HAMPTON, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in South Carolina are investigating a shooting at a nightclub early Sunday that wounded at least nine people. It was the second mass shooting in the state and the third in the nation during the Easter holiday weekend.

The South Carolina shootings and one in Pittsburgh, in which two minors were killed early Sunday, also left at least 31 people wounded.

South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting at Cara’s Lounge in Hampton County. The agency said in an email there were no reported fatalities. No information was immediately available on the severity of the injuries. Hampton County is roughly 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of Charleston. A phone call to the nightclub was not answered.

In Pittsburgh, two minors were killed and at least eight people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-pittsburgh-1e2c7890500b729ca76610b47d8e5769">when shots were fired during a party at a short-term rental property</a>. The “vast majority” of the hundreds of people at the party were underage, the city’s Police Chief Scott Schubert told reporters.

The two shootings come just a day after gunfire erupted at a busy mall in the South Carolina state capital of Columbia, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of where Sunday’s nightclub shooting took place. Nine people were shot and five other people sustained injuries while trying to flee the scene at Columbiana Centre, Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said Saturday. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 73. None faced life-threatening injuries.

“We don’t believe this was random,” Holbrook said. “We believe they knew each other and something led to the gunfire.”

The only person arrested in the mall shooting so far is Jewayne M. Price, 22, who was one of three people initially detained by law enforcement as a person of interest. Price’s attorney, Todd Rutherford, told news outlets Sunday that Rutherford fired a gun at the mall, but in self-defense. He is facing a charge of unlawfully carrying a pistol because he did not have a permit to carry a weapon, Rutherford said.

Columbia police said on Twitter that a judge agreed Sunday to let Price leave jail on a $25,000 surety bond. He was to be on house arrest with an ankle monitor, police said.

“It was unprovoked by him. He called the police, turned himself in, turned over the firearm that was used in this, and gave a statement to the Columbia Police Department,” Rutherford said, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wmbfnews.com/2022/04/17/rutherford-suspect-columbia-centre-shooting-shot-self-defense-turned-himself/" target="_blank">WMBF-TV</a>. “That is why he got a $25,000 bond.”

Police said the judge will allow Price to travel from home to work during certain hours each day. Price is forbidden from contacting the victims and anyone else involved in the shooting incident.

South Carolina residents age 21 or older can get a weapons permit, that as of last year, allows them to carry weapons openly or concealed. They have to have eight hours of gun training and pass a background check that includes fingerprinting. Rutherford said Price legally owned his gun, although he did not have a permit to carry it.

The three Easter weekend mass shootings are in addition to other shootings in recent days. Last week, a gunman opened fire in a New York subway car, injuring 10 people.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trending-news-new-york-manhattan-brooklyn-shootings-de74d0cc22f4958e8be1f1776e35948d">A suspect</a>&nbsp;was arrested the next day. Earlier this month, police said six people were killed and 12 others wounded in Sacramento, California, during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-shootings-crime-massacres-arrests-b7bf0ab7239d0db8820787c6842a7415">gunfight between rival gangs</a>&nbsp;as bars closed in a busy downtown area just blocks from the state Capitol.

One week ago, a shooting inside a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cedar-rapids-iowa-shootings-lifestyle-8d71172299d365b28e73b7af67dfbae5">crowded nightclub&nbsp;</a>in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, left a man and a woman dead and 10 people wounded, authorities said. And last month, 10 people were shot at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-crime-shootings-dallas-9141fc365b68d58558f221ea54bec221">spring break&nbsp;</a>party in Dallas and several others were injured as they tried to escape the gunfire, police said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645976360677.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSHAMPTON, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in South Carolina are investigating a shooting at a nightclub early Sunday that wounded at least nine people. It was the second mass shooting in the state and the third in the nation during the Easter holiday weekend.The South Carolina shootings and one in Pittsburgh, in which two minors were killed early Sunday, also left at least 31 people wounded.South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting at Cara’s Lounge in Hampton County. The agency said in an email there were no reported fatalities. No information was immediately available on the severity of the injuries. Hampton County is roughly 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of Charleston. A phone call to the nightclub was not answered.In Pittsburgh, two minors were killed and at least eight people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-pittsburgh-1e2c7890500b729ca76610b47d8e5769">when shots were fired during a party at a short-term rental property</a>. The “vast majority” of the hundreds of people at the party were underage, the city’s Police Chief Scott Schubert told reporters.The two shootings come just a day after gunfire erupted at a busy mall in the South Carolina state capital of Columbia, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of where Sunday’s nightclub shooting took place. Nine people were shot and five other people sustained injuries while trying to flee the scene at Columbiana Centre, Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said Saturday. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 73. None faced life-threatening injuries.“We don’t believe this was random,” Holbrook said. “We believe they knew each other and something led to the gunfire.”The only person arrested in the mall shooting so far is Jewayne M. Price, 22, who was one of three people initially detained by law enforcement as a person of interest. Price’s attorney, Todd Rutherford, told news outlets Sunday that Rutherford fired a gun at the mall, but in self-defense. He is facing a charge of unlawfully carrying a pistol because he did not have a permit to carry a weapon, Rutherford said.Columbia police said on Twitter that a judge agreed Sunday to let Price leave jail on a $25,000 surety bond. He was to be on house arrest with an ankle monitor, police said.“It was unprovoked by him. He called the police, turned himself in, turned over the firearm that was used in this, and gave a statement to the Columbia Police Department,” Rutherford said, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wmbfnews.com/2022/04/17/rutherford-suspect-columbia-centre-shooting-shot-self-defense-turned-himself/" target="_blank">WMBF-TV</a>. “That is why he got a $25,000 bond.”Police said the judge will allow Price to travel from home to work during certain hours each day. Price is forbidden from contacting the victims and anyone else involved in the shooting incident.South Carolina residents age 21 or older can get a weapons permit, that as of last year, allows them to carry weapons openly or concealed. They have to have eight hours of gun training and pass a background check that includes fingerprinting. Rutherford said Price legally owned his gun, although he did not have a permit to carry it.The three Easter weekend mass shootings are in addition to other shootings in recent days. Last week, a gunman opened fire in a New York subway car, injuring 10 people.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trending-news-new-york-manhattan-brooklyn-shootings-de74d0cc22f4958e8be1f1776e35948d">A suspect</a>&nbsp;was arrested the next day. Earlier this month, police said six people were killed and 12 others wounded in Sacramento, California, during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-shootings-crime-massacres-arrests-b7bf0ab7239d0db8820787c6842a7415">gunfight between rival gangs</a>&nbsp;as bars closed in a busy downtown area just blocks from the state Capitol.One week ago, a shooting inside a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cedar-rapids-iowa-shootings-lifestyle-8d71172299d365b28e73b7af67dfbae5">crowded nightclub&nbsp;</a>in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, left a man and a woman dead and 10 people wounded, authorities said. And last month, 10 people were shot at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-crime-shootings-dallas-9141fc365b68d58558f221ea54bec221">spring break&nbsp;</a>party in Dallas and several others were injured as they tried to escape the gunfire, police said.

US rocked by 3 mass shootings during Easter weekend; 2 dead

By DAN PARKS of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, via Associated Press

Last Mile Food Rescue in Cincinnati started shopping in November for a refrigerated box truck to move perishable donations from food retailers to distribution sites. The purchase would take some of the pressure off overstretched volunteers, who would have to make three or more runs in their cars to haul as much food as a single truckload.

But Last Mile is experiencing sticker shock. Prices for the kind of truck its leaders have in mind have soared thousands of dollars in recent months, to as much as $80,000. For an organization with an annual budget of $650,000, that’s too big a hit to absorb.

Frustrated, the charity started looking for used trucks, but the prices of used vehicles have shot up as well.

“We look every day,” says Julie Shifman, Last Mile’s executive director. “We hope that we will be able to afford it, or a major donor might be able to come in to help us.”

Last Mile is far from alone. Nonprofits of all kinds are getting hit hard by inflation, experts say. Price and wage increases are hurting nonprofits in multiple ways, making it harder to keep up with their own basic operational expenses while also forcing them to curtail the services they provide.

At the same time, there are early signs that the burst of generosity donors showed in the first year of the pandemic may be slowing considerably.

