Flatwater Landing Wildlife Management Area, which sits along the Platte River in Platte County, is closed temporarily to vehicle access. Extremely low water prevents access to the boat ramp by watercraft.

ATVs and UTVs also are not allowed on the WMA at this time.&nbsp;

Water levels will be monitored, and the WMA will be reopened for vehicle access when water returns to a level that will accommodate access to the river by watercraft.

Find other boat ramps by visiting the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MjAuNjEwNTYyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lk91dGRvb3JOZWJyYXNrYS5vcmcifQ.ba2zZAXEkmLQIFtqFPE3qjVh555HutrWOrDNSqxxMaE/s/497221906/br/141340922948-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org</a>&nbsp;and searching the Public Boating Areas map. Scouting ahead is recommended due to low water levels across the state.

By Nebraska Game and ParksFlatwater Landing Wildlife Management Area, which sits along the Platte River in Platte County, is closed temporarily to vehicle access. Extremely low water prevents access to the boat ramp by watercraft.ATVs and UTVs also are not allowed on the WMA at this time.&nbsp;Water levels will be monitored, and the WMA will be reopened for vehicle access when water returns to a level that will accommodate access to the river by watercraft.Find other boat ramps by visiting the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MjAuNjEwNTYyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lk91dGRvb3JOZWJyYXNrYS5vcmcifQ.ba2zZAXEkmLQIFtqFPE3qjVh555HutrWOrDNSqxxMaE/s/497221906/br/141340922948-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org</a>&nbsp;and searching the Public Boating Areas map. Scouting ahead is recommended due to low water levels across the state.

Flatwater Landing WMA closed temporarily due to low water

WASHINGTON (AP) — The monarch butterfly fluttered a step closer to extinction Thursday, as scientists put the iconic orange-and-black insect on the endangered list because of its fast dwindling numbers.

“It’s just a devastating decline,” said Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University who was not involved in the new listing. “This is one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world.”

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as "endangered" — two steps from extinct.

The group estimates that the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined between 22% and 72% over 10 years, depending on the measurement method.

“What we’re worried about is the rate of decline,” said Nick Haddad, a conservation biologist at Michigan State University. “It’s very easy to imagine how very quickly this butterfly could become even more imperiled.”

Haddad, who was not directly involved in the listing, estimates that the population of monarch butterflies he studies in the eastern United States has declined between 85% and 95% since the 1990s.

In North America, millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration of any insect species known to science.

After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies migrate to the north, breeding multiple generations along the way for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada then begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of summer.

“It’s a true spectacle and incites such awe,” said Anna Walker, a conservation biologist at New Mexico BioPark Society, who was involved in determining the new listing.

A smaller group spends winters in coastal California, then disperses in spring and summer across several states west of the Rocky Mountains. This population has seen an even more precipitous decline than the eastern monarchs, although there was a small&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-california-butterflies-habitat-destruction-ffc90bc85fe95c60acc368e00966d025">bounce back</a>&nbsp;last winter.

Emma Pelton of the nonprofit Xerces Society, which monitors the western butterflies, said the butterflies are imperiled by loss of habitat and increased use of herbicides and pesticides for agriculture, as well as climate change.

“There are things people can do to help,” she said, including planting milkweed, a plant that the caterpillars depend upon.

Nonmigratory monarch butterflies in Central and South America were not designated as endangered.

The United States has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-plants-climate-gardening-environment-0a099826cf61752156d4faee10c28132">not listed</a>&nbsp;monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, but several environmental groups believe it should be listed.

The international union also announced new estimates for the global population of tigers, which are 40% higher than the most recent estimates from 2015.

The new figures, of between 3,726 and 5,578 wild tigers worldwide, reflect better methods for counting tigers and, potentially, an increase in their overall numbers, said Dale Miquelle, coordinator for the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society’s tiger program.

In the past decade, tiger populations have increased in Nepal, northern China and perhaps in India, while tigers have disappeared entirely from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, said Miquelle. They remain designated as endangered.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658405579808.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON (AP) — The monarch butterfly fluttered a step closer to extinction Thursday, as scientists put the iconic orange-and-black insect on the endangered list because of its fast dwindling numbers.“It’s just a devastating decline,” said Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University who was not involved in the new listing. “This is one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world.”The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as "endangered" — two steps from extinct.The group estimates that the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined between 22% and 72% over 10 years, depending on the measurement method.“What we’re worried about is the rate of decline,” said Nick Haddad, a conservation biologist at Michigan State University. “It’s very easy to imagine how very quickly this butterfly could become even more imperiled.”Haddad, who was not directly involved in the listing, estimates that the population of monarch butterflies he studies in the eastern United States has declined between 85% and 95% since the 1990s.In North America, millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration of any insect species known to science.After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies migrate to the north, breeding multiple generations along the way for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada then begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of summer.“It’s a true spectacle and incites such awe,” said Anna Walker, a conservation biologist at New Mexico BioPark Society, who was involved in determining the new listing.A smaller group spends winters in coastal California, then disperses in spring and summer across several states west of the Rocky Mountains. This population has seen an even more precipitous decline than the eastern monarchs, although there was a small&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-california-butterflies-habitat-destruction-ffc90bc85fe95c60acc368e00966d025">bounce back</a>&nbsp;last winter.Emma Pelton of the nonprofit Xerces Society, which monitors the western butterflies, said the butterflies are imperiled by loss of habitat and increased use of herbicides and pesticides for agriculture, as well as climate change.“There are things people can do to help,” she said, including planting milkweed, a plant that the caterpillars depend upon.Nonmigratory monarch butterflies in Central and South America were not designated as endangered.The United States has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-plants-climate-gardening-environment-0a099826cf61752156d4faee10c28132">not listed</a>&nbsp;monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, but several environmental groups believe it should be listed.The international union also announced new estimates for the global population of tigers, which are 40% higher than the most recent estimates from 2015.The new figures, of between 3,726 and 5,578 wild tigers worldwide, reflect better methods for counting tigers and, potentially, an increase in their overall numbers, said Dale Miquelle, coordinator for the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society’s tiger program.In the past decade, tiger populations have increased in Nepal, northern China and perhaps in India, while tigers have disappeared entirely from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, said Miquelle. They remain designated as endangered.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JUMSId--ZcWNdM0ZNHssPbxR4SCwB1f52miEARDC5uGW0HlSStTJ89xUuHFy4cGhVhCl8BdNUHhvG6hhNeHTqrcE9YfmubLfOrJpPQop-er84786FOGhfjU_JIdd9VQD95RODZeHQmviqdB38Beqw" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Beloved monarch butterflies now listed as endangered

WASHINGTON (AP) — The monarch butterfly fluttered a step closer to extinction Thursday, as scientists put the iconic orange-and-black insect on the endangered list because of its fast dwindling numbers.“It’s just a devastating decline,” said Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University who was not involved in the new listing. “This is one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world.”The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as "endangered" — two steps from extinct.The group estimates that the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined between 22% and 72% over 10 years, depending on the measurement method.“What we’re worried about is the rate of decline,” said Nick Haddad, a conservation biologist at Michigan State University. “It’s very easy to imagine how very quickly this butterfly could become even more imperiled.”Haddad, who was not directly involved in the listing, estimates that the population of monarch butterflies he studies in the eastern United States has declined between 85% and 95% since the 1990s.In North America, millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration of any insect species known to science.After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies migrate to the north, breeding multiple generations along the way for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada then begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of summer.“It’s a true spectacle and incites such awe,” said Anna Walker, a conservation biologist at New Mexico BioPark Society, who was involved in determining the new listing.A smaller group spends winters in coastal California, then disperses in spring and summer across several states west of the Rocky Mountains. This population has seen an even more precipitous decline than the eastern monarchs, although there was a small&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-california-butterflies-habitat-destruction-ffc90bc85fe95c60acc368e00966d025">bounce back</a>&nbsp;last winter.Emma Pelton of the nonprofit Xerces Society, which monitors the western butterflies, said the butterflies are imperiled by loss of habitat and increased use of herbicides and pesticides for agriculture, as well as climate change.“There are things people can do to help,” she said, including planting milkweed, a plant that the caterpillars depend upon.Nonmigratory monarch butterflies in Central and South America were not designated as endangered.The United States has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-plants-climate-gardening-environment-0a099826cf61752156d4faee10c28132">not listed</a>&nbsp;monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, but several environmental groups believe it should be listed.The international union also announced new estimates for the global population of tigers, which are 40% higher than the most recent estimates from 2015.The new figures, of between 3,726 and 5,578 wild tigers worldwide, reflect better methods for counting tigers and, potentially, an increase in their overall numbers, said Dale Miquelle, coordinator for the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society’s tiger program.In the past decade, tiger populations have increased in Nepal, northern China and perhaps in India, while tigers have disappeared entirely from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, said Miquelle. They remain designated as endangered.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate unexpectedly launched a new push Wednesday to protect same-sex marriage in federal law after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-race-and-ethnicity-gay-rights-marriage-social-issues-77ec6e2a60b5990ceaf7c396fee42016">surprising number of Republicans helped pass landmark legislation</a>&nbsp;in the House. Some GOP senators are already signaling support.

The legislation started as an election-season political effort to confront the new Supreme Court majority after the court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-marriage-a0cee537c6f9f10d29fa71f6e7a4d19d">overturned abortion access in Roe v. Wade, raising concerns that other rights were at risk.</a>&nbsp;But suddenly it has a shot at becoming law. Pressure is mounting on Republicans to drop their longstanding opposition and join in a bipartisan moment for gay rights.

