WASHINGTON (AP) — In an abrupt change of course, the White House is now declining to comment on the frequency of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 testing regimen, even as it maintains that it would inform the public if he were to ever test positive for the coronavirus.

Since Inauguration Day, the White House had frequently answered questions from reporters about when Biden, 79, last tested negative for the virus. Now, the White House says its policy is not to answer those questions.

“I’m telling you he has a regular cadence,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, refusing to say what day he last tested negative. “I just don’t have a date to share with you, but he does have a regular weekly cadence.”

Following Jean-Pierre’s comments, deputy press secretary Chris Meagher tweeted Thursday that “Our policy is not to readout every test POTUS has taken.”

Biden has often been tested more frequently, either because of close calls with people who have subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 or because of his travel schedule. And the White House had previously been more transparent about Biden’s testing.

“To remain transparent with you and the American people, we wanted to share that the President tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday,” then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last February. “We will venture to provide this update the following day in the future.”

As recently as May 4, Psaki told reporters that Biden tested negative the previous day.

The new, more opaque approach comes as top White House officials have been matter-of-fact about the chances of the president getting COVID, a measure of how ingrained the virus has become in society — and of its diminished threat for those who are up to date on their vaccinations and with access to treatments.

Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the White House would inform the public if Biden were to test positive or if he were to be deemed a “close contact” of someone who tested positive. The White House uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of a “close contact,” which is being in the presence of someone with known or suspected COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes, or within six feet of someone with the virus up to two days before they tested positive.

The White House said Biden has never tested positive for COVID-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652913740800.png" alt="The White House said Biden has never tested positive for COVID-19- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The White House said Biden has never tested positive for COVID-19- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In an abrupt change of course, the White House is now declining to comment on the frequency of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 testing regimen, even as it maintains that it would inform the public if he were to ever test positive for the coronavirus.Since Inauguration Day, the White House had frequently answered questions from reporters about when Biden, 79, last tested negative for the virus. Now, the White House says its policy is not to answer those questions.“I’m telling you he has a regular cadence,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, refusing to say what day he last tested negative. “I just don’t have a date to share with you, but he does have a regular weekly cadence.”Following Jean-Pierre’s comments, deputy press secretary Chris Meagher tweeted Thursday that “Our policy is not to readout every test POTUS has taken.”Biden has often been tested more frequently, either because of close calls with people who have subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 or because of his travel schedule. And the White House had previously been more transparent about Biden’s testing.“To remain transparent with you and the American people, we wanted to share that the President tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday,” then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last February. “We will venture to provide this update the following day in the future.”As recently as May 4, Psaki told reporters that Biden tested negative the previous day.The new, more opaque approach comes as top White House officials have been matter-of-fact about the chances of the president getting COVID, a measure of how ingrained the virus has become in society — and of its diminished threat for those who are up to date on their vaccinations and with access to treatments.Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the White House would inform the public if Biden were to test positive or if he were to be deemed a “close contact” of someone who tested positive. The White House uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of a “close contact,” which is being in the presence of someone with known or suspected COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes, or within six feet of someone with the virus up to two days before they tested positive.The White House said Biden has never tested positive for COVID-19.

White House clams up on Biden COVID-19 testing regimen

News Release Wyoming Highway Patrol

On June 17, 2022, a fatal crash occurred around milepost 383 on Interstate 80 east of Cheyenne, Wyoming. At 01:21 a.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a motor vehicle collision.

The preliminary investigation shows a commercial truck and trailer headed east on Interstate 80 around milepost 383. The tractor-trailer driver lost control, causing the truck and trailer to roll over and stop in the roadway. A second commercial tractor and trailer also headed east collided with the overturned commercial truck, and both vehicles immediately became engulfed in flames. The make and models of both commercial trucks are still being investigated due to intense fire. 

The investigation is still ongoing for the identity of all occupants involved. No hazardous materials were involved in this crash. The eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 will remain closed from milepost 370 to 386 for most of Friday while the investigation and clean-up occur. All eastbound traffic in this area has been re-routed to the Interstate 80 Frontage Road.  

The investigation is still ongoing for potential contributing factors.

This is the 42nd, 43rd, and 44th fatalities on Wyoming's roadways in 2022 compared to 41 in 2021, 41 in 2020, and 72 in 2019 to date.

<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/2022/6/1655559051450.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Wyoming Highway PatrolOn June 17, 2022, a fatal crash occurred around milepost 383 on Interstate 80 east of Cheyenne, Wyoming. At 01:21 a.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a motor vehicle collision.The preliminary investigation shows a commercial truck and trailer headed east on Interstate 80 around milepost 383. The tractor-trailer driver lost control, causing the truck and trailer to roll over and stop in the roadway. A second commercial tractor and trailer also headed east collided with the overturned commercial truck, and both vehicles immediately became engulfed in flames. The make and models of both commercial trucks are still being investigated due to intense fire. The investigation is still ongoing for the identity of all occupants involved. No hazardous materials were involved in this crash. The eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 will remain closed from milepost 370 to 386 for most of Friday while the investigation and clean-up occur. All eastbound traffic in this area has been re-routed to the Interstate 80 Frontage Road. The investigation is still ongoing for potential contributing factors.This is the 42nd, 43rd, and 44th fatalities on Wyoming's roadways in 2022 compared to 41 in 2021, 41 in 2020, and 72 in 2019 to date.<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/Go-t44IVrfQy6nTDD3oz6NA_jEKbRXxIxoqNE-phu6DUArcinWaJnzbC_awc-BoQKfl4aVTlAPx9iPZtMkIIX5KKy7pROMuUKj1tx69pz9_Q-exv6Sg_9tWNbyiQkb0VydlRxA597oTk3DFs5A" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Crash near Cheyenne claims 3 lives

Kenya native is among Nebraskans seeking to help shape U.S. foreign policy

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/17/zabuni-coffee-entrepreneur-takes-personal-story-from-grand-island-to-capitol-hill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Laban
 Njuguna says he’s “just a boy born in Kenya” whose journey led him to 
central Nebraska, where he launched an international coffee trade 
business just months before the pandemic struck.

He
 and his wife, Cora, pushed through the crisis, initially adapting their
 business model and later expanding to link American buyers to farmers 
in Ethiopia as well as Kenya.

The
 couple’s Grand Island-based Zabuni Specialty Coffee Auction is now 
gaining traction as a provider of better wages and living conditions for
 many farm families in East Africa.

This
 week Njuguna took his personal story of resiliency and a push for more 
international connectivity to policymakers and lawmakers on Capitol 
Hill.

He
 was in the nation’s capital as part of a Nebraska contingent attending 
the Global Impact Forum, which aims to shape the debate on U.S. 
engagement abroad at a time of growing conflicts and crises around the 
globe.

Njuguna
 and other Nebraskans on the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition gathered 
with leaders including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, retired Adm. 
James Stavridis with the Carlyle Group global investment firm and USAID 
administrator Samantha Powers. The Nebraskans also met with members of 
the Nebraska&nbsp; political delegation to urge full funding of the 
International Affairs Budget.

They
 say effective foreign policy and U.S involvement abroad is essential to
 combating disease, fighting hunger and addressing economic and supply 
chain struggles, all issues affecting their home front. Njuguna is 
particularly concerned with maintaining peace worldwide and says it 
begins by working together to improve areas such as health care, climate
 and agriculture.

“Sometimes
 with us being in the middle of the country, we feel like we’re far 
removed from a lot of this foreign policy impact, yet we’re not. Look at
 gas prices,” said Njuguna. “Whatever it is that will keep us safe here 
and make the world a better place, I am all down for that.”

Nebraska’s
 economy overall is impacted, the Global Leadership Coalition says, 
noting that the state is home to brands and organizations with 
fast-growing international operations. Last year, Nebraska exported 
about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/state-economy-and-trade-factsheets">$8 billion</a> in goods worldwide and trade supported some <a target="_blank" href="https://tradepartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Business-Roundtable_TradeandAmericanJobs2022.pdf">255,000 Nebraska</a> jobs in 2019, according to Trade Partnership Worldwide and the International Trade Administration.

Njuguna
 said he offers a unique perspective to the debate as an immigrant small
 businessman contributing to his Nebraska community and benefiting from 
trade partnerships and international efforts supported by the Global 
Leadership Coalition.

“These
 efforts are not a waste of American taxpayer dollars,” said Njuguna. 
“There is a lot of potential out there and a lot of land mines that can 
be detonated or defused just by the approach we take.”

He said that 22 years ago, his parents sold property and did all they could to send him to study at a U.S. university.

The
 plan was to return to Nairobi after completing his education. But he 
fell in love with a girl from Aurora and, eventually, with her native 
state of Nebraska. The couple has four children.

After
 two years of research and setting up the coffee business on two 
different continents, Njuguna said he and Cora in 2019 officially 
launched Zabuni, a word that in Swahili translates to bid, auction or 
evaluate.

The
 idea was to provide a platform — Zabuni acts as an auction service — 
where African farmers and American roasters connect. Roasters gain 
access to high-quality coffee beans, while the farmers are empowered as 
their own brand ambassadors.

Njuguna
 describes his model as unique for its industry and similar to eBay, a 
vehicle to buy and sell. Zabuni brings coffee beans grown by small 
African farmers closer to U.S. buyers, setting up the farmers for 
profits they haven’t seen before.