“It’s not a pretty equation,” says Shannon McCracken, chief executive of the Nonprofit Alliance, an advocacy group.

Nonprofits that provide annual cost-of-living increases for their workers, as many do, are getting hit with higher payroll costs of about 6% even without any increase based on merit or seniority, McCracken says.

David Lipsetz, CEO at the Housing Assistance Council, says inflation has eaten into the number of affordable-housing units his organization can provide.

The council underwrites loans for housing developments at below-market rates in some of the poorest regions of the country, and it strives to maximize the amount of housing it can build with limited resources. “We’re operating on extraordinarily thin margins,” says Lipsetz. “We are putting those loans out the door as cheaply as we can.”

When the price of building materials goes up 10%, says Lipsetz, there’s usually no room in the loan to accommodate that increase. Lipsetz says that sometimes his nonprofit can rework the terms of the loan or find additional sources of financing, but it doesn’t always work out.

“It’s stalled countless projects for us, right in the middle of a period of time when housing and shelter are the most important things needed to weather the storm of a pandemic,” says Lipsetz. “For us, a modest increase in costs can shut down a project in an area of the country where it’s needed the most.”

Jesse Tree, a nonprofit in Boise, Idaho, that pays rent for people who are on the verge of being evicted, has seen sharp increases in demand for assistance in recent years. Ali Rabe, the organization’s executive director, says research shows housing prices in her region shot up 75% from 2015 to 2020 at a time when local wages increased 18%.

The situation has only gotten worse since 2020, says Rabe. Work-at-home policies spurred by the pandemic allowed highly paid urban dwellers to relocate to rural areas, she says, and housing prices shot up another 40% or so last year.

Local courts in the Treasury Valley region of southwestern Idaho, which Jesse Tree serves, hold about 20 eviction hearings a week, says Rabe.

“We can only help about a quarter of people who apply for assistance,” she says.

A government grant provided through federal Covid assistance helped the nonprofit maintain operations, but that grant expires in September, says Rabe. The nonprofit is hoping donors will fill the gap, she says.

Nonprofits by their nature are in a poor position to adapt to rising costs, experts say. While McDonald’s can offset higher beef costs by raising the cost of a Big Mac, for many nonprofits the only options are to cut services or hope donors will come to the rescue.

Kelley Kuhn, CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, says nonprofits that provide basic goods and services, like food and housing, are being hit the hardest. At the same time, nonprofits are struggling to retain workers who are being lured away by businesses that are able to offer higher salaries, says Kuhn.

“That’s something any nonprofit is experiencing now, trying to keep up with the requests for higher salaries and wages,” Kuhn says. She added that a passion for the mission won’t keep nonprofit workers from seeking higher wages elsewhere if they can’t meet basic living expenses.

“That’s a lot of strain on human capital happening for nonprofits,” she says.

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott recently took the sting of inflation away for some nonprofits with another round of major gifts. The Housing Assistance Council, for example, got $7 million. And Habitat for Humanity, which has had to scale back the number of houses it builds due to increased costs of lumber and land, got $439 million, which will allow it to reverse course and ramp up operations.

Corinne O’Connell, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, says the cost of replacing a roof on a row house shot up from $5,000 to $8,500 in a single year. And while her local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity received $5 million of Scott’s gift, she notes that most nonprofits can’t count on getting bailed out by a generous billionaire. “The screws just keep tightening on nonprofits who are working on the front lines,” O’Connell says.

Like Shifman at Last Mile, Diana Lara leads a charity that collects and distributes food that was otherwise headed for the garbage. Lara’s Southern California nonprofit Food Finders has three trucks and a van, all refrigerated, and the fuel costs are gobbling up a bigger share of its budget.

At the same time, grocery stores are hanging onto perishable food longer, she says. Food that previously would have been donated is getting marked down for a quick sale instead.

The group purchases some nonperishable food to supplement donated goods, and those costs are rising, says Lara. Meanwhile new hires are demanding higher starting pay.

In short, a wide array of expenses are over budget.

“So we’re starting to feel that in our pockets,” she says. “It’s just insane.”

By DAN PARKS of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, via Associated PressLast Mile Food Rescue in Cincinnati started shopping in November for a refrigerated box truck to move perishable donations from food retailers to distribution sites. The purchase would take some of the pressure off overstretched volunteers, who would have to make three or more runs in their cars to haul as much food as a single truckload.But Last Mile is experiencing sticker shock. Prices for the kind of truck its leaders have in mind have soared thousands of dollars in recent months, to as much as $80,000. For an organization with an annual budget of $650,000, that’s too big a hit to absorb.Frustrated, the charity started looking for used trucks, but the prices of used vehicles have shot up as well.“We look every day,” says Julie Shifman, Last Mile’s executive director. “We hope that we will be able to afford it, or a major donor might be able to come in to help us.”Last Mile is far from alone. Nonprofits of all kinds are getting hit hard by inflation, experts say. Price and wage increases are hurting nonprofits in multiple ways, making it harder to keep up with their own basic operational expenses while also forcing them to curtail the services they provide.At the same time, there are early signs that the burst of generosity donors showed in the first year of the pandemic may be slowing considerably.“It’s not a pretty equation,” says Shannon McCracken, chief executive of the Nonprofit Alliance, an advocacy group.Nonprofits that provide annual cost-of-living increases for their workers, as many do, are getting hit with higher payroll costs of about 6% even without any increase based on merit or seniority, McCracken says.David Lipsetz, CEO at the Housing Assistance Council, says inflation has eaten into the number of affordable-housing units his organization can provide.The council underwrites loans for housing developments at below-market rates in some of the poorest regions of the country, and it strives to maximize the amount of housing it can build with limited resources. “We’re operating on extraordinarily thin margins,” says Lipsetz. “We are putting those loans out the door as cheaply as we can.”When the price of building materials goes up 10%, says Lipsetz, there’s usually no room in the loan to accommodate that increase. Lipsetz says that sometimes his nonprofit can rework the terms of the loan or find additional sources of financing, but it doesn’t always work out.“It’s stalled countless projects for us, right in the middle of a period of time when housing and shelter are the most important things needed to weather the storm of a pandemic,” says Lipsetz. “For us, a modest increase in costs can shut down a project in an area of the country where it’s needed the most.”ADVERTISEMENTJesse Tree, a nonprofit in Boise, Idaho, that pays rent for people who are on the verge of being evicted, has seen sharp increases in demand for assistance in recent years. Ali Rabe, the organization’s executive director, says research shows housing prices in her region shot up 75% from 2015 to 2020 at a time when local wages increased 18%.The situation has only gotten worse since 2020, says Rabe. Work-at-home policies spurred by the pandemic allowed highly paid urban dwellers to relocate to rural areas, she says, and housing prices shot up another 40% or so last year.Local courts in the Treasury Valley region of southwestern Idaho, which Jesse Tree serves, hold about 20 eviction hearings a week, says Rabe.“We can only help about a quarter of people who apply for assistance,” she says.A government grant provided through federal Covid assistance helped the nonprofit maintain operations, but that grant expires in September, says Rabe. The nonprofit is hoping donors will fill the gap, she says.Nonprofits by their nature are in a poor position to adapt to rising costs, experts say. While McDonald’s can offset higher beef costs by raising the cost of a Big Mac, for many nonprofits the only options are to cut services or hope donors will come to the rescue.Kelley Kuhn, CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, says nonprofits that provide basic goods and services, like food and housing, are being hit the hardest. At the same time, nonprofits are struggling to retain workers who are being lured away by businesses that are able to offer higher salaries, says Kuhn.“That’s something any nonprofit is experiencing now, trying to keep up with the requests for higher salaries and wages,” Kuhn says. She added that a passion for the mission won’t keep nonprofit workers from seeking higher wages elsewhere if they can’t meet basic living expenses.“That’s a lot of strain on human capital happening for nonprofits,” she says.Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott recently took the sting of inflation away for some nonprofits with another round of major gifts. The Housing Assistance Council, for example, got $7 million. And Habitat for Humanity, which has had to scale back the number of houses it builds due to increased costs of lumber and land, got $439 million, which will allow it to reverse course and ramp up operations.Corinne O’Connell, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, says the cost of replacing a roof on a row house shot up from $5,000 to $8,500 in a single year. And while her local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity received $5 million of Scott’s gift, she notes that most nonprofits can’t count on getting bailed out by a generous billionaire. “The screws just keep tightening on nonprofits who are working on the front lines,” O’Connell says.Like Shifman at Last Mile, Diana Lara leads a charity that collects and distributes food that was otherwise headed for the garbage. Lara’s Southern California nonprofit Food Finders has three trucks and a van, all refrigerated, and the fuel costs are gobbling up a bigger share of its budget.At the same time, grocery stores are hanging onto perishable food longer, she says. Food that previously would have been donated is getting marked down for a quick sale instead.The group purchases some nonperishable food to supplement donated goods, and those costs are rising, says Lara. Meanwhile new hires are demanding higher starting pay.In short, a wide array of expenses are over budget.“So we’re starting to feel that in our pockets,” she says. “It’s just insane.”

