By JACOB FISCHLER <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/08/what-to-know-about-thursdays-public-hearing-on-the-jan-6-attack-on-the-u-s-capitol/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON
 — The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on 
the U.S. Capitol will launch the first in a series of public hearings 
Thursday night in the hopes of drawing a major prime-time national 
television audience.

<a href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">Click here to </a>watch the hearing&nbsp; 7p.m. CDT

The
 Democratic-led committee, which includes two Republicans who defied 
their party leadership to join, has been tight-lipped about what ground 
its public presentation will cover.&nbsp;

Leaders
 have promised in general to unveil new material, introduce a summary of
 findings gathered over a nearly yearlong investigation and preview 
further hearings about the mob of supporters of then-President Donald 
Trump who sought to overturn the 2020 election results.

Here are some questions and answers about the committee and its plans:

The
 evidence suggests a “coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the 
results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of 
power,” according to a committee release Tuesday.&nbsp;

“This
 week, [the committee] starts sharing evidence of the chilling inside 
plan to overturn the 2020 election and block the constitutional transfer
 of power,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who sits on the 
panel, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepRaskin/status/1534186125656473600">tweeted</a>
 Tuesday. “America will see footage and records we have documenting the 
dangerous extremist assault on our constitutional order.”

The
 nine-member committee has been working toward two objectives: the 
public hearings and a final report. The hearings will inform the final 
report, but could also capture the attention of the general public, said
 Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s program 
on extremism who has researched the Capitol attack.&nbsp;

“The
 role of these hearings in the next couple of weeks is partially laying 
the groundwork for that report, but also telling the story to the 
American people,” Lewis said in an interview. “It’s the committee 
showing their work.”&nbsp;

The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department.

Chairman Bennie G. Thompson <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BennieGThompson/status/1534194917022519298">tweeted</a> a Washington Post <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/06/january-6-committee-hearing-schedule-how-to-watch/?fbclid=IwAR39G2u3jRTK7RD4kb9w-KHlM0l6663B5N0BOvO68yPGg59I89GL0VAq7VU">article</a> Tuesday that reported the panel would hold as many as eight public hearings, each one with a theme.&nbsp;

The
 panel has conducted more than 1,000 interviews since it formed in July 
2021, according to the Post article. It has subpoenaed <a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/02/02/trumps-fake-electors-heres-the-full-list/">so-called fake electors </a>from seven states — Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

“A lot of it is to remind the American people that there is a clear and present danger to democracy,” Lewis said.

The
 upcoming series of hearings could document some “connective tissue” 
between the Trump White House, outside groups and other supporters, 
Lewis said.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/10/29/is-denver-riggleman-still-a-republican-hes-not-sure/">Denver Riggleman</a>, a Republican former U.S. House member from Virginia who advised the committee, said in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/06/02/january-6-forensic-data-meadows-text-messages-denver-riggleman-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn">a recent CNN appearance</a>
 that text messages to and from then-White House Chief of Staff Mark 
Meadows, a former congressman from North Carolina, showed connections 
among members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches who 
were involved in planning to overturn the election results.

Meadows’ text messages provided “a roadmap” for the investigation, Riggleman said.

“I
 think Mark Meadows is the MVP for the committee,” he said. “I think 
they should pay him. The data that we got from there actually allowed us
 to really structure an effective investigation.”

The
 first hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Thursday and is supposed to
 last about 90 minutes. The major television networks and news channels 
will carry it live, except for Fox News, which plans to air its normal 
prime-time programming. Fox Business will broadcast the hearing live. 
The committee <a target="_blank" href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">usually also livestreams </a>its meetings.

Seven
 Democrats and two Republicans comprise the House Select Committee 
Investigating the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol:

Chairman Thompson, D-Miss.:
 First elected to the House in 1992, he has been the Democratic leader 
of the House Homeland Security Committee since 2005, including two 
stints as chairman.

Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.:
 The No. 3 House Republican until last year, she was ousted for voting 
to impeach Trump for his role in provoking the Jan. 6 attack.&nbsp;

Elaine Luria, D-Va.: A second-term lawmaker who served two decades in the Navy, she is the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.: A centrist Democrat, she announced late last year she will not be running for reelection to a fourth term.

Raskin, D-Md.: A former constitutional law professor, he was the lead impeachment manager for Trump’s second impeachment.

Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.: The vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, he is the only member of Democratic leadership on the panel.

Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.: Like
 Cheney, he is a Republican critical of Trump. Both were appointed to 
the panel by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — not Republican Leader Kevin 
McCarthy, whose slate of Republican members Pelosi rejected.

Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.:
 The chair of the House Administration Committee, she is a longtime 
House Judiciary Committee member and served as a manager for Trump’s 
first impeachment trial in the Senate.

Adam Schiff, D-Calif.:
 The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he was the leader of 
the investigation that resulted in the first impeachment of Trump and 
the lead impeachment manager.

The committee has announced two witnesses for Thursday night.&nbsp;

U.S.
 Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards was the first law enforcement 
officer injured by rioters on Jan. 6. Edwards patrolled the West Plaza 
of the Capitol the day of the attack and sustained “a traumatic brain 
injury,” according to the panel.&nbsp;

Documentary
 filmmaker Nick Quested recorded “the movements around the Capitol that 
morning, the first moments of violence against U.S. Capitol Police, and 
the chaos that ensued,” according to the committee.&nbsp;

Quested
 also reportedly taped a Jan. 5, 2021, meeting between the leaders of 
the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, two violent right-wing groups with 
members who have been charged with seditious conspiracy related to the 
Capitol attack. He previously met with the Justice Department and the 
House committee privately, which he said he led through a detailed 
explanation of his footage.

The
 committee will hold another public hearing at 9 a.m. CT on Monday, June
 13. The panel has not released information about the witnesses or 
content of that hearing.

The committee is expected to hold six to eight public hearings through June, with a final one in September.