Just
 months after the launch, though, COVID-19 hampered operations. The 
company, headquartered at a 30,000-square-foot warehouse in Grand 
Island, turned to roasting and selling bags of African coffee.

“Roasted
 coffee sales is how we pivoted and were able to keep the lights on,” 
said Njuguna, adding that he now may add a permanent retail shop to the 
overall growing enterprise.

He said the pandemic is one example of an external factor outside one’s control affecting U.S. entrepreneurs like himself.&nbsp; He is a fan of better connections and relationships, believing that in the end those reap positive returns.&nbsp;

“The more interest we take globally, and the more we are able to resolve issues, the safer and better we are.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655479728718.png" alt="Laban Njuguna at Kenya coffee farm, second from left, hosts a group from Kearney, Nebraska. (Courtesy of Buchucha Ng’ethe) " />
 <figcaption>Laban Njuguna at Kenya coffee farm, second from left, hosts a group from Kearney, Nebraska. (Courtesy of Buchucha Ng’ethe) </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Kenya native is among Nebraskans seeking to help shape U.S. foreign policy</h2>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/17/zabuni-coffee-entrepreneur-takes-personal-story-from-grand-island-to-capitol-hill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Laban
 Njuguna says he’s “just a boy born in Kenya” whose journey led him to 
central Nebraska, where he launched an international coffee trade 
business just months before the pandemic struck.He
 and his wife, Cora, pushed through the crisis, initially adapting their
 business model and later expanding to link American buyers to farmers 
in Ethiopia as well as Kenya.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655479790872.jpeg" alt="Zabuni warehouse (Courtesy of Zabuni Specialty Coffee Auction)" />
 <figcaption>Zabuni warehouse (Courtesy of Zabuni Specialty Coffee Auction)</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 couple’s Grand Island-based Zabuni Specialty Coffee Auction is now 
gaining traction as a provider of better wages and living conditions for
 many farm families in East Africa.This
 week Njuguna took his personal story of resiliency and a push for more 
international connectivity to policymakers and lawmakers on Capitol 
Hill.<h2>Shaping engagement abroad</h2>He
 was in the nation’s capital as part of a Nebraska contingent attending 
the Global Impact Forum, which aims to shape the debate on U.S. 
engagement abroad at a time of growing conflicts and crises around the 
globe.Njuguna
 and other Nebraskans on the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition gathered 
with leaders including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, retired Adm. 
James Stavridis with the Carlyle Group global investment firm and USAID 
administrator Samantha Powers. The Nebraskans also met with members of 
the Nebraska&nbsp; political delegation to urge full funding of the 
International Affairs Budget.They
 say effective foreign policy and U.S involvement abroad is essential to
 combating disease, fighting hunger and addressing economic and supply 
chain struggles, all issues affecting their home front. Njuguna is 
particularly concerned with maintaining peace worldwide and says it 
begins by working together to improve areas such as health care, climate
 and agriculture.“Sometimes
 with us being in the middle of the country, we feel like we’re far 
removed from a lot of this foreign policy impact, yet we’re not. Look at
 gas prices,” said Njuguna. “Whatever it is that will keep us safe here 
and make the world a better place, I am all down for that.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655479817769.jpeg" alt="Laban Njuguna and Samantha Power, head of USAID, at the Global Impact Forum in Washington D.C. (Courtesy of Global Leadership Coalition)" />
 <figcaption>Laban Njuguna and Samantha Power, head of USAID, at the Global Impact Forum in Washington D.C. (Courtesy of Global Leadership Coalition)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Nebraska exports and trading</h2>Nebraska’s
 economy overall is impacted, the Global Leadership Coalition says, 
noting that the state is home to brands and organizations with 
fast-growing international operations. Last year, Nebraska exported 
about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/state-economy-and-trade-factsheets">$8 billion</a> in goods worldwide and trade supported some <a target="_blank" href="https://tradepartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Business-Roundtable_TradeandAmericanJobs2022.pdf">255,000 Nebraska</a> jobs in 2019, according to Trade Partnership Worldwide and the International Trade Administration.Njuguna
 said he offers a unique perspective to the debate as an immigrant small
 businessman contributing to his Nebraska community and benefiting from 
trade partnerships and international efforts supported by the Global 
Leadership Coalition.“These
 efforts are not a waste of American taxpayer dollars,” said Njuguna. 
“There is a lot of potential out there and a lot of land mines that can 
be detonated or defused just by the approach we take.”He said that 22 years ago, his parents sold property and did all they could to send him to study at a U.S. university.<h2>Fell in love</h2>The
 plan was to return to Nairobi after completing his education. But he 
fell in love with a girl from Aurora and, eventually, with her native 
state of Nebraska. The couple has four children.After
 two years of research and setting up the coffee business on two 
different continents, Njuguna said he and Cora in 2019 officially 
launched Zabuni, a word that in Swahili translates to bid, auction or 
evaluate.The
 idea was to provide a platform — Zabuni acts as an auction service — 
where African farmers and American roasters connect. Roasters gain 
access to high-quality coffee beans, while the farmers are empowered as 
their own brand ambassadors.Njuguna
 describes his model as unique for its industry and similar to eBay, a 
vehicle to buy and sell. Zabuni brings coffee beans grown by small 
African farmers closer to U.S. buyers, setting up the farmers for 
profits they haven’t seen before.<h2>Pivoted to keep lights on</h2>Just
 months after the launch, though, COVID-19 hampered operations. The 
company, headquartered at a 30,000-square-foot warehouse in Grand 
Island, turned to roasting and selling bags of African coffee.“Roasted
 coffee sales is how we pivoted and were able to keep the lights on,” 
said Njuguna, adding that he now may add a permanent retail shop to the 
overall growing enterprise.He said the pandemic is one example of an external factor outside one’s control affecting U.S. entrepreneurs like himself.&nbsp; He is a fan of better connections and relationships, believing that in the end those reap positive returns.&nbsp;“The more interest we take globally, and the more we are able to resolve issues, the safer and better we are.”

Coffee entrepreneur takes his story from Grand Island to Capitol Hill

News Release Unites States Attorney-Omaha

Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Kimberley Kaye Brummett, 59, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a five-year term of imprisonment following her conviction for two counts of wire fraud. After she completes her prison sentence, Brummett will serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Brummett was a financial controller for Taste Traditions, a manufacturer of food products for organizations such as schools and for retail. Taste Traditions was acquired by Wald Family Foods in 2012. Both before and after it was acquired by Wald Family Foods, Brummett worked out of a Taste Traditions plant in Omaha, Nebraska. Wald Family Foods is owned by TOBA, Inc., a company headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska.&nbsp; After the acquisition, Brummett’s new role entailed her working as the controller for three manufacturing facilities owned by Wald Family Foods, including the Taste Traditions facility located in Omaha.&nbsp; Brummett continued working for Taste Traditions until October 10, 2019, when her position was absorbed by TOBA, Inc.

Both before and after the acquisition, Brummett was engaged in a scheme to defraud Taste Traditions. GIX Logistics, Inc. is a business located in Grand Island that coordinates trucking services for companies. They provided services to TOBA, Inc. and Taste Traditions.&nbsp; Brummett was not associated with and has not worked for GIX Logistics, Inc.&nbsp; Brummett opened an account with Centris Federal Credit Union in Omaha under her name and doing business as “GIX Logistics,” but omitted the “Inc.” that is used by the real “GIX Logistics.” In the forms Brummett completed when she opened the account, the business was listed as a sole proprietorship owned by Brummett.&nbsp; Taste Traditions and Wald Family Foods did not enter into any contract to obtain products or services from the GIX Logistics entity created by Brummett and none were provided. Between 2013 and 2019, Brummett submitted numerous false invoices under the “GIX Logistics” name. Taste Traditions would then issue checks to pay the phony invoices and Brummett deposited those checks into the fake GIX Logistics account she created. Between 2013 and the end of her employment in 2019, Taste Traditions paid out a total of $1,666,128.13 to Brummett’s fictitious company. As part of her sentence, Judge Gerrard also ordered Brummett to pay restitution in that amount.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Gerrard discussed how Congress and the United States Sentencing Commission have expressed a clear intent to punish white-collar offenders with prison sentences.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nebraska State Patrol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559617734930.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Unites States Attorney-OmahaActing United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Kimberley Kaye Brummett, 59, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a five-year term of imprisonment following her conviction for two counts of wire fraud. After she completes her prison sentence, Brummett will serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.Brummett was a financial controller for Taste Traditions, a manufacturer of food products for organizations such as schools and for retail. Taste Traditions was acquired by Wald Family Foods in 2012. Both before and after it was acquired by Wald Family Foods, Brummett worked out of a Taste Traditions plant in Omaha, Nebraska. Wald Family Foods is owned by TOBA, Inc., a company headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska.&nbsp; After the acquisition, Brummett’s new role entailed her working as the controller for three manufacturing facilities owned by Wald Family Foods, including the Taste Traditions facility located in Omaha.&nbsp; Brummett continued working for Taste Traditions until October 10, 2019, when her position was absorbed by TOBA, Inc.Both before and after the acquisition, Brummett was engaged in a scheme to defraud Taste Traditions. GIX Logistics, Inc. is a business located in Grand Island that coordinates trucking services for companies. They provided services to TOBA, Inc. and Taste Traditions.&nbsp; Brummett was not associated with and has not worked for GIX Logistics, Inc.&nbsp; Brummett opened an account with Centris Federal Credit Union in Omaha under her name and doing business as “GIX Logistics,” but omitted the “Inc.” that is used by the real “GIX Logistics.” In the forms Brummett completed when she opened the account, the business was listed as a sole proprietorship owned by Brummett.&nbsp; Taste Traditions and Wald Family Foods did not enter into any contract to obtain products or services from the GIX Logistics entity created by Brummett and none were provided. Between 2013 and 2019, Brummett submitted numerous false invoices under the “GIX Logistics” name. Taste Traditions would then issue checks to pay the phony invoices and Brummett deposited those checks into the fake GIX Logistics account she created. Between 2013 and the end of her employment in 2019, Taste Traditions paid out a total of $1,666,128.13 to Brummett’s fictitious company. As part of her sentence, Judge Gerrard also ordered Brummett to pay restitution in that amount.During the sentencing hearing, Judge Gerrard discussed how Congress and the United States Sentencing Commission have expressed a clear intent to punish white-collar offenders with prison sentences.This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Elkhorn woman sentenced to federal prison for stealing from employer

NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers and marketers have been quick to commemorate Juneteenth with an avalanche of merchandise from ice cream to T-shirts to party cups.

But many are getting backlash on social media for what critics say undermines the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-congress-federal-holiday-3cc3b7a56ec97b0bae3dbdff1da092ee">designated as a federal holiday last year</a>&nbsp;to honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. A search for Juneteenth items among online sellers like Amazon and J.C. Penney produced everything from toothpicks with pan-African flags to party plates and balloons.

Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, apologized last month after getting slammed for a Juneteenth ice cream flavor — swirled red velvet and cheesecake — under its store label Great Value. Walmart said it’s reviewing its product assortment and will remove items “as appropriate.” As of Friday, Walmart’s site was still offering lots of T-shirts and party plates.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum removed a Juneteenth watermelon salad from its menu and issued a mea culpa earlier this week. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the museum blamed a lapse in vendor oversight, noting the label and salad were not reviewed by museum staff.

“We are an imperfect institution, but we are committed to improvement and will work tirelessly to regain your trust,” the museum wrote on its Facebook page.

The backlash comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-business-lifestyle-race-and-ethnicity-death-of-george-floyd-ec48d239cd93b8d07a9fc13d62ba7364">companies promised after the police killing of George Floyd in May of 2020 to no longer stay silent</a>&nbsp;and vowed to take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/whole-foods-market-inc-race-and-ethnicity-beyonce-knowles-corporate-giving-coronavirus-pandemic-65357480c89de284c6f0feb2f4b62587">an active role</a>&nbsp;in confronting and educating customers and employees on systemic racism. According to the preliminary results of a survey by Mercer of 200 employers, 33% are offering Juneteenth as a paid holiday to their staff. That’s up from 9% last year in a survey of more than 400 companies conducted shortly before Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday.

At the same time, many have cashed in on a holiday that Black Americans have observed since June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom for enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, in alignment with President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.

Many experts believe that if retailers and other marketers plan to recognize the day, they should either sell merchandise from Black-owned businesses or invest in campaigns that would help Black communities. Amazon. for instance, does have a Black-owned business storefront that’s live all year-round for customers who want to support and shop Black-owned businesses selling on the site.

“This is a serious and reflective moment — I am excited and grateful for the recognition,” said Ramon Manning, chairman of the board at Emancipation Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization aimed to restore the park, which was purchased in 1872 by a group of former enslaved people to commemorate the anniversary of their emancipation.

“However, I feel like it is also brought back everybody else out of the woodwork who are opportunists more so than folks who are looking at the history of this country and looking at where a group of people have come from,” he added.

Manning, who is also founder and chairman of Ridgegate Capital, a private investment fund, further wondered: “Who is this going to benefit?”

Sheryl Daija, founder and CEO of Bridge, a group of marketing and diversity, equity and inclusion executives, noted there’s a disconnect between the seriousness of the holiday and the merchandise on display.

“A lot of companies have good intentions, but unfortunately good intentions can go awry, and this is what we have seen,” said Daija, who found Walmart’s Juneteenth ice cream particularly egregious because it used the holiday moniker to brand a new ice cream flavor.

Companies have a long history of commercializing holidays and other moments in order to cash in. Take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/12a7bd7d472a4037a984b04fae278107">Cinco de Mayo</a>, which has become in the U.S a celebration of all things Mexican, with companies selling everything from beans to beer to sombrero hats. The holiday has spread from the American Southwest, even though most have no idea about its original ties to the U.S. Civil War, abolition and promotion of civil rights for Blacks. In fact, it’s often mistaken for Mexican Independence day.

Meanwhile, every October, retailers are awash in pink merchandise to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month, but critics say many make misleading claims about supporting cancer groups. And Memorial Day, a federal holiday day designated to mourn the U.S. military who have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces, has morphed into all-day mattress sales at stores.

But what makes the move by companies to cash in on Juneteenth worse is that it comes as the U.S. remains fraught with racial tensions, said Darnise Martin, clinical associate professor of African American studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

“It is weird to merchandise around it, but that’s what America does,” Martin said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624012350734.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers and marketers have been quick to commemorate Juneteenth with an avalanche of merchandise from ice cream to T-shirts to party cups.But many are getting backlash on social media for what critics say undermines the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-congress-federal-holiday-3cc3b7a56ec97b0bae3dbdff1da092ee">designated as a federal holiday last year</a>&nbsp;to honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. A search for Juneteenth items among online sellers like Amazon and J.C. Penney produced everything from toothpicks with pan-African flags to party plates and balloons.Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, apologized last month after getting slammed for a Juneteenth ice cream flavor — swirled red velvet and cheesecake — under its store label Great Value. Walmart said it’s reviewing its product assortment and will remove items “as appropriate.” As of Friday, Walmart’s site was still offering lots of T-shirts and party plates.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Please take a moment to read this important letter from The Children’s Museum. <a href="https://t.co/vMhnBSuGgK">pic.twitter.com/vMhnBSuGgK</a>&mdash; The Children&#39;s Museum (@TCMIndy) <a href="https://twitter.com/TCMIndy/status/1536679876589150209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum removed a Juneteenth watermelon salad from its menu and issued a mea culpa earlier this week. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the museum blamed a lapse in vendor oversight, noting the label and salad were not reviewed by museum staff.“We are an imperfect institution, but we are committed to improvement and will work tirelessly to regain your trust,” the museum wrote on its Facebook page.The backlash comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-business-lifestyle-race-and-ethnicity-death-of-george-floyd-ec48d239cd93b8d07a9fc13d62ba7364">companies promised after the police killing of George Floyd in May of 2020 to no longer stay silent</a>&nbsp;and vowed to take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/whole-foods-market-inc-race-and-ethnicity-beyonce-knowles-corporate-giving-coronavirus-pandemic-65357480c89de284c6f0feb2f4b62587">an active role</a>&nbsp;in confronting and educating customers and employees on systemic racism. According to the preliminary results of a survey by Mercer of 200 employers, 33% are offering Juneteenth as a paid holiday to their staff. That’s up from 9% last year in a survey of more than 400 companies conducted shortly before Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday.At the same time, many have cashed in on a holiday that Black Americans have observed since June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom for enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, in alignment with President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.Many experts believe that if retailers and other marketers plan to recognize the day, they should either sell merchandise from Black-owned businesses or invest in campaigns that would help Black communities. Amazon. for instance, does have a Black-owned business storefront that’s live all year-round for customers who want to support and shop Black-owned businesses selling on the site.“This is a serious and reflective moment — I am excited and grateful for the recognition,” said Ramon Manning, chairman of the board at Emancipation Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization aimed to restore the park, which was purchased in 1872 by a group of former enslaved people to commemorate the anniversary of their emancipation.“However, I feel like it is also brought back everybody else out of the woodwork who are opportunists more so than folks who are looking at the history of this country and looking at where a group of people have come from,” he added.Manning, who is also founder and chairman of Ridgegate Capital, a private investment fund, further wondered: “Who is this going to benefit?”Sheryl Daija, founder and CEO of Bridge, a group of marketing and diversity, equity and inclusion executives, noted there’s a disconnect between the seriousness of the holiday and the merchandise on display.“A lot of companies have good intentions, but unfortunately good intentions can go awry, and this is what we have seen,” said Daija, who found Walmart’s Juneteenth ice cream particularly egregious because it used the holiday moniker to brand a new ice cream flavor.Companies have a long history of commercializing holidays and other moments in order to cash in. Take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/12a7bd7d472a4037a984b04fae278107">Cinco de Mayo</a>, which has become in the U.S a celebration of all things Mexican, with companies selling everything from beans to beer to sombrero hats. The holiday has spread from the American Southwest, even though most have no idea about its original ties to the U.S. Civil War, abolition and promotion of civil rights for Blacks. In fact, it’s often mistaken for Mexican Independence day.Meanwhile, every October, retailers are awash in pink merchandise to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month, but critics say many make misleading claims about supporting cancer groups. And Memorial Day, a federal holiday day designated to mourn the U.S. military who have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces, has morphed into all-day mattress sales at stores.But what makes the move by companies to cash in on Juneteenth worse is that it comes as the U.S. remains fraught with racial tensions, said Darnise Martin, clinical associate professor of African American studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.“It is weird to merchandise around it, but that’s what America does,” Martin said.