Inflation hits nonprofits' services, ability to fundraise

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-rises-to-the-top-in-a-national-look-at-recession-resilience/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

A
 low unemployment rate, relatively affordable housing and hefty 
government cash reserves helped propel Nebraska to the No. 1 spot in a 
new report that ranks U.S. states most likely to survive the next 
recession.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.merchantmaverick.com/best-states-survive-recession/">MerchantMaverick.com</a>,
 an online publication that provides reviews on businesses, said the 
top-ranking states in its study shared low unemployment and “prudent tax
 and spending habits.”

Lead
 analyist Chris Motola noted that the most recession-resistant states 
weren’t where one might expect. “Most of them, as it turns out, are in 
the Heartland.”

He
 quipped in the report: “One more reason to run for cornfields instead 
of the hills if the economy flatlines: Nebraska weathered the Great 
Recession better than most other states.”

In
 an interview, Motola said Nebraska stood out also for its diverse 
business economy, which has helped sustain it during rough times, and 
for the lack of “glaring weaknesses.”&nbsp;

“Sometimes
 the very things that can make you look great during the boom times can 
be a liability,” he said, noting popular coastal states that didn’t make
 the top 10.&nbsp;

The
 report gathered data from across 50 states and from eight separate 
metrics that also included state GDP growth and per capita, household 
debt-to-income ratios and state income tax rates.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650212534589.png" alt="Recession resistant states according to Merchant Maverick analysis (Courtesy of MerchantMaverick.com)" />
 <figcaption>Recession resistant states according to Merchant Maverick analysis (Courtesy of MerchantMaverick.com)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-rises-to-the-top-in-a-national-look-at-recession-resilience/">Nebraska Examiner</a>A
 low unemployment rate, relatively affordable housing and hefty 
government cash reserves helped propel Nebraska to the No. 1 spot in a 
new report that ranks U.S. states most likely to survive the next 
recession.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.merchantmaverick.com/best-states-survive-recession/">MerchantMaverick.com</a>,
 an online publication that provides reviews on businesses, said the 
top-ranking states in its study shared low unemployment and “prudent tax
 and spending habits.”Lead
 analyist Chris Motola noted that the most recession-resistant states 
weren’t where one might expect. “Most of them, as it turns out, are in 
the Heartland.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650212598097.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>He
 quipped in the report: “One more reason to run for cornfields instead 
of the hills if the economy flatlines: Nebraska weathered the Great 
Recession better than most other states.”In
 an interview, Motola said Nebraska stood out also for its diverse 
business economy, which has helped sustain it during rough times, and 
for the lack of “glaring weaknesses.”&nbsp;“Sometimes
 the very things that can make you look great during the boom times can 
be a liability,” he said, noting popular coastal states that didn’t make
 the top 10.&nbsp;The
 report gathered data from across 50 states and from eight separate 
metrics that also included state GDP growth and per capita, household 
debt-to-income ratios and state income tax rates.

Nebraska rises to the top in a national look at recession resilience

VATICAN CITY (AP) — On what is supposed to be Christianity’s most joyful day, Pope Francis made an anguished Easter Sunday plea for peace in the “senseless” war in Ukraine and in other armed conflicts raging in the world, and cited the “troubling” risk of nuclear warfare.

“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged,” Francis said, speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.

The pontiff had just finished celebrating Easter Mass in the square packed by faithful for the holiday for the first time since the pandemic began in early 2020. Applause erupted from many of the 50,000 people in the square and on a nearby avenue when he mentioned Ukraine.

“Please, please, let us not get used to war,″ Francis pleaded, after denouncing ”the flexing of muscles while people are suffering.” Yet again, the pontiff decried the war in Ukraine without citing Russian President Vladimir Putin for the decision to launch the invasion and attack against Ukraine on Feb. 24.

“Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets,″ Francis said. ”May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.”

In a clear reference to the threat of nuclear warfare, Francis quoted from a declaration by scientists in 1955: “‘Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?’”

Francis also drew attention to other wars in the speech known by its Latin name “Urbi et Orbi” — to the city and to the world.

“May the conflict in Europe also make us more concerned about other situations of conflict, suffering and sorrow, situations that affect all too many areas of our world, situations that we cannot overlook and do not want to forget,″ Francis said.

Among the conflicts cited by the pope were those in the Middle East. He exhorted peace and reconciliation for the peoples of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

He also cited Libya as well as Yemen, “which suffers from a conflict forgotten by all.”

Earlier, the pontiff, who has a knee ligament problem, limped badly as he made his way to an altar set up in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The altar was shaded by a canopy against brilliant sunshine.

Right after the end of Mass, Francis shook hands with prelates, then got aboard the white popemobile for a whirl through the square to greet cheering well-wishers among the rank-and-file faithful. He waved and patted the head of a baby who was handed to him. His smiles while greeting the crowd were a rare departure of late for the pope, who has used many of his appearances in recent weeks to issue somber denunciations of the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, in London, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for Russia to declare a cease-fire and withdraw from Ukraine. The leader of the Anglican church said Easter is a time for peace and not “blood and iron.”

Noting that in the Eastern Orthodox church followed by many in Russia and Ukraine Sunday marks the start of Holy Week — with Easter coming on April 24 — Welby exhorted Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and commit to talks.

In an unusually blunt political remark, Welby also condemned the British government’s recent plan to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda as going against God.

Warm weather and the easing of many pandemic restrictions — including what had been for most of the pandemic in Italy a mandatory outdoor mask requirement — have seen tourism boom in Rome, with many visitors flooding the city for Holy Week ceremonies that culminated on Easter.

In Spain, believers and secular enthusiasts flocked back in large numbers to Holy Week processions this week for the first time since the start of the pandemic after most health restrictions were lifted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615845367722.png" alt="Pope Francis-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — On what is supposed to be Christianity’s most joyful day, Pope Francis made an anguished Easter Sunday plea for peace in the “senseless” war in Ukraine and in other armed conflicts raging in the world, and cited the “troubling” risk of nuclear warfare.“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged,” Francis said, speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.The pontiff had just finished celebrating Easter Mass in the square packed by faithful for the holiday for the first time since the pandemic began in early 2020. Applause erupted from many of the 50,000 people in the square and on a nearby avenue when he mentioned Ukraine.“Please, please, let us not get used to war,″ Francis pleaded, after denouncing ”the flexing of muscles while people are suffering.” Yet again, the pontiff decried the war in Ukraine without citing Russian President Vladimir Putin for the decision to launch the invasion and attack against Ukraine on Feb. 24.“Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets,″ Francis said. ”May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.”In a clear reference to the threat of nuclear warfare, Francis quoted from a declaration by scientists in 1955: “‘Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?’”Francis also drew attention to other wars in the speech known by its Latin name “Urbi et Orbi” — to the city and to the world.“May the conflict in Europe also make us more concerned about other situations of conflict, suffering and sorrow, situations that affect all too many areas of our world, situations that we cannot overlook and do not want to forget,″ Francis said.Among the conflicts cited by the pope were those in the Middle East. He exhorted peace and reconciliation for the peoples of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.He also cited Libya as well as Yemen, “which suffers from a conflict forgotten by all.”Earlier, the pontiff, who has a knee ligament problem, limped badly as he made his way to an altar set up in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The altar was shaded by a canopy against brilliant sunshine.Right after the end of Mass, Francis shook hands with prelates, then got aboard the white popemobile for a whirl through the square to greet cheering well-wishers among the rank-and-file faithful. He waved and patted the head of a baby who was handed to him. His smiles while greeting the crowd were a rare departure of late for the pope, who has used many of his appearances in recent weeks to issue somber denunciations of the war in Ukraine.Meanwhile, in London, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for Russia to declare a cease-fire and withdraw from Ukraine. The leader of the Anglican church said Easter is a time for peace and not “blood and iron.”Noting that in the Eastern Orthodox church followed by many in Russia and Ukraine Sunday marks the start of Holy Week — with Easter coming on April 24 — Welby exhorted Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and commit to talks.In an unusually blunt political remark, Welby also condemned the British government’s recent plan to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda as going against God.Warm weather and the easing of many pandemic restrictions — including what had been for most of the pandemic in Italy a mandatory outdoor mask requirement — have seen tourism boom in Rome, with many visitors flooding the city for Holy Week ceremonies that culminated on Easter.In Spain, believers and secular enthusiasts flocked back in large numbers to Holy Week processions this week for the first time since the start of the pandemic after most health restrictions were lifted.___

