By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/study-nebraska-ranks-high-among-states-that-lost-young-and-wealthy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Nebraska ranked 10th in an 
analysis by a financial advice website that looked at which states (and 
the District of Columbia) are losing the most young rich professionals.

To uncover losers and gainers, SmartAsset.com examined migration trends, inflow and outflow patterns, from 2019 to 2020.

The researchers considered people 
younger than 35 years with adjusted gross incomes of at least $100,000. 
They used Internal Revenue Service data to compare where they lived from
 year to year.

In Nebraska, SmartAsset said, 722 
rich young professionals moved to the state between 2019 and 2020, 
compared to 820 who moved out of the state during that same time period.
 That’s a net loss of 98.

The state that gained the most rich young professionals, Texas, had a net gain of 3,823.

Among<a target="_blank" href="https://smartasset.com/data-studies/states-losing-and-gaining-the-most-rich-young-professionals-2022"> the findings</a>
 was that two states without state income tax — Texas and Florida —&nbsp;took
 the top spots for where wealthy millennials moved to. Other popular 
destinations were Washington, Colorado and New Jersey.

Places that lost the most 
high-earning young workers that year were, respectively, New York, 
California, Illinois, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Louisiana, 
North Dakota, Virginia, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

The researchers said they did not 
look at more recent data related to the pandemic and therefore could not
 say whether remote work might have made a difference.

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/study-nebraska-ranks-high-among-states-that-lost-young-and-wealthy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Nebraska ranked 10th in an 
analysis by a financial advice website that looked at which states (and 
the District of Columbia) are losing the most young rich professionals.To uncover losers and gainers, SmartAsset.com examined migration trends, inflow and outflow patterns, from 2019 to 2020.The researchers considered people 
younger than 35 years with adjusted gross incomes of at least $100,000. 
They used Internal Revenue Service data to compare where they lived from
 year to year.In Nebraska, SmartAsset said, 722 
rich young professionals moved to the state between 2019 and 2020, 
compared to 820 who moved out of the state during that same time period.
 That’s a net loss of 98.The state that gained the most rich young professionals, Texas, had a net gain of 3,823.Among<a target="_blank" href="https://smartasset.com/data-studies/states-losing-and-gaining-the-most-rich-young-professionals-2022"> the findings</a>
 was that two states without state income tax — Texas and Florida —&nbsp;took
 the top spots for where wealthy millennials moved to. Other popular 
destinations were Washington, Colorado and New Jersey.Places that lost the most 
high-earning young workers that year were, respectively, New York, 
California, Illinois, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Louisiana, 
North Dakota, Virginia, Oklahoma and Nebraska.The researchers said they did not 
look at more recent data related to the pandemic and therefore could not
 say whether remote work might have made a difference.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663078822714.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Study: Nebraska ranks high among states that lost young and wealthy

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/malcolm-x-edges-nu-educator-louise-pound-for-induction-into-the-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Applause broke out, and some tears were even 
shed Monday, as Malcolm X was voted in as the next inductee to the 
Nebraska Hall of Fame.

It was the third time the civil rights leader — who was born in Omaha — had been nominated, and he was inducted on a 4-3 vote.

Ron Hull, the chairman of the committee and a longtime 
public television broadcaster, cast the deciding vote, saying that 
Malcolm X continues to have influence worldwide with his story of 
transformation and reformation.

“All men are created equal, but we have 
to be reminded of that, because people have to fight for these rights 
all their lives … and that’s one reason my vote goes for Malcolm X,” 
Hull said.

Applause broke out among most of the 30 people attending the commission meeting at the State History Museum in Lincoln.

&nbsp;Yshall
 Davis, a volunteer with the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, pumped her 
fist in the air and wiped away tears as Hull stated his vote, which gave
 Malcolm X a majority of the seven-member commission.

“It says a lot about what Nebraska is becoming,” Davis said of the vote by the commission, which has no members of color.

Davis, 39, said that reading the 
“Autobiography of Malcolm X” changed her life from that of a gang member
 who was “on the wrong path” to a community activist working for the 
Heartland Workers Center and an advocate during the more than 
decade-long campaign to get Malcolm X the state recognition.

The T-shirt she wore, featuring a picture
 of Malcolm X in prison and one as an Islamic preacher, stated “People 
Change. Don’t give up on our youth.” &nbsp;

Malcolm X will become the first 
African-American to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The hall
 currently has 26 members, of which five are female and three are Native
 American.

The initial vote by the commission was 
four votes for Malcolm X and three votes for Louise Pound, an educator, 
folklorist and author at the University of Nebraska — and the only woman
 in NU history to earn a letter in a men’s sport (tennis). Howard 
Hanson, the third finalist and a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, did 
not receive a vote.

Later, one of the commission members who 
had voted for Pound, retired Peru State history professor Sara Crook, 
moved that the nomination of Malcolm X be made unanimous.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Crook
 said she had initially voted for Pound because Pound had spent her 
entire professional life in Nebraska and considered herself “a 
Nebraskan.” That was unlike Malcolm X, whose family fled harassment in 
Omaha from the Klu Klux Klan when their son, then Malcolm Little, was 
just over a year old.

When Hull cast his deciding vote, he said
 that “where you are born is where you are from,” noting that he had 
voted to induct Malcolm X a decade ago, when Alvin Saunders Johnson, an educator and co-founder of the New School in New York City was chosen.

“There are a lot of disenfranchised 
people in this country,” Hull said. “Malcolm X turned his life around 
and was pivotal in the civil rights movement in our country. And he 
still has impact around the world.”

“He was such an example. I think other people can say, ‘We don’t have to stay in this rut,’ “ he added.&nbsp;

Commission member Aaron Wyatt of Lincoln 
said he voted for Malcolm X because his story of “change, 
transformation, reformation” is an important one to convey to 
schoolchildren who visit the State Capitol. Jill Dolberg, the interim 
director of History Nebraska, made similar comments in casting her vote.

Tim Heller of Omaha, another commission 
member, cast his vote for Malcolm X via an internet hookup from a pub in
 Dublin, where he was vacationing with his son. Heller said he talked to
 “friends and other folks” about his vote, and even asked around in 
Ireland and found “overwhelming support” for Malcolm X.

‘Shocked’ he wasn’t in hall already

“They were shocked that he wasn’t already in the Hall of Fame,” Heller said.

Born in 1925 in Omaha, Malcolm Little 
spent his early life in foster homes and living with relatives after his
 father died and his mother was hospitalized.

He was a street hustler and a criminal, 
who landed in prison for theft in 1946. But that is where he began 
reading and converted to the Nation of Islam. He became a minister and 
was a major figure in the civil rights movement during the 1960s, 
preaching black empowerment, and was a spokesman for the Nation of 
Islam.

After completing a pilgrimage to Mecca, 
Malcolm X adopted the name el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz and denounced the 
Nation of Islam, which led to death threats against him. He was 
assassinated in 1965 in New York City, and three Nation members were 
charged.

He was criticized by some for preaching that white people were “devils” and for calling Martin Luther King “a chump.” 

But advocates for Malcolm X’s induction, during a public hearing in Omaha
 in July, said he sought “peaceful change” and emphasized that&nbsp; African 
Americans needed to empower themselves, become educated and seek 
freedom, justice and equality “by any means necessary.”

That phrase was widely shared after the 1992 movie “Malcolm X,” directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington.

The movie was based on the Alex Haley book, “The Autobiography of 
Malcolm X,” which was named as one of the 10 most important nonfiction 
books of the 20th century by Time magazine.

Several cities across the U.S. celebrate “Malcolm X Day,” and the 
Malcolm X Foundation has established a museum at his birthsite in North 
Omaha.

Hull said the next step is to commission a bronze bust of Malcolm X 
to be installed in the State Hall of Fame, which is in the second-floor 
hallways of the State Capitol. He said some state funds, perhaps as much
 as $20,000, had been set aside for the bust, which would be unveiled in
 2024.

ormer State Sen. Ernie Chambers, a longtime advocate for Malcolm X, 
shouted from the audience that even though he wasn’t a man of means, he 
would donate $1,000 to the sculpture.

Later, Chambers said that sometimes people can’t hear what he says 
and that he really meant to pledge $2,000 to the Malcolm X bust.

“I’ll give $500,” said someone else in the audience. “I’ll give $50,” said another.

JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, the executive director of the Malcolm X 
Memorial Foundation, said her first step will be to notify Malcolm X’s 
family of the honor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652902763558.png" alt="Malcolm X / Library of Congress" />
 <figcaption>Malcolm X / Library of Congress</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/malcolm-x-edges-nu-educator-louise-pound-for-induction-into-the-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Applause broke out, and some tears were even 
shed Monday, as Malcolm X was voted in as the next inductee to the 
Nebraska Hall of Fame.It was the third time the civil rights leader — who was born in Omaha — had been nominated, and he was inducted on a 4-3 vote.Ron Hull, the chairman of the committee and a longtime 
public television broadcaster, cast the deciding vote, saying that 
Malcolm X continues to have influence worldwide with his story of 
transformation and reformation.“All men are created equal, but we have 
to be reminded of that, because people have to fight for these rights 
all their lives … and that’s one reason my vote goes for Malcolm X,” 
Hull said.<h2>Applause, tears</h2>Applause broke out among most of the 30 people attending the commission meeting at the State History Museum in Lincoln.&nbsp;Yshall
 Davis, a volunteer with the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, pumped her 
fist in the air and wiped away tears as Hull stated his vote, which gave
 Malcolm X a majority of the seven-member commission.“It says a lot about what Nebraska is becoming,” Davis said of the vote by the commission, which has no members of color.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663078704809.jpeg" alt="Yshall Davis, a volunteer at the Malcolm X Foundation, wiped tears after Malcolm X was voted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Yshall Davis, a volunteer at the Malcolm X Foundation, wiped tears after Malcolm X was voted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Davis, 39, said that reading the 
“Autobiography of Malcolm X” changed her life from that of a gang member
 who was “on the wrong path” to a community activist working for the 
Heartland Workers Center and an advocate during the more than 
decade-long campaign to get Malcolm X the state recognition.<h2>‘People change’</h2>The T-shirt she wore, featuring a picture
 of Malcolm X in prison and one as an Islamic preacher, stated “People 
Change. Don’t give up on our youth.” &nbsp;Malcolm X will become the first 
African-American to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The hall
 currently has 26 members, of which five are female and three are Native
 American.The initial vote by the commission was 
four votes for Malcolm X and three votes for Louise Pound, an educator, 
folklorist and author at the University of Nebraska — and the only woman
 in NU history to earn a letter in a men’s sport (tennis). Howard 
Hanson, the third finalist and a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, did 
not receive a vote.<h2>Vote changed to unanimous</h2>Later, one of the commission members who 
had voted for Pound, retired Peru State history professor Sara Crook, 
moved that the nomination of Malcolm X be made unanimous.&nbsp;&nbsp;Crook
 said she had initially voted for Pound because Pound had spent her 
entire professional life in Nebraska and considered herself “a 
Nebraskan.” That was unlike Malcolm X, whose family fled harassment in 
Omaha from the Klu Klux Klan when their son, then Malcolm Little, was 
just over a year old.When Hull cast his deciding vote, he said
 that “where you are born is where you are from,” noting that he had 
voted to induct Malcolm X a decade ago, when Alvin Saunders Johnson, an educator and co-founder of the New School in New York City was chosen.“There are a lot of disenfranchised 
people in this country,” Hull said. “Malcolm X turned his life around 
and was pivotal in the civil rights movement in our country. And he 
still has impact around the world.”“He was such an example. I think other people can say, ‘We don’t have to stay in this rut,’ “ he added.&nbsp;Commission member Aaron Wyatt of Lincoln 
said he voted for Malcolm X because his story of “change, 
transformation, reformation” is an important one to convey to 
schoolchildren who visit the State Capitol. Jill Dolberg, the interim 
director of History Nebraska, made similar comments in casting her vote.Tim Heller of Omaha, another commission 
member, cast his vote for Malcolm X via an internet hookup from a pub in
 Dublin, where he was vacationing with his son. Heller said he talked to
 “friends and other folks” about his vote, and even asked around in 
Ireland and found “overwhelming support” for Malcolm X.<h2>‘Shocked’ he wasn’t in hall already</h2>“They were shocked that he wasn’t already in the Hall of Fame,” Heller said.Born in 1925 in Omaha, Malcolm Little 
spent his early life in foster homes and living with relatives after his
 father died and his mother was hospitalized.He was a street hustler and a criminal, 
who landed in prison for theft in 1946. But that is where he began 
reading and converted to the Nation of Islam. He became a minister and 
was a major figure in the civil rights movement during the 1960s, 
preaching black empowerment, and was a spokesman for the Nation of 
Islam.After completing a pilgrimage to Mecca, 
Malcolm X adopted the name el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz and denounced the 
Nation of Islam, which led to death threats against him. He was 
assassinated in 1965 in New York City, and three Nation members were 
charged.<h2>Criticized by some</h2>He was criticized by some for preaching that white people were “devils” and for calling Martin Luther King “a chump.” But advocates for Malcolm X’s induction, during a public hearing in Omaha
 in July, said he sought “peaceful change” and emphasized that&nbsp; African 
Americans needed to empower themselves, become educated and seek 
freedom, justice and equality “by any means necessary.”That phrase was widely shared after the 1992 movie “Malcolm X,” directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington.The movie was based on the Alex Haley book, “The Autobiography of 
Malcolm X,” which was named as one of the 10 most important nonfiction 
books of the 20th century by Time magazine.<h2>Birthplace museum</h2>Several cities across the U.S. celebrate “Malcolm X Day,” and the 
Malcolm X Foundation has established a museum at his birthsite in North 
Omaha.Hull said the next step is to commission a bronze bust of Malcolm X 
to be installed in the State Hall of Fame, which is in the second-floor 
hallways of the State Capitol. He said some state funds, perhaps as much
 as $20,000, had been set aside for the bust, which would be unveiled in
 2024.ormer State Sen. Ernie Chambers, a longtime advocate for Malcolm X, 
shouted from the audience that even though he wasn’t a man of means, he 
would donate $1,000 to the sculpture.Later, Chambers said that sometimes people can’t hear what he says 
and that he really meant to pledge $2,000 to the Malcolm X bust.“I’ll give $500,” said someone else in the audience. “I’ll give $50,” said another.JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, the executive director of the Malcolm X 
Memorial Foundation, said her first step will be to notify Malcolm X’s 
family of the honor.“It’s overdue,” she said.

Malcolm X edges NU educator for induction into Nebraska Hall of Fame

SEDGWICK COUNTY —After the first weeks of the school year that saw several students in USD 259-Wichita taken into custody for allegedly having a gun at school, the school board on Monday voted 7-0 to approve the funds, over $1 million dollars, to purchase automatic screening devices for the district's high schools.

Superintendent Alicia Thompson in a message to the district&nbsp; before Labor Day wrote, " You are likely aware of a rash of incidents relating to unacceptable behaviors in several of our high schools. Public attention has been drawn to fights and students gathering to video the incident, as well as incidents of students bringing a weapon to school. Thankfully there have been no threats with the weapons, and no injuries during the fights, but we take each of these incidents seriously. The actions of a small number of our students who cause commotion and fear in our schools is&nbsp;completely unacceptable, and it must stop.

The vast majority of our students come to school to learn, grow, make friends and explore opportunities for future careers. We commend our students who do the right thing, and when something doesn’t look or feel right, students should be reminded that if they “see something they should say something.”&nbsp;

Parents, regardless of the age of your child, please make sure they also know that disruptive behavior that threatens the learning environment of their school, and causes fear or disruption,&nbsp;will not be tolerated in our schools. While we know our community continues to deal with the stresses of social isolation and economic concerns, there is&nbsp;absolutely no tolerance for this behavior coming into our schools.

On August 29, police took a student at West High School into custody for having a gun on campus. On August 30, police took a Wichita Heights student with a gun on campus into custody.&nbsp; On Sept. 1, a Wichita Police Department School Resource Officer was working at East High School when they were notified by school staff of a student that was possibly in possession of a firearm, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

School staff searched a 16-year-old male student and found a handgun in his possession. The gun was seized, and the 16-year-old was booked into the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center for possession of a firearm by a juvenile and possession of a firearm on school grounds.

On August 29, Security staff at Wichita Southeast High School were forced to use pepper spray during an incident in the cafeteria.

"There was an altercation at the school involving 7 or 8 students during lunch that caused a large crowd to gather," according to USD 259 media relations manager Susan Arensman.

"The school security officer used pepper spray in the area to disperse the crowd. No students were directly sprayed. No one was injured."

"When situations get where we cannot get students to comply and the learning environment is deemed unsafe we may have to resort to these measures, School principal Ben Mitchell wrote in a note sent to parents and guardians.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663033191028.png" alt="The board heard from Terri Moses, the district division director of safety and environmental services on Monday on the safety and security issues.-Image courtesy USD 259" />
 <figcaption>The board heard from Terri Moses, the district division director of safety and environmental services on Monday on the safety and security issues.-Image courtesy USD 259</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —After the first weeks of the school year that saw several students in USD 259-Wichita taken into custody for allegedly having a gun at school, the school board on Monday voted 7-0 to approve the funds, over $1 million dollars, to purchase automatic screening devices for the district's high schools.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/uJUwNrRKLG">pic.twitter.com/uJUwNrRKLG</a>&mdash; Wichita Public Schools (@WichitaUSD259) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaUSD259/status/1569487296306761728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Superintendent Alicia Thompson in a message to the district&nbsp; before Labor Day wrote, " You are likely aware of a rash of incidents relating to unacceptable behaviors in several of our high schools. Public attention has been drawn to fights and students gathering to video the incident, as well as incidents of students bringing a weapon to school. Thankfully there have been no threats with the weapons, and no injuries during the fights, but we take each of these incidents seriously. The actions of a small number of our students who cause commotion and fear in our schools is&nbsp;completely unacceptable, and it must stop.The vast majority of our students come to school to learn, grow, make friends and explore opportunities for future careers. We commend our students who do the right thing, and when something doesn’t look or feel right, students should be reminded that if they “see something they should say something.”&nbsp;Parents, regardless of the age of your child, please make sure they also know that disruptive behavior that threatens the learning environment of their school, and causes fear or disruption,&nbsp;will not be tolerated in our schools. While we know our community continues to deal with the stresses of social isolation and economic concerns, there is&nbsp;absolutely no tolerance for this behavior coming into our schools.On August 29, police took a student at West High School into custody for having a gun on campus. On August 30, police took a Wichita Heights student with a gun on campus into custody.&nbsp; On Sept. 1, a Wichita Police Department School Resource Officer was working at East High School when they were notified by school staff of a student that was possibly in possession of a firearm, according to Officer Trevor Macy.School staff searched a 16-year-old male student and found a handgun in his possession. The gun was seized, and the 16-year-old was booked into the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center for possession of a firearm by a juvenile and possession of a firearm on school grounds.On August 29, Security staff at Wichita Southeast High School were forced to use pepper spray during an incident in the cafeteria."There was an altercation at the school involving 7 or 8 students during lunch that caused a large crowd to gather," according to USD 259 media relations manager Susan Arensman."The school security officer used pepper spray in the area to disperse the crowd. No students were directly sprayed. No one was injured.""When situations get where we cannot get students to comply and the learning environment is deemed unsafe we may have to resort to these measures, School principal Ben Mitchell wrote in a note sent to parents and guardians.

Kan. largest school district will put metal detectors in all high schools

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Freight railroads and their unions are facing increasing pressure from business groups and the White House to settle their contract dispute before Friday's looming strike deadline.

The pressure stems from concerns that halting railroad deliveries of raw materials and finished products that so many companies rely on would be, in the words of the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an “economic disaster.”

A White House official said President Joe Biden and members of his cabinet were in touch with the unions and railroads Monday as part of their efforts to avert a strike. And for the second time in the past week, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh sat down at the negotiating table Sunday to urge the parties to reach a deal. Walsh postponed a planned to trip to Ireland this week to remain close to the talks.

A Labor Department spokesperson said Monday that it’s crucial that the parties remain at the negotiating table and come to an agreement because “a shutdown of our freight rail system is an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people.”

Suzanne Clark, the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Monday that “a national rail strike would be an economic disaster — freezing the flow of goods, emptying shelves, shuttering workplaces and raising prices for families and businesses alike.”

The chamber joined a number of other business groups, including a coalition of 31 agricultural shipping trade groups, in sending letters to Congress urging lawmakers to be prepared to step in and block a strike if the two sides can't reach an agreement by the end of the week. The chamber said if it comes to that, Congress should impose the terms recommended by a Presidential Emergency Board that Biden appointed this summer.

The Association of American Railroads trade group put out a report last week estimating that shutting down the railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">would cost the economy $2 billion a day.</a>

The coalition negotiating on behalf of the nation's biggest freight railroads — including Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and Kansas City Southern — has announced eight of the 13 tentative agreements needed to avert a strike by some 115,000 rail workers.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-norfolk-government-and-politics-eeedec386f2acba5d63181436ca03f3f">deals</a>&nbsp;that have been announced so far have closely followed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-strikes-a83dffef79d38e36dc25588b19bf54b4">Presidential Emergency Board’s recommendations</a>&nbsp;that called for 24% raises over five years, $5,000 in bonuses and one additional paid leave day a year. But the two biggest unions representing conductors and engineers have been holding out because they want the railroads to go beyond those recommendations and address some of their concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">strict attendance policies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">working conditions</a>.

The railroads have said they would begin curtailing shipments of hazardous materials and some other goods Monday in advance of a possible work stoppage at the end of the week. That would ensure that containers of those dangerous goods aren't left stranded along the tracks.

The heads of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division union that represents conductors, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union that represents engineers,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-strikes-congress-climate-and-environment-90ec66e850dae76a3215a9fcaef71e53">criticized that decision</a>&nbsp;as a move to increase pressure on shippers and Congress to intervene.