Some retailers face social media backlash over Juneteenth marketing 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Abortion providers in some places where the procedure could be banned if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade are bracing for a ruling by halting scheduling for the procedure, transitioning staff to help patients travel to other states and creating networks of clinics that will span across regions of the country.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, which operates three clinics that provide abortions in the state, is not scheduling the procedure beyond June 25 as it anticipates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-religion-government-and-politics-e75b43ad1dd5608fbd7a186b3afe59a6">a late June decision reversing the landmark 1973 decision that guaranteed abortion rights nationwide.</a>&nbsp;The organization in recent weeks has dedicated two staff members to help patients book appointments and figure out how to get to clinics.

Whether clinics in Wisconsin will be able to provide abortions, though, has turned into a day-to-day question.

“One of the hardest aspects of this is not knowing what day this decision will come down and what it will be,” said Michelle Velasquez, the director of legal advocacy and services at Planned Parenthood Wisconsin. “The unknown has been difficult.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-travel-health-b0561979f5b28c7aebc164c1e159ba0a">It’s a window into what abortion providers and access funds are planning</a>&nbsp;in more than a dozen other states across the South and Midwest. In South Dakota this week, the state’s only abortion clinic, also operated by Planned Parenthood, announced it had “paused” scheduling abortions beyond the end of the month. In Oklahoma, providers already stopped the procedure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-texas-legislature-a43f7f21c1b8e07a383b120d1bdbc695">after a law was enacted to ban it.</a>

In Wisconsin, a law banning abortion has been on the books since 1849, but Roe v. Wade overrode it. While Roe’s fall would likely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-wisconsin-madison-6109f177299eb861d8fa7a2e888e086a">spark a legal tussle</a>&nbsp;over whether it is valid, Planned Parenthood does not want to put its staff at risk of prosecution.

Velasquez said clinic staff wanted to provide abortions in Wisconsin up until the last minute it was legal, but also had to consider that scheduling appointments for dates when it could become illegal could create uncertainty and be “distressing” for patients.

Velasquez acknowledged that the Supreme Court could release its decision as soon as next week, even while Planned Parenthood has appointments on the books. She said if that happened, Planned Parenthood would help those patients book appointments for abortions in nearby states, such as Minnesota and Illinois. Patients could still get counseling, lab work and ultrasounds in Wisconsin in the meantime.

“We wouldn’t leave patients, like, ‘You’re on your own,’” Velasquez said.

“Even if we can’t provide the medications or we can’t do a procedure, we are absolutely able to help people find the care they need,” she added.

The strategy will inevitably put more pressure on providers in states in the region where abortion will still be legal, said Caitlyn Myers, an economic professor at Middlebury College who studies abortion access.

“As hundreds of thousands of women flood out of these states, it is going to enormously tax the resources of these providers,” she said. “I don’t think they are prepared for this huge influx.”

It comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-us-supreme-court-science-health-6a72fba07ebe4f8ba7cfb0ba66e3c592">the number and rates of U.S. abortions is on the rise after a long decline.</a>&nbsp;Abortions increased from 2017 to 2020, according to figures from the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. It counted more than 930,000 abortions in the U.S. in 2020.

Clinics shuttering, like one did in Idaho recently, or halting scheduling show that a post-Roe reality has already arrived in many places. Myers said getting an appointment for an abortion may soon become “critical” across the country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648771341385.png" alt="Photo Planned Parenthood" />
 <figcaption>Photo Planned Parenthood</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Abortion providers in some places where the procedure could be banned if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade are bracing for a ruling by halting scheduling for the procedure, transitioning staff to help patients travel to other states and creating networks of clinics that will span across regions of the country.Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, which operates three clinics that provide abortions in the state, is not scheduling the procedure beyond June 25 as it anticipates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-religion-government-and-politics-e75b43ad1dd5608fbd7a186b3afe59a6">a late June decision reversing the landmark 1973 decision that guaranteed abortion rights nationwide.</a>&nbsp;The organization in recent weeks has dedicated two staff members to help patients book appointments and figure out how to get to clinics.Whether clinics in Wisconsin will be able to provide abortions, though, has turned into a day-to-day question.“One of the hardest aspects of this is not knowing what day this decision will come down and what it will be,” said Michelle Velasquez, the director of legal advocacy and services at Planned Parenthood Wisconsin. “The unknown has been difficult.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-travel-health-b0561979f5b28c7aebc164c1e159ba0a">It’s a window into what abortion providers and access funds are planning</a>&nbsp;in more than a dozen other states across the South and Midwest. In South Dakota this week, the state’s only abortion clinic, also operated by Planned Parenthood, announced it had “paused” scheduling abortions beyond the end of the month. In Oklahoma, providers already stopped the procedure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-texas-legislature-a43f7f21c1b8e07a383b120d1bdbc695">after a law was enacted to ban it.</a>In Wisconsin, a law banning abortion has been on the books since 1849, but Roe v. Wade overrode it. While Roe’s fall would likely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-wisconsin-madison-6109f177299eb861d8fa7a2e888e086a">spark a legal tussle</a>&nbsp;over whether it is valid, Planned Parenthood does not want to put its staff at risk of prosecution.Velasquez said clinic staff wanted to provide abortions in Wisconsin up until the last minute it was legal, but also had to consider that scheduling appointments for dates when it could become illegal could create uncertainty and be “distressing” for patients.Velasquez acknowledged that the Supreme Court could release its decision as soon as next week, even while Planned Parenthood has appointments on the books. She said if that happened, Planned Parenthood would help those patients book appointments for abortions in nearby states, such as Minnesota and Illinois. Patients could still get counseling, lab work and ultrasounds in Wisconsin in the meantime.“We wouldn’t leave patients, like, ‘You’re on your own,’” Velasquez said.“Even if we can’t provide the medications or we can’t do a procedure, we are absolutely able to help people find the care they need,” she added.The strategy will inevitably put more pressure on providers in states in the region where abortion will still be legal, said Caitlyn Myers, an economic professor at Middlebury College who studies abortion access.“As hundreds of thousands of women flood out of these states, it is going to enormously tax the resources of these providers,” she said. “I don’t think they are prepared for this huge influx.”It comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-us-supreme-court-science-health-6a72fba07ebe4f8ba7cfb0ba66e3c592">the number and rates of U.S. abortions is on the rise after a long decline.</a>&nbsp;Abortions increased from 2017 to 2020, according to figures from the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. It counted more than 930,000 abortions in the U.S. in 2020.Clinics shuttering, like one did in Idaho recently, or halting scheduling show that a post-Roe reality has already arrived in many places. Myers said getting an appointment for an abortion may soon become “critical” across the country.___

Some clinics halting abortions while bracing for Roe's fall

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/susanne-shore-the-governors-wife-endorses-democrat-pansing-brooks/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Susanne Shore and her husband, 
Nebraska Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, are at odds in supporting 
candidates to replace convicted U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.

On Thursday, the campaign of the Democratic 
candidate, State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, announced on 
Twitter that Shore had endorsed her in the special election June 28 to 
fill out the remainder of Fortenberry’s term in the 1st Congressional 
District.

Shore, a registered Democrat who switched 
temporarily to Republican to vote in the May primary election, has shown
 an independent streak in her politics.

She donated to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 
2016 presidential campaign and Joe Biden’s run in 2020, but also has 
backed two GOP candidates,&nbsp;Mitt Romney and George W. Bush, in the past.

Her largest donations, as listed by the 
political contribution website Open Secrets, have been for her husband, a
 conservative Republican. She gave $45,000 during 2013 and 2014 for her 
husband’s campaign.

Ricketts endorsed Pansing Brooks’ Republican
 opponent, State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, shortly after Fortenberry 
was convicted this spring of three felony counts of lying to and 
misleading federal investigators. Ricketts also appeared in a campaign 
ad for Flood.

Chris Triebsch, a spokesman for the Pansing 
Brooks campaign, said that Shore and the state senator have been friends
 for some time.

“They both care a great deal about kids,” Triebsch said. “There’s some mutual admiration there.”

Shore has donated a total of $4,100 so far to Pansing Brooks for the special and primary elections, the campaign said.