“This legislation was so important,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said as he opened the chamber Wednesday.

The Democratic leader marveled over the House's 267-157 tally, with 47 Republicans — almost one-fifth of the GOP lawmakers — voting for the bill late Tuesday.

“I want to bring this bill to the floor,” Schumer said, “and we're working to get the necessary Senate Republican support to ensure it would pass.”

Political odds are still long for the legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act, which would enshrine same-sex and interracial marriages as protected under federal law. Conservatives, including House GOP leaders, largely opposed the bill, and the vast majority of Republicans voted against it.

But in a sign of shifting political attitudes and a need for an election-year win, some Republicans are signaling there may be an opening. Few Republicans spoke directly against gay marriage during Tuesday's floor debate in the House. And Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was notably silent when asked about the bill, saying he would take a look if it comes to the Senate.

“I'm going to delay announcing anything on that issue,” McConnell said, adding he would wait to see if Schumer brings it forward.

President Joe Biden wants Congress to send him the bill to sign as soon as possible.

“This is something that’s personal to the president,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling with the president.

Biden is “a proud champion of the right for people to marry whom they love and is grateful to see bipartisan support for that right,” she said. “He believes it is non-negotiable and that the Senate should act swiftly to get this to the president’s desk. He wants to sign it, so we need this legislation and we urge Congress to move as quickly as possible.”

So far, the legislation has just two Senate Republican co-sponsors, Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman of Ohio. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are among others closely watched for possible support.

In all 10 Republican senators would need to join with all Democrats to reach the 60 vote threshold to overcome a GOP filibuster.

“We’re seeing progress on this, and I’ll take progress,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., the bill’s chief sponsor, told reporters at the Capitol.

The No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, was doubtful Tuesday, calling the proposed legislation little more than a political message.

Social issues including same-sex marriage and abortion have sprinted to the top of the congressional agenda this summer in reaction to the Supreme Court's action overturning Roe v. Wade, a stunning ruling that ended the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion access. It set off alarms that other rights conservatives have targeted could be next.

While Justice Samuel Alito,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-right-to-privacy-6e1d7ee2a6d26bef09392971fd4948b5">writing for the majority,</a>&nbsp;insisted the Roe v. Wade ruling pertained only to abortion access, it demonstrated the new conservative muscle with three Trump-era justices tipping the court's balance. A concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, who has gained stature in the new majority, raised questions about gay marriage and other rights.

"We take Justice Thomas — and the extremist movement behind him — at their word," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the House debate. “This is what they intend to do.”

Both Pelosi and Schumer criticized Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said over the weekend that the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell vs. Hodges decision upholding gay marriage was “clearly wrong.”

The Respect for Marriage Act was rushed to the House floor in an election year with polling showing a majority of Americans favor preserving rights to marry, regardless of sex, gender, race or ethnicity, a long-building shift in modern mores toward inclusion.

A Gallup poll in June showed broad and increasing support for same-sex marriage, with 70% of U.S. adults saying they think such unions should be recognized by law. The poll showed majority support among both Democrats (83%) and Republicans (55%).

Approval of interracial marriage in the U.S. hit a six-decade high at 94% in September, according to Gallup.

McConnell, the Republican leader, is eager to regain control of the Senate, now evenly split 50-50, and his views on whether his party should support or oppose the same-sex marriage protections will almost certainly be viewed through that political lens.

Unlike the abortion issue, where views are deeply held with little room for Congress to find common ground, attitudes toward same-sex continue to evolve and shift among lawmakers.

Incumbent Republican senators seeking to win reelection and GOP candidates running for office may want a chance to support the gay marriage issue that is popular with many voters. Strong Republican-led opposition could be seen as detrimental to the party's candidates in swing states that McConnell needs to win to regain control.

One Republican hopeful, Joe O'Dea, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado, said he was glad to see the same-sex marriage bill pass in the House.

“You’ve got a lot of politicians in both political parties who spend way too much time trying to tell people how to live their lives. That’s just not me. I live my life. You live yours," O'Dea said. "Let’s get on with solving the huge challenges facing the American people.”

Still, some vocal leaders in the Republican Party, including Cruz and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, both potential presidential candidates, have indicated likely opposition to the legislation.

The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act, which put into federal law the definition of marriage as a heterosexual union between a man and woman. That 1996 law was largely overshadowed by subsequent court rulings, including Obergefell vs. Hodges in 2015, legalizing gay marriage nationwide.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate unexpectedly launched a new push Wednesday to protect same-sex marriage in federal law after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-race-and-ethnicity-gay-rights-marriage-social-issues-77ec6e2a60b5990ceaf7c396fee42016">surprising number of Republicans helped pass landmark legislation</a>&nbsp;in the House. Some GOP senators are already signaling support.The legislation started as an election-season political effort to confront the new Supreme Court majority after the court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-marriage-a0cee537c6f9f10d29fa71f6e7a4d19d">overturned abortion access in Roe v. Wade, raising concerns that other rights were at risk.</a>&nbsp;But suddenly it has a shot at becoming law. Pressure is mounting on Republicans to drop their longstanding opposition and join in a bipartisan moment for gay rights.“This legislation was so important,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said as he opened the chamber Wednesday.The Democratic leader marveled over the House's 267-157 tally, with 47 Republicans — almost one-fifth of the GOP lawmakers — voting for the bill late Tuesday.“I want to bring this bill to the floor,” Schumer said, “and we're working to get the necessary Senate Republican support to ensure it would pass.”Political odds are still long for the legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act, which would enshrine same-sex and interracial marriages as protected under federal law. Conservatives, including House GOP leaders, largely opposed the bill, and the vast majority of Republicans voted against it.But in a sign of shifting political attitudes and a need for an election-year win, some Republicans are signaling there may be an opening. Few Republicans spoke directly against gay marriage during Tuesday's floor debate in the House. And Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was notably silent when asked about the bill, saying he would take a look if it comes to the Senate.“I'm going to delay announcing anything on that issue,” McConnell said, adding he would wait to see if Schumer brings it forward.President Joe Biden wants Congress to send him the bill to sign as soon as possible.“This is something that’s personal to the president,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling with the president.Biden is “a proud champion of the right for people to marry whom they love and is grateful to see bipartisan support for that right,” she said. “He believes it is non-negotiable and that the Senate should act swiftly to get this to the president’s desk. He wants to sign it, so we need this legislation and we urge Congress to move as quickly as possible.”So far, the legislation has just two Senate Republican co-sponsors, Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman of Ohio. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are among others closely watched for possible support.In all 10 Republican senators would need to join with all Democrats to reach the 60 vote threshold to overcome a GOP filibuster.“We’re seeing progress on this, and I’ll take progress,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., the bill’s chief sponsor, told reporters at the Capitol.The No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, was doubtful Tuesday, calling the proposed legislation little more than a political message.Social issues including same-sex marriage and abortion have sprinted to the top of the congressional agenda this summer in reaction to the Supreme Court's action overturning Roe v. Wade, a stunning ruling that ended the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion access. It set off alarms that other rights conservatives have targeted could be next.While Justice Samuel Alito,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-right-to-privacy-6e1d7ee2a6d26bef09392971fd4948b5">writing for the majority,</a>&nbsp;insisted the Roe v. Wade ruling pertained only to abortion access, it demonstrated the new conservative muscle with three Trump-era justices tipping the court's balance. A concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, who has gained stature in the new majority, raised questions about gay marriage and other rights."We take Justice Thomas — and the extremist movement behind him — at their word," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the House debate. “This is what they intend to do.”Both Pelosi and Schumer criticized Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said over the weekend that the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell vs. Hodges decision upholding gay marriage was “clearly wrong.”The Respect for Marriage Act was rushed to the House floor in an election year with polling showing a majority of Americans favor preserving rights to marry, regardless of sex, gender, race or ethnicity, a long-building shift in modern mores toward inclusion.A Gallup poll in June showed broad and increasing support for same-sex marriage, with 70% of U.S. adults saying they think such unions should be recognized by law. The poll showed majority support among both Democrats (83%) and Republicans (55%).Approval of interracial marriage in the U.S. hit a six-decade high at 94% in September, according to Gallup.McConnell, the Republican leader, is eager to regain control of the Senate, now evenly split 50-50, and his views on whether his party should support or oppose the same-sex marriage protections will almost certainly be viewed through that political lens.Unlike the abortion issue, where views are deeply held with little room for Congress to find common ground, attitudes toward same-sex continue to evolve and shift among lawmakers.Incumbent Republican senators seeking to win reelection and GOP candidates running for office may want a chance to support the gay marriage issue that is popular with many voters. Strong Republican-led opposition could be seen as detrimental to the party's candidates in swing states that McConnell needs to win to regain control.One Republican hopeful, Joe O'Dea, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado, said he was glad to see the same-sex marriage bill pass in the House.“You’ve got a lot of politicians in both political parties who spend way too much time trying to tell people how to live their lives. That’s just not me. I live my life. You live yours," O'Dea said. "Let’s get on with solving the huge challenges facing the American people.”Still, some vocal leaders in the Republican Party, including Cruz and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, both potential presidential candidates, have indicated likely opposition to the legislation.The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act, which put into federal law the definition of marriage as a heterosexual union between a man and woman. That 1996 law was largely overshadowed by subsequent court rulings, including Obergefell vs. Hodges in 2015, legalizing gay marriage nationwide.___

Pressure on Senate GOP after same-sex marriage passes House

The Federal Trade Commission and a group of 18 states sued national jewelry retailer Harris Jewelry to stop the company from cheating military families with illegal financing and sales practices. According to the complaint, the jewelry company deceptively
 claimed that financing jewelry purchases through Harris would raise 
servicemembers’ credit scores, misrepresented that its protection plans 
were not optional or were required, and added the plans to purchases 
without consumers’ consent. The complaint also includes a charge that 
the jewelry company violated the Military Lending Act, the FTC’s first 
action under this Act.