McCarthy
 has continually questioned the panel’s legitimacy, and Republicans are 
likely to disband the committee if they retake the House majority in 
this fall’s elections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614042711157.png" alt="The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department. -Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department. -Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACOB FISCHLER <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/08/what-to-know-about-thursdays-public-hearing-on-the-jan-6-attack-on-the-u-s-capitol/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON
 — The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on 
the U.S. Capitol will launch the first in a series of public hearings 
Thursday night in the hopes of drawing a major prime-time national 
television audience.<a href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">Click here to </a>watch the hearing&nbsp; 7p.m. CDT<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZ0yNe3cFx4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The
 Democratic-led committee, which includes two Republicans who defied 
their party leadership to join, has been tight-lipped about what ground 
its public presentation will cover.&nbsp;Leaders
 have promised in general to unveil new material, introduce a summary of
 findings gathered over a nearly yearlong investigation and preview 
further hearings about the mob of supporters of then-President Donald 
Trump who sought to overturn the 2020 election results.Here are some questions and answers about the committee and its plans:<h2>What has the investigation found?</h2>The
 evidence suggests a “coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the 
results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of 
power,” according to a committee release Tuesday.&nbsp;“This
 week, [the committee] starts sharing evidence of the chilling inside 
plan to overturn the 2020 election and block the constitutional transfer
 of power,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who sits on the 
panel, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepRaskin/status/1534186125656473600">tweeted</a>
 Tuesday. “America will see footage and records we have documenting the 
dangerous extremist assault on our constitutional order.”The
 nine-member committee has been working toward two objectives: the 
public hearings and a final report. The hearings will inform the final 
report, but could also capture the attention of the general public, said
 Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s program 
on extremism who has researched the Capitol attack.&nbsp;“The
 role of these hearings in the next couple of weeks is partially laying 
the groundwork for that report, but also telling the story to the 
American people,” Lewis said in an interview. “It’s the committee 
showing their work.”&nbsp;The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department.<h2>What will the hearings cover?</h2>Chairman Bennie G. Thompson <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BennieGThompson/status/1534194917022519298">tweeted</a> a Washington Post <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/06/january-6-committee-hearing-schedule-how-to-watch/?fbclid=IwAR39G2u3jRTK7RD4kb9w-KHlM0l6663B5N0BOvO68yPGg59I89GL0VAq7VU">article</a> Tuesday that reported the panel would hold as many as eight public hearings, each one with a theme.&nbsp;The
 panel has conducted more than 1,000 interviews since it formed in July 
2021, according to the Post article. It has subpoenaed <a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/02/02/trumps-fake-electors-heres-the-full-list/">so-called fake electors </a>from seven states — Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada and Pennsylvania.“A lot of it is to remind the American people that there is a clear and present danger to democracy,” Lewis said.The
 upcoming series of hearings could document some “connective tissue” 
between the Trump White House, outside groups and other supporters, 
Lewis said.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/10/29/is-denver-riggleman-still-a-republican-hes-not-sure/">Denver Riggleman</a>, a Republican former U.S. House member from Virginia who advised the committee, said in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/06/02/january-6-forensic-data-meadows-text-messages-denver-riggleman-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn">a recent CNN appearance</a>
 that text messages to and from then-White House Chief of Staff Mark 
Meadows, a former congressman from North Carolina, showed connections 
among members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches who 
were involved in planning to overturn the election results.Meadows’ text messages provided “a roadmap” for the investigation, Riggleman said.“I
 think Mark Meadows is the MVP for the committee,” he said. “I think 
they should pay him. The data that we got from there actually allowed us
 to really structure an effective investigation.”<h2>How can viewers watch it?</h2>The
 first hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Thursday and is supposed to
 last about 90 minutes. The major television networks and news channels 
will carry it live, except for Fox News, which plans to air its normal 
prime-time programming. Fox Business will broadcast the hearing live. 
The committee <a target="_blank" href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">usually also livestreams </a>its meetings.<h2>Who’s on the committee?</h2>Seven
 Democrats and two Republicans comprise the House Select Committee 
Investigating the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol:Chairman Thompson, D-Miss.:
 First elected to the House in 1992, he has been the Democratic leader 
of the House Homeland Security Committee since 2005, including two 
stints as chairman.Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.:
 The No. 3 House Republican until last year, she was ousted for voting 
to impeach Trump for his role in provoking the Jan. 6 attack.&nbsp;Elaine Luria, D-Va.: A second-term lawmaker who served two decades in the Navy, she is the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee.Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.: A centrist Democrat, she announced late last year she will not be running for reelection to a fourth term.Raskin, D-Md.: A former constitutional law professor, he was the lead impeachment manager for Trump’s second impeachment.Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.: The vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, he is the only member of Democratic leadership on the panel.Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.: Like
 Cheney, he is a Republican critical of Trump. Both were appointed to 
the panel by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — not Republican Leader Kevin 
McCarthy, whose slate of Republican members Pelosi rejected.Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.:
 The chair of the House Administration Committee, she is a longtime 
House Judiciary Committee member and served as a manager for Trump’s 
first impeachment trial in the Senate.Adam Schiff, D-Calif.:
 The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he was the leader of 
the investigation that resulted in the first impeachment of Trump and 
the lead impeachment manager.<h2>Who will testify?</h2>The committee has announced two witnesses for Thursday night.&nbsp;U.S.
 Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards was the first law enforcement 
officer injured by rioters on Jan. 6. Edwards patrolled the West Plaza 
of the Capitol the day of the attack and sustained “a traumatic brain 
injury,” according to the panel.&nbsp;Documentary
 filmmaker Nick Quested recorded “the movements around the Capitol that 
morning, the first moments of violence against U.S. Capitol Police, and 
the chaos that ensued,” according to the committee.&nbsp;Quested
 also reportedly taped a Jan. 5, 2021, meeting between the leaders of 
the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, two violent right-wing groups with 
members who have been charged with seditious conspiracy related to the 
Capitol attack. He previously met with the Justice Department and the 
House committee privately, which he said he led through a detailed 
explanation of his footage.<h2>What’s next?</h2>The
 committee will hold another public hearing at 9 a.m. CT on Monday, June
 13. The panel has not released information about the witnesses or 
content of that hearing.The committee is expected to hold six to eight public hearings through June, with a final one in September.McCarthy
 has continually questioned the panel’s legitimacy, and Republicans are 
likely to disband the committee if they retake the House majority in 
this fall’s elections.

What to know about hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — An 11-year-old girl who survived the mass shooting at an elementary school in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas,</a>&nbsp;recounted in video testimony to Congress on Wednesday how she covered herself with a dead classmate’s blood to avoid being shot and “just stayed quiet.”

Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader at Robb Elementary School, told lawmakers in a pre-recorded video that she watched a teacher get shot in the head before looking for a place to hide.

“I thought he would come back so I covered myself with blood,” Miah told the House panel. “I put it all over me and I just stayed quiet.” She called 911 using the deceased teacher’s phone and pleaded for help.

Nineteen children and two teachers died when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle inside Robb Elementary School on May 24.

It was the second day lawmakers heard wrenching testimony on the nation’s gun violence. On Tuesday, a Senate panel heard from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-new-york-government-and-politics-gun-violence-2aaff6f50089767777d4bd8db8182bea">son of an 86-year-old woman killed when a gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers</a>&nbsp;in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. Ten people died.

In the video Wednesday, Miah’s father, Miguel Cerillo, asked his daughter if she feels safe at school anymore. She shook her head no.

“Why?” he asks. “I don’t want it to happen again,” she responds.

The testimony at the House Oversight Committee came as lawmakers work to strike a bipartisan agreement on gun safety measures in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the panel’s chairwoman, called the hearing to focus on the human impact of gun violence and the urgency for gun control legislation.

“I am asking every member of this committee to listen with an open heart to the brave witnesses who have come forward to tell their stories about how gun violence has impacted their lives,” Maloney said. “Our witnesses today have endured pain and loss. Yet they are displaying incredible courage by coming here to ask us to do our jobs.”

But even as some lawmakers shed tears alongside the witnesses, the hearing displayed the contentious debate over gun control Congress has faced repeatedly after mass shootings. Several Republicans turned the conversation to the individuals who abuse guns and how “hardening schools” could help protect students.

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., who owns a gun store, said that one of the things he learned in his military service was that “the harder the target you are, the less likely you will be engaged by the enemy.” He called on schools to keep doors locked, provide a single point of entry and “a volunteer force of well-trained and armed staff, in addition to a school resource officer.”

The parents of victims and survivors implored lawmakers not to let their children’s deaths and pain be in vain. After Miah spoke, her father told lawmakers that he testified because “I could have lost my baby girl.”

“But she is not the same little girl that I use to play with,” Cerrillo said. “Schools are not safe anymore. Something needs to really change.”

Also testifying was Zeneta Everhart, whose 20-year-old son Zaire was wounded in the Buffalo mass shooting.

Everhart told lawmakers it was their duty to draft legislation that protects Zaire and other Americans. She said that if they did not find the testimony moving enough to act on gun laws, they had an invitation to go to her home to help her clean her son’s wounds.

“My son Zaire has a hole in the right side of his neck, two on his back, and another on his left leg,” she said, then paused to compose herself. “As I clean his wounds, I can feel pieces of that bullet in his back. Shrapnel will be left inside of his body for the rest of his life. Now I want you to picture that exact scenario for one of your children.”

The parents of Lexi Rubio, who died in her classroom in Uvalde, also testified. Felix and Kimberly Rubio recounted finding out about their daughter’s death hours after leaving Lexi’s school awards ceremony on the morning of the shooting.

To get to the elementary school, Kimberly Rubio said she ran barefoot for a mile with her sandals in her hand and with her husband by her side. A firefighter eventually gave them a ride back to the civic center.

“Soon after we received the news that our daughter was among the 19 students and two teachers that died as a result of gun violence,” she said, fighting through tears.

She said that Lexi would have made a positive change in the world if she had been given the chance.

“Somewhere out there, there’s a mom listening to our testimony, thinking I can’t even imagine their pain, not knowing that our reality will one day be hers unless we act now,” Kimberly Rubio said.

Dr. Roy Guerrero described in stark terms the carnage he witnessed at the local hospital as he tried to treat the injured. He went to the area of the hospital where two dead children had been taken. The bodies were so pulverized, he said, “that the only clue to their identities was the blood-splattered cartoon clothes still clinging to them, clinging for life and finding none.”

The Democratic-led House is expected to pass legislation that would raise the age limit for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.

