LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has dismissed the discrimination lawsuit of a former Lincoln Police Department spokeswoman, saying her allegations did not sufficiently prove a hostile work environment.

Erin Spilker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-lawsuits-discrimination-lincoln-d8e98ab82a61d886f6c794d0e9da9477">said in her lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that she faced years of discrimination and that the department not only mishandled allegations of sexual assaults by male officers, but disciplined the women who complained.

“She is under a microscope, and has been subjected to assaults, harassment, intimidation, threats and retaliation, which affect her ability to do her job,” Spilker’s attorney, Kelly Brandon said, in the complaint.

In his order issued Monday, District Judge Kevin McManaman acknowledged Spilker’s string of allegations — from male colleagues making sexualized remarks about female colleagues to suffering various acts of retaliation after she complained, the&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-dismisses-former-lincoln-police-officers-lawsuit-against-city/article_de78765a-f467-5b33-8c43-20cb4ff3f969.html#tracking-source=mp-homepage">Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. But McManaman said, citing case law, that the allegations amounted to “an amalgamation of discrete incidents ... and not one unlawful employment practice.”

The allegations “are not so similar in nature, frequency and severity as to be considered part and parcel of a hostile work environment,” McManaman wrote.

Spilker, who was a 20-year veteran of the department before she resigned earlier this year, is among several female Lincoln police officers who have sued, alleging sex-based discrimination in the department.

One, former Officer Sarah Williams, was paid $65,000 by the city to settle her lawsuit last year.

By Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has dismissed the discrimination lawsuit of a former Lincoln Police Department spokeswoman, saying her allegations did not sufficiently prove a hostile work environment.Erin Spilker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-lawsuits-discrimination-lincoln-d8e98ab82a61d886f6c794d0e9da9477">said in her lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that she faced years of discrimination and that the department not only mishandled allegations of sexual assaults by male officers, but disciplined the women who complained.“She is under a microscope, and has been subjected to assaults, harassment, intimidation, threats and retaliation, which affect her ability to do her job,” Spilker’s attorney, Kelly Brandon said, in the complaint.In his order issued Monday, District Judge Kevin McManaman acknowledged Spilker’s string of allegations — from male colleagues making sexualized remarks about female colleagues to suffering various acts of retaliation after she complained, the&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-dismisses-former-lincoln-police-officers-lawsuit-against-city/article_de78765a-f467-5b33-8c43-20cb4ff3f969.html#tracking-source=mp-homepage">Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. But McManaman said, citing case law, that the allegations amounted to “an amalgamation of discrete incidents ... and not one unlawful employment practice.”The allegations “are not so similar in nature, frequency and severity as to be considered part and parcel of a hostile work environment,” McManaman wrote.Spilker, who was a 20-year veteran of the department before she resigned earlier this year, is among several female Lincoln police officers who have sued, alleging sex-based discrimination in the department.One, former Officer Sarah Williams, was paid $65,000 by the city to settle her lawsuit last year.

Judge dismisses ex-Lincoln officer's discrimination lawsuit

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nonprofit-launches-process-to-award-millions-of-dollars-to-expand-affordable-housing/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Have an idea that expands affordable housing options in Omaha?

Front Porch Investments, in 
partnership with the City of Omaha, is seeking real estate developers 
and other applicants interested in a chunk of $40 million that’s been 
earmarked for affordable housing projects.

Proposals for the initial round of 
funding are due by noon Sept. 13. They’ll be “vetted through a strategic
 priorities lens,” and chosen recipients will be announced in November, 
according to a media release from the nonprofit Front Porch.

The funds come from the $20 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars the <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/21/public-spaces-city-employees-and-affordable-housing-targeted-for-omaha-arpa-spending/">city earlier directed</a>
 to the Front Porch Development and Preservation Fund. That amount is 
being matched by philanthropic contributions handled by Front Porch.

First-round proposals are to focus on
 grants, short-term loans and property development that increases 
affordable housing options in Omaha. Both nonprofit and for-profit 
developers are eligible to apply.

Winning projects will target households that earn less than 120% of area median income.

Local banking agents and <a target="_blank" href="https://frontporchinvestmentsorg.presencehost.net/arpa/">other guidance</a> is available to applicants who need help preparing financial documents for proposals.

Federal rules call for ARPA funds to 
be spent by December 2026. The city and Front Porch have a strategy to 
use the bulk of ARPA funds twice before the deadline, through one round 
of short-term loans, followed by a second round of grants to 
housing-focused nonprofits.

Because the short-term loans would be repaid in 2025, the money would be available for a second time in the form of grants.

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nonprofit-launches-process-to-award-millions-of-dollars-to-expand-affordable-housing/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Have an idea that expands affordable housing options in Omaha?Front Porch Investments, in 
partnership with the City of Omaha, is seeking real estate developers 
and other applicants interested in a chunk of $40 million that’s been 
earmarked for affordable housing projects.Proposals for the initial round of 
funding are due by noon Sept. 13. They’ll be “vetted through a strategic
 priorities lens,” and chosen recipients will be announced in November, 
according to a media release from the nonprofit Front Porch.The funds come from the $20 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars the <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/21/public-spaces-city-employees-and-affordable-housing-targeted-for-omaha-arpa-spending/">city earlier directed</a>
 to the Front Porch Development and Preservation Fund. That amount is 
being matched by philanthropic contributions handled by Front Porch.First-round proposals are to focus on
 grants, short-term loans and property development that increases 
affordable housing options in Omaha. Both nonprofit and for-profit 
developers are eligible to apply.Winning projects will target households that earn less than 120% of area median income.Local banking agents and <a target="_blank" href="https://frontporchinvestmentsorg.presencehost.net/arpa/">other guidance</a> is available to applicants who need help preparing financial documents for proposals.Federal rules call for ARPA funds to 
be spent by December 2026. The city and Front Porch have a strategy to 
use the bulk of ARPA funds twice before the deadline, through one round 
of short-term loans, followed by a second round of grants to 
housing-focused nonprofits.Because the short-term loans would be repaid in 2025, the money would be available for a second time in the form of grants.

Nonprofit launches process to award millions to expand affordable housing

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/group-condemns-distribution-of-antisemitic-literature-near-omaha-synagogue/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA
 – A national civil rights group on Tuesday condemned the recent 
distribution of antisemitic literature in a west Omaha neighborhood near
 a Jewish synagogue.

A spokesman with the Council
 on American-Islamic Relations said that it’s a favorite tactic of white
 supremacist groups to fill bags or envelopes with rice or gravel so 
that they can be thrown, containing hateful statements, onto a home’s 
driveway or porch.

“Almost on a daily basis we’re issuing one of these statements,” said Ibrahim Hooper, of the Washington, D.C.-based CAIR group, condemning such distributions.

Omaha television station Fox 42 first
 reported the distribution of antisemitic literature in the neighborhood
 near the Beth Israel Synagogue, which is at 126th and Pacific Streets.

Lt. Neal Bonacci of the Omaha Police Department said police are aware of the incident and are investigating.&nbsp;

There was no immediate information about who was responsible for the distribution of the antisemitic literature. &nbsp;

A message seeking comment from the Anti-Defamation League was not immediately returned Tuesday evening.

Hooper said CAIR and the American 
Muslim community oppose all forms of bigotry, including antisemitism, 
anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and white supremacy. 

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/group-condemns-distribution-of-antisemitic-literature-near-omaha-synagogue/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA
 – A national civil rights group on Tuesday condemned the recent 
distribution of antisemitic literature in a west Omaha neighborhood near
 a Jewish synagogue.A spokesman with the Council
 on American-Islamic Relations said that it’s a favorite tactic of white
 supremacist groups to fill bags or envelopes with rice or gravel so 
that they can be thrown, containing hateful statements, onto a home’s 
driveway or porch.“Almost on a daily basis we’re issuing one of these statements,” said Ibrahim Hooper, of the Washington, D.C.-based CAIR group, condemning such distributions.Omaha television station Fox 42 first
 reported the distribution of antisemitic literature in the neighborhood
 near the Beth Israel Synagogue, which is at 126th and Pacific Streets.Lt. Neal Bonacci of the Omaha Police Department said police are aware of the incident and are investigating.&nbsp;There was no immediate information about who was responsible for the distribution of the antisemitic literature. &nbsp;A message seeking comment from the Anti-Defamation League was not immediately returned Tuesday evening.Hooper said CAIR and the American 
Muslim community oppose all forms of bigotry, including antisemitism, 
anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and white supremacy.

Group condemns distribution of antisemitic literature near Neb. synagogue

WASHINGTON — To help struggling taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service today issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-36.pdf">Notice 2022-36</a>PDF, which provides penalty relief to most people and businesses who file certain 2019 or 2020 returns late.

The IRS is also taking an additional step to help those who paid 
these penalties already. Nearly 1.6 million taxpayers will automatically
 receive more than $1.2 billion in refunds or credits. Many of these 
payments will be completed by the end of September.

Besides providing relief to both individuals and businesses impacted 
by the pandemic, this step is designed to allow the IRS to focus its 
resources on processing backlogged tax returns and taxpayer 
correspondence to help return to normal operations for the 2023 filing 
season.