Regardless of who wins the special election 
on June 28, Pansing Brooks and Flood will square off again in the 
November general election for a two-year term in Congress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655484031164.jpeg" alt="Twitter post showing Susanne Shore, wife of Gov. Pete Ricketts, endorsing Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks in the 1st Congressional District race. (Courtesy of Pansing Brooks campaign)" />
 <figcaption>Twitter post showing Susanne Shore, wife of Gov. Pete Ricketts, endorsing Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks in the 1st Congressional District race. (Courtesy of Pansing Brooks campaign)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/susanne-shore-the-governors-wife-endorses-democrat-pansing-brooks/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Susanne Shore and her husband, 
Nebraska Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, are at odds in supporting 
candidates to replace convicted U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.On Thursday, the campaign of the Democratic 
candidate, State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, announced on 
Twitter that Shore had endorsed her in the special election June 28 to 
fill out the remainder of Fortenberry’s term in the 1st Congressional 
District.Shore, a registered Democrat who switched 
temporarily to Republican to vote in the May primary election, has shown
 an independent streak in her politics.She donated to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 
2016 presidential campaign and Joe Biden’s run in 2020, but also has 
backed two GOP candidates,&nbsp;Mitt Romney and George W. Bush, in the past.Her largest donations, as listed by the 
political contribution website Open Secrets, have been for her husband, a
 conservative Republican. She gave $45,000 during 2013 and 2014 for her 
husband’s campaign.Ricketts endorsed Pansing Brooks’ Republican
 opponent, State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, shortly after Fortenberry 
was convicted this spring of three felony counts of lying to and 
misleading federal investigators. Ricketts also appeared in a campaign 
ad for Flood.Chris Triebsch, a spokesman for the Pansing 
Brooks campaign, said that Shore and the state senator have been friends
 for some time.“They both care a great deal about kids,” Triebsch said. “There’s some mutual admiration there.”Shore has donated a total of $4,100 so far to Pansing Brooks for the special and primary elections, the campaign said.Regardless of who wins the special election 
on June 28, Pansing Brooks and Flood will square off again in the 
November general election for a two-year term in Congress.

Neb. first lady endorses Democrat candidate for U.S. House

U.S. regulators on Friday authorized the first COVID-19 shots for infants and preschoolers, paving the way for vaccinations to begin next week.

The Food and Drug Administration’s action follows its advisory panel’s unanimous recommendation for the shots from Moderna and Pfizer. That means U.S. kids under 5 — roughly 18 million youngsters — are eligible for the shots, about 1 1/2 years after the vaccines first became available in the U.S. for adults, who have been hit the hardest during the pandemic.

The FDA also authorized Moderna’s vaccine for school-aged children and teens. Pfizer’s shots had previously been the only ones available for those ages.

There’s one step left: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends how to use vaccines and its vaccine advisers are set to discuss the shots for the youngest kids Friday and vote on Saturday. A final signoff would come from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

At a Senate hearing Thursday, Walensky said her staff was working over the Juneteenth federal holiday weekend “because we understand the urgency of this for American parents.”

She said pediatric deaths from COVID-19 have been higher than what is generally seen from the flu each year.

“So I actually think we need to protect young children, as well as protect everyone with the vaccine and especially protect elders,” she said.

For weeks, the Biden administration has been preparing to roll out the vaccines. States, tribes, community health centers and pharmacies preordered millions of doses. FDA’s emergency use authorization allows manufacturers to begin shipping vaccine across the country. Vaccinations could begin as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Some parents have been anxiously awaiting the chance to protect their little ones.

While young children generally don’t get as sick from COVID-19 as older kids and adults, their hospitalizations surged during the omicron wave and FDA’s advisers determined that benefits from vaccination outweighed the minimal risks. Studies from Moderna and Pfizer showed side effects, including fever and fatigue, were mostly minor.

The two brands use the same technology but there are differences.

Pfizer’s vaccine for kids younger than 5 is one-tenth of the adult dose. Three shots are needed: the first two given three weeks apart and the last at least two months later.

Moderna’s is two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given about four weeks apart for kids under 6.

The vaccines are for children as young as 6 months. Moderna next plans to study its shots for babies as young as 3-months-old. Pfizer has not finalized plans for shots in younger infants. A dozen countries, including China, already vaccinate kids under 5.

Dr. Beth Ebel, professor of pediatrics at University of Washington in Seattle, said the tot-sized vaccines would be especially welcomed by U.S. parents with children in daycare where outbreaks can sideline parents from jobs, adding to financial strain.

“A lot of people are going to be happy and a lot of grandparents are going to be happy, too, because we’ve missed those babies who grew up when you weren’t able to see them,” Ebel said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655473904908.png" alt="A final signoff must come from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky who answered questions Thursday before the Senate Health Committee- Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A final signoff must come from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky who answered questions Thursday before the Senate Health Committee- Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By LINDSEY TANNER, Associated PressU.S. regulators on Friday authorized the first COVID-19 shots for infants and preschoolers, paving the way for vaccinations to begin next week.The Food and Drug Administration’s action follows its advisory panel’s unanimous recommendation for the shots from Moderna and Pfizer. That means U.S. kids under 5 — roughly 18 million youngsters — are eligible for the shots, about 1 1/2 years after the vaccines first became available in the U.S. for adults, who have been hit the hardest during the pandemic.The FDA also authorized Moderna’s vaccine for school-aged children and teens. Pfizer’s shots had previously been the only ones available for those ages.There’s one step left: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends how to use vaccines and its vaccine advisers are set to discuss the shots for the youngest kids Friday and vote on Saturday. A final signoff would come from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.At a Senate hearing Thursday, Walensky said her staff was working over the Juneteenth federal holiday weekend “because we understand the urgency of this for American parents.”She said pediatric deaths from COVID-19 have been higher than what is generally seen from the flu each year.“So I actually think we need to protect young children, as well as protect everyone with the vaccine and especially protect elders,” she said.For weeks, the Biden administration has been preparing to roll out the vaccines. States, tribes, community health centers and pharmacies preordered millions of doses. FDA’s emergency use authorization allows manufacturers to begin shipping vaccine across the country. Vaccinations could begin as early as Monday or Tuesday.Some parents have been anxiously awaiting the chance to protect their little ones.While young children generally don’t get as sick from COVID-19 as older kids and adults, their hospitalizations surged during the omicron wave and FDA’s advisers determined that benefits from vaccination outweighed the minimal risks. Studies from Moderna and Pfizer showed side effects, including fever and fatigue, were mostly minor.The two brands use the same technology but there are differences.Pfizer’s vaccine for kids younger than 5 is one-tenth of the adult dose. Three shots are needed: the first two given three weeks apart and the last at least two months later.Moderna’s is two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given about four weeks apart for kids under 6.The vaccines are for children as young as 6 months. Moderna next plans to study its shots for babies as young as 3-months-old. Pfizer has not finalized plans for shots in younger infants. A dozen countries, including China, already vaccinate kids under 5.Dr. Beth Ebel, professor of pediatrics at University of Washington in Seattle, said the tot-sized vaccines would be especially welcomed by U.S. parents with children in daycare where outbreaks can sideline parents from jobs, adding to financial strain.“A lot of people are going to be happy and a lot of grandparents are going to be happy, too, because we’ve missed those babies who grew up when you weren’t able to see them,” Ebel said.

Kids under age 5 a step closer to COVID-19 vaccination

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday the American people are “really, really down” after a tumultuous two years with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus pandemic</a>, volatility in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-jerome-powell-economy-inflation-d595a997cb4f60e8ee3469b154a7059d">the economy</a>&nbsp;and now surging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-are-gas-prices-rising-541819ca1aa4d3dc0a0206271f9f8589">gasoline prices</a>&nbsp;that are slamming family budgets. But he stressed that a recession was “not inevitable” and held out hope of giving the country a greater sense of confidence.

Speaking to The Associated Press in a 30-minute Oval Office interview, the president emphasized the battered economy that he inherited and the lingering psychological scars caused by a pandemic that disrupted people’s sense of identity. He bristled at claims by Republican lawmakers that last year’s COVID-19 aid plan was fully to blame for inflation reaching a 40-year high, calling that argument “bizarre.”

As for the overall American mindset, Biden said, “People are really, really down.”

“Their need for mental health in America has skyrocketed because people have seen everything upset,” Biden said. “Everything they’ve counted on upset. But most of it’s the consequence of what happened, what happened as a consequence of the, the COVID crisis.”

That pessimism has carried over into the economy as record prices at the pump and persistent inflation have jeopardized Democrats’ ability to hold on to the House and Senate in the midterm elections. Biden addressed the warnings by economists that fighting inflation could tip United States into recession.

“First of all, it’s not inevitable,” he said. “Secondly, we’re in a stronger position than any nation in the world to overcome this inflation.”

As for the causes of inflation, Biden flashed some defensiveness on that count. “If it’s my fault, why is it the case in every other major industrial country in the world that inflation is higher? You ask yourself that? I’m not being a wise guy,” he said.

The president’s statement appeared to be about inflation rising worldwide, not necessarily whether countries had higher rates than the U.S. Annual inflation in Japan, for example, has risen in recent months though it’s still at a yearly rate of 2.4%, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The president said he saw reason for optimism with the 3.6% unemployment rate and America’s relative strength in the world.

But restoring confidence so far has eluded Biden, whose approval ratings have been in steady decline as he has lost support among Democrats and has little evidence to show that he could restore a sense of bipartisan normalcy to Washington.

Biden’s Oval Office is filled with the portraits of presidents who faced crises that have imperiled the country, and the president acknowledged there were parallels to his own situation. A picture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt hangs over his fireplace, a place of prominence because the historian Jon Meacham told Biden that no president had come into office with the economy in such dire circumstances. There is also a painting of Abraham Lincoln, who became president with a nation brutally divided and on the verge of the Civil War.

Yet Biden’s remedy is not that different from the diagnosis made by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979, when the U.S. economy was crippled by stagflation. Carter said then the U.S. was suffering from a “crisis of confidence” and “the erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.”