But the legislation has almost no chance of becoming law as the Senate pursues negotiations focused on improving mental health programs, bolstering school security and enhancing background checks. The House bill does allow Democratic lawmakers a chance to frame for voters in November where they stand on policies that polls show appeal to a majority.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-violence-presidential-elections-shootings-5d769e174b200923e75e27b0051da225">Majorities of U.S. adults think mass shootings would occur less often</a>&nbsp;if guns were harder to get, and that schools and other public places have become less safe than they were two decades ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An 11-year-old girl who survived the mass shooting at an elementary school in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas,</a>&nbsp;recounted in video testimony to Congress on Wednesday how she covered herself with a dead classmate’s blood to avoid being shot and “just stayed quiet.”<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RejrxgL-vEI?start=2147" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader at Robb Elementary School, told lawmakers in a pre-recorded video that she watched a teacher get shot in the head before looking for a place to hide.“I thought he would come back so I covered myself with blood,” Miah told the House panel. “I put it all over me and I just stayed quiet.” She called 911 using the deceased teacher’s phone and pleaded for help.Nineteen children and two teachers died when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle inside Robb Elementary School on May 24.It was the second day lawmakers heard wrenching testimony on the nation’s gun violence. On Tuesday, a Senate panel heard from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-new-york-government-and-politics-gun-violence-2aaff6f50089767777d4bd8db8182bea">son of an 86-year-old woman killed when a gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers</a>&nbsp;in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. Ten people died.In the video Wednesday, Miah’s father, Miguel Cerillo, asked his daughter if she feels safe at school anymore. She shook her head no.“Why?” he asks. “I don’t want it to happen again,” she responds.The testimony at the House Oversight Committee came as lawmakers work to strike a bipartisan agreement on gun safety measures in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings.Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the panel’s chairwoman, called the hearing to focus on the human impact of gun violence and the urgency for gun control legislation.“I am asking every member of this committee to listen with an open heart to the brave witnesses who have come forward to tell their stories about how gun violence has impacted their lives,” Maloney said. “Our witnesses today have endured pain and loss. Yet they are displaying incredible courage by coming here to ask us to do our jobs.”But even as some lawmakers shed tears alongside the witnesses, the hearing displayed the contentious debate over gun control Congress has faced repeatedly after mass shootings. Several Republicans turned the conversation to the individuals who abuse guns and how “hardening schools” could help protect students.Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., who owns a gun store, said that one of the things he learned in his military service was that “the harder the target you are, the less likely you will be engaged by the enemy.” He called on schools to keep doors locked, provide a single point of entry and “a volunteer force of well-trained and armed staff, in addition to a school resource officer.”The parents of victims and survivors implored lawmakers not to let their children’s deaths and pain be in vain. After Miah spoke, her father told lawmakers that he testified because “I could have lost my baby girl.”“But she is not the same little girl that I use to play with,” Cerrillo said. “Schools are not safe anymore. Something needs to really change.”Also testifying was Zeneta Everhart, whose 20-year-old son Zaire was wounded in the Buffalo mass shooting.Everhart told lawmakers it was their duty to draft legislation that protects Zaire and other Americans. She said that if they did not find the testimony moving enough to act on gun laws, they had an invitation to go to her home to help her clean her son’s wounds.“My son Zaire has a hole in the right side of his neck, two on his back, and another on his left leg,” she said, then paused to compose herself. “As I clean his wounds, I can feel pieces of that bullet in his back. Shrapnel will be left inside of his body for the rest of his life. Now I want you to picture that exact scenario for one of your children.”The parents of Lexi Rubio, who died in her classroom in Uvalde, also testified. Felix and Kimberly Rubio recounted finding out about their daughter’s death hours after leaving Lexi’s school awards ceremony on the morning of the shooting.To get to the elementary school, Kimberly Rubio said she ran barefoot for a mile with her sandals in her hand and with her husband by her side. A firefighter eventually gave them a ride back to the civic center.“Soon after we received the news that our daughter was among the 19 students and two teachers that died as a result of gun violence,” she said, fighting through tears.She said that Lexi would have made a positive change in the world if she had been given the chance.“Somewhere out there, there’s a mom listening to our testimony, thinking I can’t even imagine their pain, not knowing that our reality will one day be hers unless we act now,” Kimberly Rubio said.Dr. Roy Guerrero described in stark terms the carnage he witnessed at the local hospital as he tried to treat the injured. He went to the area of the hospital where two dead children had been taken. The bodies were so pulverized, he said, “that the only clue to their identities was the blood-splattered cartoon clothes still clinging to them, clinging for life and finding none.”The Democratic-led House is expected to pass legislation that would raise the age limit for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.But the legislation has almost no chance of becoming law as the Senate pursues negotiations focused on improving mental health programs, bolstering school security and enhancing background checks. The House bill does allow Democratic lawmakers a chance to frame for voters in November where they stand on policies that polls show appeal to a majority.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-violence-presidential-elections-shootings-5d769e174b200923e75e27b0051da225">Majorities of U.S. adults think mass shootings would occur less often</a>&nbsp;if guns were harder to get, and that schools and other public places have become less safe than they were two decades ago.___

🎥4th grade Uvalde survivor: 'I don't want it to happen again'

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested Wednesday near Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice.

Nicholas John Roske of Simi Valley, California, who was identified in a criminal complaint charging him with the attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice, was dressed in black when he arrived by taxi just after 1 a.m. outside Kavanaugh's home in a Washington suburb.

Roske, 26, had a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, pepper spray, duct tape and other items that he told police he would use to break into Kavanaugh's house and kill him, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in federal court in Maryland. Roske said he purchased the gun to kill Kavanaugh and that he also would kill himself, the affidavit said.

Roske told police he was upset by a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is about to overrule Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion case. He also said he was upset over the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, and believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws, the affidavit said.

The court currently is weighing a challenge to New York's requirements for getting a permit to carry a gun in public, a case that could make it easier to be armed on the streets of New York and other large cities.

When he got out of the taxi, Roske was spotted by two U.S. Marshals who are part of round-the-clock security provided to the justices following the leak of the draft opinion last month. But Roske was only apprehended after he called 911 in Montgomery County, Maryland, and said he was having suicidal thoughts and planned to kill Kavanaugh, having found the justice's address online. Roske was still on the phone when Montgomery County police arrived on the scene, according to the affidavit.

“This kind of behavior is obviously behavior we will not tolerate,” Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Wednesday. “Threats of violence and actual violence against the justices of course strike at the heart of our democracy and we will do everything we can to prevent them and to hold people who do them accountable.”

President Joe Biden praised authorities for quickly apprehending the man, deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates said in an email.

There have been protests at the homes of Kavanaugh and other justices, as well as demonstrations at the court, where a security fence rings the building and nearby streets have been closed.

A Homeland Security Department report said the draft opinion, leaked in early May, has unleashed a wave of threats against officials and others and increased the likelihood of extremist violence.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Wednesday that an armed man who made threats against Justice Brett Kavanaugh was arrested near the justice’s house in Maryland.

The man was arrested about 1:50 a.m., court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said in an email.

The California man, in his 20s, was armed with a gun and a knife, according to a law enforcement official. The man, whose identity has not been released, arrived in a taxi early in the morning and told law enforcement officers he wanted to kill Kavanaugh, the official said.

The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Washington Post initially reported the arrest, quoting sources who said the man also was carrying burglary tools. He told police he was upset by a leaked draft opinion suggesting the court is about to overrule Roe v. Wade, the court’s landmark abortion case, the Post reported. He was also said to be upset over recent mass shootings, according to the newspaper.

The justices have been provided round-the-clock security at their homes amid concerns about violence following the court’s ultimate decision.

There have been protests at Kavanaugh’s house in a Maryland suburb just outside the District of Columbia, and at the homes of other justices, as well as demonstrations at the court, where a security fence rings the building and nearby streets have been closed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633098736105.png" alt="Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested Wednesday near Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice.Nicholas John Roske of Simi Valley, California, who was identified in a criminal complaint charging him with the attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice, was dressed in black when he arrived by taxi just after 1 a.m. outside Kavanaugh's home in a Washington suburb.Roske, 26, had a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, pepper spray, duct tape and other items that he told police he would use to break into Kavanaugh's house and kill him, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in federal court in Maryland. Roske said he purchased the gun to kill Kavanaugh and that he also would kill himself, the affidavit said.Roske told police he was upset by a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is about to overrule Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion case. He also said he was upset over the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, and believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws, the affidavit said.The court currently is weighing a challenge to New York's requirements for getting a permit to carry a gun in public, a case that could make it easier to be armed on the streets of New York and other large cities.When he got out of the taxi, Roske was spotted by two U.S. Marshals who are part of round-the-clock security provided to the justices following the leak of the draft opinion last month. But Roske was only apprehended after he called 911 in Montgomery County, Maryland, and said he was having suicidal thoughts and planned to kill Kavanaugh, having found the justice's address online. Roske was still on the phone when Montgomery County police arrived on the scene, according to the affidavit.“This kind of behavior is obviously behavior we will not tolerate,” Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Wednesday. “Threats of violence and actual violence against the justices of course strike at the heart of our democracy and we will do everything we can to prevent them and to hold people who do them accountable.”President Joe Biden praised authorities for quickly apprehending the man, deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates said in an email.There have been protests at the homes of Kavanaugh and other justices, as well as demonstrations at the court, where a security fence rings the building and nearby streets have been closed.A Homeland Security Department report said the draft opinion, leaked in early May, has unleashed a wave of threats against officials and others and increased the likelihood of extremist violence.___WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Wednesday that an armed man who made threats against Justice Brett Kavanaugh was arrested near the justice’s house in Maryland.The man was arrested about 1:50 a.m., court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said in an email.The California man, in his 20s, was armed with a gun and a knife, according to a law enforcement official. The man, whose identity has not been released, arrived in a taxi early in the morning and told law enforcement officers he wanted to kill Kavanaugh, the official said.The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The Washington Post initially reported the arrest, quoting sources who said the man also was carrying burglary tools. He told police he was upset by a leaked draft opinion suggesting the court is about to overrule Roe v. Wade, the court’s landmark abortion case, the Post reported. He was also said to be upset over recent mass shootings, according to the newspaper.The justices have been provided round-the-clock security at their homes amid concerns about violence following the court’s ultimate decision.There have been protests at Kavanaugh’s house in a Maryland suburb just outside the District of Columbia, and at the homes of other justices, as well as demonstrations at the court, where a security fence rings the building and nearby streets have been closed.