"Throughout the pandemic, the IRS has worked hard to support the 
nation and provide relief to people in many different ways," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The penalty relief issued today is yet 
another way the agency is supporting people during this unprecedented 
time. This penalty relief will be automatic for people or businesses who
 qualify; there's no need to call."

The relief applies to the failure to file penalty. The penalty is 
typically assessed at a rate of 5% per month and up to 25% of the unpaid
 tax when a federal income tax return is filed late. This relief applies
 to forms in both the Form 1040 and 1120 series, as well as others 
listed in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-36.pdf">Notice 2022-36</a>PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.

To qualify for this relief, any eligible income tax return must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.

In addition, the IRS is providing penalty relief to banks, employers 
and other businesses required to file various information returns, such 
as those in the 1099 series. To qualify for relief, the notice states 
that eligible 2019 returns must have been filed by August 1, 2020, and 
eligible 2020 returns must have been filed by August 1, 2021.

Because both of these deadlines fell on a weekend, a 2019 return will
 still be considered timely for purposes of relief provided under the 
notice if it was filed by August 3, 2020, and a 2020 return will be 
considered timely for purposes of relief provided under the notice if it
 was filed by August 2, 2021. The notice provides details on the 
information returns that are eligible for relief.

The notice also provides details on relief for filers of various 
international information returns, such as those reporting transactions 
with foreign trusts, receipt of foreign gifts, and ownership interests 
in foreign corporations. To qualify for this relief, any eligible tax 
return must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.

Relief is automatic; most of $1.2 billion in refunds delivered to eligible taxpayers by next month

Penalty relief is automatic. This means that eligible taxpayers need 
not apply for it. If already assessed, penalties will be abated. If 
already paid, the taxpayer will receive a credit or refund.

As a result, nearly 1.6 million taxpayers who already paid the 
penalty are receiving refunds totaling more than $1.2 billion. Most 
eligible taxpayers will receive their refunds by the end of September.

Penalty relief is not available in some situations, such as where a 
fraudulent return was filed, where the penalties are part of an accepted
 offer in compromise or a closing agreement, or where the penalties were
 finally determined by a court. For details, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-36.pdf">Notice 2022-36</a>PDF, available on IRS.gov.

This relief is limited to the penalties that the notice specifically 
states are eligible for relief. Other penalties, such as the failure to 
pay penalty, are not eligible. But for these ineligible penalties, 
taxpayers may use existing penalty relief procedures, such as applying 
for relief under the reasonable cause criteria or the First Time Abate 
program. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief">IRS.gov/penaltyrelief</a> for details.

"Penalty relief is a complex issue for the IRS to administer," Rettig
 said. "We've been working on this initiative for months following 
concerns we've heard from taxpayers, the tax community and others, 
including Congress. This is another major step to help taxpayers, and we
 encourage those affected by this to review the guidelines."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — To help struggling taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service today issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-36.pdf">Notice 2022-36</a>PDF, which provides penalty relief to most people and businesses who file certain 2019 or 2020 returns late.The IRS is also taking an additional step to help those who paid 
these penalties already. Nearly 1.6 million taxpayers will automatically
 receive more than $1.2 billion in refunds or credits. Many of these 
payments will be completed by the end of September.Besides providing relief to both individuals and businesses impacted 
by the pandemic, this step is designed to allow the IRS to focus its 
resources on processing backlogged tax returns and taxpayer 
correspondence to help return to normal operations for the 2023 filing 
season."Throughout the pandemic, the IRS has worked hard to support the 
nation and provide relief to people in many different ways," said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "The penalty relief issued today is yet 
another way the agency is supporting people during this unprecedented 
time. This penalty relief will be automatic for people or businesses who
 qualify; there's no need to call."The relief applies to the failure to file penalty. The penalty is 
typically assessed at a rate of 5% per month and up to 25% of the unpaid
 tax when a federal income tax return is filed late. This relief applies
 to forms in both the Form 1040 and 1120 series, as well as others 
listed in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-36.pdf">Notice 2022-36</a>PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.To qualify for this relief, any eligible income tax return must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.In addition, the IRS is providing penalty relief to banks, employers 
and other businesses required to file various information returns, such 
as those in the 1099 series. To qualify for relief, the notice states 
that eligible 2019 returns must have been filed by August 1, 2020, and 
eligible 2020 returns must have been filed by August 1, 2021.Because both of these deadlines fell on a weekend, a 2019 return will
 still be considered timely for purposes of relief provided under the 
notice if it was filed by August 3, 2020, and a 2020 return will be 
considered timely for purposes of relief provided under the notice if it
 was filed by August 2, 2021. The notice provides details on the 
information returns that are eligible for relief.The notice also provides details on relief for filers of various 
international information returns, such as those reporting transactions 
with foreign trusts, receipt of foreign gifts, and ownership interests 
in foreign corporations. To qualify for this relief, any eligible tax 
return must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.<h2>Relief is automatic; most of $1.2 billion in refunds delivered to eligible taxpayers by next month</h2>Penalty relief is automatic. This means that eligible taxpayers need 
not apply for it. If already assessed, penalties will be abated. If 
already paid, the taxpayer will receive a credit or refund.As a result, nearly 1.6 million taxpayers who already paid the 
penalty are receiving refunds totaling more than $1.2 billion. Most 
eligible taxpayers will receive their refunds by the end of September.Penalty relief is not available in some situations, such as where a 
fraudulent return was filed, where the penalties are part of an accepted
 offer in compromise or a closing agreement, or where the penalties were
 finally determined by a court. For details, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-22-36.pdf">Notice 2022-36</a>PDF, available on IRS.gov.This relief is limited to the penalties that the notice specifically 
states are eligible for relief. Other penalties, such as the failure to 
pay penalty, are not eligible. But for these ineligible penalties, 
taxpayers may use existing penalty relief procedures, such as applying 
for relief under the reasonable cause criteria or the First Time Abate 
program. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief">IRS.gov/penaltyrelief</a> for details."Penalty relief is a complex issue for the IRS to administer," Rettig
 said. "We've been working on this initiative for months following 
concerns we've heard from taxpayers, the tax community and others, 
including Congress. This is another major step to help taxpayers, and we
 encourage those affected by this to review the guidelines."

COVID relief: IRS will refund certain penalties from 2019, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to announce his long-delayed move to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loans for many Americans and extend a pause on payments to January, according to three people familiar with the plan.

Biden has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-95094e1f367262f93eb49fa653bed4c9">pressure from liberals</a>&nbsp;to provide broader relief to hard-hit borrowers, and from moderates and Republicans questioning the fairness of any widespread forgiveness. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-student-loans-tony-cardenas-2838c08edb677cb468b512a7ec54952a">delay in Biden’s decision</a>&nbsp;has only heightened the anticipation for what his own aides acknowledge represents a political no-win situation. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Biden's intended announcement ahead of time.

The precise details of Biden’s plan, which will include an income cap limiting the forgiveness to only those earning less than $125,000 a year, were being kept to an unusually small circle within the Biden administration and were still not finalized on the eve of the announcement.

Down-to-the-wire decision-making has been a hallmark of the Biden White House, but the particular delay on student loans reflects the vexing challenge confronting him in fulfilling a key campaign promise.

The plan would likely eliminate student debt entirely for millions of Americans and wipe away at least half for millions more.

The nation’s federal student debt now tops $1.6 trillion after ballooning for years. More than 43 million Americans have federal student debt, with almost a third owing less than $10,000 and more than half owing less than $20,000, according to the latest federal data.

The continuation of the pandemic-era payment freeze comes just days before millions of Americans were set to find out when their next student loan bills will be due. This is the closest the administration has come to hitting the end of the payment freeze extension, with the current pause set to end Aug. 31.

Wednesday’s announcement was set for the White House after Biden returns from vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The administration had briefly considered higher education schools in the president’s home state for a larger reveal, but scaled back their plans.

Biden was initially skeptical of student loan debt cancellation as he faced off against more progressive Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who had proposed cancellations of $50,000 or more, during the 2020 primaries.

As he tried to shore up support among younger voters and prepare for a general election battle against then-President Donald Trump, Biden unveiled his initial proposal for debt cancellation of $10,000 per borrower, with no mention of an income cap.

Biden narrowed his campaign promise in recent months by embracing the income limit as soaring inflation took a political toll and as he aimed to head off political attacks that the cancellation would benefit those with higher take-home pay. But Democrats, from members of congressional leadership to those facing tough re-election bids this November, have pushed the administration to go as broad as possible on debt relief, seeing it in part as a galvanizing issue, particularly for Black and young voters this fall.

The frenzied last-minute lobbying continued Tuesday even as Biden remained on his summer vacation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the loudest advocates in recent years for canceling student loan debt, spoke privately on the phone with Biden, imploring the president to forgive as much debt as the administration can, according to a Democrat with knowledge of the call.

In his pitch, Schumer argued to Biden that doing so was the right thing to do morally and economically, said the Democrat, who asked for anonymity to describe a private conversation.