The president said he wants to endow the U.S. with more verve, fortitude and courage.

“Be confident,” Biden said. “Because I am confident. We’re better positioned than any country in the world to own the second quarter of the 21st century.”

Biden’s bleak assessment of the national psyche comes as voters have soured on his job performance and the direction of the country. Only 39% of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s performance as president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-approval-rating-drops-ap-norc-poll-d41bce85e1b062b588a32908b2affa65">according to a May poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Research, dipping from already negative ratings a month earlier.

Overall, only about 2 in 10 adults said the U.S. is heading in the right direction or that the economy is good, both down from about 3 in 10 in April. Those drops were concentrated among Democrats, with just 33% within the president’s party saying the country is headed in the right direction.

Biden said Republican social policies were contributing to public anxieties. He suggested GOP lawmakers could face consequences in the midterms if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, possibly removing national protections for abortion access. Voters will consider the “failure of this Republican Party to be willing” to respond to “the basic social concerns of the country,” the president said.

The president outlined some of the hard choices he has faced, saying the U.S. needed to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine in February even though tough sanctions imposed as a result of that war have caused gas prices to surge, creating a political risk for Biden in an election year. He called on oil companies to think of the world’s short-term needs and increase production.

Asked why he ordered the financial penalties against Moscow that have disrupted food and energy markets globally, Biden said he made his calculation as commander in chief rather than as a politician thinking about elections.

“I’m the president of the United States,” he said. “It’s not about my political survival. It’s about what’s best for the country. No kidding. No kidding. So what happens? What happens if the strongest power, NATO, the organizational structure we put together, walked away from Russian aggression?”

Biden spun out the possibility of chaos in Europe if an unimpeded Russia kept moving deeper into the continent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lloyd-austin-singapore-asia-beijing-china-f96014dba8daf5002e5136c9cd4227a1">China was emboldened to take over Taiwan</a>&nbsp;and North Korea grew even more aggressive with its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-antony-blinken-north-government-and-politics-d3a28902b9c06eaa47c3199418ccf5f7">nuclear weapon ambitions</a>.

Biden renewed his contention that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-f73c882b0664a5d5dd62635a9a65364c">major oil companies</a>&nbsp;have benefited from higher prices without increasing production as much as they should. He said the companies needed to think of the world in the short term, not just their investors.

“Don’t just reward yourself,” he said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">Consumer prices</a>&nbsp;have jumped 8.6% over the past year, the steepest rise in more than 40 years. Republican lawmakers have said that Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package from last year kick-started a spiral of price increases.

The president said there was “zero evidence” for that claim, noting that other countries have endured higher prices as economies reopened and people became vaccinated. Still, Biden acknowledged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-janet-yellen-jerome-powell-business-government-and-politics-fbbfda135bb00b5b9f7b8e8cf800f68c">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s contention</a>&nbsp;that the spending had a limited inflationary effect.

“You could argue whether it had a marginal, a minor impact on inflation,” he said. “I don’t think it did. And most economists do not think it did. But the idea that it caused inflation is bizarre.”

Still, high inflation has created a conundrum for Biden. He prioritized bringing back millions of jobs and has seen the unemployment rate return to close to pre-pandemic levels. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday increased its benchmark interest rate, in hopes of slowing the economy and pulling inflation down to its target rate of 2%.

The tightening of Fed policy has caused&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-japan-asia-financial-markets-859cf34a8a2bba21e76c585356bb961b">financial markets</a>&nbsp;to slump and led many economists to warn of a potential recession next year. The president encouraged Americans to stay patient.

“They shouldn’t believe a warning,” he said. “They should just say: ‘Let’s see. Let’s see which is correct.’”

The president is still trying to steer his domestic agenda through Congress, after an earlier iteration last year failed to clear a 50-50 Senate. Biden said “I believe I have the votes” to lower prescription drug prices, reduce families’ utility bills with tax incentives and place a 15% minimum tax on corporations. He said his plans would lower expenses for many Americans, though the measure would be scaled back from earlier intentions for an expanded child tax credit, universal pre-kindergarten and other programs.

“I’m going to be able to get, God willing, the ability to pay for prescription drugs,” Biden said. “There’s more than one way to bring down the cost for working folks.”

And then, in acknowledgement of the political restraints he faces, Biden added, “I can’t get it all done.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652912839699.png" alt="“First of all, it’s not inevitable,” he said. “Secondly, we’re in a stronger position than any nation in the world to overcome this inflation.” -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>“First of all, it’s not inevitable,” he said. “Secondly, we’re in a stronger position than any nation in the world to overcome this inflation.” -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday the American people are “really, really down” after a tumultuous two years with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus pandemic</a>, volatility in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-jerome-powell-economy-inflation-d595a997cb4f60e8ee3469b154a7059d">the economy</a>&nbsp;and now surging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-are-gas-prices-rising-541819ca1aa4d3dc0a0206271f9f8589">gasoline prices</a>&nbsp;that are slamming family budgets. But he stressed that a recession was “not inevitable” and held out hope of giving the country a greater sense of confidence.Speaking to The Associated Press in a 30-minute Oval Office interview, the president emphasized the battered economy that he inherited and the lingering psychological scars caused by a pandemic that disrupted people’s sense of identity. He bristled at claims by Republican lawmakers that last year’s COVID-19 aid plan was fully to blame for inflation reaching a 40-year high, calling that argument “bizarre.”As for the overall American mindset, Biden said, “People are really, really down.”“Their need for mental health in America has skyrocketed because people have seen everything upset,” Biden said. “Everything they’ve counted on upset. But most of it’s the consequence of what happened, what happened as a consequence of the, the COVID crisis.”That pessimism has carried over into the economy as record prices at the pump and persistent inflation have jeopardized Democrats’ ability to hold on to the House and Senate in the midterm elections. Biden addressed the warnings by economists that fighting inflation could tip United States into recession.<ul>
 <li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ap-interview-transcript-fefb405f8383c6fdb4674eef9706fd65">– CLICK here to read the full transcript of the AP interview&nbsp;</a></li>
 </ul>“First of all, it’s not inevitable,” he said. “Secondly, we’re in a stronger position than any nation in the world to overcome this inflation.”As for the causes of inflation, Biden flashed some defensiveness on that count. “If it’s my fault, why is it the case in every other major industrial country in the world that inflation is higher? You ask yourself that? I’m not being a wise guy,” he said.The president’s statement appeared to be about inflation rising worldwide, not necessarily whether countries had higher rates than the U.S. Annual inflation in Japan, for example, has risen in recent months though it’s still at a yearly rate of 2.4%, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.The president said he saw reason for optimism with the 3.6% unemployment rate and America’s relative strength in the world.But restoring confidence so far has eluded Biden, whose approval ratings have been in steady decline as he has lost support among Democrats and has little evidence to show that he could restore a sense of bipartisan normalcy to Washington.Biden’s Oval Office is filled with the portraits of presidents who faced crises that have imperiled the country, and the president acknowledged there were parallels to his own situation. A picture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt hangs over his fireplace, a place of prominence because the historian Jon Meacham told Biden that no president had come into office with the economy in such dire circumstances. There is also a painting of Abraham Lincoln, who became president with a nation brutally divided and on the verge of the Civil War.Yet Biden’s remedy is not that different from the diagnosis made by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979, when the U.S. economy was crippled by stagflation. Carter said then the U.S. was suffering from a “crisis of confidence” and “the erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.”The president said he wants to endow the U.S. with more verve, fortitude and courage.“Be confident,” Biden said. “Because I am confident. We’re better positioned than any country in the world to own the second quarter of the 21st century.”Biden’s bleak assessment of the national psyche comes as voters have soured on his job performance and the direction of the country. Only 39% of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s performance as president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-approval-rating-drops-ap-norc-poll-d41bce85e1b062b588a32908b2affa65">according to a May poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Research, dipping from already negative ratings a month earlier.Overall, only about 2 in 10 adults said the U.S. is heading in the right direction or that the economy is good, both down from about 3 in 10 in April. Those drops were concentrated among Democrats, with just 33% within the president’s party saying the country is headed in the right direction.Biden said Republican social policies were contributing to public anxieties. He suggested GOP lawmakers could face consequences in the midterms if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, possibly removing national protections for abortion access. Voters will consider the “failure of this Republican Party to be willing” to respond to “the basic social concerns of the country,” the president said.The president outlined some of the hard choices he has faced, saying the U.S. needed to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine in February even though tough sanctions imposed as a result of that war have caused gas prices to surge, creating a political risk for Biden in an election year. He called on oil companies to think of the world’s short-term needs and increase production.Asked why he ordered the financial penalties against Moscow that have disrupted food and energy markets globally, Biden said he made his calculation as commander in chief rather than as a politician thinking about elections.“I’m the president of the United States,” he said. “It’s not about my political survival. It’s about what’s best for the country. No kidding. No kidding. So what happens? What happens if the strongest power, NATO, the organizational structure we put together, walked away from Russian aggression?”Biden spun out the possibility of chaos in Europe if an unimpeded Russia kept moving deeper into the continent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lloyd-austin-singapore-asia-beijing-china-f96014dba8daf5002e5136c9cd4227a1">China was emboldened to take over Taiwan</a>&nbsp;and North Korea grew even more aggressive with its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-antony-blinken-north-government-and-politics-d3a28902b9c06eaa47c3199418ccf5f7">nuclear weapon ambitions</a>.Biden renewed his contention that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-f73c882b0664a5d5dd62635a9a65364c">major oil companies</a>&nbsp;have benefited from higher prices without increasing production as much as they should. He said the companies needed to think of the world in the short term, not just their investors.“Don’t just reward yourself,” he said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">Consumer prices</a>&nbsp;have jumped 8.6% over the past year, the steepest rise in more than 40 years. Republican lawmakers have said that Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package from last year kick-started a spiral of price increases.The president said there was “zero evidence” for that claim, noting that other countries have endured higher prices as economies reopened and people became vaccinated. Still, Biden acknowledged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-janet-yellen-jerome-powell-business-government-and-politics-fbbfda135bb00b5b9f7b8e8cf800f68c">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s contention</a>&nbsp;that the spending had a limited inflationary effect.“You could argue whether it had a marginal, a minor impact on inflation,” he said. “I don’t think it did. And most economists do not think it did. But the idea that it caused inflation is bizarre.”Still, high inflation has created a conundrum for Biden. He prioritized bringing back millions of jobs and has seen the unemployment rate return to close to pre-pandemic levels. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday increased its benchmark interest rate, in hopes of slowing the economy and pulling inflation down to its target rate of 2%.The tightening of Fed policy has caused&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-japan-asia-financial-markets-859cf34a8a2bba21e76c585356bb961b">financial markets</a>&nbsp;to slump and led many economists to warn of a potential recession next year. The president encouraged Americans to stay patient.“They shouldn’t believe a warning,” he said. “They should just say: ‘Let’s see. Let’s see which is correct.’”The president is still trying to steer his domestic agenda through Congress, after an earlier iteration last year failed to clear a 50-50 Senate. Biden said “I believe I have the votes” to lower prescription drug prices, reduce families’ utility bills with tax incentives and place a 15% minimum tax on corporations. He said his plans would lower expenses for many Americans, though the measure would be scaled back from earlier intentions for an expanded child tax credit, universal pre-kindergarten and other programs.“I’m going to be able to get, God willing, the ability to pay for prescription drugs,” Biden said. “There’s more than one way to bring down the cost for working folks.”And then, in acknowledgement of the political restraints he faces, Biden added, “I can’t get it all done.”