The federal law governing railroad contract talks won't allow a strike or lockout before Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663077336048.png" alt="A Union Pacific train travels through Kansas on Sept. 13, 2022" />
 <figcaption>A Union Pacific train travels through Kansas on Sept. 13, 2022</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Freight railroads and their unions are facing increasing pressure from business groups and the White House to settle their contract dispute before Friday's looming strike deadline.The pressure stems from concerns that halting railroad deliveries of raw materials and finished products that so many companies rely on would be, in the words of the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an “economic disaster.”A White House official said President Joe Biden and members of his cabinet were in touch with the unions and railroads Monday as part of their efforts to avert a strike. And for the second time in the past week, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh sat down at the negotiating table Sunday to urge the parties to reach a deal. Walsh postponed a planned to trip to Ireland this week to remain close to the talks.A Labor Department spokesperson said Monday that it’s crucial that the parties remain at the negotiating table and come to an agreement because “a shutdown of our freight rail system is an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people.”Suzanne Clark, the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Monday that “a national rail strike would be an economic disaster — freezing the flow of goods, emptying shelves, shuttering workplaces and raising prices for families and businesses alike.”The chamber joined a number of other business groups, including a coalition of 31 agricultural shipping trade groups, in sending letters to Congress urging lawmakers to be prepared to step in and block a strike if the two sides can't reach an agreement by the end of the week. The chamber said if it comes to that, Congress should impose the terms recommended by a Presidential Emergency Board that Biden appointed this summer.The Association of American Railroads trade group put out a report last week estimating that shutting down the railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">would cost the economy $2 billion a day.</a>The coalition negotiating on behalf of the nation's biggest freight railroads — including Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and Kansas City Southern — has announced eight of the 13 tentative agreements needed to avert a strike by some 115,000 rail workers.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-norfolk-government-and-politics-eeedec386f2acba5d63181436ca03f3f">deals</a>&nbsp;that have been announced so far have closely followed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-strikes-a83dffef79d38e36dc25588b19bf54b4">Presidential Emergency Board’s recommendations</a>&nbsp;that called for 24% raises over five years, $5,000 in bonuses and one additional paid leave day a year. But the two biggest unions representing conductors and engineers have been holding out because they want the railroads to go beyond those recommendations and address some of their concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">strict attendance policies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">working conditions</a>.The railroads have said they would begin curtailing shipments of hazardous materials and some other goods Monday in advance of a possible work stoppage at the end of the week. That would ensure that containers of those dangerous goods aren't left stranded along the tracks.The heads of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division union that represents conductors, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union that represents engineers,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-strikes-congress-climate-and-environment-90ec66e850dae76a3215a9fcaef71e53">criticized that decision</a>&nbsp;as a move to increase pressure on shippers and Congress to intervene.The federal law governing railroad contract talks won't allow a strike or lockout before Friday.

Pressure mounts on US railroads and unions to avoid a strike

WASHINGTON —Sixty years ago today, President John F. Kennedy delivered his Moonshot speech at Rice University, committing to putting a man on the moon and bring him back. Monday afternoon at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, President Biden discussed his bold vision for another American moonshot: ending cancer as we know it, in a statement from the White House.

&nbsp;It is a vision that will change people’s lives for the better, improve their health, and decrease the burden of the disease.

Click below to watch the President and&nbsp;Caroline Kennedy, the daughter and only surviving child of former President John F. Kennedy make the announcement.

Cancer not only afflicts Democrats and Republicans, but all Americans. When we come together as a nation around ideas that unite us – like fighting cancer – we can show the world that anything is possible. The President has long believed that America can be defined with one word: possibilities. And the American people demonstrate every day what is possible.

When President Kennedy delivered his Moonshot speech, the United States had the building blocks to know what was possible. However, there were major scientific and societal advances that needed to happen.&nbsp;As a nation, we needed to fully commit to a future in which traveling to the moon was possible – and we did just that.&nbsp;

Today, we have many of the building blocks needed to make significant progress combatting cancer, but we must come together to equitably deliver on this promise.&nbsp;

President Biden will announce new actions the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to deliver on this mission for the American people, and discuss progress made to date, including:

In March, President Biden created the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/advanced-research-projects-agency-for-health-arpa-h/">Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)</a>&nbsp;to improve the U.S. government’s ability to speed health and biomedical research. Today, President Biden is announcing his intention to appoint Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as the inaugural director of the new agency. Dr. Wegrzyn, a leading biomedical scientist with professional experience working for two of the institutions that inspired the creation of ARPA-H – the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) – will deliver the strategy for the agency’s nascent research portfolio and inaugural budget. &nbsp; America has an extraordinary biomedical system that has delivered stunning advances previously seen as inconceivable – from COVID-19 vaccines to drugs that can eliminate certain cancers. Under Dr. Wegrzyn’s leadership, ARPA-H will support programs and projects that undertake challenges ranging from the molecular to the societal, with the potential to transform entire areas of medicine and health in order to prevent, detect, and treat some of the most complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer, providing benefits for all Americans. NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY &amp; BIOMANUFACTURING INITIATIVE Today, President Biden will sign an executive order that establishes the Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative to ensure cutting-edge biotechnologies necessary to end cancer as we know it and other innovations will be developed and manufactured in America. This will save lives, create jobs at home, build stronger supply chains, and lower prices for American families even in times of global turbulence. Other countries are positioning themselves to become the world’s resource for biotechnology solutions and bio-manufactured products — this new initiative adds to President Biden’s economic plan to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States. The United States has for too long relied heavily on foreign materials for bioproduction, and our past off-shoring of critical industries, including biotechnology, presents a threat to our ability to access key materials like including the active pharmaceutical ingredients for life-saving medications. This initiative will grow the strength and diversity of domestic biomanufacturing capacity, expand market opportunities for bio-based products through the federal programs, drive research and development across all relevant agencies, streamline and harmonize appropriate regulation, and prioritize investments in applied biosafety research in biosecurity to reduce risk throughout research and development lifecycles. This initiative is rooted in the principles of equity, ethics, safety, and security that will help benefit all Americans and the global community, and maintain United States technological leadership and economic competitiveness. CANCER CABINET’S PROGRESS TOWARDS ENDING CANCER AS WE KNOW IT When the President and First Lady reignited the Cancer Moonshot seven months ago, the first-ever Cancer Cabinet was formed to mobilize all levers of the federal government and realize the President’s vision of ending cancer as we know it. In July 2022, the Cancer Cabinet&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/13/fact-sheet-president-biden-appoints-cancer-panel-members-and-cancer-cabinet-unveils-priority-actions/">unveiled priority actions</a>&nbsp;to: (1) close the screening gap, (2) understand and address environmental exposure, (3) decrease the impact of preventable cancers, (4) bring cutting edge research through the pipeline to patients and communities, and (5) support patients and caregivers. The Cancer Cabinet is announcing the following progress made towards reaching these goals:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663015243912.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Sixty years ago today, President John F. Kennedy delivered his Moonshot speech at Rice University, committing to putting a man on the moon and bring him back. Monday afternoon at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, President Biden discussed his bold vision for another American moonshot: ending cancer as we know it, in a statement from the White House.&nbsp;It is a vision that will change people’s lives for the better, improve their health, and decrease the burden of the disease.Click below to watch the President and&nbsp;Caroline Kennedy, the daughter and only surviving child of former President John F. Kennedy make the announcement.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YB8uXAwVu9U" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> Cancer not only afflicts Democrats and Republicans, but all Americans. When we come together as a nation around ideas that unite us – like fighting cancer – we can show the world that anything is possible. The President has long believed that America can be defined with one word: possibilities. And the American people demonstrate every day what is possible.When President Kennedy delivered his Moonshot speech, the United States had the building blocks to know what was possible. However, there were major scientific and societal advances that needed to happen.&nbsp;As a nation, we needed to fully commit to a future in which traveling to the moon was possible – and we did just that.&nbsp;Today, we have many of the building blocks needed to make significant progress combatting cancer, but we must come together to equitably deliver on this promise.&nbsp;President Biden will announce new actions the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to deliver on this mission for the American people, and discuss progress made to date, including:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/12/president-biden-announces-intent-to-appoint-dr-renee-wegrzyn-as-inaugural-director-of-advanced-research-projects-agency-for-health-arpa-h/">Announcing Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as the inaugural Director of ARPA-H</a>, a new agency to drive biomedical innovation that supports the health of all Americans; and</li><li><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/12/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-launch-a-national-biotechnology-and-biomanufacturing-initiative/">Signing an Executive Order to launch a National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative</a>&nbsp;to ensure the United States makes cutting-edge biotechnologies and other innovations;</li><li>The Cancer Cabinet’s progress towards delivering game-changing cancer detection technologies and support talented researchers from across the United States.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663014644949.png" alt="Caroline Kennedy, the daughter and only surviving child of former President John F. Kennedy spoke during Biden's announcement." />
 <figcaption>Caroline Kennedy, the daughter and only surviving child of former President John F. Kennedy spoke during Biden's announcement.</figcaption>
 </figure>INAUGURAL ARPA-H DIRECTORIn March, President Biden created the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/advanced-research-projects-agency-for-health-arpa-h/">Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)</a>&nbsp;to improve the U.S. government’s ability to speed health and biomedical research. Today, President Biden is announcing his intention to appoint Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as the inaugural director of the new agency. Dr. Wegrzyn, a leading biomedical scientist with professional experience working for two of the institutions that inspired the creation of ARPA-H – the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) – will deliver the strategy for the agency’s nascent research portfolio and inaugural budget. &nbsp; America has an extraordinary biomedical system that has delivered stunning advances previously seen as inconceivable – from COVID-19 vaccines to drugs that can eliminate certain cancers. Under Dr. Wegrzyn’s leadership, ARPA-H will support programs and projects that undertake challenges ranging from the molecular to the societal, with the potential to transform entire areas of medicine and health in order to prevent, detect, and treat some of the most complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer, providing benefits for all Americans. NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY &amp; BIOMANUFACTURING INITIATIVE Today, President Biden will sign an executive order that establishes the Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative to ensure cutting-edge biotechnologies necessary to end cancer as we know it and other innovations will be developed and manufactured in America. This will save lives, create jobs at home, build stronger supply chains, and lower prices for American families even in times of global turbulence. Other countries are positioning themselves to become the world’s resource for biotechnology solutions and bio-manufactured products — this new initiative adds to President Biden’s economic plan to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States. The United States has for too long relied heavily on foreign materials for bioproduction, and our past off-shoring of critical industries, including biotechnology, presents a threat to our ability to access key materials like including the active pharmaceutical ingredients for life-saving medications. This initiative will grow the strength and diversity of domestic biomanufacturing capacity, expand market opportunities for bio-based products through the federal programs, drive research and development across all relevant agencies, streamline and harmonize appropriate regulation, and prioritize investments in applied biosafety research in biosecurity to reduce risk throughout research and development lifecycles. This initiative is rooted in the principles of equity, ethics, safety, and security that will help benefit all Americans and the global community, and maintain United States technological leadership and economic competitiveness. CANCER CABINET’S PROGRESS TOWARDS ENDING CANCER AS WE KNOW IT When the President and First Lady reignited the Cancer Moonshot seven months ago, the first-ever Cancer Cabinet was formed to mobilize all levers of the federal government and realize the President’s vision of ending cancer as we know it. In July 2022, the Cancer Cabinet&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/13/fact-sheet-president-biden-appoints-cancer-panel-members-and-cancer-cabinet-unveils-priority-actions/">unveiled priority actions</a>&nbsp;to: (1) close the screening gap, (2) understand and address environmental exposure, (3) decrease the impact of preventable cancers, (4) bring cutting edge research through the pipeline to patients and communities, and (5) support patients and caregivers. The Cancer Cabinet is announcing the following progress made towards reaching these goals: <ul>
 <li>Inflation Reduction Act Lowers Costs of Prescription Drugs for Cancer Patients:&nbsp;Because President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act caps out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year for Medicare beneficiaries, tens of thousands of cancer patients could see their prescription drug costs go down by thousands annually. For example, in 2019, Zytiga, a drug used to treat prostate cancer, had an expected out-of-pocket cost of $8,181 per year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/report-section/the-out-of-pocket-cost-burden-for-specialty-drugs-in-medicare-part-d-in-2019-findings/">researchers</a>&nbsp;found. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, seniors and other beneficiaries who use that drug could save over $6,000 each year. Moreover, the number of beneficiaries who benefit from the cap is likely to increase, since 30% of Medicare unsubsidized beneficiaries fail to fill prescriptions for cancer drugs when faced with such high costs, a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01742">study</a>&nbsp;found. &nbsp;</li><li>National Cancer Institute (NCI) Launches Vanguard Study on Multi-Cancer Detection:&nbsp;As a central component of the Cancer Moonshot, the National Cancer Institute launched a large national trial that, if successful will identify effective blood tests for the detection of one or more cancers, providing the opportunity for additional, less-invasive tools for early detection. A&nbsp;<a href="https://prevention.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/major_program/Cancer-Screening-Research-Network-MCED-20220615.pdf">new four-year pilot study</a>&nbsp;will enroll 24,000 people ages 45 to 70 years to lay the groundwork for a large randomized controlled trial that will enroll 225,000 people. The studies will be funded in part by 21st&nbsp;Century Cures Act Cancer Moonshot funds and will begin enrolling in 2024. Grant opportunities studies have recently been opened with more to be released before the end of 2022. </li><li>Cancer Moonshot Scholars Program Now Accepts Applications from the Next Generation of Cancer Innovators: The National Cancer Institute has opened a brand-new early-career grant opportunity to invest in the next generation of innovative cancer researchers with a focus on developing a cancer research workforce that is more representative of the U.S. population. The goal of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/moonshotscholars">Cancer Moonshot Scholars</a>&nbsp;program is to inspire and support the next generation of world-class and diverse researchers focused on scientific breakthroughs that will make a difference for patients and drive progress toward the goal of ending cancer as we know it today. NCI expects to support cohorts of dozens of Cancer Moonshot Scholars in initial rounds, beginning in 2023 with project periods of up to five years. </li><li>White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Issues Guidance to Make Federally-Funded Research Available:&nbsp;Recently, the Biden-Harris Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/08/25/ostp-issues-guidance-to-make-federally-funded-research-freely-available-without-delay/">updated U.S. policy guidance</a>&nbsp;to make the results of taxpayer-supported research immediately available to the American public at no cost. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/08-2022-OSTP-Public-Access-Memo.pdf">memorandum</a>&nbsp;to federal departments and agencies, Dr. Alondra Nelson, the head of OSTP, delivered guidance for agencies to update their public access policies as soon as possible and no later than December 31, 2025 to make publications and research funded by taxpayers publicly accessible, without an embargo or cost. This updated guidance will affect the more than 200,000 federally-funded studies each year, delivering to all areas of scientific discovery what was already required of Cancer Moonshot grants from the National Cancer Institute as part of then-Vice President Biden’s vision for how to bring the benefits of federally-funded research to all Americans. </li><li>Department of Defense Creates Research Program to Understand Military Toxic Exposure:&nbsp;The Department of Defense’s&nbsp;<a href="https://medschool.usuhs.edu/sur/research/murtha-cancer-center">Murtha Cancer Center Research Program</a>&nbsp;has launched a new program with the goal of understanding the impact of service-related toxic exposure on the development of cancer in members of the military.&nbsp;<a href="https://medschool.usuhs.edu/sur/research/murtha-cancer-center/research">PROMETHEUS</a>, or the PROject for Military Exposures and Toxin History Evaluation in U.S. service members will bring together agency and private sector innovators to understand and address cancer in exposed service members. It brings together significant DoD capabilities including the DoD Serum Repository which contains blood samples for all service members; the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) which tracks toxin exposures; the DOD Tumor Registry which tracks cancer diagnoses in active duty; DoD Framingham which analyzes blood proteins in active duty with cancer; the Joint Pathology Center which is the DoD’s pathology center of excellence; and APOLLO, which was created in response to the Cancer Moonshot in 2016 now with a network of 13 hospitals to carry out military-specific research. </li><li>NCI Establishes Telehealth Centers of Excellence to Improve Cancer Care:&nbsp;Last month, NCI announced $23 million to support the creation of a&nbsp;<a href="https://healthcaredelivery.cancer.gov/telehealth/trace.html">Telehealth Research Centers of Excellence (TRACE),</a>&nbsp;which will study the role of telehealth in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and equity of access and outcomes. Four funded research centers will conduct large trials in real-world clinical settings, including hospitals, nd primary care offices, to determine whether the use of telehealth —used broadly during the COVID-19 pandemic – can effectively deliver quality cancer care. This ground-breaking program will identify best practices for cancer telehealth to drive implementation of sustainable telehealth practices to offer many benefits to patients.&nbsp; </li><li>National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Expands Partnerships to Deliver New Cancer Technologies:&nbsp;NIST and the Department of Commerce-sponsored Manufacturing USA institute, The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, recently&nbsp;<a href="https://niimbl.force.com/s/news/a0a3u00000Aglx2AAB/niimbl-announces-158m-to-fund-14-new-biopharmaceutical-manufacturing-projects">awarded funding to two project teams</a>&nbsp;to ensure that cellular therapies for cancer can be more efficiently and consistently manufactured.&nbsp;Together, the projects will produce innovative and scalable manufacturing processes and create new partnerships for workforce training in cell and gene-therapy manufacturing. NIST and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nist.gov/mml/bbd/bioassay-methods/cancer">Medical Device Innovation Consortium</a>&nbsp;signed a cooperative research and development agreement to develop and manufacture DNA reference samples engineered to contain mutations commonly tested for diagnosing and targeting drugs for cancer. These investments hold the promise to speed progress in the development of advancing cancer precision medicine by simplifying the process for validating diagnostics and enabling technology, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence developers to optimize and demonstrate accuracy of their methods. </li><li>Facilitate Data Sharing Advances the Bioeconomy:&nbsp;As part of the new Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative, the National Institutes of Health is expanding the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/bioinformatics/cancer-research-data-ecosystem-infographic">Cancer Research Data Ecosystem</a>, a national data infrastructure that encourages data sharing to support cancer care for individual patients and enables discovery of new treatments.&nbsp;USDA is working with NIH to ensure that data on persistent poverty can be integrated with cancer surveillance.&nbsp;The National Science Foundation recently announced a competition for a new $20 million biosciences data center to increase our understanding of living systems at small scales, which will produce new biotechnology designs to make products in agriculture, medicine and health, and materials.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