Inside the administration, officials have discussed since at least early summer forgiving more than $10,000 of student debt for certain categories of borrowers, such as Pell Grant recipients, according to three people with knowledge of the deliberations. That remained one of the final variables being considered by Biden heading into Wednesday’s announcement.

Democrats are betting that Biden, who has seen his public approval rating tumble over the last year, can help motivate younger voters to the polls in November with the announcement.

Although Biden’s plan is narrower than what he initially proposed during the campaign, “he’ll get a lot of credit for following through on something that he was committed to,” said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who worked with Biden during the 2020 election.

She described student debt as a “gateway issue” for younger voters, meaning it affects their views and decisions on housing affordability and career choices. A survey of 18- to 29-year-olds conducted by the Harvard Institute of Politics in March found that 59% of those polled favored debt cancellation of some sort — whether for all borrowers or those most in need — although student loans did not rank high among issues that most concerned people in that age group.

Some advocates were already bracing for disappointment.

“If the rumors are true, we’ve got a problem,” Derrick Johnson, the president of the NAACP, which has aggressively lobbied Biden to take bolder action, said Tuesday. He emphasized that Black students face higher debut burdens than white students.

“President Biden’s decision on student debt cannot become the latest example of a policy that has left Black people — especially Black women — behind,” he said. “This is not how you treat Black voters who turned out in record numbers and provided 90% of their vote to once again save democracy in 2020.”

John Della Volpe, who worked as a consultant on Biden’s campaign and is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, said the particulars of Biden’s announcement were less important than the decision itself.

“It’s about trust in politics, in government, in our system. It’s also about trust in the individual, which in this case is President Biden.”

Combined with fears about expanding abortion restrictions and Trump’s reemergence on the political scene, Della Volpe said student debt forgiveness “adds an additional tailwind to an already improving position with young people.”

Republicans, meanwhile, see only political upside if Biden pursues a large-scale cancellation of student debt ahead of the November midterms, anticipating backlash for Democrats — particularly in states where there are large numbers of working-class voters without college degrees. Critics of broad student debt forgiveness also believe it will open the White House to lawsuits, on the grounds that Congress has never given the president the explicit authority to cancel debt on his own.

The Republican National Committee on Tuesday blasted Biden’s expected announcement as a “handout to the rich,” claiming it would unfairly burden lower-income taxpayers and those who have already paid off their student loans with covering the costs of higher education for the wealthy.

“My neighbor, a detective, worked 3 jobs (including selling carpet) &amp; his wife worked to make sure their daughter got quality college degree w/no student debt,” Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, tweeted Tuesday. “Big sacrifice. Now their taxes must pay off someone else’s student debt?”

Biden’s elongated deliberations have sent federal loan servicers, who have been instructed to hold back billing statements while he weighed a decision, grumbling.

Industry groups had complained that the delayed decision left them with just days to notify borrowers, retrain customer service workers and update websites and digital payment systems, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance.

It increases the risk that some borrowers will inadvertently be told they need to make payments, he said.

“At this late stage I think that’s the risk we’re running,” he said. “You can’t just turn on a dime with 35 million borrowers who all have different loan types and statuses.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656088652168.png" alt="Biden has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-95094e1f367262f93eb49fa653bed4c9">pressure from liberals</a>&nbsp;to provide broader relief to hard-hit borrowers, and from moderates and Republicans questioning the fairness of any widespread forgiveness. -White House Photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-95094e1f367262f93eb49fa653bed4c9">pressure from liberals</a>&nbsp;to provide broader relief to hard-hit borrowers, and from moderates and Republicans questioning the fairness of any widespread forgiveness. -White House Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to announce his long-delayed move to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loans for many Americans and extend a pause on payments to January, according to three people familiar with the plan.Biden has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-95094e1f367262f93eb49fa653bed4c9">pressure from liberals</a>&nbsp;to provide broader relief to hard-hit borrowers, and from moderates and Republicans questioning the fairness of any widespread forgiveness. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-student-loans-tony-cardenas-2838c08edb677cb468b512a7ec54952a">delay in Biden’s decision</a>&nbsp;has only heightened the anticipation for what his own aides acknowledge represents a political no-win situation. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Biden's intended announcement ahead of time.The precise details of Biden’s plan, which will include an income cap limiting the forgiveness to only those earning less than $125,000 a year, were being kept to an unusually small circle within the Biden administration and were still not finalized on the eve of the announcement.Down-to-the-wire decision-making has been a hallmark of the Biden White House, but the particular delay on student loans reflects the vexing challenge confronting him in fulfilling a key campaign promise.The plan would likely eliminate student debt entirely for millions of Americans and wipe away at least half for millions more.The nation’s federal student debt now tops $1.6 trillion after ballooning for years. More than 43 million Americans have federal student debt, with almost a third owing less than $10,000 and more than half owing less than $20,000, according to the latest federal data.The continuation of the pandemic-era payment freeze comes just days before millions of Americans were set to find out when their next student loan bills will be due. This is the closest the administration has come to hitting the end of the payment freeze extension, with the current pause set to end Aug. 31.Wednesday’s announcement was set for the White House after Biden returns from vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The administration had briefly considered higher education schools in the president’s home state for a larger reveal, but scaled back their plans.Biden was initially skeptical of student loan debt cancellation as he faced off against more progressive Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who had proposed cancellations of $50,000 or more, during the 2020 primaries.As he tried to shore up support among younger voters and prepare for a general election battle against then-President Donald Trump, Biden unveiled his initial proposal for debt cancellation of $10,000 per borrower, with no mention of an income cap.Biden narrowed his campaign promise in recent months by embracing the income limit as soaring inflation took a political toll and as he aimed to head off political attacks that the cancellation would benefit those with higher take-home pay. But Democrats, from members of congressional leadership to those facing tough re-election bids this November, have pushed the administration to go as broad as possible on debt relief, seeing it in part as a galvanizing issue, particularly for Black and young voters this fall.The frenzied last-minute lobbying continued Tuesday even as Biden remained on his summer vacation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the loudest advocates in recent years for canceling student loan debt, spoke privately on the phone with Biden, imploring the president to forgive as much debt as the administration can, according to a Democrat with knowledge of the call.In his pitch, Schumer argued to Biden that doing so was the right thing to do morally and economically, said the Democrat, who asked for anonymity to describe a private conversation.Inside the administration, officials have discussed since at least early summer forgiving more than $10,000 of student debt for certain categories of borrowers, such as Pell Grant recipients, according to three people with knowledge of the deliberations. That remained one of the final variables being considered by Biden heading into Wednesday’s announcement.Democrats are betting that Biden, who has seen his public approval rating tumble over the last year, can help motivate younger voters to the polls in November with the announcement.Although Biden’s plan is narrower than what he initially proposed during the campaign, “he’ll get a lot of credit for following through on something that he was committed to,” said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who worked with Biden during the 2020 election.She described student debt as a “gateway issue” for younger voters, meaning it affects their views and decisions on housing affordability and career choices. A survey of 18- to 29-year-olds conducted by the Harvard Institute of Politics in March found that 59% of those polled favored debt cancellation of some sort — whether for all borrowers or those most in need — although student loans did not rank high among issues that most concerned people in that age group.Some advocates were already bracing for disappointment.“If the rumors are true, we’ve got a problem,” Derrick Johnson, the president of the NAACP, which has aggressively lobbied Biden to take bolder action, said Tuesday. He emphasized that Black students face higher debut burdens than white students.“President Biden’s decision on student debt cannot become the latest example of a policy that has left Black people — especially Black women — behind,” he said. “This is not how you treat Black voters who turned out in record numbers and provided 90% of their vote to once again save democracy in 2020.”John Della Volpe, who worked as a consultant on Biden’s campaign and is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, said the particulars of Biden’s announcement were less important than the decision itself.“It’s about trust in politics, in government, in our system. It’s also about trust in the individual, which in this case is President Biden.”Combined with fears about expanding abortion restrictions and Trump’s reemergence on the political scene, Della Volpe said student debt forgiveness “adds an additional tailwind to an already improving position with young people.”Republicans, meanwhile, see only political upside if Biden pursues a large-scale cancellation of student debt ahead of the November midterms, anticipating backlash for Democrats — particularly in states where there are large numbers of working-class voters without college degrees. Critics of broad student debt forgiveness also believe it will open the White House to lawsuits, on the grounds that Congress has never given the president the explicit authority to cancel debt on his own.The Republican National Committee on Tuesday blasted Biden’s expected announcement as a “handout to the rich,” claiming it would unfairly burden lower-income taxpayers and those who have already paid off their student loans with covering the costs of higher education for the wealthy.“My neighbor, a detective, worked 3 jobs (including selling carpet) &amp; his wife worked to make sure their daughter got quality college degree w/no student debt,” Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, tweeted Tuesday. “Big sacrifice. Now their taxes must pay off someone else’s student debt?”Biden’s elongated deliberations have sent federal loan servicers, who have been instructed to hold back billing statements while he weighed a decision, grumbling.Industry groups had complained that the delayed decision left them with just days to notify borrowers, retrain customer service workers and update websites and digital payment systems, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance.It increases the risk that some borrowers will inadvertently be told they need to make payments, he said.“At this late stage I think that’s the risk we’re running,” he said. “You can’t just turn on a dime with 35 million borrowers who all have different loan types and statuses.”