President Biden says a recession is 'not inevitable

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today announced expanded 
voice bot options to help eligible taxpayers easily verify their 
identity to set up or modify a payment plan while avoiding long wait 
times.

"This is part of a wider effort at the IRS to help improve the 
experience of taxpayers," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We 
continue to look for ways to better assist taxpayers, and that includes 
helping people avoid waiting on hold or having to make a second phone 
call to get what they need. The expanded voice bots are another example 
of how technology can help the IRS provide better service to taxpayers."

Voice bots run on software powered by artificial intelligence, which 
enables a caller to navigate an interactive voice response. The IRS has 
been using voice bots on numerous toll-free lines since January, 
enabling taxpayers with simple payment or notice questions to get what 
they need quickly and avoid waiting. Taxpayers can always speak with an 
English- or Spanish-speaking IRS telephone representative if needed.

Eligible taxpayers who call the Automated Collection System (ACS) and
 Accounts Management toll-free lines and want to discuss payment plan 
options can authenticate or verify their identities through a personal 
identification number (PIN) creation process. Setting up a PIN is easy: 
Taxpayers will need their most recent IRS bill and some basic personal 
information to complete the process.

"To date, the voice bots have answered over 3 million calls. As we 
add more functions for taxpayers to resolve their issues, I anticipate 
many more taxpayers getting the service they need quickly and easily," 
said Darren Guillot, IRS Deputy Commissioner of Small Business/Self 
Employed Collection &amp; Operations Support.

Additional voice bot service enhancements are planned in 2022 that 
will allow authenticated individuals (taxpayers with established or 
newly created PINs) to get:

In addition to the payment lines, voice bots help people who 
call the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) toll-free line with general 
procedural responses to frequently asked questions. The IRS also added 
voice bots for the Advance Child Tax Credit toll-free line in February 
to provide similar assistance to callers who need help reconciling the 
credits on their 2021 tax return.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers about numerous other available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/get-ready-for-taxes-bookmark-irsgov-resources-and-online-tools-to-use-before-during-and-after-filing">self-service options</a>.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YX5LCHsuGSU"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today announced expanded 
voice bot options to help eligible taxpayers easily verify their 
identity to set up or modify a payment plan while avoiding long wait 
times."This is part of a wider effort at the IRS to help improve the 
experience of taxpayers," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We 
continue to look for ways to better assist taxpayers, and that includes 
helping people avoid waiting on hold or having to make a second phone 
call to get what they need. The expanded voice bots are another example 
of how technology can help the IRS provide better service to taxpayers."Voice bots run on software powered by artificial intelligence, which 
enables a caller to navigate an interactive voice response. The IRS has 
been using voice bots on numerous toll-free lines since January, 
enabling taxpayers with simple payment or notice questions to get what 
they need quickly and avoid waiting. Taxpayers can always speak with an 
English- or Spanish-speaking IRS telephone representative if needed.Eligible taxpayers who call the Automated Collection System (ACS) and
 Accounts Management toll-free lines and want to discuss payment plan 
options can authenticate or verify their identities through a personal 
identification number (PIN) creation process. Setting up a PIN is easy: 
Taxpayers will need their most recent IRS bill and some basic personal 
information to complete the process."To date, the voice bots have answered over 3 million calls. As we 
add more functions for taxpayers to resolve their issues, I anticipate 
many more taxpayers getting the service they need quickly and easily," 
said Darren Guillot, IRS Deputy Commissioner of Small Business/Self 
Employed Collection &amp; Operations Support.Additional voice bot service enhancements are planned in 2022 that 
will allow authenticated individuals (taxpayers with established or 
newly created PINs) to get:<ul>
 <li>Account and return transcripts.</li><li>Payment history.</li><li>Current balance owed.</li>
 </ul>In addition to the payment lines, voice bots help people who 
call the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) toll-free line with general 
procedural responses to frequently asked questions. The IRS also added 
voice bots for the Advance Child Tax Credit toll-free line in February 
to provide similar assistance to callers who need help reconciling the 
credits on their 2021 tax return.The IRS also reminds taxpayers about numerous other available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/get-ready-for-taxes-bookmark-irsgov-resources-and-online-tools-to-use-before-during-and-after-filing">self-service options</a>.

🎥 IRS expands voice bot options for faster service, less wait time

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic and Republican senators were at odds Thursday over how to keep firearms from dangerous people as bargainers struggled to finalize details of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-texas-new-york-violence-shootings-5caad0ccca61ac3d308a3735f10628fc">a gun violence compromise</a>&nbsp;in time for their self-imposed deadline of holding votes in Congress next week.

Lawmakers said they remained divided over how to define abusive dating partners who would be legally barred from purchasing firearms. Disagreements were also unresolved over proposals to send money to states that have “red flag” laws that let authorities temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed dangerous by courts, and to other states for their own violence prevention programs.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-laws-senate-bipartisan-agreement-59d553f3d1e35fdbe4930e4341e74efb">election-year talks</a>&nbsp;have seemed headed toward agreement, with both parties fearing punishment by voters if Congress doesn’t react to the carnage of last month’s mass shootings. A total of 31 people were slain at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. An outline of a deal has been endorsed by President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a lead GOP bargainer, seemed visibly unhappy as he left Thursday’s closed-door session after nearly two hours, saying he was flying home.

“This is the hardest part because at some point, you just got to make a decision. And when people don’t want to make a decision, you can’t accomplish the result. And that’s kind of where we are right now,” Cornyn said.

“I’m not frustrated, I’m done,” he added, though he said he was open to continued discussions.

Lawmakers have said a deal must be completed and written into legislative language by week’s end if Congress is to vote by next week. It begins a July 4 recess after that. Leaders want votes by then because Washington has a long record of talking about reacting to mass shootings, only to see lawmakers’ and voters’ interest fade quickly over time.

Other bargainers seemed more optimistic, saying much of the overall package has been agreed to and aides were drafting bill language.

“A deal like this is difficult,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said when the meeting ended. “It comes with a lot of emotions, it comes with political risk to both sides. But we’re close enough that we should be able to get there.”

The measure would impose just small-scale curbs on firearms. It lacks proposals by Biden and Democrats to prohibit assault-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines like the ones used in Buffalo and Uvalde, or to raise the legal age for purchasing assault rifles from 18 to 21.

Even so, it would be Congress’ most robust move against gun violence since 1993. A ban lawmakers enacted that year on assault weapons took effect in 1994 and expired after a decade. Scores of high-profile mass shootings since have yielded little from Washington but partisan deadlock, chiefly due to Republicans blocking virtually any new restrictions.

Federal law bars people convicted of domestic violence against a spouse from acquiring guns, but leaves a loophole for other romantic relationships. Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates firearms curbs, says 31 states bar convicted domestic abusers from buying firearms, including 19 that cover violent dating partners.