Suspect identified: Armed man arrested near Justice Kavanaugh's house

By LAURI GOLDKIND <a href="https://theconversation.com/therapy-on-the-go-mildly-depressed-or-simply-stressed-people-are-tapping-apps-for-mental-health-care-178389">The Conversation</a>

It might be surprising to think about browsing for therapists and 
ordering up mental health care the way you can peruse a menu on Grubhub 
or summon a car on Lyft.

But over the last decade, digital access to therapy has become 
increasingly common, in some cases replacing the traditional model of 
in-person weekly sessions between a therapist and client.

Apps for mental health and wellness range from mood trackers, 
meditation tools and journals to therapy apps that match users to a 
licensed professional. My team’s research focuses on therapy apps that 
work by matching clients to a licensed professional.

As a <a href="https://www.fordham.edu/info/24281/gss_full-time_faculty_profiles/11298/lauri_goldkind/">social work researcher</a>, I am interested in understanding how these apps <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1044389421997796">affect clients and practitioners</a>.
 My research team has studied the care that app users receive. We have 
talked to therapists who use apps to reach new clients. We’ve also 
analyzed app contracts that mental health professionals sign, as well as
 the agreements clients accept by using the apps.

Real questions persist about how apps are regulated, how to <a href="https://doi.org/10.2196%2F23776">ensure user privacy and care quality</a>
 and how remote therapy can be reimbursed by insurance. While those 
debates continue, people are regularly using apps to connect to 
therapists for help with emotional and mental struggles. And through 
these apps, therapists are interacting with people who may never have 
considered therapy before.

In the first year of the pandemic, rates of depression and anxiety <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide">increased by 25%</a> worldwide. In a June 2020 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm">40.9% of respondents reported</a> at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, compared to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db380.htm">only 19% in 2018</a>.

The old model of therapy, in which therapists and patients sat face 
to face, was already out of reach for many. In fact, mental health apps 
are a response to the demand from clients seeking more accessible 
therapy services.  

The COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged both trends – the growing need for
 mental health care and using technology to access it. For existing 
mental health clients, stay-at-home orders closed clinics and 
therapists’ offices to in-person visits, resulting in an <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-19-mental-health-telemedicine-was-off-to-a-slow-start-then-the-pandemic-happened-177670">unprecedented shift to online access to therapy</a>.

Consumer mental health platforms like Better Help, Alma and TalkSpace
 match clients to licensed therapy providers. With advertising on 
television, across social media channels and on highway billboards, the 
apps promote flexibility, convenience and the potential to receive 
support with slogans like “You deserve to be happy” or “Feeling better 
starts with a single call.” 

When app users enter a platform’s online space, its proprietary 
software offers a digital dashboard and communication tools. These 
platforms also promise instant access to a professional therapist, 
immediate responsiveness from them as well as anonymity. 

App users choose a therapist by reviewing a list of providers 
accompanied by thumbnail photos, resume-like bios and consumer reviews. 
Users also choose how they’ll connect with therapists – phone or video 
calls, email, text or some combination. The apps also let clients change
 therapists at any time. 

As the client and their chosen therapist connect and communicate, 
behind the scenes the app collects and maintains records, later 
calculating the chosen therapist’s payment and billing the app user.

Curiously, while mental health app platforms promote themselves as 
providers of mental health services, they actually don’t take <a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/terms/">responsibility for the counseling services they are providing</a>.
 The apps consider therapists to be independent contractors, with the 
platform acting as a matching service. And the apps can help users find a
 more suitable fit if they request it.

But no law or precedent protects consumers or clarifies app users’ 
rights. This differs from face-to-face therapy, in which practitioners 
work under the oversight of state licensing boards and federal law. Some
 of the major therapy apps have been accused of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/technology/talkspace.html">mining client data</a> and <a href="https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/betterhelp/">being at risk for data breaches</a>.

Like other virtual spaces, online mental health service domains operate under ever-evolving and localized regulations.

The social workers our team interviewed talked a lot about who can 
benefit from this kind of app-based therapy and – importantly – who 
can’t. For example, the platforms are not set up to treat people with <a href="https://smiadviser.org/about/serious-mental-illness">serious mental illness</a> or mental disorders that substantially interfere with a person’s life, activities and ability to function independently.

Similarly, app-based psychotherapy is not suitable for those having suicidal thoughts. The platforms screen users for <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-teens-engage-in-self-harm-clinical-psychologists-explain-how-to-help-teens-reduce-their-emotional-distress-181419">risk of self-harm</a>
 when they sign up. If a client ever poses harm to themselves or someone
 else, user anonymity on the apps makes it almost impossible for a 
therapist to send a crisis response team. App-based practitioners told 
our research team that they sometimes end up monitoring their clients 
for signs of crisis by contacting them through the app more frequently. 
It’s one reason app therapists, who also screen users, sometimes reject 
potential clients who may need a higher level of care.

For those without severe mental illness, app-based therapy may be 
helpful in matching clients with a professional familiar with a range of
 problems and stressors. This makes apps attractive to those with 
anxiety and mild to moderate depression. They also appeal to people who 
wouldn’t ordinarily seek out office-based therapy, but who want help 
with life issues such as marital problems and work-related stress. 

The apps could also be practical and convenient for those who can’t 
or won’t get formal therapy, even remotely, from a mental health clinic 
or office. For instance, the anonymity of apps might appeal to people 
suffering from conditions like social anxiety or agoraphobia, or for 
those individuals who can’t or won’t appear on a video call.  

Therapy apps have helped to normalize the idea that it’s OK to pursue
 mental health treatment through nontraditional routes. And with 
high-profile people such as <a href="https://brandingforum.org/marketing/michael-phelps-talkspace-mental-health/">Michael Phelps</a> and <a href="https://www.elle.com/beauty/a36877443/ariana-grande-better-help-free-therapy/">Ariana Grande</a> partnering with these apps, they might even be on their way to making mental health treatment cool.

Lauri Goldkind is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Fordham University.