After delay, Biden readies student loan help, payment pause

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Russia's war on Ukraine drags on, U.S. security assistance is shifting to a longer-term campaign that will likely keep more American military troops in Europe into the future, including imminent plans to announce an additional roughly $3 billion in aid to train and equip Ukrainian forces to fight for years to come, U.S. officials said.

U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the package is expected to be announced Wednesday, the day the war hits the six-month mark and Ukraine celebrates its independence day. The money will fund contracts for drones, weapons and other equipment that may not see the battlefront for a year or two, they said.

The total of the aid package — which is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative — could change overnight, but not likely by much. Several officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the aid before its public release.

Unlike most previous packages, the new funding is largely aimed at helping Ukraine secure its medium- to long-term defense posture, according to officials familiar with the matter. Earlier shipments, most of them done under Presidential Drawdown Authority, have focused on Ukraine’s more immediate needs for weapons and ammunition and involved materiel that the Pentagon already has in stock that can be shipped in short order.

In addition to providing longer-term assistance that Ukraine can use for potential future defense needs, the new package is intended to reassure Ukrainian officials that the United States intends to keep up its support, regardless of the day-to-day back and forth of the conflict, the officials said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted the more extended focus Tuesday as he reaffirmed the alliance’s support for the conflict-torn country.

“Winter is coming, and it will be hard, and what we see now is a grinding war of attrition. This is a battle of wills, and a battle of logistics. Therefore we must sustain our support for Ukraine for the long term, so that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation,” Stoltenberg said, speaking at a virtual conference about Crimea, organized by Ukraine.

Six months after Russia invaded, the war has slowed to a grind, as both sides trade combat strikes and small advances in the east and south. Both sides have seen thousands of troops killed and injured, as Russia’s bombardment of cities has killed countless innocent civilians.

There are fears that Russia will intensify attacks on civilian infrastructure and government facilities in Ukraine in the coming days because of the independence holiday and the six-month anniversary of the invasion.

Late Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and the State Department issued a new security alert for Ukraine that repeated a call for Americans in the country to leave due to the danger.

“Given Russia’s track record in Ukraine, we are concerned about the continued threat that Russian strikes pose to civilians and civilian infrastructure,” it said.

Other NATO allies are also marking the independence day with new aid announcements.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country is providing more than 500 million euros (nearly $500 million) in aid, including powerful anti-aircraft systems. The aid will also include rocket launchers, ammunition, anti-drone equipment, a dozen armored recovery vehicles and and three additional IRIS-T long-range air defense systems, the German news agency dpa reported.

The funding must still be approved by parliament, and some of it won’t be delivered until next year.

And Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $3.85 million for two Ukraine projects through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program. It includes about $2.9 million in funding for ongoing development of Ukraine's national police force and other emergency services, and about $950,000 to help advise Ukraine's defense ministry.

To date, the U.S. has provided about $10.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including 19 packages of weapons taken directly from Defense Department stocks since August 2021.

U.S. defense leaders are also eyeing plans that will expand training for Ukrainian troops outside their country, and for militaries on Europe’s eastern and southern flanks that feel most threatened by Russia’s aggression.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661277535073.png" alt="Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from his social media page on August 15-" />
 <figcaption>Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from his social media page on August 15-</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As Russia's war on Ukraine drags on, U.S. security assistance is shifting to a longer-term campaign that will likely keep more American military troops in Europe into the future, including imminent plans to announce an additional roughly $3 billion in aid to train and equip Ukrainian forces to fight for years to come, U.S. officials said.U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the package is expected to be announced Wednesday, the day the war hits the six-month mark and Ukraine celebrates its independence day. The money will fund contracts for drones, weapons and other equipment that may not see the battlefront for a year or two, they said.The total of the aid package — which is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative — could change overnight, but not likely by much. Several officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the aid before its public release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661295576018.png" alt="Members of the 305th Aerial Port Squadron load munition packages bound for Ukraine at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst-photo U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Members of the 305th Aerial Port Squadron load munition packages bound for Ukraine at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst-photo U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>Unlike most previous packages, the new funding is largely aimed at helping Ukraine secure its medium- to long-term defense posture, according to officials familiar with the matter. Earlier shipments, most of them done under Presidential Drawdown Authority, have focused on Ukraine’s more immediate needs for weapons and ammunition and involved materiel that the Pentagon already has in stock that can be shipped in short order.In addition to providing longer-term assistance that Ukraine can use for potential future defense needs, the new package is intended to reassure Ukrainian officials that the United States intends to keep up its support, regardless of the day-to-day back and forth of the conflict, the officials said.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted the more extended focus Tuesday as he reaffirmed the alliance’s support for the conflict-torn country.“Winter is coming, and it will be hard, and what we see now is a grinding war of attrition. This is a battle of wills, and a battle of logistics. Therefore we must sustain our support for Ukraine for the long term, so that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation,” Stoltenberg said, speaking at a virtual conference about Crimea, organized by Ukraine.Six months after Russia invaded, the war has slowed to a grind, as both sides trade combat strikes and small advances in the east and south. Both sides have seen thousands of troops killed and injured, as Russia’s bombardment of cities has killed countless innocent civilians.There are fears that Russia will intensify attacks on civilian infrastructure and government facilities in Ukraine in the coming days because of the independence holiday and the six-month anniversary of the invasion.Late Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and the State Department issued a new security alert for Ukraine that repeated a call for Americans in the country to leave due to the danger.“Given Russia’s track record in Ukraine, we are concerned about the continued threat that Russian strikes pose to civilians and civilian infrastructure,” it said.Other NATO allies are also marking the independence day with new aid announcements.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country is providing more than 500 million euros (nearly $500 million) in aid, including powerful anti-aircraft systems. The aid will also include rocket launchers, ammunition, anti-drone equipment, a dozen armored recovery vehicles and and three additional IRIS-T long-range air defense systems, the German news agency dpa reported.The funding must still be approved by parliament, and some of it won’t be delivered until next year.And Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $3.85 million for two Ukraine projects through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program. It includes about $2.9 million in funding for ongoing development of Ukraine's national police force and other emergency services, and about $950,000 to help advise Ukraine's defense ministry.To date, the U.S. has provided about $10.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including 19 packages of weapons taken directly from Defense Department stocks since August 2021.U.S. defense leaders are also eyeing plans that will expand training for Ukrainian troops outside their country, and for militaries on Europe’s eastern and southern flanks that feel most threatened by Russia’s aggression.______

US to spend another $3 billion to aid Ukraine in war with Russia

College students must spend money on tuition payments and school 
supplies as they prepare for the new year. However, scammers are taking 
this opportunity to try to steal some of that money through various 
schemes and scams.&nbsp;

One tactic that has been used to get students' personal information 
is a phishing email that claims to be from the school’s “Financial 
Department.” Messages via text or email may appear, instructing the 
student to click on a link provided in the email and log in with a 
student username and password. Don’t do it; doing so could give the user
 name, password, or other personal information to scammers, while 
possibly downloading malware onto the device.

Whether you are starting school away from home or have young students
 who may be vulnerable to such scams, BBB recommends watching out for 
these financial scams before heading into the new semester.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBCollege students must spend money on tuition payments and school 
supplies as they prepare for the new year. However, scammers are taking 
this opportunity to try to steal some of that money through various 
schemes and scams.&nbsp;One tactic that has been used to get students' personal information 
is a phishing email that claims to be from the school’s “Financial 
Department.” Messages via text or email may appear, instructing the 
student to click on a link provided in the email and log in with a 
student username and password. Don’t do it; doing so could give the user
 name, password, or other personal information to scammers, while 
possibly downloading malware onto the device.Whether you are starting school away from home or have young students
 who may be vulnerable to such scams, BBB recommends watching out for 
these financial scams before heading into the new semester.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Fake credit cards - Offers to apply for the first 
credit card are tempting to many students. Not only could this create 
credit problems down the road due to unchecked spending, but some of the
 deals could be phony offers designed to get access to personal 
information. Research the offers from the credit card flyers and the 
banking institutions before applying. Review the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16909-bbb-tip-credit-card-scams">BBB tip on credit card scams</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Too good to be true apartments -
 It’s hard not to jump on a convenient apartment so close to campus, 
especially if it advertises affordable rent. It’s tempting to hand over 
credit card information online to lock in a great spot, but it’s always 
worth seeing the apartment in person prior to a money transfer. This 
also applies to Craigslist and social media ads appearing to be from 
other students looking for roommates. Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/16908-scam-alert-rental-cons-cash-in-on-stressed-out-movers" target="_blank">rental scams</a>.</li><li>ID theft -&nbsp;
 It’s a good idea to start practicing healthy money habits, and one such
 habit is regularly checking your credit report for unusual activity and
 possible ID fraud. The official government website to do this for free 
is <a href="https://www.annualcreditreport.com/" target="_blank">annualcreditreport.com</a>. Read BBB's article on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/25955-bbb-tip-how-to-know-if-someone-stole-your-identity" target="_blank">How to know if someone stole your identity</a>.</li><li>Scholarship and grant scams - Be
 wary of phone calls from companies guaranteeing they can help reduce 
loan payments or offer a hefty grant. Searching the company’s name 
online could bring up scam alerts or negative reviews from other 
consumers. Read reviews and complaints about the company at <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> and contact the school’s financial aid office for advice and help regarding financing your education. Scholarship scams can affect college students even after graduation; <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16922-bbb-tip-scholarship-scams" target="_blank">read our tips on scholarship scams</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Online shopping scams - Online purchase scams can be especially effective when set up through social media platforms and apps. BBB has tips for <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">smart shopping online</a> and a page dedicated to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/online-shopping" target="_blank">online shopping tips and scam alerts</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Awareness of current scams - As tech-savvy as current college students can be, a surprising number of scams reported to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/akron">BBB’s ScamTracker</a> are from students who learned their lesson too late. Use <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/scamtips">BBB’s Scam Tips</a> to learn the latest scam trends and read local reports of specific incidents.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