Pope cites risk of nuclear war during Easter mass

NEW YORK (AP) — 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history, and new data and research are offering more insights into how it got that bad.

The main reason for the increase in deaths? COVID-19, said Robert Anderson, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s work on death statistics.

The agency this month quietly updated its provisional death tally. It showed there were 3.465 million deaths last year, or about 80,000 more than 2020′s record-setting total.

Early last year, some experts were optimistic that 2021 would not be as bad as the first year of the pandemic — partly because effective COVID-19 vaccines had finally become available.

“We were wrong, unfortunately,” said Noreen Goldman, a Princeton University researcher.

COVID-19 deaths rose in 2021 — to more than 415,000, up from 351,000 the year before — as new coronavirus variants emerged and an unexpectedly large numbers of Americans refused to get vaccinated or were hesitant to wear masks, experts said.

The coronavirus is not solely to blame. Preliminary CDC data also shows the crude death rate for cancer rose slightly, and rates continued to increase for diabetes, chronic liver disease and stroke.

Drug overdose deaths also continued to rise. The CDC does not yet have a tally for 2021 overdose deaths, because it can take weeks of lab work and investigation to identify them. But provisional data through October suggests the nation is on track to see at least 105,000 overdose deaths in 2021 — up from 93,000 the year before.

New research showed a particularly large jump in overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds.

Adolescent overdose death counts were fairly constant for most of the last decade, at around 500 a year, according to the paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. They almost doubled in 2020, to 954, and the researchers estimated that the total hit nearly 1,150 last year.

Joseph Friedman, a UCLA researcher who was the paper’s lead author, called the spike “unprecedented.”

Those teen overdose deaths were only around 1% of the U.S. total. But adolescents experienced a greater relative increase than the overall population, even though surveys suggest drug use among teens is down.

Experts attributed the spike to fentanyl, a highly lethal drug that has been cut into heroin for several years. More recently it’s also been pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs that teens sometimes abuse.

The total number of U.S. deaths often increases year to year as the U.S. population grows. But 2020 and 2021 saw extraordinary jumps in death numbers and rates, due largely to the pandemic.

Those national death trends affect life expectancy — an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live.

With rare exceptions, U.S. life expectancy has reliably inched up year after year. But the CDC’s life expectancy estimate for 2020 was about 77 years — more than a year and a half lower than what it was in 2019.

The CDC has not yet reported its calculation for 2021. But Goldman and some other researchers have been making their own estimates, presented in papers that have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Those researchers think U.S. life expectancy dropped another five or six months in 2021 — putting it back to where it was 20 years ago.

A loss of more than two years of life expectancy over the last two years “is mammoth,” Goldman said.

One study looked at death data in the U.S. and 19 other high-income countries. The U.S. fared the worst.

“What happened in the U.S. is less about the variants than the levels of resistance to vaccination and the public’s rejection of practices, such as masking and mandates, to reduce viral transmission,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a statement.

Some experts are skeptical that life expectancy will quickly bounce back. They worry about long-term complications of COVID-19 that may hasten the deaths of people with chronic health problems.

Preliminary — and incomplete — CDC data suggest there were at least 805,000 U.S. deaths in about the first three months of this year. That’s well below the same period last year, but higher than the comparable period in 2020.

“We may end up with a ‘new normal’ that’s a little higher than it was before,” Anderson said.

NEW YORK (AP) — 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history, and new data and research are offering more insights into how it got that bad.The main reason for the increase in deaths? COVID-19, said Robert Anderson, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s work on death statistics.The agency this month quietly updated its provisional death tally. It showed there were 3.465 million deaths last year, or about 80,000 more than 2020′s record-setting total.Early last year, some experts were optimistic that 2021 would not be as bad as the first year of the pandemic — partly because effective COVID-19 vaccines had finally become available.“We were wrong, unfortunately,” said Noreen Goldman, a Princeton University researcher.COVID-19 deaths rose in 2021 — to more than 415,000, up from 351,000 the year before — as new coronavirus variants emerged and an unexpectedly large numbers of Americans refused to get vaccinated or were hesitant to wear masks, experts said.The coronavirus is not solely to blame. Preliminary CDC data also shows the crude death rate for cancer rose slightly, and rates continued to increase for diabetes, chronic liver disease and stroke.Drug overdose deaths also continued to rise. The CDC does not yet have a tally for 2021 overdose deaths, because it can take weeks of lab work and investigation to identify them. But provisional data through October suggests the nation is on track to see at least 105,000 overdose deaths in 2021 — up from 93,000 the year before.New research showed a particularly large jump in overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds.Adolescent overdose death counts were fairly constant for most of the last decade, at around 500 a year, according to the paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. They almost doubled in 2020, to 954, and the researchers estimated that the total hit nearly 1,150 last year.Joseph Friedman, a UCLA researcher who was the paper’s lead author, called the spike “unprecedented.”Those teen overdose deaths were only around 1% of the U.S. total. But adolescents experienced a greater relative increase than the overall population, even though surveys suggest drug use among teens is down.Experts attributed the spike to fentanyl, a highly lethal drug that has been cut into heroin for several years. More recently it’s also been pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs that teens sometimes abuse.The total number of U.S. deaths often increases year to year as the U.S. population grows. But 2020 and 2021 saw extraordinary jumps in death numbers and rates, due largely to the pandemic.Those national death trends affect life expectancy — an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live.With rare exceptions, U.S. life expectancy has reliably inched up year after year. But the CDC’s life expectancy estimate for 2020 was about 77 years — more than a year and a half lower than what it was in 2019.The CDC has not yet reported its calculation for 2021. But Goldman and some other researchers have been making their own estimates, presented in papers that have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals.Those researchers think U.S. life expectancy dropped another five or six months in 2021 — putting it back to where it was 20 years ago.A loss of more than two years of life expectancy over the last two years “is mammoth,” Goldman said.One study looked at death data in the U.S. and 19 other high-income countries. The U.S. fared the worst.“What happened in the U.S. is less about the variants than the levels of resistance to vaccination and the public’s rejection of practices, such as masking and mandates, to reduce viral transmission,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a statement.Some experts are skeptical that life expectancy will quickly bounce back. They worry about long-term complications of COVID-19 that may hasten the deaths of people with chronic health problems.Preliminary — and incomplete — CDC data suggest there were at least 805,000 U.S. deaths in about the first three months of this year. That’s well below the same period last year, but higher than the comparable period in 2020.“We may end up with a ‘new normal’ that’s a little higher than it was before,” Anderson said.___

COVID, overdoses: 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Matthew Butler spent 27 years in the Army, but it took a day in jail to convince him his post-traumatic stress disorder was out of control.

The recently retired Green Beret had already tried antidepressants, therapy and a support dog. But his arrest for punching a hole in his father’s wall after his family tried to stage an intervention in Utah made it clear none of it was working.

“I had a nice house, I had a great job, whatever, but I was unable to sleep, had frequent nightmares, crippling anxiety, avoiding crowds,” he said. “My life was a wreck.”