Under a proposed order with the FTC and multistate group, the company must stop collection of millions
 of dollars in debt, provide approximately $10.9 million in refunds for 
purchased protection plans, provide refunds for overpayments, and assist
 with the deletion of any negative credit entries pertaining to debt in 
consumers’ credit reporting file. The company also is required to 
complete its shutdown of operations and to dissolve pursuant to 
applicable state laws, once it meets the obligations of the order.

“Today’s action against Harris 
Jewelry shows that companies that target our country’s servicemembers 
with false promises and deceptive sales practices will face serious 
consequences,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
 “The FTC is committed to working with state enforcers to halt unfair 
and deceptive business practices across the marketplace. We are grateful
 for their partnership in this case, which allowed us to deliver strong 
relief for servicemembers.”

“It’s abhorrent that Harris Jewelry built their 
business by taking advantage of young servicemembers risking their lives
 to protect our country,” said&nbsp;New York Attorney General Letitia James.
 “Harris Jewelry claimed to serve and support our troops, but its 
business practices were entirely self-serving. For years, Harris Jewelry
 misled military members and saddled them with thousands of dollars of 
debt. My office joined forces with the FTC and 17 other states to 
protect servicemembers from Harris Jewelry and combat their predatory 
practices. Today’s action will help thousands of servicemembers get back
 on their feet after falling victim to Harris Jewelry’s schemes. Our 
troops bravely put our protection above their own and deserve to be 
treated with integrity and respect. Predatory lenders and businesses 
harming servicemembers should be warned that their actions will not be 
tolerated.”

“The Department of Defense appreciates the work of the 
FTC and other partners in protecting servicemembers and their families 
from such harmful practices and in securing appropriate remedies,” said 
Gilbert R. Cisneros, DoD Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness. “We believe these efforts contribute to servicemembers’ 
overall financial well-being and readiness.”&nbsp; 

According to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Filed%20Complaint.pdf">complaint</a>, Harris Jewelry violated the FTC Act, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/truth-lending-act">Truth in Lending Act</a>, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/electronic-fund-transfer-act">Electronic Fund Transfer Act</a>, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/military-lending-act">Military Lending Act</a>, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/holder-due-course-rule">Holder Rule</a>;
 and state law in connection with jewelry sales and financing to members
 of the military. Specifically, the FTC alleges that Harris Jewelry:

In addition to requiring the company to come 
into compliance with the Military Lending Act, Truth in Lending Act, 
Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and Holder Rule, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/FILED%20Order%20%28002%29.pdf">proposed order</a>&nbsp;requires Harris Jewelry to:

Under the order, Harris Jewelry will contact 
consumers entitled to refunds for the protection plans, and must also 
post a notice on its website about the availability of refunds. 
Consumers who have specific questions about obtaining redress may 
contact the New York State Attorney General’s Office at (315) 
523-6080.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

The FTC and states are grateful for the Department of Defense’s coordination and support on this matter.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

The Commission vote approving the stipulated final order was 5-0. The FTC filed the proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission and a group of 18 states sued national jewelry retailer Harris Jewelry to stop the company from cheating military families with illegal financing and sales practices. According to the complaint, the jewelry company deceptively
 claimed that financing jewelry purchases through Harris would raise 
servicemembers’ credit scores, misrepresented that its protection plans 
were not optional or were required, and added the plans to purchases 
without consumers’ consent. The complaint also includes a charge that 
the jewelry company violated the Military Lending Act, the FTC’s first 
action under this Act.Under a proposed order with the FTC and multistate group, the company must stop collection of millions
 of dollars in debt, provide approximately $10.9 million in refunds for 
purchased protection plans, provide refunds for overpayments, and assist
 with the deletion of any negative credit entries pertaining to debt in 
consumers’ credit reporting file. The company also is required to 
complete its shutdown of operations and to dissolve pursuant to 
applicable state laws, once it meets the obligations of the order.“Today’s action against Harris 
Jewelry shows that companies that target our country’s servicemembers 
with false promises and deceptive sales practices will face serious 
consequences,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
 “The FTC is committed to working with state enforcers to halt unfair 
and deceptive business practices across the marketplace. We are grateful
 for their partnership in this case, which allowed us to deliver strong 
relief for servicemembers.”“It’s abhorrent that Harris Jewelry built their 
business by taking advantage of young servicemembers risking their lives
 to protect our country,” said&nbsp;New York Attorney General Letitia James.
 “Harris Jewelry claimed to serve and support our troops, but its 
business practices were entirely self-serving. For years, Harris Jewelry
 misled military members and saddled them with thousands of dollars of 
debt. My office joined forces with the FTC and 17 other states to 
protect servicemembers from Harris Jewelry and combat their predatory 
practices. Today’s action will help thousands of servicemembers get back
 on their feet after falling victim to Harris Jewelry’s schemes. Our 
troops bravely put our protection above their own and deserve to be 
treated with integrity and respect. Predatory lenders and businesses 
harming servicemembers should be warned that their actions will not be 
tolerated.”“The Department of Defense appreciates the work of the 
FTC and other partners in protecting servicemembers and their families 
from such harmful practices and in securing appropriate remedies,” said 
Gilbert R. Cisneros, DoD Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness. “We believe these efforts contribute to servicemembers’ 
overall financial well-being and readiness.”&nbsp; According to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Filed%20Complaint.pdf">complaint</a>, Harris Jewelry violated the FTC Act, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/truth-lending-act">Truth in Lending Act</a>, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/electronic-fund-transfer-act">Electronic Fund Transfer Act</a>, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/military-lending-act">Military Lending Act</a>, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/holder-due-course-rule">Holder Rule</a>;
 and state law in connection with jewelry sales and financing to members
 of the military. Specifically, the FTC alleges that Harris Jewelry:<ul>
 <li>Made false or unsubstantiated claims that financing jewelry purchases through the company would result in higher credit scores: The
 company told servicemembers that they would achieve a significant 
improvement in their credit score by entering into a retail installment 
contract with Harris Jewelry and making all payments on time when, in 
fact, that was not true in many instances.</li><li>Misrepresented that the protection plan was required to finance purchases: In
 connection with the sale of jewelry and military-themed gifts, Harris 
Jewelry offered a protection plan that covered ring and watch sizing, 
battery replacements, and repairs. In several instances, the company 
offered items for sale and gave the false impression that the protection
 plan was not optional or was required to finance the purchase, when it 
was in fact optional.&nbsp; </li><li>Failed to provide written disclosures and meet authorization requirements for contracts as required by law:
 Harris Jewelry failed to include written disclosures in its retail 
installment contracts as required by the Truth in Lending Act and 
Military Lending Act, and meet authorization requirements as required by
 the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Its internet and print ads also 
failed to include the required Truth in Lending disclosure. The company 
also failed to provide written notice as required by the FTC’s Holder 
Rule in its contracts, and failed to make oral disclosures at the time 
of sale as required by the Military Lending Act.</li>
 </ul><h2>Enforcement Action</h2>In addition to requiring the company to come 
into compliance with the Military Lending Act, Truth in Lending Act, 
Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and Holder Rule, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/FILED%20Order%20%28002%29.pdf">proposed order</a>&nbsp;requires Harris Jewelry to:<ul>
 <li>Stop collection of millions in debt;</li><li>Refund approximately $10.9 million for purchased protection plans;</li><li>Provide refunds for overpayments;</li><li>Contact consumer reporting agencies and 
request deletion of negative credit entries and counterorder outstanding
 judgments against consumers;</li><li>Stop misrepresentations and baseless claims;</li><li>Stop marketing, offering for sale or financing, and selling or financing ancillary products; </li><li>Stop selling, assigning, or transferring retail installment contracts or other consumer debt to other persons; and</li><li>Complete its shutdown of operations, and dissolve following state law, once the order requirements are met.</li>
 </ul>Under the order, Harris Jewelry will contact 
consumers entitled to refunds for the protection plans, and must also 
post a notice on its website about the availability of refunds. 
Consumers who have specific questions about obtaining redress may 
contact the New York State Attorney General’s Office at (315) 
523-6080.&nbsp;&nbsp; The FTC and states are grateful for the Department of Defense’s coordination and support on this matter.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Commission vote approving the stipulated final order was 5-0. The FTC filed the proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

FTC sues jewelry chain for allegedly cheating military families

SOMERSET, Mass. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday announced modest new steps to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;and promised more robust action to come, saying, “This is an emergency and I will look at it that way.”

(Click below to watch the President's comments)

The president stopped short, though, of declaring a formal climate emergency, which Democrats and environmental groups have been seeking after an influential Democratic senator quashed hopes for sweeping legislation to address global warming. Biden hinted such a step could be coming.

“Let me be clear,” Biden said. "Climate change is an emergency, and in the coming weeks I’m going to use the power I have as president to turn these words into formal, official government actions through the appropriate proclamations, executive orders and regulatory power that a president possesses.”

Biden delivered his pledge at a former coal-fired power plant in Massachusetts. The former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-environment-charlie-baker-massachusetts-b10a9536314bf09a487f51023c798f0a">Brayton Point power plant in Somerset, Massachusetts</a>, is shifting to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-and-environment-government-politics-13e5d01c3f43c899e39f337d478c1179">offshore wind power manufacturing</a>, and Biden chose it as the embodiment of the transition to clean energy that he is seeking but has struggled to realize in the first 18 months of his presidency.