BBB: 6 scams for college students to avoid

Petition drive backers point to lack of paid circulators as a reason

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/22/medical-marijuana-petitions-fail-to-qualify-for-november-ballot/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The next petition drive to legalize medical marijuana may 
include permitting recreational use, an official with Nebraskans for 
Medical Marijuana said Monday.

Crista Eggers, who coordinated the medical marijuana initiative that 
fell short Monday of qualifying for the November ballot, said there 
definitely will be discussions about seeking legalization of both 
medical and recreational cannabis.

While medical marijuana has always been her group’s focus, adding 
recreational marijuana for adult use would attract bigger donations, 
which are needed to succeed in getting a medical marijuana issue on the 
ballot, she said.

The lack of funds to hire paid, professional petition circulators was
 blamed, in part, for the failure of this year’s petition drive by 
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.

“There is nothing off the table about how we get this done,” said 
Eggers, whose son suffers from up to 100 epileptic seizures a day. “I’m a
 parent, and I will do whatever it takes, and go to the ends of the 
Earth, to help my child.”

She said she’s willing to endure the criticism of anti-marijuana 
groups, who have claimed that the push for medical marijuana is a 
forerunner for seeking all-out legalization.

On Monday, one of those groups, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, pointed out that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="ahttps://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/marijuana-hallucinogen-use-among-young-adults-reached-all-time-high-2021">a new National Institutes of Health report</a>&nbsp;concluded marijuana use had reached the highest levels ever, with daily use by young adults doubling in the past decade.

This was the second time in two years that an&nbsp;initiative to legalize 
medical marijuana has failed to qualify for Nebraska’s general election 
ballot.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office said Monday that two 
petitions submitted by&nbsp;Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana failed to 
collect the necessary, valid signatures of 86,776 voters and fell short 
of another requirement — gathering at least 5% of registered voters in 
38 of the state’s 93 counties for its two petitions.

Eggers said she was trying to find the words to inform her 7-year-old
 son, Colton, who suffers from multiple seizures, that the initiative 
had failed again.

“He asks me every single night, ‘Did we get enough signatures so I can get the medicine I need?’ ” Eggers said.

She said the pro-medical marijuana forces will&nbsp;launch a new petition drive as soon as possible.

“We’re going to regroup, we’re going to hurt and we’re going to cry 
and we’re going to be angry, but then we’re going to take the anger we 
feel today and turn it into action,” Eggers said.

The Secretary of State’s Office said both petitions submitted fell 
short. A petition to legalize marijuana collected 77,843 signatures and 
qualified in 26 counties. A companion petition to set up regulation of 
medical marijuana turned in 77,119 valid signatures and qualified in 27 
counties.

Unlike two other initiative petition drives this year, which turned 
in more than 160,000 signatures each and used paid, professional 
petition circulators, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana utilized 
primarily volunteers.

The marijuana group’s last campaign spending report listed about 
$146,000 in expenditures, compared with spending of $1.77 million by 
Citizens for Voter ID and $1.49 million for Raise the Wage Nebraska.

A leading anti-marijuana group said Nebraskans “were not duped by the
 marijuana industry’s trojan horse attempt to commercialize drug use 
under the guise of ‘medicine,’ ” said a statement from Smart Approaches 
to Marijuana.

“Today’s high potency, bioengineered marijuana and THC products such 
as edibles, vapes, and concentrates serve one purpose: to hook a 
generation of addicts to a commercialized drug for profit,” the 
statement added.

As of February, 37 states, three territories and the District of 
Columbia have legalized the use of cannabis as medicine, according to 
the National Conference of State Legislatures. That includes the 
neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Missouri. Iowa and 
Wyoming have legalized low-dose cannabis and CBD medical products.

Marijuana for recreational use is allowed in 19 states, two territories and the District of Columbia.

The petition drive failure was a bitter defeat for the medical 
marijuana group, which had gathered more than enough signatures two 
years ago to qualify a single initiative for voters. But it was knocked 
off the ballot by the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled that the 
ballot language violated the state’s “single subject” rule.

Eggers said that now about a half million Nebraskans have signed petitions to allow a vote on medical marijuana.

“I hope the elected officials are paying attention,” she said. “They have the power to do something.”

Eggers said she hopes that the Legislature will hold a special session this fall to pass a medical marijuana law.

That would seem to be a long shot. State lawmakers have failed to 
advance any proposals to legalize medical cannabis, and Gov. Pete 
Ricketts — who leaves office in January due to term limits — is a 
staunch opponent of legalization.

Eggers said that despite falling short in 2022, she was very proud of
 the effort, which resulted in more than 90,000 signatures collected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661188352281.png" alt="Crista Eggers, left, the campaign coordinator for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, accepts more petitions from a volunteer, Samantha Chavez of Omaha, last month as the deadline loomed to submit petitiions. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) " />
 <figcaption>Crista Eggers, left, the campaign coordinator for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, accepts more petitions from a volunteer, Samantha Chavez of Omaha, last month as the deadline loomed to submit petitiions. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Petition drive backers point to lack of paid circulators as a reason</h2>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/22/medical-marijuana-petitions-fail-to-qualify-for-november-ballot/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The next petition drive to legalize medical marijuana may 
include permitting recreational use, an official with Nebraskans for 
Medical Marijuana said Monday.Crista Eggers, who coordinated the medical marijuana initiative that 
fell short Monday of qualifying for the November ballot, said there 
definitely will be discussions about seeking legalization of both 
medical and recreational cannabis.While medical marijuana has always been her group’s focus, adding 
recreational marijuana for adult use would attract bigger donations, 
which are needed to succeed in getting a medical marijuana issue on the 
ballot, she said.The lack of funds to hire paid, professional petition circulators was
 blamed, in part, for the failure of this year’s petition drive by 
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.“There is nothing off the table about how we get this done,” said 
Eggers, whose son suffers from up to 100 epileptic seizures a day. “I’m a
 parent, and I will do whatever it takes, and go to the ends of the 
Earth, to help my child.”She said she’s willing to endure the criticism of anti-marijuana 
groups, who have claimed that the push for medical marijuana is a 
forerunner for seeking all-out legalization.<h2>Trying to find the words</h2>On Monday, one of those groups, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, pointed out that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="ahttps://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/marijuana-hallucinogen-use-among-young-adults-reached-all-time-high-2021">a new National Institutes of Health report</a>&nbsp;concluded marijuana use had reached the highest levels ever, with daily use by young adults doubling in the past decade.This was the second time in two years that an&nbsp;initiative to legalize 
medical marijuana has failed to qualify for Nebraska’s general election 
ballot.The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office said Monday that two 
petitions submitted by&nbsp;Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana failed to 
collect the necessary, valid signatures of 86,776 voters and fell short 
of another requirement — gathering at least 5% of registered voters in 
38 of the state’s 93 counties for its two petitions.Eggers said she was trying to find the words to inform her 7-year-old
 son, Colton, who suffers from multiple seizures, that the initiative 
had failed again.“He asks me every single night, ‘Did we get enough signatures so I can get the medicine I need?’ ” Eggers said.She said the pro-medical marijuana forces will&nbsp;launch a new petition drive as soon as possible.“We’re going to regroup, we’re going to hurt and we’re going to cry 
and we’re going to be angry, but then we’re going to take the anger we 
feel today and turn it into action,” Eggers said.“There’s no giving up,” she added<h2>Both petitions fell &nbsp;short</h2>The Secretary of State’s Office said both petitions submitted fell 
short. A petition to legalize marijuana collected 77,843 signatures and 
qualified in 26 counties. A companion petition to set up regulation of 
medical marijuana turned in 77,119 valid signatures and qualified in 27 
counties.Unlike two other initiative petition drives this year, which turned 
in more than 160,000 signatures each and used paid, professional 
petition circulators, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana utilized 
primarily volunteers.The marijuana group’s last campaign spending report listed about 
$146,000 in expenditures, compared with spending of $1.77 million by 
Citizens for Voter ID and $1.49 million for Raise the Wage Nebraska.A leading anti-marijuana group said Nebraskans “were not duped by the
 marijuana industry’s trojan horse attempt to commercialize drug use 
under the guise of ‘medicine,’ ” said a statement from Smart Approaches 
to Marijuana.“Today’s high potency, bioengineered marijuana and THC products such 
as edibles, vapes, and concentrates serve one purpose: to hook a 
generation of addicts to a commercialized drug for profit,” the 
statement added.As of February, 37 states, three territories and the District of 
Columbia have legalized the use of cannabis as medicine, according to 
the National Conference of State Legislatures. That includes the 
neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Missouri. Iowa and 
Wyoming have legalized low-dose cannabis and CBD medical products.Marijuana for recreational use is allowed in 19 states, two territories and the District of Columbia.<h2>Plenty of signatures in 2020</h2>The petition drive failure was a bitter defeat for the medical 
marijuana group, which had gathered more than enough signatures two 
years ago to qualify a single initiative for voters. But it was knocked 
off the ballot by the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled that the 
ballot language violated the state’s “single subject” rule.Eggers said that now about a half million Nebraskans have signed petitions to allow a vote on medical marijuana.“I hope the elected officials are paying attention,” she said. “They have the power to do something.”Eggers said she hopes that the Legislature will hold a special session this fall to pass a medical marijuana law.That would seem to be a long shot. State lawmakers have failed to 
advance any proposals to legalize medical cannabis, and Gov. Pete 
Ricketts — who leaves office in January due to term limits — is a 
staunch opponent of legalization.Eggers said that despite falling short in 2022, she was very proud of
 the effort, which resulted in more than 90,000 signatures collected.