He eventually found psychedelic drugs, and he says they changed his life. “I was able to finally step way back and go, ‘Oh, I see what’s going on here. I get it now,’” said Butler, now 52. Today his run-ins with police have ended, he’s happily married and reconciled with his parents.

Butler, who lives in the Salt Lake City suburbs, is among military veterans in several U.S. states helping to persuade lawmakers to study psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic use.

Conservative Utah has become at least the fourth state over the last two years to approve studying the potential medical use of psychedelics, which are still federally illegal. A string of cities have also decriminalized so-called magic mushrooms and an explosion of investment money is flowing into the arena.

Experts say the research is promising for treating conditions ranging from PTSD to quitting smoking, but caution some serious risks remain, especially for those with certain mental health conditions.

Oregon is so far the only state to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the psychedelic active ingredient in certain mushrooms. But studying them for therapy has made inroads not only in blue states like Hawaii, Connecticut and Maryland, but also GOP-led Texas, Utah and Oklahoma, which passed a study bill through the state House this year.

The progress stands in contrast to medical marijuana, which Utah lawmakers refused to allow until a ballot measure helped push it through. However, the proposal to study a broad range of psychedelic drugs passed easily this year.

Texas has yet to legalize medical marijuana, but former Republican Gov. Rick Perry helped shepherd through a bill last year to use $1.4 million to fund a study of psilocybin for treating PTSD.

“The stigma attached to psilocybin and most psychedelics dates back to the 60s and 70s. It’s been very hard for them to overcome,” said Democratic Rep. Alex Dominguez, who sponsored the bill. “My approach was, ‘Let’s find the group that all sides claim that they are supportive of.’ And that would be veterans.”

He also heard from conservatives like Perry who support the use of psilocybin to treat PTSD — and let advocates from that end of the political spectrum take the lead publicly.

Maryland also gave bipartisan approval to spending $1 million this year to fund alternative therapies for veterans, including psychedelics. Democratic sponsor Sen. Sarah Elfreth, whose district includes the U.S. Naval Academy, noted the spike in suicides among veterans.

“I don’t envision the VA acting anytime soon,” she said. “We’re at a true crisis level and it’s time for the states to step up.”

Psilocybin has been decriminalized in nearby Washington, D.C., as well as Denver, which decriminalized it in 2019, followed by Oakland and Santa Cruz in California, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

There’s also plenty of venture capital being invested from people who have had positive experiences and are “highly motivated” to invest in psychedelics as treatment, said John Krystal, the chair of psychiatry at Yale University.

Rhode Island lawmakers are weighing a proposal to decriminalize psilocybin this year, and in Colorado there’s an effort to get statewide decriminalization on the ballot. But similar measures have stalled in Statehouses elsewhere, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-california-aebf8fe9d03bd7961c5cf12ee2055a57">California&nbsp;</a>and Maine.

Studying psychedelics, though, has gained more traction. In Oklahoma, a bill from Republican Reps. Daniel Pae and Logan Phillips would legalize research on psilocybin.

“I believe the research will show that there is a way to use this drug safely and responsibly, and it could save the lives of thousands of Oklahomans,” Pae said in a statement. The bill passed the House last month and is now under consideration in the Senate.

It’s a stunning turnaround for a field that captivated researchers in the 1950s and 1960s, before mushrooms and LSD became known as recreational drugs. They were federally outlawed during the Nixon administration, sending research to a screeching halt.

New studies, though, have indicated psilocybin could be useful in the treatment of everything from major depression to alcoholism, said Ben Lewis, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute.

“People are referring to this current period of time as the psychedelic Renaissance,” he said. Up to 30% of depression sufferers are considered resistant to current treatment, and there have been few recent leaps forward in drug innovation, he added.

The risk of addiction or overdose is considered low with psychedelics, especially under medical supervision, and while some cardiac conditions can present a physical risk, many people’s physical reactions aren’t dangerous.

But there are serious psychological risks, especially for people with certain forms of mental illness or a family history of conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

“Then there’s a possibility that a high-dose psychedelic experience could sort of trigger that and lead to long-lasting mental health issues,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Classic psychedelics include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin and ayahuasca. Plant-based psychedelics have long been used in indigenous cultures around the world.

Today, their therapeutic use at Johns Hopkins is carefully monitored, Garcia-Romeu said. Patients are rigorously screened and typically have at least three appointments: one for preparation, a second to take the drugs and a third to work through the psychedelic experience.

For Butler, the 2018 arrest at his parents’ home was a turning point. He started researching new ways to deal with the PTSD he has suffered since deploying six times to Iraq and Afghanistan and working in counterterrorism and hostage rescues in Somalia for the U.S. Special Forces before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2017.

Eventually he came across ayahuasca, long a part of traditional cultures in South America. Last summer, he took part in a ceremony involving the psychoactive brew, overseen by a woman knowledgeable about its effects. She talked to him as the experience took hold, including a feeling of euphoria, the sight of geometric shapes and a sense he was entering his subconscious.

She spoke to him about his childhood and how the military had shaped his life.

“It really was as simple as having an experienced person who understood the medicine, who understood that subconscious space and understood PTSD. It was as simple as listening to her,” he said.

He credits that single session with getting his PTSD about 80% under control, though he occasionally does another if he finds his symptoms returning.

About two-thirds to three-quarters of people in studies have experienced significant improvements in their symptoms, Garcia-Romeu said. Those are promising results, especially for quitting smoking, where current treatments only work for about one-third of people, he said.

The Food and Drug Administration designated psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018, a label that’s designed to speed the development and review of drugs to treat a serious condition. MDMA, often called ecstasy, also has that designation for treatment of PTSD.

How quickly states move from study to wider availability remains to be seen. Connecticut recommended legal medical use only after psilocybin is approved by the FDA, which may take until 2025 or later as the agency works through its process, including risk assessment.

Approval is important to safety as well as access, the Connecticut assessment said — without it, many insurance companies likely wouldn’t cover the treatment, leaving it open only to the wealthy.

In Utah, the study team is expected to complete its work in the fall.

