trumpeted a letter</a>&nbsp;signed by more than 120 economists, including several Novel Prize winners and former Treasury secretaries, that asserts that the law's reduction in the government's budget deficit — by an estimated $300 billion over the next decade, according to the CBO — would put “downward pressure on inflation.”In theory, lower deficits can reduce inflation. That's because reduced government spending or higher taxes, both of which help shrink the deficit, drive down demand in the economy, thereby easing pressure on companies to raise prices.Jason Furman, a Harvard economist who served as a top economic adviser in the Obama administration, wrote in an opinion column for The Wall Street Journal: “Deficit reduction is almost always inflation-reducing.”Yet Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was a top economic adviser to President George W. Bush and later a director of the CBO, noted that the lower deficits won't kick in until five years from now and won't be very large over the next decade considering the size of the economy.“$30 billion a year in a $21 trillion economy isn’t going to move the needle,” Holtz-Eakin said, referring to the estimated amount of deficit reduction spread over 10 years.He also noted that Congress has recently passed other legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-technology-united-states-economy-2fa651c540c9869890dfe670bcdcb7ea">subsidize semiconductor production</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. and expand veterans' health care, and said that those laws will spend more than the Inflation Reduction Act will save.In addition, Kent Smetters, director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, said the law's health care subsidies could send inflation higher. The legislation would spend $70 billion over a decade to extend tax credits to help 13 million Americans pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.Those subsidies would free up money for recipients to spend elsewhere, potentially increasing inflation, although Smetters said the effect would likely be very small.Though the measure could have the benefit of increasing the savings of millions of households on pharmaceutical and energy costs, those items typically constitute relatively small portions of household budgets. Prescription drugs account for only 1% of the spending in the U.S. consumer price index; spending on electricity and natural gas makes up just 3.6%.Starting in 2025, the act will cap the amount Medicare recipients would pay for their prescription drugs at $2,000 a year. It will authorize Medicare to negotiate the cost of some high-priced pharmaceuticals — a long-sought goal that President Donald Trump had also floated. It would also limit Medicare recipients' out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month. Insulin prescriptions averaged $54 in 2020, according&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/insulin-out-of-pocket-costs-in-medicare-part-d/">to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>.“This is a historic change,” said Leigh Purvis, director of health care costs at the AARP Public Policy Institute. “This is allowing Medicare to protect beneficiaries from high drug prices in a way that was not there before.”A study by Kaiser found that in 2019, 1.2 million Medicare recipients spent an average of $3,216 on drug prescriptions. Purvis said recipients who use the most expensive drugs can spend as much as $10,000 or $15,000 a year.The legislation authorizes Medicare to negotiate prices of 10 expensive pharmaceuticals, starting next year, though the results won't take effect until 2026. Up to 60 drugs could be subject to negotiation by 2029.Holtz-Eakin argued that while the provision may lower the cost of some Medicare drugs, it would discourage the development of new drugs or reduce new venture capital investment in start-up pharmaceutical companies.The Inflation Reduction Act's energy provisions could also create savings, though the amounts are likely to be much smaller.The bill will provide a $7,500 tax credit for new purchases of electric vehicles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicles-tax-credit-cfd3d9322230446f65d629b05c2ae551">though most EVs won't qualify</a>&nbsp;because the legislation requires them to include batteries with U.S. materials.And the legislation also significantly expands a tax credit for homeowners who invest in energy-efficient equipment, from a one-time $500 credit to $1,200 that a homeowner could claim each year. Vincent Barnes, senior vice president for policy at the Alliance to Save Energy, said this would allow homeowners to make new energy-efficient investments over several years.But for all Americans, including those who aren't homeowners, the impact will likely be limited. The Rhodium Group estimates that by 2030 the bill's provisions will save households an average of up to $112 a year as gas and electricity becomes cheaper as more Americans drive EVs and houses become more energy- efficient.