🎥 Biden announces 'moonshot' in bid to end cancer

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/25-million-radius-campus-an-alternative-to-jailing-youths-or-sending-them-away-rises-in-north-omaha/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — A $25 million residential 
youth treatment center rising in North Omaha aims to fill a service gap 
in the metro area, one that has had courts and families sending some 
troubled teens off to other states to get help.

The new Radius nonprofit will feature
 a 24-bedroom facility for residents ages 12 to 18 years, along with 
behavioral, recreational and education programs and a stand-alone health
 clinic open to families and community.

Poised to open next summer at 50th 
and Grand Avenues, the alternative to more restrictive juvenile 
detention is designed to strengthen the entire family.

While a private philanthropist-driven
 campaign paid for construction, Radius is to operate with help from 
government funding via referrals from the state juvenile probation 
system and courts.

Staffed by Charles Drew Health Center, the partnering clinic will accept Medicaid and different insurance coverage plans.

Radius CEO Nick Juliano said the 
combination of a residential program with clinical support that can 
involve entire families will help Douglas County take care of its own 
youth and improve odds of long-term success as they grow in their 
community.

“Where we will be unique is that we 
will start that family work on the day of admission and have someone 
working with family throughout the youth’s stay,” said Juliano, 
previously director of Boys Town regional advocacy and public policy.

Currently, he said, youths who cross 
the law but are deemed better served outside of traditional jail too 
often are placed in residential treatment outside their home county or 
even out of Nebraska. He said that while there are local facilities 
addressing the need, those often are full. He said Radius supporters 
want to avoid keeping a youth in jail until a residential treatment spot
 opens.

Radius intends to be a “gap-filler,” 
he said, allowing local youths to get intense treatment nearer to family
 members who ideally become part of the antidote that propels the youths
 onto a more productive path.

Juliano said the typical Radius 
resident may suffer from a combination of extreme behaviors beyond law 
violations. Their needs may call for a place less intense than a 
psychiatric hospital but more than a traditional group home.

”They may have co-occurring mental 
health and substance abuse treatment needs. Our program is designed to 
deal with all of those as well as to have services that can continue on 
after they leave our programs.”

Chris Rodgers, a Douglas County 
commissioner heavily involved in juvenile justice reform, said the 
county lauds Radius. He called it one of the “core tools” that could 
help fulfill a goal of keeping the population in the new downtown Omaha 
juvenile justice center only for those who need to be jailed.

That county detention facility, poised to open in 2023, has fewer 
beds than the current youth center, and Rodgers said the vision always 
was to have additional community resources to reduce reliance on jail 
for nonviolent youths.

The Radius campus plan, which 
includes nearly 30,000 square feet of new building space, was earlier 
met by concern and opposition from area residents when presented to the 
City Council. Security features were added before the council approved 
the project.

A next-door neighbor to Radius is 
Metro Area Youth Services (MAYS) — which is a separate nonprofit that 
recently moved to the former St. Paul Lutheran Church and school. 
Together, the youth-focused entities occupy about 10 acres.

Radius, formerly known as the 
Nebraska Youth Justice Initiative, emanated from an advisory committee 
assembled in 2019 to look at the shortfall of residential services for 
youths with trauma, mental health and substance abuse problems.

On the advisory committee were 
government, mental health and other professionals, along with a parent 
and a young person who at one time had to leave the state to access the 
type of services that Radius will provide.

By then, much attention and time already had been spent in state and county government exploring justice reform.

“We have a continuum of services for 
these young people. It’s a very good continuum. Even with that, we had 
this group of youth that was not getting what they needed right here in 
Omaha,” Juliano said. “We are now filling that gap, very intentionally 
and focused so we’re not duplicating with others.”

The Radius name was designed to tell 
its story: “Trauma-informed care begins at the center, where the causes 
of personal struggles are identified then radiates toward healing and 
redemption.”

Youths likely will live on-site for 
nine months to a year, Juliano said, taking classes and earning credits 
under a program approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. They’ll receive therapies and recreational programming.

“It is a ripple effect that will benefit our youth, families, neighborhood and community,” he said.

Juliano emphasized that youths and 
families who are not involved in the juvenile justice system also can 
get help at the Charles Drew Health Clinic. He said the clinic services 
also aim to prevent problems and court intervention.

Radius is backed by philanthropic 
foundations. Board members include key representatives of the University
 of Nebraska Medical Center’s psychiatry department, Charles Drew 
centers, Sherwood Foundation, Security National Bank and the legal 
profession.

Long-term success, said Juliano, is 
returning rehabilitated youths back home and keeping them and their 
family connected to a health provider.