“We’ll see what can and can’t be done,” said Republican Rep. Brady Brammer, who sponsored the bill. “If if they feel like it’s safe, it’ll be an interesting ride.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650137886948.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSSALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Matthew Butler spent 27 years in the Army, but it took a day in jail to convince him his post-traumatic stress disorder was out of control.The recently retired Green Beret had already tried antidepressants, therapy and a support dog. But his arrest for punching a hole in his father’s wall after his family tried to stage an intervention in Utah made it clear none of it was working.“I had a nice house, I had a great job, whatever, but I was unable to sleep, had frequent nightmares, crippling anxiety, avoiding crowds,” he said. “My life was a wreck.”He eventually found psychedelic drugs, and he says they changed his life. “I was able to finally step way back and go, ‘Oh, I see what’s going on here. I get it now,’” said Butler, now 52. Today his run-ins with police have ended, he’s happily married and reconciled with his parents.Butler, who lives in the Salt Lake City suburbs, is among military veterans in several U.S. states helping to persuade lawmakers to study psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic use.Conservative Utah has become at least the fourth state over the last two years to approve studying the potential medical use of psychedelics, which are still federally illegal. A string of cities have also decriminalized so-called magic mushrooms and an explosion of investment money is flowing into the arena.Experts say the research is promising for treating conditions ranging from PTSD to quitting smoking, but caution some serious risks remain, especially for those with certain mental health conditions.Oregon is so far the only state to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the psychedelic active ingredient in certain mushrooms. But studying them for therapy has made inroads not only in blue states like Hawaii, Connecticut and Maryland, but also GOP-led Texas, Utah and Oklahoma, which passed a study bill through the state House this year.The progress stands in contrast to medical marijuana, which Utah lawmakers refused to allow until a ballot measure helped push it through. However, the proposal to study a broad range of psychedelic drugs passed easily this year.Texas has yet to legalize medical marijuana, but former Republican Gov. Rick Perry helped shepherd through a bill last year to use $1.4 million to fund a study of psilocybin for treating PTSD.“The stigma attached to psilocybin and most psychedelics dates back to the 60s and 70s. It’s been very hard for them to overcome,” said Democratic Rep. Alex Dominguez, who sponsored the bill. “My approach was, ‘Let’s find the group that all sides claim that they are supportive of.’ And that would be veterans.”He also heard from conservatives like Perry who support the use of psilocybin to treat PTSD — and let advocates from that end of the political spectrum take the lead publicly.Maryland also gave bipartisan approval to spending $1 million this year to fund alternative therapies for veterans, including psychedelics. Democratic sponsor Sen. Sarah Elfreth, whose district includes the U.S. Naval Academy, noted the spike in suicides among veterans.“I don’t envision the VA acting anytime soon,” she said. “We’re at a true crisis level and it’s time for the states to step up.”Psilocybin has been decriminalized in nearby Washington, D.C., as well as Denver, which decriminalized it in 2019, followed by Oakland and Santa Cruz in California, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.There’s also plenty of venture capital being invested from people who have had positive experiences and are “highly motivated” to invest in psychedelics as treatment, said John Krystal, the chair of psychiatry at Yale University.Rhode Island lawmakers are weighing a proposal to decriminalize psilocybin this year, and in Colorado there’s an effort to get statewide decriminalization on the ballot. But similar measures have stalled in Statehouses elsewhere, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-california-aebf8fe9d03bd7961c5cf12ee2055a57">California&nbsp;</a>and Maine.Studying psychedelics, though, has gained more traction. In Oklahoma, a bill from Republican Reps. Daniel Pae and Logan Phillips would legalize research on psilocybin.“I believe the research will show that there is a way to use this drug safely and responsibly, and it could save the lives of thousands of Oklahomans,” Pae said in a statement. The bill passed the House last month and is now under consideration in the Senate.It’s a stunning turnaround for a field that captivated researchers in the 1950s and 1960s, before mushrooms and LSD became known as recreational drugs. They were federally outlawed during the Nixon administration, sending research to a screeching halt.New studies, though, have indicated psilocybin could be useful in the treatment of everything from major depression to alcoholism, said Ben Lewis, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute.“People are referring to this current period of time as the psychedelic Renaissance,” he said. Up to 30% of depression sufferers are considered resistant to current treatment, and there have been few recent leaps forward in drug innovation, he added.The risk of addiction or overdose is considered low with psychedelics, especially under medical supervision, and while some cardiac conditions can present a physical risk, many people’s physical reactions aren’t dangerous.But there are serious psychological risks, especially for people with certain forms of mental illness or a family history of conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.“Then there’s a possibility that a high-dose psychedelic experience could sort of trigger that and lead to long-lasting mental health issues,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.Classic psychedelics include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin and ayahuasca. Plant-based psychedelics have long been used in indigenous cultures around the world.Today, their therapeutic use at Johns Hopkins is carefully monitored, Garcia-Romeu said. Patients are rigorously screened and typically have at least three appointments: one for preparation, a second to take the drugs and a third to work through the psychedelic experience.For Butler, the 2018 arrest at his parents’ home was a turning point. He started researching new ways to deal with the PTSD he has suffered since deploying six times to Iraq and Afghanistan and working in counterterrorism and hostage rescues in Somalia for the U.S. Special Forces before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2017.Eventually he came across ayahuasca, long a part of traditional cultures in South America. Last summer, he took part in a ceremony involving the psychoactive brew, overseen by a woman knowledgeable about its effects. She talked to him as the experience took hold, including a feeling of euphoria, the sight of geometric shapes and a sense he was entering his subconscious.She spoke to him about his childhood and how the military had shaped his life.“It really was as simple as having an experienced person who understood the medicine, who understood that subconscious space and understood PTSD. It was as simple as listening to her,” he said.He credits that single session with getting his PTSD about 80% under control, though he occasionally does another if he finds his symptoms returning.About two-thirds to three-quarters of people in studies have experienced significant improvements in their symptoms, Garcia-Romeu said. Those are promising results, especially for quitting smoking, where current treatments only work for about one-third of people, he said.The Food and Drug Administration designated psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018, a label that’s designed to speed the development and review of drugs to treat a serious condition. MDMA, often called ecstasy, also has that designation for treatment of PTSD.How quickly states move from study to wider availability remains to be seen. Connecticut recommended legal medical use only after psilocybin is approved by the FDA, which may take until 2025 or later as the agency works through its process, including risk assessment.Approval is important to safety as well as access, the Connecticut assessment said — without it, many insurance companies likely wouldn’t cover the treatment, leaving it open only to the wealthy.In Utah, the study team is expected to complete its work in the fall.“We’ll see what can and can’t be done,” said Republican Rep. Brady Brammer, who sponsored the bill. “If if they feel like it’s safe, it’ll be an interesting ride.”

'Magic mushrooms' for therapy? Vets help sway conservatives

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man who was just 17 when he gunned down an Omaha store clerk and later shot another man at an Omaha home has been sentenced to decades — if not a lifetime — behind bars. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 19-year-old Jacobi Terry, of Omaha, was sentenced Thursday to 70 to 150 years in prison for the Oct. 2, 2019, shootings.

 Police say Terry entered the Tobacco &amp; Vapes store and shot 21-year-old Bahy Altairi in the chest with a .22 caliber rifle, killing Altairi. 

Later that night, police say, Terry and two acquaintances went to a home in Omaha to buy a gun, and Terry sprayed the home's garage with bullets, hitting a man and permanently injuring him.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man who was just 17 when he gunned down an Omaha store clerk and later shot another man at an Omaha home has been sentenced to decades — if not a lifetime — behind bars. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 19-year-old Jacobi Terry, of Omaha, was sentenced Thursday to 70 to 150 years in prison for the Oct. 2, 2019, shootings. Police say Terry entered the Tobacco &amp; Vapes store and shot 21-year-old Bahy Altairi in the chest with a .22 caliber rifle, killing Altairi. Later that night, police say, Terry and two acquaintances went to a home in Omaha to buy a gun, and Terry sprayed the home's garage with bullets, hitting a man and permanently injuring him.

Man gets up to 150 years for killing Omaha store clerk

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man sentenced to up to 10 years in the shooting death of a teenager at an Omaha hotel could be out of prison in less than a year. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 22-year-old Mason Beaverson, of Omaha, was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest in March to manslaughter and possession of a stolen gun in the September 2020 death of 17-year-old Evan Latto. 

Beaverson was sentenced to 5 to 10 years on the manslaughter count and 2 to 4 years on the gun count. 

But the judge ordered the sentences served at the same time and gave him credit for 586 days already served. 

Police say Beaverson was high on drugs at a party when he pointed a gun at Latto and pulled the trigger.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man sentenced to up to 10 years in the shooting death of a teenager at an Omaha hotel could be out of prison in less than a year. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 22-year-old Mason Beaverson, of Omaha, was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest in March to manslaughter and possession of a stolen gun in the September 2020 death of 17-year-old Evan Latto. Beaverson was sentenced to 5 to 10 years on the manslaughter count and 2 to 4 years on the gun count. But the judge ordered the sentences served at the same time and gave him credit for 586 days already served. Police say Beaverson was high on drugs at a party when he pointed a gun at Latto and pulled the trigger.

Man sentenced to prison for Omaha teen's 2020 shooting death

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/ricketts-family-other-investors-drop-bid-for-english-soccer-club-owned-by-russian-oligarch/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — A group led by the Ricketts family has dropped its effort to buy an 
English professional soccer club that is currently &nbsp;owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the Chicago Tribune and other media outlets reported Friday.

The effort to buy the Chelsea club had spawned protests in England over Islamophobic comments made by Joe Ricketts in emails leaked to the news media in 2019.

Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs, apologized for the emails, which included a comment that “Islam is a cult and not a religion.”

In the emails, one of Joe Ricketts’ sons, Gov. Pete Ricketts, attempted to warn his father about the comment.

Pete
 Ricketts left the board of directors of the Cubs three years ago. He 
has said he left management of the family-owned ball club to focus on 
his work as governor.&nbsp;

The group seeking the Chelsea purchase was led by Tom Ricketts, chairman of the board of the Chicago Cubs, but also included investors Ken Griffin, owner of Citadel LLC, and Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, an NBA franchise.