🎥Inflation Reduction Act may have little impact on inflation

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/17/inmate-nearly-died-in-smoky-fire-at-nebraska-prison-in-october-report-says/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A state prison inmate nearly died in a smoky fire in 
October at the Lincoln State Correctional Center, according to a recent 
state report, which stated that response to the fire was slowed, and 
injuries were worsened, because the housing unit was unstaffed at the 
time.

Just before noon on Oct. 23, an inmate diagnosed with mental illness 
and developmental disabilities set fire to his cell’s mattress using a 
broken TV cord, according to the report by the Office of Inspector 
General for Corrections, a watchdog office set up by the Nebraska 
Legislature.

It took several minutes for prison staff to notice the smoky fire in 
the secure mental health unit, which contained 36 cells, because the 
unit was unattended at the time. Overall staffing, on a Saturday, was at
 the minimum level allowed, according to the report.

Inmates, the report said, “kicked and pounded on their doors for 
several minutes, calling for help,” before a caseworker heard them and 
returned to the unit.

The inmate who started the fire was found face down and unresponsive 
in his smoke-filled cell. He was dragged out by a staff member with the 
help of a fellow inmate, likely saving his life, according to the 
report.

The inmate was hospitalized, and three prison staffers were sent to 
the hospital for smoke inhalation. One staffer who led the rescue and 
resuscitated the inmate, Sgt. Michael Cordonier, was hospitalized 
overnight. He was later commended by the Corrections Department for his 
life-saving actions.

<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/reports/public_counsel/2022_oig_lcc_fire.pdf">The report</a>
 stated that response to the fire was slowed, which likely contributed 
to the more serious injuries, because the unit was not staffed at the 
time and because of poor ventilation at LCC, a four-decade-old prison. 
(It was recently merged with two other prison facilities to become the 
Reception and Treatment Center.)

The caseworker assigned to watch the 18-cell secure mental health 
unit where the fire started and an adjacent, 18-cell restrictive housing
 (also known as solitary confinement) unit told investigators he had 
left the area to get a printout from a fellow prison staffer.

The inspector general’s report recommended that the prison system 
develop plans to ensure that housing units are staffed at all times and 
to improve fire safety so that smoke can be ventilated out.

State Corrections Director Scott Frakes disputed an aspect of the 
report which stated that the agency was housing inmates with discipline 
problems in cells designed for prisoners with chronic mental illnesses.

Frakes said the inmate who started the fire, who was not identified 
in the report, was not assigned to the mental health wing due to a 
disciplinary infraction.

A years-long problem with filling and retaining prison staff has 
eased since October, when the fire occurred. In October, there were 105 
vacancies in the “protective services” ranks — the corrections officers,
 corporals and caseworkers who monitor and care for inmates. There are 
now 36 vacancies in protective services, state prison spokeswoman Laura 
Strimple said.

‘Measured approach” to easing activities

LINCOLN — Despite a recent increase in hiring spurred by increased 
wages, a “staffing emergency” — which allows the state prison system to 
suspend inmate activities and to use longer shifts to fill vacant posts —
 is still in effect at the Reception and Treatment Center.

The agency&nbsp;is taking a “measured approach” in easing inmate 
activities based on hiring new officers, according to state prison 
spokeswoman Laura Strimple.

A <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/18/corrections-officials-tout-new-prison-addition-as-safer-more-efficient/">new, 384-bed addition</a>
 to the RTC, which will include cells for the state’s most problematic 
inmates and for those with mental illnesses, is expected to partially 
open next month, Strimple said. Supply chain issues and labor shortages 
have delayed the opening of the new prison wing.