By LAURI GOLDKIND <a href="https://theconversation.com/therapy-on-the-go-mildly-depressed-or-simply-stressed-people-are-tapping-apps-for-mental-health-care-178389">The Conversation</a>It might be surprising to think about browsing for therapists and 
ordering up mental health care the way you can peruse a menu on Grubhub 
or summon a car on Lyft.But over the last decade, digital access to therapy has become 
increasingly common, in some cases replacing the traditional model of 
in-person weekly sessions between a therapist and client.Apps for mental health and wellness range from mood trackers, 
meditation tools and journals to therapy apps that match users to a 
licensed professional. My team’s research focuses on therapy apps that 
work by matching clients to a licensed professional.As a <a href="https://www.fordham.edu/info/24281/gss_full-time_faculty_profiles/11298/lauri_goldkind/">social work researcher</a>, I am interested in understanding how these apps <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1044389421997796">affect clients and practitioners</a>.
 My research team has studied the care that app users receive. We have 
talked to therapists who use apps to reach new clients. We’ve also 
analyzed app contracts that mental health professionals sign, as well as
 the agreements clients accept by using the apps.Real questions persist about how apps are regulated, how to <a href="https://doi.org/10.2196%2F23776">ensure user privacy and care quality</a>
 and how remote therapy can be reimbursed by insurance. While those 
debates continue, people are regularly using apps to connect to 
therapists for help with emotional and mental struggles. And through 
these apps, therapists are interacting with people who may never have 
considered therapy before. <h2>A ready-made market</h2>In the first year of the pandemic, rates of depression and anxiety <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide">increased by 25%</a> worldwide. In a June 2020 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm">40.9% of respondents reported</a> at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, compared to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db380.htm">only 19% in 2018</a>.The old model of therapy, in which therapists and patients sat face 
to face, was already out of reach for many. In fact, mental health apps 
are a response to the demand from clients seeking more accessible 
therapy services. The COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged both trends – the growing need for
 mental health care and using technology to access it. For existing 
mental health clients, stay-at-home orders closed clinics and 
therapists’ offices to in-person visits, resulting in an <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-19-mental-health-telemedicine-was-off-to-a-slow-start-then-the-pandemic-happened-177670">unprecedented shift to online access to therapy</a>. <h2>How matching apps work</h2>Consumer mental health platforms like Better Help, Alma and TalkSpace
 match clients to licensed therapy providers. With advertising on 
television, across social media channels and on highway billboards, the 
apps promote flexibility, convenience and the potential to receive 
support with slogans like “You deserve to be happy” or “Feeling better 
starts with a single call.” When app users enter a platform’s online space, its proprietary 
software offers a digital dashboard and communication tools. These 
platforms also promise instant access to a professional therapist, 
immediate responsiveness from them as well as anonymity. App users choose a therapist by reviewing a list of providers 
accompanied by thumbnail photos, resume-like bios and consumer reviews. 
Users also choose how they’ll connect with therapists – phone or video 
calls, email, text or some combination. The apps also let clients change
 therapists at any time. As the client and their chosen therapist connect and communicate, 
behind the scenes the app collects and maintains records, later 
calculating the chosen therapist’s payment and billing the app user.<h2>Apps and their risks</h2>Curiously, while mental health app platforms promote themselves as 
providers of mental health services, they actually don’t take <a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/terms/">responsibility for the counseling services they are providing</a>.
 The apps consider therapists to be independent contractors, with the 
platform acting as a matching service. And the apps can help users find a
 more suitable fit if they request it.But no law or precedent protects consumers or clarifies app users’ 
rights. This differs from face-to-face therapy, in which practitioners 
work under the oversight of state licensing boards and federal law. Some
 of the major therapy apps have been accused of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/technology/talkspace.html">mining client data</a> and <a href="https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/betterhelp/">being at risk for data breaches</a>. Like other virtual spaces, online mental health service domains operate under ever-evolving and localized regulations.<h2>Who benefits from these apps?</h2>The social workers our team interviewed talked a lot about who can 
benefit from this kind of app-based therapy and – importantly – who 
can’t. For example, the platforms are not set up to treat people with <a href="https://smiadviser.org/about/serious-mental-illness">serious mental illness</a> or mental disorders that substantially interfere with a person’s life, activities and ability to function independently. Similarly, app-based psychotherapy is not suitable for those having suicidal thoughts. The platforms screen users for <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-teens-engage-in-self-harm-clinical-psychologists-explain-how-to-help-teens-reduce-their-emotional-distress-181419">risk of self-harm</a>
 when they sign up. If a client ever poses harm to themselves or someone
 else, user anonymity on the apps makes it almost impossible for a 
therapist to send a crisis response team. App-based practitioners told 
our research team that they sometimes end up monitoring their clients 
for signs of crisis by contacting them through the app more frequently. 
It’s one reason app therapists, who also screen users, sometimes reject 
potential clients who may need a higher level of care.For those without severe mental illness, app-based therapy may be 
helpful in matching clients with a professional familiar with a range of
 problems and stressors. This makes apps attractive to those with 
anxiety and mild to moderate depression. They also appeal to people who 
wouldn’t ordinarily seek out office-based therapy, but who want help 
with life issues such as marital problems and work-related stress. The apps could also be practical and convenient for those who can’t 
or won’t get formal therapy, even remotely, from a mental health clinic 
or office. For instance, the anonymity of apps might appeal to people 
suffering from conditions like social anxiety or agoraphobia, or for 
those individuals who can’t or won’t appear on a video call. Therapy apps have helped to normalize the idea that it’s OK to pursue
 mental health treatment through nontraditional routes. And with 
high-profile people such as <a href="https://brandingforum.org/marketing/michael-phelps-talkspace-mental-health/">Michael Phelps</a> and <a href="https://www.elle.com/beauty/a36877443/ariana-grande-better-help-free-therapy/">Ariana Grande</a> partnering with these apps, they might even be on their way to making mental health treatment cool.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178389/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1"></iframe></div>Lauri Goldkind is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Fordham University.

Therapy on the go: People are tapping apps for mental health care

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/07/small-town-chief-said-he-was-buying-ammo-but-audit-finds-he-used-15000-for-personal-items/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The police chief in Oakland told officials there he was using gift cards to buy ammunition.

But an audit by the Nebraska 
State Auditor’s Office revealed that Oakland Police Chief Terry Poland 
had used nearly $15,000 in funds of the northeast Nebraska farm town to 
purchase a long list of personal items, from ice-fishing equipment to a 
$400 wake surfboard and a $950 glass basketball backboard.

The audit, released Monday, also 
indicated that Poland and two other officers double-billed hours to both
 Oakland and nearby Lyons for patrolling the streets.

Poland, who has been the police 
chief in Oakland for perhaps six years, did not immediately respond to 
phone calls left by the Nebraska Examiner.

He is still on the job, pending completion of an investigation by the FBI, Oakland Mayor Ted Beckner said Tuesday.

&nbsp;“I can’t tell you much until an investigation is done,” which may take two to three months, Beckner said.

When asked whether the chief 
misused city funds, the mayor said, “that’s what it looks like,” adding 
that he considered the audit report preliminary.

Lyons Mayor Andy Fuston did not respond immediately to a phone call.

The Auditor’s Office had fielded 
concerns about improper documentation — a lack of receipts — concerning 
the chief’s use of Scheel’s gift cards to purchase “ammunition.”

A March 2021 note from Oakland’s 
auditor said that the use of gift cards had been discontinued and that 
there was “no indication of fraud,” after the matter had been discussed 
with the mayor and police chief.&nbsp;

Poland, according to the State 
Auditor’s Office, had told city officials that using Scheel’s gift cards
 to purchase ammunition was convenient and allowed officers on the 
three-man force to buy bullets when they were in Omaha.&nbsp;

Poland, according to the 
Auditor’s Office, also said Scheel’s would not allow charges for 
ammunition against the city’s store account — which turned out to be 
false.

By November, &nbsp;the auditors 
learned not only about the gift card issue but that the three Oakland 
police officers, including Poland, had been double-billing both Oakland 
and Lyons for hours spent patrolling both towns.

After discussing the situation 
with the FBI and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, it was decided 
that the State Auditor’s Office would do a full audit.

The audit revealed that the chief
 had used Oakland’s charge account at Scheel’s to purchase $14,070 worth
 of gift cards, which were then used to purchases dozens of personal 
items, including “a Yeti 
cooler, jewelry, clothing, food/snacks, fishing equipment, and other 
goods that serve no apparent public or municipal purpose,” according to 
the audit.

“The actual gift card receipts show clearly that no ammunition was purchased,” the audit stated.

The audit also found that the 
double-billing involved 30 days during 2021.&nbsp;Poland alone, according to 
the audit, double billed for 181.5 hours of work, which amounts to about
 $3,500 in costs, “giving rise to concerns about potential fraud.”

Theft, theft by deception and 
official misconduct by a public employee and misuse of public resources 
are all crimes, the audit pointed out. Official misconduct, for 
instance, is a Class II misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in 
jail and a $1,000 fine.

The audit recommended that the 
towns of Oakland and Lyons consult with the Burt County attorney about 
the questionable payroll claims.

The state audit, signed by Deputy
 State Auditor Craig Kubicek, recommended that the two towns implement 
tighter controls over spending by employees. The audit also pointed to 
instances where Lyons City Council members had conflicts of interests in
 approving city bills and said it was against the law to provide 
year-end bonuses — amounting to $50 to $150 each — to city employees.