“So they can be there safely without 
any more law violations. They can graduate high school and eventually 
are employed in our community.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662998465588.png" alt="Radius, a new residential complex for troubled youth under construction at 50th and Grand Avenues, shares about 10 acres with a separate nonprofit, Metro Area Youth Services, which is in the former St. Paul Lutheran Church and school. (Courtesy of HDR)" />
 <figcaption>Radius, a new residential complex for troubled youth under construction at 50th and Grand Avenues, shares about 10 acres with a separate nonprofit, Metro Area Youth Services, which is in the former St. Paul Lutheran Church and school. (Courtesy of HDR)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/25-million-radius-campus-an-alternative-to-jailing-youths-or-sending-them-away-rises-in-north-omaha/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — A $25 million residential 
youth treatment center rising in North Omaha aims to fill a service gap 
in the metro area, one that has had courts and families sending some 
troubled teens off to other states to get help.The new Radius nonprofit will feature
 a 24-bedroom facility for residents ages 12 to 18 years, along with 
behavioral, recreational and education programs and a stand-alone health
 clinic open to families and community.Poised to open next summer at 50th 
and Grand Avenues, the alternative to more restrictive juvenile 
detention is designed to strengthen the entire family.<h2>$25 million capital campaign</h2>While a private philanthropist-driven
 campaign paid for construction, Radius is to operate with help from 
government funding via referrals from the state juvenile probation 
system and courts.Staffed by Charles Drew Health Center, the partnering clinic will accept Medicaid and different insurance coverage plans.Radius CEO Nick Juliano said the 
combination of a residential program with clinical support that can 
involve entire families will help Douglas County take care of its own 
youth and improve odds of long-term success as they grow in their 
community.“Where we will be unique is that we 
will start that family work on the day of admission and have someone 
working with family throughout the youth’s stay,” said Juliano, 
previously director of Boys Town regional advocacy and public policy.Currently, he said, youths who cross 
the law but are deemed better served outside of traditional jail too 
often are placed in residential treatment outside their home county or 
even out of Nebraska. He said that while there are local facilities 
addressing the need, those often are full. He said Radius supporters 
want to avoid keeping a youth in jail until a residential treatment spot
 opens.Radius intends to be a “gap-filler,” 
he said, allowing local youths to get intense treatment nearer to family
 members who ideally become part of the antidote that propels the youths
 onto a more productive path.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662998601012.png" alt="Radius is an under-construction residential campus for youth in need of services to address trauma, mental health and substance abuse disorders. Funded with a $25 million capital campaign, it is on five acres at 50th and Grand Avenues.&nbsp; (Courtesy of HDR )" />
 <figcaption>Radius is an under-construction residential campus for youth in need of services to address trauma, mental health and substance abuse disorders. Funded with a $25 million capital campaign, it is on five acres at 50th and Grand Avenues.&nbsp; (Courtesy of HDR )</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Nearly 30,000 square feet of new space</h2>Juliano said the typical Radius 
resident may suffer from a combination of extreme behaviors beyond law 
violations. Their needs may call for a place less intense than a 
psychiatric hospital but more than a traditional group home.”They may have co-occurring mental 
health and substance abuse treatment needs. Our program is designed to 
deal with all of those as well as to have services that can continue on 
after they leave our programs.”Chris Rodgers, a Douglas County 
commissioner heavily involved in juvenile justice reform, said the 
county lauds Radius. He called it one of the “core tools” that could 
help fulfill a goal of keeping the population in the new downtown Omaha 
juvenile justice center only for those who need to be jailed.That county detention facility, poised to open in 2023, has fewer 
beds than the current youth center, and Rodgers said the vision always 
was to have additional community resources to reduce reliance on jail 
for nonviolent youths.The Radius campus plan, which 
includes nearly 30,000 square feet of new building space, was earlier 
met by concern and opposition from area residents when presented to the 
City Council. Security features were added before the council approved 
the project.A next-door neighbor to Radius is 
Metro Area Youth Services (MAYS) — which is a separate nonprofit that 
recently moved to the former St. Paul Lutheran Church and school. 
Together, the youth-focused entities occupy about 10 acres.Radius, formerly known as the 
Nebraska Youth Justice Initiative, emanated from an advisory committee 
assembled in 2019 to look at the shortfall of residential services for 
youths with trauma, mental health and substance abuse problems.<h2>‘Radius’ name tells a story</h2>On the advisory committee were 
government, mental health and other professionals, along with a parent 
and a young person who at one time had to leave the state to access the 
type of services that Radius will provide.By then, much attention and time already had been spent in state and county government exploring justice reform.“We have a continuum of services for 
these young people. It’s a very good continuum. Even with that, we had 
this group of youth that was not getting what they needed right here in 
Omaha,” Juliano said. “We are now filling that gap, very intentionally 
and focused so we’re not duplicating with others.”The Radius name was designed to tell 
its story: “Trauma-informed care begins at the center, where the causes 
of personal struggles are identified then radiates toward healing and 
redemption.”Youths likely will live on-site for 
nine months to a year, Juliano said, taking classes and earning credits 
under a program approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. They’ll receive therapies and recreational programming.“It is a ripple effect that will benefit our youth, families, neighborhood and community,” he said.Juliano emphasized that youths and 
families who are not involved in the juvenile justice system also can 
get help at the Charles Drew Health Clinic. He said the clinic services 
also aim to prevent problems and court intervention.<h2>Lasting success</h2>Radius is backed by philanthropic 
foundations. Board members include key representatives of the University
 of Nebraska Medical Center’s psychiatry department, Charles Drew 
centers, Sherwood Foundation, Security National Bank and the legal 
profession.Long-term success, said Juliano, is 
returning rehabilitated youths back home and keeping them and their 
family connected to a health provider.“So they can be there safely without 
any more law violations. They can graduate high school and eventually 
are employed in our community.”

$25M campus for youth residential treatment rises in North Omaha

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-ricketts-takes-aim-at-title-ix-changes-sought-by-federal-officials/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Gov. Pete Ricketts is criticizing the
 U.S. Department of Education’s proposed revisions to Title IX, and on 
Friday he called on other Nebraskans to weigh in as well.

Federal education officials have 
stated that a review of current regulations, and of public and 
stakeholder meetings, suggest that the existing rules do not best 
fulfill the requirement of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
 That is, that schools and institutions receiving federal financial 
assistance eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex in their 
programs or activities.

The department has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2021-OCR-0166-0001">proposed changes</a>
 to clarify that recipients do not discriminate based on sex 
stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy, sexual orientation and 
gender identity.

In a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/57aryao61cdecc1/Governor%20Ricketts%20Title%20IX%20Comments.pdf?dl=0">letter</a>
 to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Ricketts said the proposed 
changes “purposely misinterpret and misapply” Supreme Court opinion to 
expand the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity, 
sexual orientation and sexual characteristics.

The governor said that would end 
separation of restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities based on 
biological sex in schools and instead separate based on gender identity.

&nbsp;“Federal efforts to dictate how 
schools respond to the transgender issue is blatant overreach,” Ricketts
 wrote. “States have a right to determine how schools operate.”

Federal officials have estimated that the proposed changes would save recipients $9.8 million to $28.2 million over a decade.&nbsp;

A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2021-OCR-0166-0001">posting</a>
 by the department went on to say: “Although the department cannot 
quantify, in monetary terms, the benefits of the proposed regulations to
 those who have been subjected to sex discrimination, the department 
recognizes that sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, can 
have profound and long-lasting economic costs for students, employees, 
and other members of a recipient’s surrounding community.”

Comments can be submitted through Monday via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662998338435.png" alt="Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner" />
 <figcaption>Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-ricketts-takes-aim-at-title-ix-changes-sought-by-federal-officials/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Gov. Pete Ricketts is criticizing the
 U.S. Department of Education’s proposed revisions to Title IX, and on 
Friday he called on other Nebraskans to weigh in as well.Federal education officials have 
stated that a review of current regulations, and of public and 
stakeholder meetings, suggest that the existing rules do not best 
fulfill the requirement of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
 That is, that schools and institutions receiving federal financial 
assistance eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex in their 
programs or activities.The department has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2021-OCR-0166-0001">proposed changes</a>
 to clarify that recipients do not discriminate based on sex 
stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy, sexual orientation and 
gender identity.In a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/57aryao61cdecc1/Governor%20Ricketts%20Title%20IX%20Comments.pdf?dl=0">letter</a>
 to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Ricketts said the proposed 
changes “purposely misinterpret and misapply” Supreme Court opinion to 
expand the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity, 
sexual orientation and sexual characteristics.The governor said that would end 
separation of restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities based on 
biological sex in schools and instead separate based on gender identity.&nbsp;“Federal efforts to dictate how 
schools respond to the transgender issue is blatant overreach,” Ricketts
 wrote. “States have a right to determine how schools operate.”Federal officials have estimated that the proposed changes would save recipients $9.8 million to $28.2 million over a decade.&nbsp;A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2021-OCR-0166-0001">posting</a>
 by the department went on to say: “Although the department cannot 
quantify, in monetary terms, the benefits of the proposed regulations to
 those who have been subjected to sex discrimination, the department 
recognizes that sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, can 
have profound and long-lasting economic costs for students, employees, 
and other members of a recipient’s surrounding community.”Comments can be submitted through Monday via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.

Ricketts takes aim at Title IX changes sought by federal officials

NEW YORK (AP) — Payment processor Visa Inc. said Saturday that it plans to start separately categorizing sales at gun shops, a major win for gun control advocates who say it will help better track suspicious surges of gun sales that could be a prelude to a mass shooting.

But the decision by Visa, the world's largest payment processor, will likely provoke the ire of gun rights advocates and gun lobbyists, who have argued that categorizing gun sales would unfairly flag an industry when most sales do not lead to mass shootings. It joins Mastercard and American Express, which also said they plan to move forward with categorizing gun shop sales.

Visa said it would adopt the International Organization for Standardization’s new merchant code for gun sales, which was announced on Friday. Until Friday, gun store sales were considered “general merchandise.”

“Following ISO’s decision to establish a new merchant category code, Visa will proceed with next steps, while ensuring we protect all legal commerce on the Visa network in accordance with our long-standing rules,” the payment processor said in a statement.

Visa’s adoption is significant as the largest payment network, and with Mastercard and AmeEx, will likely put pressure on the banks as the card issuers to adopt the standard as well. Visa acts as a middleman between merchants and banks, and it will be up to banks to decide whether they will allow sales at gun stores to happen on their issued cards.

Gun control advocates had gained significant wins on this front in recent weeks. New York City officials and pension funds had pressured the ISO and banks to adopt this code.

Two of the country's largest public pension funds, in California and New York, have been pressing the country's largest credit card firms to establish sales codes specifically for firearm-related sales that could flag suspicious purchases or more easily trace how guns and ammunition are sold.

Merchant category codes now exist for almost every kind of purchase, including those made at supermarkets, clothing stores, coffee shops and many other retailers.

“When you buy an airline ticket or pay for your groceries, your credit card company has a special code for those retailers. It’s just common sense that we have the same policies in place for gun and ammunition stores,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain who blames the proliferation of guns for his city's deadly violence.

The city's comptroller, Brad Lander, said it made moral and financial sense as a tool to push back against gun violence.

“Unfortunately, the credit card companies have failed to support this simple, practical, potentially lifesaving tool. The time has come for them to do so," Lander said recently, before Visa and others had adopted the move.

Lander is a trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System and Board of Education Retirement System — which together own 667,200 shares in American Express valued at approximately $92.49 million; 1.1 million shares in MasterCard valued at approximately $347.59 million; and 1.85 million shares in Visa valued at approximately $363.86 million.