Senators have disagreed over how to define such relationships, with Republicans working against a broad provision. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the other lead GOP negotiator, said bargainers would use some state statutes as their guide, though their laws vary.

“You need to make sure that you’re capturing everyone that actually beat” up their girlfriends, said Murphy, a Democrat.

In addition, 19 states and the District of Columbia have “red flag” laws. Cornyn and the other lead bargainer, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., represent states that do not, and it is unclear how money in the bill would be divided among them.

Senators have not said what the measure’s overall price tag will be, though people following the talks have said they expect it to range around $15 billion or $20 billion. Lawmakers are looking for budget cuts to pay for those costs.

Twenty senators, 10 from each party, agreed to the outlines of a compromise measure last weekend. Top bargainers have labored ever since to translate it into details.

The framework includes access to the juvenile records of gun buyers age 18 to 20. Both shooters in Buffalo and Uvalde were 18, and both used AR-15 style rifles, which can load high-capacity magazines.

The plan also includes added spending for mental health and school safety programs, tougher penalties for gun trafficking and requirements that slightly more gun dealers obtain federal firearms licenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653505281036.png" alt="The May 24 assault at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.-photo courtesy KSAT-TV" />
 <figcaption>The May 24 assault at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.-photo courtesy KSAT-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic and Republican senators were at odds Thursday over how to keep firearms from dangerous people as bargainers struggled to finalize details of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-texas-new-york-violence-shootings-5caad0ccca61ac3d308a3735f10628fc">a gun violence compromise</a>&nbsp;in time for their self-imposed deadline of holding votes in Congress next week.Lawmakers said they remained divided over how to define abusive dating partners who would be legally barred from purchasing firearms. Disagreements were also unresolved over proposals to send money to states that have “red flag” laws that let authorities temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed dangerous by courts, and to other states for their own violence prevention programs.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-laws-senate-bipartisan-agreement-59d553f3d1e35fdbe4930e4341e74efb">election-year talks</a>&nbsp;have seemed headed toward agreement, with both parties fearing punishment by voters if Congress doesn’t react to the carnage of last month’s mass shootings. A total of 31 people were slain at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. An outline of a deal has been endorsed by President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a lead GOP bargainer, seemed visibly unhappy as he left Thursday’s closed-door session after nearly two hours, saying he was flying home.“This is the hardest part because at some point, you just got to make a decision. And when people don’t want to make a decision, you can’t accomplish the result. And that’s kind of where we are right now,” Cornyn said.“I’m not frustrated, I’m done,” he added, though he said he was open to continued discussions.Lawmakers have said a deal must be completed and written into legislative language by week’s end if Congress is to vote by next week. It begins a July 4 recess after that. Leaders want votes by then because Washington has a long record of talking about reacting to mass shootings, only to see lawmakers’ and voters’ interest fade quickly over time.Other bargainers seemed more optimistic, saying much of the overall package has been agreed to and aides were drafting bill language.“A deal like this is difficult,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said when the meeting ended. “It comes with a lot of emotions, it comes with political risk to both sides. But we’re close enough that we should be able to get there.”The measure would impose just small-scale curbs on firearms. It lacks proposals by Biden and Democrats to prohibit assault-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines like the ones used in Buffalo and Uvalde, or to raise the legal age for purchasing assault rifles from 18 to 21.Even so, it would be Congress’ most robust move against gun violence since 1993. A ban lawmakers enacted that year on assault weapons took effect in 1994 and expired after a decade. Scores of high-profile mass shootings since have yielded little from Washington but partisan deadlock, chiefly due to Republicans blocking virtually any new restrictions.Federal law bars people convicted of domestic violence against a spouse from acquiring guns, but leaves a loophole for other romantic relationships. Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates firearms curbs, says 31 states bar convicted domestic abusers from buying firearms, including 19 that cover violent dating partners.Senators have disagreed over how to define such relationships, with Republicans working against a broad provision. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the other lead GOP negotiator, said bargainers would use some state statutes as their guide, though their laws vary.“You need to make sure that you’re capturing everyone that actually beat” up their girlfriends, said Murphy, a Democrat.In addition, 19 states and the District of Columbia have “red flag” laws. Cornyn and the other lead bargainer, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., represent states that do not, and it is unclear how money in the bill would be divided among them.Senators have not said what the measure’s overall price tag will be, though people following the talks have said they expect it to range around $15 billion or $20 billion. Lawmakers are looking for budget cuts to pay for those costs.Twenty senators, 10 from each party, agreed to the outlines of a compromise measure last weekend. Top bargainers have labored ever since to translate it into details.The framework includes access to the juvenile records of gun buyers age 18 to 20. Both shooters in Buffalo and Uvalde were 18, and both used AR-15 style rifles, which can load high-capacity magazines.The plan also includes added spending for mental health and school safety programs, tougher penalties for gun trafficking and requirements that slightly more gun dealers obtain federal firearms licenses.

Gun bill: Senate bargainers can't agree on details 

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling over 2.9 million vehicles to fix a transmission problem that can increase the risk of inadvertent rollaway crashes.

The recall covers certain 2013 to 2019 Escape, 2013 to 2018 C-Max, 2013 to 2016 Fusion, 2013 to 2021 Transit Connect, and 2015 to 2018 Edge vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website Wednesday that a bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade or detach. That can stop the vehicles from shifting into the intended gear. A vehicle thought to have been shifted into park may actually be in a different gear, allowing it to roll away.

Ford says in documents that it knows of four injury reports due to the problem, and another six property damage claims. The company has 1,630 warranty reports and 233 complaints about the problem.

Dealers will replace the bushing and add a protective cap. Owners will be notified by letter starting June 27.

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling over 2.9 million vehicles to fix a transmission problem that can increase the risk of inadvertent rollaway crashes.The recall covers certain 2013 to 2019 Escape, 2013 to 2018 C-Max, 2013 to 2016 Fusion, 2013 to 2021 Transit Connect, and 2015 to 2018 Edge vehicles.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website Wednesday that a bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade or detach. That can stop the vehicles from shifting into the intended gear. A vehicle thought to have been shifted into park may actually be in a different gear, allowing it to roll away.Ford says in documents that it knows of four injury reports due to the problem, and another six property damage claims. The company has 1,630 warranty reports and 233 complaints about the problem.Dealers will replace the bushing and add a protective cap. Owners will be notified by letter starting June 27.

Ford recalls over 2.9M vehicles at risk of roll away crashes

FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the murders of a mother and daughter from Spearville, Kansas.

Just before 1:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to 203 West Avenue B in Spearville, according to a media release from the Ford County Sheriff's Department. A man at the residence told deputies his girlfriend 31-year-old Kayla Vasquez and daughter 4-year-old Aalilyah were missing.

While they were inside the home, law enforcement officers noticed evidence that a crime had occurred in the residence. The man, identified as Michael A. Peterson, 31, of Spearville, was detained for questioning.

Just before 4 p.m., the Ford County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene to investigate.

KBI agents and deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office began an extensive search for Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez. They were later assisted by the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office.

Just after 4 a.m. Thursday, authorities located the body of Kayla Vasquez in rural Ford County. Then at around 5:40 a.m., the body of Aalilyah Vasquez was discovered in Kinsley. Autopsies will be conducted.

At approximately 7:35 a.m. Thursday,&nbsp; authorities arrested Peterson on requested charges of capital murder connected to the deaths.

No threat to the public is believed to exist related to this incident.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Ford County Sheriff’s Office at 620-227-4501.

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the disappearance of a Kansas woman and 4-year-old girl.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655373990456.png" alt="Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez-photo Ford Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez-photo Ford Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the murders of a mother and daughter from Spearville, Kansas.Just before 1:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to 203 West Avenue B in Spearville, according to a media release from the Ford County Sheriff's Department. A man at the residence told deputies his girlfriend 31-year-old Kayla Vasquez and daughter 4-year-old Aalilyah were missing.While they were inside the home, law enforcement officers noticed evidence that a crime had occurred in the residence. The man, identified as Michael A. Peterson, 31, of Spearville, was detained for questioning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655398104068.png" alt="Peterson-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Peterson-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 4 p.m., the Ford County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene to investigate.KBI agents and deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office began an extensive search for Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez. They were later assisted by the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office.Just after 4 a.m. Thursday, authorities located the body of Kayla Vasquez in rural Ford County. Then at around 5:40 a.m., the body of Aalilyah Vasquez was discovered in Kinsley. Autopsies will be conducted.At approximately 7:35 a.m. Thursday,&nbsp; authorities arrested Peterson on requested charges of capital murder connected to the deaths.No threat to the public is believed to exist related to this incident.Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Ford County Sheriff’s Office at 620-227-4501.--------FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the disappearance of a Kansas woman and 4-year-old girl.Just before 1:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to 203 West Avenue B in Spearville, according to a media release from the Ford County Sheriff's Department. A man at the residence told deputies his girlfriend 31-year-old Kayla Vasquez and daughter 4-year-old Aalilyah were missing.The sheriff's office requested assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to assist them in the investigation.Kayla Vasquez is described as 5-foot-5 inches tall, 200 pounds, with dark hair and hazel eyes.&nbsp; Aalilyah is 3-foot-five inches tall with brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information on the disappearance is asked to call law enforcement.