Executive actions announced Wednesday will bolster the domestic offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast, as well as expand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-fires-climate-environment-and-nature-34b7cfb58e3bc149a610813e1ed7727d">efforts to help communities cope with soaring temperatures</a>&nbsp;through programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies.

The trip comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-science-travel-fires-weather-3a04259a5996843e09bbfa344d936f14">historic temperatures bake Europe</a>&nbsp;and the United States. Temperatures reached 115 degrees in Portugal as wildfires raged in Spain and France, and Britain on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-france-fires-london-england-b9bc07c1685b76ddf377b65f19fb811b">shattered its record for highest temperature</a>&nbsp;ever registered. At least 60 million Americans could experience triple-digit temperatures over the next several days as cities around the U.S. sweat through more intense and longer-lasting heat waves that scientists blame on global warming.

Calls for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-joe-manchin-and-environment-bed0159741405159639f800aec3b079b">a national emergency declaration</a>&nbsp;to address the climate crisis have been rising among activists and Democratic lawmakers after Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Joe Manchin</a>, D-W.Va., last week scuttled talks on a long-delayed legislative package.

White House officials have said the option remains under consideration. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday declined to outline a timetable for a decision aside from saying no such order would be issued this week.

Gina McCarthy, Biden's climate adviser, said Biden is not “shying away” from treating climate as an emergency.

"The president wants to make sure that we're doing it right, that we're laying it out, and that we have the time we need to get this worked out,'' she told reporters on Air Force One.

Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/edward-markey">Ed Markey</a>, D-Mass., said he was “confident that the president is ultimately ready to do whatever it takes in order to deal with this crisis."

“I think that he’s made that clear in his statement last Friday, and I think coming to Massachusetts is a further articulation of that goal,” Markey told reporters Tuesday.

An emergency declaration on climate would allow the president to redirect federal resources to bolster renewable energy programs that would help accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. The declaration also could be used as a legal basis to block oil and gas drilling or other projects, although such actions would likely be challenged in court by energy companies or Republican-led states.

Such a declaration would be similar to the one issued by Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, who declared&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-az-state-wire-immigration-5b22a4a54ba046c4815c31bca2c92ae7">a national emergency to build a wall</a>&nbsp;on the southern border when lawmakers refused to allocate money for that effort.

Biden pledged last week to take significant executive actions on climate after monthslong discussions between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., came to a standstill. The West Virginia senator cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">stubbornly high inflation</a>&nbsp;as the reason for his hesitation, although he has long protected energy interests in his coal- and gas-producing state.

For now, Manchin has said he will only agree to a legislative package that shores up subsidies to help people buy insurance under the 2010 health care law and allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices that will ultimately lower the cost of pharmaceuticals for consumers.

The White House has indicated it wants Congress to take that deal, and Biden will address the climate issue on his own.

The former Brayton Point power plant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cc5b376c95f9449da344bbfc20ae22fd">closed in 2017</a>&nbsp;after burning coal for more than five decades. The plant will now become an offshore wind energy site.

A new report says the U.S. and other major carbon-polluting nations are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-science-united-states-france-530f66cbb15b18dd7ae6f67732f6780b">falling short on pledges to fight climate change</a>. Among the 10 biggest carbon emitters, only the European Union has enacted polices close to or consistent with international goals of limiting warming to just a few more tenths of a degree, according to scientists and experts who track climate action in countries.

SOMERSET, Mass. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday announced modest new steps to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;and promised more robust action to come, saying, “This is an emergency and I will look at it that way.”(Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1387573815083169%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=85" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The president stopped short, though, of declaring a formal climate emergency, which Democrats and environmental groups have been seeking after an influential Democratic senator quashed hopes for sweeping legislation to address global warming. Biden hinted such a step could be coming.“Let me be clear,” Biden said. "Climate change is an emergency, and in the coming weeks I’m going to use the power I have as president to turn these words into formal, official government actions through the appropriate proclamations, executive orders and regulatory power that a president possesses.”Biden delivered his pledge at a former coal-fired power plant in Massachusetts. The former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-environment-charlie-baker-massachusetts-b10a9536314bf09a487f51023c798f0a">Brayton Point power plant in Somerset, Massachusetts</a>, is shifting to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-and-environment-government-politics-13e5d01c3f43c899e39f337d478c1179">offshore wind power manufacturing</a>, and Biden chose it as the embodiment of the transition to clean energy that he is seeking but has struggled to realize in the first 18 months of his presidency.Executive actions announced Wednesday will bolster the domestic offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast, as well as expand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-fires-climate-environment-and-nature-34b7cfb58e3bc149a610813e1ed7727d">efforts to help communities cope with soaring temperatures</a>&nbsp;through programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies.The trip comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-science-travel-fires-weather-3a04259a5996843e09bbfa344d936f14">historic temperatures bake Europe</a>&nbsp;and the United States. Temperatures reached 115 degrees in Portugal as wildfires raged in Spain and France, and Britain on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-france-fires-london-england-b9bc07c1685b76ddf377b65f19fb811b">shattered its record for highest temperature</a>&nbsp;ever registered. At least 60 million Americans could experience triple-digit temperatures over the next several days as cities around the U.S. sweat through more intense and longer-lasting heat waves that scientists blame on global warming.Calls for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-joe-manchin-and-environment-bed0159741405159639f800aec3b079b">a national emergency declaration</a>&nbsp;to address the climate crisis have been rising among activists and Democratic lawmakers after Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Joe Manchin</a>, D-W.Va., last week scuttled talks on a long-delayed legislative package.White House officials have said the option remains under consideration. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday declined to outline a timetable for a decision aside from saying no such order would be issued this week.Gina McCarthy, Biden's climate adviser, said Biden is not “shying away” from treating climate as an emergency."The president wants to make sure that we're doing it right, that we're laying it out, and that we have the time we need to get this worked out,'' she told reporters on Air Force One.Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/edward-markey">Ed Markey</a>, D-Mass., said he was “confident that the president is ultimately ready to do whatever it takes in order to deal with this crisis."“I think that he’s made that clear in his statement last Friday, and I think coming to Massachusetts is a further articulation of that goal,” Markey told reporters Tuesday.An emergency declaration on climate would allow the president to redirect federal resources to bolster renewable energy programs that would help accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. The declaration also could be used as a legal basis to block oil and gas drilling or other projects, although such actions would likely be challenged in court by energy companies or Republican-led states.Such a declaration would be similar to the one issued by Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, who declared&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-az-state-wire-immigration-5b22a4a54ba046c4815c31bca2c92ae7">a national emergency to build a wall</a>&nbsp;on the southern border when lawmakers refused to allocate money for that effort.Biden pledged last week to take significant executive actions on climate after monthslong discussions between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., came to a standstill. The West Virginia senator cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">stubbornly high inflation</a>&nbsp;as the reason for his hesitation, although he has long protected energy interests in his coal- and gas-producing state.For now, Manchin has said he will only agree to a legislative package that shores up subsidies to help people buy insurance under the 2010 health care law and allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices that will ultimately lower the cost of pharmaceuticals for consumers.The White House has indicated it wants Congress to take that deal, and Biden will address the climate issue on his own.The former Brayton Point power plant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cc5b376c95f9449da344bbfc20ae22fd">closed in 2017</a>&nbsp;after burning coal for more than five decades. The plant will now become an offshore wind energy site.A new report says the U.S. and other major carbon-polluting nations are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-science-united-states-france-530f66cbb15b18dd7ae6f67732f6780b">falling short on pledges to fight climate change</a>. Among the 10 biggest carbon emitters, only the European Union has enacted polices close to or consistent with international goals of limiting warming to just a few more tenths of a degree, according to scientists and experts who track climate action in countries.

🎥 Biden announces climate actions, no climate emergency

Amazon has filed a lawsuit against administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups it accuses of coordinating fake reviews in exchange for money or free products.

The Seattle-based e-commerce giant said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/policy-news-views/amazon-targets-fake-review-fraudsters-on-social-media">statement</a>&nbsp;posted on its website Tuesday the Facebook groups were set up to recruit people “willing to post incentivized and misleading reviews” across its stores in the U.S. the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Japan.

The problem over phony reviews is not new for Amazon, or e-commerce as a whole. Amazon itself has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c2bc7f2e4b64490db4291ed5619ff2b2">previously sued people</a>&nbsp;it said were offering fake testimonials, though lawmakers and regulators have questioned whether the company was doing enough to combat the issue. Last year, U.K. competition regulators launched a probe into whether the online retailer and Google were taking adequate actions to protect shoppers.

In the statement, Amazon said one of the Facebook groups it’s targeting, called “Amazon Product Review,” had more than 43,000 members. The company said Facebook removed the group this year, but it was able to dodge the platform’s detection by “changing letters in phrases that might set off Facebook’s alarms.”

Amazon noted since 2020, it has reported more than 10,000 fake review groups to Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Meta has removed half of these groups and is investigating the others, Amazon said.

The retailer's announcement comes as another side of the company's operations is facing more scrutiny. On Tuesday, federal labor officials confirmed to the AP the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened inspections at Amazon facilities in New York, Illinois, and Florida after receiving referrals alleging safety and health violations from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York, said federal labor officials entered the Amazon warehouses on Monday morning after their office made referrals about “potential workplace hazards," including “Amazon’s required pace of work for its warehouse employees.”

Labor and safety advocates have long criticized Amazon's injury rates and its "time off task” tool, which dings workers for taking too many breaks. Biase said the civil division of the U.S. attorney's office is investigating safety hazards at the company's warehouses across the country, as well as “fraudulent conduct designed to hide injuries from OSHA and others.”