A staffing emergency at the State Penitentiary in Lincoln was lifted 
last month but one remains in effect at the Tecumseh State Prison, a 
rural facility that has struggled for years to fill all job vacancies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660767228833.png" alt="The Lincoln Correctional Center, recently merged and renamed the Reception and Treatment Center, sits west of Lincoln near Pioneers Park. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Lincoln Correctional Center, recently merged and renamed the Reception and Treatment Center, sits west of Lincoln near Pioneers Park. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/17/inmate-nearly-died-in-smoky-fire-at-nebraska-prison-in-october-report-says/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A state prison inmate nearly died in a smoky fire in 
October at the Lincoln State Correctional Center, according to a recent 
state report, which stated that response to the fire was slowed, and 
injuries were worsened, because the housing unit was unstaffed at the 
time.Just before noon on Oct. 23, an inmate diagnosed with mental illness 
and developmental disabilities set fire to his cell’s mattress using a 
broken TV cord, according to the report by the Office of Inspector 
General for Corrections, a watchdog office set up by the Nebraska 
Legislature.<h2>Inmate rescued by staff, fellow inmate</h2>It took several minutes for prison staff to notice the smoky fire in 
the secure mental health unit, which contained 36 cells, because the 
unit was unattended at the time. Overall staffing, on a Saturday, was at
 the minimum level allowed, according to the report.Inmates, the report said, “kicked and pounded on their doors for 
several minutes, calling for help,” before a caseworker heard them and 
returned to the unit.The inmate who started the fire was found face down and unresponsive 
in his smoke-filled cell. He was dragged out by a staff member with the 
help of a fellow inmate, likely saving his life, according to the 
report.The inmate was hospitalized, and three prison staffers were sent to 
the hospital for smoke inhalation. One staffer who led the rescue and 
resuscitated the inmate, Sgt. Michael Cordonier, was hospitalized 
overnight. He was later commended by the Corrections Department for his 
life-saving actions.<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/reports/public_counsel/2022_oig_lcc_fire.pdf">The report</a>
 stated that response to the fire was slowed, which likely contributed 
to the more serious injuries, because the unit was not staffed at the 
time and because of poor ventilation at LCC, a four-decade-old prison. 
(It was recently merged with two other prison facilities to become the 
Reception and Treatment Center.)The caseworker assigned to watch the 18-cell secure mental health 
unit where the fire started and an adjacent, 18-cell restrictive housing
 (also known as solitary confinement) unit told investigators he had 
left the area to get a printout from a fellow prison staffer.<h2>Poor ventilation</h2>The inspector general’s report recommended that the prison system 
develop plans to ensure that housing units are staffed at all times and 
to improve fire safety so that smoke can be ventilated out.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660767296955.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Corrections Director Scott Frakes (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Corrections Director Scott Frakes (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>State Corrections Director Scott Frakes disputed an aspect of the 
report which stated that the agency was housing inmates with discipline 
problems in cells designed for prisoners with chronic mental illnesses.Frakes said the inmate who started the fire, who was not identified 
in the report, was not assigned to the mental health wing due to a 
disciplinary infraction.A years-long problem with filling and retaining prison staff has 
eased since October, when the fire occurred. In October, there were 105 
vacancies in the “protective services” ranks — the corrections officers,
 corporals and caseworkers who monitor and care for inmates. There are 
now 36 vacancies in protective services, state prison spokeswoman Laura 
Strimple said.<h2>‘Measured approach” to easing activities</h2>LINCOLN — Despite a recent increase in hiring spurred by increased 
wages, a “staffing emergency” — which allows the state prison system to 
suspend inmate activities and to use longer shifts to fill vacant posts —
 is still in effect at the Reception and Treatment Center.The agency&nbsp;is taking a “measured approach” in easing inmate 
activities based on hiring new officers, according to state prison 
spokeswoman Laura Strimple.A <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/18/corrections-officials-tout-new-prison-addition-as-safer-more-efficient/">new, 384-bed addition</a>
 to the RTC, which will include cells for the state’s most problematic 
inmates and for those with mental illnesses, is expected to partially 
open next month, Strimple said. Supply chain issues and labor shortages 
have delayed the opening of the new prison wing.A staffing emergency at the State Penitentiary in Lincoln was lifted 
last month but one remains in effect at the Tecumseh State Prison, a 
rural facility that has struggled for years to fill all job vacancies.

Report: Inmate nearly died in October Nebraska prison fire

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/effort-to-interest-teens-in-nebraska-high-tech-manufacturing-careers-awards-new-grants/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts’ 
effort to interest more Nebraska teens in high-tech, manufacturing and 
health care jobs in the state handed out two new grants on Monday.