After medical pot drive fails, Neb. group might push for recreational use

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of people in the United States will be spared from big increases in health care costs next year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">after President Joe Biden signed legislation</a>&nbsp;extending generous subsidies for those who buy plans through federal and state marketplaces.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-seniors-medicare-9c2b70dc2f2d7291acc4292799ff342c">sweeping climate, tax and health care bill</a>&nbsp;sets aside $70 billion over the next three years to keep out-of-pocket premium costs low for roughly 13 million people, just before the reduced prices were set to expire in a year beset by record-high inflation.

As the calendar pushed closer to the Nov. 1 open enrollment date, Sara Cariano was growing nervous about her work helping people across Virginia sign up for subsidized, private health insurance on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;website.

“I expected very difficult conversation with folks to explain why their premiums were spiking,” said Cariano, a policy specialist at the Virginia Poverty Law Center.

But the passage of the “Inflation Reduction Act” erased those worries.

“Things aren’t going to change for the worst for individuals who are purchasing coverage through the market,” she said.

The bill will extend subsidies temporarily offered last year when Congress and Biden signed off on a $1.9 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-congress-dd18bbe9bfb69f7ef3e9393dc19ca023">coronavirus relief bill</a>&nbsp;that significantly lowered premiums and out-of-pocket costs for customers purchasing plans through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/">Affordable Care Act’s marketplace</a>. It also continues reduced costs for more individuals and families who live well above the poverty line.

Only Democrats supported the extended health care subsidies and the other proposals in the bill that Biden signed on Tuesday. Republicans criticized the measure as big government overreach that will only worsen inflation. In reality, economists say,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">the bill will do little to either fan or extinguish the flames of exorbitant prices</a>.

Health insurance premiums in the marketplace are expected to rise significantly next year — roughly 10 percent — according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/an-early-look-at-what-is-driving-health-costs-in-2023-aca-markets/">analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>. The extended subsidies, which determine premium payments based on income, will guard most people from those price increases, said Cynthia Cox, a vice president at the foundation.

“Generally speaking, people should not see increases in their premiums,” Cox said.

Those who bought plans on the government marketplace saved on average about $700 in premium payments from the subsidies this year, according to estimates by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

As costs dropped, more people signed up for the coverage over the last year and the number of those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-us-department-of-and-human-services-government-politics-24684188cb67c576ed00d01b2f53c09c">without health insurance dropped to an all-time low of 8% in August,</a>&nbsp;the Department of Health and Human Services announced. Roughly 26 million people, 2 percent of them children, remain uninsured in the U.S.

In California, many of the 1.7 million people who purchase health insurance through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coveredca.com/">Covered California</a>, the state-operated insurance marketplace will continue to see savings ranging from $29 and $324 per month, depending on their income level.

State officials predict about 220,000 people will be saved from being priced out of coverage. Between 2 million and 3 million people in California might also turn to the state marketplace if they lose coverage through Medicaid when the federal government’s COVID-19 public health emergency expires. About 15 million people in the U.S. have been extended Medicaid coverage during the pandemic.

Cost is the biggest factor driving whether a person signs up for coverage or not, said Joseph Poindexter, the senior director of health insurance programs at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcareaccessmaryland.org/">HealthCare Access Maryland</a>.

Some parents, for example, sign their children up for Medicaid but skip buying coverage for themselves, he said.

“It’s really sad to see folks who will say, I’ll forgo treatment, or won’t go visit the doctor,” Poindexter said.

Fewer people have had to make that calculation with the subsidies, Poindexter said, attributing the lowered prices to a 9% increase in new enrollees in the state last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660769479347.png" alt="The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-seniors-medicare-9c2b70dc2f2d7291acc4292799ff342c">sweeping climate, tax and health care bill</a>&nbsp;sets aside $70 billion over the next three years to keep out-of-pocket premium costs low for roughly 13 million people-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-seniors-medicare-9c2b70dc2f2d7291acc4292799ff342c">sweeping climate, tax and health care bill</a>&nbsp;sets aside $70 billion over the next three years to keep out-of-pocket premium costs low for roughly 13 million people-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of people in the United States will be spared from big increases in health care costs next year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">after President Joe Biden signed legislation</a>&nbsp;extending generous subsidies for those who buy plans through federal and state marketplaces.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-seniors-medicare-9c2b70dc2f2d7291acc4292799ff342c">sweeping climate, tax and health care bill</a>&nbsp;sets aside $70 billion over the next three years to keep out-of-pocket premium costs low for roughly 13 million people, just before the reduced prices were set to expire in a year beset by record-high inflation.As the calendar pushed closer to the Nov. 1 open enrollment date, Sara Cariano was growing nervous about her work helping people across Virginia sign up for subsidized, private health insurance on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;website.“I expected very difficult conversation with folks to explain why their premiums were spiking,” said Cariano, a policy specialist at the Virginia Poverty Law Center.But the passage of the “Inflation Reduction Act” erased those worries.“Things aren’t going to change for the worst for individuals who are purchasing coverage through the market,” she said.The bill will extend subsidies temporarily offered last year when Congress and Biden signed off on a $1.9 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-congress-dd18bbe9bfb69f7ef3e9393dc19ca023">coronavirus relief bill</a>&nbsp;that significantly lowered premiums and out-of-pocket costs for customers purchasing plans through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/">Affordable Care Act’s marketplace</a>. It also continues reduced costs for more individuals and families who live well above the poverty line.Only Democrats supported the extended health care subsidies and the other proposals in the bill that Biden signed on Tuesday. Republicans criticized the measure as big government overreach that will only worsen inflation. In reality, economists say,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">the bill will do little to either fan or extinguish the flames of exorbitant prices</a>.Health insurance premiums in the marketplace are expected to rise significantly next year — roughly 10 percent — according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/an-early-look-at-what-is-driving-health-costs-in-2023-aca-markets/">analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>. The extended subsidies, which determine premium payments based on income, will guard most people from those price increases, said Cynthia Cox, a vice president at the foundation.“Generally speaking, people should not see increases in their premiums,” Cox said.Those who bought plans on the government marketplace saved on average about $700 in premium payments from the subsidies this year, according to estimates by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.As costs dropped, more people signed up for the coverage over the last year and the number of those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-us-department-of-and-human-services-government-politics-24684188cb67c576ed00d01b2f53c09c">without health insurance dropped to an all-time low of 8% in August,</a>&nbsp;the Department of Health and Human Services announced. Roughly 26 million people, 2 percent of them children, remain uninsured in the U.S.In California, many of the 1.7 million people who purchase health insurance through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coveredca.com/">Covered California</a>, the state-operated insurance marketplace will continue to see savings ranging from $29 and $324 per month, depending on their income level.State officials predict about 220,000 people will be saved from being priced out of coverage. Between 2 million and 3 million people in California might also turn to the state marketplace if they lose coverage through Medicaid when the federal government’s COVID-19 public health emergency expires. About 15 million people in the U.S. have been extended Medicaid coverage during the pandemic.Cost is the biggest factor driving whether a person signs up for coverage or not, said Joseph Poindexter, the senior director of health insurance programs at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcareaccessmaryland.org/">HealthCare Access Maryland</a>.Some parents, for example, sign their children up for Medicaid but skip buying coverage for themselves, he said.“It’s really sad to see folks who will say, I’ll forgo treatment, or won’t go visit the doctor,” Poindexter said.Fewer people have had to make that calculation with the subsidies, Poindexter said, attributing the lowered prices to a 9% increase in new enrollees in the state last year.