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged in a shareholder letter this April the company's warehouse injury rates “were a little higher than the average” compared to other warehouses. But Jassy said the “courier and delivery” side of their operations saw lower injury rates, making the company “about average” compared to its peers.

“We’ll of course cooperate with OSHA in their investigation, and we believe it will ultimately show that these concerns are unfounded," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is encouraging current and former Amazon warehouse workers to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/webform/sdny-amazon-warehouse-investigation">report workplace safety issues</a>&nbsp;directly to them.

By HALELUYA HADERO, AP Business WriterAmazon has filed a lawsuit against administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups it accuses of coordinating fake reviews in exchange for money or free products.The Seattle-based e-commerce giant said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/policy-news-views/amazon-targets-fake-review-fraudsters-on-social-media">statement</a>&nbsp;posted on its website Tuesday the Facebook groups were set up to recruit people “willing to post incentivized and misleading reviews” across its stores in the U.S. the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Japan.The problem over phony reviews is not new for Amazon, or e-commerce as a whole. Amazon itself has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c2bc7f2e4b64490db4291ed5619ff2b2">previously sued people</a>&nbsp;it said were offering fake testimonials, though lawmakers and regulators have questioned whether the company was doing enough to combat the issue. Last year, U.K. competition regulators launched a probe into whether the online retailer and Google were taking adequate actions to protect shoppers.In the statement, Amazon said one of the Facebook groups it’s targeting, called “Amazon Product Review,” had more than 43,000 members. The company said Facebook removed the group this year, but it was able to dodge the platform’s detection by “changing letters in phrases that might set off Facebook’s alarms.”Amazon noted since 2020, it has reported more than 10,000 fake review groups to Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Meta has removed half of these groups and is investigating the others, Amazon said.The retailer's announcement comes as another side of the company's operations is facing more scrutiny. On Tuesday, federal labor officials confirmed to the AP the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened inspections at Amazon facilities in New York, Illinois, and Florida after receiving referrals alleging safety and health violations from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York, said federal labor officials entered the Amazon warehouses on Monday morning after their office made referrals about “potential workplace hazards," including “Amazon’s required pace of work for its warehouse employees.”Labor and safety advocates have long criticized Amazon's injury rates and its "time off task” tool, which dings workers for taking too many breaks. Biase said the civil division of the U.S. attorney's office is investigating safety hazards at the company's warehouses across the country, as well as “fraudulent conduct designed to hide injuries from OSHA and others.”Amazon CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged in a shareholder letter this April the company's warehouse injury rates “were a little higher than the average” compared to other warehouses. But Jassy said the “courier and delivery” side of their operations saw lower injury rates, making the company “about average” compared to its peers.“We’ll of course cooperate with OSHA in their investigation, and we believe it will ultimately show that these concerns are unfounded," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement.The U.S. Attorney's Office is encouraging current and former Amazon warehouse workers to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/webform/sdny-amazon-warehouse-investigation">report workplace safety issues</a>&nbsp;directly to them.

Amazon sues admins of 10K Facebook groups over fake reviews

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is sending payments
 to 244,745 consumers in the U.S. and abroad who were defrauded by the 
Next-Gen sweepstakes scheme that affected consumers in dozens of 
countries, including the United States and Canada.

In total, the FTC is returning almost $25 million to affected consumers including many seniors. The FTC is sending:

The deadline for 
consumers to cash their checks or claim their PayPal payments is October
 17, 2022. Debit cards have a two-year expiration date and can be 
reissued without charge. Recipients
 who have questions about their refund should contact the refund 
administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-833-721-2728 or 1-612-509-2644 or 
admin@nextgenrefund.com. The Commission never requires people to pay 
money or provide account information to get a refund.<a></a>

The FTC’s <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/next-gen_amended_complaint_9-25-18.pdf">2018 complaint</a> against <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/172-3133-x180023-next-gen-inc">the Next-Gen defendants</a>, filed jointly with the State of Missouri,
 charged Kevin Brandes, William Graham, C. Floyd Anderson, and 
corporations under their control with sending tens of millions of 
deceptive personalized mailers to consumers around the world since 2013.
 The defendants’ mailers falsely told recipients they had won or were 
likely to win a substantial cash prize, as much as $2 million, in 
exchange for a fee ranging from $9.00 to $139.99. Many consumers, 
including seniors, paid the defendants several times before realizing 
they had been scammed, according to the complaint.

The FTC appreciates the 
support provided in this case by the U.K. National Trading Standards 
Scams Team and our other international partners. Their assistance 
contributed to the success of the FTC’s case and helped ensure that 
victims worldwide benefit from this refund program. The FTC relied on 
key provisions of the U.S. SAFE WEB Act, which allows the FTC to share 
information with foreign counterparts to combat deceptive and unfair 
practices that cross national borders.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe U.S. Federal Trade Commission is sending payments
 to 244,745 consumers in the U.S. and abroad who were defrauded by the 
Next-Gen sweepstakes scheme that affected consumers in dozens of 
countries, including the United States and Canada.In total, the FTC is returning almost $25 million to affected consumers including many seniors. The FTC is sending:<ul>
 <li>221,687 checks totaling $19,180,753 to U.S. and Canadian consumers;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>3,516 prepaid Mastercard debit cards totaling $631,322 to 
consumers in the United Kingdom, which will be hand-delivered by U.K. 
National Trading Standards, a consumer protection and business 
safeguards organization; and</li><li>19,542 letters to consumers in 
more than 50 different countries explaining how they can claim their 
payments via PayPal, which total $4,696,242.</li>
 </ul>The deadline for 
consumers to cash their checks or claim their PayPal payments is October
 17, 2022. Debit cards have a two-year expiration date and can be 
reissued without charge. Recipients
 who have questions about their refund should contact the refund 
administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-833-721-2728 or 1-612-509-2644 or 
admin@nextgenrefund.com. The Commission never requires people to pay 
money or provide account information to get a refund.<a></a>The FTC’s <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/next-gen_amended_complaint_9-25-18.pdf">2018 complaint</a> against <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/172-3133-x180023-next-gen-inc">the Next-Gen defendants</a>, filed jointly with the State of Missouri,
 charged Kevin Brandes, William Graham, C. Floyd Anderson, and 
corporations under their control with sending tens of millions of 
deceptive personalized mailers to consumers around the world since 2013.
 The defendants’ mailers falsely told recipients they had won or were 
likely to win a substantial cash prize, as much as $2 million, in 
exchange for a fee ranging from $9.00 to $139.99. Many consumers, 
including seniors, paid the defendants several times before realizing 
they had been scammed, according to the complaint.The FTC appreciates the 
support provided in this case by the U.K. National Trading Standards 
Scams Team and our other international partners. Their assistance 
contributed to the success of the FTC’s case and helped ensure that 
victims worldwide benefit from this refund program. The FTC relied on 
key provisions of the U.S. SAFE WEB Act, which allows the FTC to share 
information with foreign counterparts to combat deceptive and unfair 
practices that cross national borders.The FTC’s <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2Fprofile%2Ffederal.trade.commission%23!%2Fvizhome%2FRefunds_15797958402020%2FRefundsbyCase&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2F2022%2F06%2Ffederal-trade-commission-returns-more-54-million-consumers">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide
 country and state level data about refunds in FTC cases. In 2021, 
Commission actions led to more than $472 million in refunds to consumers
 across the country, but these refunds were the result of cases resolved
 before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission lacks 
authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal court 
going forward. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a>&nbsp;to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

FTC: Sweepstakes scheme victims being sent $25M worldwide

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;will announce new actions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;that he can take on his own just days after an influential Democratic senator quashed hopes for a sweeping legislative package of new environmental programs this year.

Biden is to unveil the latest efforts during a visit on Wednesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-environment-charlie-baker-massachusetts-b10a9536314bf09a487f51023c798f0a">a former coal-fired power plant</a>&nbsp;in Somerset, Massachusetts, that is shifting to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-and-environment-government-politics-13e5d01c3f43c899e39f337d478c1179">offshore wind manufacturing</a>. It’s the embodiment of the transition to clean energy that Biden is seeking but has struggled to realize in the first 18 months of his presidency.

Wednesday’s executive actions include new initiatives to bolster the domestic offshore wind industry as well as efforts to help communities cope with soaring temperatures through programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services, according to a White House official.

But the actions that Biden announces on Wednesday will not include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-joe-manchin-and-environment-bed0159741405159639f800aec3b079b">a national emergency declaration</a>&nbsp;to address the climate crisis — something that has been sought by activists and Democratic lawmakers after Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Joe Manchin</a>, D-W.Va., last week scuttled talks on a legislative package.

Gina McCarthy, Biden’s climate adviser, said the president is not “shying away” from treating climate as an emergency. She told CNN on Wednesday that he will be announcing a series of actions “over the next few weeks” to address the threat.

Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/edward-markey">Ed Markey</a>, D-Mass., said he was “confident that the president is ultimately ready to do whatever it takes in order to deal with this crisis.”

“I think that he’s made that clear in his statement last Friday, and I think coming to Massachusetts is a further articulation of that goal,” Markey told reporters on Tuesday.

Biden has come under considerable pressure to issue an emergency declaration on climate, which would allow him to redirect federal resources to bolster renewable energy programs that would help accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

Jean-Pierre declined to detail internal deliberations on such a declaration, which would be similar to the one issued by Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, who declared&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-az-state-wire-immigration-5b22a4a54ba046c4815c31bca2c92ae7">a national emergency to build a wall</a>&nbsp;on the southern border when lawmakers refused to allocate money for that effort.