In their official responses, 
Oakland and Lyons officials said they would implement systems to more 
accurately track hours worked by police officers. Lyons indicated it was
 changing policies to reflect the auditor’s concerns about bonuses and 
conflicts of interest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654700591840.png" alt="These were among the personal items the Nebraska State Auditor’s Office maintains were purchased by the police chief in Oakland using city funds. (Courtesy of Nebraska State Auditor)" />
 <figcaption>These were among the personal items the Nebraska State Auditor’s Office maintains were purchased by the police chief in Oakland using city funds. (Courtesy of Nebraska State Auditor)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/07/small-town-chief-said-he-was-buying-ammo-but-audit-finds-he-used-15000-for-personal-items/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The police chief in Oakland told officials there he was using gift cards to buy ammunition.But an audit by the Nebraska 
State Auditor’s Office revealed that Oakland Police Chief Terry Poland 
had used nearly $15,000 in funds of the northeast Nebraska farm town to 
purchase a long list of personal items, from ice-fishing equipment to a 
$400 wake surfboard and a $950 glass basketball backboard.The audit, released Monday, also 
indicated that Poland and two other officers double-billed hours to both
 Oakland and nearby Lyons for patrolling the streets.Poland, who has been the police 
chief in Oakland for perhaps six years, did not immediately respond to 
phone calls left by the Nebraska Examiner.<h2>FBI investigating</h2>He is still on the job, pending completion of an investigation by the FBI, Oakland Mayor Ted Beckner said Tuesday.&nbsp;“I can’t tell you much until an investigation is done,” which may take two to three months, Beckner said.When asked whether the chief 
misused city funds, the mayor said, “that’s what it looks like,” adding 
that he considered the audit report preliminary.Lyons Mayor Andy Fuston did not respond immediately to a phone call.The Auditor’s Office had fielded 
concerns about improper documentation — a lack of receipts — concerning 
the chief’s use of Scheel’s gift cards to purchase “ammunition.”<h2>‘No indication of fraud’</h2>A March 2021 note from Oakland’s 
auditor said that the use of gift cards had been discontinued and that 
there was “no indication of fraud,” after the matter had been discussed 
with the mayor and police chief.&nbsp;Poland, according to the State 
Auditor’s Office, had told city officials that using Scheel’s gift cards
 to purchase ammunition was convenient and allowed officers on the 
three-man force to buy bullets when they were in Omaha.&nbsp;Poland, according to the 
Auditor’s Office, also said Scheel’s would not allow charges for 
ammunition against the city’s store account — which turned out to be 
false.By November, &nbsp;the auditors 
learned not only about the gift card issue but that the three Oakland 
police officers, including Poland, had been double-billing both Oakland 
and Lyons for hours spent patrolling both towns.After discussing the situation 
with the FBI and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, it was decided 
that the State Auditor’s Office would do a full audit.<h2>Yeti cooler among purchases</h2>The audit revealed that the chief
 had used Oakland’s charge account at Scheel’s to purchase $14,070 worth
 of gift cards, which were then used to purchases dozens of personal 
items, including “a Yeti 
cooler, jewelry, clothing, food/snacks, fishing equipment, and other 
goods that serve no apparent public or municipal purpose,” according to 
the audit.“The actual gift card receipts show clearly that no ammunition was purchased,” the audit stated.The audit also found that the 
double-billing involved 30 days during 2021.&nbsp;Poland alone, according to 
the audit, double billed for 181.5 hours of work, which amounts to about
 $3,500 in costs, “giving rise to concerns about potential fraud.”Theft, theft by deception and 
official misconduct by a public employee and misuse of public resources 
are all crimes, the audit pointed out. Official misconduct, for 
instance, is a Class II misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in 
jail and a $1,000 fine.<h2>Tighter controls recommended</h2>The audit recommended that the 
towns of Oakland and Lyons consult with the Burt County attorney about 
the questionable payroll claims.The state audit, signed by Deputy
 State Auditor Craig Kubicek, recommended that the two towns implement 
tighter controls over spending by employees. The audit also pointed to 
instances where Lyons City Council members had conflicts of interests in
 approving city bills and said it was against the law to provide 
year-end bonuses — amounting to $50 to $150 each — to city employees.In their official responses, 
Oakland and Lyons officials said they would implement systems to more 
accurately track hours worked by police officers. Lyons indicated it was
 changing policies to reflect the auditor’s concerns about bonuses and 
conflicts of interest.

Audit: Small-town police chief used $15,000 for personal items

WASHINGTON (AP) — Curbing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion rights</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-new-york-gun-violence-election-2020-bf167e705025d16e986de758599224f3">expanding the right to be armed in public</a>&nbsp;are long-sought goals of the conservative legal movement that the Supreme Court seems poised to deliver within the next month.

The justices also could ease the use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-religion-education-discrimination-maine-f2cbb97e82217685eb3f9cd2c4ee7079">public funds for religious schooling</a>&nbsp;and constrain Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-business-health-5e6f74672e116f977d5f20d7c3e29ddf">efforts to fight climate change</a>.

These disputes are among 30 cases the court still has to resolve before it takes an extended summer break, typically around the end of June. That’s a large, though not unprecedented, haul for the court at this point in its term.

June typically is a tense time at the court, where justices are racing to put the final touches on the most controversial cases. But this year, the tension seems to be even greater, with a potentially historic abortion ruling and in the aftermath of a leaked draft opinion that seems to have led to discord inside the court and heightened security concerns.

At least one of the 30 remaining cases will be decided on Wednesday, the court indicated on its website.

The pace of the court’s work has been slower than usual, and it’s unclear how much that has to do with a leaked draft opinion suggesting a conservative majority will overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision on abortion rights and for the first time strip away an individual constitutional right.

The leak occurred in early May and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/clarence-thomas">Justice Clarence Thomas</a>&nbsp;has suggested the breach of the court’s confidential opinion-drafting process has done serious damage to the court. “You begin to look over your shoulder,” Thomas said last month at a conference in Dallas.

With three appointees of former President Donald Trump, the court now has a 6-3 conservative majority, and abortion opponents might consider anything less than the overruling of Roe and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision that affirmed the right to end a pregnancy a bitter defeat.

But even short of explicitly jettisoning the abortion cases, the court is on the verge of dramatically weakening abortion rights. At issue in the case is a Mississippi law that bans abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy, far earlier than the court has previously indicated states can prohibit abortions.

Even before the leak of the draft opinion, the court seemed poised based on arguments in December to uphold the Mississippi law at the very least.

Arguments in November in a case over New York’s gun permit requirements also strongly suggested the court would make it easier to carry a gun in public, a decision that could affect many of the nation’s largest cities.

It’s not clear whether a series of mass shootings in recent weeks has had any effect on the court’s deliberations, or when to release the decision in the New York case.

Among the other significant cases awaiting decisions is a challenge from Republican-led states and coal companies that could hamstring the administration’s efforts to reduce climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. President Joe Biden has set an ambitious goal of slashing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, and power plants account for roughly 30% of carbon dioxide output.

The justices also could rule any day in a lawsuit over a Maine program that offers tuition aid for private education, but excludes religious schools. The decision could ease religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money and fuel a renewed push for school choice programs in some of the 18 states that have so far have not directed taxpayer money to private, religious education.

The court has been mum on the internal investigation Chief Justice John Roberts ordered the day after the leak and assigned to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-leak-investigation-gail-curley-48623ac2a3bafe36f39bbf5f68257dbf">Gail Curley</a>, the marshal of the court.

But CNN has reported that Curley is seeking affidavits and cellphone records from the justices’ law clerks. Competing theories on the left and right have suggested the leaker probably comes from among the 37 clerks, four for each justice plus one for the retired Anthony Kennedy.

The court could examine government-owned cellphones and email accounts, said lawyer Mark Zaid, who frequently represents government whistleblowers. But it couldn’t compel clerks to turn over personal devices or provide access to their own phones without a warrant, Zaid said.

But other lawyers have said the clerks, many who will become leaders in the legal profession, should willingly talk to the court’s investigators.

Zaid and others said clerks should talk to an attorney before agreeing to anything.

Before COVID-19 changed things, the court would announce its opinions in public sessions in the courtroom that sometimes produced moments of high drama. In especially closely watched cases, justices on both sides would read summaries of their dueling opinions.

But the courthouse remains closed to the public and, since shortly after the draft abortion opinion appeared, the court has been ringed by an eight-foot barrier and the streets closest to the building also have been closed to vehicles.

Barring a change, the opinions in the abortion and guns cases will be posted online, giving the public quick access, but affording no chance to hear justices state their views.