The pension funds and gun control advocates argue that creating a merchant category code for standalone firearm and ammunition stores could aid in the battle against gun violence. A week before the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/annual-report/2016/worst-mass-shooting-in-us-history-50-slain-at-gay-nightclub.html">mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub</a>&nbsp;in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people died after a shooter opened fire in 2016, the assailant used credit cards to buy more than $26,000 worth of guns and ammunition, including purchases at a stand-alone gun retailer.

Gun rights advocates argue that tracking sales at gun stores would unfairly target legal gun purchases, since merchant codes just track the type of merchant where the credit or debit card is used, not the actual items purchased. A sale of a gun safe, worth thousands of dollars and an item considered part of responsible gun ownership, could be seen as a just a large purchase at a gun shop.

“The (industry's) decision to create a firearm specific code is nothing more than a capitulation to anti-gun politicians and activists bent on eroding the rights of law-abiding Americans one transaction at a time,” said Lars Dalseide, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association.

Over the years, public pension funds have used their extensive investment portfolios to influence public policy and the market place.

The California teacher's fund, the second largest pension fund in the country, has long taken aim on the gun industry. It has divested its holdings from gun manufacturers and has sought to persuade some retailers from selling guns.

Four years ago, the teacher's fund made guns a key initiative. It called for background checks and called on retailers “monitor irregularities at the point of sale, to record all firearm sales, to audit firearms inventory on a regular basis, and to proactively assist law enforcement.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614775839571.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Payment processor Visa Inc. said Saturday that it plans to start separately categorizing sales at gun shops, a major win for gun control advocates who say it will help better track suspicious surges of gun sales that could be a prelude to a mass shooting.But the decision by Visa, the world's largest payment processor, will likely provoke the ire of gun rights advocates and gun lobbyists, who have argued that categorizing gun sales would unfairly flag an industry when most sales do not lead to mass shootings. It joins Mastercard and American Express, which also said they plan to move forward with categorizing gun shop sales.Visa said it would adopt the International Organization for Standardization’s new merchant code for gun sales, which was announced on Friday. Until Friday, gun store sales were considered “general merchandise.”“Following ISO’s decision to establish a new merchant category code, Visa will proceed with next steps, while ensuring we protect all legal commerce on the Visa network in accordance with our long-standing rules,” the payment processor said in a statement.Visa’s adoption is significant as the largest payment network, and with Mastercard and AmeEx, will likely put pressure on the banks as the card issuers to adopt the standard as well. Visa acts as a middleman between merchants and banks, and it will be up to banks to decide whether they will allow sales at gun stores to happen on their issued cards.Gun control advocates had gained significant wins on this front in recent weeks. New York City officials and pension funds had pressured the ISO and banks to adopt this code.Two of the country's largest public pension funds, in California and New York, have been pressing the country's largest credit card firms to establish sales codes specifically for firearm-related sales that could flag suspicious purchases or more easily trace how guns and ammunition are sold.Merchant category codes now exist for almost every kind of purchase, including those made at supermarkets, clothing stores, coffee shops and many other retailers.“When you buy an airline ticket or pay for your groceries, your credit card company has a special code for those retailers. It’s just common sense that we have the same policies in place for gun and ammunition stores,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain who blames the proliferation of guns for his city's deadly violence.The city's comptroller, Brad Lander, said it made moral and financial sense as a tool to push back against gun violence.“Unfortunately, the credit card companies have failed to support this simple, practical, potentially lifesaving tool. The time has come for them to do so," Lander said recently, before Visa and others had adopted the move.Lander is a trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System and Board of Education Retirement System — which together own 667,200 shares in American Express valued at approximately $92.49 million; 1.1 million shares in MasterCard valued at approximately $347.59 million; and 1.85 million shares in Visa valued at approximately $363.86 million.The pension funds and gun control advocates argue that creating a merchant category code for standalone firearm and ammunition stores could aid in the battle against gun violence. A week before the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/annual-report/2016/worst-mass-shooting-in-us-history-50-slain-at-gay-nightclub.html">mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub</a>&nbsp;in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people died after a shooter opened fire in 2016, the assailant used credit cards to buy more than $26,000 worth of guns and ammunition, including purchases at a stand-alone gun retailer.Gun rights advocates argue that tracking sales at gun stores would unfairly target legal gun purchases, since merchant codes just track the type of merchant where the credit or debit card is used, not the actual items purchased. A sale of a gun safe, worth thousands of dollars and an item considered part of responsible gun ownership, could be seen as a just a large purchase at a gun shop.“The (industry's) decision to create a firearm specific code is nothing more than a capitulation to anti-gun politicians and activists bent on eroding the rights of law-abiding Americans one transaction at a time,” said Lars Dalseide, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association.Over the years, public pension funds have used their extensive investment portfolios to influence public policy and the market place.The California teacher's fund, the second largest pension fund in the country, has long taken aim on the gun industry. It has divested its holdings from gun manufacturers and has sought to persuade some retailers from selling guns.Four years ago, the teacher's fund made guns a key initiative. It called for background checks and called on retailers “monitor irregularities at the point of sale, to record all firearm sales, to audit firearms inventory on a regular basis, and to proactively assist law enforcement.”___

Credit card firms will track firearm, ammunition purchases

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The heads of the nation's two largest rail unions said Sunday that the freight railroads' move to begin delaying some shipments ahead of this week's looming strike deadline is only an attempt to get shippers to increase the pressure on Congress to intervene and block a work stoppage by imposing a contract on workers.

The heads of the unions that represent engineers and conductors — the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division union and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union — issued a joint statement blasting the move, which the railroads announced late Friday. A strike or lockout won't be allowed until this coming Friday, but the railroads appear to be bracing for one by saying they would begin curtailing shipments of hazardous materials and other chemicals on Monday to ensure carloads of those dangerous products won't be stranded along the tracks if the trains stop moving.

“The railroads are using shippers, consumers, and the supply chain of our nation as pawns in an effort to get our unions to cave into their contract demands knowing that our members would never accept them. Our unions will not cave into these scare tactics, and Congress must not cave into what can only be described as corporate terrorism,” said Jeremy Fergunson with SMART-TD and Dennis Pierce with the BLET union.

Those two unions have been demanding that CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and the other railroads go beyond the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-strikes-a83dffef79d38e36dc25588b19bf54b4">proposed deal recommended</a>&nbsp;by a group of arbitrators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-transportation-strikes-ba718974eb14fcd615d606bfcdffb3d2">President Joe Biden appointed.</a>&nbsp;They want them to address concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">strict attendance policies</a>&nbsp;that they say make it hard to take any time off and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">increasing workloads</a>&nbsp;after the railroads cut nearly one-third of their workforces in recent years.

The railroad trade group has said there’s no way trucks can pick up the slack if the railroads stop moving because roughly 467,000 additional trucks a day would be needed to handle all the cargo trains haul and there is already a shortage of truck drivers.

Five of the 12 railroad unions that together represent 115,000 workers had already reached&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-497a373594515a27e7435cdf97df7a41">tentative agreements</a>&nbsp;based on the Presidential Emergency Board's recommendations that will deliver 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses over a five-year contract that's retroactive to 2020. The coalition negotiating on behalf of the railroads announced three more tentative agreements Sunday, so deals covering roughly 45,000 workers have now been announced. Members of the unions with tentative deals still have to vote on them.

If the two sides can't agree on a deal by the end of the week, Congress is expected to step in to block a strike because of the dire economic consequences if a strike happens because so many businesses rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products. The Association of American Railroads trade group put out a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">report</a>&nbsp;last week estimating that the economy would take a $2 billion a day hit if the trains stop moving and passenger traffic would be disrupted nationwide because Amtrak and many commuter railroads use tracks owned by the freight railroads.

The railroads said in a statement Friday that they needed to start delaying shipments of sensitive cargo to “ensure that no such cargo is left on an unattended or unsecured train in the event of a work stoppage due to an impasse in labor negotiations.” The railroads also said other shipments could be affected this week.

The railroad trade group didn't immediately respond to the unions' criticisms Sunday.

Already, a number of trade groups representing railroad shippers have urged lawmakers to be prepared to block a strike. A coalition of 31 agricultural groups sent a letter to Congress last week, and the Fertilizer Institute trade group joined the chorus of concerned shippers Saturday because shipments of ammonia and other fertilizers will be delayed.

“Supply chains are already strained and there is currently zero elasticity in rail transportation,” TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said. “This situation will get exponentially worse every day there is no resolution."

He said more than half of all fertilizer is hauled by railroads. More than 75% of all finished vehicles are taken from factories to dealerships by train, and countless other products move by rail.

The railroad trade group said that a single railcar can carry up to 2,000 UPS packages, or enough plastic pellets to make some two million two-liter bottles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660926703727.jpg" alt="The railroad trade group has said there’s no way trucks can pick up the slack if the railroads stop moving because roughly 467,000 additional trucks a day would be needed to handle all the cargo trains haul and there is already a shortage of truck drivers." />
 <figcaption>The railroad trade group has said there’s no way trucks can pick up the slack if the railroads stop moving because roughly 467,000 additional trucks a day would be needed to handle all the cargo trains haul and there is already a shortage of truck drivers.</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The heads of the nation's two largest rail unions said Sunday that the freight railroads' move to begin delaying some shipments ahead of this week's looming strike deadline is only an attempt to get shippers to increase the pressure on Congress to intervene and block a work stoppage by imposing a contract on workers.The heads of the unions that represent engineers and conductors — the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division union and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union — issued a joint statement blasting the move, which the railroads announced late Friday. A strike or lockout won't be allowed until this coming Friday, but the railroads appear to be bracing for one by saying they would begin curtailing shipments of hazardous materials and other chemicals on Monday to ensure carloads of those dangerous products won't be stranded along the tracks if the trains stop moving.“The railroads are using shippers, consumers, and the supply chain of our nation as pawns in an effort to get our unions to cave into their contract demands knowing that our members would never accept them. Our unions will not cave into these scare tactics, and Congress must not cave into what can only be described as corporate terrorism,” said Jeremy Fergunson with SMART-TD and Dennis Pierce with the BLET union.Those two unions have been demanding that CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and the other railroads go beyond the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-strikes-a83dffef79d38e36dc25588b19bf54b4">proposed deal recommended</a>&nbsp;by a group of arbitrators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-transportation-strikes-ba718974eb14fcd615d606bfcdffb3d2">President Joe Biden appointed.</a>&nbsp;They want them to address concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">strict attendance policies</a>&nbsp;that they say make it hard to take any time off and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">increasing workloads</a>&nbsp;after the railroads cut nearly one-third of their workforces in recent years.The railroad trade group has said there’s no way trucks can pick up the slack if the railroads stop moving because roughly 467,000 additional trucks a day would be needed to handle all the cargo trains haul and there is already a shortage of truck drivers.Five of the 12 railroad unions that together represent 115,000 workers had already reached&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-497a373594515a27e7435cdf97df7a41">tentative agreements</a>&nbsp;based on the Presidential Emergency Board's recommendations that will deliver 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses over a five-year contract that's retroactive to 2020. The coalition negotiating on behalf of the railroads announced three more tentative agreements Sunday, so deals covering roughly 45,000 workers have now been announced. Members of the unions with tentative deals still have to vote on them.If the two sides can't agree on a deal by the end of the week, Congress is expected to step in to block a strike because of the dire economic consequences if a strike happens because so many businesses rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products. The Association of American Railroads trade group put out a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">report</a>&nbsp;last week estimating that the economy would take a $2 billion a day hit if the trains stop moving and passenger traffic would be disrupted nationwide because Amtrak and many commuter railroads use tracks owned by the freight railroads.The railroads said in a statement Friday that they needed to start delaying shipments of sensitive cargo to “ensure that no such cargo is left on an unattended or unsecured train in the event of a work stoppage due to an impasse in labor negotiations.” The railroads also said other shipments could be affected this week.The railroad trade group didn't immediately respond to the unions' criticisms Sunday.Already, a number of trade groups representing railroad shippers have urged lawmakers to be prepared to block a strike. A coalition of 31 agricultural groups sent a letter to Congress last week, and the Fertilizer Institute trade group joined the chorus of concerned shippers Saturday because shipments of ammonia and other fertilizers will be delayed.“Supply chains are already strained and there is currently zero elasticity in rail transportation,” TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said. “This situation will get exponentially worse every day there is no resolution."He said more than half of all fertilizer is hauled by railroads. More than 75% of all finished vehicles are taken from factories to dealerships by train, and countless other products move by rail.The railroad trade group said that a single railcar can carry up to 2,000 UPS packages, or enough plastic pellets to make some two million two-liter bottles.