Biden pledged last week to take significant executive actions on climate after monthslong discussions between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., came to a standstill. The West Virginia senator cited stubbornly high inflation as the reason for his hesitation.

For now, Manchin has said he will only agree to a legislative package that shores up subsidies to help people buy insurance under the 2010 health care law as well as allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices that will ultimately lower the cost of pharmaceuticals for consumers.

The White House has indicated it wants Congress to take that deal, and the president will address the climate issue on his own.

“I’m going to use every power I have as president to continue to fulfill my pledge to move toward dealing with global warming,” Biden told reporters over the weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after the talks between Schumer and Manchin were derailed.

Biden on Wednesday will be visiting the former Brayton Point power plant, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cc5b376c95f9449da344bbfc20ae22fd">closed in 2017</a>&nbsp;after burning coal for more than five decades. The plant will now become an offshore wind manufacturing site.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655936508924.png" alt="But the actions that Biden announces on Wednesday will not include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-joe-manchin-and-environment-bed0159741405159639f800aec3b079b">a national emergency declaration</a>&nbsp;to address the climate crisis —White House photo" />
 <figcaption>But the actions that Biden announces on Wednesday will not include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-joe-manchin-and-environment-bed0159741405159639f800aec3b079b">a national emergency declaration</a>&nbsp;to address the climate crisis —White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;will announce new actions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;that he can take on his own just days after an influential Democratic senator quashed hopes for a sweeping legislative package of new environmental programs this year.Biden is to unveil the latest efforts during a visit on Wednesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-environment-charlie-baker-massachusetts-b10a9536314bf09a487f51023c798f0a">a former coal-fired power plant</a>&nbsp;in Somerset, Massachusetts, that is shifting to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-and-environment-government-politics-13e5d01c3f43c899e39f337d478c1179">offshore wind manufacturing</a>. It’s the embodiment of the transition to clean energy that Biden is seeking but has struggled to realize in the first 18 months of his presidency.Wednesday’s executive actions include new initiatives to bolster the domestic offshore wind industry as well as efforts to help communities cope with soaring temperatures through programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services, according to a White House official.But the actions that Biden announces on Wednesday will not include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-joe-manchin-and-environment-bed0159741405159639f800aec3b079b">a national emergency declaration</a>&nbsp;to address the climate crisis — something that has been sought by activists and Democratic lawmakers after Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Joe Manchin</a>, D-W.Va., last week scuttled talks on a legislative package.White House officials have said the option remains under consideration. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday declined to outline a timetable for a decision aside from saying no such order would be issued this week.Gina McCarthy, Biden’s climate adviser, said the president is not “shying away” from treating climate as an emergency. She told CNN on Wednesday that he will be announcing a series of actions “over the next few weeks” to address the threat.Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/edward-markey">Ed Markey</a>, D-Mass., said he was “confident that the president is ultimately ready to do whatever it takes in order to deal with this crisis.”“I think that he’s made that clear in his statement last Friday, and I think coming to Massachusetts is a further articulation of that goal,” Markey told reporters on Tuesday.Biden has come under considerable pressure to issue an emergency declaration on climate, which would allow him to redirect federal resources to bolster renewable energy programs that would help accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.Jean-Pierre declined to detail internal deliberations on such a declaration, which would be similar to the one issued by Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, who declared&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-az-state-wire-immigration-5b22a4a54ba046c4815c31bca2c92ae7">a national emergency to build a wall</a>&nbsp;on the southern border when lawmakers refused to allocate money for that effort.Biden pledged last week to take significant executive actions on climate after monthslong discussions between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., came to a standstill. The West Virginia senator cited stubbornly high inflation as the reason for his hesitation.For now, Manchin has said he will only agree to a legislative package that shores up subsidies to help people buy insurance under the 2010 health care law as well as allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices that will ultimately lower the cost of pharmaceuticals for consumers.The White House has indicated it wants Congress to take that deal, and the president will address the climate issue on his own.“I’m going to use every power I have as president to continue to fulfill my pledge to move toward dealing with global warming,” Biden told reporters over the weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after the talks between Schumer and Manchin were derailed.Biden on Wednesday will be visiting the former Brayton Point power plant, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cc5b376c95f9449da344bbfc20ae22fd">closed in 2017</a>&nbsp;after burning coal for more than five decades. The plant will now become an offshore wind manufacturing site.

Biden to announce new executive actions on climate change

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/20/sarpy-county-amazon-warehouse-expected-to-employ-1000-delays-opening-until-2024/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Though construction is nearly 
complete, the 700,000-square-foot Amazon distribution center in Sarpy 
County has run into problems, and its opening will be delayed, likely 
until 2024.

A City of Papillion spokesman told 
the Nebraska Examiner on Tuesday that “supply chain issues” botched the 
online retail giant’s plan to open this year.

The sprawling complex was to employ 1,000 people.

“We still have a positive mindset,” 
Trenton Albers said, adding that a supply chain setback could be viewed 
as a “sign of the times.”

Amazon’s project was described by 
area business officials in 2020 as that year’s largest economic 
development coup in seven counties surrounding Omaha. It is to feature 
robots working alongside humans, preparing items for delivery to front 
porches.

Greater Omaha Chamber leaders said at
 the time that they expected the operation to have a $203 million annual
 economic impact in the metro area.

Papillion officials have talked to 
Amazon officials and are optimistic the center will still open, even if 
delayed, Albers said. He said Amazon still was working on the complex, 
including continuing the approval process of installing a sprinkler 
system.

Meanwhile, news media in multiple 
other cities where Amazon warehouses were in the pipeline have reported 
delays or cancellations to warehouse plans.

A report last month in the Atlanta 
Journal Constitution, for example, said a plan for a last-mile Amazon 
distribution center poised for Georgia’s DeKalb County was dropped. The 
developer offered no details on what happened.

A Quad Cities-area ABC affiliate 
reported in May that Amazon confirmed a two-year delay in opening a 
distribution center in Davenport, Iowa. The Amazon spokeswoman did not 
give specific reasons, but a Chamber official there told the TV station 
that “supply chain issues” were involved.

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader in South
 Dakota reported last month that Amazon officials pushed back the target
 date for a Sioux Falls fulfillment center, also to 2024.

Modern Shipper, which covers the 
supply chain that supports e-commerce, reported recently that 16 planned
 Amazon warehouses have been canceled or delayed in 2022. It noted that 
Amazon reported a $3.8 billion net loss in the first quarter of 2022, 
compared to the $8.1 billion profit a year earlier.

Building officials in Papillion said 
construction on the Amazon distribution center was almost done. Plans 
also included about 1,800 car parking stalls, trailer spaces and bike 
racks.

Amazon declined to offer a price tag 
for the venture when Gov. Pete Ricketts and Papillion Mayor David Black 
joined others in late 2020 to announce the project details via a virtual
 press conference. But the land alone, 94 acres northeast of the 
intersection of Nebraska Highways 370 and 50, was sold to an Amazon 
affiliate for $12.3 million.

The Amazon plan had moved through the Papillion Planning Board approval process under the code name Willa.

Amazon has a smaller fulfillment 
center elsewhere in Papillion that is staffed and operational. Albers 
reported no change to that plant at this time.

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/20/sarpy-county-amazon-warehouse-expected-to-employ-1000-delays-opening-until-2024/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Though construction is nearly 
complete, the 700,000-square-foot Amazon distribution center in Sarpy 
County has run into problems, and its opening will be delayed, likely 
until 2024.A City of Papillion spokesman told 
the Nebraska Examiner on Tuesday that “supply chain issues” botched the 
online retail giant’s plan to open this year.The sprawling complex was to employ 1,000 people.“We still have a positive mindset,” 
Trenton Albers said, adding that a supply chain setback could be viewed 
as a “sign of the times.”Amazon’s project was described by 
area business officials in 2020 as that year’s largest economic 
development coup in seven counties surrounding Omaha. It is to feature 
robots working alongside humans, preparing items for delivery to front 
porches.<h2>$203 million economic impact</h2>Greater Omaha Chamber leaders said at
 the time that they expected the operation to have a $203 million annual
 economic impact in the metro area.Papillion officials have talked to 
Amazon officials and are optimistic the center will still open, even if 
delayed, Albers said. He said Amazon still was working on the complex, 
including continuing the approval process of installing a sprinkler 
system.Meanwhile, news media in multiple 
other cities where Amazon warehouses were in the pipeline have reported 
delays or cancellations to warehouse plans.A report last month in the Atlanta 
Journal Constitution, for example, said a plan for a last-mile Amazon 
distribution center poised for Georgia’s DeKalb County was dropped. The 
developer offered no details on what happened.A Quad Cities-area ABC affiliate 
reported in May that Amazon confirmed a two-year delay in opening a 
distribution center in Davenport, Iowa. The Amazon spokeswoman did not 
give specific reasons, but a Chamber official there told the TV station 
that “supply chain issues” were involved.The Sioux Falls Argus Leader in South
 Dakota reported last month that Amazon officials pushed back the target
 date for a Sioux Falls fulfillment center, also to 2024.Modern Shipper, which covers the 
supply chain that supports e-commerce, reported recently that 16 planned
 Amazon warehouses have been canceled or delayed in 2022. It noted that 
Amazon reported a $3.8 billion net loss in the first quarter of 2022, 
compared to the $8.1 billion profit a year earlier.<h2>Code name ‘Willa’</h2>Building officials in Papillion said 
construction on the Amazon distribution center was almost done. Plans 
also included about 1,800 car parking stalls, trailer spaces and bike 
racks.Amazon declined to offer a price tag 
for the venture when Gov. Pete Ricketts and Papillion Mayor David Black 
joined others in late 2020 to announce the project details via a virtual
 press conference. But the land alone, 94 acres northeast of the 
intersection of Nebraska Highways 370 and 50, was sold to an Amazon 
affiliate for $12.3 million.The Amazon plan had moved through the Papillion Planning Board approval process under the code name Willa.Amazon has a smaller fulfillment 
center elsewhere in Papillion that is staffed and operational. Albers 
reported no change to that plant at this time.