Hebron-based MetalQuest and 21st Century Equipment, a John
 Deere dealership with outlets in western Nebraska, Wyoming and 
Colorado, received grants of $125,000 each through the Developing Youth 
Talent Initiative, launched by Ricketts in 2015.

The program, designed to spark interest in high-demand careers like 
IT, manufacturing and health care, has reached 24,500 students across 66
 Nebraska school districts since it was launched.

Ricketts and representatives of the two grant recipients said Monday 
at a press conference that it was too soon to say whether seventh and 
eighth graders involved in the program had taken jobs in those fields 
because the first participants would just now be completing college and 
tech school.

Nebraska, according to some business leaders, faces a crisis in 
attracting workers, with about 50,000 vacant jobs across the state.

Tony Goins, the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic 
Development, said the state and the nation face “a critical need” for 
workers skilled in information technology, math and science.

Scott Volk of MetalQuest, which employs 65 people, said he could find work for 10 more employees if he could just hire them.

Owen Palm of 21st Century Equipment said he has 40 job openings companywide.

Ricketts said the program has worked to increase interest among 
middle schoolers in tech and manufacturing careers. A survey of students
 at Sandy Creek and Lawrence-Nelson schools found that interest in such 
careers increased from 39% to 75% after students were exposed to the 
work being done at MetalQuest.

In addition, Ricketts said, enrollment in science and technical skills classes also increased.

MetalQuest is using its grant to purchase robotic equipment similar 
to what the firm uses, to introduce students to industrial robotics 
automation and coding, Volk said.

Palm said 21st Century Equipment will use its grant funds to purchase, construct and assemble a mobile learning lab.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660765112114.png" alt="Tony Goins, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, announces new grants in a youth talent initiative launched by Gov. Pete Ricketts. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Tony Goins, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, announces new grants in a youth talent initiative launched by Gov. Pete Ricketts. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/effort-to-interest-teens-in-nebraska-high-tech-manufacturing-careers-awards-new-grants/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts’ 
effort to interest more Nebraska teens in high-tech, manufacturing and 
health care jobs in the state handed out two new grants on Monday.Hebron-based MetalQuest and 21st Century Equipment, a John
 Deere dealership with outlets in western Nebraska, Wyoming and 
Colorado, received grants of $125,000 each through the Developing Youth 
Talent Initiative, launched by Ricketts in 2015.The program, designed to spark interest in high-demand careers like 
IT, manufacturing and health care, has reached 24,500 students across 66
 Nebraska school districts since it was launched.Ricketts and representatives of the two grant recipients said Monday 
at a press conference that it was too soon to say whether seventh and 
eighth graders involved in the program had taken jobs in those fields 
because the first participants would just now be completing college and 
tech school.Nebraska, according to some business leaders, faces a crisis in 
attracting workers, with about 50,000 vacant jobs across the state.Tony Goins, the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic 
Development, said the state and the nation face “a critical need” for 
workers skilled in information technology, math and science.Scott Volk of MetalQuest, which employs 65 people, said he could find work for 10 more employees if he could just hire them.Owen Palm of 21st Century Equipment said he has 40 job openings companywide.Ricketts said the program has worked to increase interest among 
middle schoolers in tech and manufacturing careers. A survey of students
 at Sandy Creek and Lawrence-Nelson schools found that interest in such 
careers increased from 39% to 75% after students were exposed to the 
work being done at MetalQuest.In addition, Ricketts said, enrollment in science and technical skills classes also increased.MetalQuest is using its grant to purchase robotic equipment similar 
to what the firm uses, to introduce students to industrial robotics 
automation and coding, Volk said.Palm said 21st Century Equipment will use its grant funds to purchase, construct and assemble a mobile learning lab.The lab, which will be based at the Scottsbluff School District, will
 visit students at 19 schools throughout the Nebraska Panhandle and 
introduce students to the technologies involved in precision 
agriculture.