Unions blast rail move to delay shipments before strike deadline

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual acts with a child and taking nude pictures and videos of the child. According to court documents, Joshua Courtney, 35, of Bonner Springs pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and four counts of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received cybertips from Google, Snapchat, and Dropbox about child sexual abuse material photos and videos within accounts identified as belonging to Joshua Courtney. 

Agents found dozens of pornographic images in Courtney’s Google photos, including some of which were later identified to be of a 10-year-old child. 

Courtney admitted to investigators he took nude photos of the child, filmed himself while engaged in sexual acts with the child, and sent these materials to others. He also admitted receiving child pornography of other children on his cell phone.

“The Secret Service is proud of the effective partnerships it maintains with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the United States Attorney’s Office, whose tireless efforts were instrumental in seeing justice served in this case,” said Kansas City Field Office Special Agent in Charge Brandon Bridgeforth. &nbsp;“We can think of no greater outcome than protecting our children from predators such as Joshua Courtney.”

Courtney faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count of child exploitation and up to 20 years in prison for each count of possession of child pornography. His sentencing is scheduled for December 1. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662754490228.png" alt="Courtney -photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Courtney -photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual acts with a child and taking nude pictures and videos of the child. According to court documents, Joshua Courtney, 35, of Bonner Springs pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and four counts of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received cybertips from Google, Snapchat, and Dropbox about child sexual abuse material photos and videos within accounts identified as belonging to Joshua Courtney. Agents found dozens of pornographic images in Courtney’s Google photos, including some of which were later identified to be of a 10-year-old child. Courtney admitted to investigators he took nude photos of the child, filmed himself while engaged in sexual acts with the child, and sent these materials to others. He also admitted receiving child pornography of other children on his cell phone.“The Secret Service is proud of the effective partnerships it maintains with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the United States Attorney’s Office, whose tireless efforts were instrumental in seeing justice served in this case,” said Kansas City Field Office Special Agent in Charge Brandon Bridgeforth. &nbsp;“We can think of no greater outcome than protecting our children from predators such as Joshua Courtney.”Courtney faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count of child exploitation and up to 20 years in prison for each count of possession of child pornography. His sentencing is scheduled for December 1. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Kansas man admits using a child to make porn videos

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;marked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-government-and-politics-c5e1bcbcf3327938bb3c1a34e4807a5d">the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks</a>, taking part in a somber wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon held under a steady rain and paying tribute to “extraordinary Americans” who gave their lives on one of the nation's darkest days.

Sunday's ceremony occurred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-afghanistan-biden-al-qaida-ayman-zawahri-92a61266ea72b54aeefe14fe2450792b">a little more than a year</a>&nbsp;after Biden ended the long and costly war in Afghanistan that the U.S. and allies launched in response to the terror attacks.

Biden noted that even after the United States left Afghanistan that his administration continues to pursue those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Last month, Biden announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ayman-al-zawahri-al-qaida-terrorism-biden-36e5f10256c9bc9972b252849eda91f2">the U.S. had killed Ayman al-Zawahri</a>, the al-Qaida leader who helped plot the Sept. 11 attacks, in a clandestine operation.

“We will never forget, we will never give up,” Biden said. “Our commitment to preventing another attack on the United States is without end.”

The president was joined by family members of the fallen, first responders who had been at the Pentagon on the day of the attack, as well as Defense Department leadership for the annual moment of tribute carried out in New York City, the Pentagon and Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

In ending the Afghanistan war, the Democratic president followed through on a campaign pledge to bring home U.S. troops from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">the country's longest conflict</a>. But the war concluded chaotically in August 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5">the U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed</a>, a grisly bombing killed 170 Afghans and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-bombings-kabul-42e66fb3b72492dbec3ef070b73cf018">13 U.S. troops at Kabul's airport</a>, and thousands of desperate Afghans gathered in hopes of escape before the final U.S. cargo planes departed over the Hindu Kush.

Biden marked the one-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan late last month in low-key fashion. He issued a statement in honor of the 13 U.S. troops killed in the bombing at the Kabul airport and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-biden-veterans-national-security-government-and-politics-37f7409b05b8c4236bd4a1272c2affbe">spoke by phone with U.S. veterans</a>&nbsp;assisting ongoing efforts to resettle in the United States Afghans who helped the war effort.

Biden on Sunday said an “incredible debt” was owed to the U.S. troops who served in Afghanistan as well as their families. More than 2,200 U.S. service members were killed and more than 20,000 were wounded over the course of the nearly 20-year war,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/casualty.pdf">according to the Pentagon.</a>

He also vowed that the nation will “never fail to meet the sacred obligation to you to properly prepare and equip those that we send into harm’s way and care for those and their families when they come home — and to never, ever, ever forget.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday criticized Biden's handling of the end of the war and noted that the country has spiraled downward under renewed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-covid-entertainment-health-ashraf-ghani-458d17a5eba416b2845e127ecbe35ebc">Taliban rule</a>&nbsp;since the U.S. withdrawal.

“Now, one year on from last August’s disaster, the devastating scale of the fallout from President Biden’s decision has come into sharper focus," McConnell said. “Afghanistan has become a global pariah. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-business-united-nations-economy-9cbaf19f8b4e79311305b35295a9ad6d">economy has shrunk</a>&nbsp;by nearly a third. Half of its population is now suffering critical levels of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-health-prices-united-nations-d74bb5f7326d57e53e17258a42452d92">food insecurity</a>."

The president also remembered the words of comfort Queen Elizabeth II, who died last week, sent to the American people soon after the 2001 attacks: “Grief is the price we pay for love." Biden said those words remain as poignant as they did 21 years ago but the weight of loss also remains heavy.

“On this day, when the price feels so great, Jill and I are holding all of you close to our hearts.” Biden said.

Biden has recently dialed up warnings about what he calls the “extreme ideology” of former President Donald Trump and his “MAGA Republican" adherents as a threat to American democracy. Without naming Trump, Biden again on Sunday raised a call for Americans to safeguard democracy.

“It’s not enough to stand up for democracy once a year or every now and then,” Biden said. “It’s something we have to do every single day. So this is a day not only to remember, but also is a day for renewal and resolve for each and every American in our devotion to this country, to the principles it embodies, to our democracy.”

First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-jill-biden-congress-government-and-politics-adf38eae4d6395768b096f57218a3f79">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;spoke to a crowd at the Flight 93 National Memorial Observance in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where she recalled the concern she had about her sister Bonny Jacobs, a United Airlines flight attendant.

She said the attacks showed that “with courage and kindness we can be a light in that darkness.”

“It showed us that we are all connected to one another,” said Biden, who was joined by her sister in Shanksville for Sunday's commemoration. “So as we stand on this sacred and scarred earth, a record of our collective grief and a monument to the memories that live on each day, this is the legacy we much carry forward: Hope that defies hate.”

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband attended a commemoration ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial in New York.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is set to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-government-and-politics-c5e1bcbcf3327938bb3c1a34e4807a5d">the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks</a>&nbsp;at the Pentagon, a year after he ended the long and costly war in Afghanistan that the U.S. and allies launched in response to the terror attacks.

In ending the Afghanistan war, the Democratic president followed through on a campaign pledge to bring home U.S. troops from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">the country's longest conflict</a>. But the war concluded chaotically in August 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5">the U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed</a>&nbsp;in the face of a countrywide Taliban advance that returned the fundamentalist group to power. A bombing claimed by an Afghanistan-based extremist group killed 170 Afghans and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-bombings-kabul-42e66fb3b72492dbec3ef070b73cf018">13 U.S. troops at Kabul's airport</a>, where thousands of desperate Afghans gathered in hopes of escape before the final U.S. cargo planes departed over the Hindu Kush.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden in his remarks Sunday will recognize the impact&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/9-11-a-world-changed">the 2001 attacks</a>&nbsp;had on the U.S. and the world and honor the nearly 3,000 people killed that day when al-Qaida hijackers took control of commercial planes and crashed them into New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

“I think you’ll hear him talk about how America will stay vigilant to the threat but also look to future threats and challenges and be able to learn to meet those threats and challenges,” Kirby said.