The justices like to get their work done by the end of June, though they issued their final opinions in early July the past two years. Summer teaching obligations often drive the need to get out of town. This year, it appears that only one justice has a teaching-related deadline. A George Mason University law school program in Padua, Italy, is advertising that Justice Neil Gorsuch will take part.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Curbing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion rights</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-new-york-gun-violence-election-2020-bf167e705025d16e986de758599224f3">expanding the right to be armed in public</a>&nbsp;are long-sought goals of the conservative legal movement that the Supreme Court seems poised to deliver within the next month.The justices also could ease the use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-religion-education-discrimination-maine-f2cbb97e82217685eb3f9cd2c4ee7079">public funds for religious schooling</a>&nbsp;and constrain Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-business-health-5e6f74672e116f977d5f20d7c3e29ddf">efforts to fight climate change</a>.These disputes are among 30 cases the court still has to resolve before it takes an extended summer break, typically around the end of June. That’s a large, though not unprecedented, haul for the court at this point in its term.June typically is a tense time at the court, where justices are racing to put the final touches on the most controversial cases. But this year, the tension seems to be even greater, with a potentially historic abortion ruling and in the aftermath of a leaked draft opinion that seems to have led to discord inside the court and heightened security concerns.At least one of the 30 remaining cases will be decided on Wednesday, the court indicated on its website.___SLOWER THAN USUALThe pace of the court’s work has been slower than usual, and it’s unclear how much that has to do with a leaked draft opinion suggesting a conservative majority will overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision on abortion rights and for the first time strip away an individual constitutional right.The leak occurred in early May and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/clarence-thomas">Justice Clarence Thomas</a>&nbsp;has suggested the breach of the court’s confidential opinion-drafting process has done serious damage to the court. “You begin to look over your shoulder,” Thomas said last month at a conference in Dallas.___ABORTION AND GUNSWith three appointees of former President Donald Trump, the court now has a 6-3 conservative majority, and abortion opponents might consider anything less than the overruling of Roe and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision that affirmed the right to end a pregnancy a bitter defeat.But even short of explicitly jettisoning the abortion cases, the court is on the verge of dramatically weakening abortion rights. At issue in the case is a Mississippi law that bans abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy, far earlier than the court has previously indicated states can prohibit abortions.Even before the leak of the draft opinion, the court seemed poised based on arguments in December to uphold the Mississippi law at the very least.Arguments in November in a case over New York’s gun permit requirements also strongly suggested the court would make it easier to carry a gun in public, a decision that could affect many of the nation’s largest cities.It’s not clear whether a series of mass shootings in recent weeks has had any effect on the court’s deliberations, or when to release the decision in the New York case.___RELIGION, ENVIRONMENTAmong the other significant cases awaiting decisions is a challenge from Republican-led states and coal companies that could hamstring the administration’s efforts to reduce climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. President Joe Biden has set an ambitious goal of slashing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, and power plants account for roughly 30% of carbon dioxide output.The justices also could rule any day in a lawsuit over a Maine program that offers tuition aid for private education, but excludes religious schools. The decision could ease religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money and fuel a renewed push for school choice programs in some of the 18 states that have so far have not directed taxpayer money to private, religious education.___LEAK INVESTIGATIONThe court has been mum on the internal investigation Chief Justice John Roberts ordered the day after the leak and assigned to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-leak-investigation-gail-curley-48623ac2a3bafe36f39bbf5f68257dbf">Gail Curley</a>, the marshal of the court.But CNN has reported that Curley is seeking affidavits and cellphone records from the justices’ law clerks. Competing theories on the left and right have suggested the leaker probably comes from among the 37 clerks, four for each justice plus one for the retired Anthony Kennedy.The court could examine government-owned cellphones and email accounts, said lawyer Mark Zaid, who frequently represents government whistleblowers. But it couldn’t compel clerks to turn over personal devices or provide access to their own phones without a warrant, Zaid said.But other lawyers have said the clerks, many who will become leaders in the legal profession, should willingly talk to the court’s investigators.Zaid and others said clerks should talk to an attorney before agreeing to anything.___NO AUDIENCE, NO PERFORMANCEBefore COVID-19 changed things, the court would announce its opinions in public sessions in the courtroom that sometimes produced moments of high drama. In especially closely watched cases, justices on both sides would read summaries of their dueling opinions.But the courthouse remains closed to the public and, since shortly after the draft abortion opinion appeared, the court has been ringed by an eight-foot barrier and the streets closest to the building also have been closed to vehicles.Barring a change, the opinions in the abortion and guns cases will be posted online, giving the public quick access, but affording no chance to hear justices state their views.___DEADLINESThe justices like to get their work done by the end of June, though they issued their final opinions in early July the past two years. Summer teaching obligations often drive the need to get out of town. This year, it appears that only one justice has a teaching-related deadline. A George Mason University law school program in Padua, Italy, is advertising that Justice Neil Gorsuch will take part.

30 cases in a month: Abortion, guns top justices' to-do list

ATLANTA (AP) — Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of the reality television show “Chrisley Knows Best,” have been found guilty in Atlanta on federal charges including bank fraud and tax evasion. 

The Chrisleys were initially indicted in August 2019, and the trial began three weeks ago. 

The U.S. attorney's office in Atlanta said a jury found the pair guilty of all charges Tuesday. 

Prosecutors say the stars of “Chrisley Knows Best” submitted false documents to banks to get loans and failed to pay federal income taxes for multiple years. 

An accountant who worked for them also was found guilty. Sentencing for all three is set for Oct. 6.

ATLANTA (AP) — Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of the reality television show “Chrisley Knows Best,” have been found guilty in Atlanta on federal charges including bank fraud and tax evasion. The Chrisleys were initially indicted in August 2019, and the trial began three weeks ago. The U.S. attorney's office in Atlanta said a jury found the pair guilty of all charges Tuesday. Prosecutors say the stars of “Chrisley Knows Best” submitted false documents to banks to get loans and failed to pay federal income taxes for multiple years. An accountant who worked for them also was found guilty. Sentencing for all three is set for Oct. 6.

Todd and Julie Chrisley found guilty on federal charges

By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte Post

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.-Police in Grand Island are investigating an adult-themed burglary.

Police said on Tuesday, at around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to the report of a burglary at Dr. John's Lingerie Boutique, 3224 Langenheder St.

Police said an unknown male had entered the business by breaking out the glass in the front entry door with a rock.

Police said the man then entered the business and stole merchandise. Police said he made several trips into the business, removing merchandise each time.

Dr. John's specializes in adult novelties and lingerie.

If you have any information, contact Grand Island Police.

<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/2022/6/1654694872658.png" alt="Google Maps" />
 <figcaption>Google Maps</figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte PostGRAND ISLAND, Neb.-Police in Grand Island are investigating an adult-themed burglary.Police said on Tuesday, at around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to the report of a burglary at Dr. John's Lingerie Boutique, 3224 Langenheder St.Police said an unknown male had entered the business by breaking out the glass in the front entry door with a rock.Police said the man then entered the business and stole merchandise. Police said he made several trips into the business, removing merchandise each time.Dr. John's specializes in adult novelties and lingerie.If you have any information, contact Grand Island Police.<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/xFobReEJFg6vBEx_UhWUDihkNErsoGqZZ3PP1mq8ITtG1dpkMFSHDrf3pBpR9d00aC4-wTVYpU8J2bJw87_6VVmsPfXgQUCHyutkXSBf2n4W98u-e1QgTmh0MVBZ9QNoRlE8tCUDTsrUggaG9w" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Police investigate burglary of Dr. John's Boutique in Grand Island

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering nationwide waivers to increase access to infant formula for families in need as states receive and distribute imported infant formula made available by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/01/president-biden-announces-fourth-operation-fly-formula-mission/">Biden-Harris Administration’s Operation Fly Formula</a>, according to a media release from the agency.

USDA is leveraging new authority from the recently passed Access to Baby Formula Act to offer this flexibility.

“USDA is committed to providing our WIC families with nutritious foods, and while we continue working with our many partners to bring the infant formula shortages to a speedy conclusion, we’re also going to keep looking for ways to help families here and now,” said Stacy Dean, USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services. “We’re maximizing flexibility, encouraging action, and providing ongoing support so we can all overcome this obstacle together.”

The action builds on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/infant-formula-waiver-status">existing flexibilities</a>&nbsp;to provide widest access to available infant formula for WIC families. Within days of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/ofs/infant-formula-safety">recall</a>, USDA offered WIC state agencies waivers to maximize formula options for WIC participants and ensure they could exchange or return any recalled formula. To date, USDA has approved well over 250 state waiver requests.

In addition, Food and Nutrition Service recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/news-item/usda-0113.22">encouraged state agencies</a>&nbsp;to work with their infant formula manufacturers to identify and implement temporary flexibility in their contracts to allow WIC participants to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or brands of infant formula during the ongoing shortage. North Carolina and its formula manufacturer, Nestle Gerber, are the first to have put this into action by agreeing to a contract modification that expands access to formula for WIC participants in the state.

“When formula supply began to tighten, we looked at all avenues to ensure safe and nutritious options for North Carolina babies and families,” said North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We immediately began working with our federal partners and with our contracted WIC manufacturer, Nestle Gerber, to give families in the WIC program the flexibility to choose different sizes, types and brands of formula during the shortage. We negotiated and implemented these changes as quickly as possible to relieve some of the stress that WIC-participating families felt.”

Food and Nutrition Service is encouraged by the action taken by North Carolina. “We are grateful for the leadership and teamwork of North Carolina and Nestle Gerber to increase formula access for WIC families in their state,” said Dean. The agency recently shared best practices with WIC state agencies to help them establish contract flexibilities that will help WIC participants access the formula they need.

USDA continues to work closely with&nbsp;<a href="https://hhs.gov/formula">HHS</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-important-steps-improve-supply-infant-and-specialty-formula-products">FDA</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/18/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-address-infant-formula-shortage/">administration</a>&nbsp;to support WIC families through this challenging time and to bring to a swift end to the shortage. Recent USDA actions include:

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service leverages its 15 nutrition assistance programs to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, while building a more resilient food system. Under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, FNS is fighting to end food and nutrition insecurity for all through programs such as SNAP, school meals, and WIC. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To learn more, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/">www.fns.usda.gov</a>&nbsp;and follow&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/USDANutrition">@USDANutrition</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653517823167.png" alt="First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed&nbsp; a shipment of 120,000 pounds of baby formula to the United States last month." />
 <figcaption>First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed&nbsp; a shipment of 120,000 pounds of baby formula to the United States last month.</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering nationwide waivers to increase access to infant formula for families in need as states receive and distribute imported infant formula made available by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/01/president-biden-announces-fourth-operation-fly-formula-mission/">Biden-Harris Administration’s Operation Fly Formula</a>, according to a media release from the agency.USDA is leveraging new authority from the recently passed Access to Baby Formula Act to offer this flexibility.“USDA is committed to providing our WIC families with nutritious foods, and while we continue working with our many partners to bring the infant formula shortages to a speedy conclusion, we’re also going to keep looking for ways to help families here and now,” said Stacy Dean, USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services. “We’re maximizing flexibility, encouraging action, and providing ongoing support so we can all overcome this obstacle together.”The action builds on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/infant-formula-waiver-status">existing flexibilities</a>&nbsp;to provide widest access to available infant formula for WIC families. Within days of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/ofs/infant-formula-safety">recall</a>, USDA offered WIC state agencies waivers to maximize formula options for WIC participants and ensure they could exchange or return any recalled formula. To date, USDA has approved well over 250 state waiver requests.In addition, Food and Nutrition Service recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/news-item/usda-0113.22">encouraged state agencies</a>&nbsp;to work with their infant formula manufacturers to identify and implement temporary flexibility in their contracts to allow WIC participants to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or brands of infant formula during the ongoing shortage. North Carolina and its formula manufacturer, Nestle Gerber, are the first to have put this into action by agreeing to a contract modification that expands access to formula for WIC participants in the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653255522967.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“When formula supply began to tighten, we looked at all avenues to ensure safe and nutritious options for North Carolina babies and families,” said North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We immediately began working with our federal partners and with our contracted WIC manufacturer, Nestle Gerber, to give families in the WIC program the flexibility to choose different sizes, types and brands of formula during the shortage. We negotiated and implemented these changes as quickly as possible to relieve some of the stress that WIC-participating families felt.”Food and Nutrition Service is encouraged by the action taken by North Carolina. “We are grateful for the leadership and teamwork of North Carolina and Nestle Gerber to increase formula access for WIC families in their state,” said Dean. The agency recently shared best practices with WIC state agencies to help them establish contract flexibilities that will help WIC participants access the formula they need.USDA continues to work closely with&nbsp;<a href="https://hhs.gov/formula">HHS</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-important-steps-improve-supply-infant-and-specialty-formula-products">FDA</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/18/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-address-infant-formula-shortage/">administration</a>&nbsp;to support WIC families through this challenging time and to bring to a swift end to the shortage. Recent USDA actions include:<ul>
 <li>Coordinating cross-government to rapidly transport safe specialty formulas into the country for babies with special medical needs through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/19/biden-administration-approves-first-operation-fly-formula-mission/">Operation Fly Formula</a>. More shipments, including regular formula, are on the way in the coming days.</li><li>Calling on states to take advantage of all available WIC flexibilities that could help those they serve. Since May 13, when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/state-director-letter-infant-formula">USDA wrote to state health commissioners</a>&nbsp;on this issue, more than 50 new waivers have been requested and approved, with all 50 states now offering at least one flexibility to help WIC families get the formula they need.</li><li>Engaging directly with WIC stakeholders including holding multiple listening sessions to better understand current needs and concerns.</li>
 </ul>USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service leverages its 15 nutrition assistance programs to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, while building a more resilient food system. Under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, FNS is fighting to end food and nutrition insecurity for all through programs such as SNAP, school meals, and WIC. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To learn more, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/">www.fns.usda.gov</a>&nbsp;and follow&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/USDANutrition">@USDANutrition</a>.Additional resources:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/formula/">Addressing the Infant Formula Shortage | The White House</a></li><li><a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/flexibilities-formula-enforcement-discretion">Additional WIC Flexibilities - Imported Infant Formula under FDA's Infant Formula Enforcement Discretion | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/state-health-commissioner-letter-june">Follow-up Letter to State Health Commissioners | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)</a></li>
 </ul>

USDA offering nationwide waiver for baby formula

WASHINGTON (AP) — Academy Award–winning actor Matthew McConaughey made an appearance at the White House Tuesday to call on Congress to “reach a higher ground” and pass gun control legislation in honor of the children and teachers killed in last month’s shooting rampage at an elementary school in his hometown of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.

In a highly personal 22-minute speech, McConaughey exhorted a gridlocked Congress to pass gun reforms that can save lives without infringing on Second Amendment rights.

McConaughey, a gun owner himself, used his star power to make an argument for legislation in a fashion that the Biden administration has not been able to muster, offering a clear connection to the small Texas town and vividly detailing the sheer loss of the 19 children and two teachers in the second worst mass school shooting in U.S. history.

He specifically called on Congress to bolster background checks for gun purchases and raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15-style rifle to 21 from 18.

“We want secure and safe schools and we want gun laws that won’t make it so easy for the bad guys to get the damn guns,” McConaughey said.

McConaughey, who earlier this year considered a run for governor of Texas before taking a pass, met briefly in private with President Joe Biden before addressing the White House press corps from the James Brady briefing room.

McConaughey has also met with key lawmakers this week, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that handles gun legislation, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, and the panel’s ranking Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

Also Tuesday, the son of Ruth Whitfield, an 86-year-old woman killed when a gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers in Buffalo, New York, last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-new-york-government-and-politics-gun-violence-2aaff6f50089767777d4bd8db8182bea">called on Congress to act</a>&nbsp;against the “cancer of white supremacy” and the nation’s epidemic of gun violence.

“Is there nothing that you personally are willing to do to stop the cancer of white supremacy and the domestic terrorism it inspires?” Garnell Whitfield Jr. asked members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

McConaughey, who declined to take questions, spoke of his own connections to the town. He said his mother taught kindergarten less than a mile from Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School, the site of the May 24 shooting. He also noted that Uvalde was the place where he was taught about responsibilities that come with gun ownership.

“Uvalde is where I was taught to revere the power and the capability of the tool that we call a gun,” he said.

McConaughey said he and his wife drove back to Uvalde on the day after the shooting and spent time with the families of some of the victims and others directly affected by the rampage.

He said every parent he spoke to expressed that “they want their children’s dreams to live on.”

“They want to make their loss of life matter,” McConaughey said.

He related the personal stories of a number of the victims.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Academy Award–winning actor Matthew McConaughey made an appearance at the White House Tuesday to call on Congress to “reach a higher ground” and pass gun control legislation in honor of the children and teachers killed in last month’s shooting rampage at an elementary school in his hometown of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F609271023986463%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=178" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>In a highly personal 22-minute speech, McConaughey exhorted a gridlocked Congress to pass gun reforms that can save lives without infringing on Second Amendment rights.McConaughey, a gun owner himself, used his star power to make an argument for legislation in a fashion that the Biden administration has not been able to muster, offering a clear connection to the small Texas town and vividly detailing the sheer loss of the 19 children and two teachers in the second worst mass school shooting in U.S. history.He specifically called on Congress to bolster background checks for gun purchases and raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15-style rifle to 21 from 18.“We want secure and safe schools and we want gun laws that won’t make it so easy for the bad guys to get the damn guns,” McConaughey said.McConaughey, who earlier this year considered a run for governor of Texas before taking a pass, met briefly in private with President Joe Biden before addressing the White House press corps from the James Brady briefing room.McConaughey has also met with key lawmakers this week, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that handles gun legislation, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, and the panel’s ranking Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.Also Tuesday, the son of Ruth Whitfield, an 86-year-old woman killed when a gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers in Buffalo, New York, last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-new-york-government-and-politics-gun-violence-2aaff6f50089767777d4bd8db8182bea">called on Congress to act</a>&nbsp;against the “cancer of white supremacy” and the nation’s epidemic of gun violence.“Is there nothing that you personally are willing to do to stop the cancer of white supremacy and the domestic terrorism it inspires?” Garnell Whitfield Jr. asked members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.McConaughey, who declined to take questions, spoke of his own connections to the town. He said his mother taught kindergarten less than a mile from Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School, the site of the May 24 shooting. He also noted that Uvalde was the place where he was taught about responsibilities that come with gun ownership.“Uvalde is where I was taught to revere the power and the capability of the tool that we call a gun,” he said.McConaughey said he and his wife drove back to Uvalde on the day after the shooting and spent time with the families of some of the victims and others directly affected by the rampage.He said every parent he spoke to expressed that “they want their children’s dreams to live on.”“They want to make their loss of life matter,” McConaughey said.He related the personal stories of a number of the victims.He told the story of Maite Rodriguez, an aspiring marine biologist. McConaughey’s wife, Camila, sitting nearby, held Maite’s green Converse sneakers, which had a red heart on the right toe to represent her love of nature.“These are the same green Converse, on her feet, that turned out to be the only clear evidence that could identify her after the shooting,” McConaughey said.He held up artwork from Alithia Ramirez, who dreamed of attending art school in Paris. And then there was Eliahna “Ellie” Garcia, who loved dancing and church and already knew how to drive tractors. Ellie was looking forward to reading a Bible verse at an upcoming church service when she was killed.McConaughey acknowledged that gun legislation would not end mass shootings but suggested that steps can be taken to lessen the chances of such tragedies happening so frequently.“We need to invest in mental healthcare. We need safer schools. We need to restrain sensationalized media coverage. We need to restore our family values. We need to restore our American values and we need responsible gun ownership,” McConaughey said.“Is this a cure-all? Hell no, but people are hurting.”