Opening of Nebraska Amazon warehouse delayed until 2024

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-sees-rise-in-new-hiv-cases-especially-in-rural-areas-but-cause-unclear/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Last year was a record-setting year for new HIV cases, especially in rural areas.

But state and local officials said 
they’re not sure whether that’s a reflection of an increase in new cases
 or a resumption in testing, which was suspended during the early stages
 of the COVID-19 pandemic, or both.

A health advisory sent out in early July by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said 2021 saw the highest
 number of new HIV diagnoses since 2010. The 107 cases last year 
compared with an average of&nbsp; 81 cases per year during the past decade.

The number of new cases in rural 
areas of the state — those outside of Omaha, Sarpy County and Lincoln — 
nearly doubled and accounted for over 35% of new diagnoses, according to
 the DHHS.

Catalina Laguna, a case manager with 
the Nebraska Aids Project based in Kearney, said a combination of 
factors is driving the increase: more new residents to the state testing
 positive for HIV, increased awareness about getting tested for all 
sexually transmitted diseases, and a resumption in testing.

“After COVID, it’s been a really big thing,” Laguna said of getting tested.&nbsp;

Jeff Powell, a spokesman for the Nebraska DHHS, said&nbsp;the state’s data does not indicate a conclusive reason for the increase.

Testing, Powell said, decreased 
during the pandemic, and it’s possible that the lifting of pandemic 
restrictions in 2021, and a resumption of testing, may have been a 
factor in the increase.&nbsp;

Before the pandemic, from 2011 to 2020, he said, Nebraska had experienced a slow decline in the number of new HIV cases.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus,
 is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and if untreated, can 
lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Laguna said it’s important to detect HIV early so that treatment, which is effective in controlling the virus, can begin.

She said some people are reluctant to get tested, fearing they’ll get
 bad news. But Laguna said it’s important to know your “status,” 
particularly when you have a new sex partner.

The state’s testing indicated that new cases were most prevalent among non-Hispanic white males and suggested that in rural areas, there was a delayed diagnosis of new HIV infections.

The DHHS, citing guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control, said persons between
 the ages of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV at least once as part 
of routine screening, and those at high risk should be tested at least 
yearly.

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-sees-rise-in-new-hiv-cases-especially-in-rural-areas-but-cause-unclear/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Last year was a record-setting year for new HIV cases, especially in rural areas.But state and local officials said 
they’re not sure whether that’s a reflection of an increase in new cases
 or a resumption in testing, which was suspended during the early stages
 of the COVID-19 pandemic, or both.A health advisory sent out in early July by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said 2021 saw the highest
 number of new HIV diagnoses since 2010. The 107 cases last year 
compared with an average of&nbsp; 81 cases per year during the past decade.<h2>Cases doubled in rural areas</h2>The number of new cases in rural 
areas of the state — those outside of Omaha, Sarpy County and Lincoln — 
nearly doubled and accounted for over 35% of new diagnoses, according to
 the DHHS.Catalina Laguna, a case manager with 
the Nebraska Aids Project based in Kearney, said a combination of 
factors is driving the increase: more new residents to the state testing
 positive for HIV, increased awareness about getting tested for all 
sexually transmitted diseases, and a resumption in testing.“After COVID, it’s been a really big thing,” Laguna said of getting tested.&nbsp;Jeff Powell, a spokesman for the Nebraska DHHS, said&nbsp;the state’s data does not indicate a conclusive reason for the increase.Testing, Powell said, decreased 
during the pandemic, and it’s possible that the lifting of pandemic 
restrictions in 2021, and a resumption of testing, may have been a 
factor in the increase.&nbsp;Before the pandemic, from 2011 to 2020, he said, Nebraska had experienced a slow decline in the number of new HIV cases.HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus,
 is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and if untreated, can 
lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).<h2>Important to detect early</h2>Laguna said it’s important to detect HIV early so that treatment, which is effective in controlling the virus, can begin.She said some people are reluctant to get tested, fearing they’ll get
 bad news. But Laguna said it’s important to know your “status,” 
particularly when you have a new sex partner.The state’s testing indicated that new cases were most prevalent among non-Hispanic white males and suggested that in rural areas, there was a delayed diagnosis of new HIV infections.The DHHS, citing guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control, said persons between
 the ages of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV at least once as part 
of routine screening, and those at high risk should be tested at least 
yearly.

Neb. sees rise in new HIV cases, especially in rural areas

NEW YORK (AP) — When long-haul trucker Deb LaBree sets out on the road to deliver pharmaceuticals, she has strategies to hold down costs. She avoids the West Coast and the Northeast, where diesel prices are highest. She organizes her delivery route to minimize “deadheading” — driving an empty truck in between deliveries.

And if a customer’s load is too far away or they can’t pay more for fuel? She turns the job down.

“It breaks my heart because I either have to say, ‘No, I can’t afford to,’ or ’I can, but you’re going to have to pay some of my fuel to get me there,' ” LaBree said. “I hate doing both of those things because it’s not the customer’s fault. It’s not our fault.”

The price of diesel fuel has skyrocketed in recent months — much more even than regular gasoline — especially after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Moscow's attack led numerous nations to spurn Russian fuel, removing from the market a major source of oil, the main component of diesel fuel, and driving prices drastically up.

For months, motorists have felt the pain of high gasoline prices. Many may not know that they're also absorbing the impact of much costlier diesel fuel. That's because the goods consumers buy — from cereal and orange juice to Amazon deliveries of diapers — are delivered by trucks, trains or ships that run on diesel. Those inflated prices are then passed on from company to company until they reach consumers in the form of costlier goods.

“People pay less attention to diesel prices because people aren’t going to the pump and using it,” said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler, a research firm. “But diesel has a more far-reaching impact and is already having a real big impact across the economy.”

Diesel fuel was averaging $5.52 a gallon nationally Tuesday — up a scorching 68% from a year ago, when it was selling for just $3.28. By comparison, a gallon of regular gasoline is averaging $4.50, up 42% from a year ago.

High gasoline prices have eased somewhat in recent weeks. But diesel has remained chronically high, with American refineries operating near capacity. Unless prices ease, the ripple effects of high diesel fuel could worsen because the costs are deterring some truck companies from accepting jobs unless they can persuade their customers to pay more for fuel.

“There will be more logistical shortages,” said Phil Verleger, a longtime energy economist. “Americans will find more empty shelves and higher prices.”

If they're not rejecting jobs, many truckers are choosing lighter loads or working longer hours to make up for money lost on fuel, according to interviews with truckers and industry executives. Farmers harvesting hay and planting corn with diesel-fired tractors are absorbing a financial hit. Delivery companies are installing their own fueling pumps to cut costs. Ultimately, consumers are left bearing the burden.

“If you’re a farmer, then your energy costs are higher, and therefore it’s costing more to produce grain, and that’s pushing the price of grain up, and that’s pushing the price of food up,” said Smith, the analyst at Kpler.

Even more than gasoline, high diesel prices are magnifying the costs of goods because the delivery cost has risen so much. Consumer prices soared 9.1% in June compared with 12 months earlier, the government reported last week. The fuel oil portion of the consumer price index nearly doubled from the same time last year.

“Those energy costs are working their way into products, all manner of different consumer products,” Smith noted.

One reason why diesel prices haven't yet declined as gasoline has is that OPEC nations have slowed their supply of oil, and Middle East oil typically produces more diesel fuel than, say, parts of Texas do. Another factor is that China has reduced its diesel exports, presumably to help achieve its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals.

And within the United States, refineries that produce diesel from crude oil are essentially maxed out. The nation has 11 fewer refineries operating today than before the pandemic, according to the American Petroleum Institute. One refinery that had served the East Coast closed after an explosion in 2019 and never re-opened. And some refineries in California are closed for retrofitting to process renewable fuel.

“We use a lot of diesel, probably more than what these refineries can produce,” said Bob Costello, chief economist of the American Trucking Associations.

President Joe Biden's visit last week to Saudi Arabia was intended, in part, to encourage OPEC to produce more oil, which would mean more diesel fuel globally. Though no major deal was announced, Prince&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-africa-israel-iran-ba943ceaceb78d17cf50c64511ba6db4">Mohammed bin Salman hinted that Saudi Arabia could potentially produce more oil</a>.

But expecting OPEC to export more oil during high-demand summer months might be unrealistic, said Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy expert at Tufts University.

“The important thing," she said, "is to make sure that our allies, together with OPEC, don’t decrease any flows to the market at any junction, especially if we have some kind of disruption.”

Even if American oil and gas producers increase production, tough challenges would remain — namely, finding additional refinery space and then enough pipeline capacity to transport any additional diesel.

In the meantime, some truckers are struggling to adjust while keeping goods moving. Sherri Brumbaugh, who runs a fleet of 90 trucks as head of Garner Trucking, has installed more fuel pumps on-site in Findlay, Ohio, because she can obtain diesel more cheaply than her truckers can on the road.

She also monitors where her drivers are buying fuel to make sure they're making wise decisions. And she tries to absorb the higher fuel costs herself as much as possible.