In a statement issued Friday, the group stated it had decided, “after careful consideration,” to not pursue a final bid for the Chelsea club.

“In
 the process of finalizing their proposal, it became increasingly clear 
that certain issues could not be addressed given the unusual dynamics 
around the sales process,” the statement read. “We have great admiration
 for Chelsea and its fans, and we wish the new owners well.”

Abramovich
 took over Chelsea in 2003 but had his assets frozen by the British 
government in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich had 
put the Premiere League club up for sale just prior to the government’s 
move.

According to Forbes, the Chelsea club was purchased for about $190 million in 2003 and is now valued at $3.2 billion.

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/ricketts-family-other-investors-drop-bid-for-english-soccer-club-owned-by-russian-oligarch/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — A group led by the Ricketts family has dropped its effort to buy an 
English professional soccer club that is currently &nbsp;owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the Chicago Tribune and other media outlets reported Friday.The effort to buy the Chelsea club had spawned protests in England over Islamophobic comments made by Joe Ricketts in emails leaked to the news media in 2019.Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs, apologized for the emails, which included a comment that “Islam is a cult and not a religion.”<h2>Emails leaked</h2>In the emails, one of Joe Ricketts’ sons, Gov. Pete Ricketts, attempted to warn his father about the comment.Pete
 Ricketts left the board of directors of the Cubs three years ago. He 
has said he left management of the family-owned ball club to focus on 
his work as governor.&nbsp;The group seeking the Chelsea purchase was led by Tom Ricketts, chairman of the board of the Chicago Cubs, but also included investors Ken Griffin, owner of Citadel LLC, and Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, an NBA franchise.In a statement issued Friday, the group stated it had decided, “after careful consideration,” to not pursue a final bid for the Chelsea club.<h2>‘Unusual dynamics’</h2>“In
 the process of finalizing their proposal, it became increasingly clear 
that certain issues could not be addressed given the unusual dynamics 
around the sales process,” the statement read. “We have great admiration
 for Chelsea and its fans, and we wish the new owners well.”Abramovich
 took over Chelsea in 2003 but had his assets frozen by the British 
government in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich had 
put the Premiere League club up for sale just prior to the government’s 
move.According to Forbes, the Chelsea club was purchased for about $190 million in 2003 and is now valued at $3.2 billion.

Investors drop bid for English soccer club owned by Russian oligarch

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal July 2021 accident have made an arrest.

On Thursday, police arrested 81-year-old Russell Peterson of Randolph, on a Riley County District Court Warrant on requested charges of&nbsp; Murder in the 2nd Degree; unintentional but reckless, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that just after 8:30a.m. Sunday July 25, a 2006 Volvo semi driven by Russell Peterson, 81, Randolph was eastbound on Greet Randolph Road one half mile north of Randolph.

&nbsp;The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 77.&nbsp; The semi struck a northbound Acura driven by Adam Samuelson, 38, Randolph.&nbsp;

EMS transported Samuelson to Stormont Vail where he died.&nbsp;Peterson was not injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Thursday Peterson was issued a total bond of $100,000 and is not confined in the Riley County Jail, according to the RCPD.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal July 2021 accident have made an arrest.On Thursday, police arrested 81-year-old Russell Peterson of Randolph, on a Riley County District Court Warrant on requested charges of&nbsp; Murder in the 2nd Degree; unintentional but reckless, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that just after 8:30a.m. Sunday July 25, a 2006 Volvo semi driven by Russell Peterson, 81, Randolph was eastbound on Greet Randolph Road one half mile north of Randolph.&nbsp;The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 77.&nbsp; The semi struck a northbound Acura driven by Adam Samuelson, 38, Randolph.&nbsp;EMS transported Samuelson to Stormont Vail where he died.&nbsp;Peterson was not injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Thursday Peterson was issued a total bond of $100,000 and is not confined in the Riley County Jail, according to the RCPD.

Police: 81-year-old arrested for crash that killed Kansas man

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises is facing renewed pressure from a hedge fund to speed up its transition to digital publishing and consider adding new digital-savvy leaders to its board.

 This after successfully fighting off a hostile takeover from a different hedge fund. 

Lee’s largest shareholder, Cannell Capital, this week disclosed buying nearly 20,000 more of the company’s shares, giving it a 9.1% stake. 

The fund’s head, Carlo Cannell, said he thinks Lee needs new board members and executives with experience running a digital publishing business.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises is facing renewed pressure from a hedge fund to speed up its transition to digital publishing and consider adding new digital-savvy leaders to its board. This after successfully fighting off a hostile takeover from a different hedge fund. Lee’s largest shareholder, Cannell Capital, this week disclosed buying nearly 20,000 more of the company’s shares, giving it a 9.1% stake. The fund’s head, Carlo Cannell, said he thinks Lee needs new board members and executives with experience running a digital publishing business.

News publisher Lee faces renewed pressure from hedge funds

DETROIT (AP) — A former University of Michigan violin professor has been sentenced to five years in prison after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arts-and-entertainment-education-michigan-ann-arbor-university-of-michigan-d385d3b749c5159cde4fd8bc53257a8f">pleading guilty</a>&nbsp;to transporting a girl across states lines for sex.

A federal judge who sentenced Stephen Shipps, 69, on Thursday also ordered the Ann Arbor man to pay $120,000 in restitution to his victim, federal prosecutors said. Shipps offered an apology and his lawyer had asked for no prison time.

Shipps pleaded guilty in November to one count of transporting a girl across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-ann-arbor-michigan-music-ba8f2b4bb9ee23e76c94eb32f1ab0507">charges allege that he took the girl across state lines</a>&nbsp;several times between February and July of 2002 with the intention of having sex with her.

The girl was born in 1985, according to court documents.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/music-michigan-indictments-detroit-ann-arbor-08a5dbdad8c0e8d267c99fb8d68513b0">Shipps’ indictment in October 2020</a>&nbsp;and arrest in Ann Arbor came two years after the university placed the longtime professor on paid leave after former students accused him of sexual misconduct while he taught them in the 1970s and 1980s in Nebraska and North Carolina.

James C. Harris, III, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit, said he hopes Shipps’ sentence “sends a powerful message to others in positions of trust that if you prey on the vulnerable you will be held accountable for your actions.”

The University of Michigan has faced intense scrutiny over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2ff7e15137a7d857709a30760d2a1c5a">how it protects people on the campus from sexual misconduct</a>. The school was rocked by allegations that began to publicly surface in 2020 from hundreds of men who said they were sexually assaulted by the late&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-sports-education-18150340738f5e7937500f7707ba28df">Robert Anderson</a>, who was a campus doctor for nearly 40 years. He died in 2008. In January, the school announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-michigan-robert-anderson-accusers-settlement-a419d760f8390f5e43d40601c1d806ef">a $490 million settlement</a>&nbsp;with Anderson’s accusers.

Shipps taught at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance from 1989 until his retirement in 2019. He also directed a preparatory program that offered musical instruction to children.