First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-jill-biden-congress-government-and-politics-adf38eae4d6395768b096f57218a3f79">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;will speak Sunday at the Flight 93 National Memorial Observance in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband will go to New York City for a commemoration ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;marked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-government-and-politics-c5e1bcbcf3327938bb3c1a34e4807a5d">the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks</a>, taking part in a somber wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon held under a steady rain and paying tribute to “extraordinary Americans” who gave their lives on one of the nation's darkest days.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In the midst of the dark days following September 11th, we found a true sense of national unity. <a href="https://t.co/vxQLF5GRIv">pic.twitter.com/vxQLF5GRIv</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1569049531878178818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Sunday's ceremony occurred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-afghanistan-biden-al-qaida-ayman-zawahri-92a61266ea72b54aeefe14fe2450792b">a little more than a year</a>&nbsp;after Biden ended the long and costly war in Afghanistan that the U.S. and allies launched in response to the terror attacks.Biden noted that even after the United States left Afghanistan that his administration continues to pursue those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Last month, Biden announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ayman-al-zawahri-al-qaida-terrorism-biden-36e5f10256c9bc9972b252849eda91f2">the U.S. had killed Ayman al-Zawahri</a>, the al-Qaida leader who helped plot the Sept. 11 attacks, in a clandestine operation.“We will never forget, we will never give up,” Biden said. “Our commitment to preventing another attack on the United States is without end.”The president was joined by family members of the fallen, first responders who had been at the Pentagon on the day of the attack, as well as Defense Department leadership for the annual moment of tribute carried out in New York City, the Pentagon and Somerset County, Pennsylvania.In ending the Afghanistan war, the Democratic president followed through on a campaign pledge to bring home U.S. troops from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">the country's longest conflict</a>. But the war concluded chaotically in August 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5">the U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed</a>, a grisly bombing killed 170 Afghans and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-bombings-kabul-42e66fb3b72492dbec3ef070b73cf018">13 U.S. troops at Kabul's airport</a>, and thousands of desperate Afghans gathered in hopes of escape before the final U.S. cargo planes departed over the Hindu Kush.Biden marked the one-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan late last month in low-key fashion. He issued a statement in honor of the 13 U.S. troops killed in the bombing at the Kabul airport and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-biden-veterans-national-security-government-and-politics-37f7409b05b8c4236bd4a1272c2affbe">spoke by phone with U.S. veterans</a>&nbsp;assisting ongoing efforts to resettle in the United States Afghans who helped the war effort.Biden on Sunday said an “incredible debt” was owed to the U.S. troops who served in Afghanistan as well as their families. More than 2,200 U.S. service members were killed and more than 20,000 were wounded over the course of the nearly 20-year war,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/casualty.pdf">according to the Pentagon.</a>He also vowed that the nation will “never fail to meet the sacred obligation to you to properly prepare and equip those that we send into harm’s way and care for those and their families when they come home — and to never, ever, ever forget.”Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday criticized Biden's handling of the end of the war and noted that the country has spiraled downward under renewed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-covid-entertainment-health-ashraf-ghani-458d17a5eba416b2845e127ecbe35ebc">Taliban rule</a>&nbsp;since the U.S. withdrawal.“Now, one year on from last August’s disaster, the devastating scale of the fallout from President Biden’s decision has come into sharper focus," McConnell said. “Afghanistan has become a global pariah. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-business-united-nations-economy-9cbaf19f8b4e79311305b35295a9ad6d">economy has shrunk</a>&nbsp;by nearly a third. Half of its population is now suffering critical levels of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-health-prices-united-nations-d74bb5f7326d57e53e17258a42452d92">food insecurity</a>."The president also remembered the words of comfort Queen Elizabeth II, who died last week, sent to the American people soon after the 2001 attacks: “Grief is the price we pay for love." Biden said those words remain as poignant as they did 21 years ago but the weight of loss also remains heavy.“On this day, when the price feels so great, Jill and I are holding all of you close to our hearts.” Biden said.Biden has recently dialed up warnings about what he calls the “extreme ideology” of former President Donald Trump and his “MAGA Republican" adherents as a threat to American democracy. Without naming Trump, Biden again on Sunday raised a call for Americans to safeguard democracy.“It’s not enough to stand up for democracy once a year or every now and then,” Biden said. “It’s something we have to do every single day. So this is a day not only to remember, but also is a day for renewal and resolve for each and every American in our devotion to this country, to the principles it embodies, to our democracy.”First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-jill-biden-congress-government-and-politics-adf38eae4d6395768b096f57218a3f79">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;spoke to a crowd at the Flight 93 National Memorial Observance in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where she recalled the concern she had about her sister Bonny Jacobs, a United Airlines flight attendant.She said the attacks showed that “with courage and kindness we can be a light in that darkness.”“It showed us that we are all connected to one another,” said Biden, who was joined by her sister in Shanksville for Sunday's commemoration. “So as we stand on this sacred and scarred earth, a record of our collective grief and a monument to the memories that live on each day, this is the legacy we much carry forward: Hope that defies hate.”Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband attended a commemoration ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial in New York.------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is set to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-government-and-politics-c5e1bcbcf3327938bb3c1a34e4807a5d">the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks</a>&nbsp;at the Pentagon, a year after he ended the long and costly war in Afghanistan that the U.S. and allies launched in response to the terror attacks.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Twenty-one years later, we keep alive the memory of all the precious lives stolen from us at Ground Zero, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. To the families and loved ones who still feel the ache, Jill and I hold you close in our hearts. We will never forget. <a href="https://t.co/IZlAmyone2">pic.twitter.com/IZlAmyone2</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1568932731622490112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In ending the Afghanistan war, the Democratic president followed through on a campaign pledge to bring home U.S. troops from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">the country's longest conflict</a>. But the war concluded chaotically in August 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5">the U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed</a>&nbsp;in the face of a countrywide Taliban advance that returned the fundamentalist group to power. A bombing claimed by an Afghanistan-based extremist group killed 170 Afghans and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-bombings-kabul-42e66fb3b72492dbec3ef070b73cf018">13 U.S. troops at Kabul's airport</a>, where thousands of desperate Afghans gathered in hopes of escape before the final U.S. cargo planes departed over the Hindu Kush.White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden in his remarks Sunday will recognize the impact&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/9-11-a-world-changed">the 2001 attacks</a>&nbsp;had on the U.S. and the world and honor the nearly 3,000 people killed that day when al-Qaida hijackers took control of commercial planes and crashed them into New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.“I think you’ll hear him talk about how America will stay vigilant to the threat but also look to future threats and challenges and be able to learn to meet those threats and challenges,” Kirby said.Biden marked the one-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan late last month in low-key fashion. He issued a statement in honor of the 13 U.S. troops killed in the bombing at the Kabul airport and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-biden-veterans-national-security-government-and-politics-37f7409b05b8c4236bd4a1272c2affbe">spoke by phone with U.S. veterans</a>&nbsp;assisting ongoing efforts to resettle in the United States Afghans who helped the war effort.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday criticized Biden's handling of the end of the war and noted that the country has spiraled downward under renewed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-covid-entertainment-health-ashraf-ghani-458d17a5eba416b2845e127ecbe35ebc">Taliban rule</a>&nbsp;since the U.S. withdrawal.“Now, one year on from last August’s disaster, the devastating scale of the fallout from President Biden’s decision has come into sharper focus," McConnell said. “Afghanistan has become a global pariah. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-business-united-nations-economy-9cbaf19f8b4e79311305b35295a9ad6d">economy has shrunk</a>&nbsp;by nearly a third. Half of its population is now suffering critical levels of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-health-prices-united-nations-d74bb5f7326d57e53e17258a42452d92">food insecurity</a>."First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-jill-biden-congress-government-and-politics-adf38eae4d6395768b096f57218a3f79">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;will speak Sunday at the Flight 93 National Memorial Observance in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband will go to New York City for a commemoration ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial.

🎥Biden honors 9/11 victims, vows commitment to thwart terror

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration hopes to make getting a COVID-19 booster as routine as going in for the yearly flu shot.

That’s at the heart of its campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-omicron-booster-shot-227514678d25a99b65b7ee092735fb03?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_2">to sell the newly authorized shot</a>&nbsp;to an American public that has widely rejected COVID-19 boosters since they first became available last fall.

Shots of the updated boosters, specifically designed by Pfizer and Moderna to respond to the omicron strain, are available. The U.S. government has purchased 170 million doses and is emphasizing that everyone will have free access to the booster.

White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said this latest round of shots offer protection during the busy cold and flu season, with the hope of transitioning people to get the vaccine yearly. Typically,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/dashboard/vaccination-dashboard.html">at least half of U.S. adults get a flu shot</a>.

“We expect them to provide more durable protection over time,” Jha said in an interview with The Associated Press. “The goal very much is to get to a point where people get their COVID shot on a regular basis, the way they do their flu shot.”

Community health workers in North Carolina, home to the country’s lowest COVID-19 booster rate, like the strategy, especially because of confusion among some people about vaccine schedules.

“I believe in keeping things simple,” said Marty Stamey, an outreach coordinator for the Mountain Area Health Education Center in western North Carolina. “I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘I think I’ll just wait and try to do it like the flu shots.’”

The White House plan also relies in part of on local health departments, providers and community groups to reach out and encourage people to get the updated booster. Pharmacies, health providers and state or local health departments are preparing to send text messages to millions of people that will encourage them to get a booster this fall, White House officials said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648688148561.png" alt="The latest vaccination campaign faces challenges-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>The latest vaccination campaign faces challenges-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration hopes to make getting a COVID-19 booster as routine as going in for the yearly flu shot.That’s at the heart of its campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-omicron-booster-shot-227514678d25a99b65b7ee092735fb03?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_2">to sell the newly authorized shot</a>&nbsp;to an American public that has widely rejected COVID-19 boosters since they first became available last fall.Shots of the updated boosters, specifically designed by Pfizer and Moderna to respond to the omicron strain, are available. The U.S. government has purchased 170 million doses and is emphasizing that everyone will have free access to the booster.White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said this latest round of shots offer protection during the busy cold and flu season, with the hope of transitioning people to get the vaccine yearly. Typically,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/dashboard/vaccination-dashboard.html">at least half of U.S. adults get a flu shot</a>.“We expect them to provide more durable protection over time,” Jha said in an interview with The Associated Press. “The goal very much is to get to a point where people get their COVID shot on a regular basis, the way they do their flu shot.”Community health workers in North Carolina, home to the country’s lowest COVID-19 booster rate, like the strategy, especially because of confusion among some people about vaccine schedules.“I believe in keeping things simple,” said Marty Stamey, an outreach coordinator for the Mountain Area Health Education Center in western North Carolina. “I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘I think I’ll just wait and try to do it like the flu shots.’”The White House plan also relies in part of on local health departments, providers and community groups to reach out and encourage people to get the updated booster. Pharmacies, health providers and state or local health departments are preparing to send text messages to millions of people that will encourage them to get a booster this fall, White House officials said.Jha said he recommends most Americans get the booster by the end of October.Still, this latest vaccination campaign faces several challenges.A&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-people-additional-dose-totalpop">majority of Americans got their first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine</a>&nbsp;when it was released last year but they’ve been more reluctant to get a booster jab, with less than half getting their first booster since it became available late last year.Congress also has not moved forward on President Joe Biden’s $22.5 billion request&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-congress-e5b411a879b2becf3e342fea3b0df981">earlier this year for the COVID-19 response</a>. Republicans criticized the request, pointing to the $1.9 trillion already spent on responding to the pandemic. Running short on funds, the government announced it would stop shipping COVID-19 tests to people’s homes after Friday.And COVID-19 funding is drying up for many of the community groups that received millions of federal tax dollars to hire workers who spent months reaching deep into neighborhoods with door knocks, mobile vaccine clinics and posters encouraging people to inoculate against COVID-19.White House officials say those local leaders deserve a lot of credit for stamping out misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and convincing many around the country that the shot will protect them.“Those are the really critical messengers,” Jha said.That on-the-ground work has been crucial to getting people vaccinated in the rural, Spanish- and Haitian-speaking communities that the Migrant Clinicians Network has reached throughout Texas, California and Maryland with its $8.5 million federal grant.“Simply having the vaccines available is one thing, but getting the shots in the arms is another,” said Amy Liebman, a chief program officer for the nonprofit group.Some of those local health organizations, too, are now stretched as they work to get low&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-pfizer-covid-vaccines-kids-1423b2ab0a51bc9c36dbe86964777c07">vaccination rates among children under 12 up</a>. Only a third of 5- to 11-year-olds received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since becoming eligible late last year. Meanwhile, just&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-vaccination-trends/">7% of children under 5</a>&nbsp;have gotten a first dose since it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-politics-health-us-news-368ca7b4ab393dc48ffa04b5a3171d5b">was made available this summer</a>.Dr. Niharika Khanna at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has just started making progress on convincing new mothers that the vaccine is safe and effective for their babies.Her program, which has hired more than 269 health workers and administered more than 12,000 vaccinations and boosters across Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, isn’t quite ready to transition back to pushing COVID-19 boosters.“All of these people, all of these relationships we’ve carefully cultivated are at risk for falling apart,” Khanna said. “Today if you were to say to me switch to booster, I’d say no. I need another two to three weeks to really get these people going.”