Biden bill to help millions escape higher health care costs

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett's company has received clearance to boost its 20% stake in Occidental Petroleum to as much as 50%, but it's not immediately clear how many more shares Berkshire Hathaway plans to buy or whether it will consider buying the entire company.

Shares of the of the oil producer soared nearly 12% Friday after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revealed that it had approved Berkshire's request to buy up to 50% of the Houston company.

Shares slid 3% to around $69 amid a broader sell-off Monday and as speculation cooled over the potential for Berkshire to buy the entire company.

Berkshire doesn't typically comment on its stock investments beyond what it is required to disclose, and Buffett didn't respond to questions about Occidental on Monday. But Buffett told shareholders at the company's annual meeting in April that he started buying Occidental shares in late February because what the CEO was telling investors then “made nothing but sense” to him.

Berkshire's Occidental purchases and a $20 billion investment in Chevron shares early this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-omaha-warren-buffett-cd510be1f39489aa447c28abf6b3e76b">allowed Buffett</a>&nbsp;to capitalize on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-russia-ukraine-health-saudi-arabia-aa4ce431a7105ff94adb1f1a240657f0">surge in oil prices</a>&nbsp;after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said he thinks it’s likely that Berkshire will keep buying Occidental shares when the price drops below $60 again. The shares are up 13% in just the past 30 days, and up 130% this year. But he doesn’t think it’s likely that Berkshire will try to acquire the whole company unless Occidental shares fall significantly.

CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said she also expects Berkshire to keep buying, but she noted that Berkshire has committed to use $11.6 billion of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earnings-warren-buffett-03d1c9296e24b5e7117ae7e1dc37aa8a">roughly $105 billion in cash</a>&nbsp;later this year to purchase the Alleghany insurance conglomerate.

In addition to Berkshire's massive stake in Occidental's common shares, it also holds $10 billion worth of preferred stock and warrants to buy another 83.9 million Occidental shares at $59.62 apiece. It picked up both of those in 2019 when it helped finance Occidental's purchase of Anadarko.

Besides investments, the Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire owns more than 90 companies outright including Geico insurance, several major utilities, BNSF railroad and an assortment of manufacturing and retail companies including See's Candy, Dairy Queen and Precision Castparts.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett's company has received clearance to boost its 20% stake in Occidental Petroleum to as much as 50%, but it's not immediately clear how many more shares Berkshire Hathaway plans to buy or whether it will consider buying the entire company.Shares of the of the oil producer soared nearly 12% Friday after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revealed that it had approved Berkshire's request to buy up to 50% of the Houston company.Shares slid 3% to around $69 amid a broader sell-off Monday and as speculation cooled over the potential for Berkshire to buy the entire company.Berkshire doesn't typically comment on its stock investments beyond what it is required to disclose, and Buffett didn't respond to questions about Occidental on Monday. But Buffett told shareholders at the company's annual meeting in April that he started buying Occidental shares in late February because what the CEO was telling investors then “made nothing but sense” to him.Berkshire's Occidental purchases and a $20 billion investment in Chevron shares early this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-omaha-warren-buffett-cd510be1f39489aa447c28abf6b3e76b">allowed Buffett</a>&nbsp;to capitalize on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-russia-ukraine-health-saudi-arabia-aa4ce431a7105ff94adb1f1a240657f0">surge in oil prices</a>&nbsp;after Russia invaded Ukraine.Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said he thinks it’s likely that Berkshire will keep buying Occidental shares when the price drops below $60 again. The shares are up 13% in just the past 30 days, and up 130% this year. But he doesn’t think it’s likely that Berkshire will try to acquire the whole company unless Occidental shares fall significantly.CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said she also expects Berkshire to keep buying, but she noted that Berkshire has committed to use $11.6 billion of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earnings-warren-buffett-03d1c9296e24b5e7117ae7e1dc37aa8a">roughly $105 billion in cash</a>&nbsp;later this year to purchase the Alleghany insurance conglomerate.In addition to Berkshire's massive stake in Occidental's common shares, it also holds $10 billion worth of preferred stock and warrants to buy another 83.9 million Occidental shares at $59.62 apiece. It picked up both of those in 2019 when it helped finance Occidental's purchase of Anadarko.Besides investments, the Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire owns more than 90 companies outright including Geico insurance, several major utilities, BNSF railroad and an assortment of manufacturing and retail companies including See's Candy, Dairy Queen and Precision Castparts.

Buffett's company likely to add to its stake in Occidental

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former head of security at Twitter has filed whistleblower complaints with U.S. officials, alleging that the company misled regulators about its cybersecurity defenses and its problems with fake accounts, according to reports by The Washington Post and CNN.

Peiter Zatko, Twitter's security chief until he was fired early this year, filed the complaints last month with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice.

The Post, which obtained the complaint, reported that among the most serious accusations is that Twitter violated the terms of an FTC settlement by falsely claiming that it had a strong security plan.

Zatko also accuses the company of deceptions involving its handling of “spam" or fake accounts, an allegation that is at the core of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-4193a27d86458952542dfa2176150a01">attempted withdrawal of a $44 billion takeover bid</a>&nbsp;for Twitter by billionaire Elon Musk.

Zatko didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday but told the Post he “felt ethically bound” to come forward.

Zatko, better known as Mudge, is a highly respected cybersecurity expert who first gained prominence in the 1990s and later worked in senior positions at the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Agency and Google. He joined Twitter at the urging of then-CEO Jack Dorsey in late 2020, the same year the company suffered an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-elections-politics-election-2020-dca638cac0a5ab2ff6f7be1a7a059ab4">embarrassing security breach</a>&nbsp;involving hackers who broke into the Twitter accounts of world leaders, celebrities and tech moguls, including Musk, in an attempt to scam their followers out of Bitcoin.

Twitter said in a prepared statement Tuesday that Zatko was fired for “ineffective leadership and poor performance” and that the “allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders.”

“What we’ve seen so far is a false narrative about Twitter and our privacy and data security practices that is riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies and lacks important context,” the company said.

The legal nonprofit Whistleblower Aid, which is representing Zatko, confirmed the authenticity of the document Tuesday, but said it is legally precluded from sharing it. The same group worked with former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, who testified to Congress last year after leaking internal documents and accusing the social media giant of choosing profit over safety.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Senate's intelligence committee, Rachel Cohen, said the committee has received Zatko's complaint and "is in the process of setting up a meeting to discuss the allegations in further detail. We take this matter seriously.”

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said in a prepared statement that if the claims are accurate, “they may show dangerous data privacy and security risks for Twitter users around the world.”

Among the most alarming complaints is Zatko’s allegation that Twitter knowingly allowed the Indian government to place its agents on the company payroll where they had “direct unsupervised access to the company’s systems and user data.”

A 2011 FTC complaint noted that Twitter’s systems were full of highly sensitive data that could allow a hostile government to find precise geo-location data for a specific user or group and target them for violence or arrest. Earlier this month, a former Twitter employee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-middle-east-saudi-arabia-money-laundering-dc9612bf2f80af6be192606bd1af7d71">was found guilty after a trial in California</a>&nbsp;of passing along sensitive Twitter user data to royal family members in Saudi Arabia in exchange for bribes.

The complaint said Twitter was also heavily reliant on funding by Chinese entities and that there were concerns within Twitter that the company was providing information to those entities that would enable them to learn the identify and sensitive information of Chinese users who secretly use Twitter, which is officially banned in China.

Zatko also describes “deliberate ignorance” by Twitter executives on counting the millions of accounts that are automated “spam bots" or otherwise have no value to advertisers because there is no person behind them.