But “at some point," she said, “you’ve got to go to the customer and say, ‘I’ve got to increase this rate.' ”

Brumbaugh declined to say how much she's raised rates on her customers, which range from bottled beverage companies to dishwasher manufacturers.

Lately, she said, there’s been less retail freight to haul. “It may be an indication of a recession,” she said. “I hope not.”

Cargo Transporters, which runs 470 trucks and 1,800 trailers, raised its rates, too, and has been turning down some jobs to Florida, where trucks often must return without a load, said Shawn Brown, a company executive. When there's no cargo on a truck, no one pays the trucking company. But the driver still has to be paid, and fuel is still burned.

“When that trailer’s not loaded and there’s no revenue being generated and a mile is run, we’re eating that,” Brown said.

UPS and FedEx have more than doubled their fuel surcharges on ground deliveries year-over-year, according to calculations by Cowen Research and AFS Logistics.

Farmers also face higher costs. But they can't easily raise prices, because they often don’t control the price of their goods. Milk and grain prices, for example, are set by the market.

“It’s costing us more for freight to get things delivered to the farm, and it’s costing more to haul things away,” said David Fisher, a dairy farmer in Madrid, New York, who is president of the New York Farm Bureau, which lobbies governments on behalf of farmers. “We’re planting crops and harvesting crops, and the cost of those are going to be higher, but we don’t know if we can recoup those costs.”

To burn less fuel, he's considered skipping a tillage pass, a maneuver whereby a tractor manipulates soil to enhance crop growth. But doing so would risk having fewer crops to harvest.

A year ago, Fisher was spending $8,000 a week on fuel. This year, he said, the figure reached around $20,000.

“Everybody I talk to has quite a bit of anxiety over these fuel prices,” Fisher said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-barack-obama-holidays-221ce44407c35e38cd8007e77095eeb4">Biden has called on Congress and states</a>&nbsp;to suspend their gasoline or diesel taxes for a few months to help alleviate pain for drivers, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-biden-united-states-holidays-prices-2136d5702ed4665f083940a23257299d">Congress appears unwilling</a>&nbsp;to enact a tax holiday. Some states temporarily suspended some taxes on diesel and other motor fuels.

With high diesel prices persisting, LaBree and her husband are working more hours to manage costs. They used to stay on the road for four days and come home to Missouri for three. Now, she said, “we have to stay out for five — sometimes six — days to make up for what we’ve lost from fuel."

“Most truckers like to think of ourselves as, we’re serving our country, moving goods around to keep America going,” LaBree said. “But at what point are we doing it for free? I can’t run a business that way.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658322765951.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSNEW YORK (AP) — When long-haul trucker Deb LaBree sets out on the road to deliver pharmaceuticals, she has strategies to hold down costs. She avoids the West Coast and the Northeast, where diesel prices are highest. She organizes her delivery route to minimize “deadheading” — driving an empty truck in between deliveries.And if a customer’s load is too far away or they can’t pay more for fuel? She turns the job down.“It breaks my heart because I either have to say, ‘No, I can’t afford to,’ or ’I can, but you’re going to have to pay some of my fuel to get me there,' ” LaBree said. “I hate doing both of those things because it’s not the customer’s fault. It’s not our fault.”The price of diesel fuel has skyrocketed in recent months — much more even than regular gasoline — especially after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Moscow's attack led numerous nations to spurn Russian fuel, removing from the market a major source of oil, the main component of diesel fuel, and driving prices drastically up.For months, motorists have felt the pain of high gasoline prices. Many may not know that they're also absorbing the impact of much costlier diesel fuel. That's because the goods consumers buy — from cereal and orange juice to Amazon deliveries of diapers — are delivered by trucks, trains or ships that run on diesel. Those inflated prices are then passed on from company to company until they reach consumers in the form of costlier goods.“People pay less attention to diesel prices because people aren’t going to the pump and using it,” said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler, a research firm. “But diesel has a more far-reaching impact and is already having a real big impact across the economy.”Diesel fuel was averaging $5.52 a gallon nationally Tuesday — up a scorching 68% from a year ago, when it was selling for just $3.28. By comparison, a gallon of regular gasoline is averaging $4.50, up 42% from a year ago.High gasoline prices have eased somewhat in recent weeks. But diesel has remained chronically high, with American refineries operating near capacity. Unless prices ease, the ripple effects of high diesel fuel could worsen because the costs are deterring some truck companies from accepting jobs unless they can persuade their customers to pay more for fuel.“There will be more logistical shortages,” said Phil Verleger, a longtime energy economist. “Americans will find more empty shelves and higher prices.”If they're not rejecting jobs, many truckers are choosing lighter loads or working longer hours to make up for money lost on fuel, according to interviews with truckers and industry executives. Farmers harvesting hay and planting corn with diesel-fired tractors are absorbing a financial hit. Delivery companies are installing their own fueling pumps to cut costs. Ultimately, consumers are left bearing the burden.“If you’re a farmer, then your energy costs are higher, and therefore it’s costing more to produce grain, and that’s pushing the price of grain up, and that’s pushing the price of food up,” said Smith, the analyst at Kpler.Even more than gasoline, high diesel prices are magnifying the costs of goods because the delivery cost has risen so much. Consumer prices soared 9.1% in June compared with 12 months earlier, the government reported last week. The fuel oil portion of the consumer price index nearly doubled from the same time last year.“Those energy costs are working their way into products, all manner of different consumer products,” Smith noted.One reason why diesel prices haven't yet declined as gasoline has is that OPEC nations have slowed their supply of oil, and Middle East oil typically produces more diesel fuel than, say, parts of Texas do. Another factor is that China has reduced its diesel exports, presumably to help achieve its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals.And within the United States, refineries that produce diesel from crude oil are essentially maxed out. The nation has 11 fewer refineries operating today than before the pandemic, according to the American Petroleum Institute. One refinery that had served the East Coast closed after an explosion in 2019 and never re-opened. And some refineries in California are closed for retrofitting to process renewable fuel.“We use a lot of diesel, probably more than what these refineries can produce,” said Bob Costello, chief economist of the American Trucking Associations.President Joe Biden's visit last week to Saudi Arabia was intended, in part, to encourage OPEC to produce more oil, which would mean more diesel fuel globally. Though no major deal was announced, Prince&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-africa-israel-iran-ba943ceaceb78d17cf50c64511ba6db4">Mohammed bin Salman hinted that Saudi Arabia could potentially produce more oil</a>.But expecting OPEC to export more oil during high-demand summer months might be unrealistic, said Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy expert at Tufts University.“The important thing," she said, "is to make sure that our allies, together with OPEC, don’t decrease any flows to the market at any junction, especially if we have some kind of disruption.”Even if American oil and gas producers increase production, tough challenges would remain — namely, finding additional refinery space and then enough pipeline capacity to transport any additional diesel.In the meantime, some truckers are struggling to adjust while keeping goods moving. Sherri Brumbaugh, who runs a fleet of 90 trucks as head of Garner Trucking, has installed more fuel pumps on-site in Findlay, Ohio, because she can obtain diesel more cheaply than her truckers can on the road.She also monitors where her drivers are buying fuel to make sure they're making wise decisions. And she tries to absorb the higher fuel costs herself as much as possible.But “at some point," she said, “you’ve got to go to the customer and say, ‘I’ve got to increase this rate.' ”Brumbaugh declined to say how much she's raised rates on her customers, which range from bottled beverage companies to dishwasher manufacturers.Lately, she said, there’s been less retail freight to haul. “It may be an indication of a recession,” she said. “I hope not.”Cargo Transporters, which runs 470 trucks and 1,800 trailers, raised its rates, too, and has been turning down some jobs to Florida, where trucks often must return without a load, said Shawn Brown, a company executive. When there's no cargo on a truck, no one pays the trucking company. But the driver still has to be paid, and fuel is still burned.“When that trailer’s not loaded and there’s no revenue being generated and a mile is run, we’re eating that,” Brown said.UPS and FedEx have more than doubled their fuel surcharges on ground deliveries year-over-year, according to calculations by Cowen Research and AFS Logistics.Farmers also face higher costs. But they can't easily raise prices, because they often don’t control the price of their goods. Milk and grain prices, for example, are set by the market.“It’s costing us more for freight to get things delivered to the farm, and it’s costing more to haul things away,” said David Fisher, a dairy farmer in Madrid, New York, who is president of the New York Farm Bureau, which lobbies governments on behalf of farmers. “We’re planting crops and harvesting crops, and the cost of those are going to be higher, but we don’t know if we can recoup those costs.”To burn less fuel, he's considered skipping a tillage pass, a maneuver whereby a tractor manipulates soil to enhance crop growth. But doing so would risk having fewer crops to harvest.A year ago, Fisher was spending $8,000 a week on fuel. This year, he said, the figure reached around $20,000.“Everybody I talk to has quite a bit of anxiety over these fuel prices,” Fisher said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-barack-obama-holidays-221ce44407c35e38cd8007e77095eeb4">Biden has called on Congress and states</a>&nbsp;to suspend their gasoline or diesel taxes for a few months to help alleviate pain for drivers, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-biden-united-states-holidays-prices-2136d5702ed4665f083940a23257299d">Congress appears unwilling</a>&nbsp;to enact a tax holiday. Some states temporarily suspended some taxes on diesel and other motor fuels.With high diesel prices persisting, LaBree and her husband are working more hours to manage costs. They used to stay on the road for four days and come home to Missouri for three. Now, she said, “we have to stay out for five — sometimes six — days to make up for what we’ve lost from fuel."“Most truckers like to think of ourselves as, we’re serving our country, moving goods around to keep America going,” LaBree said. “But at what point are we doing it for free? I can’t run a business that way.”<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
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