Shipps also served on the faculties of Indiana University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of Nebraska–Omaha, and the Banff Centre in Canada, federal authorities said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650031860764.png" alt="Shipps" />
 <figcaption>Shipps</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSDETROIT (AP) — A former University of Michigan violin professor has been sentenced to five years in prison after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arts-and-entertainment-education-michigan-ann-arbor-university-of-michigan-d385d3b749c5159cde4fd8bc53257a8f">pleading guilty</a>&nbsp;to transporting a girl across states lines for sex.A federal judge who sentenced Stephen Shipps, 69, on Thursday also ordered the Ann Arbor man to pay $120,000 in restitution to his victim, federal prosecutors said. Shipps offered an apology and his lawyer had asked for no prison time.Shipps pleaded guilty in November to one count of transporting a girl across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-ann-arbor-michigan-music-ba8f2b4bb9ee23e76c94eb32f1ab0507">charges allege that he took the girl across state lines</a>&nbsp;several times between February and July of 2002 with the intention of having sex with her.The girl was born in 1985, according to court documents.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/music-michigan-indictments-detroit-ann-arbor-08a5dbdad8c0e8d267c99fb8d68513b0">Shipps’ indictment in October 2020</a>&nbsp;and arrest in Ann Arbor came two years after the university placed the longtime professor on paid leave after former students accused him of sexual misconduct while he taught them in the 1970s and 1980s in Nebraska and North Carolina.James C. Harris, III, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit, said he hopes Shipps’ sentence “sends a powerful message to others in positions of trust that if you prey on the vulnerable you will be held accountable for your actions.”The University of Michigan has faced intense scrutiny over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2ff7e15137a7d857709a30760d2a1c5a">how it protects people on the campus from sexual misconduct</a>. The school was rocked by allegations that began to publicly surface in 2020 from hundreds of men who said they were sexually assaulted by the late&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-sports-education-18150340738f5e7937500f7707ba28df">Robert Anderson</a>, who was a campus doctor for nearly 40 years. He died in 2008. In January, the school announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-michigan-robert-anderson-accusers-settlement-a419d760f8390f5e43d40601c1d806ef">a $490 million settlement</a>&nbsp;with Anderson’s accusers.Shipps taught at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance from 1989 until his retirement in 2019. He also directed a preparatory program that offered musical instruction to children.Shipps also served on the faculties of Indiana University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of Nebraska–Omaha, and the Banff Centre in Canada, federal authorities said.

Ex-Michigan, UNO music professor gets prison on child sex charges

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers the 
deadline to file and pay tax owed for most individual income tax returns
 is Monday, April 18. The agency wants last-minute filers to know tax 
help is available to file a tax return, request an extension or make a 
payment, 24 hours a day on IRS.gov.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically because tax 
software does the calculations, flags common errors and reduces tax 
return errors by prompting taxpayers for missing information. The fastest way to receive a refund is to file electronically and use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 is available to any person or family with an adjusted gross income 
(AGI) of $73,000 or less in 2021. Leading tax software providers make 
their online products available for free. Taxpayers can use IRS Free 
File to claim the remaining amount of their Child Tax Credit, the Earned
 Income Tax Credit and other important credits. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-fillable-forms/free-file-fillable-forms-is-closed">Free File Fillable Forms</a> is available to anyone who is comfortable preparing their own tax return - so there is a free option for everyone.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 provides information to help file an accurate return, including Advance
 Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payment amounts, Adjusted Gross 
Income amounts from last year's tax return, estimated tax payment 
amounts and refunds applied as a credit.

The IRS estimates 15 million taxpayers will request an extension of 
time to file and the easiest way to request an extension to file is 
using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>. In a matter of minutes, anyone can request an extension until October 17, using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return</a>.
 An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay, 
however, and taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form 
and pay any amount due by the April 18 filing deadline to avoid 
penalties and interest.

Taxpayers can also request more time by paying all or part of their 
estimated income tax due and indicate that the payment is for an 
extension. They can do this using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, or a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-credit-or-debit-card">debit, credit card or digital wallet</a>. This way they don't have to file a separate extension form and will receive a confirmation number for their records.

IRS Form 4868 can also be downloaded from <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms, Instructions &amp; Publications</a>, completed and addressed to the correct IRS office, and must be postmarked by the filing deadline.

The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any 
taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in areas covered by 
Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declarations. Deadlines to 
file tax returns and make tax payments are extended for affected 
taxpayers in certain areas of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-arkansas">Arkansas</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-colorado">Colorado</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-kentucky">Kentucky</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-tennessee">Tennessee</a> until May 16, 2022, and for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-tax-relief-for-puerto-rico-severe-storms-flooding-and-landslides">Puerto Rico</a> until June 15, 2022. For details on all available relief, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a> page on IRS.gov.

Special rules may apply for some military personnel <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">serving in a combat zone or a qualified hazardous duty area</a>.
 This also applies to individuals serving in the combat zone in support 
of the U.S. Armed Forces. A complete list of designated combat zone 
localities can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov. U.S. citizens and resident aliens <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p54">living outside the United States</a> have until June 15, 2022, to file their 2021 tax returns and pay any tax due.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers the 
deadline to file and pay tax owed for most individual income tax returns
 is Monday, April 18. The agency wants last-minute filers to know tax 
help is available to file a tax return, request an extension or make a 
payment, 24 hours a day on IRS.gov.The IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically because tax 
software does the calculations, flags common errors and reduces tax 
return errors by prompting taxpayers for missing information. The fastest way to receive a refund is to file electronically and use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>
 is available to any person or family with an adjusted gross income 
(AGI) of $73,000 or less in 2021. Leading tax software providers make 
their online products available for free. Taxpayers can use IRS Free 
File to claim the remaining amount of their Child Tax Credit, the Earned
 Income Tax Credit and other important credits. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-fillable-forms/free-file-fillable-forms-is-closed">Free File Fillable Forms</a> is available to anyone who is comfortable preparing their own tax return - so there is a free option for everyone.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 provides information to help file an accurate return, including Advance
 Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payment amounts, Adjusted Gross 
Income amounts from last year's tax return, estimated tax payment 
amounts and refunds applied as a credit.<h2>Get a 6-month extension to file</h2>The IRS estimates 15 million taxpayers will request an extension of 
time to file and the easiest way to request an extension to file is 
using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>. In a matter of minutes, anyone can request an extension until October 17, using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return</a>.
 An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay, 
however, and taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form 
and pay any amount due by the April 18 filing deadline to avoid 
penalties and interest.Taxpayers can also request more time by paying all or part of their 
estimated income tax due and indicate that the payment is for an 
extension. They can do this using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, or a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-credit-or-debit-card">debit, credit card or digital wallet</a>. This way they don't have to file a separate extension form and will receive a confirmation number for their records.IRS Form 4868 can also be downloaded from <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms, Instructions &amp; Publications</a>, completed and addressed to the correct IRS office, and must be postmarked by the filing deadline.<h2>Who automatically has more time to file?</h2>The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any 
taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in areas covered by 
Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declarations. Deadlines to 
file tax returns and make tax payments are extended for affected 
taxpayers in certain areas of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-arkansas">Arkansas</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-colorado">Colorado</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-kentucky">Kentucky</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation-tennessee">Tennessee</a> until May 16, 2022, and for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-tax-relief-for-puerto-rico-severe-storms-flooding-and-landslides">Puerto Rico</a> until June 15, 2022. For details on all available relief, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a> page on IRS.gov.Special rules may apply for some military personnel <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">serving in a combat zone or a qualified hazardous duty area</a>.
 This also applies to individuals serving in the combat zone in support 
of the U.S. Armed Forces. A complete list of designated combat zone 
localities can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov. U.S. citizens and resident aliens <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p54">living outside the United States</a> have until June 15, 2022, to file their 2021 tax returns and pay any tax due.<h2>$1.5 billion in unclaimed 2018 refunds</h2>The IRS estimates 1.5 million taxpayers did not file a 2018 tax 
return to claim tax refunds worth more than $1.5 billion. The three-year
 window of opportunity to claim a 2018 tax refund closes April 18, 2022,
 for most taxpayers. If they do not file a 2018 tax return by April 18, 
2022, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. The law 
requires taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/prior-year">2018 tax return</a> is postmarked by that date.<h2>Other April 18 deadlines</h2>April 18 is also the deadline to make 2021 contributions to 
Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). Contributions can be made to a
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/traditional-iras">traditional</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/roth-iras">Roth</a>
 IRA until the filing due date, April 18, but must be designated for 
2021 to the financial institution. For more information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-iras">Retirement Plans FAQs Regarding IRAs</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590a">Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)</a>.Employment taxes are due April 18 for household employees including 
housekeepers, maids, babysitters, gardeners and others who work in or 
around a private residence as an employee if they were paid $2,300. For 
more information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-926">Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide</a>.The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and 
pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, because 
of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers 
in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their 
returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.The first quarter <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">estimated tax payment</a> for 2022 is also due on April 18. Taxpayers are encouraged to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">check their withholding for 2022</a>
 after they've filed their 2021 tax return. It can protect against 
having too little tax withheld and facing an unexpected tax bill or 
penalty at tax time next year. It can also help taxpayers adjust their 
tax withheld up front, so taxpayers receive a bigger paycheck and 
smaller refund at tax time.