Alex Spiro, an attorney representing Musk in his effort to back out of the deal to buy Twitter, said lawyers have issued a subpoena for Zatko. “We found his exit and that of other key employees curious in light of what we have been finding,” Spiro wrote in an email Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565281787584.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON (AP) — A former head of security at Twitter has filed whistleblower complaints with U.S. officials, alleging that the company misled regulators about its cybersecurity defenses and its problems with fake accounts, according to reports by The Washington Post and CNN.Peiter Zatko, Twitter's security chief until he was fired early this year, filed the complaints last month with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice.The Post, which obtained the complaint, reported that among the most serious accusations is that Twitter violated the terms of an FTC settlement by falsely claiming that it had a strong security plan.Zatko also accuses the company of deceptions involving its handling of “spam" or fake accounts, an allegation that is at the core of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-4193a27d86458952542dfa2176150a01">attempted withdrawal of a $44 billion takeover bid</a>&nbsp;for Twitter by billionaire Elon Musk.Shares of Twitter Inc. slid 4% Tuesday.Zatko didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday but told the Post he “felt ethically bound” to come forward.Zatko, better known as Mudge, is a highly respected cybersecurity expert who first gained prominence in the 1990s and later worked in senior positions at the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Agency and Google. He joined Twitter at the urging of then-CEO Jack Dorsey in late 2020, the same year the company suffered an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-elections-politics-election-2020-dca638cac0a5ab2ff6f7be1a7a059ab4">embarrassing security breach</a>&nbsp;involving hackers who broke into the Twitter accounts of world leaders, celebrities and tech moguls, including Musk, in an attempt to scam their followers out of Bitcoin.Twitter said in a prepared statement Tuesday that Zatko was fired for “ineffective leadership and poor performance” and that the “allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders.”“What we’ve seen so far is a false narrative about Twitter and our privacy and data security practices that is riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies and lacks important context,” the company said.The legal nonprofit Whistleblower Aid, which is representing Zatko, confirmed the authenticity of the document Tuesday, but said it is legally precluded from sharing it. The same group worked with former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, who testified to Congress last year after leaking internal documents and accusing the social media giant of choosing profit over safety.A spokesperson for the U.S. Senate's intelligence committee, Rachel Cohen, said the committee has received Zatko's complaint and "is in the process of setting up a meeting to discuss the allegations in further detail. We take this matter seriously.”Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said in a prepared statement that if the claims are accurate, “they may show dangerous data privacy and security risks for Twitter users around the world.”Among the most alarming complaints is Zatko’s allegation that Twitter knowingly allowed the Indian government to place its agents on the company payroll where they had “direct unsupervised access to the company’s systems and user data.”A 2011 FTC complaint noted that Twitter’s systems were full of highly sensitive data that could allow a hostile government to find precise geo-location data for a specific user or group and target them for violence or arrest. Earlier this month, a former Twitter employee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-middle-east-saudi-arabia-money-laundering-dc9612bf2f80af6be192606bd1af7d71">was found guilty after a trial in California</a>&nbsp;of passing along sensitive Twitter user data to royal family members in Saudi Arabia in exchange for bribes.The complaint said Twitter was also heavily reliant on funding by Chinese entities and that there were concerns within Twitter that the company was providing information to those entities that would enable them to learn the identify and sensitive information of Chinese users who secretly use Twitter, which is officially banned in China.Zatko also describes “deliberate ignorance” by Twitter executives on counting the millions of accounts that are automated “spam bots" or otherwise have no value to advertisers because there is no person behind them.Alex Spiro, an attorney representing Musk in his effort to back out of the deal to buy Twitter, said lawyers have issued a subpoena for Zatko. “We found his exit and that of other key employees curious in light of what we have been finding,” Spiro wrote in an email Tuesday.

Former Twitter security chief files whistleblower complaints

WASHINGTON (AP) —Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its combination COVID-19 vaccine that adds protection against the newest omicron relatives — a key step toward opening a fall booster campaign.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-3742cacfc9c102e9748cd8ff17036db6">The Food and Drug Administration ordered vaccine makers to tweak their shots</a>&nbsp;to target BA.4 and BA.5 that are better than ever at dodging immunity from earlier vaccination or infection.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech aim to offer updated boosters to people 12 and older, and shots could begin within weeks if the FDA quickly clears the modified vaccine — a step not expected to require waiting on new studies.

Moderna is expected to file a similar application soon for updated boosters for adults. The U.S. has a contract to buy 105 million of the Pfizer doses and 66 million Moderna ones, assuming FDA gives the green light.

“It’s going to be really important that people this fall and winter get the new shots. It’s designed for the virus that’s out there,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said last week.

For now at least. BA.5 currently is causing nearly all COVID-19 infections in the U.S. and much of the world. There’s no way to know if it still will be a threat this winter -- or if another mutant will have replaced it.

The vaccines currently used in the U.S. still offer strong protection against severe disease and death, especially if people have gotten their recommended boosters. But those vaccines target the coronavirus strain that spread in early 2020 and their effectiveness against infection has dropped markedly as new mutants came along, particularly the super-contagious omicron family.

How would combo shots work? Sort of like a second-generation vaccine. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain the genetic instructions for the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, to train the immune system to recognize the real virus. The new combo doses will contain instructions for both the original spike target and the spike mutations carried by BA.4 and BA.5.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-bbda6ba6107b3c839e42925136007fed">The news comes after Britain a week ago</a>&nbsp;became the first in the world to authorize a different update to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines -- shots that add protection against the original omicron that struck last winter.

European regulators also are considering the original omicron versions by Moderna and Pfizer. The U.S. opted not to use that earlier tweak -- setting up a fall where different countries will be using different versions of booster shots to rev up protection against another possible winter surge.

In the U.S., the FDA will be relying heavily on scientific testing of prior tweaks to the vaccine recipe — rather than a study of the newest boosters that could take months — to decide whether to fast-track updated shots for fall.

Pfizer previously announced results from a study that found its earlier omicron tweak significantly revved up antibodies capable of fighting the first omicron version, called BA.1, and to a lesser degree the genetically distinct BA.4 and BA.5 omicron relatives. Its application to the FDA contains that data plus animal testing of the newest recipe update.

It’s similar to how flu vaccines are updated every year without having to undergo large studies.

Pfizer and BioNTech expect to start a trial using the BA.4 and BA.5 boosters in the coming weeks, to shed additional light on how well tweaked shots work. Moderna has begun a similar study although full results wouldn’t be available before a fall booster campaign.

“It’s clear that none of these vaccines are going to completely prevent infection,” said Dr. Rachel Presti of Washington University in St. Louis, a researcher with the Moderna trial.

But prior studies of variant booster candidates show “you still get a broader immune response giving a variant booster than giving the same booster” again, which should be helpful even if a newer omicron relative emerges, she added.

Pfizer and Moderna don’t make the only U.S. vaccine options. Novavax makes a more traditional, protein-based shot — and U.S. health authorities just expanded its use for people as young as 12. Novavax also plans to offer a variant update later in the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658710648506.png" alt="“It’s going to be really important that people this fall and winter get the new shots. It’s designed for the virus that’s out there,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said last week.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>“It’s going to be really important that people this fall and winter get the new shots. It’s designed for the virus that’s out there,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said last week.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURAN NEERGAARDWASHINGTON (AP) —Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its combination COVID-19 vaccine that adds protection against the newest omicron relatives — a key step toward opening a fall booster campaign.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-3742cacfc9c102e9748cd8ff17036db6">The Food and Drug Administration ordered vaccine makers to tweak their shots</a>&nbsp;to target BA.4 and BA.5 that are better than ever at dodging immunity from earlier vaccination or infection.Pfizer and its partner BioNTech aim to offer updated boosters to people 12 and older, and shots could begin within weeks if the FDA quickly clears the modified vaccine — a step not expected to require waiting on new studies.Moderna is expected to file a similar application soon for updated boosters for adults. The U.S. has a contract to buy 105 million of the Pfizer doses and 66 million Moderna ones, assuming FDA gives the green light.“It’s going to be really important that people this fall and winter get the new shots. It’s designed for the virus that’s out there,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said last week.For now at least. BA.5 currently is causing nearly all COVID-19 infections in the U.S. and much of the world. There’s no way to know if it still will be a threat this winter -- or if another mutant will have replaced it.The vaccines currently used in the U.S. still offer strong protection against severe disease and death, especially if people have gotten their recommended boosters. But those vaccines target the coronavirus strain that spread in early 2020 and their effectiveness against infection has dropped markedly as new mutants came along, particularly the super-contagious omicron family.How would combo shots work? Sort of like a second-generation vaccine. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain the genetic instructions for the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, to train the immune system to recognize the real virus. The new combo doses will contain instructions for both the original spike target and the spike mutations carried by BA.4 and BA.5.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-bbda6ba6107b3c839e42925136007fed">The news comes after Britain a week ago</a>&nbsp;became the first in the world to authorize a different update to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines -- shots that add protection against the original omicron that struck last winter.European regulators also are considering the original omicron versions by Moderna and Pfizer. The U.S. opted not to use that earlier tweak -- setting up a fall where different countries will be using different versions of booster shots to rev up protection against another possible winter surge.In the U.S., the FDA will be relying heavily on scientific testing of prior tweaks to the vaccine recipe — rather than a study of the newest boosters that could take months — to decide whether to fast-track updated shots for fall.Pfizer previously announced results from a study that found its earlier omicron tweak significantly revved up antibodies capable of fighting the first omicron version, called BA.1, and to a lesser degree the genetically distinct BA.4 and BA.5 omicron relatives. Its application to the FDA contains that data plus animal testing of the newest recipe update.It’s similar to how flu vaccines are updated every year without having to undergo large studies.Pfizer and BioNTech expect to start a trial using the BA.4 and BA.5 boosters in the coming weeks, to shed additional light on how well tweaked shots work. Moderna has begun a similar study although full results wouldn’t be available before a fall booster campaign.“It’s clear that none of these vaccines are going to completely prevent infection,” said Dr. Rachel Presti of Washington University in St. Louis, a researcher with the Moderna trial.But prior studies of variant booster candidates show “you still get a broader immune response giving a variant booster than giving the same booster” again, which should be helpful even if a newer omicron relative emerges, she added.Pfizer and Moderna don’t make the only U.S. vaccine options. Novavax makes a more traditional, protein-based shot — and U.S. health authorities just expanded its use for people as young as 12. Novavax also plans to offer a variant update later in the year.